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Gallery|Conflict

Life in a Jordan Valley firing zone

The Israeli army sometimes leaves behind unexploded shells, killing or injuring farmers and children.

Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
A girl carries water from a village water tank in the Jordan Valley. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
By Kobi Wolf
Published On 1 Oct 20161 Oct 2016
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Nearly 3,000 people live in some 20 shepherding communities in the Jordan Valley, either in areas declared as military firing zones or on the peripheries of these areas. 

In 2009, decades after the firing zones were declared, the Israeli army placed cement slabs near each of these communities and posted notices stating that entry was prohibited. The army occasionally orders the temporary evacuation of these Jordan Valley communities in order to conduct military exercises.

The orders require residents to leave their homes for periods of time ranging from a few hours to a couple of days. If the residents do not leave voluntarily, they may be removed forcibly and have their livestock confiscated.

In parts of these military training areas used by Palestinian farmers as plantations, the army accidentally leaves behind unexploded shells and ammunition, killing or injuring farmers and children as they try to work their land.

Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
The Israeli army has placed cement slabs and posted notices stating that the area is a firing zone and entry is prohibited. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
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Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
A military target can be seen in the Jordan Valley. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
Children watch TV in their tent inside one of the firing zones. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
A Palestinian man smokes on his farmland in the Jordan Valley. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
Some Palestinians have been killed or injured as a result of Israeli army activity in the area. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
Palestinians wait on the main road until the Israeli army completes its military exercises. If the residents do not leave voluntarily when asked, they may be forcibly removed. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
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Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
A Palestinian man prays in his tent. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
Israeli army members cross over Palestinian farmland during some of the training exercises. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
Unexploded shells can be seen on this patch of Palestinian farmland. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
Basat Daragme holds a picture of his brother, Muhanez, who was killed by an unexploded bomb when he was 18. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
Fatma Dragme suffered an injury to her hand from an unexploded shell in the Jordan Valley. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
Camahl Muhamed Sabis, 35, lost part of his arm while tending sheep a decade ago. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
Hader Dragme lost his right leg from an unexploded shell. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]
Jordan Valley - firing zone/ Please Do Not Use
Ayoub Daragme, 13, suffered second degree burns from an unexploded shell while he was tending his sheep. [Kobi Wolf/Al Jazeera]


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