Israel Demolishes Palestinian Memorials, Erasing National Memory
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Israeli forces have been demolishing Palestinian memorial monuments in the West Bank, including at Birzeit University and in several towns and villages, with the stated aim of countering "terrorism." These actions, which also include removing photos of slain Palestinians, are viewed by Palestinian officials and experts as an attempt to erase national memory and break Palestinian will. Far-right Israeli lawmaker Tzvi Sukkot was also filmed destroying a memorial, claiming it honored "terrorists." The demolitions are part of a broader pattern of Israeli actions in the West Bank and Gaza, according to Palestinian representatives.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli forces are demolishing Palestinian memorial monuments in the West Bank, targeting symbols of national memory.
- A memorial at Birzeit University listing slain students was destroyed on October 5.
- A monument for Palestinian prisoner Yasser Dhiab Hamdouni was demolished in Ya'bad on October 7.
- Israeli lawmaker Tzvi Sukkot was filmed destroying a memorial, calling it a "terror memorial."
- Palestinian officials view the demolitions as an attempt to undermine national consciousness and break Palestinian will.
- The Israeli military claims the targeted memorials "incite terrorism."
Israeli forces have expanded their operations in the West Bank beyond demolishing homes to include the destruction of memorial monuments honoring Palestinians killed by Israeli forces. Palestinian experts view this as an attempt to undermine national consciousness and memory.
Recent incidents include the demolition of a memorial at Birzeit University on October 5, which listed students killed in Israeli attacks. On October 7, a monument in Ya'bad town honoring Palestinian prisoner Yasser Dhiab Hamdouni, who died in Soroka Hospital in 2016 due to alleged medical negligence, was destroyed. Israeli forces also reportedly destroyed memorials in the Nablus area and removed photos of Palestinians killed by Israel from various locations in Jenin, following prior demolition notices.
Further demolitions occurred on October 12 in Abu Falah village and on October 14 in Al-Jalazoun refugee camp, both near Ramallah. An Israeli news channel reported on October 7 that the Israeli military had begun a broad operation to demolish dozens of structures in the West Bank, including memorials, which they claimed "incite terrorism." The military reportedly vowed to demolish any new memorials honoring "armed" Palestinians and to arrest those who "glorify and support terrorism."
These actions are seen as an attack on the memory of local communities and their sense of sacrifice and belonging. The targeting of these monuments is not limited to military operations. On August 25, Israeli lawmaker Tzvi Sukkot, from the far-right Religious Zionism party, was filmed destroying a memorial in the village of Madama, near Nablus, with a large hammer, stating he had repeatedly urged the army to remove "terror memorials."
Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, stated that destroying these "edifices of martyrs" and symbols associated with them is part of an effort to undermine Palestinian sacrifices and break their will. He linked these actions to broader Israeli policies, including the war in Gaza, attacks in the West Bank, and settler violence, describing it as "collective punishment."
Birzeit University condemned the demolition of its memorial as a "direct targeting of the university's memory and its martyrs" and a violation of international law. History professor Adnan Melhem described the ongoing Israeli actions as a "war on consciousness," aiming to weaken Palestinians' connection to their cause and land. He noted other measures, such as painting over street signs and raising Israeli flags in Palestinian areas, as attempts to alter the Palestinian landscape and influence public consciousness.
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