Smotrich says Israel demolished 35 Palestinian structures in northern West Bank

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said authorities demolished 35 Palestinian structures near access roads serving new settlements in the northern West Bank, describing the buildings as unauthorised and linking the operation to efforts to strengthen Israeli settlements in the area.

Smotrich said the demolitions were carried out by the Civil Administration’s enforcement unit, which falls under his authority as part of his responsibilities within the Defence Ministry relating to civilian affairs in the West Bank.

“We are demolishing illegal construction, creating a deterrent effect, and protecting the northern West Bank settlements that serve as a security belt for Israel,” Smotrich said.

He added that Israeli authorities were working to “fortify and strengthen the settlements.”

Smotrich did not identify the precise locations of the 35 structures or provide details about their type or use. No Palestinian response to the demolitions was included in the report.

Israel carries out demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures in Area C of the occupied West Bank, which remains under full Israeli administrative and security control, frequently on the grounds that they were built without Israeli-issued permits.

Palestinians and international organizations have long argued that the Israeli planning system makes obtaining construction permits in Area C extremely difficult.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), demolitions linked to the lack of Israeli-issued building permits displaced more than 1,700 Palestinians in Area C and East Jerusalem during 2025, the highest annual figure recorded since the agency began systematic monitoring in 2009.