Israeli occupation forces 2 families to demolish their own homes in occupied Jerusalem

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, May 16 (YPA – Israeli occupation authorities forced two Jerusalemites on Saturday to demolish their own homes in Jabal Al-Mukabber and Silwan, south of Jerusalem, under the pretext of building without a permit.

In Jabal Al-Mukabber, Omar Muhammad Halsa demolished his house himself after the occupation authorities threatened to demolish it with their machinery and fine him approximately 70,000 shekels.

In Silwan, Awatif Mahmoud Al-Ghoul was forced to demolish her home in the Al-Suwaih neighborhood to avoid hefty fines.

The forced demolitions leave the two families at risk of homelessness, as part of the occupation’s policy of reducing the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem through demolition, restrictions, and settlement expansion.

The Ma’ata Center documented 1,350 violations by the occupation and settlers in the West Bank during the period of May 8-14, 2026.