Israel demolishes Palestinian homes in West Bank over permits
Israeli forces have demolished five Palestinian homes and an agricultural structure across the occupied West Bank, citing lack of building permits. The demolitions occurred in areas classified as Zone C under the Oslo Accords, where Palestinians face severe restrictions on construction and development.
Israeli military forces have demolished five Palestinian residential buildings and one agricultural structure across multiple locations in the occupied West Bank, according to witness accounts. The demolitions were carried out Monday under the justification that the structures lacked proper building permits from Israeli authorities.
Demolition Operations Across Multiple Towns
Witnesses reported that Israeli troops entered the town of al-Funduq, east of Qalqilya, and destroyed two two-story houses. In Jericho's Marj Ghazal village, forces demolished two additional homes using the same justification. Another house was razed in Furush Beit Dajan east of Nablus after residents were evacuated, while in Deir Ballut west of Salfit, bulldozers destroyed an agricultural shed. All targeted structures were located in areas designated as Zone C under the Oslo Accords.
Zone C Building Restrictions
The 1995 Oslo II Accord divided the West Bank into three administrative divisions, with Zone C comprising approximately 61 percent of the territory and remaining under full Israeli civil and security control. Palestinian authorities and human rights organizations consistently report that Israel rarely issues building permits to Palestinians in these areas, effectively preventing legal construction and land development while simultaneously expanding Israeli settlements.
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Broader Pattern of Demolitions and Casualties
According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Israeli authorities have carried out 1,014 demolition operations across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since October 2023. These actions have affected 3,679 structures, including 1,288 inhabited homes and 962 agricultural facilities. During the same period, Palestinian authorities report more than 1,057 fatalities, 10,300 injuries, and over 20,000 arrests in the West Bank, including 1,600 children. These developments follow the International Court of Justice's July opinion declaring Israel's occupation illegal.
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