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OHCHR / EAST JERUSALEM
STORY: OHCHR / EAST JERUSALEM
TRT: 02:55
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 07 MAY 2021 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Various shots, exterior, Palais des Nations Geneva
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Eight Palestinian refugee families residing in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem are facing the risk of forced eviction due to a legal challenge by the Nahalat Shimon settler organization. And For four of these families, it appears the risk is imminent. The evictions, if ordered and implemented, would violate Israel’s obligations under international law. According to an OCHA survey from back in 2020, at least 218 Palestinian households in East Jerusalem, including the families in Sheikh Jarrah, have eviction cases filed against them. The majority of these have been initiated by ‘settler organizations’, and they place 970 people, including 424 children, at risk of displacement.”
3. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations Geneva
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Given the disturbing scenes in Sheikh Jarrah over the past few days, we wish to emphasize that East Jerusalem remains part of the occupied Palestinian territory, in which International Humanitarian Law applies. The occupying Power must respect and cannot confiscate private property in occupied territory, and must respect, unless absolutely prevented, the laws in force in the country. This means that Israel cannot impose its own set of laws in occupied territory, including East Jerusalem, to evict Palestinians from their homes. In practice, the implementation of these laws facilitates the transfer by Israel of its population into occupied East Jerusalem. The transfer of parts of an occupying Power’s civilian population into the territory that it occupies is prohibited under international humanitarian law and may amount to a war crime.”
5. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations Geneva
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“According to several Security Council resolutions all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purport to alter the character and status of East Jerusalem, including expropriation of land and properties, are null and void and must be rescinded.”
7. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations Geneva
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“So we call on Israel to immediately halt all forced evictions, including those in Sheikh Jarrah, and to cease any activity that would further contribute to a coercive environment and lead to a risk of forcible transfer. We further call on Israel to respect freedom of expression and assembly, including of those who are protesting against the evictions, and to exercise maximum restraint in the use of force while ensuring safety and security in East Jerusalem.”
9.Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations Geneva
UN human rights office called on “Israel to immediately halt all forced evictions, including those in Sheikh Jarrah, and to cease any activity that would further contribute to a coercive environment and lead to a risk of forcible transfer.”
Speaking to reporters today (07 May) in Geneva, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Rupert Colville said, “eight Palestinian refugee families residing in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem are facing the risk of forced eviction due to a legal challenge by the Nahalat Shimon settler organization. And For four of these families, it appears the risk is imminent.”
He continued, “the evictions, if ordered and implemented, would violate Israel’s obligations under international law. According to an OCHA survey from back in 2020, at least 218 Palestinian households in East Jerusalem, including the families in Sheikh Jarrah, have eviction cases filed against them. The majority of these have been initiated by ‘settler organizations’, and they place 970 people, including 424 children, at risk of displacement.”
Rupert Colville also said, “given the disturbing scenes in Sheikh Jarrah over the past few days, we wish to emphasize that East Jerusalem remains part of the occupied Palestinian territory, in which International Humanitarian Law applies.”
He continued, “the occupying Power must respect and cannot confiscate private property in occupied territory, and must respect, unless absolutely prevented, the laws in force in the country. This means that Israel cannot impose its own set of laws in occupied territory, including East Jerusalem, to evict Palestinians from their homes.”
The Spokesperson added, “in practice, the implementation of these laws facilitates the transfer by Israel of its population into occupied East Jerusalem. The transfer of parts of an occupying Power’s civilian population into the territory that it occupies is prohibited under international humanitarian law and may amount to a war crime.”
Colville also said, “according to several Security Council resolutions all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purport to alter the character and status of East Jerusalem, including expropriation of land and properties, are null and void and must be rescinded.”
He said, “we further call on Israel to respect freedom of expression and assembly, including of those who are protesting against the evictions, and to exercise maximum restraint in the use of force while ensuring safety and security in East Jerusalem.”
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