Jerusalem police raze Beit Hanina housing site after finding five unpermitted residents
The partial demolition followed the detention of 155 West Bank residents at the compound three weeks prior.
By Aiko Sato ·
Israel Police partially demolished a residential compound in the Beit Hanina neighborhood of Jerusalem on Friday. The action came after forces discovered five Palestinians from the West Bank staying at the site despite a standing closure order.
The five individuals were questioned and then deported to areas of the West Bank. Following their removal, police worked with the Jerusalem Municipality to tear down the specific section of the compound that had been used for housing.
This enforcement action concludes a three-week process at the location. During an initial operation, police apprehended 155 Palestinians from the West Bank who were living there without permits. The municipality and police cited a lack of proper documentation for the residents as the primary reason for the site's closure.
The demolition in Beit Hanina is part of a wider pattern of construction removals in the region. On Thursday, Israeli NGOs Bimkom, Ir Amim, and Peace Now reported that a Bedouin community in the West Bank was also being razed. This specific action is linked to preparations for the E1 settlement plan near Jerusalem.
The NGOs stated that the Bedouin demolitions affected homes, kitchens, and sanitation facilities, displacing approximately 20 residents. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded that Israeli authorities have demolished 1,429 Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank in 2026. That total has resulted in the displacement of 2,048 people, according to UN data.
Most of these demolitions occur due to a lack of permits issued by Israeli authorities, the UN report noted. The Beit Hanina incident and the Bedouin community removals both highlight the ongoing enforcement of zoning and residency regulations in the area.
