US, UK lawmakers express support for Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah over forced evictions, violence

British and American lawmakers have expressed their support for Palestinians facing forced evictions in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, taking to social media to condemn Israel's use of force on protesters.

Their statements come as protests continue in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem over the eviction threat against four Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah.

Somali-American congresswoman Ilhan Omar, as well as Palestinian-American congresswoman Rashida Tlaib were among the first US lawmakers to speak out against Israel’s actions. The pair urged the US government to halt military aid.

"We provide $3.8 billion in military aid to the Israeli government a year, without any accountability," Omar wrote on Twitter.

"As we speak, the Israeli military plans to force over 500 Palestinians from their homes. We must make sure that no US tax dollars are used to fund this violence."

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Fellow Democrat Congresswoman also Marie Newman took to Twitter to express her support for Palestinians.

"Palestinians have every right to live in #SheikhJarrah," she tweeted. "I’m calling on the @StateDept to immediately condemn these violations of international law as Palestinians are forcibly being removed from their homes in East Jerusalem."

African-American congresswoman Cori Bush echoed her sentiments, tweeting: "I know what it’s like to be brutalized for simply advocating for my own humanity. I stand in strong solidarity with our Palestinian siblings mobilizing to #SaveSheikhJarrah."

She also urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to condemn the attacks against Palestinians.

Betty McCollum, who drafted legislation earlier this month to put conditions on military aid to Israel, said: "Police violence against Palestinians in #SheikhJarrah who only want to remain in the homes they’ve lived in for generations is state-sponsored persecution.

"NO U.S. taxpayer dollars should support the annexation of Palestinian land or destruction of Palestinian homes."

Across the pond, British MP and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn shared his own experience in Sheikh Jarrah, which he visited in 2010.

"I met a family who are being thrown out of their home by a gov-backed plan allowing settlers to take over other peoples’ houses," Corbyn said. The fact that this was still happening a decade later, added, is "chilling".

Labour MP Zarah Sultana described Israel’s actions as "part of a pattern of Palestinians forcibly removed from their homes", adding that such acts are in violation of international law.

The events at Sheikh Jarrah, which are being shared across the world, have prompted an outpouring of support from across the world.

Despite continued protests and calls for calm from around the world, Israel has not halted its eviction plans.

An Israeli court judge has delayed the case until Monday, when it will be taken up by Israel's Supreme Court.