Imneizil


Imneizil is a small Palestinian village in the Hebron Governorate of the southern West Bank, located about 17 kilometres southwest of Hebron and east of Yatta. The village stands at an elevation of roughly 700 metres above sea level. According to the 2017 census conducted by the PCBS, it had a population of 278.

Geography

Imneizil lies in the South [Hebron Hills], a semi-arid region of scattered hamlets and agricultural land. The terrain is characterized by rocky hills and seasonal grazing areas, similar to the surrounding cluster of villages known collectively as Masafer Yatta.
Although Imneizil itself is not formally included within the boundaries of Firing Zone 918 declared by Israel in the 1970s, it is situated in the same geographical zone, and residents experience many of the restrictions on planning, movement, and access to resources that affect neighbouring hamlets.

History

In the 1870s, Survey of Western Palestine recorded Khurbet el Menâzil as having “caves, cisterns, foundations, and heaps of stones.”

Demographics

As of the 2017 PCBS census, Imneizil had 278 residents.
By comparison, the larger grouping of villages in Masafer Yatta—which includes 19 hamlets east of Yatta—recorded 768 residents in the 2007 census. In 2022, approximately 1,144 residents of Masafer Yatta were subject to expulsion orders following Israeli High Court rulings related to the firing zone designation, about half of them children.

Administration

Imneizil, like other small villages in the Hebron Governorate, falls under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority. Local governance is typically carried out through a village council appointed by the Ministry of Local Government, a model shared with the nearby Masafer Yatta communities.

Challenges

Residents of Imneizil face socio-economic and spatial challenges similar to those of neighbouring South Hebron Hills villages. These include:
  • Restrictions on construction and infrastructure due to Israeli zoning policies.
  • Limited access to paved roads, electricity, and water networks.
  • Economic pressures from agricultural constraints and limited development opportunities.
The broader context of Masafer Yatta has drawn international attention as an emblematic case of Palestinian communities living under threat of displacement. The 2024 Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land depicted life in Masafer Yatta under these conditions, highlighting themes relevant to the wider region. While Imneizil was not the specific focus of the film, it shares the socio-political environment described there.