Israel Expels 66 Palestinian Villages in West Bank Since October 2023, Says Rights Group

Israeli rights group B’Tselem has reported that Israeli forces have forcibly expelled residents from 66 Palestinian villages in the West Bank since October 2023. The group’s latest finding focuses on the village of Khirbet al-Taban in the southern West Bank, where all homes were demolished. According to B’Tselem, the demolition displaced about 70 Palestinians, including 28 children. The village was completely leveled, leaving no structures standing. The rights group said the action is part of a broader pattern of forced displacement across the West Bank over the past year. B’Tselem documented that the 66 villages affected have seen their populations removed through home demolitions, military orders, or pressure from settlers. No official comment from Israeli authorities was included in the report. The group’s statement did not specify whether the evacuations were temporary or permanent, but it described the demolitions as “forcible expulsion.” The report highlights ongoing tensions in the region, with international law generally prohibiting the forced transfer of civilians in occupied territory.