Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Buraq Wall in occupied Jerusalem on December 16, coinciding with Hanukkah, which the Jerusalem Governorate described as a new provocative step, according to a statement reported by Al Jazeera Arabic. In northern Samaria, Major General Avi Belot, commander of the Central Command, ordered the demolition of a number of buildings in the Nur al-Shams camp due to a clear operational need, the Israel Defense Forces stated on December 16. The IDF described the camps as centers of gravity for terrorist activity. The IDF reported that forces continue to locate ammunition, weapons, and explosive devices in the camps even today, a year after the start of operations there, including additional new explosives found in the past month. Earlier this week, the Civil Administration informed Nur al-Shams residents of the intent to demolish the buildings, providing an opportunity to evacuate belongings. The IDF noted that the demolition decision was made after serious consideration, minimizing the extent to the required minimum and evaluating alternatives, as part of efforts to shape the area and prevent terrorists from re-establishing themselves in northern Samaria.
