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Israeli settlers vandalised several gravestones at an Islamic cemetery in occupied Jerusalem in the early hours of Monday, according to local sources.
Residents said a group of settlers stormed an Islamic cemetery near the Old City of Jerusalem, damaging and defacing a number of graves before leaving the area.
The attack comes amid repeated incidents targeting the Bab al-Rahma cemetery, located east of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Settlers vandalised gravestones at the cemetery twice earlier in 2025, according to local documentation.
Bab al-Rahma is one of the oldest and most significant Islamic cemeteries in Jerusalem, dating back around 1,400 years. It contains the graves of companions of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as fighters who took part in the historic conquest of Jerusalem during the eras of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab and later under Saladin.
Palestinian residents and religious authorities say the cemetery has been subjected to sustained Israeli violations, including attempts to seize parts of it. They warn that such actions aim to alter the cultural and religious character of the area and facilitate greater Israeli control over the Old City of Jerusalem and its surroundings, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex.
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