Palestinian citizens of the Jerusalem village of Silwan protested against the continuous digging under their houses on Monday.

The information center in Silwan released a statement reading that the Jewish settlers have called on the Israeli army to defend them against objectors amidst clashes. The army is threatening citizens with arrest.

The inhabitants of the area pointed out that the operations are carried out by settlement-related organizations and Israeli authorities with the aim of emptying the soil under the citizens’ houses in order to establish underground tunnels towards Al-Aqsa mosque.

According to the citizens the excavations have resulted in cracks in the buildings and caused the floor to collapse.