Eight refugee families living in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, are at imminent risk of forced eviction. Their houses would be assigned to Israeli settlers.
This is not an isolated case in East Jerusalem. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, around one thousand Palestinians (almost half of whom are children), are currently at risk of forced eviction across East Jerusalem. 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.
In the last weeks, during the month of Ramadan, clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces have left several people injured, especially in the old city of Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, at least 26 people have been killed, including 9 children.
In accordance with IHL (International humanitarian law) , Israel is required to cease and reverse those polices relating to illegal settlement construction and expansion in East Jerusalem, including evictions and forcible transfer of Palestinians. In the Gaza Strip, all parties must ensure that their conduct is in full compliance with international humanitarian law, and take all necessary steps to protect residents of the Gaza Strip, including Israel's lifting of the ongoing closure.
We call to prevent further escalation and protect civilians, especially children.
