Israeli occupation forces demolished two homes in Silwan, a town south of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, in the West Bank, citing lack of construction permits.
Media sources said Israeli forces invaded the al-Bustan neighborhood, closing its entrances before demolishing the home of Amani Odah, which housed four people, after assaulting her family members.
They also demolished the home of Rashed Al-Qaimari, a 40-square-meter residence sheltering five individuals.
Dozens of families in al-Bustan face the imminent threat of displacement, as Israeli authorities plan to turn the neighborhood into a “Torah Park,” also known as “King’s Garden.”
In recent months, Israeli occupation authorities demolished several Palestinian homes in the area.
Israeli human rights organization “Ir Amim” stated that the Jerusalem municipality is working to replace al-Bustan with “King’s Garden,” aiming to create a geographical link between the illegal colonies in the heart of Silwan.
Since October 7, 2023, a quarter of the homes in al-Bustan have been demolished, including a community center serving approximately 1,500 residents.
Since early 2024, Israeli authorities have intensified discriminatory measures against Palestinians in East Jerusalem, demolishing dozens of homes and structures.
Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights organizations, assert that Israel restricts Palestinian construction in the city to reduce their population, while issuing increasing permits for settlements.
A report by the “Wall & Colonization Resistance Commission,” revealed that Israel carried out 73 demolition operations in April alone, targeting 152 structures, including 96 inhabited homes, 10 uninhabited ones, and 34 agricultural buildings.
Since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, Israel has escalated its violations in the West Bank through home demolitions, forced displacement, and colonialist expansion.
Parallel to the destruction in Gaza, Israeli forces and settlers have intensified attacks in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, resulting in at least 973 Palestinian deaths, around 7,000 injuries, and the abduction of over 17,000 Palestinians.
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 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”.
