A report prepared by the National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements stated that the policy of demolishing citizens’ homes in occupied Jerusalem and other areas of the West Bank is returning to the forefront of events, but with greater momentum under pressure from parties in the ruling coalition in Israel, especially the “Religious Zionism” party headed by Bezalel Smotrich and “Jewish Power” party headed by Itamar Ben Gvir, and with the active participation of influential parties in the Likud party and the “Land of Israel Lobby” coalition in the Israeli Knesset.
The office added in its weekly settlement report issued today, Saturday, that the occupation authorities notified the residents of the village of Al-Nu'man (Khallet Al-Nu'man) last Sunday of the demolition of all the village's homes, in preparation for annexing it to the borders of the occupied city of Jerusalem. It consists of 45 homes threatened with demolition on the pretext of lacking a license, after the occupation municipality in Jerusalem stormed the village and distributed demolition notices.
The head of the local council in the village, Jamal Al-Darawi, explained that the demolition decisions came under the pretext of lack of a permit, noting that the village was built before 1948 on an area of 1,500 dunams, with a population of about 150 people in houses built of old stone.
The village of Khallet al-Nu'man is located on the southeastern edge of the city of Jerusalem, hundreds of meters north of the city of Beit Sahour. It was inhabited by the first Palestinians in the thirties of the last century.
In 1967, after the occupation of the West Bank, Israel registered the villagers as residents of the West Bank and did not issue them Israeli identity cards, as is the case with most Palestinians living in those areas of Jerusalem and its environs that Israel later annexed, and continued to treat them as “illegal residents.”
Based on this position, the occupation authorities prevented the villagers from being present in the neighborhoods and villages that were annexed to Jerusalem. In this case, the Jerusalem Municipality refused to provide them with the necessary services such as water, sewage networks and garbage disposal. It also refrained from establishing maps and plans for the village’s infrastructure and structure, which prevented the residents from obtaining building permits. This situation continued in the lives of the villagers for many years.
The construction of the racist separation wall, which was built by the occupation forces after the Al-Aqsa Intifada along the southern borders of the city, exacerbated the deterioration of the situation in this village, which was isolated by the wall from the city of Beit Sahour and the rest of the villages and towns of the West Bank in an attempt to displace its residents.
These days, the village of Khallet al-Nu'man is not alone in facing plans for demolition, displacement and ethnic cleansing. Alongside it, the residents of the town of Silwan are threatened by the same plan.
Last Sunday, hundreds of the town’s residents held a sit-in in front of the municipality in Jerusalem, protesting the policy of house demolitions and eviction orders carried out by the occupation forces against the town’s residents. Activists from the Israeli left participated in the sit-in, raising banners denouncing the house demolitions and demanding that they be stopped.
The town of Silwan is not like the village of Khallet al-Nu'man. It is a large town in which about 59,000 Jerusalemites live. The current threat of forced displacement surrounds about 7,500 citizens, who live in 6 neighborhoods.
These people are threatened with either having their homes demolished under the pretext of building without a permit, or with being displaced for the benefit of Israeli colonial associations.
According to the Jerusalem Governorate, the occupation authorities had carried out 320 demolitions, including more than 87 in the town of Silwan between October 2023 and November 2024, and that there are more than 30,000 properties in East Jerusalem threatened with demolition, which will lead to displacement and cause great losses in the lives of tens of thousands of Jerusalemites.
The Jerusalem Governorate estimates that there are 22,000 homes and facilities in East Jerusalem, including 7,000 in the town of Silwan, which the municipality, or the so-called “District Committee for Building and Planning,” claims are illegal, and that a number of homes and facilities were demolished without notice, or without waiting for a “judicial” decision regarding the demolition.
The governorate stated that the town of Silwan in particular is being systematically targeted, especially the neighborhoods of Al-Bustan, Wadi Al-Rababa, and Wadi Qaddum, due to their proximity to Al-Aqsa Mosque, in order to implement the occupation’s plans to establish what are called “Biblical Gardens” and what is called “King’s Garden” on the ruins of homes and on the lands of the neighborhood’s owners.
