Senior Hamas official Muhammad Abu Tir attacked Thursday what he said was an Israeli attempt to hurt the livelihood of Jerusalem Arabs.

In a statement on Hamas’ website Abu Tir said, “Israel’s persecution of the traders and shoppers in east Jerusalem is part of the ongoing war against the livelihood of the citizens of East Jerusalem.”

He added that this persecution is part of a trend to restrict the actions of the Arab residents and force them to leave the city so that it is empty of Arabs and Muslims.