BETHLEHEM, (PIC)
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have issued more than 30 demolition orders targeting Palestinian residential homes and two housing complexes in the town of al-Walaja, west of Bethlehem, in one of the largest such campaigns in the area in recent months.
Local sources said on Tuesday that the notices affect both inhabited homes and buildings still under construction, sparking growing concern among residents over the potential for imminent demolitions that could displace dozens of families.
The move is part of an ongoing escalation in demolition policies in areas west of Bethlehem, particularly in al-Walaja, which has faced years of restrictive Israeli measures, including severe limitations on Palestinian construction and urban expansion.
Large portions of the town fall within Area C, under full Israeli control, where Palestinians are effectively denied building permits. As a result, many are forced to build without authorization, leaving them vulnerable to demolition orders.
The town has also been subjected to land confiscation and leveling operations for settlement expansion and the construction of bypass roads, in addition to being encircled by the separation barrier.
These measures have led to the isolation of large areas of agricultural land and restrictions on residents’ movement.
Experts warn that the intensification of demolition orders in al-Walaja is part of a broader policy aimed at reducing the Palestinian presence in areas surrounding Jerusalem and imposing new realities on the ground to serve settlement expansion projects.
