Police Demolish Jerusalem Compound After Finding Unpermitted Residents
Authorities tore down part of a building in Beit Hanina after locating five more West Bank residents despite a previous closure order.
By Matthew Qureshi ·
Israel Police demolished part of a compound in the Beit Hanina neighborhood of Jerusalem on Friday. The action followed the discovery that the site was being used to house Palestinians from the West Bank who lacked permits, according to a police statement.
The demolition was the final step in a process that began approximately three weeks ago. During an earlier operation at the location, officers apprehended 155 Palestinians from the West Bank. On Friday, forces returned to the site and found five additional individuals despite an existing closure order for the property.
Police questioned the five residents and deported them to areas within the West Bank. Following their departure, the section of the compound used for housing was demolished. The Jerusalem Municipality cooperated with police during the structural removal.
In a related development, the Bedouin community near the E1 settlement plan area in the West Bank was in the process of being demolished on Thursday. A joint statement from Israeli NGOs Bimkom, Ir Amim, and Peace Now said the operation displaced about 20 Bedouin residents. The groups noted that the destroyed structures included homes, kitchens, and sanitation facilities.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded that 1,429 Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank have been demolished by Israeli authorities in 2026. That total has led to the displacement of 2,048 people. The OCHA report stated that most demolitions are typically carried out due to a lack of Israeli-issued permits.
