Israeli Forces Storm Wedding Hall in Occupied Jerusalem, Hold Guests
Occupied Jerusalem (Quds News Network)- Israeli forces stormed a wedding hall in Al-Eizariya, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, on Friday evening. The raid took place during a wedding celebration at Shams Al-Awda Hall. Soldiers held the guests under the pretext of searching for “wanted individuals.”
Soldiers assaulted those inside and fired stun grenades, causing fear and panic, especially among women and children.
This is not the first time the Israeli army has targeted the hall. Earlier this month, soldiers raided and sealed Shams Al-Awda Hall, claiming it disturbed settlers in the nearby settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, an Israeli settlement built on land stolen from the West Bank villages of Al-Eizariya and Abu Dis. Troops used oxygen welding to shut the entrance and posted a closure order on the gate. The order accused the hall of hosting celebrations that involved gunfire, which allegedly bothered the settlers.
In 2016, Israeli forces also closed the same hall for similar reasons.
The raid comes as part of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the West Bank. Since January 21, Israeli forces have attacked towns, cities, and refugee camps across the northern West Bank.
Alongside the genocide in Gaza, Israel has escalated its attacks in the West Bank. These assaults have killed more than 957 Palestinians, wounded nearly 7,000, and led to over 16,400 arrests.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has carried out a U.S.-backed war on Gaza. Palestinian data reports over 168,000 killed or injured, mostly women and children. More than 11,000 remain missing.
The storming of the wedding hall in Al-Eizariya is part of this wider campaign of repression across occupied Palestinian territories.
