Jerusalem: extremist settlers seize Palestinian apartment in occupied city

Extremist Jewish settlers under police protection took over a Palestinian-owned apartment in the east Jerusalem town of At-Tur on Monday, the Palestinian Information Centre has confirmed.

According to the centre, a group of settlers escorted by police officers stormed into the apartment at around 3am. The settlers claimed that they had bought the apartment from its owner, who lives in the US.

Local residents said that the apartment became empty after the Palestinian tenant who lived there passed away about two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, several Jerusalemite citizens in Silwan district reported that they have been handed Israeli demolition notices and financial penalties issued by the Israeli-controlled municipality in the holy city.

According to the UN, there are around 150 Palestinian families from east Jerusalem at risk of forced eviction and displacement by Israeli authorities and settler organisations.

All of Israel’s settlements and settlers are in the occupied Palestinian territories illegally, according to international law.

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