AJ
⚡️ Palestinian residents in al-Quds are reporting to demolishing their own homes in order to avoid heavy fines and additional costs imposed by Israeli authorities, as Israel look to make way for a new park.
🔹 In the Silwan district’s Al-Bustan neighbourhood, families are being pressured to clear homes designated for demolition as part of plans linked to a project to establish the ‘King’s Garden’ park.
🔹 Residents argued that if municipal bulldozers carried out the demolitions themselves, the full costs of the operation is later transferred to the families, adding to the financial burdin.
🔹 One resident, Jalal al-Tawil, was reportedly quoted around 280,000 shekels for a forced demolition carried out by authorities, according to The Guardian newspaper.
🔹 More than 50 homes in the Al-Bustan neighbourhood have already been removed in recent years, while several more structures are now facing imminent demolition orders in the coming weeks.
