Occupation seizes 4 historical sites in Tulkarm
Israeli occupation authorities seized four archaeological and historical sites in the Tulkarm governorate, including the Maqam Bint Ya'qub and endowment lands, according to local sources. Officials warned against using antiquities laws to seize lands.
Israeli occupation authorities seized four archaeological and historical sites in the Tulkarm governorate in the northwestern West Bank, according to local and civil sources. The sites include the Maqam Bint Ya'qub archaeological site in the Irtah suburb, the Maqam Nabi Ya'qub southwest of the city, Tel Qa'da in the Kafa suburb, and Khirbet al-Masqufa and Khallat Abu Laban in the lands of the Iktaba village. The Iktaba village council confirmed that the decisions affect dozens of dunams and include dozens of inhabited homes, warning that they could pave the way for home demolitions and land confiscation. Maqam Bint Ya'qub is an Islamic endowment land registered with the Ministry of Awqaf, featuring a two-story building, one from the Roman period and the other from the Mamluk period. Palestinian experts and officials warned against using antiquities protection laws to seize endowment lands, calling on international institutions to intervene. The measures come amid escalating targeting of archaeological sites in the West Bank, with fears of linking them to settlement plans.