Israeli settlers attack homeless Palestinian family

Jerusalem, 21 October (EAPPI) – Religious Israeli settlers have attacked a homeless Palestinian family in East Jerusalem, injuring seven people including a disabled child, the family said on Wednesday. The Ghawi family, who have been living in a tent opposite their former house since they were evicted in August following a court decision, said Israeli police officers stood and watched as the settlers assaulted them and smashed up their property.

The attack happened on Tuesday evening as religious settlers, who took over the house immediately after the eviction in August, brought a truckload of household items and started moving them inside under Israeli police protection. When one of the Ghawi children, aged seven, touched a bicycle belonging to the settlers, they responded by storming the family’s tent.

The group of seven settlers assaulted women and children, pushing them to the floor and hitting them with chairs as the Israeli police stood and watched, said Abu Ayman Al Ghawi. Several of the Ghawis sustained injuries including cuts on the head, a wrist injury and bruising to their legs.

Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances took seven members of the Ghawi family to a nearby hospital where they received treatment. Two of the family members have been ordered to attend a court hearing, but reportedly none of the settlers were apprehended in spite of the heavy police presence.