In Jerusalem, the occupation’s persecution of Palestinians and its restrictions on them do not stop at a certain point or in a specific context, as the occupation’s hand extends to their freedom and lives, their right to housing and education, and even to their most basic rights.

In Issawiya, north of Jerusalem, where there are daily confrontations and repeated occupation raids, the story of the suffering of Jerusalemite Yousef Muhaisen continues, as the occupation pursues him in his livelihood and the livelihood of his family.

Several years ago, Muhaisen established the Peace Hall for weddings and events in the center of the town to be an outlet for the town’s residents, where they could hold their weddings and events. However, it was not immune to the targeting of the occupation forces and its municipality’s crews.

On 5/28/2022, during a military parade by the occupation forces near Al-Issawiya, clashes erupted between Palestinians and the occupation forces in the town. During the clashes, the occupation forces deliberately targeted the surroundings of the Peace Hall with tear gas bombs, which caused parts of it to burn.

Yousef Muhaisen continued to work on restoring the hall and was able to restore 90% of it. Muhaisen sold two houses he owned in order to complete the restoration, only to be surprised by a decision to demolish the hall from the occupation municipality. Indeed, the occupation bulldozers carried out the demolition operation on 8/16/2022.

Mohsen did not lose hope, so he built a car wash on the ruins of his hall. After a year of work, the occupation bulldozers returned to demolish the car wash, today, Thursday, 8/24/2023.

Certainly, the will of the people of Jerusalem is stronger than all the bulldozers of the occupation, but until when will the people of Issawiya fight their battle alone?!