The Israeli occupation persists in its policy of displacement and Judaization in Palestine, disregarding international censures that have proven futile in halting the occupation authorities’ near-daily demolition operations.
In this context, 11 Palestinian homes in the southern part of the occupied West Bank—east of Bethlehem and south of al-Khalil—were destroyed by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF).
Under the pretext of building in Area C without a permit, IOF troops accompanied by bulldozers and members of the Israeli Civil Administration stormed the village this morning (Thursday), demolishing nine houses, according to Farid Burqan, head of the local council of Berin, a village east of the city of Yatta (south of al-Khalil).
Burgan added in media statements, “The demolished houses were built of tin and housed 34 individuals, and they are now all homless.”
Palestinian construction in Area C of the West Bank without Israeli permits is strictly prohibited.
The 1995 Oslo II Accord divided the Israeli-occupied West Bank into three administrative divisions: Area “A” was under full Palestinian control, Area “B” was under Israeli security, civil, and administrative control, and Area “C” was under Israeli civil, administrative, and security control. The latter area made up approximately 61% of the territory.
Along the same line, the IOF demolished the homes of two brothers in the village of Beit Tamar, east of Bethlehem.
Under military protection, an Israeli bulldozer broke into Beit Tamar, encircled Issa Ali Zawahra’s home, sealed off the area around the house, and destroyed his two sons’ homes.
On February 22, at the Al-Za’im checkpoint east of occupied Jerusalem, the occupation forces shot the two brothers, Muhammad and Kazem Zawahra. Muhammad was killed, and Kazem was gravely injured before he was taken into custody.
Official Palestinian statistics show that in the first half of 2024, the occupation army uprooted roughly 10,000 trees, destroyed 318 Palestinian facilities, and issued 359 demolition orders.
The Israeli authorities and settlement groups are working to seize Palestinian homes and properties in the Old City for settlement expansion.
Earlier on Wednesday; the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said that the Supreme Planning Committee in the West Bank approved the construction of 5,300 illegal settlement units in the West Bank.
It is important to highlight that the Israeli policies of demolition, uprooting, and settlement operations clearly violate international law and the human right to housing, which is regarded as one of the fundamental rights and includes the freedom from discrimination and the right to obtain stable, suitable housing without being forced to move.
