Israel Intensifies Palestinian Home Demolitions and West Bank Settlements

The Government of Israel intensified a campaign of home demolitions and evictions across East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank on June 10, 2026. These actions included the destruction of 15 homes in Bartaa, a commercial structure in al-Jadeira, and a residence in Beit Hanina that displaced a family of ten. Israeli authorities maintain these structures were built without permits, though rights groups argue the permit system is designed to prevent Palestinian construction and coerce residents to vacate their land.

In East Jerusalem, demolitions have risen sharply, with over 260 structures destroyed in 2025—a 70% increase from three years prior—and 116 more razed in 2026. Settler organizations like Ateret Cohanim have simultaneously used property laws to evict Palestinians and relocate Jewish families into neighborhoods such as Batan al-Hawah.

Parallel to these urban demolitions, Amnesty International released a report on June 10 accusing the Israeli state of a deliberate ethnic cleansing strategy in the West Bank. The report states that approximately 5,910 people were forced from their homes between 2023 and 2025, primarily in Area C. The group alleges that settler violence is an integral part of state policy, citing instances where far-right ministers distributed weapons to settlers. This activity coincides with the Security Cabinet's approval of 103 settlements under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, including 34 approved in April 2026.