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The UN Begs Israel To Stop Forcing Palestinians Out Of Their Homes

The UN Begs Israel To Stop Forcing Palestinians Out Of Their Homes

Forced evictions continue in East Jerusalem, sparking airstrikes, protests, mosque raids, deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Tensions in Israel are reaching boiling point as Palestinians fight back against the threat of being evicted from their homes.

There have been violent scenes over the latest round of threats of forced evictions, this time happening in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem.

Palestinian families, some of whom have lived in their buildings for years or even decades, could soon be kicked out by Jewish settlers.

The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) is pleading with Israelis to stop their plans otherwise they risk violating international law.

OHCHR spokesperson Rupert Colville said in a statement: "Given the disturbing scenes in Sheikh Jarrah over the past few days, we wish to emphasize that East Jerusalem remains part of the occupied Palestinian territory, in which International Humanitarian Law applies.

"The occupying Power must respect and cannot confiscate private property in occupied territory, and must respect, unless absolutely prevented, the laws in force in the country."

Protestor arrested during demonstration against forced evictions.
PA

PA

The UN has accused Israeli settlers of trying to impose their own rule of law in occupied territory to justify the evictions.

Forced settlements and evictions have been happening for years and have garnered worldwide condemnation, however Israel has largely suffered little repercussions.

After days of Palestinian protests, and violent confrontations with the Israeli military, Hamas fired dozens of rockets from Gaza to Israeli territory.

Israel responded by launching airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and, according to officials on the ground, have killed at least 20 people, including nine children.

Israeli Police have also been slammed for storming the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and firing rubber-coated rounds, tear gas, and sound bombs at worshippers.

During that raid, more than 180 Palestinians were wounded and 80 needed to be taken to hospital.

There has been a huge outcry over the move as the Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of Islam's holiest sites.

Monday (May 10) was expected to escalate tensions as Israelis celebrate Jerusalem Day and their capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war.

OHCHR spokesperson Rupert Colville says Israel needs to tread carefully.

"The Absentee Property Law and the Legal and Administrative Matters Law are applied in an inherently discriminatory manner, based solely on the nationality or origin of the owner", he said.

"In practice, the implementation of these laws facilitates the transfer by Israel of its population into occupied East Jerusalem.

"The transfer of parts of an occupying Power's civilian population into the territory that it occupies is prohibited under international humanitarian law and may amount to a war crime."

These deescalation calls have been echoed by Amnesty International, who wrote on Twitter: "Stop violations in occupied East Jerusalem. @amnesty's been on the ground & witnessed Israeli forces use of excessive force against protesters and bystanders.

"Israel must end use of unlawful force & forced evictions of Palestinians. Int'l community must hold Israel accountable."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, News, Palestine