Israeli authorities forced a Palestinian resident to demolish his own home on Saturday in the town of Silwan, south of the Al‑Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank.
The Jerusalem Governorate said the Israeli municipality compelled Palestinian citizen Waseem Lutfi Siyam to carry out the demolition of his family home in the Wadi Hilweh neighborhood of Silwan after handing him a final demolition order with a 21‑day deadline.
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Siyam said the house measured approximately 140 square meters and was built nearly 20 years ago, consisting of two apartments—one where he lives with his family and the other where his mother resides.
He explained that he was shocked by the demolition order and attempted to challenge it in court, but the appeal was rejected.
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Siyam added that he faces extremely difficult circumstances, with no alternative place to live or store his belongings.
His mother suffers from lung failure, and he himself is recovering from a work‑related injury.
In addition, Israeli authorities imposed financial penalties totaling 200,000 shekels, forcing him to begin emptying the home and carrying out the demolition to avoid further fines.
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The forced self‑demolition in Silwan is part of a broader pattern in occupied Jerusalem, where Palestinian residents are pressured to destroy their own homes to avoid the exorbitant fines and demolition fees imposed by the Israeli municipality.
