What are the night disruption activities, and how are they helping Palestinians fight back against the illegal Israeli occupation? The night disruption activities are a systematic way for Palestinians to have a nonviolent resistance to the illegal confiscation of their land by Israel. Every night since May, hundreds of young Palestinians gather on Jabal Sbeih in order to make the settlers feel increasingly uncomfortable while squatting on Palestinian land. This was started as retaliation to Israeli settlers stealing land from the residents of Beita village and building an illegal settlement that has since been turned into a military outpost. The residents of Beita just want to cultivate and protect the land that they have lived on for generations.
These young men gather every night and split into multiple groups with different responsibilities. One group is tasked with gathering tires and setting fire to them near the Israeli outpost. This gives some cover to the activists from potential Israeli gunfire by filling the air with smoke. The smoke also creates another incentive for the settlers to leave the area.
Another group is tasked with shining lights and lasers pointers at the outposts to blind the soldiers and give them the impression that there are more activists than what there actually may be. This creates a staffing issue for the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and increases the wage bill of the occupation.
The next group oversees making as much noise as possible. This is achieved by the protestors setting off fireworks into the sky as well as using air horns. This takes away any possibility of getting any sort of rest late at night. Usually, these protests last until dawn. By the time the noise stops, it is time for everyone to get up and get ready for the day. This is the essence of the night disruption protests, cause as much discomfort to the everyday lives of the settlers as possible. The more persistent these young men of Beita are, the more likely the settlers will leave the area.
These disruption activities would not be possible without the whole town working together for the greater good. Many women prepare meals and safety kits to send with the young men at night. The elders work as guards to notify the protestors of any IOF soldiers that are coming to ambush them.
These nighttime activities and daytime protests result in excessive force used by the IOF. Since the resistance began in May, seven young Palestinians have been killed while hundreds of others have been injured. Generations of Palestinians continue to endure the seemingly never-ending cycle of death and disabling injuries for the simple right of freedom.
The resilience of these people, especially the younger generation, is very inspiring. We see it more and more throughout all of Palestine. Change is coming with young people taking charge. Having these night disruption activities shows that Palestinians will continue to fight for their rights. The land is their home; it’s where their ancestors lived, where they find love and get married, where their children will grow up and play, where they grow their fruits and vegetables, and where they will be buried at the end of our lives. The land means a lot to these young Palestinians. They have seen what their parents and grandparents have endured at the hands of the illegal Israeli occupation. That is why they are out there every single night, putting their lives at risk, protecting the remaining precious Palestinian land.
Omar Shalabi is the Program & Communications Manager of the Palestine Center.
The views in this brief are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Jerusalem Fund.
