The hospital room in Yatta, a Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank, is packed with visitors, their presence offering solace to the inhabitants. Khader Nawaj’ah and his wife, Fatima, were attacked by Israeli settlers while they were sleeping outdoors to escape the heat in the village of Khirbet Susiya. Khader described how the settlers pelted him with stones and beat him with sticks, leaving him injured.
Dr. Tareq Abu Aram, who treats victims of settler attacks, mentioned that the Nawaj’ahs are among many who have suffered due to such violence. The Canadian government has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities involved in extremist settler violence in the West Bank since May 2024.
Despite the escalating attacks on Palestinian civilians, CBC’s investigation revealed that tax-deductible donations from Canadians are still flowing to organizations that support settlements in the West Bank. Nasser Nawaj’ah, a field researcher for an Israeli human rights group, emphasized the need for Canada to adhere to international law by cracking down on charities funding Israeli settlements.
Critics argue that the presence of Israeli settlers, though not all engage in violence, legitimizes the aggression targeting Palestinians. Charitable donations from Canadians supporting the Israeli military and settlement activities in the West Bank have raised concerns about violating tax rules and Canadian public policy.
The charitable status of organizations like the Jewish National Fund of Canada has been revoked for failing to control donations sent to Israel for non-charitable purposes. Despite these issues, some charities continue to fund entities associated with the Israeli military, prompting complaints and calls for investigation.
Residents of Khirbet Susiya face not only settler violence but also the constant fear of losing their homes, which Israeli authorities have deemed illegal. The uncertainty and vulnerability of these Palestinians highlight the ongoing challenges they face in safeguarding their land and rights in the West Bank.