Unhindered: How Thousands of Illegal Residents Infiltrate Israel via the Southern Hebron Hills

Field reporter Tal Sabag exposes the mechanism of smuggling illegal residents from the southern Hebron Hills to the Negev. In an area without a fence and without significant military presence, vehicle convoys cross the territory every morning, moving thousands of Palestinians deeper into the country. The smugglers use lookouts, document their activities on social media, and even ram residents' vehicles. Residents warn of a security risk of attacks.

Southern correspondent Tal Sabag presents a field investigation into the smuggling of illegal residents (shabahim) from the southern Hebron Hills to the Negev. The area, described as a desert corridor between the southern Palestinian Authority and the Negev, has become a no-man's land without a fence and without enforcement. Every morning, vehicle convoys cross the area unhindered, moving thousands of Palestinians deeper into the country, not all of whom come solely for livelihood purposes. The report reveals a well-oiled smuggling mechanism: lookouts, sometimes disguised as shepherds, report on security forces' movements and foil ambushes. The smugglers even upload to social media footage glorifying their ability to bypass the 'army's eye' and penetrate Israel, while mocking law enforcement authorities. Yoav Atzion, a local resident, speaks of cooperation with the IDF but warns that forces in the field are sparse. The smugglers drive recklessly and ram residents' vehicles. Atzion states: 'There is lawlessness in the desert; they pass here freely to anywhere in the country.' The concern stems from the security potential: without governance and military presence, the corridor remains open to smuggling that could end in attacks in Arad and central Israel. The report emphasizes that the smugglers set the rules in the lawless area.