Israeli Defence Forces Demolish Residential Buildings In West bank Jerusalem, Displacing Dozens

Last Updated:December 22, 2025, 19:25 IST

IDFdemolished a 13-apartment building in East Jerusalem, displacing Palestinians and sparking condemnation amid escalating tensions and settlement expansion in the West Bank.

IDFdemolished a 13-apartment building in East Jerusalem, displacing Palestinians and sparking condemnation amid escalating tensions and settlement expansion in the West Bank. (Pic: Reuters)

Israeli forces fired stun grenades and tear gas on Monday as they oversaw the demolition of a multi-storey residential building in East Jerusalem, displacing dozens of Palestinians and drawing condemnation from Palestinian officials and rights groups.

Three bulldozers razed a four-storey structure containing 13 apartments in the Wadi Qaddum area of the Silwan district, just south of the Old City of Jerusalem, according to local reporters. Activists described it as the largest demolition in East Jerusalem this year.

Israeli security forces sealed off surrounding roads, deployed heavily across the neighbourhood and positioned personnel on nearby rooftops. During the operation, a young man and a teenage boy were arrested, witnesses said.

Residents were told the demolition order had been issued because the building was constructed without a permit. Palestinian residents and advocacy groups argue that obtaining building permits in East Jerusalem is exceedingly difficult due to restrictive planning policies, which they say contribute to widespread demolitions.

‘Systematic Policy of Displacement’

The Jerusalem Governorate, affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, condemned the demolition, calling it part of a broader effort to displace Palestinians from the city.

“The destruction of this building is part of a systematic policy aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinian residents and emptying the city of its original inhabitants," the governorate said in a statement, adding that demolitions pave the way for settlement expansion.

Israeli human rights organisations Ir Amim and Bimkom said the demolition was carried out without prior warning, despite a meeting scheduled for the same day to discuss steps to legalise the building. They said around 100 families in East Jerusalem have lost their homes this year, describing Monday’s action as the largest demolition of 2025.

The Jerusalem Municipality said the demolition was based on a court order issued in 2014. Israel’s jurisdiction over East Jerusalem is not recognised by much of the international community.

Wider Escalation in the West Bank

Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces reportedly damaged agricultural land and uprooted trees in the northern town of Silat al-Harithiya.

In Halhul, north of Hebron, Israeli troops entered multiple neighbourhoods with military vehicles, deployed sniper teams and set up positions across the city, according to local journalists. Checkpoints linking Halhul to Hebron were temporarily closed.

The demolition comes amid a broader escalation across the West Bank since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023. Palestinian authorities say more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed, about 11,000 wounded and over 21,000 arrested in the territory during this period.

Israel’s security cabinet has also approved the recognition of 19 new settlements in the West Bank, taking the total approved this year to 69, as the government presses ahead with its settlement policy.

News world Israeli Defence Forces Demolish Residential Buildings In West bank Jerusalem, Displacing Dozens

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