JERUSALEM – Israeli authorities on Tuesday demolished a mosque in the town of Jabal al-Mukaber in occupied East Jerusalem, citing the lack of a building permit as the reason for the action.

Witnesses reported that Israeli police escorted demolition teams to the site, where they razed the 50-square-meter mosque, which had been serving the local Palestinian community for two decades.

The mosque had faced a demolition order 16 years ago, but the action was delayed due to ongoing legal appeals. However, a final demolition notice was issued two weeks ago, leading to Tuesday's operation.

Palestinian, international, and Israeli rights organizations have long accused Israeli authorities of systematically restricting Palestinian construction in East Jerusalem, making it nearly impossible to obtain building permits.

The Jerusalem Affairs Ministry condemned the demolition, describing it as part of Israel's "ethnic cleansing and war crimes" against Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem.

According to the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, over 500 Palestinian homes and facilities have been demolished across the occupied West Bank since October 7 last year.

The incident occurs amid heightened tensions in the region, exacerbated by Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, which has claimed the lives of nearly 44,000 people, mostly women and children, following a Hamas attack last year.

In the West Bank, violence has also surged, with over 785 Palestinians killed and more than 6,450 injured by Israeli forces since the escalation, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

This demolition is the latest in a series of actions that rights groups warn are contributing to the worsening humanitarian and political crisis in the region.

 

Courtesy Anadolu Agency