(Reporting Period 17-24 November 2021)

Date: 5 December 2021

In light of the increased Israeli illegal policies and practices against Palestinian residents of Jerusalem,[1] specifically in the neighbourhoods of Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah, and the repetitive storming of the compound of the Al-Aqsa mosque by Israeli settlers under police protection, tensions have flared up in the City of Jerusalem and subsequently led to an uptick in Israeli practiced violence, arbitrary arrests, and demolitions. The following is an overview of the incidents that occurred in Jerusalem between 17-24 November 2021.

1. Killings

On 17 November 2021, at approximately 5:00 pm, on Al-Wad Street in the Old City of Jerusalem, a settler shot the minor Omar Ibrahim Abu Asab, 16, alleging that he was trying to stab two border guards affiliated with the Israeli police. The settler shot at Omar seven times, killing him.  Following the shooting that killed Omar, a border guard police officer shot at him again, although Omar was already dead. The Israeli authorities are currently withholding Omar’s body.

On 19 November, at approximately 9:00 am, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) shot and killed Fadi Abu Shkheidem, 42 a resident of Shuafat refugee camp, north-eastern Jerusalem, claiming that he had carried out a shooting inside the Old City. The incident took place near Bab al-Silsila, one of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque. The IOF are still retaining his body. 

2. Arbitrary Arrests, raids and injuries: 

On 17 November the IOF arrested at least five people in Jerusalem. Ahmed Abu Al-Roumi from the town of al-Isawiyya, north-eastern Jerusalem, was arrested at dawn. Between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, the IOF also arrested Nu’man Wazouz, Mustafa Abu Ghazaleh and Muhammad Sarhan; all from the Bab Hatta area inside the Old City. At approximately 6:00 pm, the IOF stormed the town of al-Isawiyya, north-eastern Jerusalem, to arrest the father of the Omar Abu Asab, injuring in the process 57 Palestinians, including 4 with rubber-coated bullets, 3 who suffered from burn wounds and the remaining 50 as a result of tear gas. 

On 18 November at approximately 6:00 pm, the IOF stormed the town of al-Isawiyya, north-eastern Jerusalem and attacked its residents, using rubber-coated bullets and tear gas bombs, injuring 17 Palestinians, with approximately 95 Palestinians suffering from tear has inhalation. Further, 11 others received burn wounds, and 13 were injured as they fell trying to escape the IOF attack. 

On 19 November, at approximately 9:00 pm, the IOF arrested Suhaib Shweiki from his home in Silwan, south of the Old City of Jerusalem. 

On 20 November at approximately 5:00 pm, the IOF arrested Muhammad Zakaria Alyan and Muhammad Jamal Alyan from al-Isawiyya town, north-eastern Jerusalem.  

On 21 November the IOF arrested the brothers Khader, Bilal, Sultan and Muhammad Rabah Abu al-Hummus at dawn, as well as Hussein Attia at around 10:00 pm from al-Isawiyya town, north eastern Jerusalem. The IOF also arrested Majed al-Huneini at around 11:00 am from inside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The IOF further arrested Ali al-Taweel at around 11:00 pm from the Old City of Jerusalem. 

On 22 November at approximately 9:00 am, the IOF arrested Obada and Mahmoud Dandis from Silwan, south of the Old City of Jerusalem. 

3. Restrictions on the movement of citizens (checkpoints): 

On 16 November, the IOF closed the south-eastern entrance to Hizma town, northeast of Jerusalem, using an iron gate, which serves as one of the three entrances to Hizma. 

4. Settlements, settler violence, and IOF complicity with settler violence: 

On 16 November at approximately 8:00 am, a group of around 170 Israeli settlers, protected by the IOF, stormed the compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. At approximately 2:00 pm, another 62 Israeli settlers stormed the compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also under the protection of the IOF.

On the 17 November, at approximately 8:00 am, a group of around 69 Israeli settlers, protected by the IOF, stormed the compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. At approximately 2:00 pm, another 130 Israeli settlers stormed the compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also under the protection of the IOF.

On the 18 November at approximately 8:00 am, a group of around 82 Israeli settlers, protected by the IOF, stormed the compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. At approximately 2:00 pm, another 48 Israeli settlers stormed the compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also under the protection of the IOF. 

On 21 November at approximately 8:00 am, a group of around 50 Israeli settlers, protected by the IOF, stormed the compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. At approximately 2:00 pm, another 44 Israeli settlers stormed the compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also under the protection of the IOF.

On 22 November at around 8:00 am, a group of around 73 Israeli settlers, protected by the IOF, stormed the compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. At approximately 2:00 pm, another 42 Israeli settlers stormed the compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also under the protection of the IOF.

5. Demolition of Palestinian homes: 

On the 16 November 2021, the IOF forced Iyad Burqan to demolish his 125 square meters house, with its 64 square meters basement floor, located in the Shayyah area in eastern Jerusalem. At that time, the house was still under construction, and Mr. Burqan was forced to self-demolish the pretext of building without a permit.