The Palestinian children below are on their way from school in a small village outside of Hebron. To their right is a dirt road leading up to an Israeli settler outpost. Settler outposts are simply small houses or villages constructed on land that was seized from Palestinians by Israeli settlers. Israeli settlements are much larger villages and towns that, while illegal under international law, are completely sanctioned by the Israeli government. Outposts are illegal even under Israeli law. The Israeli government has shown little willingness to remove them and, even if they do, they are often rebuilt soon thereafter.
Since this road is so close to one of these outposts, these children are often harassed and even attacked by settlers from both the settlement (behind me in the photo above) and the outpost (at the top of the hill to the right). As such, CPT stations its members along this road to accompany the children on their walk home in order to try and prevent, or at least discourage, attacks from settlers.
Being a freelance photographer gives me a degree of freedom that might not otherwise be possible. However, that also means that I am often forced to finance my own projects. If you enjoy my work, please consider making a donation.
Shawn Duffy is a freelance commercial photographer and photojournalist based in the Washington, DC Metro area. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, he is a self-taught photographer who has decided to merge his passion for photography with his intense interest in the world around him. From the bustling streets of Bangalore, India, to the refugee camps of occupied Palestine, Shawn strives to create images and tell stories that compel others to act.
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All content © 2012 by Shawn Duffy Photography
