Israeli Army Home Takeover: A Palestinian Family’s Devastating Story
The Israeli army home takeover in Tulkarm, West Bank, has left one Palestinian family reeling from destruction, humiliation, and financial ruin. What was once a thriving family property, housing luxury apartments and a bustling party business, now lies in ashes after months of military occupation.
Israeli Army Home Takeover: Nasser’s Life Shattered
When the Israeli military arrived at the Faratawi family property on 3 March, they gave the family less than two hours to evacuate. For more than three months, soldiers occupied the building, using it as a base during operations near the Tulkarm refugee camp.
“They took it as an army base, lived in it like a hotel, and then set it on fire,” recalls owner Nasser Faratawi. The once-celebrated party shop where locals decorated cars for weddings is now charred ruins. His luxury apartments are vandalized with lewd graffiti, broken furniture, and torn holy books.
“They came and destroyed me… because I am Palestinian,” Nasser says.
Israeli Army Home Takeover: From Business to Ashes
On 11 June, Nasser watched helplessly from a distance as flames engulfed his shop. His neighborhood remained a closed military zone, preventing him from intervening. By the time he was allowed back, decades of work had vanished.
He estimates his total losses at nearly $700,000, including destroyed stock, furniture, and property damage.
Israeli Army Home Takeover: IDF’s Response
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC that they were “not aware of any arson committed by its troops at the site” but acknowledged a complaint had been filed.
Their statement emphasized that “the destruction of civilian property by soldiers is contrary to IDF values” and promised that deviations from orders would be investigated. However, no comment was offered on the obscene graffiti left in the family’s home.
Israeli Army Home Takeover Amid Rising West Bank Tensions
While global attention has focused on the war in Gaza since October 2023, the West Bank has also seen escalating violence.
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More than 900 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers.
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Over 60 Israelis have died in attacks and clashes in the same period.
The IDF says occupying civilian homes is sometimes necessary “to dismantle terror infrastructure,” citing operational needs. But for families like Nasser’s, this practice often leaves lasting devastation.
Israeli Army Home Takeover: Widespread Practice Documented
According to the UN’s humanitarian office (OCHA), Israeli forces took over 267 Palestinian homes in late June alone, sometimes for days at a time. More than 1,300 people were affected, many returning to vandalized or destroyed homes.
In Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarm refugee camps, areas labeled as “terror strongholds” by Israel—tens of thousands of residents have been displaced. Bulldozers have carved military routes through dense neighborhoods, making return nearly impossible for many families.
Israeli Army Home Takeover: A Ghost Town in Tulkarm
From Nasser’s balcony, the destruction of the nearby refugee camp is clear. What was once home to more than 10,000 people is now a landscape of demolished houses and bulldozer paths.
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) estimates that more than 150 homes have been demolished in Tulkarm alone. Across the West Bank, over 1,400 demolition orders have been issued since January.
UNRWA is now providing emergency shelter, health services, and online schooling for displaced residents.
Israeli Army Home Takeover: Human Cost and No Compensation
For Nasser, the losses are not only financial but deeply personal. His destroyed business leaves him unable to support his two children studying medicine abroad.
“I love peace. I never had a weapon in my house. But they don’t want peace,” he says.
While he could file a complaint with Israeli authorities, past evidence suggests compensation is unlikely. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority, once a source of aid for such cases, is financially crippled and unable to help.
Israeli Army Home Takeover: International Attention Needed
This Israeli army home takeover highlights a broader issue of property rights violations in occupied territories. Human rights organizations and UN bodies continue to call for investigations into the treatment of Palestinian civilians.
Without international pressure and accountability, families like Nasser’s face not only the loss of their homes but also the erasure of their livelihoods and dignity.
Conclusion: Israeli Army Home Takeover as a Symbol of Struggle
The story of the Faratawi family is just one of hundreds across the West Bank. The Israeli army home takeover left behind ashes, graffiti, and broken lives. For Nasser, the damage may be irreparable, but his voice adds to the growing outcry for justice and accountability in occupied Palestine.
