Israeli settlers occupy Palestinian home in al-Khalil for 6th day

Israeli settlers continued to occupy a building in the southern occupied West Bank city of al-Khalil ('Hebron') for the sixth day in a row on Sunday, despite an ongoing legal battle between the Palestinian homeowners and Israelis.

Since Tuesday, some 40 settlers have raided the Abu Rajab family home, under the surveillance of Israeli forces despite a court ruling barring both Palestinians and Israelis from entering the building’s second and third floors.

Residents of the Abu Rajab house, located in the Old City of al-Khalil near the Ibrahimi Mosque, have been embroiled in a legal battle with Israeli settlers for years, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his intention to encourage the establishment of a new illegal Israeli settlement there to be named Beit Hamachpela.

However, Israeli authorities have not granted permission to establish the settlement on the grounds that the settlers have failed to prove their alleged purchase of the Palestinian house, as the Palestinians have accused the settlers of forging the documents.