News / Palestine

Israeli forces demolish more Palestinian homes

Thursday, 21 July 2016 4:20 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 21 July 2016 9:25 AM ]

A Palestinian woman sits next to the remains of her home after it was demolished by Israeli bulldozers in an area south of the West Bank town of al-Khalil (Hebron) on February 2, 2016. ©AFP

Bulldozers escorted by Israeli troops have destroyed buildings near an industrial park north of al-Quds (Jerusalem), in the latest demolition of Palestinian property in the occupied territories.

Witnesses and local residents said Israeli troops began demolishing the buildings on Wednesday in the absence of their owners, leaving them without an opportunity to evacuate their belongings.

On Tuesday, a Palestinian home was razed in the Silwan neighborhood further south in East al-Quds.

Palestinian rights groups have documented a dramatic rise in demolitions, with more than 40 Palestinians left homeless in al-Quds last week alone.

Nearly 579 homes have been destroyed in the city over the last twelve years, leaving 2,218 Palestinians homeless, according to the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem.

The demolitions have raised alarm among diplomats and human rights groups over Tel Aviv's sustained violation of international law.

This picture taken on April 14, 2016 shows a general view of the illegal Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev near the West Bank city of Ramallah. ©AFP

The demolished structures include houses and schools.

The Israeli razing of Palestinian homes along with its illegal settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories have dimmed hopes of any peace in the region.

Over half a million Israelis live in more than 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank, including East al-Quds. The settlements are considered by the international community as illegal.

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