Jerusalem municipality demolishes 7 illegally built homes in East Jerusalem

Municipal workers demolished seven homes in East Jerusalem’s Silwan neighborhood the municipality says, after an Israeli court ruled their construction illegal.

“This morning the Jerusalem Municipality, with a security escort from the Israel police, began its enforcement against illegal buildings in the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan,” the Jerusalem municipality says.

Activist Fakhri Abu Diab, one of those affected by the demolition, confirms that “at least seven homes have been demolished, and the operation is ongoing.”

He said that both houses and apartments were affected.

“They demolished my home, which I had renovated after it was previously demolished earlier this year, as well as my son’s house, Haitham Ayed’s family home, and four homes belonging to the Al-Ruwaidi family,” Abu Diab tells AFP.