JERUSALEM, February 1, 2025 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation authorities today forced a Palestinian citizen, Ahmad Abu Tayr, to demolish his own home in the village of Umm Tuba, located south of occupied Jerusalem.

According to a brief statement issued by the Jerusalem Governorate, the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem pressured Abu Tayr into carrying out the demolition under the pretext of building without a permit. 

The forced demolition adds to the ongoing challenges faced by Palestinian citizens in the occupied city, where they often face legal and financial hurdles in trying to obtain building permits. 

Israeli authorities have long maintained policies that restrict Palestinian construction in East Jerusalem, under Israeli occupation since the 1967 war. These restrictions, coupled with high permit denial rates, have forced many Palestinians to build homes without official authorization, which often results in demolitions.

Critics argue that these policies are part of a broader strategy to displace Palestinian families and alter the demographic makeup of the city in favor of the settler population.

M.N