The Palestinian Authority (PA) has called for immediate intervention from the international community to stop the Israeli authorities from demolishing homes in the Silwan neighborhood of Jerusalem.
Minister of Civilian Affairs and member of the Fatah Central Committee Hussein al-Sheikh called on the international community to help stop home demolitions and forcible expulsion of its Palestinian residents.
Israeli police raided the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan and tore down a shop in the al-Bustan area, one of 17 structures, mainly homes.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported 13 injuries among the Palestinians, including six from rubber-coated bullets and five from gas canisters.
Up to 100 houses might be demolished in the Silwan neighborhood.
President Mahmoud Abbas's adviser for religious affairs Mahmoud al-Habbash described the demolition of houses and properties as a new exodus and an ethnic cleansing that is occurring in plain sight.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (MOFAE) considered the current developments in Silwan as an extension to the ethnic cleansing against Jerusalem citizens; a cleansing that has been practiced by previous Israeli governments.
MOFAE added that the occupation’s government is exploiting the support of the international community and the US, to execute its colonial agenda.
For its part, Hamas said that what is happening in Silwan crosses the red lines.
Hamas spokesman in Jerusalem Muhammad Hamada affirmed that the resistance is aware of the occupation actions in Jerusalem.
He further stressed that the resistance is open to all options to respond to the occupation.
