1,000 Israeli "Demolition Raids" in the West Bank
Occupied Jerusalem – Agencies: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the military to expand the scope of offensive operations in the West Bank, coinciding with occupation forces demolishing Palestinian homes in scattered areas. Palestinian sources confirmed that Israel has carried out more than 1,000 demolition operations in the West Bank since the beginning of the current year.
Katz directed the army to prepare for the occupation of another camp, similar to what occurred in the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nour Shams camps. This move raises the number of camps under occupation control since January 21, 2025, to four, following the Israeli military’s operation in the West Bank dubbed “The Iron Wall.”
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Katz’s instructions were issued during a security meeting regarding the West Bank, attended by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Director of Operations Itzik Cohen, Head of Intelligence Division Shlomi Binder, Central Command Commander Avi Blot, and several senior officials.
Over the past few days, the intensity of attacks by Israeli forces and settlers against citizens in the West Bank has escalated, resulting in the martyrdom of several Palestinians and the injury and arrest of others.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation continues its demolition operations in the West Bank under the pretext of lacking permits, which are routinely denied to Palestinians, particularly in Area C, which falls under Israeli security and administrative control according to the Oslo Accords and constitutes 60% of the West Bank’s area.
According to the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Authority, Israeli authorities carried out 341 demolition operations in the first half of the current year, resulting in the destruction of 740 Palestinian facilities and affecting 923 Palestinians. Additionally, 254 new demolition notices were issued on the grounds of construction without a permit.
In the northern West Bank, a new settlement outpost was established on the lands of Yasuf town, east of Salfit Governorate, located only about 50 meters from citizens’ homes. This is the third outpost settlers have established in the governorate within two days.
For his part, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced in a statement documenting more than 1,330 incidents involving Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank since the beginning of 2026, which resulted in casualties and damage to Palestinian property.
OCHA noted that from the beginning of the current year until last Saturday, 77 Palestinians, including 18 children, were killed by Israeli forces or Israeli settlers.
