Israeli forces have destroyed a village in the country's southern Negev region for the 119th time.
Residents of al-Araqib village said that armed forces and riot police stormed into the village with bulldozers at 7:15am on Tuesday, razing its remaining buildings to the ground.
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WATCH: Israel to demolish Bedouin homes in Palestinian village (01:56)
"They stormed in and destroyed everything, every single building, every single home," village leader Siyah al-Touri told Al Jaz
The village, home to around 220 people, was first demolished on July 27, 2010. Since then, displaced residents have sought help from local activists to rebuild.
"We're now living in makeshift homes, thanks to the state's racist and criminal policies," al-Touri said.
"They want to forcibly move us and do not comprehend that we are citizens of the state. They don't recognise us, and if they did, they would have granted us our rights."
Israeli authorities regularly carry out demolition orders in the Negev, arguing that these villages lack building permits, but residents say it is impossible to obtain a permit to build legally. Al-Araqib is one of some 40 "unrecognised" Bedouin villages in southern Israel that are under existential threat.
"No matter what, we will remain on our ancestors' lands," al-Touri said. "Our cemetery has been here since 1914, and we have six water wells that we aren't even allowed to drink from."
The last time al-Araqib underwent a demolition order was on September 14. Demolition orders against the village are executed on a monthly basis.
An estimated 200,000 Bedouins live in Israel, centred mainly in the country's southern region. They are often denied state services, including water, electricity and educational facilities.
Israel plans to relocate the residents of unrecognised villages to planned townships. The process of replacing Bedouin villages with Jewish-only towns is under way, with villages such as Umm al-Hiran being slated for demolition.
A lawyer representing al-Araqib's residents said that they had rejected a court order stating that they did not have ownership of the land and that it was lent to them by the state.o
Residents of al-Araqib village said that armed forces and riot police stormed into the village with bulldozers at 7:15am on Tuesday, razing its remaining buildings to the ground.
Play Video
WATCH: Israel to demolish Bedouin homes in Palestinian village (01:56)
"They stormed in and destroyed everything, every single building, every single home," village leader Siyah al-Touri told Al Jaz
eera.
The village, home to around 220 people, was first demolished on July 27, 2010. Since then, displaced residents have sought help from local activists to rebuild.
"We're now living in makeshift homes, thanks to the state's racist and criminal policies," al-Touri said.
"They want to forcibly move us and do not comprehend that we are citizens of the state. They don't recognise us, and if they did, they would have granted us our rights."
Israeli authorities regularly carry out demolition orders in the Negev, arguing that these villages lack building permits, but residents say it is impossible to obtain a permit to build legally. Al-Araqib is one of some 40 "unrecognised" Bedouin villages in southern Israel that are under existential threat.
"No matter what, we will remain on our ancestors' lands," al-Touri said. "Our cemetery has been here since 1914, and we have six water wells that we aren't even allowed to drink from."
The last time al-Araqib underwent a demolition order was on September 14. Demolition orders against the village are executed on a monthly basis.
An estimated 200,000 Bedouins live in Israel, centred mainly in the country's southern region. They are often denied state services, including water, electricity and educational facilities.
Israel plans to relocate the residents of unrecognised villages to planned townships. The process of replacing Bedouin villages with Jewish-only towns is under way, with villages such as Umm al-Hiran being slated for demolition.
A lawyer representing al-Araqib's residents said that they had rejected a court order stating that they did not have ownership of the land and that it was lent to them by the state.o
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