OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)
Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior Hamas official, said that the escalating Israeli actions in Occupied Jerusalem, including home demolitions, raids, and abuses against Palestinians, reflect an “eliminationist” approach aimed at displacing residents and imposing a new demographic reality.
In a press statement on Monday, Mardawi said that what areas such as Qalandiya camp, al-Ram, Kufr Aqab, Issawiya, and Silwan are experiencing falls within a systematic policy intended to force Palestinians off their land and tighten restrictions on them.
He added that targeting Jerusalemites and attacking holy sites, most notably Aqsa Mosque, is part of a broader plan to Judaize the city and alter its character, warning of the dangers of the ongoing escalation in Jerusalem.
Mardawi stressed that Israeli practices and settler actions, including killings, arrests, and abuses, will not succeed in breaking the will of Palestinians or deterring them from holding on to their rights. He said the steadfastness of the Palestinian people serves as a “safety valve” against plans of annexation and displacement.
He praised the resilience of Jerusalem’s residents in the face of these policies and called for increased material and moral support to help sustain their presence in the city and thwart Israeli plans.
Israeli forces have continued, for more than 17 hours, their raid on Qalandiya refugee camp and the towns of al-Ram and Kufr Aqab, north of Occupied Jerusalem. During the operation, more than 35 young men were arrested, and several homes and civilian properties were raided and damaged.
According to the Jerusalem Governorate, Israeli forces have been carrying out the raids since the early morning hours, conducting widespread searches of homes and converting some into military outposts after forcing residents to evacuate, alongside the deployment of drones and a heavy military presence.
The governorate reported multiple injuries, including live-fire wounds and others resulting from beatings, as well as dozens of cases of tear gas inhalation amid heavy gunfire and the firing of gas canisters in residential neighborhoods.
It also noted that Israeli forces carried out a large-scale arrest campaign, detaining dozens of residents and conducting on-site interrogations inside homes, while closing several roads and entrances, leading to a near-total paralysis of daily life.
Additionally, Israeli forces issued demolition notices for dozens of residential and commercial structures in the areas surrounding the raids, in an escalation coinciding with the ongoing military operations.
The Jerusalem Governorate confirmed that the raid was still ongoing at the time of reporting, with additional military reinforcements and a broader escalation affecting the entire northern area of Occupied Jerusalem.
The governorate condemned the escalation and the violations against civilians, warning of serious consequences and calling on the international community to urgently intervene to halt these actions.
