The Story of Susiya: Resistance and Resilience in the Face of Demolition
July 2015
Gazing out over the rolling hills, an elderly Palestinian man pointed to the jagged stumps of his olive trees, recently hacked down by Israeli settlers occupying the land illegally. The destruction wasn’t random — it was a deliberate act in a sustained effort to push Palestinians in the West Bank from their homes. Nearby, a young Israeli soldier stood at a checkpoint, her gaze deliberately averted, unwilling to meet the man’s anguish. When he confronted her, demanding to know why nothing was done to stop this criminal act, she responded with silence, before calling for backup.
For the villagers of Susiya, this silent complicity is a painfully familiar reality.
Susiya, a small village in the South Hebron Hills of the West Bank, is home to around 350 Palestinians. Their modest tents and makeshift shelters stand in stark contrast to the adjacent Israeli settlement, where rows of well-built brick houses reflect a life of relative comfort. While settlers expand their foothold, the people of Susiya live under the looming threat of eviction and demolition.
On May 15, 2015, Israel’s High Court of Justice authorized the military to demolish the entire village and forcibly relocate its residents to Area A of the Occupied Territories. It was the latest blow in a years-long campaign of displacement.
For the villagers, who have faced repeated demolitions and endured the destruction of their homes, farmland, and water sources, the looming arrival of bulldozers is a grim certainty. Yet, even as they brace for the worst, the people of Susiya remain determined to hold on to their land, refusing to be erased.
A History of Displacement
Susiya’s struggle is not new. In 1986, residents were expelled from their original village site when Israeli authorities declared the area a National Archaeological Park. Displaced from their ancestral homes, the villagers relocated to their agricultural lands, determined to remain on their property. However, in 2001, the Israeli army demolished the village once again, destroying tents, caves, cisterns, and agricultural plots. Livestock were killed, and essential resources were obliterated.
Despite the destruction, the villagers refused to leave. They rebuilt Susiya using tents and caves, sustaining their agricultural traditions and asserting their right to the land.
Over the years, the Israeli authorities have issued dozens of demolition orders, citing a lack of building permits—permits that are nearly impossible for Palestinians in Area C to obtain.
The Threat of Imminent Demolition
On July 15, 2015, Susiya community spokesman Nasser Nawajaa received formal notification from the Israeli military detailing the planned demolition of over 30 structures. Among the structures listed were residential tents, a school, a health clinic, and solar panels—the village’s sole source of electricity, funded by European governments.
Twenty-one of the buildings slated for destruction were directly supported by European donors, highlighting the international investment in Susiya’s survival. Despite this support, the demolition is expected to proceed before August 3, 2015, the date set for a High Court of Justice appeal hearing.
Living Under Constant Threat
Life in Susiya is marked by extreme hardship. The village has no access to running water or electricity, relying instead on solar panels and rainwater collection. Regular harassment and violence from settlers add to the villagers’ challenges. Olive trees are frequently uprooted or destroyed, and Palestinian farmers face physical assaults when attempting to tend to their lands.
The proximity of the Israeli settlement, established in 1983, has further exacerbated tensions. Armed settlers often restrict Palestinians from accessing agricultural fields, while the Israeli military imposes severe movement restrictions. Speaking about the reality of settler violence, Nasser Nawajaa remarked, “There is no justice here for the Palestinians. They (Israeli settlers) try to make pressure to move the Palestinians outside.”
A Legal Battle and a Fight for Survival
In 2014, the villagers, supported by the Israeli human rights organization Rabbis for Human Rights, submitted a master plan for the legal development of Susiya. The plan aimed to provide adequate housing, educational facilities, and infrastructure for the community.
However, the Israeli Civil Administration rejected the proposal, arguing that the villagers would have a better quality of life if they relocated to the nearby town of Yatta.
This rejection is emblematic of Israel’s broader policy in Area C, which seeks to consolidate control over Palestinian land through settlement expansion and the displacement of Palestinian communities.
By systematically denying building permits and issuing demolition orders, Israeli authorities aim to facilitate the growth of settlements while erasing Palestinian presence.
A Community Determined to Resist
Despite the looming threat, the people of Susiya remain resolute. They continue to resist forced displacement through legal action and international advocacy. Supported by activists, diplomats, and human rights organizations, the villagers have drawn global attention to their plight.
For the families of Susiya, the land represents more than just a home—it is a connection to their heritage, livelihood, and identity. As they await the arrival of the bulldozers, they cling to the hope that justice will prevail, and that they will be able to remain on their land.
“We will stay,” says Nawajaa. “We will resist peacefully, and we will not give up our right to live here. This is our home.”
The fate of Susiya remains uncertain, but the resilience of its people continues to inspire solidarity and support from around the world. As the appeal hearing approaches, all eyes are on the Israeli courts—and on the small village fighting to save itself from destruction.
