Israeli moves to demolish last soccer pitch in West Bank because it is too close to a settler community
A few days after the Israeli government stood as a member of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, the military issued a demolition order on Saturday, February 21, for a children’s football pitch in the village of Khirbet Umm al-Khair, located in the Masafer Yatta region south of Hebron.
There was no reaction from Fifa President Gianni Infantino who on Thursday announced a “true partnership” between the world soccer governing body and the Board of Peace, outlining plans for major soccer infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip aimed at rebuilding communities through sport.
Khalil al-Hathalin, head of the Umm al-Khair Village Council, said the order targets a simple artificial turf field that serves as the only recreational space for the village’s children. The pitch is situated approximately 10 metres from a newly established Israeli settlement outpost.
Residents reported that settlers have pressured authorities to remove the play area, despite claims that Israeli courts previously recognised the land. Ahmed al-Hathalin, a resident and coach, noted the field lacks permanent infrastructure and was built to provide a safe environment for the 70 children who use it daily.
Since the war on Gaza began on October 8, 2023, Israel has intensified operations in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, through the army and illegal settlers. The world has stood by silently, often providing cover for the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the settler attacks in the West Bank.
The settler actions, supported by defence personnel, include killings, arrests, demolitions, displacement and settlement expansion.
Palestinians warn that the measures pave the way for Israel to formally annex the West Bank, which they say would undermine the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state as outlined in United Nations resolutions.
Israeli operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since October 2023 have killed more than 1 115 Palestinians, injured about 11 500 and led to nearly 22 000 arrests.
The war in Gaza over two years has killed more than 72 000 Palestinians and wounded over 171 000, most of them women and children, and damaged about 90% of civilian infrastructure, according to Palestinian sources.
