Israeli forces demolished 25 buildings in the Nur Shams refugee camp, displacing about 100 families as part of an operation the military says targets armed groups in the northern West Bank. Local leaders say more than 1,500 families remain unable to return after earlier operations, calling the situation a humanitarian disaster. The army says demolitions are necessary for counterterrorism and to improve access for troops, while residents warn of long-term impacts on the camps' refugee identity.
Israel Demolishes 25 Buildings in Nur Shams Refugee Camp, Displacing Around 100 Families
Israeli military excavators are tearing down residential buildings in the Nur Shams camp for Palestinian refugees (Zain JAAFAR)(Zain JAAFAR/AFP/AFP)
Israeli bulldozers and cranes began demolishing 25 residential buildings in the Nur Shams refugee camp on Wednesday, tearing through structures that sheltered roughly 100 families. An AFP journalist at the scene reported thick plumes of dust as many residents watched from a distance.
What Officials Say
The Israeli military said the demolitions were ordered as part of ongoing counterterrorism operations aimed at rooting out armed groups that operate from densely populated areas of the northern West Bank. In a statement to AFP it said the Central Command commander ordered the demolitions "due to a clear and necessary operational need." The military described parts of northern Samaria as "a significant centre of terrorist activity."
Witnesses and Local Leaders
"Being torn away from our homes, our neighbourhoods and our memories is deeply painful," said Mutaz Mahr, whose building was demolished.
Nihaya al-Jendi, a member of Nur Shams's popular committee, said hundreds of families had already been displaced by earlier operations this year. She told AFP that more than 1,500 families from the camp remain unable to return and described the situation as "a major catastrophe — a real humanitarian disaster for Palestinian refugees."
Broader Context
Israeli authorities said the demolitions also aim to improve access for military vehicles inside densely built refugee camps, easing movement for troops conducting operations in camps across the northern West Bank, including Tulkarem and Jenin. Defence Minister Israel Katz has called the operations "effective," saying they reduced what he described as terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria by 80 percent.
Nur Shams — like other West Bank refugee camps — was established after the 1948 displacement of Palestinians. Over decades the camps evolved into dense neighbourhoods outside the administrative control of nearby cities; residents typically pass refugee status from one generation to the next. Many residents fear the demolitions and other measures aim to absorb the camps into surrounding urban areas and diminish the refugee issue.
Humanitarian Impact
Local reports and eyewitnesses say residents salvaged belongings before buildings were razed, with many people expressing they have nowhere else to go. Humanitarian concerns focus on the immediate displacement of families and the longer-term consequences for camp residents unable to return.
Source: AFP reporting.
