Court ruling on Masafer Yatta
![“The settlers behave like the lords of the land. As if they’re rightful owners and we’re the trespassers. The [Israeli] army is here to support and protect them. Over the years, I personally lodged over 100 complaints about settler violence to no avail. Living in fear is indescribable. Their aim is to displace us. But we’re here to stay. This is our life and our land.”](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_2_1_246/public/images/articles/image027-894x596.jpg.webp "“The settlers behave like the lords of the land. As if they’re rightful owners and we’re the trespassers. The [Israeli] army is here to support and protect them. Over the years, I personally lodged over 100 complaints about settler violence to no avail. Living in fear is indescribable. Their aim is to displace us. But we’re here to stay. This is our life and our land.”")
Statement by United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lynn Hastings
On 4 May 2022, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected the petitions against eviction orders of the residents of Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank. The decision affects over one thousand Palestinians including 500 children in the occupied West Bank and allows for the eviction of the residents. As all domestic legal remedies have been exhausted, the community is now unprotected and at risk of imminent displacement.
Any such evictions resulting in displacement could amount to a forcible transfer, contrary to resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and international law. I reiterate the calls of the United Nations Secretary-General on Israel to cease demolitions and evictions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in line with its obligations under international law.