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AL-KHALIL (PIC) 28 July-- Jewish settlers have released hounds on Palestinians who stepped foot on land that was taken from them to build the Asfar settlement on the Sa‘ir area east of Al-Khalil city, Palestinian sources have said.

The settlers have been carrying out excavations there on farmlands owned by the Shalalida and Halayka families, the sources added. In two years, the settlers managed to usurp more than 200 dunums (49.4 acres) of land under the nose of the media and Palestinian officials.

The Shalalidas and Halaykas say they have deeds registered at the Palestinian property department proving their ownership of the land. The same sources said the landowners have been visiting the confiscated land daily in a bid to foil the excavations, but they have been exposed to attacks and expulsion by the settlers under protection of Israeli military forces.