The number of demolition notices that the occupation authorities and municipality plan to implement increases from year to year. Before October 7, 2023, there were 25,000 demolition notices in Jerusalem. After that date, the total number of notices increased by about 7,000, becoming 32,000, after Itamar Ben Gvir received the entire file.
According to the report, the year 2023 witnessed the demolition of about 150 residential buildings, 70 of which were self-demolitions, while the year 2022 witnessed the demolition of 143 dwellings, 71 of which were self-demolitions, and the year 2021 witnessed about 181 demolition operations, 97 of which were self-demolitions.
Data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicate that the occupation authorities demolished 215 buildings in East Jerusalem during the year 2024, and more than 40,000 citizens were affected.
Based on this data, the highest number of demolitions were in the town of Silwan, where (41) buildings were demolished, followed by Jabal Mukaber (34), Al-Walaja (27), Al-Issawiya (24), Beit Hanina (17), At-Tur (11), Sur Baher (10), Ras Al-Amud (9), Shuafat (9), Wadi Al-Joz (8), Al-Thawri neighborhood (5), Shuafat camp (4), Beit Safafa (3), Al-Zaim (3), Bab Al-Sahira (2), Bir Ona (2), the Old City (2), and Al-Qanbar (2). The remaining demolitions were distributed in Jaba’, Sheikh Jarrah, and Umm Tuba.
The data indicates that this number rises to 402 if the Jerusalem Governorate area is included, and it is clear that the areas that witnessed the most demolitions are Anata, where (47) buildings were demolished, Hizma (23), South Anata “Aar al-Baik” (18), Sur Baher (15), Jaba’ “Bedouin community” (14), North Anata (14), al-Za’im (14), Biddu (11), Rafat (11), Nabi Samwil (10), Qalandia (10), Beit Anan (7), al-Jib (2), Beit Hanina “al-Barid suburb” (2), al-Ram (1), and Qalandia camp (1).
This destructive policy was not limited to the city of Jerusalem and its surroundings, but rather extended over a wide area to cover most of the West Bank, in a clear indication of the intentions behind the future of the Palestinian territories under occupation.
Tens of thousands of new colonial units are being pushed into the occupation authorities’ circles, to deepen colonialism and expand its geographical area, while demolition notices and operations threaten the lives of Palestinian citizens.
According to OCHA, the occupation army demolished 1,058 Palestinian facilities in Area C during 2024, including 192 inhabited homes. These demolitions led to the displacement of 860 citizens, and affected about 38,000 others during the same period.
The occupation government realizes that the policy of demolition, displacement and ethnic cleansing is inconsistent with international law and international legitimacy, but it continues to do so in full view of the international community, in light of its inability to stop it, as Article 25/1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 11/1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 stipulate that “the demolition of homes is a clear violation of international human rights declarations and agreements that guarantee the right of the individual to adequate housing.”
Article 53 of the Convention also prohibits the destruction by the occupying power of any movable or immovable property of individuals or groups.
International criminal law also considers the large-scale demolition of homes an illegal act and a violation of international law. According to Article 8/2 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court, “the extensive destruction of property, not justified by military necessity, constitutes a war crime.”
On another level, the Israeli Knesset has approved in principle the cancellation of the Jordanian law in effect in the West Bank regarding the leasing and sale of real estate to foreigners, even though the Knesset does not have the authority to impose laws on occupied lands, as this law flouts all international laws that prohibit dealing in any way in lands under occupation.
The bill was supported by 58 members, while 33 members opposed it. It will be referred to the Knesset Committee, which will set a date for a vote on it later, with 3 readings.
Last week, the Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a bill that allows settlers to purchase land in the occupied West Bank, in a manner that contradicts international law and opens the door wide to forging land purchase contracts. It referred the bill to the Knesset General Assembly for a vote. The bill was submitted by MK Moshe Solomon, from the Religious Zionism Party, on behalf of the “Land of Israel Lobby” in the Knesset, and was signed by 40 members of the lobby.
