Israel demolishes building housing 35 Palestinians near Qalandia: Jerusalem governorate

Israeli forces demolished a seven-apartment building housing 35 Palestinians near Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem, on Wednesday, beating homeowners and smashing a vehicle in the area, the Jerusalem Governorate said, Anadolu reports.

In a statement, the Palestinian governorate said Israeli bulldozers demolished a residential building in the Al-Wad area near a quarry adjacent to Qalandia camp, citing construction without a permit.

The building contained seven apartments housing 35 Palestinians, who were left homeless following the demolition, it said.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that the demolished apartments belonged to the Abu Laba family.

The governorate added that Israeli forces beat the homeowners and smashed a vehicle during the demolition.

No immediate information was available on whether the assaults caused injuries.

Israeli authorities impose strict restrictions on issuing building permits to Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem.

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In June, Human Rights Watch said obtaining building permits for Palestinians in East Jerusalem and areas of the occupied West Bank under full Israeli control was nearly impossible.

Meanwhile, a report released by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Qalandia in October, citing the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, said Israeli authorities carried out 341 demolition operations in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, during the first half of 2026.

The demolitions affected 740 Palestinian structures, including inhabited and under-construction housing units, as well as commercial and agricultural facilities and sources of livelihood, the report said.

It added that Israeli authorities issued 254 demolition notices against Palestinian structures during the same period over alleged construction without permits, including 34 in the Jerusalem Governorate.

The demolitions come amid an escalation in Israeli measures targeting Palestinians and their property across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, amid Palestinian and international warnings about their consequences for displacement and loss of livelihoods.

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