"I have Lost": Hundreds of Palestinians Face Eviction from East Jerusalem Amidst Escalating Settlement Expansion
Zohair Rajabi's days are almost certainly numbered in the predominantly Palestinian neighborhood of Batn al-Hawa, a few meters away from his home. The 55-year-old has spent over 20 years fighting for his right to stay, but the tide seems to be turning against him.
Rajabi's story is that of many Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, where they face increasing pressure to leave their homes due to an aggressive expansion of Jewish settlements. For Rajabi, the threat is personal – he knows his family will have to find a new place to live if his request for one final legal appeal is rejected.
Batn al-Hawa has long been a target for right-wing Israeli organizations seeking to consolidate control over parts of Jerusalem seized after the 1967 war. One such group, Ateret Cohanim, claims that many homes in the neighborhood were built on land purchased by a philanthropic trust under Ottoman rule and subsequently lost by Jewish families who were forced out in the 1930s.
Lawyers representing the trust have successfully argued in Israeli courts that its prior ownership of properties should take precedence over any later purchases made by current residents or their parents/grandparents. A 1970 law gives Jewish people the right to reclaim property in East Jerusalem, which has been used to justify the eviction of Palestinians from their homes.
Recent evictions have sparked widespread condemnation, with many arguing that they are part of a broader strategy to drive Palestinians out of the city and expand settlements. The situation is further complicated by the war in Gaza, which has created an atmosphere of fear and hostility towards Palestinian residents.
Rajabi's family is among 34 families facing imminent displacement and settler takeover of their homes. "The war is a big factor," he says. "If there was no war, maybe you would see only one eviction every 10 years instead of five in 15 months. The war has created an atmosphere where you can push this through...an atmosphere of hate."
As the Israeli government pushes ahead with its plans to annex more land and expand settlements, Rajabi's story serves as a reminder of the human cost of these policies. His family will have to find a new home for his three teenagers, who are among his four children. "The government and the settlers want us out of Jerusalem," he says.
For many Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the prospect of leaving their homes is a nightmare scenario. As Rajabi's 15-year-old daughter Dahreen puts it, "Every stone here is a memory for me. I am very worried that we will be split up as a family and I will be away from my friends."
As the situation continues to escalate, it remains to be seen how Rajabi and his family will fare in their fight against eviction. One thing is clear: the fate of hundreds of Palestinians hangs in the balance, and the world is watching with growing concern.
Zohair Rajabi's days are almost certainly numbered in the predominantly Palestinian neighborhood of Batn al-Hawa, a few meters away from his home. The 55-year-old has spent over 20 years fighting for his right to stay, but the tide seems to be turning against him.
Rajabi's story is that of many Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, where they face increasing pressure to leave their homes due to an aggressive expansion of Jewish settlements. For Rajabi, the threat is personal – he knows his family will have to find a new place to live if his request for one final legal appeal is rejected.
Batn al-Hawa has long been a target for right-wing Israeli organizations seeking to consolidate control over parts of Jerusalem seized after the 1967 war. One such group, Ateret Cohanim, claims that many homes in the neighborhood were built on land purchased by a philanthropic trust under Ottoman rule and subsequently lost by Jewish families who were forced out in the 1930s.
Lawyers representing the trust have successfully argued in Israeli courts that its prior ownership of properties should take precedence over any later purchases made by current residents or their parents/grandparents. A 1970 law gives Jewish people the right to reclaim property in East Jerusalem, which has been used to justify the eviction of Palestinians from their homes.
Recent evictions have sparked widespread condemnation, with many arguing that they are part of a broader strategy to drive Palestinians out of the city and expand settlements. The situation is further complicated by the war in Gaza, which has created an atmosphere of fear and hostility towards Palestinian residents.
Rajabi's family is among 34 families facing imminent displacement and settler takeover of their homes. "The war is a big factor," he says. "If there was no war, maybe you would see only one eviction every 10 years instead of five in 15 months. The war has created an atmosphere where you can push this through...an atmosphere of hate."
As the Israeli government pushes ahead with its plans to annex more land and expand settlements, Rajabi's story serves as a reminder of the human cost of these policies. His family will have to find a new home for his three teenagers, who are among his four children. "The government and the settlers want us out of Jerusalem," he says.
For many Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the prospect of leaving their homes is a nightmare scenario. As Rajabi's 15-year-old daughter Dahreen puts it, "Every stone here is a memory for me. I am very worried that we will be split up as a family and I will be away from my friends."
As the situation continues to escalate, it remains to be seen how Rajabi and his family will fare in their fight against eviction. One thing is clear: the fate of hundreds of Palestinians hangs in the balance, and the world is watching with growing concern.
this is so unfair, ppl who have lived there for decades are being forced out just cuz they're not jewish 
i mean can u even imagine having to find a new place to live after 20+ yrs of fighting 4 ur rights 
and its not just 1 fam, hundreds r facing eviction because of these settlers expanding into east jerusalem 
the government needs 2 do smthng about this ASAP 
i cant even imagine having my home taken away like that! its not fair to zohair or any other palestinian family who has been living there for years...the thought of them having to split up as a family because of the government's plans is just heartbreaking 
these families have roots in east jerusalem just like any jewish family, they deserve to stay in their homes too! 
I mean, I know there are a lot of issues with Israeli-Palestinian relations, but this is getting ridiculous. And it's not just about the people living in Batn al-Hawa – it's about the whole city and the future of Jerusalem. It's like, what's going to happen if we keep pushing people out? Where will they go? 
they deserve a chance to stay in their own home. its not like he's taking up land or anything, hes just living his life 
the thought of him being separated from his kids is heartbreaking 
we need to start speaking out against this kind of thing 
.
. This is a human rights crisis, plain and simple 
.
they're just trying to live their lives in a place that's supposed to be home but the government & settlers are pushing them out 
it feels like the whole situation is super unfair and the government should do something to stop these evictions 
what's going on here? 
5 evictions in 15 months is crazy! 