OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) forced on Saturday two Jerusalemite citizens to demolish their homes at their own expense in the holy city, claiming they had been built with no permits.
According to the Jerusalem mayor’s office, the Israeli municipality forced Hani Shakirat to demolish parts of his home in Jabel Mukaber neighborhood, south of the holy city, at the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The municipality also forced another Jerusalemite citizen called Mahmoud Aqil to knock his house in Silwan district, south of the Aqsa Mosque. Aqil was living with his wife and two kids in the house.
Meanwhile, another citizen from the family of Obeidat received an Israeli demolition order against his home in Jabel Mukaber neighborhood.
Jerusalemite citizens are forced to knock down their homes to avoid paying fines and demolition costs if Israeli demolition crews carried out the measure.
Hundreds of Jerusalemite homes are threatened with demolition or appropriation as part of Israel’s Judaization plans in the occupied holy city.
The Jerusalemites have no choice but to build without licenses because there are no structural maps that respond to the natural increase in their numbers.
The IOA also imposes building restrictions on the Palestinian natives in east Jerusalem and makes it hard for them to obtain construction licenses.
Israel’s systematic demolition of Palestinian homes in the holy city is believed to be aimed at psychologically destroying the Jerusalemite families in an attempt to force them to move from the city.
