![Israeli army bulldozers enter Manshiyya neighborhood in Nur Shams Refugee Camp, east of Tulkarm city in the northern part of the West Bank, destroying roads and demolishing the walls of 11 Palestinian houses, on March 1, 2025. [Nedal Eshtayah - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AA-20250301-37210609-37210601-ISRAEL_DEMOLISHES_11_HOUSES_IN_NUR_SHAMS_REFUGEE_CAMP_IN_THE_WEST_BANK_ON_THE_FIRST_DAY_OF_RAMADAN-1-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Israel demolished several Palestinian homes in occupied East Jerusalem during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the first such demolitions in years, an Israeli organisation said today.
Ir Amim, a group which opposes Israeli settlement building in the occupied Palestinian lands, said four residential buildings were razed in East Jerusalem in the first week of Ramadan.
“For many years, Israel abstained from demolitions [in East Jerusalem] during the month of Ramadan due to its religious sensitivity,” it added in a statement.
The group said the demolitions took place in Beit Hanina in northern East Jerusalem and Issawiya in the northeastern part of the occupied city.
READ: Israel issues demolition orders for 17 homes in refugee camp
“For the first time, Israel is violating its long-standing practice by carrying out home demolitions even during Ramadan – a sacred month for millions of Muslims worldwide,” said Avi Tatarsky, a researcher at Ir Amim.
According to the organisation, there was a 14 per cent increase last year in the Palestinian home demolitions by Israel in East Jerusalem compared to 2023.
So far, at least 46 Palestinian structures have been demolished by Israel in East Jerusalem since the start of this year, the Israeli group said.
“Instead of the harsh demolitions, it is time to develop master plans that allow Palestinians to obtain legal building permits,” it added.
The Israeli authorities use the lack of construction permit as an excuse for carrying out the demolitions. Palestinians view these acts as part of a broader Israeli policy to Judaise East Jerusalem.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognised by the international community.
The International Court of Justice declared in July last year that Israel’s long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal, demanding the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
READ: 9,500 Palestinian detainees held in Israel jails: Rights groups