Residents of Ras al-Ahmar, a Bedouin community in the occupied West Bank’s Jordan Valley, say Israeli restrictions have severely disrupted their access to water, food, healthcare and education as construction of a military barrier continues in the area.
The approximately 300 residents of the community have reportedly been unable to receive adequate water supplies for several days. Residents say they have been forced to transport water, animal feed and milk by donkey at night to avoid Israeli soldiers and settlers.
Saeed Ayed, a resident of Ras al-Ahmar, said the community had been under siege since access roads were blocked in mid-September.
“The situation is dire. We are completely besieged, and the livestock cannot survive without water and food for this long,” he said, adding that the community has about 15,000 livestock whose survival is now at risk.
The Israeli military barrier, known as “Crimson Thread” by Israel, stretches about 20 kilometres through the northern Jordan Valley. Israeli authorities say the barrier is necessary for security reasons.
According to Al Jazeera, construction of the barrier has involved trenches, embankments and the destruction of agricultural land, with damage reported to wells, water networks and greenhouses.
Kerem Navot, an organisation monitoring Israeli land policies in the West Bank, said nearly 115 hectares of land had been seized, with about 85 percent of it privately owned Palestinian land.
Residents also say access to healthcare has become increasingly difficult, particularly for elderly people. Veterinary teams have reportedly been unable to reach the area, while diseases affecting livestock have contributed to animal deaths.
The restrictions have also affected education. Abdullah Bisharat, head of the Ras al-Ahmar and Atuf village council, said 51 schoolchildren had been unable to attend classes for two weeks because vehicles could no longer reach the community.
He also said Israeli forces confiscated a tractor belonging to the village council and detained its driver while he was delivering water and animal feed.
Palestinian residents and rights advocates accuse Israeli settlers of increasing attacks and restrictions in an effort to force Bedouin communities from their land. They report incidents involving livestock theft, attacks on homes, beatings and vandalism.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has identified Bedouin and herding communities as among the most vulnerable groups to displacement in the West Bank.
OCHA has reported that at least 130 Palestinian communities have experienced full or partial displacement since January 2023, while more than 2,500 Palestinians were displaced in 2026 as a result of settler attacks and related access restrictions.
With Israeli elections scheduled for October 27, Palestinian analysts and rights advocates say the measures being implemented in the Jordan Valley could create lasting changes regardless of the outcome of the election.
Hassan Mleihat, chairman of the al-Baydar Organization for Defense of Bedouin Rights, said the measures appeared aimed at displacing Bedouin communities and expanding control over their land.
Israeli officials, however, maintain that the military barrier is part of security measures in the area.
Analysts cited by Al Jazeera say the restrictions and changes to the landscape could have long-term consequences for Palestinian communities in the West Bank, including their access to land, water, education, healthcare and movement.
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