Demolitions, evictions, and arrests... the occupation's measures continue in Jerusalem
Self-demolitions persist in Jerusalem due to the Israeli municipality's enforcement actions and heavy fines.
The Israeli municipality compelled the Al-Abbasi family to self-demolish two of their homes in Wadi Yasoul, Silwan, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, while it also made the released prisoner Khaled Ahmed Mheisen self-demolish his business in Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem resident Mohammed Al-Abbasi stated that he had to self-demolish his house and his son Khaled's house after the Israeli municipality issued a final demolition order, despite his multiple efforts to secure a building permit.
He mentioned that the house has existed since 2012. After his son Khaled got married, he divided the property into two apartments—one for himself and one for Khaled. Currently, eight people live across these two units. Al-Abbasi explained that the occupation municipality fined him approximately 50,000 shekels in fines and penalties, which he still owes despite the demolition. He added that he was compelled to demolish it himself after being told that the municipality's demolition would cost around 150,000 shekels, an expense he would have to cover.
In Beit Hanina, Khaled Ahmed Mheisen, a released prisoner from Issawiya, self-demolished his own commercial establishment to evade the high demolition costs set by the Israeli municipality.
The establishment covers about 200 square meters across two floors, featuring a plant nursery and a section offering cosmetics, hair accessories, bags, and other merchandise.
Mheisen was released in 2011 following the "Shalit Deal," after spending 26 and a half years in Israeli prisons.
An Israeli magistrate's court has decided to extend the ban on the Jerusalemite Fadel Abu Sneineh from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque until the end of 2026. He was arrested yesterday in the Bab Hutta area for allegedly violating a previous ban from the mosque and was subsequently brought before the court, which upheld the ban through the end of the year.
Yesterday, on Friday, Israeli forces detained five Jerusalemites inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque and at its gates.
