IDF decides not to investigate illegal expulsion of Palestinian families by soldiers in West Bank

Soldiers outside Bilal Maharik’s house, 27 February 2025

Hagar Shezaf reports in Haaretz on 4 March 2025:

The Israel Defense Forces has decided not to launch a Military Police investigation into the actions of soldiers who expelled Palestinian families near the West Bank settlement of Beit Arye last week, instead opting to reprimand the troops and clarify procedures despite officials acknowledging that they breached protocol and acted on their own initiative.

Following threats from soldiers, five Palestinian families near the Beit Arye settlement were expelled from their homes over the weekend; another family that owns a farm in the area remained in place.

The soldiers’ actions were illegal since the expulsion was carried out without a warrant and on the initiative of soldiers who were not authorized to enforce such measures.  Attorney Roni Pelli of the Yesh Din – Volunteers for Human Rights organization, told Haaretz, “Beyond the fact that expulsion is illegal under international law and could amount to a war crime, in this case it’s also illegal under the military’s regulations.”

“Like any state authority, the army is only permitted to act within the law, or in this case, based on a warrant,” she added. “The soldiers decided to expel the community without any legal basis and without any warrant being issued.”

Regarding the IDF’s decision not to open an investigation, Pelli said, “It’s another testament to a culture of granting immunity to soldiers who harm Palestinians and their property and avoiding law enforcement against them.”

The soldiers who expelled the Palestinian families are reservists serving in a battalion stationed near Beit Arye. According to the families, the soldiers informed them last week that they had a week to leave, and then returned every few days to repeat the demand. On Thursday morning, the soldiers told the families they had four hours to depart, and some complied.

The expelled families lived in structures within an area designated by the military as a firing zone, although it is inactive. Aerial photographs show that the families have been residing there since at least 2007. In recent years, a settlement called Avichai Farm has been built nearby, also within the firing zone.

A statement by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said, “The preliminary investigation into the incident indicates that there was a breach of procedure, and it will be handled. In general, the enforcement of planning and building laws, including removing buildings in firing zones, is only carried out by authorized parties, based on an order, the law and the powers granted to the local authorities.”  It added that these were “illegal buildings built in a firing zone.”

The expelled families lived in structures within an area designated by the military as a firing zone, although it is inactive. Aerial photographs show that the families have been residing there since at least 2007. In recent years, a settlement called Avichai Farm has been built nearby, also within the firing zone.

The Palestinian residents believe the attempt to expel them is connected to the settlement. The soldiers also tried to expel another Palestinian family whose farm is located in the area, despite it not being placed within the firing zone.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit declined to comment on the reasons behind the decision to refrain from opening a Military Police investigation.

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