Demolition of the Al-Risheq family home and completion of the demolition of the Badran building in the Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan
On Wednesday, bulldozers operated by the occupation municipality demolished the Al-Risheq family home in the Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This occurred after a raid on the neighborhood, which was subsequently placed under siege with access roads blocked.
The home was shared by two families: Yaqoub Al-Risheq with his wife and children, and his son Yousef Al-Risheq with his wife and children, for a total of 11 people.
Occupation forces, along with municipal machinery, raided the neighborhood. They sealed off access roads and then stormed the Al-Risheq home to demolish it, using manual tools and small bulldozers.
The family stated that the house has been standing since 2006. Around two years later, authorities started issuing demolition orders and threatened eviction. From 2011 onward, the house faced a series of fines; each time a fine was paid, another was imposed, ongoing until the family recently paid the last one.
During the raid on the home, forces attacked Yousef Al-Risheq.
Completing the demolition of the Badran family building
At the same time as demolishing the Risheq family home, occupation municipality crews and machinery also invaded the site of the Badran family building in the neighborhood and carried out its demolition. Occupation municipality bulldozers demolished the three-story Badran building last Wednesday, and returned today to complete the demolition of the remaining structure.
Ongoing demolition in Al-Bustan neighborhood
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center stated that the ongoing demolitions in Silwan's Al-Bustan neighborhood are part of a long-standing plan. This plan, originating in 2004, involved the occupation municipality issuing an order to demolish the entire neighborhood to clear space for the "King's Garden" project on the site of the homes.
In 2005, occupation authorities started issuing demolition notices to residents in the neighborhood. However, the plan’s enforcement was temporarily paused when international pressure and diplomatic and human rights interventions froze the demolition orders.
During the freeze, neighbors, with help from engineers and lawyers, worked to clarify the area's status by developing zoning plans that focused on improving the road network and designating land for public facilities like schools and playgrounds.
However, in March 2021, these efforts were halted when the occupation municipality rejected the submitted plans and did not extend the freeze on demolition orders. This reintroduced the threat of demolition and paved the way for the resumption of demolitions in the neighborhood.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center reported that demolition activities in Al-Bustan have increased significantly in recent years, with the occupation municipality conducting dozens of demolitions that impacted around 70 homes in the neighborhood.
The occupation’s scheme goes beyond demolishing homes; it also involves seizing land from residents for projects like the "King’s Garden' and parking lots for settlers. This threatens the remaining homes and land, increasing pressure on the Palestinian community in the neighborhood.
