Israeli forces demolished, on Monday, an under-construction home belonging to two Palestinian residents in the Sateh Marhaba neighborhood of Al-Biereh city, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, according to local sources.
Correspondent for the Palestinian News & Information Agency (WAFA) stated that Israeli forces accompanied heavy machinery and tore down the two-story home, which was still in the construction stage, and consisted of two 200 square-meter apartments.
One of the Palestinian owners of the home, Salem Jewels, told WAFA that he and Thaer Flaifel, began building the home one year ago, spending approximately 48,000 Israeli Shekels ($200,000 USD) for materials and construction.
Jewels stated that the occupation authorities handed him a stop-work order 2 months ago, and he had been trying to obtain a permit, but he was never notified of the plan for demolition.
Residents protested the destruction, while a large military unit forced residents and journalists away from the area, throwing concussion grenades in the area to disperse the crowd. No injuries were reported.
Article 17 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states;
1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
