Israeli settlers have taken over a building in As-Sawwanah neighborhood overlooking Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City of Jerusalem.
Palestinians expressed dismay at dozens of settlers, accompanied by Israeli police, raiding the building and seizing it.
Settlers began making arrangements to move into the building, which consists of six apartments and is located in an Arab neighborhood.
Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the building had no residents for the past two years, a sign that they had already received compensations from the Israelis to let go of their homes.
Despite the Palestinian Authority questioning and sentencing Palestinians giving up their homes in return for financial gains, many have continued to allow Israelis to seize buildings in Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank.
Even religious figures have issued several fatwas in this context. Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Ahmad Hussein has stated that any selling of land to the enemies is considered a betrayal of God, the Prophet, the religion and the country.
However, Palestinian Authority officials have admitted difficulty in prosecuting those relinquishing their homes for several reasons, including the process occurring in secrecy, with some taking place in Jerusalem or Israel where the authority has no power. Some of those selling land are also Palestinians living abroad.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced Monday the Israeli infiltration in Jerusalem and zones classified “C”, in a move fully backed by the administration of US President Donald Trump and his Zionist team.
The ministry considered the move a disdain of countries claiming keenness over international law and principles of human rights and international legitimacy, as well as US institutions, councils, authorities and resolutions on Palestine.
The international community abandoning its ethical and legal responsibility towards the people and their agony is a complicity with the Israeli invasion and a cover-up of its violations and crimes, which deepens the system of institutionalized racial segregation and blocks the way to establishing a sovereign Palestinian state, it added.
