Switzerland expresses concern about expulsion from East Jerusalem

Switzerland is concerned about the decision by the Israeli government to deport Mr Ahmed Attoun from Jerusalem to Ramallah on 6 December. It wishes to stress that East Jerusalem is part of occupied Palestinian Territory and that Article 49 of the fourth Geneva Convention prohibits Israel as the occupying power from making forced transfers or deportations. 

Switzerland calls on the Israeli authorities to comply with international law by cancelling this deportation order as well as those imposed on other Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem.

Mr Attoun was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006. Faced with threats of deportation, he took refuge with two other Palestinian MPs in the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Jerusalem, where he lived from 1 July 2010 until his arrest on 26 September 2011. The other two parliamentarians are still on the premises of the ICRC in Jerusalem.

Switzerland condemns all violations of international humanitarian law committed by all parties to the conflict. It also condemns the rocket attacks and mortar shell attacks by Palestinian militias in Gaza that are directed at the Israeli civilian population.

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