JERUSALEM, Sunday, May 26, 2024 (WAFA) — Israeli occupation forces on Sunday gave out notices of demolition of commercial shops on the road linking the Jaba' and Qalandia military checkpoints, north of occupied Jerusalem, and a bridge linking the towns of Jaba' and Al-Ram.

Eyewitnesses said that the occupation forces handed demolition notices to the owners of a number of shops and facilities located on the targeted street.

They added that the demolition notices included the Jaba' Bridge, which is located above the targeted street and connects the towns of Jaba and Al-Ram, aiming to widen the street located between the two aforementioned checkpoints to facilitate the passage of colonists from occupied Jerusalem to the colonies established in the West Bank.

They also noted that the Israeli authorities completed the construction of a tunnel under the Qalandiya military checkpoint to become a main colonial road linking Jerusalem to the West Bank that is used only by the colonists, while the checkpoint remains in place to obstruct the passage of Jerusalemites.

Media advisor to the Jerusalem Governor, Marouf Al-Rifai, said that dozens of shops were notified for demolition, including the Jaba' Bridge, with the aim of expanding the street to serve the colonists.

He added that the occupation claims that there is no license even though the shops belong to Al-Ram municipality and have Palestinian building permits, noting that they are located in the area classified as “B”, which are old shops built decades ago.

Al-Rifai explained that the demolition operations aim to expand a colonial road that will connect Street "60" with the West Bank settlements to Jerusalem, to facilitate the passage of the colonists and to tighten the pressure on Palestinians.

K.T