Israeli forces have carried out a major demolition operation in the occupied West Bank, leveling a four-storey residential building in East Jerusalem and displacing dozens of Palestinians. Palestinian officials condemned the operation as part of a systematic policy of displacement in the territory.

The demolition took place on December 22, 2025, in the Wadi Qaddum neighborhood of the Silwan district, south of Jerusalem’s Old City, marking the largest residential demolition of the year in the area.

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Details of the Demolition

Three Israeli army bulldozers destroyed the building, which contained 13 apartments, while soldiers fired stun grenades and tear gas. Israeli forces heavily cordoned off surrounding streets, deployed personnel on rooftops, and arrested a young man and a teenage boy during the operation.

Authorities claimed the demolition was carried out because the building was constructed without a permit, a common issue for Palestinians in East Jerusalem. Activists argue that Israel’s restrictive planning policies make it extremely difficult for Palestinians to obtain building permits, effectively displacing residents and facilitating settlement expansion.

“The building’s destruction is part of a systematic policy aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinian residents and emptying the city of its original inhabitants,” said the Jerusalem governorate, affiliated with the Palestinian Authority.

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Context: Settlement Expansion

Israel’s security cabinet recently approved 19 new settlements in the West Bank, bringing the total approved this year to 69. Human rights groups, including Ir Amim and Bimkom, highlighted that around 100 East Jerusalem families have lost their homes in 2025 alone.

The Jerusalem municipality, which administers East Jerusalem under Israeli law but is not internationally recognized, cited a 2014 court order as justification for the demolition. Critics argue that demolitions are often carried out without warning, even when residents seek to legalize structures through official channels.

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Escalation Across the West Bank

Beyond East Jerusalem, Israeli forces have intensified operations elsewhere in the West Bank:

• In Silat al-Harithiya, northern West Bank, agricultural land was damaged, and trees uprooted.
• In Halhul, north of Hebron, Israeli forces deployed sniper teams, military vehicles, and took control of multiple neighborhoods, closing key checkpoints linking the city to Hebron.

Since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023, attacks by Israeli forces and settlers have sharply increased in the West Bank. Palestinian figures report:

• 1,102 killed
• 11,000 wounded
• 21,000+ arrested

The escalations highlight ongoing tensions between Palestinians and Israeli authorities, particularly in contested areas such as East Jerusalem, and reflect a broader trend of displacement and settlement expansion.

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Humanitarian and Political Implications

The latest demolitions have drawn international attention, with Palestinian authorities describing them as part of a long-term occupation plan. Residents and activists warn that these actions exacerbate humanitarian crises, disrupt communities, and hinder prospects for peaceful coexistence in the region.

Human rights organizations emphasize the need for global scrutiny of Israeli policies in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, particularly regarding evictions, settlement expansion, and access to building permits for Palestinian families.