West Bank, MINA – Israeli occupation authorities have demolished 312 Palestinian residential and agricultural structures during the first six weeks of 2026, marking a “notable escalation” in demolitions and settler attacks across the occupied West Bank, according to a Palestinian rights group.
The Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights, citing figures from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said the demolitions from January 1 through February 18 have affected approximately 21,000 Palestinians.
Most of the demolitions took place in Area C, which constitutes about 60 percent of the West Bank and remains under full Israeli military control. Israeli forces typically carry out such demolitions claiming structures lacked required permits, though rights groups note that permits are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain from Israeli authorities.
The center reported alarming figures on settler violence, stating that between February 16 and 23 alone, 86 illegal settler attacks were recorded targeting 60 communities. The attacks led to the displacement of 186 Palestinians and the injury of 64 individuals, some of whom were shot with live ammunition by settlers. The violence also resulted in the burning of 39 vehicles and the uprooting of 800 olive trees.
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“These measures constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the destruction of private property in occupied territory except where absolutely required by military necessity,” the center said in a statement.
The rights group noted that attacks by illegal settlers included physical assaults on residents, property damage, and preventing shepherds from accessing their land. It accused Israeli authorities of failing to protect Palestinian civilians, leading to “near-weekly forced displacement” in Area C aimed at expanding settlements.
The group called on the international community to pressure Israel “to halt demolitions and displacement, ensure protection for Palestinian civilians, hold those responsible accountable and provide legal and humanitarian support to Palestinian rights organizations.”
Since the war in Gaza began on October 8, 2023, Israeli forces and illegal settlers have intensified attacks in the West Bank, including killings, arrests, property destruction, demolitions, displacement, and settlement expansion. The violence has killed at least 1,117 Palestinians, wounded approximately 11,500, and led to the arrest of around 22,000 others.
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Palestinian officials warn that these actions could pave the way for Israel to formally annex the West Bank, effectively ending the possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state as outlined in United Nations resolutions.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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