Description

The Israeli Nature Authority, accompanied by military forces, stormed a children’s playground in Wadi Hilweh district of Silwan on Monday afternoon, 31 October. One youth, Khalid al-Zeer, was arrested.

The playground was constructed this month by residents, seeking an outlet for their children in the heavily militarized neighborhood.

The raid took place with no prior warning, and no warrant to enter the private land. The playground has become a target of the Jerusalem Municipality since its construction, who seeks to confiscate the land for conversion to parking lots to service the settlement tourist City of David site.

Israeli forces remained present in the area for several hours thereafter, behaving in a provocative manner towards local residents.