100 Jerusalemites arrested, the demolition of the 15 facilities and prevention of the activities of solidarity with prisoners in the month of April
100 Jerusalemites arrested, the demolition of the 15 facilities and prevention of the activities of solidarity with prisoners in the month of April
Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan monitored the Israeli violations against Jerusalemites in the city during the month of April, which varied between arrest, assault, demolition and confiscation. This included monitoring the violation of freedom of worship , campaigns of arrests and the daily raids in the neighborhoods of the city of Jerusalem, violations of freedom of movement and expression , demolition of houses, and the issuance of arbitrary traffic violations, in addition to the increase of extremist settlers’ attacks on the residents of Jerusalem. Al- Aqsa
For the first time, Israeli occupation forces prevented the entry of young people under the age of 45 years to pray at the Aqsa for four Fridays including the first Friday of April. Alpha
The arrest of 100 Jerusalemites…including 25 children and 3 women
The Information Center monitored the arrest of about 100 Jerusalemites which mostly took place in the neighborhoods ofAl-Issawiya, Old City of Jerusalem, Silwan, Sur Baherand Al-Tur including about 25 children where the youngest were 13 year old children from Al-Issawiya. The detention of those children was extended despite their illegal arrests-according to Israeli and International laws-, where they were arrested from their homes in the early morning hours without allowing any of their parents to accompany them in the police car ; they were also hand cuffed.
Among the detainees were three women; Inaam Qlambo and is still held in Al-Ramla prison and was assaulted and hit when arrested; Ayda Al-Sidawi was detained for a few hours while attempting to enter Al-Aqsa; and Hiba Al-Tawil who was held in Al-Maskobiya for 24 hours on charges of “initiating problems in Al-Aqsa.”
Demolition…
The last few days of April witnessed an Israeli escalation in terms of demolition of houses and commercial facilities, where 4 houses that belonged to Gheith family have been demolished in “Khallet Al-Ayn” in Al-Tur and the displacement of 25 individuals including children and sick people. Seven other houses which were under construction were demolished in Al-Tur and 3 commercial shops that belonged to Hamdan, Abu Sbitan and Jaradat families in addition to the demolition of the balcony of Abu Sneineh Family House in Silwan.
Abu Al-Hawa family demolished a room in their own house in Al-Sowaneh to avoid paying high fines and imprisonment.
The Israeli occupation forces also demolished a Brick & Stone Plant in Hizma owned by Al Ashhab family.
Settlers’ Attacks
The settlers carried out several attacks against Jerusalemites and their properties, especially during celebrations of the so called “Lag B’Omer”; where they deliberately started up fires close to properties and houses of Jerusalemites which led to the burning of a car belonging to Al-Mughrabi family in Sheikh Jarrah and 3 gardens belonging to Al-Mughrabi, Al-Khatib and Al-Ja’ooni families in addition to some injuries among the population who suffered from suffocation. In Al-Mukabber Mountain, 9 UN cars were burnt while parked in the residence of High Commissioner; some were totally burnt and others had some damages. Settlers in Silwan also started up a fire in a land belonging to the Orthodox Church in Wadi Hilweh; accompanied with their guards, they flashed out their weapons in attempt to terrify the locals.
In the so called “Independence Holiday”, some female settlers wearing t-shirts that had writings on them saying “Death for Arabs” assaulted some of the old city residents while passing through Al-Qataneen market towards the Wailing Wall; they sprayed them with pepper spray, hit them and were helped by a group of male settlers which led to the suffocation and panic of many locals.
Towards the end of April, Abdulkarim Youssef Shweiki, 32, suffered moderate to severe injuries after being stabbed while working at “Me’a She’arim” in West Jerusalem. It is expected that the attack was carried out by the settlers.
Suppress and prevention of peaceful activities in Jerusalem
The occupation authorities deliberately suppressed events of solidarity in the city of Jerusalem, and prevented cultural events in the city as the week of " Jerusalem Spring" was prevented from happening under the pretext that it was organized by the Palestinian Authority, knowing that it contained several cultural tours in the markets and in the alleys of Jerusalem, in addition to Big Salesin the old town worth 30% of the price in coordination with the merchants.It also included artistic performances and “Dabke” and recreational activities for the youth and children.The occupation authorities also prevented the organizationof a prisoner’s festivalin Silwan.
Furthermore, a peaceful protest in Damascus Gate organized to protest the death of Martyr prisoner Maysara Abu Hamdiya was suppressed in which the Israeli occupation forces shot sound bombs and rubber bullets, in addition to hitting passers-by and participants in thes it-in, without exception as they suffered injuries, wounds and bruises. The occupation forces also targeted journalists and paramedics, which led to the injury of many of them.Theyarrested13Palestiniansincluding a woman and a paramedic.
On the occasion of Palestinian Prisoners' Day, a protest for the prisoners in Al-Issawiya was suppressed as well as a march in Damascus Gate.
The Israeli occupation forces also banned Palestinian from distributing and hanging Palestinian flags on their cars and arrested 5 young men who were handing out flags. Around 10 traffic tickets were issued on the pretext of disrupting traffic.
During the month of April, prosecutions of activists and leaders of Jerusalem were recorded as they were called up for investigation several times and reopening their old files in addition to preventing them from participating in any protests or marches in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem neighborhoods’raids and thefiring of live bullets
During last month, the occupation forces raided areas and houses in Jerusalem. Together with the Nature and Parks Authority they targeted Wadi al Rababe Area in Silwan as it was raided several times and randomly used live bullets towards the houses and properties and handed out calls for the youths. Al-Tur was raided as well and traffic tickets were issued; Bab Hutta was also raided where several houses were searched and live bullets were randomly fired which put the residents at risk especially that the houses are connected and their windows fall directly on the street.
In Al-Issawiya, an undercover unit (Musta’ribin) randomly fired live bullets which led to the injury of one young man from Be'er Sheva who was present in the village to celebrate his brother’s wedding.
In Sheikh Jarrah, 13 workers were held for almost 3 hours and were forced to take their pants and jackets off at times when it was really cold.
