News|Occupied West BankIsrael to demolish 25 homes in occupied West Bank’s Nur Shams campRights groups say the demolition order, which will affect 100 Palestinian homes, is an attempt to ‘cage in’ Palestinians.

Demolition of Residential Buildings in Nur Shams Refugee Camp

The Israeli military plans to demolish 25 residential buildings in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Local authorities have confirmed that the Israeli Defence Ministry body, COGAT, communicated this plan to Abdallah Kamil, the governor of the Tulkarem governorate, where Nur Shams is located.

Faisal Salama, head of the popular committee for the Tulkarem camp, indicated that approximately 100 family homes will be affected by the demolition order. This action is part of Operation Iron Wall, initiated by Israel in January, aimed at combating armed groups in the northern West Bank refugee camps.

Human rights organizations have expressed concerns over these actions, noting the use of tactics similar to those employed in Gaza, to exert control over the West Bank territories. Reports indicate that over the past year, a total of approximately 1,500 homes have been demolished or damaged, resulting in the displacement of 32,000 Palestinians.

On Monday, displaced residents of Nur Shams staged a demonstration against the demolition orders. They gathered in front of Israeli military vehicles, demanding the right to return to their homes. The head of the Palestinian National Council, Rouhi Fattouh, described the demolition decision as part of an ongoing process of ethnic cleansing and forced displacement.

Nur Shams, along with other refugee camps in the West Bank, was established following the 1948 Nakba, which resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Over time, these camps have developed into densely populated neighborhoods, with refugee status being passed from one generation to the next.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.