Israeli settlers seize land in occupied Jerusalem

Israeli Jewish settlers seized Palestinian-owned land in the Wadi Hilweh neighbourhood of Silwan and Jabal Al-Mukaber in Occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday evening, the Palestinian Information Centre has reported. Local residents were surprised by settlers storming onto the land under the pretext of buying it from its owner.

Another group of settlers seized land in Jabal Al-Mukaber town. The settlers installed an iron fence and surveillance cameras around the land and built a room on it.

Meanwhile, workers from the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality crews stormed into several neighbourhoods in Silwan and distributed demolition orders and summonses. Local Palestinian-owned homes were also filmed by the workers.

All of Israel’s settlements and the settlers who live on them are illegal under international law. On 19 July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) reiterated in an advisory opinion that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is unlawful. While “advisory”, the laws upon which the ICJ opinion is based are binding on all UN member states. Last month, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution instructing Israel to end its occupation within 12 months.

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