NEW YORK — The United Nations has expressed concern over Israel’s illegal expansion plans in East Jerusalem. The Israeli practice in the occupied West Bank territories is “prohibited under international humanitarian law and may amount to a war crime,” Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). “Given the disturbing scenes in Sheikh Jarrah over the past few days, we wish to emphasize that East Jerusalem remains part of the occupied Palestinian territory,” Colville stated, adding that in these territories “International Humanitarian Law applies.” “We call on Israel to immediately halt all forced evictions, including those in Sheikh Jarrah,” Colville announced in his OHCHR press briefing while “calling” on Israel to stop the local use of force and limitations on the freedom of expression of those protesting their forced displacement. “For four of these families, the risk is imminent,” warned Colville. Local families “are facing a risk of forced eviction due to a legal challenge by the Nahalat Shimon settler organization,” Colville highlighted in his press briefing. If Israel proceeds with forced evictions in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, it “would violate Israel’s obligations under international law,” the UN emphasized. Colville highlighted how 218 Palestinian families are facing eviction cases, attempting to dislodge them from their family homes. The UN spokesperson highlighted the clear plans by Israel to expand into the Palestinian capital of East Jerusalem. “In practice, the implementation of these laws facilitates the transfer by Israel of its population into occupied East Jerusalem,” Colville stated. He described Israel’s efforts as “the transfer of parts of an occupying power’s civilian population into the territory that it occupies.” — Agencies