Day 319 Jerusalem during “Al-Aqsa Flood” Operation
On the 319th day of "Al-Aqsa Flood Operation", the occupation municipality carried out a demolition operation in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood in Jerusalem in preparation for the start of the "Silicon Valley" project, and deported the freed prisoner Samer Mit’eb from the city of Jerusalem and imposed house arrest on him, while the settlers continued their raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque.
A house and 3 commercial establishments... The beginning of the demolition in favor of the "Silicon Valley" project
The occupation forces, municipal vehicles and crews stormed the industrial area in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood at dawn, closed the entrances to the area and the roads leading to it, then began carrying out demolition operations for the families of Al-Ja’bari, Taha, Bazbaz, and Ashour, which included "a house and 3 industrial shops."
The residents explained that the facilities have been in existence for decades, and one of them was before the occupation exited.
They confirmed that they were surprised by the storming and demolition operation, and the municipal crews and forces began carrying out the raids on the facilities without the presence of their owners, and upon their arrival, they were prevented from reaching them, and a number of them were assaulted.
The owners of the establishments pointed out that the objections to the demolition decisions are still in the courts, and the demolition was carried out without prior warning. They explained that the demolition operations are a prelude and a beginning to the implementation of the "Silicon Valley" project, which threatens 200 commercial and industrial establishments in the "industrial zone", on an area of 30 dunoms, and according to the project it consists of "high-tech" technology companies, commercial complexes, hotels, a technical college, and the expansion of green spaces and streets in the area.
The project area as announced by the municipality: 200,000 square meters allocated to high-tech companies, 50,000 for hotels, another 50,000 for commercial spaces, and part of a 5-year government initiative worth 2.1 billion shekels.
At the beginning of this year, the municipality approved the Silicon Valley plan, after years of research in municipal committees.
The owners of the establishments explained that the municipality began distributing demolition notices to the owners of facilities collectively, in 2020, and they immediately went to lawyers to follow up on the case in the municipality, and the decisions were frozen.
23 years behind bars
The occupation authorities released the Jerusalemite prisoner Samer Mit’eb, after spending 23 years in the occupation prisons, and imposed on him "house arrest and deportation from the city of Jerusalem until next Saturday, paying a financial guarantee, signing a financial guarantee, and preventing any celebratory manifestations "pictures, flags, banners".
Regarding the situation of prisoners in prisons, the released prisoner said: "The 22 years in prisons were one thing, and the last year was another" in reference to the extent of the attacks and abuse that the prisoner movement has been subjected to since last October.
The freed prisoner, Mit’eb, said: "The prisoners are currently under military rule, which is one of the most difficult and harshest periods of detention, with many punishments and the withdrawal of all the privileges of the prisoner movement."
He pointed out that he suffered fractures in his ribs due to the beating he was subjected to, noting that the beating was on the eye, head and chest.
He added: "There is no hot water for bathing, and there is no cold water for drinking. We are prevented from going out into the sun. There is severe overcrowding inside the rooms, with 13-15 prisoners in each room. There is no table salt. For the first time, weapons are brought into the prisoners' rooms, and prisoners are directly threatened with death."
He continued: "The prison administration brought a group of criminal prisoners to cause problems inside the rooms."
Regarding the health follow-up of the prisoners, he explained: "The (Acamol) pill, the old treatment for all diseases, is no longer available these days. There is no treatment for the prisoners."
He explained that the prisoners suffer from lack of sleep, due to the constant screaming and loud voices of the wardens, around the clock. Punishments imposed on the prisoners include “putting yellow lines inside the rooms and in the yard that are forbidden to be crossed. If the prisoner crosses them, even while he is asleep, he is subject to a punishment that reaches the point of preventing him from going out to the bathroom.”
It is noteworthy that the prisoner, Mit’eb, lost his father 12 years ago, and his mother 51 days ago, and was prevented from bidding farewell to them or visiting them during their illness, and today, after his release, he was also prevented from going to Bab al-Rahma Cemetery to visit their graves, due to the decision to deport him from Jerusalem.
Al-Aqsa raids
On Tuesday, 171 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa, during the morning and afternoon incursion periods, and performed prayers during the raid under the protection of the occupation forces.
The forces also continued their raids on towns and neighborhoods in Jerusalem, and set up checkpoints in the city streets.
