Israeli occupation authorities compelled a Palestinian family to self‑demolish its home in the Shu’fat refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem in the West Bank, after issuing a demolition order under the pretext of building without a permit.
The Jerusalem Governorate reported that the Al‑Faqih family was forced to tear down the structure, which was still under construction, after receiving a notice from the Israeli municipality warning that failure to comply would result in heavy fines and the full cost of a forced demolition carried out by Israeli crews.
Family members said they had already demolished their previous home several months earlier with the intention of building a new residence for the family.
During the construction phase, however, they were served with a new demolition order, leaving them with no choice but to carry out the demolition themselves to avoid the severe financial penalties routinely imposed by the municipality.
بعد أشهر من هدم منزلها القديم في مخيم شعفاط لبناء منزل جديد يؤوي أفرادها فوجئت عائلة الفقيه بإخطار من البلدية الإسرائيلية في القدس يقضي بهدم المنزل خلال مرحلة الإنشاء ما اضطر العائلة إلى هدم منزلها بيدها لتجنب الغرامات الإسرائيلية الباهظة #فيديو pic.twitter.com/0ZUZLSOkrN
— الجزيرة – قدس (@Aljazeeraquds) May 13, 2026
Self‑demolition has become a widespread and coercive practice in occupied Jerusalem. Israeli authorities systematically deny Palestinians building permits while expanding illegal colonies in and around the city.
With no legal avenues to build, Palestinian families often construct homes out of necessity, only to receive demolition orders shortly afterward.
Those who refuse to self‑demolish face the arrival of Israeli bulldozers, followed by steep fines, demolition fees, and additional charges that can exceed the cost of the home itself.
Human rights organizations describe this policy as part of a broader effort to displace Palestinians from Jerusalem, restrict natural population growth, and reshape the city’s demographic landscape in favor of Israeli settlers.
The demolition in Shu’fat adds to a growing number of cases documented since the beginning of the year, reflecting an intensifying pattern of pressure on Palestinian housing across occupied Jerusalem.
In a separate incident, Israeli crews demolished a livestock shed belonging to the Abu Hamda family on Al‑Marwaha Street in Beit Hanina without issuing any prior notice. In the same area, the Al‑Maslamani family was given just thirty minutes to clear storage spaces on their land before the structures were torn down.
