JERUSALEM, February 2, 2026 (WAFA) – A report by the Jerusalem Governorate documented systematic Israeli occupation violations in the governorate during January 2026, with the most prominent violations being the escalating attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque, accompanied by attempts to impose a new status quo and undermine the historical and legal situation. These were followed by continued demolition and land-leveling operations, injuries among civilians, arbitrary arrests, prison sentences, house arrest orders, forced banishment decisions, and the advancement of colonial settlement plans aimed at Judaizing the city.
Crimes and Violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque
January 2026 witnessed a qualitative and systematic escalation in Israeli violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Jerusalem Governorate documented the storming of the mosque’s courtyards by 4,397 settlers, in addition to 7,868 others who entered under the guise of so-called “tourism.”
These incursions were accompanied by dangerous official measures, including the storming of the mosque by extremist minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the distribution of Jewish prayer leaflets, the performance of dances and what is referred to as “epic prostration,” as well as recommendations issued by the Knesset to restrict worshippers’ access during the upcoming month of Ramadan. These actions constitute a direct violation of the historical and legal status quo and represent an overt attempt to impose Israeli sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Injuries
During January 2026, the Jerusalem Governorate recorded 31 injuries, including injuries caused by live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, physical assaults, and burns resulting from tear gas canisters.
Most injuries were among Palestinian workers, particularly in the town of Al-Ram and the vicinity of the apartheid separation wall, where 13 injuries were recorded as a result of direct gunfire or falls while attempting to cross the wall. Among the injured were citizen Yousef Zawahra and his wife, who were attacked by settlers during an assault on the Bedouin community of Khillet Al-Sidra near Mikhmas.
These violations confirm that Israel’s far-right government has granted free rein to its forces and settlers to carry out attacks against Palestinians under legal and military protection, reflecting official complicity and a deliberate policy of impunity.
Settler Attacks
The Jerusalem Governorate documented 53 settler attacks during January 2026, including 4 physical assaults. These attacks involved incursions into Palestinian lands and properties in Silwan and Bedouin communities in Khan Al-Ahmar and Mikhmas, provocative acts in the Old City, and assaults on civilians and Islamic and Christian holy sites, including churches and mosques.
Such attacks form part of a systematic policy in which settlers operate as an extension of the occupation forces, with direct support from Israel’s far-right government, which provides legal and political cover and encourages continued aggression against the Palestinian population. Violations included the seizure of abandoned homes, the establishment of new settlement outposts, vandalism of graves, and the burning of vehicles and homes.
Arrests
During January 2026, the Jerusalem Governorate recorded a significant escalation in Israel’s policy of repression and arrest against Palestinians, documenting 103 arrests, including 5 children and 2 women, across various areas of occupied Jerusalem.
These arrests were accompanied by widespread home raids, field arrests at checkpoints and roads, excessive use of force, and physical assaults. Arrests were concentrated in Hizma, Shuafat Refugee Camp, Anata, Silwan, Al-Issawiya, Qalandiya Refugee Camp, Kafr Aqab, Beit Duqqu, Bab Al-Amud, and the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, where worshippers, male and female guardians, and youth were directly targeted.
Occupation Court Decisions Against Detainees
Israeli occupation courts continued issuing arbitrary decisions against Jerusalemites, including severe movement restrictions, heavy financial fines, forced house arrest, banishment orders, and travel bans. The courts also continued extending arbitrary administrative detention without charge, in some cases for prolonged periods, in flagrant violation of human rights and fundamental principles of justice.
Actual Imprisonment
During January 2026, the Jerusalem Governorate documented 29 court rulings and decisions against Jerusalemite detainees, including 19 administrative detention orders, many of which involved second, third, and even fourth consecutive renewals without charge.
Additionally, 10 prison sentences were issued ranging from four months to six years, accompanied in some cases by fines reaching 5,000 shekels. These rulings targeted minors, women, and guardians of Al-Aqsa Mosque, reflecting the ongoing policy of repression and legal terrorism against Jerusalemites.
House Arrest
In January 2026, Israeli authorities continued using forced house arrest as an alternative punitive measure, particularly against journalists, youth, and activists. The Jerusalem Governorate documented 4 house arrest decisions, aimed at restricting civic and media activity and silencing Palestinian voices.
Banishment Orders
During the same month, 100 banishment orders were recorded, including 95 bans from Al-Aqsa Mosque. The actual number is likely higher due to deliberate restrictions imposed on banished individuals, including threats of renewal if they speak to the media or publicly discuss their banishment. Notably, several banishment orders were delivered via WhatsApp messages.
Travel Ban Decisions
In January 2026, Israeli authorities continued to use travel bans as an arbitrary punitive tool against Jerusalemites, targeting religious figures, national leaders, and former prisoners. Those affected included the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, and former prisoner Yaqub Abu Asab and his wife, as part of ongoing policies of persecution and movement control.
Demolition, Land-Leveling, and Property Confiscation
The Jerusalem Governorate documented 86 demolition and land-leveling operations, including 5 forced self-demolitions, 79 demolitions carried out by occupation machinery, and 2 land-leveling operations targeting agricultural lands.
Data indicate that 70 demolitions were concentrated in the Airport Neighborhood, as part of what Israeli authorities termed “Operation Jerusalem Shield,” one of the largest collective demolition campaigns in the area.
Demolition, Forced Eviction, and Land Confiscation Orders
During January 2026, 62 notices were issued, including 44 eviction orders, 14 demolition orders, and 4 confiscation orders, reflecting a dangerous escalation in forced displacement, particularly in Batn Al-Hawa, Silwan, which remains a primary target of settler organizations, most notably Ateret Cohanim.
Targeting National and Religious Figures
January 2026 saw continued systematic targeting of Palestinian religious and national leaders through arbitrary bans, banishment orders, and judicial harassment aimed at suppressing Jerusalem’s leadership and isolating influential figures.
Israeli authorities continued prosecuting Jerusalem Governor Adnan Ghaith, postponing his trial twice during the month on charges of violating previous military orders. The Israeli Prime Minister extended the travel ban on Sheikh Ikrima Sabri until 22 May 2026, while the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Ashraf Al-Awar, was barred from entering the West Bank for six months—part of a broader policy of legal and administrative repression.
Crimes and Violations Against Jerusalem Institutions and Landmarks
Occupied Jerusalem witnessed a serious escalation in systematic Israeli attacks targeting religious sites, educational, cultural, health, and media institutions during January 2026. These actions form part of a comprehensive policy aimed at dismantling Palestinian institutional presence, undermining community resilience, and imposing forced realities that serve Judaization and Israelization projects.
Violations included attacks on cemeteries and holy sites, closure of UN institutions, raids on cultural centers, restrictions on education, targeting of journalists and media outlets, and the imposition of racist legislation affecting the right to education and work—signaling a shift from field repression to a systematic assault on the city’s institutional and rights-based infrastructure.
Colonial Settlement Projects
Based on daily monitoring of official announcements issued by the so-called “Civil Administration” and the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem, as well as documentation by the Orient House Center, the Jerusalem Governorate recorded 20 settlement plans during January 2026.
Among these were 7 deposited plans involving the construction of 571 settlement units over 86.79 dunums, 3 approved plans including 807 settlement units over 37.722 dunums, and 2 tendered plans proposing the construction of 3,751 settlement units.
K.T
