Israeli occupation forces demolished a carwash facility in the village of Husan, west of Bethlehem, on Wednesday morning, citing lack of a permit. The facility, owned by local resident Dia’ Za’oul, had been targeted for demolition multiple times in the past.
Rami Hamamra, head of the Husan village council, Israeli troops invaded the area and stationed themselves in the Shurafa area near the eastern entrance before carrying out the demolition.
This incident is part of a broader and intensifying campaign of demolitions across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Data compiled by UN OCHA and rights organizations indicates that from January through August 2025, Israeli forces demolished at least 1,164 Palestinian-owned structures, displacing over 1,500 individuals.
These figures include homes, agricultural facilities, water infrastructure, and commercial properties, many of which were razed under the pretext of lacking Israeli-issued building permits, permits that are notoriously difficult for Palestinians to obtain.
East Jerusalem has seen a sharp rise in forced self-demolitions, particularly in neighborhoods like Silwan, where families are often compelled to destroy their own homes to avoid exorbitant fines.
Meanwhile, in Area C, about %60 of the occupied West Bank, under full Israeli military control, demolitions have targeted not only residential structures but also critical community infrastructure, including schools and clinics. As of September, 84 Palestinian schools remain under threat of demolition orders.
The refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams have also suffered extensive destruction, though these are often excluded from official demolition tallies due to their classification as military operations. Jenin refugee camp alone has seen the destruction of approximately 600 structures since the beginning of the year.
Human rights groups and international observers have condemned the demolitions as part of a systematic policy aimed at displacing Palestinians and consolidating Israeli control over strategic areas.
The pace and scale of demolitions in 2025 suggest that this year may become the most demolition-intensive period since the occupation began in 1967.
As the situation escalates, local councils and humanitarian organizations continue to document and challenge these actions, calling for international accountability and protection for Palestinian communities facing forced displacement.
The West Bank is fragmented into three zones, Areas A, B, and C, based on the Oslo II Accord signed in 1995.
Though intended as interim arrangements, these divisions remain in force and continue to shape the daily realities of Palestinian life:
- Area A: Encompassing roughly 18% of the West Bank, and includes key Palestinian cities such as Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Jericho. It is nominally under full civil and security control of the Palestinian Authority. However, Israeli military incursions occur regularly, undermining any semblance of sovereignty.
- Area B: Covering about 22% of the territory, Area B consists of numerous Palestinian towns and villages. Civil affairs are managed by the Palestinian Authority, while Israel maintains overriding control over security. This dual governance often results in fragmented administration and limited infrastructure development.
- Area C: Making up nearly 60% of the West Bank, Area C is under complete Israeli control—both civil and military. It includes all Israeli colonies, military zones, and large areas designated as “state land” or “nature reserves.”
Although hundreds of thousands of Palestinians reside in Area C, they face systematic restrictions on construction, access to resources, and basic services. Israeli authorities rarely approve building permits for Palestinians, and demolitions are frequent.
Area C remains the epicenter of colonial expansion, land confiscation, and colonizer violence, making it one of the most volatile and contested regions in the occupied territory.
