Jerusalem, January 19, 2026 (WAFA) – As a result of the occupation’s excavations under the Al-Aqsa Mosque, three families from the Abu Sbeih family were forced to evacuate their homes in the Ain al-Fouqa area of Silwan town on Monday, following a sudden collapse that caused a room inside one of the adjacent houses to fall, posing a danger to the safety of the residents.
The Jerusalem Governorate said that this incident comes after the collapse of a retaining wall yesterday that was a cause for concern, as residents confirmed that they had repeatedly informed the occupation municipality of the need for urgent intervention, but it refrained from taking any preventive measures to prevent the collapses from worsening or to ensure the safety of the residents.
Citizen Fawaz Abu Sbeih told the Jerusalem Governorate that his family had submitted several official complaints to the Israeli municipality regarding serious cracks in the walls of their home caused by Israeli excavations beneath and around the house. He explained that the effects of these excavations had worsened significantly with the recent storm, accelerating the collapse. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the municipality has taken no action, even though the Israeli authorities prohibit residents from carrying out maintenance or excavation work to reinforce building foundations.
In the same context, the family added that the men and parents refuse to leave the homes despite the risks, out of concern for being present in them and not evacuating them, for fear that the occupation authorities will exploit any forced eviction as a pretext to control or seize the homes later.
The Jerusalem Governorate confirmed that the collapses in Silwan come within the context of systematic forced displacement policies based on dangerous colonial excavations and deliberate neglect of their repercussions on the homes of Jerusalemites, while preventing Jerusalemite families from repairing their homes or enhancing their safety.
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A.A./ M.A.
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