Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, near Hebron in the occupied West Bank, have resorted to carving caves into the hillsides for shelter after their homes were demolished by the Israeli military
Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, near Hebron in the occupied West Bank, have resorted to carving caves into the hillsides for shelter after their homes were demolished by the Israeli military. The demolition of Palestinian homes by Israeli authorities in the occupied territory has increased to an unprecedented level. At least 1,267 Palestinian structures were demolished in 2025. Israel claimed that the structures had been built illegally. According to the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, this was the highest number of structures demolished in a single year since records began in 2026.
Israeli authorities generally cite the lack of building permits as the primary reason for demolition orders, while human rights organizations say the policy restricts Palestinian development and construction and facilitates the expansion of illegal Jewish settlements. Critics also say the policy is part of Israel’s efforts to alter the demographic structure of the occupied Palestinian territory. Following the start of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023, violence in the occupied West Bank intensified further, with increases in deaths, arrests, home demolitions, and the expansion of illegal Jewish settlements. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the trend has continued in 2026, with hundreds of Palestinians being displaced every month as a result of home demolitions and settler attacks.
