Holy Redemption: A Chilling Tale of Settler Expansion in Palestine
TRT Documentary Unveils the Horrors of Settler Expansion in Palestine
The recent screening of the TRT documentary “Holy Redemption” in Istanbul revealed the expansionist activities of Israeli settlers in Palestine. Filmed by TRT World teams in the occupied Palestinian territories. The documentary highlights the tactics used by the Hilltop Youth, a group committed to building outposts and creating new settlements in the West Bank. It uncovers the settlers’ brutal methods and shows how these land grabs are backed by the Israeli state.
Hilltop Youth: A Radical Movement for Expansion
“Holy Redemption” focuses on the Hilltop Youth, a group of mostly young men indoctrinated to believe that all they see from the hilltops belongs to them by divine right. The documentary features Daniella Weiss, a leader of the movement, who believes Palestine must be taken by Jewish settlers. The film delves into their extremist ideology and shows how they justify violence and land theft in the name of religion. Daniella Weiss is portrayed as the protagonist, her beliefs captured by the camera. The documentary explores her view of the Bible as a mandate to seize land, recounting how in 1967 she interpreted air sirens as a divine call for expansion. Weiss is shown as a dangerous figure, whose extreme beliefs are supported by the state of Israel and its allies, who fund and arm these settlers.
The Human Cost of Settler Colonialism
The documentary shows the human cost of these expansionist activities. Footage of Hilltop Youth members invading Palestinian villages and committing violence reveals the harsh realities faced by Palestinians. In one haunting moment, Weiss justifies the displacement of Palestinians by saying. “They could move to Egypt or Indonesia… they just don’t belong here.” The film also covers Weiss’s role in past violence, including a 1987 firebomb attack that killed a Jewish woman. The interview suggests that the Hilltop Youth’s actions continue to pose a threat even to Israeli authorities. Shin Bet warning Prime Minister Netanyahu of their activities.
Settler Groups Supported by International Fighters
One chilling aspect of “Holy Redemption” is the portrayal of international involvement in the Hilltop Youth movement. The documentary shows young men, including British nationals, participating in Hilltop Youth activities and serving in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). A former IDF soldier explains how creating outposts is part of a systematic effort to seize more Palestinian land, likening it to American colonial expansion. This reminder of international participation in the occupied territories warns of the wider implications of this settler colonialism. The British settlers, resembling typical university students, reveal the unsettling reality that these individuals could be walking Western streets with extremist ideologies.
Settler Dreams and Gaza’s Destruction
As the documentary progresses, it becomes clear that the settlers’ ambitions extend beyond the West Bank. Producer Aslıhan Eker Çakmak explains that the film began before October 7. Events made it clear that Gaza’s destruction was part of the settlers’ expansionist vision. The film ends with settlers allocating Gaza land as the IDF razes neighborhoods. The final image shows young settler boys pointing to the flames and shouting, “Gaza!”
“Holy Redemption” is a chilling reminder of the ongoing injustices in Palestine and the threat of settler colonialism. The documentary exposes the brutality of the Hilltop Youth and highlights international complicity in these acts.
A Call to Witness the Chilling Truth
Holy Redemption serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing injustices in Palestine and the persistent threat of settler colonialism. By exposing the brutality of the Hilltop Youth and highlighting international complicity in these acts. The documentary urges the world to bear witness to these crimes.
The film is more than a documentary – it is a powerful call for awareness and action against the expansionist violence taking place in occupied Palestine. Don’t miss this gripping look into the harsh realities faced by Palestinians in the West Bank.
