Hyderabad, May 27 -- Israeli occupation authorities have issued an order to seize 109.79 dunams of land in the Nabi Samuel area north of Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, including land surrounding the historic Nabi Samuel Mosque, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA.

The order, issued by Israel's Civil Administration on Tuesday, May 26, affects areas belonging to the Palestinian communities of Nabi Samuel and Beit Iksa. Israeli authorities said the move was intended to support a project for the preservation and development of the archaeological site known as the Tomb of the Prophet Samuel.

The confiscated land includes agricultural areas, access roads and parts of the mosque compound managed by the Islamic Waqf.

Palestinian of...