'Israel' greenlights eviction of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem

• 'Israeli' Supreme Court approves eviction of 13 Palestinian homes in Silwan for a settler organization.
• Evictions are part of a wider policy of forced displacement and settlement expansion in East Jerusalem.

The 'Israeli' Supreme Court has finalized the eviction of 13 Palestinian homes in the Batn al-Hawa neighborhood of Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, in favor of the settler organization Ateret Cohanim, according to the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate.

The decision, issued Monday, resolves two of four petitions filed by local families challenging prior rulings from the 'Israel' Central Court. The evicted homes include the Abdul Fattah Rajabi family, with two residences housing sixteen people, and the Yaqub and Nidal Rajabi file, comprising eleven residences with over 100 residents. Two additional cases, involving Yusuf Al-Basbous (four apartments, 20 residents) and Zuhair Rajabi (seven apartments, 15 residents) are still pending.

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Violations of international law

The Jerusalem Governorate condemned the ruling, saying 'Israeli' authorities and settler organizations are committing "blatant violations of international humanitarian law", including the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute. Authorities accuse 'Israel' of pursuing ethnic cleansing through forced displacement, aiming to empty the holy city of its original Palestinian residents and replace them with settlers.

Read more: 'Israel's' "Greater Jerusalem" engulfs heart of the West Bank

Since 2015, approximately 16 families have been evicted from Batn al-Hawa. Notices have been issued to residents Khalil Al-Basbous and Kaid Rajabi, with deadlines set for January 5 and 6, 2026, respectively. The court confirmed prior rulings from the Central Court in favor of the settler organization.

Settler organization and land claims

Ateret Cohanim claims ownership of about five dunams (5,200 square meters) in Batn al-Hawa dating back to 1881. The Jerusalem Governorate described the group as “one of the most dangerous settler organizations in Jerusalem”, responsible for decades of Palestinian property appropriation and neighborhood Judaization in Silwan and the Old City.

Batn al-Hawa, home to roughly 10,000 Palestinians and located 400 meters from Al-Aqsa Mosque, is a frequent target for evictions and settlement expansion. Officials say the measures aim to consolidate settler control around the mosque and link outposts across Silwan, exacerbating hardships for Palestinian residents and threatening their housing rights.

Ongoing demolitions

Separately, the Wadi Hilweh Information Center reported that 'Israeli' authorities demolished the home of Shafiq Ahmad Abu Shafiq in the Al-Bustan neighborhood on Tuesday morning, while closing roads in Bir Ayoub, Silwan, as forces carried out the operation.