The recent report issued by the Jerusalem Governorate paints a grim picture of the escalating violations of international law and human rights committed by the Israeli occupation in Jerusalem over the past five years (2021-2025). This comprehensive documentation details a systematic campaign of repression, displacement, killing, and colonization targeting the city’s Palestinian population, their land, and their holy sites. The report, released on Thursday, serves as a stark indictment of Israeli policies and a crucial resource for international accountability efforts concerning the situation in Jerusalem. The sheer scale of documented جرائم الاحتلال في القدس (Occupation Crimes in Jerusalem) demands urgent attention.
حصيلة مروعة: خمس سنوات من جرائم الاحتلال في القدس (A Horrific Toll: Five Years of Occupation Crimes in Jerusalem)
The Governorate’s report meticulously records a disturbing increase in violence and legal breaches. It highlights how these actions aren’t isolated incidents, but rather components of a deliberate and coordinated strategy to alter the demographic and historical character of Jerusalem. The inclusion of a specialized legal annex is a groundbreaking step, directly linking the documented violations to international law, UN resolutions, and relevant treaties. This provides a solid foundation for pursuing legal remedies and holding perpetrators accountable.
ارتفاع عدد الشهداء والإصابات (Rising Number of Martyrs and Injuries)
The human cost of the occupation is tragically evident in the report’s statistics. A total of 144 Palestinians were killed in Jerusalem between 2021 and the end of 2025. This represents a significant and alarming escalation in the use of lethal force by Israeli forces.
تفصيل أعداد الشهداء حسب السنوات (Detailed Breakdown of Martyrs by Year)
- 2021: 16 martyrs, marked by a rise in field executions.
- 2022: 19 martyrs, attributed to expanding military incursions and the increased use of deadly force against civilians.
- 2023: 51 martyrs, the deadliest year, coinciding with the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. This period also saw the deaths of Jerusalem residents in Gaza.
- 2024: 35 martyrs, continuing the pattern of excessive force and a lack of genuine international accountability.
- 2025: 23 martyrs, demonstrating the persistence of extrajudicial killings as a central tactic in the Israeli suppression apparatus.
Alongside the tragic loss of life, the report documents 6,528 injuries sustained by Jerusalem residents due to attacks by occupation forces and settlers. These injuries ranged from severe wounds to less serious harm, affecting children, students, workers, and drivers alike. In 2025 alone, 331 Palestinians were injured by live and rubber bullets, severe beatings, and gas inhalation.
استهداف المسجد الأقصى المبارك والاقتحامات المتزايدة (Targeting Al-Aqsa Mosque and Increasing Incursions)
The report condemns the dramatic increase in settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the period 2021-2025. A staggering 289,497 settlers stormed the courtyards of the mosque, all under the protection and facilitation of Israeli forces. This is not merely a matter of access; it’s a deliberate policy of Judaization aimed at altering the religious status quo of the holy site. These incursions often involve provocative tours and the public performance of Talmudic rituals, constituting a blatant violation of the mosque’s sanctity and international law protecting places of worship. In 2025, 74,114 settlers entered the courtyards, alongside 70,945 individuals under the guise of “tourism,” further exacerbating the situation. The escalating tensions surrounding المسجد الأقصى (Al-Aqsa Mosque) are a major source of concern.
جرائم المستعمرين وتصاعد العنف (Settler Crimes and Escalating Violence)
The report details 1,467 attacks perpetrated by settlers against Palestinians and their property between 2021 and 2025, including 241 instances of physical assault. These attacks are consistently carried out with the implicit or explicit support of Israeli security forces. In 2025, 484 attacks were recorded, with 60 involving physical violence, encompassing incursions into Al-Aqsa, attempts to introduce sacrificial offerings, and direct racist assaults.
الاعتقالات التعسفية وتدهور الإجراءات القانونية (Arbitrary Arrests and Deterioration of Legal Procedures)
A total of 11,555 arrest warrants were issued against Jerusalem residents during the five-year period, reflecting a systematic effort to dismantle the social fabric of the city. In 2025, 804 arrests were made, including 81 children and 53 women. These arrests were often accompanied by physical abuse and degrading treatment. The report also highlights a worrying trend of increasingly harsh rulings from Israeli courts, including:
- 1,491 actual prison sentences, with 755 being administrative detention orders.
- 821 house arrest orders, disproportionately affecting children and minors.
- 2,386 deportation orders, including 1,499 barring access to Al-Aqsa Mosque.
- 87 travel bans.
الهدم والتجريف والاستيلاء على الأراضي (Demolition, Excavation, and Land Seizure)
Israeli authorities carried out 1,732 demolition and excavation operations between 2021 and 2025, including direct demolitions, self-demolitions under duress, and extensive digging. Furthermore, 1,439 demolition notices, building freeze orders, and seizure/eviction orders were issued. 2025 saw the highest number of such orders, with 551. This relentless policy of destruction aims to displace Palestinians and facilitate the expansion of Israeli settlements. The report emphasizes the link between these actions and the broader الاستيطان في القدس (Settlement in Jerusalem) project.
استهداف الشخصيات والمؤسسات المقدسية (Targeting Jerusalemite Figures and Institutions)
The report details the deliberate targeting of prominent Palestinian national and religious figures, alongside a comprehensive assault on educational, health, media, religious, and cultural institutions. This campaign seeks to erase Palestinian presence and identity within the city. The documentation of 151 colonial projects deposited for discussion, 130 officially approved, and 51 put out to tender, encompassing over 72,000 settlement units over five years, underscores the scale of this effort.
In conclusion, the Jerusalem Governorate’s report provides irrefutable evidence of a systematic and escalating pattern of جرائم الاحتلال في القدس. These violations constitute a comprehensive colonial project aimed not only at military control but also at the displacement of Palestinians and the alteration of the city’s religious and cultural landscape. The report serves as a critical call for international action to hold Israel accountable for its breaches of international law and to protect the rights and future of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem. Further research and dissemination of this report are vital to raising awareness and galvanizing support for justice and peace in the region.
