Five Palestinian families in the Silwan neighborhood south of Jerusalem’s walled Old City were forced to demolish their own homes after Israeli authorities cited a lack of building permits. Mahmoud Al-Tawil dismantled his 120 square meter house, which had sheltered his wife and four children for a decade, following heavy fines imposed by the municipality.

Other residents, including Mohammed Shehda Qweider and members of the Al-Tahan family, also carried out self-demolitions to avoid additional financial penalties. Local officials said fines in some cases reached about 120,000 shekels, leaving families with little choice but to destroy their properties.

The Palestinian Authority said the self-demolition policy targets Palestinian residents, particularly in neighborhoods near the Old City and religious sites. Since February, more than 50 homes have been demolished and land-clearing operations carried out in areas including Silwan, Al-Bustan and Batn Al-Hawa, where thousands face potential eviction over permit disputes and property claims dating back to before 1948.