Jerusalem Homeowner Recounts Harrowing Dawn Demolition

A homeowner in Jerusalem's Al-Tur neighborhood tearfully recounted the predawn demolition of her family's apartment building on Tuesday, stating that police forced residents out in their prayer clothes around 3:30 AM before bulldozers destroyed the structure. The building contained 10 apartments housing over 75 people, including children and the sick. The homeowner described the police entry as "shocking" and said families had insufficient time to retrieve belongings, with children grabbing school bags while adults left with only what they were wearing. Most of the contents of the apartments remained inside.

The family had spent 15 years seeking permits for the building, paying taxes and fines, and had believed a legal appeal process scheduled for April would delay any demolition. "The lawyer told them the situation was not reassuring, but they clung to the request for a deadline as long as the appeal procedures were ongoing," she stated. She asserted that the land was legitimately owned and that families had purchased their apartments separately over the 15 years the building stood.

Describing the demolition as the loss of "memories and possessions in one moment," the homeowner highlighted the difficulty of homeownership in Jerusalem and the high cost of finding alternative housing. She expressed uncertainty about where the displaced families would go, adding that the shock of the event had prevented them from considering immediate next steps or seeking assistance.

Regarding the presence of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir during the demolition, she stated she did not approach him and could not witness the destruction directly but saw the aftermath, with furniture falling along with the building's structure. She concluded that life in Jerusalem is difficult and losing a home after years of effort is a profound shock for the now-homeless families.