The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory (OCHA oPT) has reported an immediate threat of the demolition of a building, comprised of 12 housing units, in the Wadi Qaddoum area of the Silwan neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, or al-Quds as it is known in Arabic.
A statement, published on the UN’s website, reports that several Palestinian families recently received a demolition order from the Jerusalem municipality, demanding that they vacate the building within days.
“If the demolition goes ahead, 32 adults and 42 children will be forcibly evicted. Two of the households in the building are Palestine refugees, and another two would be displaced for the second time in two years, following previous demolitions”
“As with most demolitions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, the pretext for the possible demolition in Wadi Qaddum is the lack of an Israeli building permit. However, such permits are virtually impossible for Palestinians to obtain”, the OCHA continued.
Occupation authorities have designated the site as an “open green space”, one that will be used as a public park.
The OCHA office has said that initial efforts to prevent the demolition process should include communicating with the relevant authorities and that the humanitarian community stands ready to support anyone displaced if the demolition does occur.
Since the beginning of 2022, 300 Palestinian buildings have been demolished or seized throughout the West Bank, including al-Quds.
