Israeli Occupation Forces tore down, on Tuesday 30 November 2021, a Palestinian-owned house in the occupied Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan.
The heavily armed police officers forced their way into Bir Ayoub area of Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, and cordoned off a house belonging to Mohammad Zaytoon before municipal crews dismantled it.
The occupation authorities proceeded with dismantling the structure, which was erected five years ago, after Zaytoon had refused to tear it down himself, leaving his entire family, including three children, homeless.
Using the pretext of illegal building, Israel demolishes houses on a regular basis to restrict Palestinian construction in occupied Jerusalem.
The Israeli authorities are pursuing various forms of harassment against the Jerusalemite population, as a means of forcing them to leave this religiously-significant city – thereby leaving it clear for the expansion of settlements.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory had documented the Israeli army’s demolition of 698 buildings in – and the displacement of 949 Palestinians from – “Area C” of the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem in 2021 alone.
Jewish Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa
Meanwhile, dozens of Jewish settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque under heavy military protection.
Approximately 209 settlers forced their way into the holy site, in total provocation to Palestinian worshippers.
The Aqsa Mosque is exposed to daily desecration by Jewish settlers and police forces in the morning and the afternoon, except on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Israeli police close al-Maghariba Gate, which is used by Jews to enter the Mosque, at 10:30 am after the settlers complete their morning tours at the holy site. Later in the afternoon, the same gate is reopened for evening tours by settlers.
During the presence of settlers inside the Mosque Compound, entry restrictions are imposed on Muslim worshippers at the entrances leading to the Mosque and their IDs could be seized until they leave the holy place.
