Israeli occupation authorities on Sunday forced a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem to demolish his own home in Jabal al-Mukabber, south-east of the occupied city, as part of a systematic policy aimed at the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Jerusalem.
The homeowner, Yasser Maher Da‘na, was compelled to demolish his house, which sheltered four family members and measured approximately 100 square metres, under the pretext of building without a permit. Such permits are imposed by the occupation while Palestinians are effectively denied any viable legal avenue to obtain them.
In a related development, occupation authorities issued a demolition order against a residential room belonging to the Al-Tawil family in the Silwan neighbourhood, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, granting the family ten days to carry out the demolition. Two other families in Wadi Qaddum were also notified three days earlier that their homes were slated for demolition.
These practices constitute a clear violation of international humanitarian law, which guarantees the protection of civilians and their property under occupation, and infringe upon the right to adequate housing enshrined in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as relevant provisions of the Geneva Conventions.
Forcing Palestinians to carry out self-demolitions, while imposing heavy financial penalties upon them, amounts to an arbitrary practice that contravenes fundamental human rights principles and forms part of a broader policy aimed at displacing the city’s indigenous population.
At the same time, occupation authorities systematically deny Palestinians building permits while expanding settlements at the expense of Palestinian neighbourhoods. This entrenches a policy of discrimination and segregation in rights based on identity, undermining social stability in the city.
These measures remain in direct violation of international law and humanitarian norms, constituting sustained pressure on Palestinians to leave their homes and city through coercive means, and amounting to a flagrant breach of the fundamental rights to housing and a dignified life.
