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JERUSALEM (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces on Monday demolished a Palestinian home in the Jabal al-Mukkabir neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem on the pretext that the property lacked a building permit, locals said.

Owner of the house, Sami Idreis, told Ma'an that Israeli forces raided the Khallat al-Abed area of Jabal al-Mukabbir and surrounded the property before forcing the family out at gunpoint.

Israeli forces allowed Idreis to take papers and documents from the house before excavators tore it down.

He had built the 80-square-meter house three months ago and had moved in 15 days ago with his family of seven.

Officials from Israel's Jerusalem municipality arrived shortly after construction began on the property and issued a demolition order.
A lawyer had been trying to obtain a construction license and delay the demolition, which took place without "prior notice."

As of September this year, 29 Palestinian homes have been demolished in occupied East Jerusalem, leaving 29 Palestinians homeless, according to Israeli rights group B'Tselem.

Nearly 579 homes have been destroyed over the last twelve years, leaving 2,133 Palestinians homeless in total, the group reports.