Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian home and broke into another residence on Thursday in the village of Battir, west of Bethlehem in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Akram Badr, head of the Battir Municipality, said Israeli forces invaded the village with military bulldozers and demolished a 170-square-meter home belonging to Mohammad Shaher Oweina in the Al-Zqaq area.
During the invasion, Israeli soldiers forced open the main gate of Kamel Obeidat’s home, broke into the residence, and occupied its rooftop.
Badr said Israeli restrictions on Palestinian construction have intensified pressure on Battir residents. He noted that Area B comprises only about 1,600 dunums of the village’s territory, while the vast majority falls within Area C. In that area, Israel maintains full control over planning and construction.
He said limits on building permits and urban development severely restrict population growth and housing expansion in the village, forcing many families to contend with overcrowding and housing shortages.
Battir is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its ancient agricultural terraces and irrigation systems. Palestinian officials have long said Israeli planning policies in Area C limit development in the village and surrounding communities. They warn that these restrictions are increasing pressure on residents to leave their land.
