On 22 May 2023, the last remaining residents of the community of ‘Ein Samia dismantled their homes and their sheep pens and left what had been their home for decades. For years, the community’s approximately 200 residents had been subjected to extreme restrictions on construction of both homes and infrastructure, which included the demolition of residential and agricultural structures. They also suffered from violence carried out by Israeli security forces and by settlers living in outposts built in the area, who enjoyed full state support. Families began leaving the community because of this harassment in late 2018.
Since 2019, Israel has demolished 18 structures in the community, including six homes that housed 41 people, 18 of them minors. The most recent demolition was carried out in January of this year, and a demolition order issued by the Civil Administration for the community’s school has been upheld by the court. Read more...