On World Habitat Day.. 82% of Buildings in Gaza Have Been Destroyed

Ramallah - Afaq News - The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics stated that the number of buildings damaged due to the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip from 07/10/2023 until 16/6/2026 has reached approximately 201,290 buildings, which is estimated to be about 82% of the total buildings in the sector, including 134,422 buildings completely destroyed, while the number of severely damaged buildings reached 13,848, and the number of affected housing units is approximately 328,627.

This was stated in a statement issued by the Central Bureau of Statistics today, Monday, on the occasion of World Habitat Day, which was established by the United Nations/UN-Habitat, as well as Arab Housing Day, which was established by the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Construction.

World Habitat Day 2026 comes under the slogan 'Adequate Housing for All', amid a rising global housing crisis, where UN-Habitat indicates that about 2.8 billion people worldwide face various forms of inadequate housing, including 1.1 billion people living in slums and informal settlements.

In the Palestinian context, this day gains exceptional importance, given what the Palestinian people are facing in terms of widespread destruction of housing and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, the continued displacement and forced eviction, and the demolition of homes in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, alongside the economic, social, and environmental challenges that affect families' ability to access adequate housing and basic services.

Regarding the West Bank, the northern governorates have suffered extensive destruction, as in Jenin camp, the total number of damaged buildings reached 680, representing about 53% of the total buildings, while the number of damaged buildings in Nur Shams camp reached 434, representing 55% of the total buildings, and the number of damaged buildings in Tulkarm camp reached 407, or about 37% of the total buildings, as of February 2026.

The forced displacement and targeting of the Palestinian presence in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, has escalated.

The housing crisis and destruction of homes is not limited to the Gaza Strip; throughout 2026, manifestations of forced displacement, land confiscation, and targeting of Palestinian homes and facilities in the West Bank, including the Jerusalem Governorate, have continued. According to data from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Israeli occupation authorities carried out approximately 341 demolition operations during the first half of 2026, resulting in the demolition of 740 Palestinian facilities (which include: inhabited homes, uninhabited homes, sources of livelihood, agricultural, and others). Additionally, 254 demolition notices were issued on the grounds of lack of permits, with demolition notices particularly concentrated in the Hebron Governorate with 102 notices, Bethlehem with 70 notices, and Jerusalem with 34 notices.

The demolition operations were accompanied by a noticeable increase in settlement assaults, which reached 3,488 assaults during the first half of 2026, targeting Palestinian communities, their properties, lands, and livelihoods. The total number of Palestinians who faced displacement in the West Bank due to demolitions, evacuations, settler assaults, and related restrictions exceeded 4,000 Palestinians (from the beginning of 2026 until September 2026, according to a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs). These developments reflect the widening scope of pressures imposed on Palestinian communities and the resulting undermining of population stability, the ability to remain in homes and lands, and access to sources of livelihood and basic services.

Repeated displacement and shrinking space available for residents in the Gaza Strip.

Since the beginning of October 7, 2023, large-scale military operations and the destruction of homes and infrastructure have led to repeated and widespread displacement of residents in the Gaza Strip, where most of the approximately 2.1 million residents remain displaced amid ongoing military operations and damage to homes and basic services. Furthermore, residents have become confined to less than 40% of the area of the Gaza Strip due to restrictions on access to large parts of the territory, leading to increased overcrowding and pressure on available displacement areas.

3.4% of families in the West Bank live in overcrowded housing.

3.4% of families in the West Bank reside in housing units with high population density (3 or more individuals per room), with the rate being 3.0% in urban areas, 3.8% in rural areas, and rising to 8.9% in camps in the year 2025.

Change in the housing map of the West Bank: apartments lead and unconventional housing expands in the camps.

A noticeable change occurred in the distribution of families in the West Bank according to the type of housing between 2024 and 2025; the percentage of families living in apartments increased from 60.4% in 2024 to 68.6% in 2025. The percentage of families residing in housing classified as 'Other' also rose from 0.4% in 2024 to 1.6% in 2025.

This change is more evident in the camps, where the percentage of families living in housing classified as 'Other' reached 20.1% in 2025, compared to 1.4% in rural areas and 0.3% in urban areas. This increase is particularly notable in the governorates of Tulkarem and Jenin, reflecting the unique housing conditions in the camps and the changes that have occurred in the housing circumstances of families there due to demolition and displacement operations.

90% of the water and sewage infrastructure in the Gaza Strip is damaged or destroyed: a worsening crisis and increasing recovery needs.

Data showed that by the first half of 2026, about 90% of the water and sewage infrastructure in the Gaza Strip had been damaged or destroyed, leading to a significant decline in the population's ability to access water and sanitation services safely and regularly.

Moreover, 82% of households continue to suffer from water insecurity, while up to 70% of households in the Gaza Strip are able to access only 6 liters of water per person per day, which is far below the minimum required according to the World Health Organization, estimated at about 15 liters per person per day.

A decrease in the number of building permits issued in Palestine during the second quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2026.

In light of the widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip and the challenges facing the construction sector in the West Bank, data on building permits reflects the level of licensed urban activity in the West Bank during 2026.

The number of licenses issued in Palestine during the second quarter of 2026 decreased by 1% compared to the first quarter of 2026, where the number of building licenses issued in Palestine reached 1,814 licenses during the second quarter of 2026, including 1,199 licenses for new buildings. Meanwhile, the number of licensed housing units reached 4,105 housing units, of which 3,554 were new housing units. The number of newly licensed housing units increased by 20% compared to the second quarter of 2025.