Jerusalem: Israeli occupation authorities Saturday forced a Palestinian to demolish his own house in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, according to the Jerusalem Governorate. The Governorate stated in a press release that the occupation municipality compelled Hani Aweidah to tear down his house in the Wadi Qaddum area in Silwan, allegedly for being built without a license.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Aweidah proceeded with the demolition to avoid incurring exorbitant fines if the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem conducted the demolition itself. Israel frequently uses the pretext of illegal building to demolish houses, aiming to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem.
Simultaneously, the Israeli municipality and government have constructed tens of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem for Jewish residents, with the objective of shifting the demographic balance in favor of Jewish settlers in the occupied city. Although Palestinians in East Jerusalem are part of the internationally recognized Palestinian Territory, which has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967, they are denied citizenship rights and are classified only as "residents." These permits can be revoked if they move from the city for more than a few years.
Palestinians in East Jerusalem face discrimination in numerous aspects of life, including housing, employment, and services. Furthermore, they are unable to access services in the West Bank due to the construction of Israel's separation wall. A report by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem indicated that the Israeli High Court could be liable for war crimes due to policies leading to the dispossession of Palestinians from their properties in Area C of the West Bank.
The B'Tselem report, titled Fake Justice, argues that the court's support of Israeli planning policy equates to support for the dispossession and forcible transfer of Palestinians, which is a war crime under international law.
