On Thursday, the Israeli authorities in the occupied capital, Jerusalem, in the West Bank, forced a Palestinian man to demolish his under-construction home, in Silwan town.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center In Silwan (Silwanic) said the Palestinian, Essam Sharaf, had to demolish the home he built on his land in Wad Qaddoum neighborhood.
Silwanic added that the Palestinian started constructing his 90-square meters home four months ago.
The Palestinian has been trying to obtain all needed permits and paid various legal and administrative fees, but the Municipality of the occupied city decided that he either demolishes his home at his own expense or the city would conduct the demolition and bills home excessive accounts in addition to exorbitant fines and fees.
Video By Wadi Hilweh Information Center In Silwan (Silwanic)
Statistics by the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) reveal that, in 2021, Israel demolished 937 structures and displaced 119 Palestinians, with a further 12658 affected.
Israel’s policy of collective punishment, including house demolition, is illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and various international treaties.
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.
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, and various United Nations and Security Council resolutions. They also constitute war crimes under International Law.
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”.
