Israeli Forces Demolish Palestinian Village of Iraqib for the 244th Time in 15 Years
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Israeli military forces conducted yet another demolition operation in the Palestinian village of Iraqib, located in the Negev region of occupied Palestine, marking the 244th such incident in the past 15 years. Aziz al-Turi, a member of the local committee defending Iraqib, reported that Israeli soldiers stormed the village, destroying homes and briefly detaining his elderly father, Sheikh Siyah al-Turi, who was later released.
Al-Turi emphasized the residents’ determination to rebuild, stating, “The people have already started reconstructing the ruins. Iraqib will remain, and we will not leave.” The village, unrecognized by the Israeli government, has faced systematic demolitions since July 2010, when its makeshift homes—constructed from wood, plastic, and metal sheets—were first destroyed.
Israeli authorities have long sought to displace the residents of Iraqib to seize their land, part of a broader policy of non-recognition and neglect toward dozens of Palestinian villages in the Negev. Despite the repeated destruction, the community continues to resist expulsion, rebuilding their homes each time they are demolished.
