clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Jerusalem: 600 injured, 425 arrested, 12 buildings demolished

August 4, 2017 at 11:25 am

Israeli security forces take security measures as Palestinians stage a demonstration to protest against the metal detectors in Bethlehem, West Bank on 21 July 2017 [Mamoun Wazwaz/Anadolu Agency]

Eight Palestinians were killed in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas at the hands of Israeli forces during July, according to the Wadi Hilweh Information Centre.

Some 425 Palestinians from Jerusalem have been arrested and 12 buildings were demolished in the same period.

In its monthly report, the information centre stated that the Israelis have unprecedentedly escalated their violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque by closing the mosque and banning the call to prayer for two days. They also prohibited Friday prayers from taking place and tried to impose new measures to search worshippers entering the mosque. This led to a wave of anger that manifested in the form of protests for 13 days.

Of the 425 Palestinians arrested in Jerusalem, 65 were minors, nine were children under the age of 12, one elderly woman and two elderly men were arrested as were two female minors and five women. The occupation also arrested all 58-members of staff at the Islamic Awqaf Department in Al-Aqsa.

Read: If Al-Aqsa is to be protected long-term, Israel’s occupation must end

The geographic distribution of the arrests are as follows: 222 were arrested from inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and its gates, 54 from Silwan, 35 from the Old City, 31 from At-Tur, 20 from Al-Isawiya, 16 from Wadi Joz, 14 from Al-Sawaneh, 13 from Shuafat and Anata Refugee Camp, 6 from Shuafat, 2 from Beit Hanina, five from Sur Baher, five from Jabal Al-Mukaber, and one from Kafr Aqab.

In addition to this, the Israeli occupation issued orders banning 81 Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, or the Old City (60 banned from entering Al-Aqsa, 13 from the Old City, and eight from Jerusalem).

According to the centre, over 600 Palestinians were wounded by live ammunition, rubber coated bullets, sound bombs, tear gas and beatings during protests near Al-Aqsa.

#FreeQuds

The centre also reported that 12 buildings in Jerusalem were demolished last month, three of which were demolished by their owners to avoid paying fines. The remaining buildings consisted of seven residential homes, a residential building, two mobile homes and two businesses.

As a result of the demolitions, 17 individuals were displaced, including 7 children.