Israel carries out widespread demolitions in occupied Jerusalem
Occupied Jerusalem (Quds News Network)- In a sweeping operation early Wednesday morning, Israeli bulldozers carried out extensive demolitions in the town of Al-Tur, located east of the occupied city of Jerusalem. The demolition campaign targeted four homes, several businesses, a horse stable, a sheep pen, and two gas stations, marking another chapter in the ongoing policy of demolition by the occupation state against Palestinian properties in the holy city.
Israeli police, accompanied by specialized bulldozers, stormed Al-Tur at dawn and began the demolition of Palestinian-owned properties. Wadi Hilweh Information Center reported that the demolitions included a home belonging to the Nasser family and a gas station and car wash owned by the Kiswani family, under the pretext of “unauthorized construction.”
During the operation, electricity was cut off from Palestinian homes and businesses in the area. The demolitions continued with the destruction of a sheep pen owned by the Saeedi family, two homes belonging to the Darbas family, a home owned by the Abu Sbeitan family, and another home belonging to the Damiri family.
In addition to these demolitions, Israeli forces delivered over 13 demolition notices across various villages and neighborhoods in the Jerusalem governorate. These notices were concentrated in areas including Damascus Gate, Jabal Al-Mukaber, Anata, Shuafat Refugee Camp, Al-Bustan Neighborhood in Silwan, Wadi Al-Joz, Kafr ‘Aqab, Hizma, Al-Khuneideq area, and Ras Al-Nader in Beit Anan.
Earlier, Israeli forces issued an order to demolish Wadi Hilweh Center in Silwan within a year and imposed a fine of 20,000 shekels on its director, Jawad Siyam.
Since the beginning of July, Israeli forces have demolished 81 residential, agricultural, and commercial structures. By comparison, in August 2023, Israeli forces demolished only 12 Palestinian structures, but the number has already reached 20 demolitions midway through August in the occupied city of Jerusalem.
