Israeli Forces Demolish Homes in East Jerusalem, Issue Further Demolition Notices
Israeli forces demolished three homes in the East Jerusalem town of Beit Hanina on Monday morning, citing unlicensed construction. The demolitions displaced 21 residents, including children, from homes belonging to the Abu Mayaleh family. The Wadi Hilweh Information Center reported that Israeli municipality crews, accompanied by bulldozers, entered Beit Hanina, cordoned off the area, and proceeded to destroy the houses, reducing them to rubble. Marwan Abu Mayaleh, a resident, stated that his home, along with those of his siblings and mother, which comprised a building with three apartments, was demolished without allowing time to remove belongings, despite the family having lived there for approximately 20 years.
In a related development, Israeli authorities issued demolition notices for five additional homes in the northern Jerusalem area. These included a house near the Jaba military checkpoint, whose owner was given 24 hours to vacate despite pending legal objections. Four other homes in the Al-Quds suburb of Al-Ram were also served with notices requiring evacuation within two days.
These demolitions and notices are part of a broader Israeli policy that restricts Palestinian construction in East Jerusalem, occurring concurrently with settlement expansion, land confiscation, and efforts to alter the city's character. The Governorate of Jerusalem documented 133 demolition and bulldozing operations in August, including instances where Palestinians were forced to demolish their own homes and others carried out by Israeli bulldozers. According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Israeli authorities carried out 71 demolitions in August, affecting 155 structures, including 47 inhabited residences and eight uninhabited ones, in addition to economic and agricultural facilities. They also issued 44 demolition notices targeting Palestinian structures and properties. These demolitions directly impacted at least 200 citizens, including 75 children and 56 women.
