UN: 1100 Palestinians made homeless by Israeli demolitions since 2010

1389/05/24

UN: 1100 Palestinians made homeless by Israeli demolitions since 2010

In recent weeks, around 550 people have lost their homes or sources of livelihood as a result of demolitions carried out by Israeli authorities in Al-Quds and Area C, UN reported. These recent developments represent a significant increase in demolitions and forced displacement in the West Bank, raising a number of serious humanitarian concerns. According to OCHA’s records, at least 230 Palestinian structures have been demolished in Al-Quds and Area C in over 40 separate incidents since the beginning of this year. As a result, more than 1100 Palestinians, including over 400 children, have been forcibly displaced or otherwise affected owing to extensive damage of property or destruction of livelihood. More than two thirds of this year’s demolitions took place in July. During the month, Zionist authorities demolished over 140 Palestinian structures, including homes, tents, animal shelters, barracks, water cisterns, sanitation units, shops and other commercial enterprises. On 13 July, 7 Palestinian homes, 5 of them inhabited, were demolished in East Al-Quds, leaving 25 people, including 14 children - one of them only 2 months old – forcibly displaced. Similarly, nearly an entire Palestinian village, Al Farisiye in the Jordan Valley, was forcibly displaced on 19 July. In addition, there has been a marked increase in the number of stop-work and demolition orders being issued by Israeli authorities in Area C in recent months.