Battir: Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday demolished a Palestinian-owned house in the Battir town, west of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, according to a local source. Khalil Muammar, a member of the Battir Village Council, reported that the forces dismantled a villager's under-construction house, spanning an area of 100 square meters, claiming it lacked a building license.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Israel has a longstanding practice of demolishing Palestinian homes and structures to achieve 'demographic control' over the occupied territories. Palestinians face significant challenges in obtaining planning permits to build on their own land or extend existing homes, especially in Jerusalem and Area C, which comprises 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and is under full Israeli military rule. As a result, residents often build without permits to provide shelter for their families.
The demolition activities have intensified since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza in October 2023, with Israeli bulldozers frequently demolishing homes. Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's far-right finance minister, who oversees authorities in the West Bank, has been associated with the increase in demolitions, which soared from 29 structures to 265 in 2023 and 2024. These include demolitions in Areas A and B, where the Palestinian Authority has jurisdiction or joint security control with Israel.
Israeli courts maintain a semblance of legality by issuing demolition orders on the pretext of lacking building permits. These orders can remain pending for years before execution. Conversely, Israel facilitates the growth of Jewish colonies by providing building permits and essential infrastructure like roads, electricity, water, and sewage systems, which are often inaccessible to neighboring Palestinian communities.
