Municipal workers demolished seven Palestinian-owned homes in the Silwan neighborhood of Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday, residents and the municipality said, after an Israeli court ruled their construction illegal. “This morning, the municipality, with an Israeli police escort, began its operation against illegal construction in the Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan”indicated the town hall of Jerusalem, under Israeli control, in a press release.
Activist Fakhri Abou Diab, one of the Palestinians affected, confirmed that“at least seven houses were demolished”. “They demolished my house, which I had renovated after it was demolished for the first time earlier this year, as well as that of my son, the family house of Haitham Ayed and four houses belonging to the Al-Rouwaidi family »he told Agence France-Presse (AFP). According to him, approximately “40 people, including children, were left homeless”.
An AFP photographer saw at least four bulldozers operating on the affected sites, under close surveillance by Israeli police. Jerusalem City Hall highlighted court rulings calling for the buildings to be demolished, due to zoning laws that make them illegal. The Israeli anti-settlement NGO Ir Amim also argued that the real objective of the demolitions was to connect areas where Israeli settlers are located with Palestinian neighborhoods in West Jerusalem. The demolition, “encouraged by the right-wing government”should affect the total “115 houses, housing approximately 1,500 residents” in the neighborhood, said the NGO in a press release.
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