Hebron – Ma’an – Israeli settlers residing in illegal outposts in the heart of Hebron obstructed the work of Palestinian fire fighters on Wednesday night, as crews attempted to access a burning building owned by a Palestinian family.

Firefighter Jamal Qawasmeh said the station received a call regarding a fire in the Bani Dar neighborhood in the old city of Hebron. "We coordinated with the Israeli side so the servicemen and our vehicle could access the area," he explained.

Despite the coordination, however, “a group of settlers attacked fire fighting personnel" and blocked the access of the vehicle to the street where the fire was. "After more than half an hour the soldiers at the scene intervened to keep the settlers away from the fire fighting vehicle” and allowed it to pass, he said.

Qawasmeh said it was not the first time fire fighters have been unable to reach homes and emergencies in the Old City. Between the road blocks, barriers and metal detectors, he said, access to some areas was impossible even without angry settlers barring the way.