Israeli settlers raze Palestinian land in West Bank

Israeli settlers used two bulldozers to raze a six-dunam area of Palestinian land near the West Bank city of Bethlehem under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces.

Head of village council of Kaysan, Hussein Ghazal said the bulldozers, which were protected by the Israeli occupation forces, levelled the Palestinian land and olive trees.

Ghazal said the land is owned by the Palestinian families from Al-Shoyoukh, Al-Rashaydeh and Ibayyat, an official Palestinian news agency reported.

According to Ghazal, the settlers and the Israeli army have been intimidating the Palestinians in that area for a long time. They prevent landowners from reaching their property. He said the Israeli movement in the area is part of an effort to expand the nearby settlement.