AhlulBayt News Agency: In a new escalation, Israeli authorities on Sunday issued demolition orders for 14 homes in the al‑Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, south of the Aqsa Mosque, claiming “unlicensed construction” as part of a broader policy aimed at reducing Palestinian presence around the holy site.
The Jerusalem Governorate stated that these homes shelter Palestinian families and that the targeting is part of an Israeli plan to transform the area into what it calls “Biblical gardens.”
Officials warned that this measure constitutes a serious violation of housing and property rights, endangering the future of around 120 Palestinian residents as Israeli expansion continues to encroach on long‑standing homes and lands.
The new demolition orders follow a series of escalating actions. In January 2026, the Israeli municipality informed residents of plans to confiscate large areas of land in al‑Bustan—5.7 dunums on January 1 and another 1.1 dunums on January 18—under the pretext of creating gardens and parking lots on land Israel claims is “empty.”
These confiscated areas include plots where homes were demolished in 2025, highlighting Israel’s use of a “vacant land” policy as a legal façade to justify land seizures and establish permanent settler realities.
The Jerusalem Governorate stressed that the targeting of al‑Bustan is part of Israel’s broader Judaization strategy in Jerusalem, aimed at altering the city’s demographic balance in favor of settlers and tightening control over areas surrounding the Aqsa Mosque.
It emphasized that Silwan serves as the southern protective belt of Al‑Aqsa and its historical guardian, and that any assault on the neighborhood directly undermines the historic and legal status quo in the holy city.
Today, approximately 1,500 Palestinians live in around 120 homes in al‑Bustan, facing a systematic campaign that includes direct demolition threats.
Nearly 80% of homes in the neighborhood are under threat of demolition under the “Kaminitz Law,” including homes whose owners had already paid fines before 2017. Despite this, Israeli authorities continue issuing new demolition notices.
Since October 7, 2023, al‑Bustan has witnessed unprecedented escalation, including the banning of prayers at a local protest tent (later destroyed), media restrictions, limitations on NGOs, and the demolition of more than 35 homes. Daily harassment includes road closures, military checkpoints, arbitrary arrests, heavy municipal fines, and even settler involvement in surveillance and demolition claims, creating a climate of constant intimidation.
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