Israeli forces detain Head of Islamic Cemeteries Committee in Jerusalem

Israeli forces on Wednesday detained the Director of the Islamic Cemeteries Care Committee in Jerusalem, Ahmad al-Dajani, the official Wafa news agency reported.

According to the report, al-Dajani was detained while he was on Salah al-Din Street in Jerusalem, and taken to an unknown location.

The report adds that detention was part of Israel’s ongoing policy of targeting Palestinian religious figures and an attempt to dismantle Palestinian leaders and institutions.

This is not the first time the Islamic cemeteries and figures in Jerusalem have been subjected to arrests, violations and raids.

Palestinian citizens and religious authorities have condemned Israeli attempts to seize land and "Judaise" the area by restricting Palestinian figures and annexing land.

For Palestinians, cemeteries are considered an important part of their heritage, with the Islamic Cemetries Care Committee working to protect and maintain sacred sites from aggression.

Palestinian cemeteries in Jerusalem contain the graves of important religious figures, including scholars.

Palestinians have warned that Israeli efforts to alter or encroach on Palestinian cemeteries are a direct threat to Jerusalem’s religious and historical identity.

According to local Palestinian media, Israeli forces also arrested two men, identified as Sherif Khaled al-Khudr and Mohammed Ammar Zahran, at the same time as al-Dajani’s arrest.

The two men were arrested in the town of Qabiba, located northwest of Jerusalem.

Local sources reported that violent confrontations broke out between young Palestinians and Israeli forces in the town. Shortly after, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinians and tear-gassed them.