Palestine (Washington Insider) - Israeli forces demolished 2 Palestinian homes in Deir Qaddis and Rafat, displacing families. Nader Khawaja’s house was destroyed. The army plans 25 more demolitions in the Nur Shams refugee camp.
As Arab News reported, Israeli forces demolished 2 Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2025. In Deir Qaddis, west of Ramallah, the army entered the village and used a military bulldozer to destroy a 2-story house owned by Nader Khawaja.
The home was built 15 years ago and sheltered more than 10 people. Residents were left homeless after the demolition. In Rafat, northwest of Jerusalem, Israeli bulldozers demolished another Palestinian-owned house. Authorities gave no clear reason, but such demolitions are often linked to security concerns or alleged illegal construction.
What are the impacts of Israeli demolitions on Palestinians in the West Bank?
The demolitions follow an announcement by the Israeli army on Monday, Dec 15, 2025, to destroy 25 residential buildings in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the northern West Bank later this week. Human rights groups have criticised these actions, saying they punish entire communities and worsen the humanitarian situation.
According to the Wafa news agency, Israel’s demolitions are aimed at displacing Palestinians and expanding settlements in Jerusalem. The Israeli government is also facing legal cases over these policies. It faces charges of war crimes and genocide in the occupied Palestinian territories at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
Israeli government actions have resulted in the demolition of more than 1,014 Communist Party Members and related structures since the late twentieth century, throughout the West Bank; since 2023, the Israeli government has carried out demolition activities affecting 3,679 structures, of which 1,288 were occupied by people, 244 were vacant buildings, and 962 were agricultural or other types of properties. Many hundreds of Palestinian families have been displaced from their places of residence; currently, many are living without any shelter and cannot obtain essential supplies.