Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres​

United Nations, August 3 (RHC)-- The United Nations reasserts its rejection of the Israeli regime’s settlement activities amid the regime’s continued threat of expelling Palestinian families from the holy occupied city of al-Quds’ Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.  

Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, made the remarks in a press briefing on Monday.  He was being asked about a pending ruling by the regime’s so-called supreme court about an incendiary decision to force four Palestinian families from the neighborhood. 

The ruling was initially expected in May, but the prospect of the expulsions gave rise to raging protests throughout the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where al-Quds is located.  The rallies spilled over across the entire Palestinian territories, and prompted numerous world leaders to issue condemnatory statements addressed to the regime and urge it to exercise restraint.   The situation forced Tel Aviv to postpone the ruling until now, when its pending emergence has again triggered rallies throughout the West Bank.

Dujarric said: “We’re, obviously, following what’s going on in the court closely. Our understanding is that a final ruling is expected later in the week.”  He, however, asserted: “All settlement activities, including evictions, demolitions, are illegal under international law.”

The international law considers the settlements to be illegal due to their construction on occupied territory.   The regime has set up hundreds of the housing estates across West Bank since 1967, when it occupied the land in a Western-supported and -equipped war.

The United Nations’ spokesman, meanwhile, reminded that the world body “has always” held onto the position of considering the settlements to be illegal.