The United Nations on Friday (May 7) urged Israel to end any forced eviction of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, warning that its actions could constitute "
war crimes
."
Read also: Israel will not "cooperate" with the ICC in an investigation into alleged war crimes
"
We call on Israel to immediately end all forced evictions
," Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said during a regular press briefing in Geneva.
The call comes as fifteen Palestinians were arrested overnight following clashes between Israeli security forces and protesters against the eviction of Palestinian families from Jerusalem, police said. The clashes erupted in an East Jerusalem neighborhood in the midst of a heated court battle over the fate of Palestinian families threatened with eviction in favor of Israeli settlers.
“
We wish to stress that East Jerusalem is still part of the occupied Palestinian territory, to which international humanitarian law applies,
” Rupert Colville said. "
The occupying power (...) cannot confiscate private property in occupied territory
," he added, adding that the transfer of civilians from the occupying power to occupied territory was illegal under the law. international and “
could amount to war crimes.
"
The current tensions revolve around the issue of land ownership of land on which several houses are built where four Palestinian families live. The Jerusalem District Court earlier this year ruled in favor of Jewish families claiming property rights in this neighborhood of East Jerusalem, a Palestinian area occupied and annexed by Israel. According to Israeli law, if Jews can prove that their family lived in East Jerusalem before the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, they can ask for their "
right to property
" to
be restored to them
. However, there is no such law for Palestinians who lost their property during the war.
The court's decision angered Palestinians who challenge it and since then protests have often led to clashes with law enforcement. Rupert Colville stressed that "
Israel cannot impose its own legislative arsenal in occupied territory, including East Jerusalem
." "
We further call on Israel to respect freedom of expression and assembly, including of those protesting against expulsions, and to exercise the utmost restraint in the use of force,
" Rupert Colville told media. Tens of thousands of Muslim worshipers are expected on the Mosques Esplanade in Jerusalem's Old City.