Israeli bulldozers demolished two Palestinian-owned homes in the area of al-Qubbeh, to the south of Jerusalem.
Eyad Edi’es, a homeowner, told WAFA that staff from the so-called Israeli “Civil Administration” escorted a bulldozer into the area and demolished the two homes without a prior notice.
He noted that the homes were constructed several years ago, but he and his brother carried out restoration works.
As a result, two families with 10 members were displaced and became homeless.
Using the pretext of illegal building, Israel demolishes houses on a regular basis, to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem.
At the same time, the municipality and government build tens of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem, for Jews, with a goal to offset the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish settlers in the occupied city.
Although Palestinians in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian Territory that has been subject to Israeli military occupation since 1967, they are denied their citizenship rights and are instead classified only as “residents” whose permits can be revoked if they move away from the city for more than a few years.
They are also discriminated against in all aspects of life, including housing, employment and services, and are unable to access services in the West Bank due to the construction of Israel’s separation wall.
The “Civil Administration” is the name Israel gives to the body administering its military occupation of the West Bank.
(photo: Alternative Information Center)
