Israel seeks to expropriate Palestinian-owned land in occupied East al-Quds

Israeli authorities plan to seize 1,100 square meters of land on the southeastern outskirts of the occupied Old City of al-Quds, in the latest instance of the occupying Tel Aviv regime’s theft of Palestinian land.

The al-Quds Governorate said in a statement on Sunday evening that the Israeli municipality in Occupied al-Quds had notified residents of al-Bustan neighborhood in the Silwan district of its decision

Local media outlets reported that the intention is to confiscate the Palestinian-owned land in the occupied region with the aim of constructing a garden and a parking lot.

The Governorate warned that the measure “represents a legal manipulation clearly aimed at blocking citizens from utilizing their lands or applying for construction permits, especially after a series of systematic demolitions that recently targeted the area.”

It went on to criticize Israeli officials for attempting to create a legal cover to justify their land appropriations and ongoing ethnic cleansing efforts in the sacred city.

The Governorate noted that the recent Israeli step is associated with a decision made by the Israeli municipality earlier this month, under which al-Quds residents were informed of plans to confiscate approximately 5.7 dunams (5,700 square meters) of their land in the al-Bustan neighborhood, under the same pretext.

It pointed out that the area referred to as “vacant” is actually littered with the debris of Palestinian homes that have been forcibly demolished, with the owners prohibited from rebuilding or using the land.

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The Governorate emphasized that the municipality misrepresented the true condition of the land in an attempt to justify its appropriation.

It also dismissed the municipality's assertion that the land seizure would only be a temporary measure lasting five years.

The Governorate emphasized that the ongoing realities faced by the people of al-Quds clearly indicate the Israeli regime's intent to establish a permanent settlement presence, which hampers Palestinian urban development. This situation has been further aggravated by the demolition of 35 homes and structures in the neighborhood since October 7, 2023.

More than 700,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.

The international community views the settlements as illegal under international law and the Geneva Conventions due to their construction on occupied territories.

The UN Security Council has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in several resolutions.

In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel’s decades-long occupation of historical Palestine illegal.

The ICJ demanded the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds. It was mere words.

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