Israeli forces carried out a large-scale demolition operation on Monday in the village of Bartaa, southwest of Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank targeting residential buildings that authorities said lacked the required permits.
Local sources said Israeli bulldozers demolished 15 homes in what they described as one of the largest demolition operations carried out in the area in recent months.
According to the sources, the structures included multi-storey residential buildings housing dozens of families.
The demolitions are expected to leave a number of residents without permanent housing and have raised concerns about possible displacement.
Residents said the operation forms part of a broader pattern of demolitions in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinian communities frequently face demolition orders linked to building permit regulations.
Critics of the policy argue that Palestinians face significant difficulties obtaining construction permits, while Israeli authorities maintain that structures built without approval are subject to enforcement measures.
Residents of Bartaa warned of the humanitarian impact of the demolitions, saying they could force additional families from their homes and increase pressure on local communities.
The operation comes amid a wider increase in demolitions, land confiscations and settlement-related developments across the occupied West Bank, which exacerbate the Palestinians’ suffering.
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