The Palestinians forced to demolish their own homes by Israel

Al JazeeraEN 6 min read 100% complete by Fayha ShalashMarch 13, 2026 at 05:49 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

In occupied East Jerusalem, Palestinians are often forced to demolish their own homes due to Israeli demolition orders, stemming from the difficulty in obtaining building permits. Basema Dabash and her family in Sur Baher were forced to demolish their home in February 2026 after receiving a demolition order in 2014. This self-demolition is done to avoid significantly higher fees charged by the Israeli municipality if they carry out the demolition themselves. Even after self-demolition, families often face fines. This practice is common in East Jerusalem, controlled by Israel since 1967, due to building violations and the high cost of municipal demolitions.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Al Jazeera 40% West Jerusalem 40% Mohammed 40% Raed 50% Sur Baher 60% Basema Dabash ×270% Palestinians ×380% East Jerusalem ×385% Israel ×590%

Keywords

home demolition 90% palestinians 90% self-demolition 85% east jerusalem 80% demolition order 80% israeli municipality 70% building permits 70% exorbitant fees 60% eviction notice 50%