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HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces razed Palestinian lands in the Wadi Sair area of eastern Hebron on Thursday, with the intention of building a military watchtower, the mayor of the village told Ma'an.
Kayid Jaradat said Israeli forces had started razing lands early Thursday without notifying the Palestinian municipality or the owner of the land, Ismail Abed Rabbu al-Shalaldeh, prior to the land confiscation.

Jaradat added that the military tower is expected to be a precursor to a permanent military checkpoint in the area, which would restrict Palestinians’ movement, particularly on the main northern route out of Hebron toward the rest of the occupied West Bank.

Activist Ahmad Halayqa said that the tower would restrict Palestinians’ movement and would be located near the Asfar Israeli settlement, which was also built on Sair village land.

Meanwhile, the Hebron municipality constructed a fence in Hebron City's Wadi al-Nasara neighborhood in order to provide protection to residents against Israeli settlers from the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arab, who often assault Palestinians and their homes in area.

Freedom of movement for residents across the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron has been severely restricted since mid-October. With Israeli military checkpoints having been set up at the entrances to most villages, residents have reported harassment, arbitrary detentions, an increase in traffic, and curfews.