Occupation demolishes 7 structures in Jerusalem, displaces 24 Jerusalemites

Israeli occupation authorities escalated demolition operations of Palestinian homes and structures in occupied Jerusalem, carrying out and forcing seven demolitions within 24 hours, displacing 24 citizens, including women and children, according to local sources. The occupation authorities forced the Za'atra family to self-demolish three homes belonging to its members after final demolition orders were issued about 15 days ago. The first home belonged to Muhammad Tawfiq Za'atra, who lived there with his wife and three daughters; the second to Khaled Za'atra and his wife; and the third to Tawfiq Za'atra and his family of eight. Occupation municipality crews also demolished the home of Muhammad Mahmoud al-Ruwaidi in the Bir Ayyub neighborhood of Silwan, allegedly built without a permit, covering about 80 square meters and housing eight people. In the same context, the occupation municipality forced Khalaf Awda to demolish his home of about 90 square meters, housing about 11 people, and also self-demolish two storage rooms, under the pretext of unlicensed construction. Sources indicated that about two years ago, the occupation authorities had forced Awda to self-demolish his home. In Beit Hanina, the occupation authorities issued a new demolition order against Muhammad al-Ubaidi, targeting a sheep barn, under the pretext of unlicensed construction. The demolitions come amid escalating restrictions imposed by occupation authorities on Palestinian construction in occupied Jerusalem, resulting in displacement of Jerusalemite families.