The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates stated that the demolition of the Bustan Association headquarters in the Silwan, in the occupied capital Jerusalem, in the West Bank, is a manifestation of a widespread ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.
It stated that this crime aims to demolish the entire Bustan neighborhood, displacing over 1,500 Palestinian residents.
The ministry stated in a press release, Friday, that this crime reflects an official Israeli policy designed to empty Jerusalem of its original inhabitants and push them to leave to replace them with illegal colonialist settlers.
It stated that this is one of the ugliest forms of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian presence in occupied Jerusalem, aimed at consolidating its complete annexation after forcing the Palestinian s out.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that all Israeli measures in Jerusalem are illegal, and void based on international law, signed agreements, international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, and United Nations resolutions, as they all affirm that East Jerusalem is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory and the eternal capital of the State of Palestine.
The ministry called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to assume its legal and moral responsibilities towards the violations and crimes being committed in Jerusalem by Israeli authorities.
It urged them to uphold their credibility by implementing United Nations resolutions, especially Resolution 2334.
The Bustan Association in the Silwan neighborhood of Jerusalem is a non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare and development of the local community.
It provides various services and support to residents, including educational programs, cultural activities, and social assistance.
The association plays a crucial role in preserving the Palestinian heritage and identity while addressing the needs and challenges faced by the residents.
United Nations statistics reveal that thousands of Palestinians have been displaced and hundreds of thousands have been affected due to the increase in Israeli demolition policies targeting Palestinian buildings and structures in the West Bank since October 7, 2023.
According to data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as reported by Al Jazeera Net, Israeli authorities demolished 1,787 Palestinian structures between October 7, 2023, and October 15, 2024. Among these, 800 homes were inhabited.
These demolitions have displaced 4,498 Palestinians and affected approximately 531,593 others due to the destruction of their homes or their commercial, industrial, and agricultural establishments.
In continuation of the plan to demolish the entire neighborhood and displace around 2,000 Jerusalemites, Israeli forces demolished the protest tent in the Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Wednesday.
This came just a week after the demolition of seven homes in the neighborhood, including the headquarters of the Al-Bustan Center and the home of Jerusalemite Naim Al-Qadi
