Israeli Government to Demolish 100+ Homes in West Bank/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli forces are preparing to demolish over 100 homes in the Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps in the occupied West Bank, officials and documents reveal. The demolitions are part of a broader military operation aiming to suppress militant activity. Local officials and the U.N. report significant displacement and rising tensions.
Israeli West Bank Demolitions Quick Looks:
- Over 100 homes set for demolition in Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps.
- Israeli military says demolitions aim to “improve soldier mobility” and disrupt militancy.
- UN documents show demolition notices issued with 24-hour warning.
- Residents rushed back to collect belongings amid evacuation orders.
- UNRWA reports arrests, warning shots during evacuation efforts.
- Military operations have displaced up to 40,000 Palestinians in recent months.
- Camps house descendants of 1948 Palestinian refugees.
- Israel plans to maintain troop presence in camps for up to a year.
Deep Look: Israel Plans Demolition of 100+ Palestinian Homes in Occupied West Bank Camps
JERUSALEM (AP) – Israeli forces are set to demolish more than 100 Palestinian homes in the Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to local Palestinian officials and documents reviewed by the United Nations. The move marks a dramatic escalation in a months-long military operation targeting areas Israel claims are hubs for militant activity.
Abdallah Kamil, governor of the Tulkarem region, disclosed the planned demolitions in a social media post on Thursday, stating that 116 homes across the two northern refugee camps are scheduled for destruction.
Documents from Israel’s military, shared with the Associated Press by a U.N. official who requested anonymity, confirm that some homes are set to be demolished within 24 hours. The documents were accompanied by public statements from the Israeli military, which cited the need to “improve mobility for soldiers” and disrupt alleged militant networks as the justification for the operation.
“The military is making changes in the camps to increase operational efficiency and prevent future threats,” the statement read. Officials also encouraged residents to “contact the authorities” to discuss safe removal of belongings.
Residents Face Urgent Evacuation and Chaos
The camps of Tulkarem and Nur Shams, already under duress from Israeli raids in recent weeks, were further destabilized by the sudden announcement. Many residents who had previously evacuated returned in haste to retrieve personal belongings before their homes could be bulldozed.
The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that some residents attempting to recover their items were met with arrests and warning gunfire from Israeli forces, increasing anxiety in the community.
Largest West Bank Displacement Since 1967
This operation is part of a broader Israeli campaign in the West Bank that has already displaced as many as 40,000 Palestinians—the largest forced displacement in the region since Israel occupied the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast War. Israeli troops have emptied and heavily damaged several refugee camps in the northern West Bank, particularly focusing on Tulkarem and Nur Shams, where military resistance has reportedly been concentrated.
The refugee camps, densely populated and structurally fragile, were originally built to house Palestinians who fled or were expelled during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Many of their descendants still live there, often under difficult conditions and without full citizenship rights.
Long-Term Military Presence Expected
The Israeli military has signaled its intent to remain stationed in some of the refugee camps for up to a year, intensifying concerns among human rights groups and international observers about the long-term impacts on the civilian population.
While Israel claims the demolitions and extended troop presence are necessary to prevent the camps from becoming bases for militant operations, critics argue that the campaign amounts to collective punishment and will only deepen resentment and instability in the region.
International and Humanitarian Response
The demolitions are likely to provoke renewed condemnation from international organizations and humanitarian groups, many of which have criticized Israel’s use of military force in densely populated civilian areas. As of now, no formal diplomatic responses have been made public, though UN agencies are actively monitoring the situation.
The sensitive nature of the military documents and the lack of clear humanitarian safeguards have fueled growing tension between Israel and the international community. Humanitarian officials are urging Israeli authorities to halt demolitions and provide clearer channels for civilian safety and property protection.
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