BETHLEHEM, July 30, 2025 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces notified the demolition of all homes in the village of Nu'man, east of Bethlehem, on Wednesday.

Jamal Darawi, head of the Nu'man village council, told WAFA correspondent that Israeli police, accompanied by employees from the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem, raided the village and delivered notices for the third time in a few months since the beginning of this year.

These notices include the demolition of all 35 homes in the village, comprising 45 apartments, on the pretext of lacking permits. All 35 homes have been inhabited, the oldest being built 35 years ago, and the oldest being 75 years old.

Daraawi indicated that a lawyer is following up on the case of the homes, and is racing against time to prevent the occupation from implementing its plan to demolish the village homes.

He explained that the village, where a village council was established in 2013 to counter the occupation's plans, has a population of 150 people and covers an area of 1,500 dunams. Construction has been prohibited there for 32 years.

Al-Darawi pointed out that the occupation's ban on construction in the village forced approximately 100 residents to leave in search of housing.

He added that the occupation's policy aims to displace the village's residents and annex it to the borders of the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem. He noted that about two years ago, an Israeli court ruled to impose what is known as "Arnona" property tax on all homes in the village, for the previous six years, with each home being paid between NIS30,000 and NIS60,000.

The village of Al-Nu'man is located east of the Bethlehem Governorate, approximately 4.5 km from the city center. It is bordered to the east by the lands of the village of Al-Khas, to the north by the lands of the town of Sur Baher in occupied Jerusalem, and to the west and south by the city of Beit Sahour.

It is worth noting that the occupation authorities issued demolition notices to the homes the first time on January 26, and the second time on June 10 of this year.

K.T