Thousands of Palestinians face uncertain futures in East Jerusalem after Israeli authorities allowed right-wing groups to evict dozens of residents from their homes, with Zohair Rajabi's own home now sporting a new Star of David flag and the 55-year-old Palestinian resident waiting anxiously for news on whether he'll be able to stay.
For over two decades, Rajabi has been fighting to keep his family in Batn al-Hawa, a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood less than a mile from Jerusalem's Old City. The area has long been targeted by right-wing Israeli organizations working to consolidate control of parts of the city seized after the 1967 war.
These groups claim that much of Batn al-Hawa lies on land previously owned by a philanthropic trust under Ottoman rule in the late 19th century, which was set up to house poor Yemeni Jews. The community was evacuated in the 1930s and its inhabitants were promised they could return when tensions eased.
Now, with hundreds facing eviction from their homes, Rajabi knows his days are almost certainly numbered. "We know what the decision will be… but we're going to fight anyway," he said, adding that within a month all 52 residents in Batn al-Hawa expect to have been forced out of their homes.
Israeli officials claim that Palestinian families are simply "illegal squatters" who are taking up land previously owned by Jews. But for Rajabi and his community, the situation is more complex – with many arguing that they've lived in the area for decades and have no reason to leave.
The Israeli government has long sought to expand Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem, which it has unilaterally annexed. The aim is to maintain a Jewish majority in the city, which currently holds about 40% of its population.
A recent surge in evictions – with over five evictions taking place in just 15 months – has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups and Palestinians living in East Jerusalem. They claim that the government's actions amount to ethnic cleansing and are part of a broader effort to drive Palestinians out of their homes.
As Rajabi waits anxiously for news on his own future, many families in Batn al-Hawa face an uncertain tomorrow – with some already having been forced out and more expected to follow. The prospect is one that has left many residents feeling heartbroken, worried about being split apart from their friends and community.
For over two decades, Rajabi has been fighting to keep his family in Batn al-Hawa, a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood less than a mile from Jerusalem's Old City. The area has long been targeted by right-wing Israeli organizations working to consolidate control of parts of the city seized after the 1967 war.
These groups claim that much of Batn al-Hawa lies on land previously owned by a philanthropic trust under Ottoman rule in the late 19th century, which was set up to house poor Yemeni Jews. The community was evacuated in the 1930s and its inhabitants were promised they could return when tensions eased.
Now, with hundreds facing eviction from their homes, Rajabi knows his days are almost certainly numbered. "We know what the decision will be… but we're going to fight anyway," he said, adding that within a month all 52 residents in Batn al-Hawa expect to have been forced out of their homes.
Israeli officials claim that Palestinian families are simply "illegal squatters" who are taking up land previously owned by Jews. But for Rajabi and his community, the situation is more complex – with many arguing that they've lived in the area for decades and have no reason to leave.
The Israeli government has long sought to expand Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem, which it has unilaterally annexed. The aim is to maintain a Jewish majority in the city, which currently holds about 40% of its population.
A recent surge in evictions – with over five evictions taking place in just 15 months – has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups and Palestinians living in East Jerusalem. They claim that the government's actions amount to ethnic cleansing and are part of a broader effort to drive Palestinians out of their homes.
As Rajabi waits anxiously for news on his own future, many families in Batn al-Hawa face an uncertain tomorrow – with some already having been forced out and more expected to follow. The prospect is one that has left many residents feeling heartbroken, worried about being split apart from their friends and community.
it's not right when ppl are gonna lose their homes cuz of politics... 2 decades of fightin 4 a place u call home & u get pushed around just cuz u rnt jewish 
they got facts, we got feelings too 
gotta do somethin about this
anyway, i feel really bad for zohair rajabi and his family. he's been fighting for 20 years or something and now it feels like the whole system is against them 
what's going on in East Jerusalem is just too much 
the Israeli government is basically saying that Palestinians are only good for a few years and then they can't stay 
it's like, where did all these people come from if not Ottoman rule? 
he's just trying to live his life and provide for his loved ones but now he's being forced out of his home 
I don't think it's right that the Israeli government is using these old claims as an excuse to kick people out of their homes 
we need to do something about this before more people get hurt 
and yeah i know its complicated with the land history and all but i dont think that's an excuse 4 displacin people who've been livin in those neighborhoods 4 decades 
its like, dont ppl deserve a safe place to call home?! 
. I mean, they've been living there for decades and have no reason to leave... it's just not right that they're being forced out by these right-wing groups 
. Anyway, can't help but feel that this is all super heartbreaking and unfair 
.
. I mean, Zohair Rajabi's own home has got a new Star of David flag and he's stuck between fighting to keep his family in the area or losing everything 
. It's like the Israeli government is playing this game of "divide and conquer" with Palestinians... they're claiming that these families are just "illegal squatters" but it's not that simple 
... I'm just so worried about what's gonna happen to these people and their families 
The fact that Israel's tryin 2 push out Palestinians 2 make room 4 more Jews is just so messed up 
aren't there other ways to achieve that without displacing ppl like zohair and his family? i'm not saying it's simple or easy but it feels like they're taking things way too far. 
, but honestly who cares about that history when people's lives are on the line? Rajabi just wants to stay with his family & community, but nope, gov't is more concerned about maintainin' a Jewish majority in Jerusalem 
. The gov is all like "they're illegal squatters" but its not that simple, Rajabi has lived there forever & hes not gonna b forced out without a fight 
. This is just another example of how the system is rigged against Palestinians in Jerusalem. We gotta keep pushing for change & making noise about whats going on 
. The gov cant just keep takin away ppl's homes like that, thats not democracy 
. It seems like the Israeli authorities are just using some dodgy excuse to push out Palestinian families 
. I mean, if it's not because they're "illegal squatters", what is it? 
The whole thing feels like a big mess to me 
And what about all these human rights groups that are speaking out against this? Are they just spinning their own narrative or is there some truth to it? 
remember when we were still listening to Obama on the radio? 
now, these right-wing groups are just taking over like they own the place. It's all so unfair for Rajabi and his family - they've been living there for decades! 
and people were worried about peace, but this feels like a step back to the bad old days 
. I mean, if the Ottoman Empire can just dictate who gets to live where after they're gone, why do we need some bureaucratic paper trail now? 
It's like they're trying to rewrite history and displace an entire community without so much as a second thought 
It's like they're trying to create some sort of apartheid situation where one group gets to have all the rights and privileges, while the other is left with nothing 
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. The fact that these families have been living there for decades, building lives and communities, only to be now threatened with displacement due to changes in land ownership history is nothing short of devastating