The bill states that "anyone can purchase rights to land in the Judea and Samaria area (the West Bank) as anywhere else."
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation had discussed this bill in mid-November, but did not decide to refer it to the Knesset for a vote at that time.
This legislation was passed despite the fact that in the current situation, settlers cannot directly purchase land in the West Bank, except through companies registered in the companies registry of the occupation authorities, and the issuance of a permit for such a deal, after the military commander of the West Bank issued a military order in 1971, allowing such indirect deals.
The Israeli Peace Now movement warned that the bill is “another annexation step initiated by the right-wing salvation movement,” and that the bill seeks to allow settlers to purchase land without any oversight throughout the West Bank.
The movement added that "the bill gives a small group of extremist settlers the ability to buy land and then establish settlements on it, whether in the heart of Hebron or anywhere else.
Moreover, the Knesset has no authority to enact laws in an area not under Israeli control, while an attempt to impose a law it enacts on an occupied area would mean annexation and a flagrant violation of international law.”
Peace Now reported in its latest report that the “Supreme Planning Council” of the occupation authorities, which is run by the Minister of Finance and Settlement in the Ministry of the Occupation Army, Bezalel Smotrich, decided last Wednesday to submit a plan to build 682 colonial units in three colonies: Halamish, built on the lands of the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate, with (531 units), Metzad, built on the lands of the Hebron Governorate, with (126 units), and Peduel, built on the lands of Salfit, with (25) units.
In the case of Halamish (Neve Tzuf), the plan calls for the construction of 531 settlement units, which means doubling the number of settlers there.
The movement added as a reminder that since the beginning of December 2024, weekly discussions have been held to advance colonial units in the colonies.
The number of units advanced varies each week, but the 682 units advanced in the discussion on January 29 is a record number for a single week, and since the formation of the current Netanyahu government, record numbers of settlement units have been advanced in the West Bank.
The weekly violations documented by the National Office for the Defense of the Land were as follows during the reporting period:
Jerusalem:
The occupation forces stormed, accompanied by demolition vehicles, and completely surrounded the Al-Khalayleh neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem, and prevented citizens from approaching, before carrying out the demolition operation that targeted a butcher shop, a restaurant, a supermarket, a glass shop, and a stone-making workshop. These facilities constitute a source of livelihood for about 30 Jerusalemite families, and have been in existence since 2004.
In Sur Baher, the occupation forces demolished the Al-Taqwa prayer hall, as the occupation municipality crews, accompanied by police officers, stormed the village and surrounded a building, then raided the upper floor where the “Al-Taqwa prayer hall” was located, and demolished it.
Khalil:
Settlers attacked the homes of citizens in Khirbet al-Tuba in Masafer Yatta, south of Nablus, and burned a vehicle belonging to citizen Ali Awad, and caused material damage to a number of homes and residences in the area.
In the Khallet al-Farra area, west of the town of Yatta, the occupation forces notified the demolition of three houses and an agricultural barn, including two inhabited houses and another under construction, and gave their owners seven days before carrying out the demolition.
The occupation forces also notified the demolition of seven houses in the town of Idhna in the western region, specifically in Al-Ras and Wadi Al-Bir, and gave their owners seven days to evacuate them, after notifying them two months ago of the decision to demolish them.
In Khallet Taha in the town of Dura, the occupation forces demolished four houses and agricultural facilities in the area adjacent to the "Negohot" settlement, which was built on citizens' lands.
Bethlehem:
Settlers destroyed large quantities of cauliflower crops in the Khalayel Al-Loz area, southeast of Bethlehem, and released a flock of sheep to graze on citizens’ lands, which led to the destruction of 5,000 of the crop belonging to citizen Othman Abu Kamil.
In the town of Tuqu’, the occupation bulldozers demolished a two-storey inhabited house belonging to the brothers Osama and Tayseer Hassan Musa Suleiman. The house consists of two floors, each floor having an area of 300 square metres.
