Since the war on Gaza began over a year ago, more than 62,000 Israeli settlers have made incursions like this into Islam's third holiest site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. They include far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Palestinian organizations say religious provocation is just one way Israel is advancing its takeover of their capital.

A record number of home demolitions is another. 436 homes and buildings have been demolished in occupied East Jerusalem since October 2023. Hundreds of other homes are under Israeli demolition orders.

Silwan is one of the hardest-hit areas. The neighborhood's fight for survival can be seen everywhere. Israeli land grabs and settlement expansion in occupied East Jerusalem have all but erased any space for Palestinians in the city.

Less than 12% of the land in East Jerusalem is available for Palestinians to build on, while the rest is designated for settlers.

Israel has also ordered the shutdown of schools, clinics, and community centers run by UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, leaving close to 32,000 refugees in occupied East Jerusalem without any help.

Other schools are threatened with closure if they teach the Palestinian curriculum.

In The Old City, young Palestinians are harassed and attacked daily by Israeli soldiers. Nearly 2,000 have been detained this past year, including children as young as 14.

Owners of Palestinian shops and businesses must pay fees and follow restrictions to stay open.

Even before the onset of the genocide, Israel pledged to spend nearly a billion dollars on taking over occupied East Jerusalem.

If the persecution and expulsion are not stopped, occupied East Jerusalem's Palestinian identity will be erased house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood.