The key facts

  • The Israeli army occupied the home of a Palestinian with US citizenship in Turmus Aya and barred him from entering
  • The military cited a document in Hebrew which, according to the owner, contains no court order
  • The family has received no explanation of the reasons for or the duration of the soldiers' presence

Owner Barred from His Own Home

The Israeli army on Thursday barred a Palestinian with American citizenship from entering his home in the town of Turmus Aya in the occupied West Bank north of Ramallah, and also used tear gas in the area. The homeowner himself recounted this to the Anadolu Agency in an interview.

What the Owner Said

Naji Abu Awad, who permanently lives in the American state of Texas, said he arrived in his hometown with an American flag and luggage and headed to his home, but Israeli soldiers stationed inside did not let him in. When he asked why they were in the house and how long they intended to stay, the soldiers replied that the area had been declared a military zone and that he was forbidden to be there, and also threatened him with arrest.

Grounds and Duration of the Military Presence

According to Abu Awad, the military justified their presence in the house with a document written in Hebrew, but, he claimed, it contains neither a court ruling nor permission to be on the property. He said Israeli forces first entered the house on October 25, opening the gates. At that time he communicated with the soldiers through surveillance cameras, telling them that his family was in Texas and that his brother was inside the house and could open the door for a search, and asked them not to damage the property. After that the cameras were switched off; the soldiers returned the next day and have been in the house ever since, without explaining the reasons to the family or stating when they would leave.

Context

Abu Awad called being unable to enter his own home 'the worst feeling in life,' adding that he could not find words to describe his emotions. According to the agency, the Israeli army frequently occupies Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank, evicting residents and using them as temporary military outposts, citing security considerations. Raids and attacks on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank have intensified since October 2023, with the start of the war in Gaza: they include killings and arrests, demolition of homes and property, arson of mosques and cars, plowing of agricultural land, restricting farmers' access to their fields, displacement of the population, and expansion of settlements. Palestinians warn that such measures pave the way for the formal annexation of the West Bank and undermine the prospect of creating a Palestinian state in accordance with UN resolutions.