Israeli authorities demolish East Jerusalem home, entire community at risk

"Israel must immediately stop forcibly displacing Palestinians and demolishing their homes and property in Al-Bustan and throughout the occupied Palestinian territory," said Nathan Carey, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)’s Middle East and North Africa head of advocacy. "The international community must take all possible actions to prevent further displacement of Palestinians, halt Israeli settlement expansion, and hold Israel accountable for violating international law."

Nine families, including Mohammad Odeh's, received final demolition notices in July, informing them that their homes would be demolished after 21 days. These notices are the last step before demolition. Odeh’s home was the first to be demolished, and the other homes are at imminent risk, meaning Israeli authorities could demolish them at any time.

"This isn't the first time authorities have demolished my building," Odeh explained. "My home is no different from those destroyed in Gaza. This is the reality under occupation."

Al-Bustan, home to about 1,550 Palestinians and 150 housing units according to the Jerusalem municipality, is near the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. This has led Israeli authorities to focus on increasing the Jewish presence and displacing Palestinians. All structures in Al-Bustan are currently unprotected and at risk of demolition. NRC is representing 85 demolition cases in the community.

Odeh’s neighbour, Raeda Badran, lives with her son, daughter-in-law, and two young grandchildren. On 18 July, she received a final demolition notice for a 25-square-metre extension to her house. After witnessing the demolition of Odeh’s home, she felt compelled to self-demolish the extension. She feared steep fines from the municipality and the potential trauma her grandchildren might experience from the presence of Israeli forces.

The Silwan neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, where Al-Bustan lies, faces significant challenges including overcrowding, inadequate services, and the constant threat of demolitions and displacement. So far this year, 19 Palestinian properties have been demolished, displacing 52 people, including the Odeh and Badran families. Additionally, Silwan is heavily targeted by Israeli settler organisations, who are seizing Palestinian properties to establish settlements.

Demolitions of Palestinian structures in East Jerusalem reached a record high of 229 in 2023, marking the highest number since the UN began monitoring in 2009. Half of these demolitions were homes. This year, between 1 January and 2 August, Israel has demolished 128 Palestinian structures, including 61 homes, displacing 330 people.

Notes to editors:

• From 2019 to 2023, Israeli authorities demolished 113 Palestinian properties in Silwan, including 54 homes, due to the lack of building permits. Demolition data sourced from UN OCHA.
• Under the Fourth Geneva Convention (GCIV), Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory are protected persons whose private property cannot be confiscated or destroyed, except in exceptional cases of military necessity, which do not apply here.
• Forcible transfers, whether individual or mass, are strictly prohibited. This prohibition is absolute, with no exceptions except those meant to protect displaced persons during active hostilities or for imperative military needs. Even then, the transfer must be temporary, with the right of displaced persons to return immediately after hostilities end. Additionally, the transfer of the Occupying Power’s civilian population into the occupied territory is prohibited, whether the transfer is forcible or voluntary.
• On 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice established in an Advisory Opinion that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, is unlawful and must immediately end. Israel is to withdraw its settlements, allow for the return of displaced Palestinians, and offer reparations for damages to real property.

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For information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

• NRC's global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
• Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media adviser:ahmed.bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147