Jerusalem:Israeli occupation authorities have ordered the cessation of construction on several Palestinian-owned buildings in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA, Israeli municipal crews, accompanied by occupation forces, entered the neighborhood and posted notices. These notices included orders for residents to report to the municipality and directives to stop construction work on several buildings.
Israel frequently uses the pretext of illegal building to demolish houses, aiming to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem. Simultaneously, the Israeli occupation municipality and government are constructing tens of thousands of housing units in illegal colonies in East Jerusalem to favor Jewish demographic dominance.
Palestinians in East Jerusalem, which is part of the internationally recognized Palestinian Territory under Israeli occupation since 1967, face significant discrimination. They are denied citizenship rights and classified as "residents," risking permit revocation if they leave the city for extended periods. This community also experiences discrimination in housing, employment, and services, and cannot access services in the West Bank due to Israel's separation wall.
A report by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem suggests that the Israeli occupation High Court could face accountability for war crimes due to policies that dispossess Palestinians from their properties in Area C of the West Bank. The report, titled "Fake Justice," indicates that the court's endorsement of Israeli planning policy equates to support for the dispossession and forcible transfer of Palestinians, which constitutes a war crime under international law.