Israeli army evacuates Palestinian families for army training

The Israeli army yesterday notified scores of Palestinian families in the northern Jordan Valley to evacuate their homes in the coming week so it can complete military training.

The head of the Jordan Valley file in Tubas, Moataz Bisharat, said the Israeli Planning and Building Committee handed evacuation notices to 42 Palestinian families in the area.

Bisharat said the notifications also included threats to confiscate the residents’ livestock in the area; residents are also being forced to pay all the costs.

Human rights organisations warn that the Israeli authorities deliberately target Palestinian families in the Jordan Valley with house demolition or evictions under the pretext of military exercises in a bid to pressure the residents to leave the area.