Israeli army demolishes house, car showroom in occupied West Bank

The Israeli army demolished a house and a car showroom in the West Bank on Monday, as attacks targeting Palestinian property continue to escalate in the occupied territory. Anti-settlement activist Iyad Masharqa told Anadolu that Israeli forces raided the al-Qasr neighborhood in the village of al-Hijra, southeast of Dura in Hebron, and demolished a house covering an area of about 200 square meters. He added that Israeli forces also uprooted several fruit-bearing trees, bulldozed land surrounding the house, and demolished a water well and walls belonging to the homeowner.

In East Jerusalem, military bulldozers demolished a car showroom in the town of Hizma. In a statement, the Jerusalem Governorate said Israeli forces closed the town’s entrances and exits to pedestrian and vehicle traffic during the demolition. It added that Hizma has faced repeated raids, road closures and demolition notices targeting homes and commercial properties for months. The governorate said Israeli authorities issued demolition notices in February for 11 homes and structures in the town, including seven houses and four commercial properties.

It also documented 44 demolition and land-clearing operations across the city in October, targeting homes and residential and commercial structures. The authorities also issued 41 notices and orders for demolition, halting construction and evacuation in several towns across East Jerusalem. ​​​​​​​Israeli army raids and attacks by Israeli occupiers have intensified in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since October 2023, with reports of killings, arrests, home demolitions, arson attacks, the bulldozing of land and the displacement of Palestinian communities.