Israeli forces demolish Bedouin homes in occupied West Bank

Almost a quarter of people in a Bedouin village have been left homeless, after the IDF reportedly demolished a group of houses after declaring part of the village a ‘closed military zone.’ Witnesses say that Israeli forces entered Umm al-Khair in the southern West Bank on Wednesday, and demolished at least seven homes with bulldozers before leaving. Five families, including around 30 children, have reportedly been left homeless.

The demolitions included the home of Palestinian artist Eid Suleman, who said soldiers gave his family just 30 minutes to remove their belongings from their home, which the IDF claim was built ‘illegally,’ although Palestinians in the area have long reported the impossibility of getting building permits from the Israeli authorities.