By Sama Marwan,
In a heartbreaking yet resilient scene, Palestinian Haitham Dababseh bends down over the piles of stones that once formed his home—not to surrender, but to rebuild. The occupation destroyed his house, his barn, and the cave where his father was born 86 years ago. But the spirit of survival was never crushed.
In one of the largest demolition operations in decades, Israeli bulldozers swept through the village of Khirbet Khilet al-Dab’a in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, demolishing over 25 structures in just a few hours.
More than 120 Palestinians, including 38 children, were left without shelter, electricity, or water.
The occupation justifies the demolition by claiming it’s a “military zone,” but the harsh truth is: it’s a systematic plan to expel residents and seize the land for settlements.
But what remains after the wall is torn down? The wall of resilience stands tall.
Haitham Dababseh and other residents set up tents among the rubble and declared:
“We will never leave the land that raised us. We will not abandon the graves of our ancestors—even if the sky becomes our only shelter.”
Tonight, children sleep on the ground, but dream of a homeland full of light.
Women bake over firewood, and men rebuild the story from under the ashes.
There may be no walls, but there is a belonging stronger than concrete… called Palestine.
“They demolished our house… but they won’t demolish our existence.” – a phrase echoing in every corner of the village today.
A message from Khilet al-Dab’a to the world:
We are not just numbers in the news. We are human beings who love, plant, raise families, and dream of a free homeland.
Here, spirits don’t break… Here, freedom is sown with patience, and resistance grows in the hearts of children.
