Fiery protests break out in Bedouin village as cops raze illegal homes

Large plumes of smoke are seen over the northern Negev as Bedouin protesters demonstrate against police and Land Authority officials demolishing residential structures built without permits in the unrecognized village of As-Sir, south of Beersheba.

Large police forces are operating in the area “to assist the Land Authority in carrying out the court-issued demolition order, following multiple attempts to carry out the demolition through dialogue,” police say in a statement.

مصادر محلية| قوات الاحتلال تعتدي على المواطنين المحتجين على عمليات الهدم في قرية السر في النقب المحتل، وتلقي قنابل صوت لتفريقهم. pic.twitter.com/a8zRuTbh8M

— القسطل الإخباري (@AlQastalps) September 17, 2025

Police say dozens of local residents began to protest when cops arrived, setting fire to structures and tires. Police used stun grenades and tear gas on protesters in an attempt to disperse them, according to demonstrators. Videos show small scuffles breaking out between cops in riot gear and local men.

Joining the protesters, Arab Israeli MK Waleed Alhwashla claims police used excessive force from the moment they entered the village, inflaming tensions.

“They are not letting people express their pain; this is the policy of the government, this is the policy of Ben Gvir,” he says. “There was a directive from the [Southern] District to enter and use force against protesters. It is unacceptable.”

#متابعة | استمرار المواجهات في قرية السر في النقب بعد اقتحام الشرطة الإسرائيلية القرية لهدم نحو 50 منزلاً. pic.twitter.com/LDC7JDPHRg

— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) September 17, 2025

He calls on authorities to “conduct dialogue with people in a respectful way” by “giving options” to residents of the buildings facing demolition today.