RESTRICTION SUMMARY: Jerusalem - 31 January 2023. Waste and stones lie on a blocked street during a strike against house demolitions by Israeli authorities, in the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Jabal Mukaber.

STORYLINE:

Palestinian residents of Jabal al-Mukabber neighborhood of East Jerusalem observed today a general strike in protest against the Israeli municipality’s recent wave of home demolitions under the pretext of construction without a permit.

Residents closed roads with burnt tires and rocks and poured oil in the streets to prevent the municipality’s bulldozers and army vehicles from entering the neighborhood to carry out more demolitions, seen by residents as racially motivated as the Israeli cabinet minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, has issued orders to speed up demolition of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem allegedly built without a permit.

The Israeli municipality demolished two buildings in the neighborhood in the past two days prompting the neighborhood figures to declare a general strike today affecting all sectors in the area, including schools.

It also intends to demolish 14 other Palestinian homes in different neighborhoods of the city in the next few days.