West Bank demolitions and displacement
In April, 71 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized, displacing 75 people and affecting the livelihoods of over 300 others. This month’s total is the highest number of structures demolished in a single month in more than two years.
All but four of the structures were demolished due to the lack of building permits, which are virtually impossible for Palestinians to obtain, due to the restrictive planning regime applied by Israel in Area C and in East Jerusalem.
In March, 45 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized, displacing 77 people and affecting at least 5,000 others. The total to the end of March shows an increase of 42 per cent in demolitions, and 115 per cent in the number of people displaced, compared to the same quarter in 2018. Of all the structures demolished/seized in the first quarter of 2019, 41 per cent were residences, 38 per cent livelihoodrelated and seven per cent water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). On a monthly average, the number of structures demolished so far in 2019 (46) is above the average rate in 2018 and 2017 (38 and 35 per month, respectively). All but one of the structures were demolished due to the lack of building permits, which are virtually impossible for Palestinians to obtain, due to the restrictive planning regime applied by Israel in Area C and in East Jerusalem.
In February, 53 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized, constituting a 40 per cent increase compared with the monthly average recorded in 2018 (38). The number of people displaced in February was more than double the monthly average in 2018 (105 vs. 39). In addition, thousands of people were affected by the demolition of parts of water distribution systems in three different areas. All the structures were demolished on the grounds of a lack of Israeli-issued permits, which are nearly impossible to obtain.
In January, 40 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized by the Israeli authorities, almost the same as the monthly average recorded in 2018, displacing 44 people and otherwise affecting some 200 others. One of the demolitions took place on punitive grounds and the remaining occurred due to the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible to obtain.
10 per cent more structures demolished in 2018 than in 2017. 56 donor-funded structures demolished in 2018, marking a 46 per cent decline compared to 2017. A newly-built school dismantled and seized in a Hebron community.
In November, 60 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized by the Israeli authorities in Area C and East Jerusalem, displacing 35 people and otherwise affecting over 670 others. This is the highest number of structures targeted in a single month in almost two years (last higher figure in January 2017). All the demolitions and seizures were carried out on grounds of lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible to obtain.
In October, 51 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized by the Israeli authorities in Area C and East Jerusalem, displacing 43 people and affecting the livelihoods of over 200 others. This is the second highest number of structures targeted in a single month so far in 2018 (after July), and is well above the monthly average in 2017 (35). All the demolitions and seizures were carried out on grounds of lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible to obtain.
Demolitions remain below the 2018 and 2017 monthly averages. Seven donated structures demolished in Area C herding communities. Israeli court ruling provides green light for the demolition of Khan al Ahmar-Abu al Helu.
In August, a total of 25 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized and 14 people displaced, compared to monthly averages of 36 structures and 39 people, respectively, recorded in the past seven months. As of 31 August, 277 structures had been demolished or seized and 287 people displaced, marking a 14 and 43 per cent decline, respectively, compared to the equivalent figures in 2017. All but one of the structures demolished this month were due to the lack of Israeli-issued permits, which are nearly impossible to obtain.
July recorded the highest number of structures demolished or seized, and of people displaced, 54 and 97 respectively, since January 2017. However, the cumulative number of structures targeted so far in 2018 (251) has remained below the figure in the equivalent period of 2017 (286). All of the incidents during July took place on grounds of lack of building permits.
