News / Palestine

Israeli forces destroy Muslim graves in Jerusalem al-Quds to build park

Monday, 11 September 2017 1:28 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 11 September 2017 2:58 PM ]

This file photo, provided by the Palestinian Ma’an news agency, shows the aftermath of the Israeli military’s desecration of Bab al-Rahma cemetery in occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds.

Israeli bulldozers have reportedly demolished several Muslim graves in addition to a wall at a cemetery in occupied Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds as the Tel Aviv regime goes ahead with its total disrespect for human and religious values.

The head of the Committee for the Preservation of Islamic Cemeteries in Jerusalem al-Quds, Mustafa Abu Zahra, told Arabic-language Wafa news agency that Israeli bulldozers rolled into Martyrs’ Cemetery near the Lions' Gate to the al-Aqsa Mosque, tearing down a wall and destroying a number of graves there.

Abu Zahra noted that the cemetery contained the remains of 400 Palestinians, who were killed during the Six-Day War fought on June 5-10, 1967 between the Israeli regime, on the one side, and Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, on the other.

He explained that work had been suspended in the area, while his committee would take all necessary legal measures to prevent the desecration of the cemetery again.

There are reports that Israeli authorities are planning to seize parts of the cemetery for a national park trail.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority spokesman, Tariq al-Rishmawi, has strongly condemned Israel’s desecration of Martyrs’ Cemetery, describing the move as a terrible crime against the Palestinian nation as well as all humanitarian principles and religious laws.

Rishmawi said in a press statement that this crime came as part of the Israeli regime’s land expropriation policies and Judaization plans for Jerusalem al-Quds.

He stressed that the Tel Aviv regime was violating all international resolutions on the Palestinian issue, the most recent of which was the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which called on Israel to “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem” al-Quds.

He stressed that the Palestinian Authority would continue all efforts to protect Jerusalem al-Quds and the Islamic and Christian sanctuaries there until the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital.

Last November, personnel from the so-called Israeli Nature Authority – backed by large numbers of Israeli forces – stormed the historical Bab al-Rahmeh Cemetery in occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds, and knocked down eight graves.

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