Israeli forces dismantle Palestinian Bab Al Shams protest camp

Following a direct order by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli forces moved to dismantle the “Bab Al Shams” protest camp close to East Jerusalem early Sunday morning. The camp, whose name translates as “gate to the sun”, was set up to protest the proposed settlement on the site, known as the E1 development. Israel had previously halted plans to build in E1 following pressure from George W Bush, but reinstated the proposal following Palestine’s successful bid at the United Nations.

Israeli security forces evacuated about 100 Palestinians early on Sunday from an outpost of tents pitched in an area of the occupied West Bank that Israel has earmarked for a new settlement. Reuters/Ammar Awad

In the early hours of Sunday morning, an estimated squad of 500 police and Israeli Defence Force soldiers moved to evacuate the camp, which housed around 150 Palestinian activists.

Most were forcibly removed from the site before being deposited at the Qalandia checkpoint separating the West Bank from Jerusalem.

Eight activists were briefly detained, including high profile Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti.

Israeli forces moved to evacuate the site just a few hours after the order from the Israeli Prime Minister, in direct contradiction to the wishes of the Israeli High Court.

The Court had stated Friday that the protesters would have six days to remain while their presence was under discussion.

Just prior to the eviction, Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz declared Saturday that they had determined that Bab Al Shams was erected on privately-owned Palestinian land.