Israeli bulldozers demolished a four-story residential building in the Silwan neighborhood of east Jerusalem, displacing around 100 Palestinian residents, including women, children, and the elderly. The demolition, described by activists as the largest in the area this year, was carried out early Monday, with police cordoning off the streets and security forces deployed throughout the neighborhood. Residents were given only moments to collect essential belongings before being forced out, leaving families with nowhere to go.
The building, constructed on privately owned Palestinian land, was targeted for lacking a permit, a common issue due to restrictive planning policies that make it difficult for Palestinians to obtain building approvals. Activists and local officials condemned the demolition as part of a systematic policy to displace Palestinian residents and reshape the city's demographic makeup. The Jerusalem municipality stated the action was based on a court order and zoning regulations, while human rights groups criticized the lack of prior notice and the broader pattern of home demolitions in east Jerusalem.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions over land, housing, and identity in Jerusalem, a city at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Silwan neighborhood, located near the Old City, remains a focal point of disputes, with hundreds of Israeli settlers living among tens of thousands of Palestinians.

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