RAMALLAH: The Palestinian village of Al-Walaja, located adjacent to Israeli settlements, faces heightened fears of wartime demolitions as Israel intensifies its campaign against homes built without Israeli-issued permits. The destruction, often deemed nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain due to restrictive planning policies, has long been a source of contention in the occupied territories.
Ghadeer al-Atrash, a resident who recently saw her home bulldozed, stands as a distressing example of the challenges faced by hundreds of villagers. Al-Atrash had invested huge efforts and resources to build a home in Al-Walaja, a village carved into hillside terraces and olive farms, divided between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Despite her efforts, the house was demolished in February, leaving concrete debris and shattered dreams. Many families in Al-Walaja, now fearing pending demolition orders, share a similar fate as Israel accelerates demolitions in Palestinian areas during the current wartime situation.
Since the October 7, the Israeli government has escalated demolitions, prompting accusations of collective punishment. The United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA) reports that 444 Palestinians in the West Bank’s Area C and annexed East Jerusalem have been displaced due to demolitions, marking a 36 percent increase in displacement since the beginning of 2023.
Surge in Demolition of Palestinians’ Homes
The Al-Walaja area impacted by demolitions falls under East Jerusalem, where Israeli activist group Ir Amim notes a more than 50 percent surge in destruction since October 7 compared to the rest of 2023.
Residents like Mahmoud Abu Khiarah, a construction worker and father-of-three, express anxiety and fear about the imminent threats to their homes. Despite the Israeli Supreme Court staying demolition orders for 38 houses in Al-Walaja, at least six houses not covered by the freeze face an immediate risk.
The demolitions are rooted in what OCHA describes as Israel’s “discriminatory” planning policy, leaving residents with the difficult choice of uprooting themselves or building without permits and risking demolitions.
Al-Walaja’s residents, grappling with the encroachment of Jewish settlements and barriers restricting their access to resources, have taken the initiative to develop a zoning plan with the assistance of an Israeli planner. However, the Supreme Court has granted authorities up to four months to review the proposal, keeping the looming threat of demolitions alive for the residents of Al-Walaja.
