Gaza: Israeli occupation forces on Wednesday demolished four Palestinian-owned inhabited homes and proceeded to demolish another in the towns of Nahhalin and Za'atara in the Bethlehem governorate, according to local sources. Sources told WAFA that Israeli forces raided Nahhalin, west of Bethlehem, and demolished four homes, including a two-storey home belonging to Mahmoud Naeem Fnoun and one-storey homes belonging to Mahmoud Hosni Shakarneh, Malek Rebhi Najajreh, and Jameel Mohammad Najajreh.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the forces also assaulted residents and fired tear gas and stun grenades at them, causing several people to suffer from suffocation. They detained several residents, including the wife of Mahmoud Naeem Fnoun, whose home was demolished, as well as a young man after assaulting him.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided the town of Za'atara, east of Bethlehem, and began demolishing the home of Ra'ed Hassan Abu Raiya. The house consists of a basement and two floors, each measuring 110 square meters, and housed a family of seven. Abu Raiya said Israeli forces had notified him yesterday, Tuesday, to evict the house before beginning its demolition today, Wednesday.
The sources noted that an Israeli court had previously rejected an appeal seeking to halt the demolition of 14 homes in the town. According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Israeli occupation authorities carried out 341 demolition operations during the first half of 2026, resulting in the destruction of 740 structures and affecting 923 Palestinians, including 546 children and 431 women. During the same period, Israeli authorities also issued demolition notices for 254 structures under the pretext of lacking building permits.