Israel has given an “evacuation” order to demolish the home of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, the imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli police and Israeli municipal officials raided the building where Sheikh Sabri lives in the morning. During the raid, the occupation police ordered residents to evacuate the building, which includes Sheikh Sabri’s apartment, as it will be demolished on the grounds that it was “built without a license.”
Lawyer Zabarika pointed out that about 100 people live in 17 apartments in the building, and pointed out that the evacuation decision coincided with the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip that have been ongoing for 58 days. Zabarika pointed out that the order to demolish the building was issued in 2004 and that it has been threatened with demolition ever since, and said, “After 20 years, they want to implement this order, especially these days (of the Gaza attacks).” He said.
Zabarika pointed out that extremist Jewish organizations had carried out “ugly provocations” against Sheikh Ikrima Sabri recently, and said, “It appears that these organizations have begun to mobilize their members within the Israeli authorities to demolish the sheikh’s house.” He said.
Reports stated that Sheikh Sabri’s lawyers made attempts before the Israeli judiciary to object to the release decision. Sheikh Sabri, the imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, has been a target of the Israeli police, judiciary, and fanatical Jewish organizations for years.
Israeli forces raided Sheikh Sabri’s house several times, summoned him to testify, repeatedly prevented him from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and prevented him from traveling abroad.
Israeli policy of destruction
Israel often demolishes Palestinian homes and buildings in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, which it occupied in 1967, under the pretext that they are “unlicensed.”
Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights organizations indicate that Tel Aviv authorities are restricting Palestinian construction activities in East Jerusalem; On the other hand, he says it paved the way for Jewish settlers.
According to reports by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, demolitions in Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, are being carried out under the pretext of not issuing building permits. By Israel, which is “almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain.”
According to data from the Palestinian National Information Center, the number of homes that Israel has demolished in Jerusalem since its occupation in 1967 has exceeded 1,900 homes.