Israel Nur Shams Camp Demolition 2025: 100 Families Displaced as Military Levels Buildings

The dust of history is rising once again in the West Bank. On Wednesday, Israeli military bulldozers began tearing down 25 buildings in the Nur Shams refugee camp, leaving approximately 100 families without a roof over their heads.

Security Buffer or Forced Displacement in Nur Shams?

The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) frame this operation as a necessary counter-terrorism measure. According to a statement provided to AFP, Major General Avi Bluth ordered the demolitions due to a "clear and necessary operational need." The military argues that northern Samaria has become a hub for armed groups operating within civilian clusters, necessitating broader access for military vehicles.

Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, claimed that these persistent operations in Nur Shams, Tulkarem, and Jenin have already slashed terrorist activity by 80%. He stated that troops'll stay on the ground to act as a permanent "buffer" between civilian populations and militant elements to prevent any regrouping.

The Humanitarian Cost and the Future of Camps

For the residents of Nur Shams, the military logic doesn't heal the pain of losing their homes. Nihaya al-Jendi of the camp's popular committee reported that over 1,500 families are currently unable to return to the camp, describing the situation as a "real humanitarian disaster."

Established after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, camps like Nur Shams have evolved from temporary shelters into dense, permanent neighborhoods. Many Palestinians believe Israel's long-term goal is to physically dismantle the camps to erase the very concept of the "Palestinian refugee issue" from the geopolitical landscape, effectively absorbing these areas into adjacent cities.