Palestinian American says Israeli army bars him from entering his West Bank home

The Israeli army prevented a Palestinian American man from entering his home in the occupied West Bank town of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah, on Thursday and fired tear gas in the area, the homeowner told Anadolu. Naji Abu Awad, who lives in the US state of Texas, said he arrived in his hometown carrying an American flag and his luggage and went to his house, but Israeli troops stationed inside prevented him from entering. He said he asked the soldiers why they were in his home and how long they intended to remain there, but was told the area had been designated a military zone and that he was not allowed to stay there.

The soldiers also threatened to arrest him, he added. The troops justified their presence in the house with a document written in Hebrew, but Abu Awad maintained that it contained neither a court order nor authorization allowing them to remain on the property. He said Israeli forces first entered the house on Oct. 25 after opening its gate. Abu Awad said he spoke to the soldiers through surveillance cameras and told them that his family members were in Texas and that his brother was inside the house and could open the door if they wanted to search it, asking them not to damage the property.

The forces then disabled the surveillance cameras, returned the following day and have remained in the house since, without telling the family why they are there or when they intend to leave, he said. Abu Awad described being prevented from entering his own home as “the worst feeling ever,” saying he was unable to put his emotions into words. The Israeli army has frequently taken over Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank, ordering residents out and using the properties as temporary military posts, citing security reasons.

Israeli army raids and attacks by Israeli occupiers against Palestinians and their property across the occupied West Bank have intensified since the start of the Gaza genocide in October 2023. The attacks have included killings and arrests, home and property demolitions, the burning of mosques and vehicles, the bulldozing of agricultural land, restrictions preventing farmers from reaching their fields, displacement and the expansion of illegal settlements.

Palestinians warn that such measures are paving the way for Israel to formally annex the occupied West Bank, undermining the prospect of establishing a Palestinian state in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.