14 Palestinians homeless as Israel forces 2 Jerusalem homes to be torn down

Fourteen Palestinians were left homeless yesterday after the Israeli Civil Administration ordered for their homes to be demolished in the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan.

The Wadi Hilweh Information Centre in Silwan said that Israeli bulldozers stormed the neighbourhood and demolished the home of Issa Jaafra.

Majdi Abu Tayeh was forced to demolish his own home in order to avoid demolition costs of near $1,400 from the Israeli occupation on 30 January 2019 [Silwanin.net]

Majdi Abu Tayeh was forced to demolish his own home in order to avoid demolition costs of near $1,400 from the Israeli occupation on 30 January 2019 [Silwanin.net]

Majdi Abu Tayeh was forced to demolish his own home in order to avoid demolition costs of near $1,400 from the Israeli occupation on 30 January 2019 [Silwanin.net]

Majdi Abu Tayeh was forced to demolish his own home in order to avoid demolition costs of near $1,400 from the Israeli occupation on 30 January 2019 [Silwanin.net]

Eight members of his family, including five children, lived in the house, which measured 70-square-metres.

Silwan resident Majdi Abu Tayeh demolished his own home in order to avoid incurring large demolition fees from the Israeli Civil Administration.

READ: Israel rules to expel Palestinian family from their Jerusalem home

The Israeli Civil Administration ordered the demolition of both homes under the pretext that they were built without the nearly-impossible to obtain Israeli permits.

The centre confirmed that despite the fact that Abu Tayeh lived in the home for the past four years along with five members of his family, four of whom are children, he was forced to carry out the demolition himself.

Israel rarely grants Palestinians permits to build in East Jerusalem.