/ / ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY: LET ZANUTA RESIDENTS RETURN TO THEIR VILLAGE

ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY: LET ZANUTA RESIDENTS RETURN TO THEIR VILLAGE

UA: 76.26

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The Palestinian community of Zanuta in the South Hebron Hills of the occupied West Bank, which consists of 250 people, including 100 children, has been forcibly displaced since October 2023, as a result of state-backed settler violence. The Israeli police and military have repeatedly and deliberately failed to facilitate the residents’ safe return or protect them from settler violence, violating their obligations under international law as well as two Israeli Supreme Court rulings. Israeli authorities must ensure the rapid and safe return of Palestinians from Zanuta to their community, protect them from further settler violence, and allow them to rebuild their homes and community infrastructures.

Call on the Israeli authorities to immediately remove the illegal settler outposts established on the lands of Zanuta.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: January 21, 2027

Here is how you can take action:

Send a letter to the Israeli authorities
Send an email to the Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir using our email writing tool
Send an email to the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC
Post on social media
Print and share the paper petition for this UA

Scroll down to Step 1 and Step 2 to access the full Urgent Action appeal and sample letter, and U.S.P.S. mailing address (if available).

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Step 1

READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION

Enter your email address and zip code to get the sample letter to send to government officials.

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You can now write a letter in your own words or download the sample below as a guide.

Remember to send your letter by January 21, 2027.

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Sample Letter

Lieutenant General Zamir,

I am writing to demand the immediate return of the forcibly displaced residents of Zanuta to their village in the South Hebron Hills of the occupied West Bank, as per your obligations under both international law and the orders of Israel’s Supreme Court.

Between October 27, and November 1, 2023, the community of Zanuta, home to 250 Palestinians, including 100 children, were forced to pack up their belongings and flee the village where their ancestors had lived since the 19th century, as a result of recurrent violent raids and attacks by Israeli settlers from a nearby illegal outpost. Nearly three years on, the community remains displaced and fragmented and unable to return, despite numerous attempts. On July 29, 2024, the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the Israeli police and the military to facilitate the safe return of Zanuta’s residents and protect them from settler violence. On February 3, 2025, the Court reaffirmed this obligation.

As an occupying power, Israel has the obligations to protect Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including those of Zanuta.

I urge you to immediately ensure the safe return of the Palestinians of Zanuta to their lands, protect them from any form of violence by settlers, provide effective remedy and reparations for the harm caused by settlers and for the failure of Israeli authorities to prevent attacks by settlers, and to secure residents’ return to their homes, as ordered by the Supreme Court. I call on you to ensure that Palestinians from Zanuta are allowed to rebuild their homes, livelihoods, and community infrastructure, and that the illegal outposts established in its proximity are urgently dismantled.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

Step 2

Send your message

Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, call, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir

IDF Chief of General Staff

Yitzhak Rabin Military Base

HaKirya, 27 Kaplan Street

Tel Aviv 6473424, Israel

[email protected]

and

CC: Israeli Embassy in the United States

Send a copy of your letter to the address below

Ambassador Dr. Yechiel (Michael) Leiter

3514 International Drive, NW,

Washington DC 20008

[email protected]

When writing your letter, don’t forget to be factual, brief, and show respect. See more letter writing tips and emails, or organize and host a letter writing party.

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