Hamas' armed wing issues warning to Israel over Sheikh Jarrah evictions

Hamas' armed wing has warned Israel it will pay a "heavy price" if it goes ahead with the eviction of Palestinians from an East Jerusalem suburb later this week.

Mohammed Deif, commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades, wrote in a statement on Tuesday night that the armed faction is closely following events in Sheikh Jarrah, where Palestinian families are being told to leave their homes to make way for Israeli settlers.

"Al-Qassam Brigades will not stand idly by in the face of attacks on the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood," the commander said in a statement.

"They will pay a heavy price if the aggression against our people in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood does not stop immediately."

Al-Qassam Bridages in the military wing of the Hamas Islamist movement and is denoted as a terrorist organisation by the US, EU, UK and others.

Five families in Sheikh Jarrah are due to be evicted from their homes on Thursday, sparking protests in the suburb which have been suppressed by Israeli police.

Other families are also due to be evicted later in the year.

Deif maintains a low profile after numerous attempts on his life. He is believed to be paralysed after surviving one attempt.

An Israeli airstrike targeting the shadowy leader in Gaza in 2014 killed his wife and infant son, according to Hamas.

Hamas were due to run in the first Palestinian elections in more than 15 years, but were cancelled by President Mahmoud Abbas after Israeli refused to consent to Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem being allowed to vote.