EU officials slam surge in Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes

European Union (EU) officials have slammed a surge in Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes and other structures in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The statement released Tuesday says that the EU Heads of Mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah “deplore the demolitions of Palestinian structures undertaken by Israel in the occupied West Bank.”

According to EU officials, Israel has now demolished 866 structures in Area C of the West Bank during 2016 to date. This surge has affected 5,704 Palestinians, “of whom 1,221 have been rendered homeless (including 586 children).”

In addition, “humanitarian structures provided by the EU and EU Member States worth approximately EUR 536,000 have been either destroyed or confiscated” by Israeli occupation forces.

The figures in the statement include recent incidents on 6 and 7 December, when Israeli forces demolished homes and confiscated solar panels and other equipment – including structures provided as humanitarian aid by the EU and EU member states.

Read: Israeli authorities ‘coerce’ elderly Palestinian to sign house demolition order

The statement notes that “EU humanitarian activities are carried out in full accordance with International Humanitarian Law, with the sole aim of providing humanitarian support to the most vulnerable population.”

The EU officials conclude by urging “the Israeli authorities to halt demolitions of Palestinian houses and property, in accordance with its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law, and to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion, of designating land for exclusive Israeli use and of denying Palestinian development.”