OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)
Israeli authorities have intensified home demolitions in occupied Jerusalem, forcing Palestinian residents to either demolish their own homes or face heavy financial penalties, while carrying out additional demolitions across several neighborhoods.
On Sunday, Israeli authorities compelled Jerusalem resident Atiya Abu Teir to demolish part of his home in the village of Umm Tuba, southeast of the city, under the pretext of building without a permit. He carried out the demolition himself to avoid significant fines that would have been imposed if Israeli bulldozers had done it.
According to local officials, the demolished section measured about 30 square meters and was part of a home built in 2014 that houses a family of five. The forced demolition has worsened the family’s living conditions amid ongoing hardship faced by Palestinians in Jerusalem.
These measures are part of a broader policy targeting Palestinian presence in the city, where authorities impose strict restrictions on building permits, making them difficult and expensive to obtain. As a result, many Palestinians build without permits to meet basic housing needs, leaving them vulnerable to demolition orders or forced self-demolition.
In a related development on Monday, Israeli bulldozers demolished four Palestinian homes in the Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, south of Al Aqsa Mosque. The homes belonged to the Awad, Abu Shafaa, and Al-Ruwaidi families and were destroyed without prior warning.
Demolitions also included surrounding walls near a residence belonging to another local resident, while Israeli forces deployed heavily in the area amid tightened security measures.
These actions are part of ongoing policies aimed at restricting Palestinian construction in Jerusalem and its surroundings, further deepening the housing crisis and limiting residents’ ability to maintain or expand their homes.
According to official data, Israeli authorities carried out 49 demolition and land leveling operations in Jerusalem during February alone, including forced self-demolitions, direct demolitions using heavy machinery, and land clearing. Authorities also issued 143 notices, including demolition, eviction, and seizure orders, concentrated in several neighborhoods across the city.
The demolitions reflect a broader strategy aimed at reducing Palestinian presence in Jerusalem and reshaping the city’s demographic and urban landscape.
