Urgent support for Mahmoud Khalil & Family

Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and Columbia University graduate, faces deportation following his arrest by ICE over his involvement in anti-Genocide protests. Though not criminally charged, Khalil’s case highlights both the Democrats and Republicians willingness to smash dissent, curtail individual freedoms, and use Palestinians and their allies to do that. His lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition, prompting a federal judge to temporarily halt his deportation pending a ruling. Khalil, a legal permanent resident married to a pregnant U.S. citizen, is detained in Louisiana—over 1,000 miles from his home.

The case underscores the vulnerability of those opposing fascism, who, despite enjoying rights like free speech, can face incarceration and or deportation while not being charged with a crime. The supposed opposition to Trump and the Republican establishment — the Democratic Party — has been, and will probably remain, ineffectual. This case is part of Trump’s broader crackdown on student protesters that started under the Biden regime and was supported during Harris’s presidential campaign.

Mahmoud Khalil needs your urgent support. This is the official fundraiser organized by his family and allies. Donate here.

Home Demolition Analysis: Trends and Impacts

From the beginning of the year, Israel has carrie out some 120 military operations across the West Bank and East Jerusalem alone, displacing 551 people and destroying some 378 homes and structures.

The rate of demolition operations has gradually increased from an average of 1.56 daily operations over the past year to 1.71 operations per day in the year-to-date period. However, the most notable shift appears in the intensity of recent operations. In the last 30 days, each operation has resulted in more structures being demolished (6.13 structures per operation) compared to the annual average (5.07 structures per operation).

While the daily displacement rate has slightly decreased from the annual average of 11.59 people to 7.87 people year-to-date, the proportion of children affected remains consistently high at approximately 47% of all displaced persons across all periods: Families with children are disproportionately impacted by these demolitions.

The data indicates that while the frequency of operations remains slightly upward, recent operations are more targeted and extensive regarding structures affected per operation. This trend continues to highlight the broader zionist movement’s positioning to formally annex the West Bank and push Palestinians out of large swathes of Area C and into the ethnic enclaves.

Recent Home Demolition Incidents

March 12, 2025 | West Bank (Area A), Qalqiliya
Israeli forces conducted a punitive demolition of a four-story residential building (three 81m² floors and one 50m² floor) belonging to the family of a Palestinian killed in an August 2024 airstrike. Authorities claimed he had shot an Israeli settler in June 2024. Despite receiving a demolition order on January 28 that included land confiscation, the family's two households comprising seven people (including three children and two women) were displaced when the structure was destroyed in the early morning hours.

March 11, 2025 | West Bank (Area C), Surda
The Israeli Civil Administration demolished eight structures in Ramallah, citing lack of building permits. Eleven refugee households (83 people including 52 children) lost access to two livelihood facilities: a car showroom/wash with offices and a second facility with offices, storage containers, and worker facilities. Metal fencing, gates, furniture, equipment, security cameras, and water tanks were destroyed. One facility had received a 2022 stop-work order with ongoing legal permit efforts, while the other reportedly received no prior orders before demolition occurred.

March 11, 2025 | West Bank (Area C), Al 'Auja
A non-refugee family of six (including three children) lost the foundation of their planned commercial shop when Israeli authorities demolished the under-construction structure. The family had received a stop-work order in 2022 and hired legal representation to pursue building permits. Despite these ongoing legal efforts, the demolition was carried out without a final demolition order or prior notice.

March 10, 2025 | East Jerusalem, Silwan
Two Palestinian families were forced to self-demolish their homes due to lack of Israeli permits. A non-refugee family of five (including three children) lost their 100m² home built four years ago, featuring two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and a 60m² external living/storage area. A second family of three (including one child) was affected when they demolished their 70m² under-construction structure built in 2024. The first family had received demolition orders since 2021, paid over 80,000 NIS in fines, and faced daily pressure from municipality officials to carry out the demolition themselves despite ongoing legal appeals.

US Speaking Tour

We’ll be organizing talks and meetings in Florida from March 23 to April 1. Then we’ll be in California and then New York and finishing up in Michigan until the end of April. If you’re in those spaces and want to have a private meeting or a small group discussion, please email lara@goodshepherdcollective.org or cody@goodshepherdcollective.org