KHIRBET AL-TABBAN, Occupied West Bank — The landscape of Khirbet al-Tabban tells a story of total destruction. Scattered rubble, empty animal pens, and missing water tanks mark the site where 12 homes once stood. On Wednesday, Israeli forces arrived without warning in this small village in the southern Masafer Yatta region and razed the community’s structures, leaving approximately 70 residents homeless.
Nidal Younis, head of the Masafer Yatta Council, described the operation as an attempt to “wipe the village off the face of the earth.” Despite repeated efforts by Israeli authorities to displace Palestinians across the region, Younis insisted the decision to stay is entirely the villagers’ own.
“The decision to remain and stand firm is the people’s own decision,” Younis said. “They see no alternative to this land.”
However, remaining in Khirbet al-Tabban now means living in the open. With water sources and sanitation facilities destroyed, immediate priorities are shelter, drinking water, and hygiene infrastructure. Younis warned that tents will likely be insufficient against the strong winds and cold expected in the coming months, posing particular risks to children, women, the elderly, and the sick.
He expressed fear that the demolition of Khirbet al-Tabban could be replicated in other Masafer Yatta villages. This vulnerability stems from a 2022 Israeli court decision permitting the displacement of residents after Israel designated the area a military firing zone decades ago. Israeli authorities justified the Wednesday’s actions by labeling the buildings unauthorized, a designation that is nearly impossible for Palestinians in Area C of the occupied West Bank to obtain.
“The goal, as we see it, is to displace Palestinians and change the reality of these areas,” Younis stated.
Nasser Mahmoud Obeid, a villager who witnessed the orders to leave, recalled similar demolitions dating back to 1999. Immediately after Israeli forces departed, he began clearing rubble to create temporary sleeping spaces. Born in the village in 1977, with his father and grandfather also having lived there, Obeid expressed unwavering resolve.
“This is our land, and here we will build and rebuild,” Obeid said. “We have not lost hope, and we will not.”
Among the debris, Suad Mohammed Obeid, 48, searched for remnants of her life. Having lived in Khirbet al-Tabban for 32 years, she recovered personal items including a sewing machine used to make clothes for her family. Her livelihood, centered on agriculture and dairy production, was dismantled along with her home.
“They demolished all of Khirbet al-Tabban and wiped it off the face of the earth,” she said, recalling a traumatic night for her children and grandchildren, who are unaccustomed to sleeping outdoors and live in fear of settler attacks.
Despite the devastation, Suad Mohammed Obeid remains steadfast. “God willing, organisations will help us and provide us with tents, and we will remain steadfast,” she said, describing the destruction as part of a broader strategy to make life untenable for Palestinians in the West Bank through demolitions, restricted access to grazing land, and violence.
The resilience of these families is truly inspiring. Standing firm after losing everything speaks volumes about their connection to the land.
I had no idea this area was designated a firing zone since the 90s. How can building permits be impossible in Area C?
Another village erased. Will the international community do anything beyond statements, or is this destruction just business as usual?
Winter is coming and they have no shelter. This feels like an immediate humanitarian crisis that needs urgent attention right now.