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Mustafa Abu Zahra, the head of the Islamic Cemeteries Committee, said in a statement to the media that Israel's Jerusalem Municipality was continuing to dig and bulldoze in the Shuhada Cemetery, which is part of the larger Yousufiya Cemetery.

He has previously described the works as a "flagrant violation of the sanctity of the site".

The remains of Iraqi and Jordanian soldiers who fought in are buried in the cemetery.

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The Israeli Municipality, which began the bulldozing works a few weeks ago, plans to build a park at the location of the Shuhada Cemetery. Israel occupied East Jerusalem following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and its sovereignty there is not recognized by most of the international community.

The Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, previously told the Anadolu news agency that the works were an "attack which was part of the Judaization of Jerusalem and an attempt to suppress the history and civilization" of the city.

Since Israel gained control over Palestinian East Jerusalem more than 50 years ago, it has tried to alter the character of the ancient city and demolishing Palestinian homes and facilities.

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