Subject line: Call from [Your Constituency]: Protect Khan al-Ahmar: Stop forced displacement

Dear Deputy, 

I am writing to you as a constituent of [Name of Constituency] to urge you to take urgent action to stop the imminent forced displacement of the Palestinian community of Khan al-Ahmar, affecting 759 Palestinians including 387 children. 

On 19 May, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich signed an order to advance the evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar and forcibly displace all its residents. In his own words, this illegal act is a response to reported moves by the International Criminal Court to seek an arrest warrant against him: “I announce here and now the first target that will be attacked: [..] we will sign an order for the evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar. I promise all our enemies: this is only the beginning.” 

The International Court of Justice has already determined that Israel’s occupation of Palestine is illegal and that the forcible displacement of Palestinians must stop. The Israeli media has reported the order requires approval by Israel’s security cabinet before the evacuations will begin. This could happen any day now.  

This expulsion is part of a broader Israeli government plan to take control of the central West Bank, build in E1, and remove all Palestinian communities from the region – a plan illegal under international law that will devastate prospects for future peace and a Palestinian state. 

Khan al-Ahmar is not an isolated case. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities are forcing out 1,500 residents of al-Bustan to make way for a biblical theme park, and in December 2025 Yanoun became the 45th Palestinian village to be forcibly displaced by Israeli authorities.  

Human rights monitors from the World Council of Churches’ EAPPI programme have accompanied Khan al-Ahmar for over a decade. British monitor Daniel recently visited and spoke with community leader Abu Khamis, who described a community already suffering long before any formal expulsion: every home carries a demolition order, including the children’s school built from tyres and earth specifically to avoid demolition by Israeli authorities. Movement restrictions have already gutted their livelihoods, reducing their livestock from 1,600 animals to just 140. Illegal settler outposts have since appeared on their land overlooking the school. As Abu Khamis told Daniel: 

“The settlers have been here for 10 months – they already have electricity and clean water. We cannot access the electricity grid. They drive through the village and make threats to the inhabitants. They set up in front of their homes and play loud music at night.” 

I urge you to take the following actions in the coming days to protect the community of Khan al-Ahmar and stop these imminent violations of international law. Please can you: 

• Share the news of Khan al-Ahmar’s situation among your colleagues and networks, and on your social media accounts; 

• Contact the Foreign Minister urgently to ask them to make immediate representations to the Israeli government to reverse the evacuation order; 

• Contact the Foreign Ministry urgently to ask that Irish diplomats visit Khan al-Ahmar with other Heads of Mission as a public sign of support to the community; 

• Continue to publicly oppose Israel’s illegal E1 settlement plan and call for an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. 

I look forward to your response and to hearing what actions you will take. I would be grateful if you could raise these concerns in the Oireachtas.  

Thank you for your support and action,

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]

[Your home address]