Large-scale demolitions in Silwan in the neighborhoods of Wadi Qaddoum, Ein al-Lozeh, and al-Bustan
On Tuesday morning, Israeli municipal bulldozers carried out extensive demolitions in the neighborhoods of Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, including the neighborhoods of Al-Bustan, Ein Al-Lozeh, and Wadi Qaddoum.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem reported that municipal crews and bulldozers stormed the aforementioned neighborhoods in the morning hours, deployed there, and closed off roads leading to the demolition areas, amid a heavy deployment of Israeli forces.
In the Wadi Qaddoum neighborhood, bulldozers demolished two residential apartments belonging to Fadi and Nabil Salaymeh, with a total area of approximately 120 square meters, displacing 10 family members.
Fadi Salaymeh said that the forces stormed the site without prior warning, sealed off the area, and forced the family members to leave, without allowing them to empty the contents of the apartments or take their personal belongings before the demolition began.
In the Ein al-Lozeh neighborhood, bulldozers demolished the home of Jerusalemite Thaher Alqam and his son, Mohammed. Thaher explained that he had built two apartments approximately 12 years ago, each measuring 170 square meters, inhabited by 12 people.
He added that the family has incurred more than 200,000 shekels in fines and court and municipal costs over the past years. He added that just 10 days ago, the municipality posted official signs permitting construction on the land, but that the forces stormed the site today without prior warning, failing to take these permits and planning procedures into account.
The forces also raided the Al-Bustan neighborhood and demolished a retaining wall built by Jerusalemite Tamer Odeh around his home. Odeh explained that the purpose of the wall was to protect his home and surrounding land, but it was demolished, preventing him from rebuilding or even installing a protective awning.
He added that the municipal inspector threatened him that reconstructing the wall could lead to the demolition of his entire home, not just the wall.
