Jerusalem: Israeli occupation municipality coerces a Palestinian family into emptying their home in the Silwan neighborhood of occupied Jerusalem in preparation for demolition.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Jerusalem Governorate reported that occupation authorities forced Mohammad Mahmoud Al-Abbasi to clear his home of belongings ahead of its demolition, which he must undertake himself.
Al-Abbasi, facing the daunting task of tearing down his own home to avoid severe financial penalties, must comply to avoid exorbitant fines if the occupation municipality demolishes the structure. The house, built in 2011 and covering 65 square meters, shelters Al-Abbasi, his wife, and their two children, with the family expecting a third child soon.
The imposition of a 66,000 shekel (approx. $23,000) fine underscores the financial burden placed on Al-Abbasi, who has been given a deadline of next Saturday to carry out the self-demolition. Failure to comply will result in the municipality forcibly demolishing the house and imposing additional substantial costs.
Further compounding the situation, Al-Abbasi suffers from severe health issues, including diabetes, requiring kidney dialysis sessions, and having undergone a foot amputation several months ago. The demolition order is part of a broader strategy by Israel to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem under the pretext of illegal building.
Meanwhile, the occupation municipality and government have been constructing tens of thousands of housing units in illegal colonies in East Jerusalem for Jews to alter the demographic balance in favor of Jewish colonists. Palestinians in East Jerusalem, recognized as part of the Palestinian Territory under international law, have been under Israeli military occupation since 1967 and face systemic discrimination.
Denied citizenship rights, Palestinians in East Jerusalem are classified only as "residents," with their permits subject to revocation if they live outside the city for extended periods. They also face discrimination in housing, employment, and services and are unable to access services in the West Bank due to Israel's separation wall.
