Occupation forces demolish about 20 homes in the city of Rahat

SadaNews - Israeli occupation machinery and bulldozers demolished about 20 homes this morning, Wednesday, in neighborhood 4 and commercial establishments in neighborhood 28 in the city of Rahat, located in the Negev region in southern Israel, under the pretext of building without a permit.

The demolition vehicles stormed the city under the protection of a large force of Israeli police, which surrounded the demolition sites and prevented residents from approaching.

More than 150 individuals reside in these houses, which were built several years ago, and they will find themselves in the coming hours out in the open with no shelter or home.

The Deputy Mayor of Rahat, Hassan Al-Nassasra, stated, "There is unprecedented extremism by the Bedouin settlement authority in the demolition operations; they do not negotiate or communicate with the residents at all! An offer is initially made to the homeowners, and if the offer is rejected, the demolition is carried out immediately without any negotiations."

Al-Nassasra added, "These barbaric acts have reached their peak! What further escalates the situation is that these homes are located within the blue line of the area of Rahat. The Bedouin settlement authority and Minister Ben Gvir operate on our land and against our homes without oversight or any deterrent law. In the past ten years, Israeli authorities have demolished more than 26,000 homes in the Negev, a number that exceeds the number of homes in the city of Rahat!"

Rahat, located north of Be'er Sheva, is the largest Arab Bedouin city in the Negev, home to more than 75,000 people, facing challenges related to poverty, unemployment, and inadequate infrastructure.

The Negev region has witnessed continuous demolition operations, which have increased by more than 400% under the current Netanyahu government, as part of Israeli plans aimed at confining as many Negev residents as possible to the smallest possible geographical area.