www.aljazeera.com
‘Revenge’: Israel demolishes Palestinian home in Sheikh Jarrah
Israeli forces tear down the house in overnight raid displacing family of 18 from their home in occupied East Jerusalem.
International
Sheikh Jarrah, occupied East Jerusalem – Israeli forces have destroyed the home of a Palestinian family in Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem, days after the family tried to stave off the demolition by threatening to blow up the house.
Large numbers of Israeli police and special forces raided the Salhiyeh home and cordoned off the surrounding area at 3am (01:00 GMT) on Wednesday. The family told Al Jazeera that dozens of heavily armed forces broke into their home while they slept and assaulted family members, arresting six of them including the head of the household, Mahmoud Salhiyeh.
At least 18 other Palestinians who were present at the home in solidarity with the family were also arrested.
The demolition began at the dawn call to prayer at approximately 5am (03:00 GMT) during a rainstorm on one of the coldest nights of this year’s winter season. The family of 18 is now rendered homeless.
Israeli authorities have justified the demolition to build a special education school for the residents of the neighbourhood.
Family member Yasmeen Salhiyeh, 19, said Israeli forces cut off the electricity to their home and fired tear gas canisters in and around the house. She told Al Jazeera that some 50 officers “raided the house and began beating up the men of the family – they also assaulted my aunt”.
“They pulled my father out of bed, beat him along with my brothers and cousins,” before arresting them “without giving them the chance to put clothes on”, she said.