OCHA: Israel demolished 25 Palestinian-owned structures in two weeks

The Israeli forces demolished 25 Palestinian structures in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in two weeks, according to the biweekly Protection of Civilians report by United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

In the period between 11 to 24 August, Israel demolished a total of 25 Palestinian-owned structures under the pretext of lack of Israeli-issued building permits, displacing 32 Palestinians and otherwise affecting around 160 others

"Fifteen of these structures, all but two of which were livelihood-related, were demolished in eight communities in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli military control, including two in the communities of Mughayyir al Abeed and al Fakheit, both in southern West Bank district of Hebron, claiming they were located in a closed Israeli military training zone", said the biweekly report.

An additional six livelihood structures were demolished in one incident in Area C al Isawiya neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem while the rest of the structures were located in East Jerusalem, including an under-construction residential building in the Jabal al Mukkabir neighborhood, which triggered clashes resulting in one injury.

Five of the structures in East Jerusalem were demolished by their owners, who were forced to do so to avoid heavy fines. So far this year, about half of all 118 demolitions in East Jerusalem were carried out by the owners, following the issuance of demolition orders by the Israeli authorities for lack of building permit, added the report.

According to the report, during the past two weeks, the Israeli forces injured 81 Palestinians in multiple clashes and incidents in various parts of the West Bank. 45 were injured during a demonstration that erupted in the village of Turmusaya in Ramallah against the normalization agreement between the UAE and "Israel".

In other incidents, OCHA said one Palestinian was injured and 650 trees and saplings and other Palestinian-owned property were vandalized by assailants believed to be Israeli settlers.

Source : Safa