Israeli settlers illegally install gate on Old City of occupied Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, Palestine (MNTV) — Israeli settlers have installed a welded iron gate inside the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem, in a move Palestinian authorities describe as part of a systematic effort to assert control over the city’s historic religious, and public spaces.

According to the Jerusalem Governorate, the gate was placed at the entrance of the Cotton Merchants’ Market, one of the Old City’s most prominent and historically significant bazaars. The structure, fixed permanently in place, has effectively restricted the movement of Palestinians in the area.

Officials condemned the act as a direct assault on the cultural and historical identity of the Old City, as Israel enforces gradual encroachment aimed at reshaping the demographic and religious character of Jerusalem.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the installation of the gate coincided with Israeli settlers performing religious rituals nearby, underlining what authorities described as a coordinated attempt to impose new realities on the ground.

Despite the seriousness of the development, Israeli police denied any involvement in the installation and did not intervene to remove the barrier — a stance Palestinian officials say reflects tacit approval of settler actions.

The Old City of Jerusalem, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, is home to nearly 33,000 residents, the majority of whom are Palestinians, alongside a growing population of Israeli settlers. The area has long been a flashpoint, particularly since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem following the 1967 war.

Palestinian authorities warn that such measures are part of a broader strategy to restrict Palestinian presence, fragment communities, and erode the historical and cultural fabric of one of the world’s most sensitive and contested sites.