Israeli forces demolish multiple Palestinian homes in the West Bank, displacing families

WAFA reported, citing local sources, that Israeli forces demolished five inhabited Palestinian homes in the Bethlehem governorate on July 22, 2026—four in Nahhalin and one in Za’atara. Anadolu Agency documented that the four Nahhalin homes were demolished on the grounds that they lacked building permits, while WAFA reported that forces assaulted residents, fired tear gas and stun grenades, caused several inhalation injuries, and detained several people. IMEMC separately reported the demolition of a home, a carwash facility, and two livestock farms in Rafat. The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reported 341 demolition operations during the first half of 2026, destroying 740 structures and affecting 923 Palestinians, including 546 children and 431 women.

Bethlehem home demolitions

• ▪In Za'tara, Israeli forces demolished the three-story home of Raed Hassan Abu Ra’iya, which housed seven family members.
• ▪WAFA reported, citing local sources, that Israeli forces assaulted residents and fired tear gas and stun grenades during the Nahhalin demolitions, causing several cases of inhalation injury and detaining several residents.
• ▪In Nahalin, Israeli forces demolished homes belonging to Mahmoud Na'im Fannoun, Mahmoud Husni Shakarna, Malek Ribhi Najajra, and Jamil Mohammad Najajra.
• ▪WAFA reported, citing local sources, that Israeli forces demolished four inhabited Palestinian homes in Nahhalin and proceeded to demolish a fifth inhabited home in Za’atara on July 22, 2026.

Israeli permit restrictions

• ▪ILKHA reported that Palestinians say Israeli-issued building permits are nearly impossible to obtain under Israel's restrictive planning policies in the occupied West Bank.
• ▪Israeli forces demolished four Palestinian homes in Nahalin on the grounds that they were constructed without building permits.
• ▪According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Israeli authorities issued demolition notices for 254 additional structures during the first half of 2026 under the stated grounds that they lacked building permits.

Displacement and additional demolitions

• ▪IMEMC reported that Israeli authorities demolished a home, a carwash facility, and two livestock farms in Rafat, northwest of Jerusalem, on July 22, 2026.
• ▪Anadolu Agency photographs from July 22, 2026, showed Palestinian families in Nahhalin attempting to salvage belongings from the rubble of four demolished homes.
• ▪Raed Hassan Abu Ra’iya told WAFA that Israeli forces ordered him to evacuate his Za’atara home on July 21, 2026, before demolishing it the following morning.

West Bank demolition statistics

• ▪The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reported that demolition operations during the first half of 2026 destroyed 740 structures and affected 923 Palestinians, including 546 children and 431 women.
• ▪According to figures cited by the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Israeli authorities carried out 341 demolition operations in the West Bank during the first half of 2026.

International humanitarian law concerns

• ▪ILKHA reported that Palestinian officials and human rights organizations have condemned the demolitions as a tool of forced displacement that they say violates international humanitarian law and facilitates the expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.
• ▪An Israeli court rejected a legal appeal seeking to halt the demolition of 14 Palestinian homes in Nahalin.