Occupied Jerusalem (Quds News Network)- Israeli forces demolished seven Palestinian-owned commercial establishments in Shuafat refugee camp, located north of occupied Jerusalem, early this morning. The sudden destruction came without prior warning, leaving business owners unable to retrieve their goods or equipment.
Al Jazeera cited eyewitnesses as saying that Israeli bulldozers, escorted by military forces, entered the camp at dawn, demolishing the businesses in one coordinated operation. Among the establishments destroyed were four building material shops, a grocery store, a restaurant, and a café.
Local residents were shocked by the unannounced raid, which saw Israeli troops surround the area and block access to the targeted businesses before the demolitions began. No time was given for owners to salvage anything from inside the shops, leading to significant financial losses.
According to Wadi Hilweh Information Center, Israeli forces also closed the military checkpoint connecting Shuafat refugee camp to Jerusalem, preventing residents and students from leaving the camp to reach their workplaces and schools in the city. The checkpoint closure further isolated the camp, which has been cut off from the occupies capital city by the separation wall.
Shuafat, along with several surrounding villages, has been excluded from Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries since the construction of the separation barrier, severely impacting the daily lives of its residents.
In addition to Shuafat demolitions, Wadi Hilweh Center reported that Israeli municipal teams in the nearby town of Issawiya issued demolition orders for several homes and halted construction on others.
These actions are part of a broader wave of demolitions carried out by Israeli authorities in East Jerusalem. According to the Jerusalem Governorate, Israeli forces have conducted 339 demolitions in the area since the outbreak of the latest conflict in Gaza on October 7, 2023.
These demolitions have targeted both residential and commercial properties, exacerbating the already dire living conditions for Palestinians in the city.
Source: qudsnen
