Jerusalem: The Jerusalem Governorate warned against the consequences of Israeli authorities' approval on Sunday of a plan to force Palestinian residents of Jerusalem to evacuate their homes and commercial shops in the Bab al-Silsila neighborhood adjacent to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the governorate stated that this move would enable Israeli authorities to seize properties in the area under the pretext of 'strengthening Jewish control and security,' based on a government decision from nearly 58 years ago and a recommendation issued by Israel's former Minister of Jerusalem and Heritage. The governorate described this as a significant escalation of colonialism targeting the heart of the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, potentially leading to forced displacement and increased colonial control over historic Palestinian properties.
The governorate highlighted that the Bab al-Silsila neighborhood is a crucial historic route leading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, emphasizing that the targeting of this area carries political and religious implications beyond property disputes. It is seen as part of broader efforts to impose new Judaizing realities within the Old City and to clear the areas surrounding Al-Aqsa.
Israeli Army Radio reported that the Israeli government plans to approve the implementation of a 'confiscation and expropriation' process targeting Palestinian properties along the Bab al-Silsila route. This action is based on a previous recommendation issued by Meir Brosh, the so-called "Minister of Jerusalem and Heritage" in the resigned occupation government, in mid-July 2025.
The governorate noted that the targeted area includes historically significant Palestinian properties dating back to the Ayyubid, Mamluk, and Ottoman eras. Notable sites include the historic Tashthamariyya School, which houses a Quranic school for children, a school for religious studies, and the tomb of the Mamluk prince Tashtamar al-Ala'i and his son Ibrahim.
Historical records indicate that the area also included Khan al-Fahm, the Shawain Market (also known as the Cooking Market), the Harrafish Stairs, and the Mubaydeen Market, along with numerous Islamic buildings and endowments historically dedicated to the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The governorate called upon the United Nations, UNESCO, and relevant international organizations to uphold their legal and moral responsibilities and take immediate action to halt these colonial policies targeting the Palestinian presence in the Old City and the area surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
