Israeli occupation forces demolished a residential building in the Wadi Qaddum neighborhood of Ras al-Amud, in the Silwan area south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, early Monday morning, leaving dozens of Palestinians homeless in yet another act of forced displacement in occupied Jerusalem.

According to local sources, the building consisted of 13 apartments and was home to approximately 100 Palestinian residents, including women and children. The demolition was carried out under the pretext that the building lacked an Israeli-issued permit—permits that Palestinian residents say are nearly impossible to obtain due to discriminatory planning policies imposed by the occupation authorities.

Witnesses reported that Israeli forces sealed off the Wadi Qaddum area from the early morning hours, preventing residents and journalists from freely accessing the neighborhood. A large contingent of Israeli troops, backed by multiple military bulldozers, stormed the area, surrounded the building, and proceeded with its demolition amid a heavy security presence.

The demolition is part of Israel’s long-standing policy of home demolitions in occupied East Jerusalem, which human rights organizations have repeatedly described as a tool for demographic engineering, aimed at reducing the Palestinian presence in the city while expanding illegal settlements.

Palestinian residents condemned the demolition as a blatant violation of international law, noting that such actions constitute collective punishment and violate the right to housing. Under international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, the destruction of civilian property in occupied territory is prohibited unless absolutely necessary for military operations—a condition that does not apply in such cases.

The destruction of the building in Silwan adds to the growing number of Palestinian families forcibly displaced in Jerusalem, as Israeli authorities continue to intensify measures targeting Palestinian neighborhoods surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites.

Palestinians and rights advocates warn that the silence of the international community enables these policies to continue unchecked, preventing accountability and emboldening further violations against the indigenous Palestinian population. (ILKHA)