Israeli justice announced, Sunday, May 9, the postponement of a much-awaited hearing of the Supreme Court, scheduled for Monday, on the fate of Palestinian families threatened with eviction by Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem. This file is at the origin of demonstrations which left more than 300 injured in recent days. “In light of the current context and at the request of the Attorney General, the hearing scheduled for tomorrow has been canceled”, the justice ministry said in a statement, specifying that a new date would be announced “Within the next thirty days”.
As of Friday evening, more than 220 people, mostly Palestinians, were injured in clashes with Israeli police on the Mosques Esplanade, Islam’s third holiest site and holiest site for Jews. On Saturday evening, new clashes took place in East Jerusalem, in the areas of the Damascus Gate, Bab Al-Zahra and Sheikh-Jarrah leaving around 100 injured, while Israeli police spoke of 17 police officers injured and nine arrests . A total of 29 Palestinian minors were injured over the weekend.
In the Sheikh-Jarrah neighborhood, the scene of daily protests for several days against the possible eviction of Palestinian families for the benefit of Israeli settlers, Palestinians threw stones at Israeli security forces who used rubber bullets and stun grenades.
International calls at the end of the clashes
On Sunday, the Esplanade des Mosques was relatively calm, but the tension remained palpable in the Old Town, the clashes occurring at the end of the day, or even in the evening, after the breaking of the fast.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the Hebrew state “Will continue to ensure freedom of worship, but will not allow violent riots”. “We will uphold law and order, with firmness and responsibility”, declared Mr. Netanyahu, while defending the development of Jewish settlements in the eastern part of Jerusalem, occupied and annexed since 1967 by the Jewish state.
First ally of the Hebrew state, the United States called “Israeli and Palestinian officials to act to end the violence” and expressed their concern about “The potential expulsion of Palestinian families from Sheikh-Jarrah”.
The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan – four Arab countries that have normalized relations with Israel in recent months – have reported their “Deep concern”, while the Near East Quartet (United States, Russia, UN, European Union) called on Israel to show ” detention “. Pope Francis also spoke of the crisis during his Sunday prayer, saying: “Violence only breeds violence. Let’s stop these clashes. “
Violence spreads to Gaza Strip
Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip, has called on the Palestinians to stay on the Mosques plaza and threatened Israel with attacks if the Supreme Court upholds Sheikh-Jarrah’s evictions.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas to disperse Palestinian demonstrators gathered near the separation barrier, erected by Israel in this enclave of two million people under blockade.
Incendiary balloons were also launched Saturday evening, but also Sunday, from Gaza to southern Israel, according to the Israeli authorities who report several bushfires triggered by these projectiles. A rocket was launched early Sunday morning from Gaza “To Israeli territory”, said the army saying it responded with an airstrike on “A Hamas military post” in the southern Gaza Strip.
The Gaza Strip is preparing new demonstrations on Sunday evening in solidarity with the Palestinians in Jerusalem. Demonstrations are also planned for the evening in the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli army has announced that it has deployed three additional battalions, in order to “Strengthen the defense of the Jerusalem region”.
