Police officers have evicted a Palestinian family from their east Jerusalem home of 52 years, after Israel's high court ruled in favour of Jewish settlers already occupying part of the building.

The al-Kurd family finally lost their protracted legal battle on July 16 this year, after judges backed the settlers' claim to the land and ruled that the family be removed from the property.

The family were evicted on Sunday, despite the fact the al-Kurds are still in the midst of appealing against the high court judgment.

International leaders, including Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, have spoken out against plans to expel the family.

The family were given the house back in 1956 by UNRWA - the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees - after they, like many others, fled Israel to east Jerusalem following the creation of the Israeli state in 1948.