West Bank demolitions and displacement
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.
Demolitions resumed in the second half of June, mostly in East Jerusalem. 22 per cent decline in demolitions in the first half of 2018, compared to the equivalent period in 2017. No donor-funded structure demolished or seized in June. 67 per cent decline in the number of donor-funded structures targeted in the first half of 2018.
Demolitions halted during the second half of May due to the month of Ramadan. 12 Donor-funded structures demolished/seized, and six other structures placed at risk. Bedouin community in Area C at imminent risk of demolition and forcible transfer following final ruling by the
Israeli Supreme Court.
In April, a total of 44 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized by the Israeli authorities in the West Bank, an increase compared to the monthly average during the first quarter of 2018 (33 structures) and during 2017 (35 structures). However, given that the majority of the targeted structures were non-residential or not inhabited, the number of people displaced during April (13) significantly declined, while the number of people who had their livelihoods and access services affected (584), increased compared to the first quarter of 2018.
The relatively low level of destruction of Palestinian property observed in the first two months of 2018, further decreased in March, with a total of 28 structures demolished/seized/sealed, compared to a monthly average of 35 structures in 2017. This brings the total number of structures demolished/seized during the first quarter of 2018 to 97, representing around 50 and 20 per cent of the structures demolished/seized in the equivalent quarters of 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Slight increase in demolitions and seizures during February. Most structures targeted supported agricultural, herding and commercial livelihoods. Eight EU-funded structures demolished or seized, including a school in an area planned for settlement expansion.
The Israeli authorities demolished or seized 32 Palestinian-owned structures across the West Bank, approximately the same number of structures as the 2017 monthly average. As a result, 37 people were displaced and another 82 were otherwise affected.
