‘A notice of imminent destruction’: Israel’s home demolitions in East Jerusalem reach record numbers

[Music] This is the neighborhood where Couta Oda was born, but he can hardly recognize it now. He’s been losing his neighbors one by one. There were five apartments in this building at the end of last year. They destroyed all of them. They belong to the same family. In 2024, 26 houses were destroyed in the neighborhood alone in just one year. Since October 7th, attention has shifted away from Jerusalem, a golden opportunity for the occupying forces to tighten their grip on the eastern part of the city. Israel considers these buildings to be illegal. Everyone here knows they could be next on the list for destruction. The odors are already resigned to it. If you come another time, you won’t see this part of the house. It will be destroyed, unfortunately. We’ve received a destruction notice for this part where my brother, his wife, and their two children live. It’s a notice of imminent destruction. The family has been living in anguish since February when they received a letter from the local council. They don’t say exactly when they will carry out the demolition. They come by surprise in the morning. Many soldiers surround the area. They close off the streets and entrances to the neighborhood and begin the demolition. Everyday life is difficult. People think we live normal lives, but nobody realizes what we’re experiencing in our hearts. Where should we all go? Where are all those who don’t have a second home meant to go? Those with children, where are they supposed to go? As Jerusalem residents with permits but not citizen status, they know they can be expelled at any time. Rasmir Abbassi is one of their neighbors. One morning while she was in bed, she says that five Israeli soldiers came to her house to tell her that her home was going to be destroyed. Do you know what my husband says? He said that he was going to pitch a tent and stay on our land. But I told him that they’d never let him do that. They’re not going to let him put up a tent. They’ll just shoot him. In the Silwan district, residents feel like nobody’s listening to their distress. These eyes on the walls are there as a reminder that they will not forget what they have seen. Standing in the rubble of a recently destroyed home, Couta Odair says he’s disgusted by the Israeli method. They say our buildings are illegal, so they first ask us to pay taxes for illegal construction. We pay them for 3 to 5 years and then they come and destroy the house. But it doesn’t stop there. After that, they send us the bill for the bulldozer, the soldiers, the dogs, all the costs in destroying the house. So, we end up having to pay for our homes to be destroyed. What we go through is like a bad Hollywood movie. Silan is just a stone throw from the old city of Jerusalem. It’s a strategic location. Maria King is the deputy mayor of Jerusalem. He’s hoping to reach 300 demolitions this year, up from 180 in 2024. Same is it’s in the city of Amber in German or in Paris or in France and also here in Jerusalem. If you want to build, you need to do it legally. If you are not building legally, so then the municipality and the government will demolish your house. And this is what this is what you you you met. you met the people that decided to build illegally. When they do ask for them, Palestinians have difficulty obtaining building permits. Many see this as a way for Israel to limit the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem. International law considers East Jerusalem to be occupied by Israel. This part of the city, annexed in 1980, should theoretically revert to the Palestinians so that they can establish the future capital of their state there. area king does not agree but for sure I will do everything so as Jerusalem will be keep kept united under Israeli law part of Israel this is our capital we are standing now in Mount of Olives we have one country in the world one Jewish country is Jerusalem we have one holy site in the world one not two not three and this Where the dome of the rock is is under our only holy sight. How the world dare to say that this is not belong to us. The first temple was there. The second temple was was there and the third temple will be there sooner or later. It will happen. In the meantime, efforts are focused on residential housing. While the eyes of the world are fixed on Gaza, the destruction of homes has accelerated in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. No building seems safe. Three houses in another. This social center co-unded by France was also partly destroyed a few months ago. The building where Couta Oda still works.

While all eyes are on Gaza, another war is being fought for control of Jerusalem. Hundreds of Israeli police officers mobilised Monday for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the city’s total conquest by Israel in 1967. It’s an opportunity for Israeli nationalists to reaffirm their hold on the city – and, increasingly, for scenes of violence against Palestinians in the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem. This part of the city – which under international law should have been returned to the Palestinians – is being increasingly eroded by Israeli settlements. Like in the occupied West Bank, the destruction of Palestinian family homes has accelerated since the October 7, 2023 attacks. In 2024 1,617 buildings were destroyed compared with 1,175 the previous year, according to UN figures. Amira Souilem, Claire Duhamel and Mohammed Natsheh went to Silwan on the edge of Jerusalem’s Old City to meet a Palestinian family whose house is due to be destroyed. 
#East Jerusalem #Palestinians #Israel

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29 comments

  1. The Palestinians are a DEFEATED PEOPLE (like the native Americans). Once they learn this, then they will be able to get on with their lives. They were defeated by people who were smarter, better organized, and better educated. They should understand who are their new masters.

  2. Israeli citizens can not also built houses illegally if you do as an Israeli your house will be demolished as an Israeli this is what happens not only to Arabs also to Israelis

  9. Imagine the potential for beauty in that place, the centre of religion or spirituality for so many people, the opportunity to mix and enjoy other cultures and embrace difference in a beautiful way. Isn't what those religions purport to teach and isn't that what spirituality really is? It's a place with so much potential to create peace and happiness, and it's instead the site of the worst atrocities this world has witnessed.

  10. Israel is a criminal state. Actually, Israel is not a real country because it is not self-sufficient but relies on foreign aid to exist.

  14. Jewish families were ethnically cleansed, houses stolen from them, during the illegal occupation by Jordanian invaders 1948 to 1967 liberation. They destroyed 38,000+ graves and tombstones with Hebrew inscriptions to build illegal shank @ROB neighborhoods (destroying Jewish history).

  19. Would have been interesting to learn more about permit availability for Israelis vs Palestinians. Every urban jurisdiction has a right to issue permits for development. i don't know of any city where you don't run the risk of demolition if you build without a permit.

  21. It sounds like the buildings are not permitted and unsafe. It says UNSAFE. It is just like in 
    the USA. They don't want people living in rat traps.

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