A five-storey residential building in occupied East Jerusalem was demolished by Israeli bulldozers on Tuesday, resulting in the displacement of approximately 70 residents. The operation was overseen by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who joined the demolition effort from inside a bulldozer. In a video posted on the social media platform X, Ben Gvir claimed the structure had been built without a permit and stated, "I love hearing this noise."
The demolition has drawn sharp criticism from the Jerusalem Governorate, the local Palestinian authority, which labeled the event a "dangerous escalation in the policy of home demolitions and forcible transfer" aimed at imposing a new demographic reality in the city. Densely populated East Jerusalem is currently experiencing a severe housing crisis. While Israeli authorities frequently cite the lack of building permits as a legal justification for such actions, Palestinian residents maintain that obtaining these permits is nearly impossible.
Residents described a chaotic scene during the early hours of the morning when a large Israeli police force arrived in the At-Tur neighbourhood accompanied by three bulldozers. Hanine Hreibat, a teacher and mother of four who rented one of the building's 10 apartments, recounted the experience, noting that police stormed the units and provided occupants with only 10 minutes to vacate. Hreibat described a "five minutes of terror" during which she had weapons pointed at her and her husband. She was permitted to retrieve only essential items, including medicine, money, her handbag, and her ID card.
Following the demolition, residents were seen sifting through the rubble to salvage belongings such as gas cylinders and clothes. Hreibat noted that she and her family were left without a permanent place to stay, relying on the hospitality of in-laws and parents. Although residents confirmed they had received a demolition notice on Monday, they were not informed of the specific timing for the operation. Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since 1967 and later annexed it, a measure that is rejected by the United Nations and not recognized by the international community. Currently, over 360,000 Palestinians reside in the area alongside 230,000 Israeli settlers, with Palestinians viewing the territory as the capital of a future state.
