Israeli Settlers' Rooftop Encroachments Threaten Palestinian Identity in Hebron's Old City

Yusef al-Khatib, a 65-year-old tailor in Hebron’s Old City, never imagined the building housing his family's tailoring shop, a business he has dedicated his life to, would become part of an illegal Israeli settlement. While he continues his decades-old trade, newly erected prefabricated structures on the rooftops above his shop, occupied by Israeli settlers, cast a shadow of uncertainty over his business's future. Al-Khatib shared that his father started the business approximately 80 years ago, and he began assisting at the age of five, continuing his work there for nearly 60 years. "This shop is my livelihood and the livelihood of my family. It enabled me to raise my children and provide them with an education," he told Al Jazeera.

A settler presence has existed in Hebron’s Old City since 1978, but these illegal outposts have since expanded their reach. Approximately 500 settlers reside in the Old City, a situation deemed illegal under international law, fueling Palestinian fears of eventual engulfment of the entire city. Over the years, al-Khatib has observed significant transformations in the Old City, including the closure of markets and streets to Palestinians and the establishment of Israeli settlement outposts in the heart of Hebron. Palestinian businesses on Shalala Street, the primary entrance to Hebron’s Old City, are situated near Shuhada Street, which has been inaccessible to Palestinians since 1994, following an incident where an Israeli settler killed 29 Palestinians at the Ibrahimi Mosque.

Settlers, numbering in the hundreds, persistently seek to expand their presence within the Old City, aiming to displace Palestinian residents. On October 29, settlers installed mobile structures on the rooftops of commercial buildings in the area, intended to house 20 new settler units. Activists assert that this move will fundamentally alter the area's Palestinian character, including the construction of housing atop al-Khatib's tailoring shop. Despite this pressure, al-Khatib remains committed to keeping his shop open, preserving his father's legacy. "It is an inheritance I received from my father, and I will continue to protect it and hold on to it, despite my fear of the settlers on the rooftop above the shop and the threats we may face."

Bader al-Daour al-Tamimi, a father of four university students, has also witnessed settlers occupy and transform the rooftop above his shop into a new outpost. He expressed concern about potentially losing access to his shop, his sole source of income to fund his children's education. "Shop owners have come to expect that they may not be able to open their shops the following day, because of the constant threats from settlers and soldiers," he stated. "Our presence here is not just about business; this is the home of our fathers and grandfathers, and part of our history."

For Adel Mustafa al-Shuyukhi, 67, his shop represents another testament to a long-standing connection with the Old City. He inherited the business from his father and has spent roughly 50 years working there, becoming intimately familiar with the neighborhood. "I know every corner of it, and I know the shop owners here one by one," he told Al Jazeera. He too has observed the Old City's changes throughout his career, noting the closure of markets and the erection of military gates at neighborhood entrances. He recalled when Israeli authorities began implementing restrictions that impeded Palestinian customers and business owners from accessing stores. However, al-Shuyukhi believes that maintaining his shop's operation is not merely a financial imperative but also crucial for preserving the Old City's Palestinian identity. He hopes his children will continue the business after his passing, just as his father passed it to him. "Despite all the restrictions, we are standing firm and do not want to leave our shops," he asserted. "I have told my children that if anything happens to me, they should come and open the shop so that it remains open and we do not abandon it."

Issa Amro, 46, an anti-settlement activist and founder of the Youth Against Settlements group, contextualizes the current expansion within a broader historical narrative, tracing it back to the 1994 Ibrahimi Mosque massacre and the subsequent agreements that redefined control over Hebron. Prior to these events, the Old City was home to a vibrant market featuring a variety of goods. This changed following the massacre and the imposition of restrictions on Palestinians by Israeli forces.

Amro explained that Hebron differs from other West Bank cities due to a specific agreement, the 1997 Hebron Protocol, which divided the city into two sectors: H1 and H2. Under this protocol, approximately 80 percent of the city fell under H1, with the Palestinian Authority holding civil and security responsibilities. The remaining 20 percent, designated H2, remained under Israeli security control, encompassing the Old City and areas inhabited by settlers. Unlike in other West Bank cities, settlers reside within Palestinian neighborhoods, while Palestinian residents face heightened restrictions on movement and access to their homes and businesses. The seizure of the Old Municipality building, a symbol of Palestinian sovereignty in Hebron, and the establishment of a military post on its roof, have been accompanied by the replacement of Arabic street and neighborhood names with Hebrew ones. The display of Israeli flags above settler buildings is viewed as another affront to the Old City's Palestinian identity. "Settlers used to be confined to certain areas, but today, we are seeing expansion beyond the areas that have been closed since 1994, reaching the Old Municipality building and the rooftops of commercial properties," Amro commented. "These restrictions aim to empty the area of its Palestinian residents and expand the settlement presence."