The Jerusalem Governorate documented Israeli violations in the occupied capital throughout April, focusing on fatal attacks, injuries, abductions, imprisonment orders, demolitions, forced evictions, expulsion orders, house arrest, and daily incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Fatalities:
In April 2025, Israeli forces continued their aggression against Palestinians. Arafat Qadous from Iraq Burin near Nablus in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, was killed after being chased near the Annexation Wall in Ar-Ram, north of Jerusalem. He was attempting to reach his workplace in historic Palestine.
Attacks by illegal Israeli colonizers:
The governorate recorded 31 attacks by settlers in April, including two incidents of physical assault. This marks a dangerous escalation in assaults by the colonizers against Palestinians, their properties, and religious sites, all under the protection of Israeli forces.
Injuries:
Approximately 45 injuries were documented due to live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, severe beatings, and tear gas exposure. Among them, two were caused by settler attacks.
Violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque:
Al-Aqsa Mosque witnessed unprecedented Israeli escalations, blatantly violating historical and legal agreements and disregarding international laws and UNESCO resolutions that affirm its status as an Islamic place of worship.
In April, 10,111 colonizers, accompanied by Israeli soldiers and police officers, stormed Al-Aqsa, in addition to 6,139 others under the pretext of “tourism.”
During the Jewish Passover holiday (April 13–19), incursions intensified, with 6,865 colonizers storming the mosque—significantly higher than previous years.
Targeting Palestinian National Figures:
Israeli occupation forces continued their systematic efforts to suppress Palestinian political and religious figures to weaken Palestinian representation in Jerusalem.
- On April 21, Israeli security summoned Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Ashraf Al-A’war, for questioning and handed him an order banning him from the West Bank for six months under the pretext of engaging in activities linked to the Palestinian Authority.
- On the same day, Israeli forces invaded the home of Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, as part of their ongoing crackdown on religious leadership in the city.
- On April 27, the Israeli court held a hearing for Jerusalem Governor Adnan Gheith before postponing his trial to September, continuing its legal harassment aimed at undermining Palestinian leadership in Jerusalem.
Abductions:
In April, Israeli authorities abducted 58 Palestinians from occupied Jerusalem, including three women and five children.
Court Rulings:
Israeli courts imposed harsh sentences, including imprisonment, house arrest, travel bans, and hefty fines. Many detainees faced prolonged detention for months or even years without formal charges.
- Prison Sentences: Israeli courts issued 27 prison sentences against detainees, including 11 administrative detentions, where individuals are held without charges.
- House Arrest: Four house arrest orders were issued.
- Expulsion Orders: 13 expulsion orders were recorded, including six banning Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque.
- Travel Bans: Authorities issued one travel ban in April.
Demolitions, Land Seizures, and Forced Evictions:
Israeli occupation authorities carried out 34 demolition and uprooting of lands, including:
- Five cases of forced self-demolition, where Palestinians were compelled to destroy their own homes to avoid excessive fines, fees and imprisonment.
- 25 demolitions executed by Israel.
- Four bulldozing and uprooting of lands Palestinian-owned lands and roads.
These demolitions are part of Israel’s policy to displace Palestinians under the pretext of unlicensed construction, despite the nearly impossible process of obtaining building permits.
Forced Eviction Orders:
Israeli authorities issued numerous demolition and eviction orders, further pressuring Palestinians to leave their homes. The highest number of such orders—35 out of 47—was recorded in the town of Anata.
Violations Against Palestinian Institutions and Landmarks:
Israeli forces continued their wide-scale attacks on Palestinian institutions, including religious, national, and educational facilities, alongside intensified restrictions on media and labor unions.
- Education Sector: The so-called “Arab Education Department” of the Israeli municipality announced the closure of Al-Furqan School in Shu’fat, serving 1,200 students, citing “lack of a permit” despite the school’s 30-year existence.
- Israeli forces also stormed Al-Quds University in Abu Dis, launching tear gas inside the campus.
- Labor and Civil Institutions: Israeli authorities closed the headquarters of the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions in Salahuddin Street and abducted its secretary, Fawzi Shaaban, for his union activities.
- Attacks on media and journalists : Journalist Nadine Jaafar was detained at Bab Al-Ghawanma and released under a ban from Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli occupation forces also fired at journalist Muhammad Samreen during coverage in Anata, damaging his vehicle.
- Religious Sites: Israeli forces assaulted Christian worshippers during Easter celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and prevented many from entering.
Colonialist Expansion:
The governorate tracked seven new colonialist projects in April, ranging from approval stages to bidding for development.
- On April 17, settlers opened a religious school near the Al-Buraq Wall.
- Three major colonialist plans were approved, including:
- A project to demolish 95 Palestinian homes west of Jerusalem to build 392 new colonialist units.
- The expansion of “Gilo” colony, set to illegally annex 176 dunams of Palestinian land in Beit Jala to construct 1,900 colonialist units. Around 29% of this land is privately owned by Palestinians, while 15% falls under the “Absentee Property Law,” which Israel uses to confiscate lands from displaced Palestinians.
These violations collectively reveal Israel’s strategic efforts to erase Palestinian identity in Jerusalem and undermine Palestinian presence in the city.
