Israeli Forces Evict Palestinian Families from Homes in Jerusalem
Three Palestinian families face eviction in occupied Jerusalem; international community expresses concern.
LONDON: Israeli forces have forcibly evicted three Palestinian families from their homes in the Batn Al-Hawa neighborhood of Silwan, located in occupied Jerusalem, in a move to seize control over their properties.
The affected families include the Al-Shweiki and Odeh clans, who were displaced from an area south of the walled city of Jerusalem.
Israeli security forces imposed a cordon around the area, effectively blocking access roads.
Asmahan Al-Shweiki, one member of the evicted families, fainted during the eviction and was subsequently hospitalized, as reported by Wafa news agency.The family members expressed their shock at the unexpected invasion by Israeli police, who proceeded to clear out all personal belongings from their homes.
Ahmed Al-Shweiki recounted being physically assaulted during the eviction process, resulting in injuries and bruising.
The total land area and building space claimed by Ateret Cohanim, an Israeli settler group established in 1978, amount to approximately 0.5 hectares and 200 square meters within Batn Al-Hawa.Despite the forced evictions, around 750 Palestinians from 87 families continue to reside in Batn Al-Hawa, all of whom face active court-ordered eviction notices from Israeli authorities.
The issue extends beyond this neighborhood; dozens more families throughout Silwan are also at risk of being displaced due to ongoing legal battles and Israeli plans for construction projects like the 'City of David' tourist attraction.
This project involves building an underground route through the neighborhood.The Palestinian Authority's Jerusalem governorate has criticized these evictions as part of a broader systematic plan aimed at Judaizing the area and forcefully displacing Palestinians, with support from both settler organizations and the Israeli government.
The ultimate goal appears to be expanding settlements in central locations within Batn Al-Hawa.Since the 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Israel, there has been a policy of permitting Jewish settlers to reclaim properties that have historical significance dating back to the Ottoman and British administration period, including sites in Sheikh Jarrah and the Old City.
Conversely, Palestinians are denied their right to return to their ancestral homes or to reclaim lands abandoned during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, as outlined in a UN resolution.
The affected families include the Al-Shweiki and Odeh clans, who were displaced from an area south of the walled city of Jerusalem.
Israeli security forces imposed a cordon around the area, effectively blocking access roads.
Asmahan Al-Shweiki, one member of the evicted families, fainted during the eviction and was subsequently hospitalized, as reported by Wafa news agency.The family members expressed their shock at the unexpected invasion by Israeli police, who proceeded to clear out all personal belongings from their homes.
Ahmed Al-Shweiki recounted being physically assaulted during the eviction process, resulting in injuries and bruising.
The total land area and building space claimed by Ateret Cohanim, an Israeli settler group established in 1978, amount to approximately 0.5 hectares and 200 square meters within Batn Al-Hawa.Despite the forced evictions, around 750 Palestinians from 87 families continue to reside in Batn Al-Hawa, all of whom face active court-ordered eviction notices from Israeli authorities.
The issue extends beyond this neighborhood; dozens more families throughout Silwan are also at risk of being displaced due to ongoing legal battles and Israeli plans for construction projects like the 'City of David' tourist attraction.
This project involves building an underground route through the neighborhood.The Palestinian Authority's Jerusalem governorate has criticized these evictions as part of a broader systematic plan aimed at Judaizing the area and forcefully displacing Palestinians, with support from both settler organizations and the Israeli government.
The ultimate goal appears to be expanding settlements in central locations within Batn Al-Hawa.Since the 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Israel, there has been a policy of permitting Jewish settlers to reclaim properties that have historical significance dating back to the Ottoman and British administration period, including sites in Sheikh Jarrah and the Old City.
Conversely, Palestinians are denied their right to return to their ancestral homes or to reclaim lands abandoned during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, as outlined in a UN resolution.
