Knesset Member and Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa, Occupation Expels 8 Jerusalemites and Demolishes Homes in Jerusalem

Dozens of Israeli settlers, led by Knesset member 'Amit Halevi', stormed the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem today, Sunday, under heavy guard from the occupation police. These provocative actions come at a time when the holy city is witnessing an escalation in policies of restricting worshippers and expelling those stationed at the mosque.

Human rights sources from Wadi Hilweh Information Center reported that the number of settlers who stormed the mosque during the morning and evening periods reached 204 settlers. Knesset member Halevi used his presence inside the courtyards to attack the occupation police's decision to suspend evening incursions during the holy month of Ramadan, demanding their uninterrupted continuation.

In a related context, the occupation authorities issued administrative decisions to expel 8 Jerusalemite citizens from Al-Aqsa Mosque for varying periods, up to six months. The list included employees of the Al-Aqsa Reconstruction Committee and mosque guards, among them Hussam Sider, Ahmed Abu Aliya, and Fadi Aliyan, in a move aimed at emptying the mosque of its protectors.

Data issued by the International Jerusalem Foundation indicated that the systematic expulsion policy has affected more than a thousand Palestinians recently, with most of these decisions focusing on preventing entry to the mosque for half a year. These measures are part of the occupation's attempts to change the historical and legal status quo in the Noble Sanctuary.

For its part, Jordan strongly condemned the continuation of these violations, affirming through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Al-Aqsa Mosque, in its entirety, is a pure place of worship for Muslims. Amman stressed its absolute rejection of the actions of extremist Knesset members and ministers who seek to ignite conflict by desecrating Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Regarding field demolitions, the occupation municipality forced two Jerusalemite families to self-demolish their homes in Silwan and the Old City on the pretext of building without a license. Citizen Moatasem Abu Tayeh was forced to dismantle his home with his own hands, displacing his family of five, to avoid paying the exorbitant demolition costs imposed by the occupation mechanisms.

Citizen Rami Al-Bakri also demolished his small home, which he built eight years ago, despite his commitment to paying exorbitant financial fines exceeding $13,000 over the past years. These cases reflect the tragedy of Jerusalemites who face continuous refusal to grant them building permits, leaving them with harsh choices between self-demolition or astronomical fines.

In another development, the Jerusalem Governorate distributed a statement confirming that citizens in the town of Anata, east of the city, received more than 20 eviction and demolition notices. These notices targeted residential, agricultural, and commercial structures, threatening to displace dozens of Palestinian families and cut off their only sources of livelihood in that vital area.

Field sources explained that the so-called 'Civil Administration' of the occupation army stormed the Bedouin communities of Wadi Al-Awaj and Wadi Sa'ab and delivered new demolition notices. These actions come within broader plans aimed at reducing the Palestinian presence in the eastern areas of the holy city in favor of settlement expansion.

Human rights organizations warned that these notices fall within the first phase of implementing the settlement plan known as 'E1'. This project aims to completely isolate Jerusalem from its surroundings in the West Bank and force Bedouin communities to forcibly relocate by tightening the noose on their livelihoods and legal status.

These measures coincide with the approaching holy month of Ramadan, during which the occupation usually intensifies pressure on Jerusalem residents to reduce the Palestinian presence in the Old City. Observers believe that the statements of Knesset members inside Al-Aqsa represent a green light for settlers to increase the pace of attacks in the coming weeks.

It is worth noting that Jordan retains the right to supervise religious affairs in Jerusalem under international agreements and the Hashemite custodianship recognized by Palestinians and internationally. Warnings continue that tampering with the status quo in Al-Aqsa could lead to an explosion of field conditions amid the occupation government's insistence on supporting extremist groups.

Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, and the incursions are a blatant desecration of the Noble Sanctuary.