In 2024, demolitions continued following a sharp escalation after 7 October 2023. Military operations expanded in refugee camps, self-demolitions increased in East Jerusalem, and settler violence reached 1,449 documented incidents (131 attacks resulting in casualties, 1183 in property damage and 135 both casualties and property damage). Israeli authorities demolished, seized or sealed or forced people to demolish 1,768 Palestinian structures, including residential, livelihood-related, and service-related or part of infrastructure; these include lack-of-permit demolitions, punitive and other demolitions, and demolitions carried out within the context of operations by Israeli forces. 4,265 Palestinians were displaced and 165,000 individuals were affected across the occupied territory. These factors combined to make 2024 the most severe year for demolitions and displacement since systematic monitoring began in 2009.
72% of demolished structures were demolished for lacking Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain, and Israel rejects 99.3% of applications in Area C. Military operations destroyed 26% of structures, while punitive and other demolitions accounted for 1%. The monthly average of demolished structures surged from 84 between January and 6 October 2023 to 146 between 7 October 2023 and 31 December 2024. East Jerusalem experienced a record number of destructions with 219 demolished structures. Palestinian families demolished 141 of their own structures to avoid imprisonment and heavy fines.
Children represented 40% of all displaced people, with 1,719 children forced from their homes. Settler violence escalated to 1,449 documented incidents, while 621 people were displaced, the majority Bedouin and herding community members due to settler violence and access restrictions. Educational access deteriorated further, with 59 schools serving 6,600 students under demolition threat. 59 schools serving 6,600 students faced demolition orders.
91 donor-funded structures built according to humanitarian priorities and provided as humanitarian assistance were destroyed in 2024. Since 2015, 1,018 EU-funded structures have been demolished, representing losses exceeding €2.9 million. In addition, and for the first time, an EU development cooperation project - the Fursh Beit Dajan Village Council Premises funded by the EU and France was demolished, representing €100,000 in damages. The demolished structure had been included in master plans submitted to the Israeli authorities over 10 years ago. Along with the above-mentioned demolition trends continuing in 2025, this signals a worrying new development.
