In the morning hours on March 25, Palestinian shepherds were grazing their flocks near their homes in Rujum ‘Ulya, a village in the Masafer Yatta region of the southern West Bank. Suddenly, a settler from Shorashim appeared — an illegal outpost three kilometers away — driving his ATV into the middle of the village.

In the occupied West Bank, this is no unfamiliar scene: settler harassment and violence against Palestinian farmers have been raging for years, and have only escalated in recent months. Many now avoid leaving their homes, let alone take their animals to graze their land. But on this day, Said Abu Aliyan and five other shepherds dared to go out with their sheep.

After the settler from Shorashim arrived, soldiers soon followed — many of whom are often settlers themselves, and enter Palestinian communities in full or partial military uniform regardless of whether they are on duty. When Abu Aliyan refused to leave the area as the soldiers demanded, an officer shoved him backwards and fired two shots into the air.

Soldiers began detonating stun grenades at the ten other shepherds and their sheep, but the Palestinians refused to retreat to their homes. The soldiers called for army and police backup, which arrived after a few minutes. Dozens of soldiers pushed the shepherds, detonating more stun grenades, firing tear gas, and marching behind every flock.

That morning, the army arrested eight shepherds, while injuring two other locals who required medical treatment. Soldiers tied the detainees’ wrists, blindfolded them, and led them to a military jeep, in full view of their families and young children.