Evicting the Shweiki and Odeh families from their properties in Batn al-Hawa in favor of settlers
The occupation authorities evicted the Shweiki and Odeh families from their properties in the Batn al-Hawa neighborhood of Silwan on Sunday, in favor of the settler organization Ateret Cohanim.
Israeli forces, accompanied by personnel from the Enforcement and Execution Department and settlers, stormed the town and deployed at its entrances. They then raided the Batn al-Hawa neighborhood and surrounding areas, taking up positions among houses, on roads, and at entrances, before storming two properties belonging to the Shweiki and Odeh families in preparation for their eviction in favor of the settlers.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem explained that the forces completely sealed off the area surrounding the two properties, preventing access, and occupied rooftops and other overlooking areas before commencing the eviction and clearing operation.
The center added that the first property consists of a residential building with two apartments belonging to the Shweiki family and one apartment belonging to the Odeh family. These properties are located within a settlement plan by the Ateret Cohanim organization to seize approximately 5200 square meters in the Al-Hara Al-Wusta in the Batn al-Hawa neighborhood, claiming ownership by Jews of Yemeni origin since 1881.
During the evacuation, the occupation forces completely sealed off the area. After removing Mrs. Asma Shweiki (Um Zuhri) from her apartment building, she insisted on sitting and remaining on her doorstep before suffering from general exhaustion, after which she was taken to the hospital.
In a previous interview with the center, Hajja Umm Zuhri said, in a voice with a mixture of resilience and pain: “I can’t imagine leaving the house… God knows how we bought it, built it, and lived here. All our memories and days are in this house. My husband was ill, and I was by his side throughout his illness, and my sons were martyred… This is my home and the family home; we gather here.”
Every corner of the Shweiki family property told a story of a lifetime: pictures of the martyrs Zuhri and Nizar hanging on the walls, pictures of their father who fell ill and passed away inside this house, and a mother who remained to safeguard the family’s memories. Zuhair Shweiki said that the occupation forces assaulted them during the execution of the court-ordered eviction. The forces and police dogs attacked them suddenly, and some family members were beaten without any reason. They were prevented from reaching their mother, Hajja Umm Zuhri, who was alone in the house while all her sons were at work.
The family explained that they were at work when the eviction took place and were prevented from accessing their home. They confirmed that the property was searched and money was stolen. They added that dogs entered the house with them during the eviction, creating chaos and terror.
The family asserted that the forces stormed the house and carried out the eviction order despite the deadline being the 30th of the month, in clear violation of the law and court orders.
The forces arrested the young man, Mohammad Shweiki, after the eviction.
Furthermore, the Jerusalem Enforcement and Execution Department delivered a notice to the Shweiki family demanding they pay for emptying their home and removing their furniture and belongings, as well as cleaning the street and removing the contents before 2:00 PM. Failure to comply would result in the teams removing and confiscating the items at the family's expense.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center added that the targeted land contains between 30 and 35 residential buildings housing approximately 80 Jerusalemite families (around 600 individuals), all of whom have lived in the neighborhood for decades after purchasing the land and properties from their previous owners using official documents dating back to the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
The center noted that Israeli courts have issued a series of eviction orders in recent months, threatening to empty 37 apartments housing more than 300 people, thus placing the Batn al-Hawa neighborhood at the height of its forced displacement crisis.
