The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) prevented on Wednesday holding an event for the International Women’s Day in occupied Jerusalem.
The director of Women for Life and Democracy association Zuhour Abu Mayyala said that the IOA abruptly prevented organizing the women’s event based on a decision issued by the Israeli Minister of Public security Gilad Erdan.
Abu Mayyala affirmed that the decision is “groundless” especially that the event is a women’s cultural event that doesn’t have any political nature.
In a statement to Quds Press news agency Abu Mayyala said that she was subjected to interrogation by the Israeli Intelligence on the event which was supposed to mark the International Women’s Day and include recreational and cultural activities to honor Jerusalemite women and “draw a smile on their faces.”
She pointed out that this Israeli act conveys a message to the international community on the suffering of Jerusalemite women under the Israeli occupation and its practices which “clamp down on everyone in occupied Jerusalem”.
Erdan claimed that the event lacked the approval of the Israeli authorities according to Article 3(A) of the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in 1994 about censoring activities.
He said that efforts have been made lately by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas to strengthen their presence in Jerusalem by organizing multiple events adding that what is happening is “a Palestinian attack against the Israeli sovereignty over the city”.
