The key facts
- A house with seven apartments, home to 35 Palestinians from the Abu Laba family, was demolished; the reason was construction without a permit
- The Jerusalem Governorate reports the owners were beaten and a car was smashed; no information on injuries is available
- According to Palestinian statistics, 341 demolition operations were carried out in the West Bank in the first half of 2026, affecting 740 structures
Demolition of a House Near Qalandia Camp
Israeli forces on Wednesday demolished a residential building with seven apartments in the Al-Wad area, next to a quarry near the Qalandia refugee camp north of occupied East Jerusalem. According to the Jerusalem Governorate, the reason given was construction without a permit. Thirty-five Palestinians lived in the building and were left homeless after the demolition. According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, the apartments belonged to the Abu Laba family.
Reports of Violence During the Demolition
The Governorate stated that Israeli forces beat the owners of the house and smashed a car during the demolition. There was no immediate information on whether these actions resulted in injuries.
Context of Restrictions and Demolition Statistics
Israeli authorities severely restrict the issuance of building permits to Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem. In June, Human Rights Watch reported that obtaining such a permit for Palestinians in East Jerusalem and areas of the West Bank under full Israeli control is virtually impossible.
Data for the First Half of 2026
According to an October report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, citing the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, in the first half of 2026 Israeli authorities carried out 341 demolition operations in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The demolitions affected 740 Palestinian structures, including residential and under-construction homes, commercial and agricultural facilities, and sources of livelihood. During the same period, 254 demolition notices were issued, 34 of them in the Jerusalem Governorate.
Overall Situation
The demolitions are taking place against the backdrop of escalating Israeli measures against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Palestinian and international organizations warn of consequences in the form of population displacement and loss of livelihoods.
