Israeli demolition of 12 homes in Khirbet al-Tabban leaves about 70 homeless

Israeli forces demolished all 12 homes in Khirbet al-Tabban in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, leaving about 70 people homeless. The village is in the Masafer Yatta area in the southern West Bank, where residents say the destruction also removed most of the community's other structures. Villagers described the scene as widespread devastation, with rubble, empty animal pens and destroyed water tanks and sanitation facilities.

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Nidal Younis, head of the Masafer Yatta Council, said the demolition had "wiped the village off the face of the earth". He said the residents had decided to remain on their land despite the destruction and repeated pressure to leave. According to Younis, the immediate needs are shelter, drinking water and sanitation, while tents alone will not be enough to protect families from the weather in the coming months.

He said children, older people, women and sick residents would be especially vulnerable. The demolition has left villagers sleeping in the open, with little access to basic services. One resident, Nasser Mahmoud Obeid, said Israeli forces ordered residents to "get out" before the demolition, according to the account provided by villagers.

The destruction of water sources and sanitation facilities has added to the humanitarian impact, making the community's short-term survival more difficult. The incident also raises the likelihood of further displacement pressure in other villages across Masafer Yatta. Masafer Yatta has been at the centre of a long-running legal and political dispute.

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The area lies in Area C of the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians say it is extremely difficult to obtain building permits. The row also follows a 2022 Israeli court decision that allowed for the displacement of residents from the area after Israel designated it a military firing zone decades earlier. Villagers and local leaders say demolitions have become regular occurrences and are part of a wider effort to change the reality on the ground.

Israel said the buildings were unauthorised. Local residents and the Masafer Yatta Council reject that framing and say the demolition is part of a broader pattern of displacement. The incident is significant because it affects housing, water and sanitation at once, leaving an entire community exposed to immediate humanitarian risks.

It also comes against the backdrop of repeated demolitions in Area C, where Palestinian construction is heavily restricted. What happens next is unclear, including whether residents will be able to secure temporary shelter, restore water access or rebuild on the same land. It is also not clear whether further demolitions will follow in nearby villages in Masafer Yatta.

#WestBank #KhirbetalTabban #MasaferYatta #demolition #displacement

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