West bank: Israeli occupation forces demolished several homes and agricultural structures in the West Bank and Jerusalem, marking an intensified effort to target Palestinian presence and expand Jewish settlements.
According to Jordan News Agency, the Israeli army razed a house in al-Walaja village, west of Bethlehem, sealing off the area and restricting the movement of vehicles and residents. Khader al-Araj, head of the local council, reported the incident.
In occupied Jerusalem, Israeli bulldozers demolished a house in Silwan, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The Wadi Hilweh Information Center, which monitors Israeli actions, confirmed the demolition. This neighborhood has faced ongoing pressures from the occupation authority, with numerous demolition orders issued for what is termed “unauthorized” construction. Local Palestinians face significant challenges in obtaining building permits.
The demolition in Jerusalem is part of a broader trend this year, with 93 structures, including 53 homes, destroyed by the end of May, based on independent statistics. Reports indicate that more than 623 homes and structures have been demolished in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, since the beginning of the year. This is seen as part of a strategy to displace Palestinians and tighten Israel’s control over the area.
Further south in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, residences and agricultural structures were also demolished. The Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements reported that troops with military bulldozers stormed Khirbet al-Fakhit, demolishing two rooms, a kitchen, a sanitary unit, a sheep pen, a water well, and water tanks.
Additionally, the Israeli army arrested 14 Palestinians during raids across the West Bank.