Ali Burqan

August 28th, 2021: Ali Burqan, 17, was killed in an accident that took place during a home demolition ordered by Israeli authorities. He was killed when a wall collapsed on him, while he and many residents were helping their neighbors who were forced by Israel to demolish their home in occupied Jerusalem.

Maan said the boy, identified as Ali Burqan, 17, was killed when a wall collapsed on him during the manual demolition of a home in the al-Marwaha Street in Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem.

It added that dozens of Palestinians were helping the family who was forced to demolish its home under the pretext of not being licensed by the City council in occupied Jerusalem.

The family was forced to demolish its home to avoid the excessively high fines and fees which they would incur if the City Council demolished the property using its workers and equipment.

On Friday, a Palestinian family in occupied Jerusalem was also forced to demolish its home in Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israel’s policy of rejecting building permit applications from Palestinians started many years ago and has led to the displacement of hundreds of Palestinian families following the demolition of their homes.

Many Palestinians in the occupied city resort to constructing their homes without permits due to Israel’s continued refusal to issue these permits, while the growing families find themselves living in small homes or apartments.

At the same time, Israel continues to build and expand its illegal, segregated colonies in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, in direct violation of International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention in addition to various United Nations and Security Council resolutions.

On Wednesday, the soldiers demolished an under-construction Palestinian home in Silwan, a home on the al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem, and a car repair facility in addition to the foundation of an under-construction mosque, a well, and a toilet room, in Hebron, in the southern West Bank.

According to data by the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), demolished 865 structures, displacing 1,014 people, and directly affecting 5,615 people. In addition to demolishing 2,586 buildings in the Negev, in the year 2020.

Ali was from Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem. Source: IMEMC