A Palestinian activist earlier this week received an Israeli demolition order targeting his family home in Silwan neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem.

Fakhri Abu Diab, member of the Defense of Silwan Land Committee, told WAFA news agency that Israeli police accompanied by members of the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem raided his home in al-Bustan area of Silwan, and handed him the demolition order under the pretext it was built without a permit.

Abu Diab said he paid over $30,000 in fines for red tape needed to get the building license but the Israeli municipality issued the demolition order as part of its attempt to prevent Palestinian construction and development in Jerusalem while allowing Israeli settlers to build thousands of housing units.

Abu Diab is active in defending Silwan land from being taken over by Israel for illegal settlement purposes.