Silwan

The Jerusalem Governorate condemned an Israeli plan to establish the largest settlement in East Jerusalem's Umm Lison neighborhood, involving 450 housing units for nearly 2,000 settlers. The Governorate described the project as part of a broader colonial system targeting Palestinian geography to restrict urban expansion and surround neighborhoods with settlement blocs.

Israeli forces conducted raids in Turmus Ayya and Silwan, detaining a Palestinian and a child respectively, while settlers attacked Palestinians near Atara. In Jenin, forces excavated privately owned agricultural land for a military camp.

The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel's seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in East Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood. Israeli authorities expelled the Patriarchate's representative, confiscated equipment, uprooted trees, and enclosed the site, which the ministry called a 'grave assault on church properties' and a violation of international law.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem denounced Israel's seizure of its property in occupied East Jerusalem's Silwan area, calling the action 'unlawful and illegitimate.' The operation involved the removal of the Patriarchate's representative, confiscation of equipment, uprooting of trees, and fencing the land adjacent to the Monastery of St Onuphrius. The Patriarchate warned the seizure sets a dangerous precedent for Church rights in Jerusalem.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem denounced an Israeli seizure of its land in Silwan, East Jerusalem, calling it unlawful and part of a broader campaign of land theft. The Patriarchate reported forced removal of its representative, confiscation of equipment, and fencing of the disputed property adjacent to the Monastery of St Onuphrius. It has launched a lawsuit and urged international intervention to halt what it describes as escalating assaults on Christian presence in the Holy Land.

Israel is increasing evictions and demolitions in east Jerusalem, with over 260 homes destroyed in 2025 and 116 so far in 2026, disproportionately affecting Palestinians. Activists attribute this to expanded settlement policies and discriminatory housing permits, with nearly 9,000 permits approved for Jewish residents versus fewer than 700 for Palestinians in 2025.