Latest news with #FaisalSalama
Kuwait Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Displaced West Bank residents protest army demolitions
TULKAREM, Palestinian Territories: More than a hundred Palestinians displaced from refugee camps by an ongoing Zionist entity military operation in the occupied West Bank gathered in the city of Tulkarem on Wednesday to protest the army's recent home demolitions. The two refugee camps adjacent to the northern city have seen dozens of residential buildings torn down by Zionist military in recent months, with more slated for destruction in the coming weeks. Zionist entity says its months-long operation in the territory's north is aimed at cracking down on several camps that are strongholds of Palestinian armed groups fighting against Zionist entity. 'Today is a clear message from the community inside the camps demanding their right—the right to return to the camp and to stop the assault on the camps, the destruction of homes,' said Nihaya Al-Jundi, a displaced woman from Tulkarem camp who took part in the protest. Demonstrators also demanded support from Palestinian authorities and the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, which has historically provided health, education and other services to camp residents. Women and children from the Tulkarem camp held signs calling for an end to the demolitions and for housing allowances to support the displaced. 'The protest was about demanding legitimate rights—human rights, social rights—such as continuous relief aid, housing, medical treatment and medicine, and for UNRWA and the Palestinian government to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid,' Faisal Salama, head of Tulkarem camp's popular committee, told AFP. Um Moataz Abu Shala, a displaced woman from Nur Shams, Tulkarem's other refugee camp, said she first and foremost wanted to return home. 'We don't want food aid, donations, caravans or any handouts. We want to return to our land in Nur Shams,' she told AFP. The army said last week it would demolish 104 more buildings in the Tulkarem camp in the latest stage of an operation that it launched in January during a truce in the Gaza war. The military operation began with a raid on the northern West Bank city of Jenin, a longtime stronghold of Palestinian militants, and quickly spread to other cities, including Tulkarem, displacing at least 40,000 people, according to UN figures. — AFP
Al Arabiya
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Displaced West Bank residents protest army demolitions
More than a hundred Palestinians displaced from refugee camps by an ongoing Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank gathered in the city of Tulkarem on Wednesday to protest the army's recent home demolitions. The two refugee camps adjacent to the northern city have seen dozens of residential buildings torn down by Israel's military in recent months, with more slated for destruction in the coming weeks. Israel says its months-long operation in the territory's north is aimed at cracking down on several camps that are strongholds of Palestinian armed groups fighting against Israel. 'Today is a clear message from the community inside the camps demanding their right -- the right to return to the camp and to stop the assault on the camps, the destruction of homes,' said Nihaya al-Jundi, a displaced woman from Tulkarem camp who took part in the protest. Demonstrators also demanded support from Palestinian authorities and the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, which has historically provided health, education and other services to camp residents. Women and children from the Tulkarem camp held signs calling for an end to the demolitions and for housing allowances to support the displaced. 'The protest was about demanding legitimate rights -- human rights, social rights -- such as continuous relief aid, housing, medical treatment and medicine, and for UNRWA and the Palestinian government to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid,' Faisal Salama, head of Tulkarem camp's popular committee, told AFP. Um Moataz Abu Shala, a displaced woman from Nur Shams, Tulkarem's other refugee camp, said she first and foremost wanted to return home. 'We don't want food aid, donations, caravans or any handouts. We want to return to our land in Nur Shams,' she told AFP. The army said last week it would demolish 104 more buildings in the Tulkarem camp in the latest stage of an operation that it launched in January during a truce in the Gaza war. The military operation began with a raid on the northern West Bank city of Jenin, a longtime stronghold of Palestinian militants, and quickly spread to other cities, including Tulkarem, displacing at least 40,000 people, according to UN figures.
