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WAFA
23 January 2025
Israeli court orders forced evictions of Palestinian families in Jerusalem’s Silwan neighborhood
JERUSALEM, An Israeli court in occupied Jerusalem has issued rulings mandating the forced eviction of hundreds of Palestinians from their homes in the Batn al-Hawa neighborhood of Silwan, occupied Jerusalem, as part of an ongoing campaign of forced displacement targeting the area.
In a statement released Thursday evening, the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Governorate revealed that the settler organization Ateret Cohanim secured court decisions over the past two weeks authorizing the eviction of 26 Palestinian families, totaling 154 individuals, from their homes in Batn al-Hawa. The group claims these properties were built on land allegedly owned by Jews prior to 1948.
The court rulings, which pertain to five cases, stipulate that the evictions must be carried out within the next six months. Additionally, the Palestinian families have been ordered to pay court fees amounting to 50,000 shekels (approximately $13,000) for each case.
The forced evictions in Batn al-Hawa are part of a broader pattern of dispossession and settlement expansion by Israeli occupation authorities and settler organizations in occupied East Jerusalem. Since 1967, Israel has implemented policies aimed at altering the demographic and geographic landscape of Jerusalem to reinforce its control over the city, despite international condemnation.
Silwan, a historic Palestinian neighborhood located near the Old City, has been a focal point of settler activities. Organizations like Ateret Cohanim and Elad have sought to establish Jewish settlements in the area under the pretext of historical claims, often using Israeli courts to legitimize their actions.
These efforts have led to the displacement of hundreds of Palestinian families and the destruction of their homes, exacerbating tensions in one of the world’s most contested cities.
Under international law, East Jerusalem is considered occupied territory, and Israeli settlements are deemed illegal. The latest court rulings in Batn al-Hawa underscore the ongoing plight of Palestinian citizens in occupied Jerusalem, as they face the dual threats of displacement and settlement expansion.
M.N
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