Key facts
- The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel's seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in East Jerusalem.
- The ministry stated Israeli authorities took control of the land on June 15.
- The actions included expelling the Patriarchate's representative and confiscating equipment.
- The site was enclosed with walls and gates.
- The ministry described the move as a grave assault on church properties and a violation of the legal and historical status quo.
The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned what it described as the Israeli seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan. In a statement posted on X, the ministry said Israeli authorities took control of the land on June 15, expelled the Patriarchate's representative, confiscated equipment, uprooted trees, and enclosed the site with walls and gates.
The ministry described the move as a "grave assault on church properties" and a "gross violation of the legal and historical status quo in occupied Jerusalem." It stated that the measures "do not create any legal rights for the occupation and do not alter the prevailing legal and historical status in East Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian land," adding that all annexation, confiscation, and seizure measures are "null and void under international law."