Israel razes Al-Araqib for 241st time in ongoing Negev demolitions

Israeli bulldozers stormed the unrecognised Bedouin village of Al-Araqib in the Negev once again on Tuesday morning, demolishing homes and tents for the 241st time since 2010.

Residents say the aim is clear: to break their resolve and force them off their ancestral land. This marks the seventh demolition in 2025 alone. In previous years, the village was razed 11 times in both 2024 and 2023, 15 times in 2022, and 14 times in 2021.

The Israeli authorities first destroyed Al-Araqib on 27 July 2010. The last raid occurred less than a month ago, on 7 May 2025.

While Al-Araqib remains a symbol of Bedouin resistance, it is not the only target. Israeli forces continue to carry out demolitions across Palestinian communities inside the 1948 territories, citing “lack of permits” — a claim widely criticised as a pretext to dispossess Palestinian citizens.