Palestinian families voice anger over rising Israeli demolitions in East Jerusalem
BBC Middle East reports that Palestinian homes are being demolished in occupied East Jerusalem to make way for a planned park project, with families saying their "future has been destroyed". Israeli officials say the demolitions target unauthorised construction and are backed by court rulings. The United Nations says demolitions in East Jerusalem have risen markedly in recent years.
BBC Middle East correspondents spoke with families in the Silwan and at-Tur neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem. The families said their homes had recently been demolished, or were a few days from demolition, as part of the Jerusalem Municipality's plan for a green zone and lookout point. One Palestinian family told the BBC: "What we built over 40 years was destroyed overnight."
The Jerusalem Municipality said the demolitions were based on Israeli court proceedings and target unauthorised construction. Officials said the project was intended to preserve the area's green infrastructure and archaeological heritage. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) data shows demolitions in East Jerusalem have risen markedly since 2024, with more than 180 structures demolished in the first half of 2026.
The Palestinian Authority described the demolitions as a violation of international law. The European Union and the United Kingdom have previously called for the demolitions to be halted. A UN Special Rapporteur described the situation as "quiet population engineering"; the Israeli government rejects that framing. The rights of property owners to compensation and reconstruction remain unresolved.
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