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JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli bulldozers demolished three houses under construction and a steel structure in the Jabal al-Mukabbir neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, after Israeli forces claimed the owners lacked proper licenses.

Local sources told Ma’an that Israeli municipality officials escorted by Israeli forces and a bulldozer raided Jabal al-Mukabbir and demolished three under-contruction homes belonging to the Eweisat, Abu Sakran and Aqil families, in addition to a steel structure used for housing livestock.

Amer Eweisat told Ma'an that Israeli forces raided and demolished his house, which was empty at the time of the incident, without any prior notice or warning.

Eweisat began building the new 100-square meter space house around a month ago, with the hopes of moving in with his family of five.

Israeli bulldozers demolished a 50-square meter house that was also still under construction and a steel structure used for housing sheep that belonged to Ali Issa Abu Sakran.

Abu Sakran said that the family was building the house for Ali’s brother, who is currently held in Israeli prison and is expected to be released in the coming days.

Israeli bulldozers demolished a third house under construction belonging to Hasan Aqil, whose family began building on the 70-square meter space three months ago.

Separately, Israeli forces reportedly raided the al-Issawiya village of occupied East Jerusalem, where they detained seven youths and transferred them for interrogation.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said she was looking into reports of the home demolitions, but could not confirm the detentions reported in the neighborhood.