On Monday, Israeli authorities compelled a Palestinian family in Beit Hanina, north of occupied Jerusalem in the West Bank, to demolish its own home under orders from the municipality.
The Al-Hashim family stated that Israeli municipal teams, accompanied by military forces, stormed their home and forced them to carry out the demolition immediately, displacing 11 family members.
The family was ordered to demolish its property or face fines, arrest and prosecution by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Israeli authorities routinely force Palestinians, especially in Jerusalem, to demolish their own homes, citing permit violations. Those who refuse face forced demolitions by Israeli bulldozers, in addition to very high fines, fees and the demolition cost.
The Jerusalem municipality continues to deny Palestinian residents access to building permits, enforcing demolitions that contradict international legal frameworks guaranteeing the right to shelter.
These policies form part of Israel’s broader efforts to forcibly displace Palestinians from Jerusalem, while expanding illegal settlements within and around the city.
About two weeks ago, Israeli occupation authorities forced a Palestinian man to self-demolish his home in Jabal Al-Mukaber, south of the occupied capital, Jerusalem, in the occupied West Bank.
Meanwhile, the Israeli organization “Ir Amim” reported that May 2025 saw the highest number of home demolitions in East Jerusalem this year.
Data from the organization indicates that 33 structures were demolished, including 16 residential units and 17 non-residential buildings.
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.”
