Israeli authorities forced two Palestinian families living in the Old City of Jerusalem to demolish parts of their own homes on Friday afternoon. Each family was threatened with tens of thousands in fines if they failed to take down the structures.
Osama Hashima was obliged to demolish a 30-meter-square room he had added to his home in the Al-Khalidiyya neighborhood in the Old City of Jerusalem. The room was an addition to the home to support his growing family.
A few weeks earlier Hashima received a warrant from the Israeli municipal council of Jerusalem threatening to fine him 70,000 shekels (17,700 USD) if he failed to take down the addition.
Hashima’s son Mu’taz explained, as his father destroyed the structure, that the room was a vital addition to the crowded ten-person home. He accused Israeli settlers living next door of taking photos of the house and the added room, and alerting the municipal council of the un-licensed renovation.
Across the Old City in the Bab Hutta neighborhood, another Jerusalemite was also forced to demolish a newly-added part of his home.
Jamal Sa’id had recently added a 25-square-meter room to the top of his home. He had been threatened with a 25,000 shekel (6,300 USD) fine if he failed to remove the addition.
Forcing families to demolish parts of their own homes is the latest move by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem. Until recently, Israeli police and border officers would accompany demolition crews to homes served with demolition orders for both entire buildings and small additions to homes that the municipality declared illegal.
The wrecking crews draw crowds of local men, women and children, as well as internationals who observe Israeli forces destroy the home. Police routinely shove and harass observers away from demolition sites, and scuffles regularly break out.
“Self-demolitions” may be an attempt to quell media coverage of the dramatic scenes around home demolitions, though local activist organizations sent out invitations to observe the scene.
The Sa’id family, said one news release from organizers of the Free Gaza movement, “will be delighted to receive guests (coffee not guaranteed, he may be too busy) to watch his destruction. I suppose he may even be glad of help.”
