Palestinians protest against demolition orders in East Jerusalem

Audio 01:30

Demonstration after Israel's demolition of a store in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem, June 29, 2021. REUTERS - AMMAR AWAD

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

Palestinians are mobilizing to denounce the Israeli occupation.

This Tuesday, June 29, the Hebrew state destroyed a Palestinian trade in the district of Silwan, in East Jerusalem, part of the city occupied and annexed by Israel.

In Silwan, more than 100 Palestinian families have received orders to demolish their homes, considered illegal by Israel.

But these families denounce the policy of " 

ethnic cleansing

", which aims to drive Palestinians from their land.

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With our permanent special correspondent in Jerusalem,

Sami Boukhelifa

They are a hundred, gathered in a circle, near the ruins of the store destroyed a few hours earlier by an Israeli bulldozer.

Some proudly wave their Palestinian flag, yet banned in Jerusalem by Israel.

“

Israeli forces have been deployed on a massive scale to ensure that this demolition takes place,”

says Zoheir, who lives in the neighborhood.

And of course, they violently repressed us because we tried to oppose it.

We have been hunted down, persecuted.

They fired tear gas and stun grenades.

As you can see, I was shot in the arm.

I have 13 stitches

”.

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See also:

In Silwan, a district of East Jerusalem, the Palestinians denounce ethnic cleansing

This Tuesday evening, the mobilization is certainly limited, but some like Wafa have traveled several hours to participate in this demonstration: “

I am not here out of simple solidarity, I am here because the Palestinian cause is mine.

And I defend her because she is fair.

The Israeli occupier is pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing.

Its objective is to expel the Palestinians, not only from the neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, like here in Silwan or even in Sheikh Jarrah, but also from all the Palestinian territories.

And this has been going on since the occupation began 73 years ago.

"

The originally peaceful protest eventually escalated, with Israeli forces charging the crowd after Palestinian youths attacked the car of a Jewish settler.

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• Jerusalem

• Palestinian territories