Israeli authorities have demolished 59 properties in the al-Bustan area of Silwan, East Jerusalem, since late 2023 as part of an accelerated campaign targeting Palestinian homes in the city [1]. An Israeli excavator was recently seen demolishing a Palestinian house below Jerusalem's Old City walls, illustrating ongoing operations that have intensified in the past several months [1].
On June 10, 2026, Israeli forces demolished another Palestinian home northwest of occupied East Jerusalem between Bir Nabala and Beit Hanina [2]. In May 2026 alone, authorities carried out 70 demolitions affecting 155 Palestinian structures, including 39 inhabited houses and 99 agricultural buildings [2]. These demolitions have significant humanitarian and social consequences, said the Al-Baidar group, noting the impact on Palestinian families and their living stability [2]. Fayez Awad, a resident of the area, said, "There is no future. They destroyed the future and everything else. We spent our whole lives building this house. This is all we managed to achieve in life. They brought us back to zero again, me and my children" [1].
Israeli officials typically justify demolitions by citing lack of construction permits. Palestinians report such permits are nearly impossible to obtain, especially in Area C, which includes much of East Jerusalem [1, 2]. In 2025, only 7% of new housing approved in Jerusalem was allocated to Palestinians, who make up approximately 40% of the city's population [1]. The Israeli municipality intends to convert the al-Bustan area into a biblical-themed park called the King's Garden, operated by a Jewish settler organization. The municipality stated it is "working for the benefit of all city residents and aim to build a park in a zone that suffers from a severe shortage of open public spaces" [1].
Since October 2023, Palestinian officials report that over 1,169 Palestinians have been killed and 33,000 displaced due to Israeli army and settler attacks [2]. The demolitions form part of broader tensions and violence affecting the region.
The recent demolition on June 10 marks the latest action in the string of removals disrupting Palestinian communities north and west of East Jerusalem. The steady loss of homes continues amid rising humanitarian concerns.
