Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reports that demolition orders have been have been issued to residents of the al-Bustan area in Silwan, East Jerusalem; and in particular, (1) the 21-day notice that residents were given to leave their homes, and (2) the requirement that residents either demolish the houses themselves or pay the municipal authority to do so.

The UK regularly raises the issue of forced evictions from their homes with the Government of Israel. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to all occupied territories, prohibits demolitions or forced evictions absent military necessity. The UK is clear that in all but the most exceptional of circumstances, evictions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. We monitor the situation in Silwan closely, and officials regularly visit and attend related court hearings. We continue to urge Israel to cease such actions.