[Id: a video showing several IOF soldiers in Sheikh Jarrah running after a Palestinian resident into an alley. They push the Palestinian residents into the wall and start beating them, at the same time others push journalists away. Several people can be heard screaming. / end id]
Here are some other posts explaining what's happening in Al Quds right now, but a short version is: Jerusalem was illegally annexed in 1967 in a move that not even the UN approves, and ever since, Israeli settlers have implemented laws that allow them to reclaim land that belonged to their ancestors.
An Israeli association has come forward, several times, claiming that Jewish people lived where Sheikh Jarrah is now, using as proof documents from the Ottoman Empire (for context, Sheikh Jarrah was built in the 50s by refugees from the Nakba). Last year, their case was taken to court and the displacement of Palestinian families is imminent.
Sheikh Jarrah has become a war zone. Besides the constant threat of displacement, Palestinians have to live with IOF soldiers barricading the entry to their neighborhood and only allowing Jewish settlers in, constant aggressions and threats, being prohibited to even raise their flag.
The Israeli government stopped demolitions because of the intense scrutiny of the international community. This year, they started displacing Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah again. First, it was the Salhyia family's house. Not a month ago we saw the Salhyia family standing on the rooftop of their house and threatening to set themselves on fire if the occupation followed through with the demolition. The occupation waited until they fell asleep to come in, arrest them and demolish their home anyway, then took a video bringing a blanket to the elderly woman they just made homeless.
Now, the Salim family is under threat. Three days ago, Israeli politician Itamar Ben Gvir (the same man who pulled a gun on Palestinian youth a few weeks ago and tried to barge into a hunger striking prisoner's hospital room) set his "office" in front of the Salim family's yard.
This is not a new tactic. Last May he did the same, setting a tent in front of the al Ghawi family's house, who's now been stolen by settlers. This sparked anger in the residents. Settlers, who came into the neighborhoods freely, started to descend into the Palestinian residents.
A quick round up on what's happened:
Settlers threw chairs, beat residents and pepper sprayed them, with police covering
IOF soldiers have arrested residents holding up Palestinian flags
They have brutalized and arrested Palestinian journalists covering the situation
Police horses were brought into the neighborhood
Palestinian Muslims who came together to pray were interrupted by settlers who tried to place a Menorah in front of the El Kurd's family home and were later dispersed by the police
Skunk water was used to disperse protesters
Fatima Salem, the elderly woman whose house is under threat of demolition, was threatened by settlers who said they'd set her and her grandchildren on fire if they didn't leave their home. She's at the hospital now, being treated for injuries committed by settlers.
This is just in Sheikh Jarrah. Youth are arrested and killed indiscriminately daily in Beita, Jenin and many other locations of occupied Palestine.
Muna El Kurd, one of the voices of the Save Sheikh Jarrah movement, who has had to share her house with a settler since she was a kid, live streamed this. She broke down crying midway through the live because she felt people weren't doing the bare minimum to help them.
Support Palestinians. They're begging you to simply amplify their voices. Click each of those links above and start following their source.
For more ways to act:
Educate yourself. You're not beating 80 years of zionist propaganda through common sense. Here's a link to Decolonize Palestine, a website put together by Palestinians that has quick articles explaining the story of Palestine and demystifying zionist talking points.
Here's a link to download the Question of Palestine by Edward Said
Follow Palestinians and amplify their voices. Here are some accounts where you can get your news from. They also post calls for action, so look at them to see if there's any protests near you.
Mohammed El Kurd
Muna El Kurd
Samidoun Network
Eye on Palestine
Within Our Lifetime Palestine
Grassroots Al Quds
Jewish Voice for Peace
Follow BDS wherever you live
Feel free to add more sources.
