Israel Demolishes Dozens of Palestinian Homes in Occupied West Bank
Thousands of Palestinian homes and business structures have been demolished by Israel forces in the last few years. (Photo: Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency)
More than a dozen Palestinian homes were destroyed by Israeli occupation forces in different parts of the occupied West Bank on June 3, Wednesday. The areas where the demolition drive was conducted correspond to those that will be targeted in the proposed annexation of the Jordan valley by Israel.
According to Palestinian WAFA news agency, several houses belonging to different Palestinian communities were demolished by the Israeli forces in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron city, on Wednesday.
As per WAFA, the locality is “located in Area C of the West Bank” which is completely under the control of the Israeli administration. It has been targeted by the Israeli military and illegal settlers several times in the past. The Israelis have also destroyed people’s homes and livestock, their main source of livelihood.
Similar demolitions on Wednesday took place to the east of Jericho city where occupation forces destroyed seven homes and animal shelters belonging to Deir Hajle Bedouin.
Both these areas fall under the Jordan valley region which Israel plans to annex in July, according to the announcements made by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
Demolition of Palestinian houses, business structures and even historical monuments is part of the Israeli expansion plans. Alleged lack of permits, perception of security threats and various other excuses have been used as justification by Israel to demolish these structures. Israeli forces often arrest Palestinians on false charges and demolish their houses as a part of Israel’s “collective punishment” policy. All these acts are seen as a means to harass Palestinians and force them to leave their land.
Palestinian groups have termed the demolition of houses as part of the process of ethnic cleansing. According to the international laws governing war and human rights, such acts by Israel are illegal.
According to the UN, 27 Palestinian homes have already been destroyed by Israel in the first quarter of 2020. In one such move on June 1, the occupation authorities issued an order to demolish more than 200 Palestinian structures in the Wadi Al-Joz area of occupied East Jerusalem.
On June 2, the Palestinian Authority filed an appealed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied East Jerusalem.
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