Hebron / PNN /
In southern Hebron, Palestinian children in Khirbet Umm al-Khair live between fear and hope, dreaming simple dreams — like keeping their small football field near the gate of the Carmel settlement and the settlers’ road that runs beside it. The field, their only playground and safe haven, is under threat of demolition by Israeli forces and settlers.
The field hosts around sixty-five children from the community, who gather daily to play football — their favourite pastime and a rare escape from the hardships of life under occupation. But in recent months, their joy has been overshadowed by fear, as Israeli bulldozers and settlers’ eye the playground for removal.
A small village under pressure
Khirbet Umm al-Khair lies in the Yatta area, south of Hebron, and forms part of the Masafer Yatta communities — a cluster of Palestinian hamlets repeatedly targeted by Israeli demolitions. The village’s 516 residents, all from the al-Hathalin family, were displaced decades ago from the Arad desert and later purchased this land from residents of Yatta.
“I don’t want the occupation to take our field,” says ten-year-old Khalil Shu’aib al-Hathalin, his voice trembling with determination. “I’ve played here since I was little. It’s part of our life. I just want to keep playing and not lose it to the settlers.”
He explains how the children split into two teams, taking turns as goalkeepers and captains, competing in friendly matches filled with laughter and rivalry. For them, the pitch is more than a piece of land — it’s a space of belonging and resilience.
Daily harassment and demolition threats
In 2025, Israeli forces demolished three homes in Khirbet Umm al-Khair, claiming they were built without permits in Area C, which remains under full Israeli control. The demolitions left three families homeless and deepened the community’s suffering.
According to village council head Khalil al-Hathalin, Israeli authorities and settlers frequently harass the children and obstruct any attempts to improve the playground. “The occupation prevents us from levelling the ground, adding gravel, or laying grass,” he told PNN. “The field is full of dust and sharp stones, and many children have been injured — some with fractures and cuts — while playing.”
Settlers have also established a new outpost on village land, tightening pressure on residents and threatening their livelihoods. Surrounded by settlements on three sides, the children are often stopped or insulted by settlers and soldiers during play.
The field as a symbol of resistance
Despite the constant threats, the field remains the community’s only breathing space. “The children spend most of their afternoons and holidays here,” al-Hathalin said. “Even when soldiers stop them or settlers attack, the families come and stand by them — to protect them, and to remind them that this land is theirs.”
The fear of losing the field keeps many of the children awake at night. “I cry when I think they might destroy it,” says young Ouda Ammar al-Hathalin, his eyes fixed on the dusty goalposts. “It’s the only place where we can be happy.”
The football pitch has also become a place of memory. In August 2025, teacher Ouda al-Hathalin was shot and killed by settlers while filming their attacks near the playground. His blood, villagers say, “mixed with the soil of the field,” turning it into a powerful symbol of sacrifice and resilience for the children and their families.
Enduring resilience
Despite repeated demolitions, restrictions, and settler violence, the residents of Umm al-Khair remain steadfast. “We will not leave this land,” says al-Hathalin firmly. “If we go anywhere, it will be to our graves.”
The story of Umm al-Khair mirrors the broader struggle of Masafer Yatta’s Palestinian communities, where Israel’s ongoing policy of demolitions, land confiscation, and settler expansion aims to force families off their lands to make way for larger settlement blocs.
This story was produced within the framework of the Qarib Programme, implemented by CFI (the French Media Development Agency) with the support of the French Development Agency (AFD).
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