JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Large forces from the Israel Border Police and the Israeli Civil Administration operated last night (Monday) at the “Givat Shirat Zion” outpost, north of Kedumim, and demolished the structures there. The operation took place just one day after the Malkiel family moved into one of the buildings on the hill.

According to residents, the forces arrived during the night and ordered the family to leave the house within a short time. After the residents evacuated, heavy machinery began demolishing the structures, following an order by the commander of the Israel Defense Forces Central Command, Major General Avi Bluth.

Residents claim that although they were told they would be given time to remove personal belongings from the house, the demolition was carried out quickly and the structure was destroyed together with its contents. According to them, furniture, clothing, and household items that remained inside the building were also destroyed.

Residents said: “We woke up to loud knocking on the door. Police were standing at the entrance to the house and ordered us to leave within minutes, and then smashed the house to pieces.”

They added: “It’s absurd that during a war, and after it was reported that offensive activities in villages in Judea and Samaria had been halted, security forces are being directed to demolish family homes at frontline points. It feels like someone in the security leadership doesn’t know how to aim the weapon properly—we are not the enemy.”

The Malkiel family, who moved to the hill earlier this week, said after the demolition:

“We moved here to live in challenging conditions in order to strengthen the pioneering settlement in this place. We are not willing to accept the persecution of the settlement movement. We will continue settling the land and will not despair. The train of the redemption of the land has already left the station, anyone who wants is welcome to get on. It will reach its destination even if people try to put sticks in its wheels. In Shirat Zion there will one day be a large and flourishing community, with God’s help.”

The “Givat Shirat Zion” outpost was established about four months ago in the area north of Kedumim. The site is named after Shir Hajjaj, an Israeli lieutenant who was murdered in the 2017 Jerusalem truck attack at Armon HaNatziv in Jerusalem in 2017.

According to the residents, establishing the outpost is a significant step in an area without a Jewish presence, connecting the communities of Kedumim and Shavei Shomron.

On the ridge where the hilltop outpost was established are remains of an ancient Jewish village from the Second Temple period. At the site, houses and guard towers, ancient water pools, and a ritual bath (mikveh) were discovered. According to the residents, these remains were saved from antiquities looting thanks to the establishment of the outpost.

Residents also noted that there are many quarries in the area, which archaeologists believe were used to quarry stones for the biblical city of Samaria (Sebastia).

After the initial stage of establishing the site, which included opening access paths and setting up basic infrastructure, the area was prepared for a family to move in.

According to the residents, living conditions on the hill are challenging, partly due to the lack of a regular water line and reliance on limited solar electricity, which does not allow adequate heating or meet other basic needs.