Occupied Quds – SABA:
The Governorate of Quds reported a significant escalation in Israeli violations against Palestinian residents, properties, and holy sites in Jerusalem and its surroundings during the first half of 2025.
According to a detailed report issued Monday by the Public Relations and Media Unit of the Governorate—cited by Palestinian media—Israeli forces turned the city into an open battlefield. The report documented:
- 13 Palestinians martyred, including 10 residents of Jerusalem (youths, teenagers, and an elderly woman), in addition to 3 others killed in the city from other governorates.
- 404 arrests of Palestinians.
- 186 demolitions and land razings, including 54 forced self-demolitions, 108 direct demolitions, and 24 razing operations.
- 33,634 Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque, accompanied by occupation forces.
- An additional 26,012 tourists entered the mosque compound under the guise of tourism while engaging in overtly religious Jewish rituals.
The report also revealed:
- 47 martyrs’ bodies remain held by Israeli authorities, the oldest being Jasser Shatat since 1968, and the latest being Moataz Al-Hajajla.
- 143 settler attacks, including 26 involving direct physical assault—one leading to death—all under Israeli army protection.
- 128 injuries from Israeli suppression operations and raids, including critical injuries from live bullets, beatings, and tear gas.
During “Quds Day” and the “Flag March,” Israeli authorities imposed unprecedented restrictions, including limiting worshippers at Al-Aqsa to 450 people throughout June.
The report highlighted a deliberate pattern of settler violence aimed at asserting colonial dominance over Quds’s public spaces. This includes:
- Assaults on Muslims and Christians,
- Vandalism of religious sites,
- Provocative religious rituals in Palestinian neighborhoods,
- Attacks on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, including its closure for over 12 days and repeated bans on Palestinian Christian worshippers entering the city.
- Raids and damage at Al-Quds University, schools, libraries, and UNRWA offices.
- 166 prison sentences issued to Jerusalem detainees, including 99 under administrative detention, 45 house arrest orders, 107 bans from Al-Aqsa, and 3 travel bans.
In terms of land and expansion:
- 188 Israeli orders for land confiscation, forced evictions, and demolitions.
- 41 settlement plans and projects initiated or approved, with ongoing tenders and expansions of existing outposts.