Roya News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
'Israeli' demolitions continue in Tulkarm despite court order
'Israeli' forces have commenced the demolition of 104 buildings in the Tulkarm refugee camp, a move that local officials and a Palestinian human rights group contend proceeds despite a temporary freeze issued by 'Israel's' own Supreme Court. This large-scale demolition marks a new phase in the ongoing military offensive in the area, forcing hundreds of Palestinian families from their homes. On Wednesday, residents were observed in a hasty departure, loading their possessions onto vehicles, casting a final glance at the homes they were abandoning. Faisal Salama, a local official in the camp, stated that approximately 400 families now face homelessness due to these new demolition orders. Late Wednesday, in response to an urgent request from Adalah, a Palestinian human rights group in 'Israel', 'Israel's' Supreme Court had temporarily frozen the planned demolitions, giving the army until September 2 to respond. However, as of late Thursday, none of the displaced residents had returned, and the 'Israeli' army declined to comment on the court order, with demolitions reportedly continuing. The 'Israeli' military has justified its actions in Tulkarm by stating it operates in areas "with a high level of terrorism," asserting that the decision to demolish buildings was based on "operational necessity" to ensure forces' freedom of movement, and was made after considering other options. According to a WAFA correspondent, Israeli Occupation Forces on Monday continued what was described as a "massive spree" of home demolitions in the Tulkarm refugee camp. This marks the 162nd day of military aggression on the camp and the nearby city of Tulkarm. Armored bulldozers were seen tearing down residential buildings in the al-Murabba'a neighborhood, reducing them to rubble, as part of the new plan to demolish 104 residential buildings, comprising approximately 400 houses. Adalah, a non-governmental legal center, highlighted in a press release that the occupation forces informed the Israeli Supreme Court on July 6, 2025, of their intention to proceed with implementing wide-scale demolition orders. This notice followed an amended Supreme Court decision from July 3. While the Court initially imposed a freeze on demolitions on July 2 based on Adalah's petition, the amended ruling now permits the military to carry out demolitions if it cites 'urgent combat needs or overriding security considerations.' Adalah argues this effectively grants the military vast discretion and significantly weakens judicial oversight. In its response, the 'Israeli' military claimed that the planned demolitions were necessary to restructure the camp for "operational freedom of movement." However, Adalah's subsequent response to the Court on July 7 challenged this justification, arguing that "no combat activity is currently taking place in the area, and that the refugee camp has been largely emptied of residents, rendering the claim of urgent necessity baseless." Adalah further contended that the military's stance "completely nullifies the rights of the protected residents," leaving them without means to challenge the demolition orders. The group is seeking to submit an additional expert opinion to further refute the military's rationale, highlighting how previous demolitions were more extensive than planned and caused irreversible damage to the camp's social and physical landscape. 'Israeli' raids have previously emptied and largely destroyed several urban refugee camps in the northern West Bank, such as Tulkarm and nearby Nur Shams, contributing to the tens of thousands displaced in the West Bank since 1967. Israel has indicated that troops may remain in some camps for up to a year.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds of Palestinian families flee West Bank camp ahead of Israeli demolition orders
TULKAREM REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank (AP) — Hundreds of Palestinians have fled a section of the Tulkarem refugee camp in the occupied West Bank after receiving Israeli demolition orders — joining tens of thousands of people to be displaced by an open-ended military offensive in the area. The residents loaded all of their earthly possessions -- mattresses, blankets, washing machines -- onto vehicles on Wednesday before taking one last glimpse of their homes and speeding off. The new demolition order affects some 104 buildings, and at least 400 families now face homelessness, said Faisal Salama, a local official in the camp. Late Wednesday, Israel's Supreme Court temporarily froze the planned demolitions in response to a request from Adalah, a Palestinian human rights group in Israel. The order gave the army until Sept. 2 to respond. But as of late Thursday, none of the displaced residents had returned. The Israeli army declined comment on the order. The exodus on Wednesday is the latest triggered by Israeli operations to stamp out militancy in West Bank refugee camps in the wake of Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack that ignited the war in Gaza. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been driven out of their homes this year in the largest displacement in the West Bank since Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Mideast war. The Israeli military justified the planned demolitions in Tulkarem, saying it operates in areas 'with high level of terrorism.' It said the decision to demolish buildings in the camp were made based on 'operational necessity' to allow Israeli forces to operate freely and move in the area, and was made after other options were considered. Israel's raids have emptied out and largely destroyed several urban refugee camps in the northern West Bank, such as Tulkarem and nearby Nur Shams. Israel says troops will stay in some camps for a year. Salama said with the latest orders, a total of 1,000 families have been displaced by recent demolition orders. 'Where will these families live? Where will they go? Their fate is uncertain and unknown,' he said. Subhi Hamdan, 65, said he was given just one day to leave. He is worried he won't be able to afford an apartment despite having registered for assistance with the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority. 'Until now we haven't seen anything at all,' he said. 'Where can anyone go?'
Al-Ahram Weekly
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Hundreds of Palestinian families flee West Bank camp ahead of Israeli demolition orders - War on Gaza
Hundreds of Palestinians fled part of the Tulkarem refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday after receiving Israeli demolition orders, joining tens of thousands forcibly uprooted by Israel's relentless military assault on the area. Residents hurriedly loaded their few possessions — mattresses, blankets, washing machines — onto vehicles before taking one last look at their homes and fleeing, local official Faisal Salama said. The demolition order targets some 104 buildings, rendering at least 400 families homeless, Salama added. Late Wednesday, Israel's Supreme Court temporarily froze the planned demolitions following a petition by Adalah, a Palestinian human rights group. The court gave the Israeli army until Sept. 2 to respond. However, as of Thursday, none of the displaced had returned. The Israeli military declined to comment. This latest forced displacement comes amid a sharp escalation of Israeli military assaults on West Bank refugee camps since the onset of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, uprooting tens of thousands of Palestinians in the largest campaign of forced displacement in the West Bank since Israel's 1967 occupation. The Israeli military justified the demolitions in Tulkarem by citing a 'high level of terrorism' in the area, calling the destruction a 'tactical necessity' to enable freedom of movement for troops after other options were exhausted. Israeli raids have emptied and severely damaged refugee camps such as Tulkarem and nearby Nur Shams, with troops planning to maintain a presence in some camps for up to a year. Salama said the latest orders have displaced a total of 1,000 families. 'Where will these families live? Where will they go? Their fate is uncertain and unknown,' he said. Subhi Hamdan, 65, said he was given just one day to leave. Despite registering for aid with the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority, he fears he will be left homeless. 'Until now we haven't seen anything at all,' Hamdan said. 'Where can anyone go?' *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
