Israel increases West Bank demolition efforts amid expanding settlements

Israeli Forces Demolish Refugee Housing in Northern West Bank

Dozens of buildings housing Palestinian families in the Nur Shams refugee camp have been demolished by Israeli military bulldozers, forcing mass displacement. The demolitions took place on Wednesday, with thick clouds of dust rising over the camp as residents watched from a distance.

According to eyewitness accounts, about 100 families were affected by the destruction, which has left many without shelter for the winter. Mutaz Mahr, whose building was among those destroyed, stated that he and his relatives are currently staying in a small apartment after being driven out of the camp.

The Israeli military claimed that the demolitions formed part of an operation against Palestinian resistance groups, but this claim could not be independently verified. Human Rights Watch reported that at least 850 homes have been demolished or severely damaged across three refugee camps in the northern West Bank since Israel launched a security operation earlier this year.

In addition to the demolitions, Israeli authorities approved plans for 126 settler housing units in the Sa-Nur outpost in the northern West Bank. The High Planning Council, operating under Israel’s Civil Administration, greenlit a detailed plan that would allow illegal settlers to return to Sa-Nur.

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has also been targeted by Israel. An Israeli move to cut electricity or water to facilities owned by UNRWA was condemned by the UN Secretary-General and his spokesperson. The measure would “further impede” the agency’s ability to function.

The demolitions and settlement approvals have raised concerns about Israel’s treatment of Palestinian refugees and its impact on the humanitarian situation in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera