Israeli authorities demolished the home of a Palestinian family in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
At 03:00 local time on Wednesday, a large contingent of Israeli police and special forces invaded the Salhiyeh residence and closed off the surrounding neighborhood.
According to the family, hundreds of heavily armed troops stormed into their home as they slept and attacked family members, detaining six of them, including Mahmoud Salhiyeh.
At least 18 other Palestinians who were there in solidarity with the family were detained as well.
The destruction started at roughly 05:00 local time after a rainfall on one of the coldest nights of the winter season this year. The family of eighteen is now homeless.
Israeli officials justified the destruction by stating that it was necessary to construct a special education school for the neighborhood’s inhabitants.
Yasmeen Salhiyeh, 19, a family member, said that Israeli authorities cut off power to their home and shot tear gas canisters into and around the structure. According to her, some 50 cops “raided the home and started beating up the family’s males – they even abused my aunt.”
“They dragged my father out of bed and beat him, as well as my brothers and relatives,” she recalled, before detaining them “without giving them the opportunity to put on clothing.”
