Israeli forces repress, brutally attack protesters in Silwan
Occupied Jerusalem (QNN)- Israeli forces yesterday repressed and brutally attacked Palestinian protesters in al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan.
Dozens of Palestinians were protesting yesterday in the neighborhood to stand in solidarity with its residents who are threatened with Israeli forced displacement and demolition of their houses.
Confrontations erupted in the neighborhood between locals and Israeli forces as the forces started yesterday demolishing structures in the area following the end of the 21-day of self-demolition of homes which Israeli occupation authorities gave to the neighborhood residents.
#Breaking | Clashes erupted after the Israeli occupation forces attacked a protest against the demolition of a houses policy in Al-Bustan neighborhood in the town of Silwan in occupied Jerusalem. #SaveSilwan pic.twitter.com/HJvvc0OTFb
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 29, 2021
The forces were using rubber-coated metal bullets and sound grenades to suppress the protesters.
Watch | Israeli occupation forces fire teargas canisters, stun grenades and rubber-coated bullets at Palestinian citizens during a raid of the neighborhood of Al-Bustan in the town of Silwan, occupied Jerusalem, today. #SaveSilwan pic.twitter.com/gezKL6cONp
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 29, 2021
Israeli occupation forces fire teargas canisters and rubber-coated bullets at Palestinian citizens during a raid of the neighborhood of Al-Bustan in the town of Silwan, occupied Jerusalem, today. The forces destroyed a commercial store during the raid.#SaveSilwan pic.twitter.com/46NweuAvFN
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 29, 2021
They ask you to demolish your home! Of course, no one accepts.
They want you to sit idly by and enjoy watching your house being destroyed! Otherwise, you will be assaulted, beaten or arrested.
IOF brutally assaulted Mr. Rajabi after demolishing his store in Silwan#SaveSilwan pic.twitter.com/VnoBNPq5fG— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 29, 2021
The occupation forces also sprayed skunk water at the neighborhood houses.
Watch | Israeli occupation forces spray skunk water at homes in the neighborhood of Al-Bustan in the town of Silwan, occupied Jerusalem, last night.#SaveSilwan pic.twitter.com/7z1rIXqj4b
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 30, 2021
On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem unveiled a decision that rejected engineering plans for the Al-Bustan neighbourhood in Silwan.
On June 7, the Israeli-run Jerusalem Municipality issued demolition orders to 135 Palestinian families in al-Bustan neighbourhood.
Under this development, 119 homes, inhabited by 1,550 people, most of them children and women, in the Al Bustan neighbourhood are at risk of displacement, to make way for an Israeli archaeological park.
13 families out of 100 will be displaced in the few coming minutes, days, weeks or even months.
The demolition notice stated: “We wanted to inform you that we will carry out the demolition according to the court’s decision. To minimise damages, you must leave the home without people and items until 21 days after receiving this letter. The municipality is not responsible for property damage if the house is not evacuated as mentioned.”
This comes after the Israeli court postponed its decision on an appeal lodged on May by two of the seven Palestinian families in Silwan facing forced displacement from their homes.
The Jerusalem Municipality has already officially changed Al-Bustan’s name to Gan Hamelekh (The King’s Garden), claiming that it was a garden for Israelite kings thousands of years ago.
Only a few minutes left before the end of the countdown and the threat of the demolition.
The occupation authorities have told the residents of al-Bustan they have two choices: the self-demolition of their own houses, or the demolition by the occupation administration any minute.
The Israeli court had previously rejected many appeals filed by the residents of Silwan, and allowed “Ateret Cohanim” to continue its procedures relevant to the immediate expelling of the seven Palestinian families.
Ateret Cohanim, a settler organization, has been seeking, with the support of Israeli occupation authorities, to forcibly evict some Palestinian families in Silwan, claiming the land is rightfully owned by a Jewish trust active in the area more than 100 years ago.
Silwan, home to around 33,000 Palestinians, is located outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and its holy sites.
Israel has been moving its citizens into the neighbourhood since the 1980s. This has resulted in numerous human rights violations, including the forced eviction and displacement of Palestinian residents.
Hundreds of Palestinian families are being threatened with evictions and house demolitions from their homes by illegal settler groups, fully supported by the Israeli government.
There are nearly 700,000 Israeli settlers living in 256 illegal settlements and outposts scattered across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.
