The UN’s human rights office (OHCHR), on Friday, called on Israel
to immediately halt all forced evictions, including those in the
Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, as well as to
exercise maximum restraint in the use of force while ensuring
safety and security there.
Eight Palestinian refugee families residing in Sheikh Jarrah are
facing forced eviction due to a legal challenge by the Nahalat
Shimon settler organization, with the risk “imminent” for four of
the families, according to the office.
OHCHR
spokesperson Rupert Colville said
that the evictions, if ordered and implemented, would violate
Israel’s obligations under international law.
“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.”
He went on to note that Israel cannot impose its own set of laws
in occupied territory, including East Jerusalem, to evict
Palestinians from their homes.
On Thursday, Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process, also urged
Israel to stop demolitions and evictions in the neighbourhood, in
line with its obligations under international humanitarian law.
Prohibited under international law
“In addition, 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”, OHCHR spokesperson Colville 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”, he added.
Violation of right to adequate housing
The OHCHR spokesperson also said that forced evictions could
violate the rights to adequate housing and to privacy and other
human rights of those who are evicted.
“Forced evictions are a key factor in creating a coercive
environment that may lead to forcible transfer, which is
prohibited by the Fourth
Geneva Convention and is a grave breach of the Convention.”
Mr. Colville also called on Israel to respect freedom of
expression and assembly, including of those who are protesting
against the evictions, and to exercise maximum restraint in the
use of force while ensuring safety and security in East
Jerusalem.
