Israeli occupation forces demolished a Palestinian home in the town of Beit Awwa, west of Hebron in the occupied West Bank’s southern part, on Thursday, after invading and sealing off the surrounding area.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli soldiers, accompanied by military bulldozers, stormed the Es’eeda neighborhood early in the morning and closed it completely, preventing residents from entering or approaching the area.
They added that Israeli bulldozers then proceeded to demolish a two‑story building belonging to Mohammad Awni al‑Sweity.
Mohammad al‑Masalma, director of Beit Awwa Municipality, said the structure measured approximately 600 square meters.
He added that the ground floor consisted of several commercial shops, while the upper floor was still under construction. The demolition left the entire building in rubble. The municipality said the family had not been given prior notice of the demolition.
Residents reported that the army maintained a heavy presence throughout the invasion, blocking roads and restricting movement in and out of the neighborhood.
Beit Awwa, located in the southwestern Hebron district, has faced repeated demolitions in recent years, particularly in areas classified as Area C, where Israel rarely grants Palestinians building permits.
Several structures belonging to members of the al‑Sweity family have been demolished in previous incursions.
The Wall & Colonization Resistance Commission has documented a sharp rise in demolitions across the Hebron governorate, noting that Israeli forces have increasingly targeted homes, commercial buildings, and agricultural structures under the pretext of “building without a permit.”
Thursday’s demolition adds to the growing number of Palestinian families displaced or financially devastated by escalating Israeli violations in the West Bank.
In related news, Israeli bulldozers digging and uprooting Palestinian lands to prepare for a new colonialist road, dubbed as (Road 45), between Jerusalem and Ramallah.
The road aims at linking Israel’s colonies located north of occupied Jerusalem and east of Ramallah with Jerusalem city. The planned road is also intended to link with Road 443 which leads to Tel Aviv.
