Israeli forces demolish five West Bank buildings and displace over 100 Palestinians

Israeli forces demolish five West Bank buildings and displace over 100 Palestinians

Submitted by Mohammed Turkman on Thu, 11/05/2026 - 12:24 Residents of Biddu say troops gave them no warning before razing their homes, as Palestinian officials report a sharp rise in demolitions across Jerusalem and its suburbs A Palestinian man stands amid the rubble of five residential buildings demolished by Israeli forces in Biddu, occupied West Bank, on 5 November 2026 (Mohammed Turkman/MEE) Off

Israeli forces demolished five Palestinian residential buildings in the occupied West Bank on Thursday without warning, displacing more than 100 people.

Troops raided the town of Biddu, northwest of Jerusalem, in the early morning, forcing residents of 12 apartments out before demolishing them.

Residents said soldiers fired stun grenades and tear gas at homeowners, preventing them from retrieving their belongings before the demolitions began.

Ahmad Abu Eid, the owner of one of the homes, said Israeli forces raided the town without warning and began demolishing the buildings. He said the properties belonged to him, his sons and his daughter.

Soldiers prevented the family from removing the contents of their homes and gave them insufficient time to evacuate. As a result, they lost access to their furniture, clothes and personal belongings.

Abu Eid's son, Salman, was a former prisoner released under last year's prisoner exchange deal and deported to Egypt. Abu Eid believes the demolitions were an act of retaliation linked to his son's release.

"What has happened to us is what happens to all Palestinians. We have no other land, and we will endure whatever they do to us," he told Middle East Eye.

Israeli soldiers cited the absence of building permits as the reason for the demolitions. The homes were located in Area C of the occupied West Bank.

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The West Bank was divided into Areas A, B and C under the 1995 Oslo agreement. Area A falls under the Palestinian Authority's administrative and security control, while Area B is under PA administrative control and Israeli security control. Area C remains under Israeli administrative and security control. 

Israeli forces frequently demolish Palestinian homes and other structures across the West Bank, citing the lack of building permits, particularly in Area C. However, Palestinians are almost never granted the permits required to build legally.

The PA’s Jerusalem Governorate office described the demolitions and displacement as a dangerous escalation aimed at undermining the Palestinian presence on the outskirts of Jerusalem, and a violation of international law.

It warned of the consequences for Palestinian families, many of whom have been displaced and deprived of their homes.

Uptick in Jerusalem demolitions

Salem Abu Eid, a member of Biddu municipal council, said that two of the demolished homes were not subject to judicial demolition orders, despite legal challenges filed with Israeli courts.

He told MEE the demolitions affected a residential complex housing nine Palestinian families.

According to Abu Eid, Israeli authorities had previously issued stop-construction notices, rather than demolition orders, for more than 20 homes in the town.

He said homeowners had filed objections with the Israeli Civil Administration in Beit El, with several lawyers currently handling the cases.

"The last demolition in the town took place several months ago, targeting a structure built of wood and tile, alongside the bulldozing of what is known as the municipal park," he added.

Abu Eid said Israel justifies the demolitions by citing the absence of building permits, claiming the properties are located in Area C or near the separation wall. However, he pointed out that the nearest of the targeted homes is about 700 metres from the wall.

He called for greater support for affected families, stronger Palestinian solidarity, and assistance for those who had lost their homes.

"We urge official authorities to compensate the families for their lost homes and property, and to assist in providing alternative housing or constructing new homes for them even if in different locations," said Eid.

The Jerusalem Governorate office has recorded a significant increase in demolitions and land-clearing operations in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas this year.

During the first nine months of 2026, it documented 427 operations, including 66 cases of forced self-demolition, in which Palestinians were compelled to tear down their own homes; 294 demolitions carried out using Israeli machinery; and 32 land-levelling operations.

In October alone, the office recorded a further 44 demolition and land-levelling operations, bringing the total number documented between January and the end of October to 471.

The figures cover homes, other structures and land, and are not limited to residential properties.

Occupation Fayha Shalash Ramallah, occupied Palestine Biddu News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0