RAMALLAH, July 10 (Xinhua) -- A Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) official accused Israel of evicting a Palestinian family from its home in East Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood.
Hanan Ashrawi, the PLO executive committee member, said in a statement that "the forced eviction of the Siam family from their home on Wednesday in Silwan is an unconscionable crime."
The eviction of Siam family came after a court battle between the Palestinian family and Israeli far right wing settler organization "Elad." The court issued a final verdict in favor of the settler group.
According to local sources, dozens of armed Israeli police stormed the house of Siam family in Silwan and removed all the furnitures and electrical appliances to make room for settlers earlier on Wednesday.
Silwan-based settler watchdog Wadi Hilweh Information Center released a video showing the Israeli police using ladders to storm the Siam family home and scuffling with family members to force them out of the house.
According to the center, the family refused to comply with the eviction order and at least a family member was detained.
Ashrawi warned that "these escalating egregious and racist practices are flagrant violations of international law, including international humanitarian law. We call on international actors, especially the United Nations Security Council members, to uphold their responsibilities under the UN Charter."
"For its part, the Palestinian leadership will continue to pursue all available legal and diplomatic courses of action to protect the rights and lives of the Palestinian people as well as ensure that Israel is held accountable for its crimes," she added.
Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed the area shortly later, claiming it part of its "indivisible capital."
However, the move had never been recognized by any international power until U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocated the U.S. embassy in Israel to the holy city.
