Palestinian Evictions Mount in East Jerusalem Amid Growing Concerns

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Residents of Batn al-Hawa Neighborhood in East Jerusalem Face Eviction Orders

In the Batn al-Hawa neighborhood of Silwan, 28 families have received eviction orders from the Israeli Supreme Court. The court’s decision on January 12 marked the end of final appeals by Palestinians facing forced displacement from their homes.

Kayed Rajabi, a resident of the neighborhood, has been spending most of his time on the family’s rooftop, gazing at Al-Aqsa Mosque. He is anxious about the potential eviction of his family and has stopped going to work due to fear for their safety. His children have also stopped attending school, as they are afraid to leave their homes.

Rajabi’s family has lived in the neighborhood for generations. “I was born here,” he said. “I opened my eyes in this house. My laughter, my sadness, my joy – all my friends and loved ones are in this neighbourhood.” He expressed his concern about the potential destruction of his home and the memories associated with it.

According to Israeli NGO Ir Amim, approximately 700 residents of the neighborhood, spanning 84 families, are now facing imminent forced displacement. This would be the largest coordinated expulsion of Palestinians from a single neighborhood in East Jerusalem since 1967.

Twenty-four homes belonging to the extended Rajabi family alone are subject to eviction orders, affecting 250 people. The family of Khalil al-Basbous has already been forcibly evicted from their home as a result of the latest court decision.

The rooftop of Rajabi and his younger brother Wa’il has been a meeting place for family and neighbors for years. “You’d find 50 of my family members coming here, and we’d fill the neighborhood with our celebrations,” Rajabi recalled. The memories of past Ramadans and Eids are now bittersweet due to the presence of settlers in the neighborhood.

A commotion outside the terrace of houses has occurred, involving settlers and their armed security guard. Rajabi returned from arguing with them and resumed speaking on the rooftop, his eyes wide from adrenaline. “The Gheith family was like family to us,” he said. “We all loved each other. We grew up together.”

Source: Al Jazeera