Jerusalem: The Jerusalem Governorate on Tuesday criticized the Israeli Supreme Court's decision to evict two Palestinian families from Jerusalem's Batn al-Hawa neighborhood, labeling it a 'systematic act of ethnic cleansing'.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Jerusalem Governorate issued a press statement condemning the court's ruling, which dismissed the appeals of the Odeh and Shweiki families against eviction from their homes in Batan al-Hawa, Silwan, in favor of the settler organization 'Ateret Cohanim'. This decision was described as part of a broader initiative by Israeli authorities to displace Palestinian residents and alter the demographic composition of Jerusalem, contravening international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The Governorate further highlighted the severe humanitarian implications of these evictions, noting that the situation in Batan al-Hawa extends beyond the affected families. Approximately 84 Palestinian families, totaling nearly 700 individuals, are currently facing eviction lawsuits, with 16 families already displaced. The recent court orders target five homes, comprising 27 families and 131 individuals, primarily children, who lack alternative housing options.
Emphasizing their opposition to forced evictions, the Governorate called upon the international community, including the United Nations and Security Council, to intervene against these policies and ensure protection for Jerusalem's residents. They pledged to use all available legal, political, and media channels to counteract these actions and support the city's Palestinian communities in their resistance efforts.
