LONDON: Five Palestinian families were compelled by Israeli authorities to demolish their homes south of the walled area of Jerusalem due to a lack of building permits.
On Sunday, Mahmoud Al-Tawil became the latest Silwan resident to have his home demolished. Located in Al-Shiyah area, the property was built 10 years ago and measures around 120 square meters, accommodating his wife and their four children.
The Jerusalem Governorate said that the Israeli municipality had previously fined the family approximately 120,000 shekels ($40,000) for the structure. The family was compelled to demolish the home to avoid additional financial penalties, the Wafa news agency reported.
Palestinian resident Mohammed Shehda Qweider and three brothers from the Al-Tahan family were also forced to demolish their homes in Silwan after facing threats of heavy fines.
The Palestinian Authority said that the Israeli “self-demolition” policy systematically targets the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem, particularly in neighborhoods near the Old City and holy sites.
Silwan is home to 50,000 Palestinians. Over 2,200 in the area south of the Old City face potential eviction due to building without permits and to an Israeli policy that allows Jewish interests to reclaim properties they claim to have owned before the establishment of Israel in 1948.
Since February, Israeli authorities have demolished over 50 homes and conducted land-clearing operations, primarily impacting communities such as Silwan, Al-Bustan and Batn Al-Hawa, located close to the walled city of occupied East Jerusalem.
