Sumarin family eviction

On 5th April the Israeli Supreme Court will decide the case for the forcible eviction of the 18-member Palestinian Sumarin family from their home in Silwan, East Jerusalem, located directly below the Old City.

Amal Sumarin, her sons, and their attorney arrive for a court hearing on the JNF-KKL appeal to evict them from their family home at the Jerusalem District Court on June 30, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The case for evicting the family from their home is being brought by Keren Kayemeth Leisrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), through its subsidiary organisation, Himanuta. On 30th June 2020 the family lost their appeal and were ordered to leave their home on 16th August so that the JNF could take it over. On 5th August, the Israeli Supreme Court stayed the eviction, stating that it would debate whether to hear the family's appeal. Amal Sumarin says: “I think we are more like an obstacle in their way to make the City of David wider and wider and wider. I think they’re going for other houses. My house is only the beginning.”

The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) is part of the Sumarin Coalition, the campaign to stop the eviction, and they have reported on why this particular part of the occupied territories has become such a political and ideological battleground.

Read about the background and how you can support the Sumarin family.

Posted: 2 April 2021