Israeli police arrested Muna Al-Kurd, a Palestinian protest leader in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem on Sunday, marking the latest move by the Israeli police to quell several days of tension in one of the most sensitive neighborhoods in Jerusalem.
The arrest of Muna Al-Kurd was confirmed by her father, Nabil, for the international media.
Speaking to the reporters, Nabil Al-Kurd said Israeli police early Sunday “stormed the house in large numbers and in a barbaric manner,” saying they wanted to arrest Muna, 23, and her brother. He said that his son was not home when police searched the house and arrested Muna, one of the most widely-known activists resisting the Israeli eviction drive.
“The reason for the arrest is that we say that we will not leave our homes, and they do not want anyone to express his opinion, they do not want anyone to tell the truth,” said Nabil. “They want to silence us.”
Muna was arrested a day after forcefully detaining a prominent Al-Jazeera journalist covering the campaign by Jewish settlers to evict dozens of Palestinian families from the area.
The most imminent Jerusalem evictions are on hold, following the intervention by Israel’s attorney general, but the settlers’ campaign continues. Rights groups fear the evictions could still be carried out in the coming months as international attention wanes, potentially igniting another round of bloodshed.
The Israeli watchdog estimates that at least 150 households in two neighborhoods are threatened with eviction.
The arrest of Muna Al-Kurd was confirmed by her father, Nabil, for the international media.
Speaking to the reporters, Nabil Al-Kurd said Israeli police early Sunday “stormed the house in large numbers and in a barbaric manner,” saying they wanted to arrest Muna, 23, and her brother. He said that his son was not home when police searched the house and arrested Muna, one of the most widely-known activists resisting the Israeli eviction drive.
“The reason for the arrest is that we say that we will not leave our homes, and they do not want anyone to express his opinion, they do not want anyone to tell the truth,” said Nabil. “They want to silence us.”
Muna was arrested a day after forcefully detaining a prominent Al-Jazeera journalist covering the campaign by Jewish settlers to evict dozens of Palestinian families from the area.
The most imminent Jerusalem evictions are on hold, following the intervention by Israel’s attorney general, but the settlers’ campaign continues. Rights groups fear the evictions could still be carried out in the coming months as international attention wanes, potentially igniting another round of bloodshed.
The Israeli watchdog estimates that at least 150 households in two neighborhoods are threatened with eviction.
