Jerusalem: A Palestinian from Shu'fat refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem, was forced today to demolish his own home after receiving a demolition order from the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem, citing unpermitted construction as a pretext.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, resident Abdallah Hawwas was compelled to self-demolish two apartments that constituted an entire floor of a residential building. The home was inhabited by seven people.
Hawwas had to rent machinery for the demolition, fearing that Israeli bulldozers would damage the remaining floors. This self-demolition resulted in an estimated cost of 30,000 shekels. Israeli authorities had set a deadline for Hawwas until the upcoming Sunday to carry out the demolition himself. Failure to do so would result in a forcible demolition by the municipality, accompanied by hefty fines.
The Israeli municipality has been enforcing demolitions or forcing Palestinians to demolish their own structures under the pretext of building without permits. These permits are rarely granted to Palestinians in the occupied city, as part of a policy aimed at restricting Palestinian expansion and growth in occupied Jerusalem.
Palestinians in East Jerusalem often find themselves compelled to dismantle their homes after receiving demolition orders to avoid the steep costs imposed by the Israeli municipality if it conducts the demolition. They argue that they are forced to build without permits due to discrimination and the municipality's refusal to issue permits or imposition of unaffordable conditions.
Meanwhile, thousands of housing units are constructed for Jewish settlers in the city on appropriated Palestinian lands and are made easily accessible to them.