Image Credits: UN News- The United Nations
The UN Human Rights Office has warned more than 80 Palestinian families in the Silwan region. Occupied East Jerusalem with the threat of forced eviction. According to a recent statement, about 87 families, consisting of about 600 to 680 people, are involved in legal battles initiated by Israeli settlers to force them to leave their homes in the Batn al-Hawa area.
The UN Human Rights Office has condemned the evictions as “illegal” and “discriminatory” and blamed them on Israeli laws it says unfairly target Palestinians. The statement emphasized how International humanitarian law prohibits Israel from imposing its laws in the occupied territories, which includes applying Israeli laws to evict Palestinians from their homes.
This situation in Silwan is part of what the UN describes as a “systematic colonial campaign” aimed at displacing Palestinians, confiscating their property and building Israeli settlements in the heart of Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem. The UN position highlights the broader context of Israeli-Palestinian tensions, where land ownership and settlement activity have long been contentious issues.
The neighbourhood of Batn al-Hawa has become the focus of a wider conflict over East Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the capital of a future state. Israeli settlers, supported by various legal mechanisms and some government agencies, increased their efforts to gain a foothold in these areas. This led to increased legal initiatives to expel Palestinians, which in turn attracted widespread international criticism and concern.
The UN intervention highlights the ongoing humanitarian and legal crisis facing Palestinian communities in East Jerusalem. The organization has repeatedly called on Israel to comply with international laws and standards regarding the treatment of the occupied population and territories. Despite these calls, eviction orders and legal pressure on Palestinian families continue, worsening an already volatile situation.
Human rights groups and Palestinian interest groups echoed the UN’s concerns and warned that forced evictions could increase tensions and potential violence. They argue that the evictions not only violate international law but also contribute to the displacement and marginalization of Palestinian communities, undermining prospects for peace and stability in the region.
As the trial continues, Palestinian families in Silwan remain in a state of uncertainty and fear, not knowing when or if they will be forcibly removed from their homes. The international community is watching closely, and many are calling for an end to evictions and a rethinking of policies that perpetuate cycles of displacement and conflict.