A group of 30 settlers damaged numerous Palestinian vehicles in East Jerusalem.
Today, Sunday 12 December, Israeli settlers deliberately damaged numerous Palestinian vehicles across East Jerusalem, or al-Quds as it is known in Arabic. Others stormed the courtyard of al-Aqsa Mosque.
Approximately 30 settlers targeted at least 15 Palestinian vehicles with stones in occupied al-Quds, causing substantial damage. Some attempted to torch a vehicle with an inflammable liquid.
Such attacks against Palestinians are common across the West Bank, including al-Quds.
Since the beginning of this year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Territories has documented 427 attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. 312 resulted in property damage.115 resulted in injuries to Palestinians.
Also, this morning, dozens of Jewish extremist settlers stormed the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied al-Quds, under heavy security from Israeli police.
The intruders performed various religious rites in the eastern area of al-Aqsa Mosque, including in an area directly opposite the Dome of the Rock.
Settlers storm al-Aqsa Mosque twice daily, except on the weekly rest days (Friday for Muslims, Saturday for Jews). Every morning and after the noon prayer, settlers enter through the ‘Moroccan Gate’ along the western side of the mosque’s surrounding wall, as escorted by Israeli occupation police. Such incursions have been permitted by the Israeli state since 2003, despite repeated condemnations by the Islamic Religious Endowment in al-Quds.
The occupation authorities target important Islamic sites with the aim of changing the character of al-Quds.
Recently, the Knesset voted to include a visit to al-Aqsa in the Israeli school trip program. It also exerts pressure on Jerusalemites through fines, home demolitions, arrests, and deportations, and fines, all in order to secure al-Quds and al-Aqsa for settlers.
