Israel Steps Up 116 East Jerusalem Demolitions as 2025 Home Razing Jumped 70%
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 10
Israel Steps Up 116 East Jerusalem Demolitions as 2025 Home Razing Jumped 70%
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 10
Summary
At least 116 East Jerusalem demolitions have already been recorded in 2026, after more than 260 homes and other structures were razed in 2025 — up 70% from three years earlier.
Israeli authorities say homes were built without permits or sit on land slated for parks and other uses, while rights groups say permit rules overwhelmingly favor Jewish residents and make legal Palestinian construction nearly impossible.
In Silwan’s al-Bustan, about 1,500 Palestinians face possible demolition orders; in nearby Batan al-Hawah, 15 families were forced out in March, the highest state-led eviction rate there in decades.
Settler groups have used laws letting Jews reclaim pre-1948 property while Palestinians cannot recover homes lost in the same war, a system activists say is accelerating the replacement of Palestinian residents.
The surge comes as activists say U.S. pressure has faded and attention has shifted to Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, giving Israel wider room to deepen control over annexed East Jerusalem.
What does the stark disparity in housing permits reveal about the long-term vision for Jerusalem's demographic makeup?
Why are East Jerusalem Palestinians being forced to demolish their own homes or face crippling financial penalties?
How will a new 11-story Jewish seminary in Sheikh Jarrah reshape the future for its Palestinian residents?
2025-2026 East Jerusalem Demolitions Reach Record Highs: Systematic Displacement and International Alarm
Overview
Between 2025 and 2026, demolitions in East Jerusalem reached record levels, with a sharp rise in administrative demolitions carried out mainly because buildings lacked Israeli-issued permits. This ongoing crisis has created severe humanitarian challenges for Palestinian residents. In the Silwan neighborhood’s Al Bustan section, Israeli authorities demolished three structures, including homes and an animal shelter. As a result, two households—nine people, including three children—were displaced, and a third household of six, with four children, was significantly affected. These actions highlight the escalating impact of demolition policies on families and communities in East Jerusalem.