This is an unfolding situation. We describe what has been documented, by whom and when.

Sheikh Jarrah: court-ordered evictions

2021 and continuing property disputes documented in 2024

Court-ordered evictions of Palestinian families, based on property claims Palestinians cannot make in return.

The pressures

Pushed out

HRW described a 1970 law allowing Jewish claimants to recover pre-1948 property while Palestinians could not reclaim theirs. On 1 March 2022 Israel's Supreme Court froze evictions for four families while ownership was decided. The Salem family's appeal was accepted in April 2022; Fatma Salem died with the threat still unresolved, not after a completed eviction.

Human Rights Watch (11 May 2021); AFP via Malay Mail (1 March 2022); +972 Magazine (12 January 2024).

Written out

Nabil al-Kurd told Al Jazeera that settlers took the front section of the family home in 2009 and described continuing conflict. This testimony did not establish the separate renaming claim.

Jaclynn Ashly, Al Jazeera English, Sheikh Jarrah: When my enemy is my neighbour (3 October 2016).

Squeezed out

The Diab family was ordered to pay NIS 80,000 to Nahalat Shimon and NIS 20,000 towards its District Court legal expenses, according to court rulings reported by +972 Magazine.

Oren Ziv, +972 Magazine, He led the fight to save Sheikh Jarrah for 15 years. Now he faces his own eviction (14 March 2025).

Worn down

The al-Kurd family described continuing harassment and police entering the home to detain Muna on 6 June 2021.

Al Jazeera English (3 October 2016); Associated Press (6 June 2021).

Silenced

Police detained Muna and Mohammed al-Kurd on 6 June 2021 and released them that day. CPJ reported restrictions on journalists Zeina al-Halawani and Wahbi Mikeh and the detention of Givara Budeiri. Police said Budeiri pushed an officer; she denied it. Police said they would allow freedom of press coverage.

Associated Press (6 June 2021); Committee to Protect Journalists (9 June 2021).

What people are doing

  • Families challenged eviction orders in court; four families gained protected-tenant status pending ownership decisions in March 2022.
  • Family testimony and journalists' reporting documented the disputes. Ir Amim reported a new eviction and settlement plan on 10 February 2025.

How to help, safely

How to help safely: give through established humanitarian organisations already working there, and check their registration (in the UK, on the Charity Commission register). Share information only from named, verified sources. Never share photos, names or locations that could identify people on the ground.

Sources

Sources: AP (6 June 2021), CPJ (9 June 2021), Al Jazeera (3 October 2016), +972 Magazine (12 January 2024; 14 March 2025), HRW (11 May 2021), AFP (1 March 2022) and Ir Amim (10 February 2025). Unsourced family totals, population totals and claims of a completed Salem eviction are not used.