On the beginning of 2026, The Israeli authorities have issued a demolition order affecting the Aida refugee camp youth football/playground — even as local leaders and community members insist the land is legally leased and owned by the community through the Armenian church:

Children arriving for training found the notice pinned to the gate. More than 500 children regularly train there, and local officials described it as their only open space in the cramped camp.

Bethlehem’s former mayor said the municipality leased the land from the Armenian Church and then allowed the camp’s committee to manage it — contradicting the Israeli claim that it was unauthorized.