Palestinians Decry Rising Israeli Home Demolitions in East Jerusalem Amid Gaza Conflict

What happened

The BBC Middle East Gaza desk reports a surge in demolitions of Palestinian homes in the al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, East Jerusalem, with at least 59 properties razed since late 2023. These demolitions are tied to municipal plans for a park, which Palestinians say lack alternative housing agreements and reflect broader efforts to displace them under Israeli authority in occupied East Jerusalem.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Residents like Fayez Awad describe the impact as devastating, with families losing long-built homes and future prospects. Activists warn that the demolitions will continue, with many Palestinians resorting to self-demolition to avoid heavy municipal fines, while the international community appears largely disengaged amid conflicts in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon.

East Jerusalem is a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, with competing claims framed by its religious significance and legal status. Israel annexed East Jerusalem after the 1967 war, a move not widely recognized internationally. The demolitions coincide with Israeli plans to develop a biblically themed park managed by settler groups, amidst stringent Palestinian restrictions on building permits.

Known from the source

• At least 59 Palestinian properties in the al-Bustan area of Silwan have been demolished since late 2023 according to BBC reporting.
• The demolitions are to make way for a park called the King's Garden that will be run by a Jewish settler organisation.
• Palestinians face severe difficulties obtaining building permits in East Jerusalem, with only 7% of new housing approvals in 2025 granted to Palestinians, who comprise about 40% of Jerusalem's population.
• Some 200 Palestinian households—approximately 900 people—face eviction cases filed in Israeli courts.
• Israeli human rights groups and activists report settlers moving into properties based on laws allowing takeover of Jewish-owned property pre-1948.

What remains unclear

The issue of eviction also extends to neighboring Silwan areas where settler groups have pursued legal actions resulting in Palestinian families being labeled as illegal squatters. Human rights organizations cite the nearly impossible framework for Palestinians to obtain construction permits, contrasting with the expansion of about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jewish residents in the occupied territories.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Exact and up-to-date number of demolished properties in al-Bustan and surrounding Silwan areas. Verification of the municipal and settler organisation's role and plans for the 'King's Garden' park. Current status and outcome of eviction cases against Palestinian households.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: BBC Middle East Gaza. Open the source.