Europeans for al-Quds association data showed that during March 2021 the Israeli occupation authorities committed more than 498 violations in occupied Jerusalem.

The monthly report on violations prepared by the gathering monitored 14 patterns of human rights violations committed by the occupation forces, the majority of which are complex. Incursions and raids constitute the highest percentage of these violations with 29.3%, followed by arrests of 27.1%.

This month, Europeans for al-Quds monitored 498 violations, which fall under 14 categories, committed by the Israeli forces. The majority of these violations were serious. Arrests constituted 29.3%of the total violations, which is the highest, followed by raids, 27.1%. These violations have the highest rate because they occur on daily basis, while the other violations were still serious in terms of their effects, implications, and level of violation of the rules of international law and international humanitarian law. For example, the demolition decisions that affected many residential buildings and a number of facilities and the decisions to evacuate and displace are among the most dangerous categories.

During this month, Europeans for al-Quds monitored 27 shootings and direct attacks by the Israeli army in occupied Jerusalem neighborhoods, resulting in the injury of 31 civilians, including two girls, in excessive use of force without any justification. Besides, dozens of people suffocated from the tear gas. Many cases were recorded in which citizens were subjected to beatings and severe violence from the occupation forces.

The Israeli occupation forces also continued to carry out raids into Palestinian neighborhoods, including raiding homes and properties, harassing residents, and arbitrarily arresting residents of Jerusalem, without arrest warrants or searches, in addition to subjecting them to

beatings and investigations for long hours, and imposing financial fines on them. The occupation practices detention against them as a tool of punishment and intimidation, without any pretext or legal reason. The Europeans for al-Quds team documented during this month the occupation forces' implementation of 146 incursions into towns and neighborhoods of Jerusalem, during which they arrested 135 citizens, including 21 children and 3 women. In addition, several summonses and imposing house arrest on 3 citizens at least were documented.

During this month, Europeans for al-Quds team monitored 22 attacks, which varied between demolitions in occupied Jerusalem, which resulted in the demolition of 15 homes and 5 commercial facilities, which led to the displacement of dozens of citizens.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is still in the Israeli focus of targeting, through repeated incursions by the occupation forces and settlers on the one hand, and the prevention of restoration operations and obstacles to the arrival of Muslim worshipers on the other hand.

During March, 3,880 settlers, including students of Jewish religious institutes, Israeli officers, and employees working in the occupation government, and employees of the Occupation Antiquities Authority, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque. 1521 settlers stormed the mosque during the days of the Easter Sunday holiday.

The Israeli Occupation Police continued to implement the policy of deportation from Al-Aqsa Mosque, as during March, the deportation of 10 Palestinians from it was documented for periods that varied between one week and six months.

Settlers also continued to carry out attacks against citizens in occupied Jerusalem. During this month, 6 direct attacks were documented, the most prominent of which is setting fire to the entrance to the Roman Church in the Musrara region, and attacking the Anadolu News Agency press staff, while they were preparing a report in the Mea She'arim neighborhood.

The head of the Europeans for al-Quds, Mohammad Hannoun, confirmed that the escalation of Israeli violations in Jerusalem reflects a programmed policy to Judaize the city and change its Arab character.

Israel’s measures are characterized by racial discrimination, and it threatens to displace hundreds of Jerusalemites to change the demographic reality in the occupied city according to United Nations resolutions, said Hannoun.

He stressed that the destruction and unlawful deportation of civilians in the occupied territories violate the Fourth Geneva Convention, and constitute a war crime under Article 4 of Article 8 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court issued in Rome on July 17, 1998.

Source: Europeans for al-Quds