Palestinian Shopkeeper Alleges Israeli Forces Seized Home and Set It Ablaze
After Israeli troops occupied his West Bank home and shop for over three months, a man returned to find them burnt, vandalized and looted.
Overview
Nasser Faratawi, a West Bank party shop owner in Tulkarm, found his store and family apartment ravaged by fire and vandalism after Israeli military occupation.
Occupation and Destruction
On March 3, the Israel Defense Forces ordered the Faratawis to leave their three-floor home, using it as a military base during operations in nearby refugee camps. After more than three months, residents allege soldiers set the building ablaze, destroying furniture and ripping out decorations.
Graffiti, including lewd drawings, was scrawled across walls, and every page of a Quran was torn.
Regional Tensions Escalate
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations in the West Bank have increased, targeting militants but often displacing civilians. The UN reports over 900 Palestinian fatalities and widespread property damage, while Israeli authorities cite security needs.
Humanitarian Impact
In late June, UN OCHA documented some 267 homes seized for short-term military use, affecting over 1,300 Palestinians who frequently returned to vandalized properties.
In urban camps such as Jenin, Nur Shams and Tulkarm, around 40,000 residents were displaced when the army declared them "terror strongholds", and roughly 30,000 remain unable to return.
Personal Losses and Appeal
Back in his home, Faratawi estimates losses at $700,000. He has no income after his shop burned and fears no compensation from Israeli authorities. The cash-strapped Palestinian Authority cannot fund repairs, leaving families in limbo.
"I’m an ordinary businessman seeking peace," he says. "I never had a weapon in my house. I want to live in peace, but they don’t want peace."
The seizure and burning of Faratawi’s property underscores the wider humanitarian cost of military operations in the West Bank.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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