Israeli occupation authorities have continued demolishing Palestinian homes in the Naqab (Negev) and Masafer Yatta areas, as part of a systematic policy aimed at forcibly displacing Arab Palestinian residents from their land—blatantly violating international law and basic human rights.
In the village of al-Sirr, located in the Naqab, occupation forces demolished 40 homes, while police fired sound and smoke bombs at protesting residents.
This comes on the heels of the demolition of approximately 30 homes last week, leaving many families homeless and exposed to harsh living conditions.
The village is home to around 1,500 people, with dozens of families now at risk of forced displacement. More than 200 additional homes are expected to be demolished in the coming weeks, according to decisions issued by the occupation court in Be’er Sheva.
Meanwhile, the village of Khirbet Khilet al-Daba’ in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, witnessed a second wave of complete demolition this year. Israeli occupation forces destroyed remaining residential caves and tents, and again dismantled the water network, solar power units, and surveillance cameras documenting settler violence.
The village, home to about 120 people, has been designated a closed military zone since June. This prevents residents and supporters from accessing it—reflecting a systematic displacement policy aimed at eradicating Palestinian life in the area.
These violations constitute a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective home demolitions and the forced displacement of civilians in occupied territories. They also violate international human rights law, which guarantees every person the right to adequate housing and protection of property, and strictly forbids forcible population transfers.
The Israeli occupation’s policy of “demolition and displacement” forms part of a broader strategy to seize Palestinian land for colonial expansion, using court orders and military decrees to legitimise these violations.
These practices raise serious concerns over food security, access to water, and public health. Destroying homes, agricultural infrastructure, and basic services only exacerbates the suffering of residents and deepens the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The continued violations in these villages represent a calculated effort to erase Palestinian presence and forcibly remove populations—acts that constitute crimes under international law. This places an urgent responsibility on the international community to intervene, protect civilians, and stop the violations.
