LONDON: Two Palestinian families have self-demolished their homes in the Silwan neighborhood, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, on Tuesday, for building without permits.
Nader and Hatem Baydoun, two brothers, were forced by an Israeli order to carry out the demolition in the Al-Bustan area of Silwan under the threat of fines and potential imprisonment.
The two houses, covering about 88 sq. meters, have housed 10 people since they were built in 1998, according to the Palestinian news agency, Wafa.
Since February, Israeli authorities have demolished 53 homes and conducted land-clearing operations, primarily impacting communities such as Silwan, Al-Bustan and Batn Al-Hawa, located close to the walled city of occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli authorities are developing an underground archaeological and tourist attraction in Silwan, which is home to 50,000 Palestinians, called the “City of David.” It is operated by the Elad settler organization, also known as Ir David Foundation, which was founded in 1986.
More than 2,200 Palestinians in the area south of the Old City are at risk from eviction orders as a result of an Israeli policy that permits Jewish interests to reclaim properties allegedly owned before the establishment of Israel in 1948.
