Israeli Forces Evict Families and Demolish Homes in Northern West Bank Settlement

In the early hours between Monday and Tuesday, large forces from the Israeli Border Police and the Civil Administration raided the "Shirat Zion" hill in northern Samaria, north of the settlement of Kedumim. They evacuated two families from their homes and demolished structures on the site. During the evacuation, a teenage boy chained himself to the roof of one building in an attempt to prevent its demolition, using a metal fixture anchored to the roof. The standoff lasted several hours amid confrontations.

According to residents, the security convoy, including engineering vehicles and Civil Administration inspectors, arrived around 1:00 a.m. The demolition began about 30 minutes later with an excavator. Residents claim Border Police used force against the boy while he was tied to the roof and unable to defend himself, though police have not yet responded to these allegations. After hours of attempts to remove the boy and demolish the building, the forces withdrew without completing the demolition of the house where he was barricaded.

Residents reported that the Malchiel family’s home was completely destroyed along with all its contents. They said the family was given only ten minutes to evacuate their belongings, and repeated requests to retrieve personal items and furniture were denied. The demolition also damaged local infrastructure, including the solar power system and water tanks. Two residents were arrested during the evacuation.

In a statement after the event, the residents described the demolition as part of ongoing destruction of settlement points in Judea and Samaria. They emphasized their presence as families and a group of young men with livestock reclaiming ancestral land for the state, asserting, "We are not the enemy." They called on Central Command Chief Major General Avi Blot and Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan to stop the demolition of settlement points. The "Shirat Zion" hill was established in memory of Shira Hajaj, who was murdered in a 2017 terror attack in Armon Hanatziv.