Israeli police today raided the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan and tore down a shop in al-Bustan area, one of 17 structures, mainly homes, in that area slated for demolition by the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem.

Israeli police and border guards, accompanying a bulldozer, cordoned al-Bustan area as the bulldozer tore down a butchery owned by Nidal Rajabi, a local resident, who refused to self-demolish it in line with a demolition notice.

The demolition was carried out two days after the end of the Israeli municipality deadline for 13 Palestinian families to self-demolish their 17 homes in the neighborhood under the pretext they were built without a permit.

The demolition of the shop will facilitate access to the homes slated for demolition.

Rajabi and other residents confronted the Israeli forces to prevent the demolition and were brutally attacked by the police hitting some with rubber-coated steel bullet, one of them was transferred to hospital, and causing others to suffocate from tear gas, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Three Palestinians were also detained, including the shop owner and his son.

Source : Safa