An Israeli court has ordered the forced removal of three Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah, the Palestinian neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem, Wafa news agency has reported.

The authorities gave the families, consisting of 20 people, until mid-July to evacuate their homes.

Diab told Wafa that the judge reopened the case under pressure from The Nahalat Shimon settler group. The group have been active in pursuing eviction orders issued by Israeli courts against Palestinian families.

According to Diab, the three families have lived in the houses for 56 years and have been battling eviction orders since 2009.