DaysofPal- Israeli policies in occupied East Jerusalem constitute a clear model of forced displacement and uprooting, according to Palestinian activist Fakhr Abu Diab, who has warned of an escalating campaign targeting Palestinian residents in the city.
Abu Diab, a member of the Al-Aqsa Trustees Committee and a community activist from Silwan, said Israeli bulldozers stormed the Al-Bustan neighbourhood, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, early on Monday and began demolishing Palestinian homes.
He described the demolitions as a “dangerous escalation” aimed at undermining the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem.
According to Abu Diab, these actions are not isolated incidents but part of a broader, systematic strategy to seize land and impose a new demographic reality aligned with Israeli settlement expansion.
The Al-Bustan area in Silwan has faced years of sustained pressure, with authorities seeking to remove Palestinian residents to make way for settlement projects.
These efforts, he said, form part of a wider plan to alter Jerusalem’s geographic and demographic identity.
“The goal is to replace Palestinian residents with settlers through home demolitions and land confiscation,” Abu Diab stated.
He added that targeting Silwan, particularly areas close to Al-Aqsa Mosque, is deliberate and linked to broader efforts to consolidate control over the mosque compound and its surroundings.
Abu Diab warned that increasing control over areas surrounding Al-Aqsa Mosque could pave the way for changes to the longstanding status quo at the site.
He said the Israeli occupation is using heightened security measures and restrictions as pretexts to tighten control, particularly amid regional tensions and the ongoing war, which he noted has diverted international attention.
“The current phase is among the most difficult Jerusalem has experienced,” he said, adding that Palestinians increasingly feel like “strangers in their own city” due to intensifying settlement activity and demolitions.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli forces demolished four homes in Al-Bustan, reportedly after issuing demolition orders prior to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, citing a lack of building permits. Residents say many of the structures are decades old and have long housed Palestinian families.
According to local data, Israeli authorities carried out 49 demolition and land-clearing operations in Jerusalem in February alone. These included 15 cases of forced self-demolition by residents, 27 demolitions carried out by Israeli machinery, and seven land excavation operations.
Additionally, 143 notices were issued during the same period, including 125 demolition orders, 16 eviction orders, and two land seizure orders, primarily affecting areas such as Anata, Silwan, Al-Eizariya, and Abu Dis.
Abu Diab likened the current situation to a “renewed Nakba”, referencing the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948. His remarks come as Palestinians marked the anniversary of Land Day, highlighting ongoing concerns over land confiscation and displacement.
He warned that the pace of settlement expansion and demolitions has accelerated significantly in recent months, amid a weak international response.
Despite these challenges, Abu Diab stressed that Palestinians in Jerusalem remain committed to resisting displacement and preserving their presence in the city.
“The struggle in Jerusalem is ultimately a struggle over identity and land, and despite everything, people here will continue to stand firm,” he said.
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