UN: Record-breaking number of Palestinian homes demolished

The annual report issued by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed that 2016 witnessed a record-breaking number of home and livelihood structure demolitions by the Israeli occupation authorities.

According to this report, published by Israeli newspapers yesterday, 1,094 Palestinian homes and livelihood structures were demolished at the hands of the occupation forces. The number of structures demolished is considered the highest since the UN started recording the number of demolitions in 2009.

In addition to this, 2016 witnessed a 37 per cent decrease in the number of individuals killed by the Israeli occupation compared to the year before.  One hundred and seven people were killed by the occupation in 2016, while 169 were killed in the year before. This year also witnessed a 48 per cent decrease in the number of wounded Palestinians and the number of Israelis killed in clashes with Palestinians compared to the year before.

Read: The EU’s toleration of Israel despite ‘unprecedented’ rate of demolitions

The report noted that the Palestinians in Area C were under great pressure by the Israeli occupation authorities in 2016. The purpose of such pressure is to force the people in Area C to Areas A and B.