Demolition of Residential Block in East Jerusalem Highlights Ongoing Housing Crisis for Palestinians
On 23 December 2025, a four-storey residential block housing around 100 residents in Silwan's Wadi Qaddom neighbourhood of East Jerusalem was demolished after dawn. The demolition process lasted about 12 hours, with roads blocked by police to facilitate the operation.
The building, which was the largest among approximately 230 demolished structures in East Jerusalem Palestinian neighbourhoods during 2025, comprised roughly 13 flats. The demolition was carried out under a 2014 court order. Although residents were offered extensions and licensing options, these were declined. The building lacked an official permit and was located on land not licensed for residential use.
Palestinians in East Jerusalem face chronic barriers to obtaining building permits, which have become increasingly rare and have declined further since October 7. The planning processes are slow, and experts highlight that the six-month window for recourse is insufficient to address these issues.
Amid these demolitions, Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that the security cabinet had approved 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Additionally, Itamar Ben-Gvir posted on X, praising the policy of demolishing illegal buildings.
The overall impact of these policies has led to around 500 Palestinians losing their homes to lack-of-permit demolitions in East Jerusalem. Furthermore, about 1,000 people, including 460 children, are at risk of displacement from eviction cases filed by settler organisations.
Locally, residents in Batn al Hawa observed the demolition while neighbouring settlers renovated rooftops and displayed Israeli flags on nearby buildings. These residents have expressed distress and a profound sense of lack of international support in the face of ongoing displacement pressures.
