Israel Demolishes Palestinian Homes in West Bank

Israeli authorities carried out two separate demolition actions in the West Bank on July 21, 2026. In the town of Sair, east of Hebron, military bulldozers destroyed a 300-square-meter, two-story residence belonging to Fouad Jaradat in the Wadi Al-Sharikh area. The Cabinet of Israel stated the structure was built without a permit.

Simultaneously, in Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem, Israeli forces compelled resident Mario Abu Saad to demolish a second floor and side building extension of his home in the Bir Auna area. Mayor Vladimir Kharoufeh noted the original home was built before 1967, but an Israeli court rejected Abu Saad's appeal and imposed a 250,000-shekel fine, leading to the forced self-demolition.

The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reports these actions are part of a wider pattern, with 740 structures including homes and agricultural facilities demolished across the West Bank during the first half of 2026. These policies aim to prevent Palestinian villages from merging into cities and to support settlement establishment. UN data indicates that since October 2023, Israel has damaged or destroyed approximately 92 percent of buildings in the Gaza Strip.