Israel intensifies home demolitions and evictions in east Jerusalem

Israel has accelerated the demolition of homes and other structures in its annexed east Jerusalem, with more than 260 buildings torn down in 2025, a 70% increase from three years earlier, according to the monitoring group Ir Amim. The organization reported at least 116 demolitions so far this year, describing the pace as unprecedented.

Ir Amim researcher Aviv Tatarsky said, "> Israel can decide, yes, this neighborhood, we want to erase it … No one is going to stop us."

The municipality of Jerusalem says the demolitions target buildings constructed without permits in zones not designated for housing, and it plans to replace the cleared areas with a park and public parking. The city also claims it offered alternative housing options, but residents did not pursue them.

Rights groups note a stark disparity in building permits: Bimkom recorded nearly 9,000 permits approved for Jewish residents last year compared with fewer than 700 for Palestinians, who comprise about 40% of Jerusalem’s population and are concentrated in the east. Palestinians argue that obtaining permits is virtually impossible, leading many to build without authorization and face demolition.

The surge coincides with increased settlement activity. In the Silwan district, home to roughly 20,000 Palestinians, settlers have moved into neighborhoods such as Batan al-Hawah after courts ordered Palestinian families to vacate. B’Tselem spokesperson Yair Dvir said the evictions reflect "the cooperation between settler organizations and state institutions, based on discriminatory laws, toward a shared goal — the Judaization of east Jerusalem and the replacement of Palestinian residents with Israeli settlers."

U.S. officials have refrained from intervening, with the State Department stating that policy decisions rest with Israeli authorities and emphasizing the need for due process and rule of law. The situation remains a focal point of the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as Palestinians continue legal challenges against demolition orders while settlers cite historical claims to the area.