Israeli forces demolish homes in Al-Sir village, resuming a months-long ethnic cleansing campaign that has already left hundreds of families without shelter.
Key Developments
- Israeli forces resume demolitions in Al-Sir, placing around 1,500 Palestinians at risk of displacement.
- Latest operation follows earlier campaign that destroyed most homes in the village in late 2025.
- Residents face repeated demolitions under policies targeting ‘unrecognized’ Palestinian villages in the Naqab.
Bulldozers Return
Israeli forces have resumed demolition operations in the Palestinian village of Al-Sir in the Naqab, marking a renewed escalation after weeks of relative pause.
On Sunday, bulldozers, accompanied by large contingents of police and special units, stormed the village and began demolishing dozens of homes, according to local sources.
Jumaa Zabarqa, from the Steering Committee for Bedouin Affairs in the Naqab, said the operation continues a broader campaign that had temporarily halted following protests in the region, QNN and other local Palestinian media reported.
“These demolitions are a continuation of what began in December,” he said, referring to earlier large-scale destruction that targeted the village.
‘Unlicensed’ Homes
The renewed demolitions come amid ongoing disputes over land classification and building permits, frequently cited by Israeli authorities to justify the displacement of Palestinians and the destruction of their homes.
Zabarqa said residents have lived on the land for decades, while Israeli authorities claim the area is a “military zone,” a classification often used to ethnically cleanse Palestinian communities, whether in the Naqab region or the West Bank.
He added that authorities had previously relocated residents to temporary housing under the pretext of infrastructure development, without providing permanent alternatives.
The homes targeted in the latest campaign are modest structures made of tin and sheet metal, demolished under the pretext of lacking permits, even though the Palestinian residents are the original inhabitants of the land.
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Earlier Demolitions
The current escalation follows a wave of demolitions that devastated the village in late 2025.
According to local reports, Israeli authorities destroyed around 320 out of approximately 350 homes in December, leaving hundreds of families without shelter.
Since then, many residents have been living in harsh conditions, often in tents exposed to the elements and without access to basic infrastructure, including electricity and adequate services.
Demolition operations have continued intermittently in the months since, with some campaigns resulting in the destruction of dozens of homes in a single phase.
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Renewed Displacement
With demolitions now resuming, approximately 1,500 residents are once again facing the risk of displacement.
Local sources say the campaign forms part of a broader policy targeting Palestinian communities in ‘unrecognized villages’ across the Naqab, where repeated demolitions and restrictions on construction have left residents in a state of prolonged instability.
The latest operation was carried out under heavy security presence, with reports of force being used against residents during the demolitions.
The developments in Al-Sir reflect an ongoing pattern of repeated demolition campaigns, with residents subjected to cycles of destruction and temporary displacement over recent months.
(QNN, PC, Palestinian Media)
