From right to left: Hazem Abu Rajab, 27; Saleh Abu Rajab, 11; Mohammed Montaser Abu Rajab, 17 For those well versed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is no secret that Israeli settlers have been encroaching upon Palestinian lands for decades. Yet the case of the Hazem Abu Rajab family is exceptional in that the settlers have gone as far as to forcibly displace the family from their own home. On Thursday morning, 25th of July, settlers, accompanied by the Israeli police, took over the top two floors of the family’s house, forcing the family out of this section of their home. The house is situated between area H1 and H2, so that one part exists outside a military checkpoint and the other inside, which for the family means it is unsafe to use one of the entrances of their house.
The dispute over the Abu Rajab’s house started on the 27th of November 2012, when settlers for the first time occupied two top floors of the house, claiming they bought it. However, according to Hazem Abu Rajab, the house is owned by many people, making it impossible to sell without the approval of every single owner. The family took the matter to court that ruled that the family had the right to keep their home, so the settlers were thrown out until the final verdict takes place.
Despite the court’s decision, the settlers came back to occupy the house once again. Over 50 settlers came to take over the house, arriving before the return of the male inhabitants. The men returned just in time to start filming and attempting to push the unwanted visitors out the door, but by then the settlers had already reclaimed most of the house. The attempt to occupy the ground floor and first floor was unsuccessful as the settlers faced steadfast resistance from the Abu Rajab family. Eventually, the settlers were evacuated by the soldiers from the two remaining floors in order to avoid injuries. According to Hazem, with the current situation, 4 families consisting of 15 people altogether have to fit in these two floors. In the evening on the 25th of July, the family contacted their lawyer, who sent a complaint letter to the Israeli defense minister and to the chief of police demanding the evacuation of settlers.
