Day 88: Jerusalem during “Al-Aqsa Flood” Operation
On the 88th day of “Al-Aqsa Flood Operation”, the occupation authorities carried out an operation to bulldoze and uproot trees in the lands of the “Khirbet Tabalia” area in Beit Safafa, for the benefit of settlement projects, and carried out a demolition operation of a residential apartment in the town of Al-Tur. The raids and arrests continued in the city of Jerusalem, and the siege continued on Al-Aqsa and settlers’ incursions into it.
Beit Safafa... “Khirbet Tabalia”
The occupation forces, accompanied by workers and crews from the municipality, stormed the lands of the heirs of the late Ibrahim Alayan, and forcibly removed the land’s owners, women, youth, and children. They arrested 5 of them and assaulted some by beating and pushing them. Then, they began sweeping the family’s lands and uprooting trees.
The occupation authorities are planning to implement a settlement project on the family’s lands and nearby lands, “building streets to connect the settlements, and establishing settlement units, a kindergarten, and a synagogue.”
Mohammad Alayan - one of the heirs - confirmed that the forces stormed the land, suddenly and without warning, and began assaulting the people with severe beatings and pushing, and arrested Musa Ibrahim Alayan and his brother Ahmed, Aws Ahmed Alayan and his brother Ibrahim, and the young man Ali Hani Alayan.
Mohammad added that the bulldozers carried out extensive sweeping work on the family’s lands, during which more than 50 olive trees were uprooted and confiscated by special trucks, in addition to removing palm trees, almonds, and medicinal herbs from the land.
Alayan explained that immediately after storming the land, the papers regarding land ownership and the court’s decision not to carry out any work inside it were presented, but the forces refused to look at them and acknowledge them, and the bulldozers began the process of bulldozing and sabotage.
The heirs of the late Ibrahim Alayan own 25 dunums in the area and have their own title deed papers. Mohammad Alayan explained that the family was surprised in 2010 by “the re-division of the lands of Jabal Al-Tabalia,” without the knowledge of the landowners and without their consent, and according to the law, 7 dunums were removed from the family’s lands. That is, confiscating it and replacing it in another location.
He pointed out that the family had, for years, submitted objections to the competent departments in the municipality, the Israeli courts, and all the way to the Supreme Court, but the decisions were not in favor of the family, while work on the land was frozen by a court decision, but today the forces did not recognize the decision.
Alayan added: “They informed us that we have 7 dunoms in another location, and we do not know where it is, and we refused that. So how can our lands, which are adjacent to our homes, and which contain trees planted for decades, from which we have been living, be replaced with lands in another location?”
Al-Tur: Demolition of an under-construction apartment
In the town of Al-Tur, municipal crews demolished a residential apartment belonging to Ziad Abu Sbitan, under the pretext of building without a license.
The forces stormed the town of Al-Tur and surrounded the apartment, which is located within a residential building. Municipality crews raided the apartment, which is located on the fifth floor, and began demolition work using manual demolition tools.
Last June, the municipality demolished the same apartment.
The siege of Al-Aqsa Mosque continues
For the third month in a row, the occupation authorities continue their siege of Al-Aqsa Mosque, imposing restrictions on entry to it, allowing small numbers of worshipers, most of whom are elderly people and women, to enter it, and subjecting them to searches and identity checks at Al-Aqsa’s gates.
Amid the siege and the deprivation of Muslims from entering Al-Aqsa, settlers’ incursions into Al-Aqsa continue through the Dung Gate, in a program of incursions that take place daily except for Fridays, Saturdays, holidays, and religious occasions.
During the morning and afternoon incursion periods, 137 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque and performed prayers there.
Arrests and raids
The occupation authorities continued their raids into the towns and neighborhoods of Jerusalem, and sporadic arrests continued in the city.
On Salah al-Din Street, the forces attacked a young man and fired shots in the air, then arrested him and confiscated his vehicle.
