Israeli Forces Demolish Structures in West Bank and Jerusalem

Israeli forces demolished an apartment building in the Silwan neighborhood of Jerusalem on Wednesday, continuing a policy of demolitions in the city, particularly in areas like Silwan, under the pretext of building without permits. The building, owned by the Badran family, consisted of three floors with four apartments totaling approximately 500 square meters. The family was ordered to evacuate the premises by Israeli police before the demolition. The building housed a widow and her disabled son, another resident, a family with five children, and a fourth apartment being prepared for a newlywed couple. A garage and a small room, covering about 50 square meters, were also included in the demolition order. Palestinian homes in occupied East Jerusalem, especially in Silwan, face frequent demolitions due to strict building permit restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces also demolished an inhabited house in the town of Nahalin, west of Bethlehem. The mayor of Nahalin stated that the house, approximately 200 square meters and inhabited for over 15 years, was destroyed by military vehicles and bulldozers. Nahalin has been subjected to ongoing actions by Israeli forces and settlers, including demolitions, land confiscation, and restrictions on urban expansion, as it is surrounded by settlements and settler roads.

Additionally, Israeli forces began bulldozing and demolishing several homes in Khirbet al-Tabban in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron. The Al-Bader human rights organization reported that all residences in the area were targeted, threatening the displacement of residents and exacerbating their suffering. These demolitions are part of a broader pattern in the West Bank aimed at displacing Palestinians.

According to data for August, Israeli authorities carried out 71 demolition operations, affecting 155 structures. This included 47 inhabited homes, 8 uninhabited homes, 33 livelihood-related structures, 61 agricultural structures, and 6 other facilities. Jenin Governorate recorded the highest number of demolitions with 29 structures, followed by Jericho and Hebron with 24 each, Nablus with 21, Ramallah and al-Bireh with 16, Jerusalem with 15, Bethlehem with 13, Tubas with 9, Tulkarm with 3, and Qalqilya with one.