In the town of Al-Khader to the south, settlers proceeded to plow agricultural lands estimated at dozens of dunams in the “Wadi Abu Al-Hassan” area west of the town, adjacent to the colonial road leading to the “Beitar Illit” settlement and close to the “Sidi Boaz” colonial outpost.
In the Makhrour area in Beit Jala, the occupation forces demolished a restaurant built five years ago on an area of 3 dunams, owned by the Jerusalemite citizen Mahmoud Ali Musa Sari, under the pretext of not having a license, while bulldozing the land and uprooting dozens of old olive trees, estimated to be more than 100 years old.
Ramallah:
Settlers from the Ma'ale Levona colony attacked the homes of citizens in the town of Sinjil to the north, belonging to the citizens: Abdul Karim Khalil, Rajih Ghafri, and Abdul Moneim Farhan, before withdrawing from the place.
Nablus:
Settlers attacked citizens' vehicles south of Nablus, throwing stones at them on the road near the "Yitzhar" settlement. Others assaulted the elderly man, Jawad Ghazal (71 years old), while he was working on his land in the plain of the town of Sebastia, with sticks, which led to him suffering bruises, and he was transferred to the hospital as a result.
In the village of Furush Beit Dajan, the occupation bulldozers demolished an inhabited house, owned by the citizen Sami Ahmed Abu Hanish, with an area of 120 square meters. They also demolished an agricultural room owned by the citizen Ameed Hajj Muhammad, and two agricultural ponds owned by the citizens Jasser Abu Jish and Adli Mustafa Abu Jish. They also notified the demolition of seven houses in the village, noting that they were built decades ago inside the village.
The occupation authorities also delivered a demolition notice to a building on Mount Gerizim in Nablus, owned by the Al-Khammash family, consisting of five floors and located on the top of the mountain.
Salfit:
Settlers from the "Netafim" settlement cut down 30 olive trees, owned by citizen Ahmed Mustafa Asi in the town of Qarawet Bani Hassan in the "Khallet Hassan" area east of the town, and others stole 50 heads of sheep in the Mahfour area north of the town, owned by citizen Muhammad Abdul Aziz Mar'i.
In Deir Ballut, the occupation forces demolished a house that had been inhabited for 5 years and was owned by citizen Jawad Yaqoub Hadrous. The house’s area was approximately 150 square meters.
Settlers also cut down a number of olive trees west of Salfit, and vandalized agricultural land located in the "Al-Takweera" area between the towns of Burqin and Kafr Ad-Dik, owned by citizen Abdullah Ali Ahmed.
Northern Jordan Valley:
Settlers grazed their sheep among the homes of citizens in the Bedouin village of Ras al-Ain, north of the city of Jericho, in order to pressure the citizens to displace them and seize their homes and properties.
Settlers also continue to pave a colonial road west of the Ras Ein al-Auja settlement, with the aim of connecting the colonial outposts located in the area to each other. The road extends to connect the outposts surrounding the settlement with another colonial outpost built on the neighboring mountains, which threatens further colonial expansion at the expense of the citizens in the area.
In Ein al-Hilweh in the northern Jordan Valley, citizen Sati Alian Daraghmeh sustained bruises as a result of a number of settlers assaulting him and attempting to strangle him after they raided his tents, while others stormed tents belonging to citizen Yousef Abu Awad in the “Dhraa Awad” area near the Hamra military checkpoint in the northern Jordan Valley.
Jericho:
The occupation forces demolished a house and a number of surrounding retaining walls in the Sama Jericho area east of the city, belonging to Jerusalemite Hala Abbasi from the town of Silwan.
Settlers graze their sheep among the homes of citizens in the village of Arab al-Malihat, northwest of the city of Jericho, and seize bales of straw and fodder.
In the village of Al-Duyouk Al-Tahta, the occupation authorities demolished four houses and several walls in the “Satih” area. These are inhabited houses owned by Ali Kaabneh and Saad Khawaja.
In Khirbet al-Farisiya, the occupation forces notified the citizen Shamekh Mustafa Daraghmeh to evacuate his residence under the pretext of military training in Khirbet al-Farisiya in the northern Jordan Valley, and gave him a week.
