Jerusalem24 – The occupation forced the Yaghmour family to forcibly demolish part of their house, which had been built since 1967, in the Al-Thawri neighborhood in Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque; under the pretext of building without a permit.
A family member, Hazem Yaghmour, told the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, details of what happened. Saying, “we came today to Al-Thawri neighborhood to demolish my grandfather’s house, which was built in 1967. Fifteen years ago, the house was enlarged and an additional part was built; therefore, the occupation municipality issued a fine against us 8 years ago, worth 8,000 shekels.”
Yaghmour continued, “five months ago, we were fined again with a value of 16,000 shekels per year, and the occupation municipality issued a demolition order against this added part, and gave us until April 22, 2022, and now we are forcibly demolishing; because we cannot pay a new fine to the municipality for the demolition fee, as these are huge costs that we cannot pay, and we can hardly pay the previous violations.”
Five people live here in this 50-square-meter house, and after the decision to demolish a large part of their house (the living room, the dining room, and part of the kitchen), their lives in it have become more difficult. A large part of it has shrunk, but despite all these restrictions.
Yaghmour added, “the occupation wants to displace all Jerusalemites outside Jerusalem, into places such as Kafr Aqab and others, but we will remain here in Jerusalem like the rest of the Jerusalemites, and we will endure until death even if the size of the house is reduced.”
