Two Palestinian Families Forced To Demolish Own Homes In Occupied Jerusalem

Jerusalem: Israeli occupation authorities forced two Palestinian families to demolish their homes in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday, in a continuation of a systematic Israeli policy of displacement. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Qur'an family was compelled to carry out a self-demolition of their home in the neighborhood of Jabal al-Mukabbir. The family was forced to do so to avoid steep financial penalties by the Israeli municipality. In a separate incident, the Halawani family was forced to demolish their residential building in the town of Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem. The building consisted of six housing units, which the family had no choice but to tear down under pressure from the Israeli municipality. As a result, approximately 30 people, including children, have been left homeless. Palestinian families in occupied Jerusalem are frequently denied building permits by Israeli authorities, leaving many with no legal option but to build without authorization. Human righ ts organizations have long criticized Israel's home demolition policies in occupied Jerusalem, calling them discriminatory and part of broader efforts to reduce the Palestinian presence in the city in favor of the settler population.