Jerusalem under emergency rule: closure of holy sites, incursions, and non-stop arrests
For the third consecutive day, the "state of emergency" continues in Jerusalem, as the war between Israel and Iran continues. The siege on the city and its holy sites continues, while incursions and raids in the city's towns and neighborhoods have escalated significantly.
According to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem, the occupation authorities carried out a series of incursions and arrests in various areas of the city over the course of Friday, Saturday, and early Sunday morning. The pretexts varied between "disturbing the peace" and "rejoicing over the arrival of Iranian missiles."
The occupation continues to close Al-Aqsa Mosque to worshippers, allowing only employees of the Islamic Endowment Department to enter during their working hours, through the Al-Silsileh Gate and Lions Gate. This comes amid a tight siege at all gates, with iron barriers and troops deployed at all entrances. Despite the closure, the call to prayer continues to be broadcast from the minarets of Al-Aqsa, and prayers are held inside the mosque only with the attendance of Endowment employees.
The same applies to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, whose main gates remain closed, and access to its outer courtyard and interior is prohibited.
The occupation authorities continue to impose a siege on the Old City, deploying personnel at all its gates, placing iron barriers, stopping and checking the IDs of those entering, and allowing only residents of the Old City to enter. This has had a significant impact on the city’s markets, most of which have been closed since Friday.
In the town of Al-Tur, the occupation authorities closed two main streets on Saturday afternoon using cement blocks, impeding vehicle movement and forcing residents to walk long distances to reach or leave their homes.
Residents reported that many were forced to leave their vehicles in remote areas due to the sudden closure while outside the city.
In the neighborhoods of Wadi al-Joz, Issawiya, Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah, A-Tur, Shu’fat refugee camp, and the Old City, not a single night passed without raids. Forces are deployed in the streets, carrying out random raids on homes, using sound bombs, tear gas, and rubber bullets. They also spray wastewater, as happened in Wadi al-Joz, under the pretext of "rejoicing over the arrival of Iranian missiles."
The Wadi Hilweh Center reported that forces carried out random arrests in several neighborhoods, including Wadi al-Joz, Sheikh Jarrah, Shu’fat, Issawiya, Al-Tur, and Silwan. Testimonies indicate that some of the arrests were made on the pretext of photographing Iranian missiles or posting content on social media that included what the occupation authorities described as "incitement, songs, or expressions of support for the missiles."
