Palestinians stage sit-in to protest Khan al-Ahmar demolition plans

By Awad Rajoub

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Dozens of Palestinians and foreign activists staged a sit-in on Tuesday to protest Israeli plans to demolish the Khan al-Ahmar Bedouin community in East Jerusalem.

“The protest aims to confront Israeli plans to forcibly displace the residents of the community,” Eid Jahalin, a representative of the Khan al-Ahmar residents, told Anadolu.

He said Israel’s Supreme Court will rule on the demolition on Thursday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government had a Wednesday deadline to present its demolition plan to Israel’s Supreme Court.

For years, the Khan al-Ahmar community has captured international attention due to legal battle between its residents and the Israeli authorities over its survival.

In September 2018, Israel’s Supreme Court greenlit the community’s removal, leaving it open to being demolished at any time. Such plans, however, have since been put on hold several times.

Last week, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ordered the Bedouin community to be immediately demolished.

Jahalin said there are 250 people living in the Khan al-Ahmar community, mostly children.

“Around 180 students from neighboring communities are enrolled at the schools of the Khan al-Ahmar community,” he added.

There was no comment from the Israeli authorities on the sit-in.

Israel considers the lands on which the Bedouin community is located state lands, and says that it was built without a permit, which the Palestinian residents deny.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report.