With all eyes on Gaza, demolitions advance across West Bank

Over the past month, the demolition machine never paused. Between 28 April and 27 May, the army carried out 50 separate demolition operations—an average of one and two-thirds raids every day—erasing 169 Palestinian structures. Each sunrise brought the almost certain prospect of another five or six family homes, animal pens or water tanks being reduced to rubble.

All hands on deck for Mahmoud Khalil

The campaign to secure Mahmoud Khalil's release represents more than just a defense of the US's fabled constitutional freedoms; it challenges whether US organizers and society will permit the US government to make criminal the act of opposing its involvement in human rights violations and genocide.

Families rejoice as hundreds of Palestinian hostages are freed

But even in the last day with the liberation of these prisoners, Israel continues to violate the agreement: upon receiving the bodies of the four Israeli captives, Israeli authorities suspended the release of the 46 additional women and children to be returned to Gaza until they could “verify the identities” of these bodies.

Palestinians with Israeli citizenship hit hard in 2024

Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, mostly Bedouin communities, have experienced a nearly 300% increase in demolitions.

Smotrich & Co. to ramp-up home demolitions

In 2024, the number of demolitions reached 1,766 structures, almost double the number from 2023 and four times the total in 2020. At least 4,275 people were displaced in 2024 alone — only in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Knesset Member Smotrich looks to increase demolitions dramatically in 2025.

After the destruction of Gaza, Israel turns to West Bank

Even before the announcement of the so-called ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces and settlers intensified violence and restrictions in the occupied West Bank: Between January 7 and 13, Israeli forces killed six Palestinians, including three children, and injured 38 others. Airstrikes in the Jenin refugee camp on January 14th and 15th killed 12 Palestinians, including a child.

Demolitions quadruple across West Bank & East Jerusalem

Demolitions have almost doubled since 2023 and have quadrupled from 2020. From January 1, 2024, Israel has carried out 549 military operations across East Jerusalem and the West Bank alone, destroying 1,766 structures and displacing 4,275 people from their homes and lands.

Home Demolitions spike to 15 year high

Israel, like every other settler-colonial state, it is premised on the erasure of the indigenous population. Demolishing Palestinian homes to drive them of their lands is a critical tool in the advancement of zionism.

Knesset readies for annexation of West Bank

The Knesset passed legislation aimed at accelerating the annexation of the West Bank, as it proposes new power plants across Palestinian lands.

Despite US elections, Harris, Democrats green-light genocide

The Biden administration and the heir to the Democratic machine, Kamala Harris, have increased material support for genocide. 

Israel advances displacement campaign across Jerusalem, West Bank

The Supreme Court has ordered the Shehadeh family to be evicted from their four-story home in Batan al-Hawa, Silwan, by June 1, 2024, in favor of settlers affiliated with the Ateret Cohanim organization.

Demolition Report: Israel advances settlements across West Bank

This update provides the weekly data report, as well as a brief discussion of the expansion of Israeli settlements, Smotrich's new "locality symbols" in the West Bank settlements, Israeli judicial decisions on the forced displacement of Palestinian communities, and regulatory changes related to settlement processes.