Yusra Qwaider, a 97-year-old bedridden Palestinian woman, faces the imminent demolition of her home in the Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, East Jerusalem. The Jerusalem municipality plans to raze her house, where she has lived for over 50 years, to make way for an archaeology and tourism park known as the King's Garden.
Third Displacement for Qwaider Family
If the demolition proceeds, it will be the third time Qwaider has lost her home. She resides with 12 family members in a house the municipality deems illegal. Her son, Mohammed Qwaider, said the house was built in 1970 without permits, and they have exhausted all legal options. The family is desperate to stay.
Rise in Demolitions Since October 2023
Israeli NGO Ir Amim reported a dramatic increase in demolitions in Al-Bustan since the Hamas attack in October 2023. The threat looms over nearly all of the 115 homes in the area. This year, 17 homes have been demolished, compared to 13 in 2025 and 24 the previous year. The NGO attributed the acceleration to a sudden halt in negotiations between the municipality and residents over a housing solution.
Thousands of homes in annexed East Jerusalem lack permits, which Palestinian residents say are nearly impossible to obtain. The municipality stated that Al-Bustan is zoned for a public park and was never designated for residential use, adding that residents did not show serious intent to reach an agreement.
Residents' Plea and Political Context
Fakhri Abu Diab, head of the residents' committee, stood by rubble where five houses once stood and told visiting diplomats that the municipality aims to demolish all 115 houses by October. He described the demolitions as a war crime and a political decision, urging world leaders to intervene. His own home was demolished in 2024.
The demolitions are part of the expansion of the City of David archaeological project, run by the Elad settler organization. The King's Garden park is intended for visitors to the site. Peace Now's Yonatan Mizrahi noted that Elad uses different strategies to take over areas in Silwan, citing few archaeological finds in Al-Bustan but invoking a biblical narrative.
Accusations of Judaization
Ahmed Tibi, Israel's most prominent Arab lawmaker, accused the municipality of aiming to Judaize Silwan at the expense of Palestinian residents. He said the situation worsened after October 7, 2023, as authorities felt they could act with impunity. Ir Amim warned that if evictions continue, over 2,000 Palestinians near holy sites could be displaced in one of the largest expulsion waves since 1967.
Discriminatory Building Policies
City councillor Laura Wharton highlighted the lack of building permits for Palestinians as a punitive measure. She noted that Palestinian residents do not have recognized homes, permits, or parking, and the primary service they receive is demolition. In contrast, no settler house has been demolished in the area over the past 20-30 years.
Omar Abu Rajab, a 60-year-old resident, self-demolished his one-bedroom home to avoid municipal fees. He has incurred 64,000 shekels in fines and fears moving into his brother's house, which faces the same fate. He expressed bitterness over the discrimination, noting that an Israeli neighbor 50 meters away is allowed to build freely.
