OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)
Data documented by the “Europeans for Jerusalem” organization revealed that Israeli occupation forces committed 708 violations of human rights in occupied Jerusalem during January 2025. These violations, spread across 16 different categories, were largely complex in nature. The most frequent violations were raids and incursions (49.6%), followed by arrests (11.6%).
In its monthly report, Europeans for Jerusalem recorded 40 attacks involving gunfire and direct assaults by Israeli occupation forces in various neighborhoods of occupied Jerusalem. These attacks resulted in the martyrdom of 16-year-old Adam Majdi Sab on January 26, after he was shot in the right thigh at the Qalandia checkpoint. Additionally, 13 others were injured, dozens suffered from suffocation due to tear gas, and at least 16 civilians were beaten and subjected to mistreatment.
The report also documented 351 raids carried out by Israeli forces in towns and neighborhoods of Jerusalem, leading to the arrest of 82 citizens, including four children and 14 women. Twelve others were summoned for interrogation, while three individuals were placed under house arrest. Furthermore, a significant number of Palestinian workers from the West Bank were arrested while attempting to enter Israel for work.
Land seizures and settlement expansion
The report highlighted the continued Israeli policy of seizing Palestinian homes and properties. Israeli authorities announced the confiscation of 262 dunums (approximately 65 acres) of Palestinian land in the towns of Jaba’, Al-Ram, and Kafr ‘Aqab. Additionally, eviction orders were issued to the Rajabi and Basbous families in the Batan al-Hawa neighborhood of Silwan, paving the way for settlers to take over their homes.
The report further documented Israeli orders to confiscate 15 dunums of land near the Az-Za’ayyem checkpoint, as well as eviction orders for 26 Palestinian families in Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque. This includes 21 homes belonging to the Rajabi family and five homes owned by the Basbous family, all part of a broader plan to expand Israeli settlements.
Israeli authorities also issued decisions to seize hundreds of dunums in the Qalandia area, near the Jerusalem airport and the Atarot industrial zone.
Nine measures to strengthen Judaization and settlements
Throughout January, Israeli authorities took nine key actions to advance the Judaization and settlement expansion in Jerusalem. These included:
• Confiscation of dozens of dunums of Palestinian land
• Initiation of the “Silicon Wadi” settlement project in Wadi al-Joz
• Opening of a new park for settlers
• Construction of a Jewish religious school and dormitories in Sheikh Jarrah
• Establishment of recreational, sports, and community facilities for settlers on lands in Beit Mazmil
• Approval of 9,000 new settlement units in Atarot, near Kafr ‘Aqab
• Approval of 1,100 new settlement units near Sharafat
Al-Aqsa Mosque violations
The report documented 5,922 settlers and thousands of others posing as tourists who stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque over 21 separate days. The report also recorded three major violations, including Jewish ritual prayers being performed in the Mosque’s courtyards.
At the same time, Israeli forces intensified restrictions on Muslim worshippers, preventing thousands of Palestinians from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque through military checkpoints and repressive measures. These actions are part of a broader strategy to impose a new reality that aligns with Israeli goals of Judaizing Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Settler attacks and escalation concerns
The report documented 16 attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in Jerusalem, which included:
• Physical assaults on Palestinian residents
• Seizing homes and attacking their occupants
• Blocking main roads and disrupting daily movement
• All of these actions occurred under the protection of Israeli forces
Europeans for Jerusalem warned about the serious implications of Israeli government policies, especially given that some Israeli ministers openly advocate for the Judaization of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem. If these plans are implemented, they could trigger a new wave of violence and escalation across the region.
The organization also warned of the severe consequences of Israel’s escalating policy in Jerusalem in general and against Al-Aqsa Mosque in particular. It called on the international community to act quickly to pressure Israel to stop its assaults, retract its attempts to change the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque, abandon the policy of seizing Palestinian homes and properties, halt forced displacement plans, and put an end to the severe human rights violations committed by the occupation authorities.
