Occupation authorities force Palestinian to demolish his own home in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM: Israeli occupation authorities forced a Palestinian citizen to demolish his own home in Beit Hanina, north of occupied Jerusalem, today. Local sources reported that Raed Al-Rajabi was compelled by the authorities to tear down his two-apartment home, which housed him and his son, on the grounds that it was built without a permit. The home, constructed in 2014, sheltered over ten family members. This marks the third time Al-Rajabi has been forced to demolish his home. Israeli authorities routinely compel Palestinians, especially in occupied Jerusalem, to demolish their own homes under the pretext of lacking building permits. If residents refuse, Israeli bulldozers will demolish the property and impose heavy fines on the owners. The all-Israeli Jerusalem Municipality consistently denies building permits to Palestinians, compelling them to either demolish their own homes or face demolition by Israeli forces. This practice is widely criticized as a violation of international law and human rights con ventions that guarantee the right to housing. It forms part of a broader strategy to displace Palestinians from Jerusalem and expand colonial settlements in the city and its surroundings. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA