Israeli occupation authorities forced a Palestinian resident of Jabal al‑Mukabber in occupied Jerusalem, in the West Bank, to demolish his own home on Saturday, after issuing him a final demolition order under the pretext of building without a permit.
The incident is part of a long‑standing Israeli policy that systematically targets Palestinian housing in occupied Jerusalem, where building permits for Palestinians are almost impossible to obtain.
Omar Mohammad Halasa, the homeowner, said he was compelled to carry out the demolition to avoid the heavy fines and demolition fees that the Israeli municipality threatened to impose if its crews executed the demolition.
He explained that the municipality warned him he would be charged up to 70,000 shekels if he did not demolish the house himself.
Halasa said the home consisted of two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living room, and housed his family of six.
The Jerusalem Governorate reported that the structure measured approximately 60 square meters and had been standing for nearly 20 years, sheltering Halasa, his wife, and their four children.
On Friday, a Palestinian woman was forced to demolish her home in occupied Jerusalem, under the same Israeli allegations.
Palestinian families in occupied Jerusalem face severe restrictions on construction, as Israeli authorities routinely deny building permits to Palestinian residents while expanding illegal Israeli colonies in and around the city.
As a result, thousands of Palestinian homes have been demolished or are under threat, forcing families to choose between homelessness or carrying out self‑demolition to avoid crippling financial penalties.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly stated that Israel’s demolition policies in occupied Jerusalem constitute a form of forced displacement and collective punishment, in violation of international humanitarian law.
While Israel continues to build and expand its illegal colonies, Palestinian communities and towns in occupied Jerusalem and various areas in the occupied West Bank continue to be denied the right to build homes and property under various allegations meant to prevent the expansion of Palestinian towns and neighborhoods.
All of Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention in addition to various United Nations and Security Council resolutions. They also constitute war crimes under International Law.
Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits collective punishment and acts of terror against civilian populations.
Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states: “The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.” It also prohibits the “individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory”.
Articles 53 and 147, prohibit the destruction of civilian property and classify pillage as a war crime.
