West Bank: Inside a cave illuminated only by sunlight filtering through its narrow entrance, Amer Dababsa wiped sweat from his forehead as he chipped away at the rock with a hammer and chisel, hauling stones outside to enlarge a space he hopes will become a home for his two wives and six children.
After his house was demolished, Dababsa became one of dozens of residents of Khirbet al-Dab’a, in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron, who have returned to living in caves as residents say pressure on the community is increasing.
“We are subjected every so often to a fierce campaign by the Civil Administration and settlers. They have left us with no houses, so we were forced to make caves. This is the most we can do. There is no other option,” Dababsa told Reuters from inside the cave he has been excavating for about six months.
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civilian affairs in the occupied West Bank, said enforcement activity had been carried out in the area earlier this month with the approval of the political echelon.
“As part of this operation, action was taken against several illegal structures and infrastructure, pursuant to the relevant orders and procedures. The enforcement activity was conducted in accordance with established authorities and procedures, subject to operational considerations and priorities,” COGAT said in response to a Reuters request for comment.
It added that the Civil Administration issues advance notice before demolitions, giving residents the opportunity to appeal through legal channels.
Khirbet al-Dab’a, home to about 120 Palestinians, lies among the barren hills southeast of Hebron. Reaching it requires leaving the main road and travelling several kilometres along a winding dirt track through rocky terrain.
On surrounding hilltops are outposts made up of caravans and prefabricated structures, some of which residents say were established in recent years. The remains of demolished homes are visible across the community.
Residents rely on solar panels for limited electricity for lighting and basic household needs because the community is not connected to electricity or water networks. Water is delivered by tanker trucks, residents say.
“I have lived in this area since the day I was born. I am 44 years old now. This is the land of our fathers and grandfathers for more than a hundred years. Our souls are tied to this land,” Dababsa said.
He said excavating the cave was difficult because of the hardness of the rock, but that he saw no alternative after his home was demolished.
Residents say leaving the area would open the way for further settlement activity on land where their families have lived, farmed and grazed livestock for generations. Dababsa said around eight settlement outposts had been established in the surrounding area in recent years.
Livestock raising, once a main source of income for many families, has declined, residents say, citing settler attacks and restrictions on movement and access to grazing land. Many families now depend on limited seasonal crops as well as olive and almond trees.
Nearby, Mohammad Dababsa, a father of 11, has completed two caves after about four years of intermittent work. One serves as a sitting room while the other is used for daily living.
Mohammad said his family returned to living in caves after their home was demolished.
Khirbet al-Dab’a’s lands cover roughly 3,000 dunums, according to residents, of which they say about 250 dunums make up the residential area.
In May 2025, settlers established a new outpost near the community’s remaining homes following large-scale demolitions that affected most of its structures, according to residents. Since then, they say, many families have returned to caves and grottos previously used by earlier generations.
Jaber Dababsa, another resident, said the demolitions had forced families to return to a way of life once practised by their forefathers.
“After our homes were demolished, we went back to living as our ancestors lived in caves, but we remain attached to our land and we will not leave.”
He said residents believe the pressure they face is intended to encourage Palestinians to leave the area.
“The aim of all these measures is to push Palestinians to leave the land so settlers can take their place,” he said.
Residents also say settlers have pitched tents near some of the caves to which families relocated, adding to concerns over the loss of more land.
Khirbet al-Dab’a is one of several Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta, parts of which Israel designated as a military firing zone in the early 1980s. Palestinians and human rights groups say restrictions on construction and repeated demolitions have worsened living conditions in the area. Israel says structures built without permits in the firing zone are subject to enforcement action.