Israel demolishes seven Palestinian homes in occupied East Jerusalem
Municipal workers began demolishing seven homes in occupied East Jerusalem’s Silwan neighbourhood after an Israeli court called 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 neighbourhood in Silwan,” Jerusalem’s Israeli-controlled municipality said in a statement.
Activist Fakhri Abu Diab, one of those affected by the demolition, confirmed to the AFP news agency that “at least seven homes have been demolished, and the operation is ongoing.”
He said about “40 people, including children, were affected by the demolitions in the neighbourhood, leaving them homeless”.
Bulldozers tear down homes in occupied territory
Up to eight homes have been demolished so far and seven people killed. One of those killed was not even defending a home or opposing the Israeli forces. He was a young man standing on the rooftop of his home looking on.
That gives you an idea about the situation in the occupied West Bank and how easy it is for the Israeli army to kill Palestinians in that area.
It has always been official Israeli policy to demolish homes in the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem. However, with the world’s attention diverted towards the ongoing US elections, it is typical of Israel to accelerate the demolition of homes.
Several killed in Israeli bombing in Gaza City
Our colleagues on the ground are reporting that five people were killed in an Israeli attack in the az-Zarqa area north of Gaza City. An unspecified number of people were also wounded in the attack.
Medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 61 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since dawn today.
