clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Israel demolished 410 Palestinian structures in 2017

December 8, 2017 at 9:05 am

Israeli security forces gather around a construction site [Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency]

The number of Palestinian structures demolished by Israeli occupation authorities in 2017 to date has topped 400, according to UN OCHA.

According to the agency’s latest update, Israel has demolished 412 Palestinian-owned structures in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem (from 1 January up to 4 December).

Some 630 Palestinians have been displaced by the demolitions, UN OCHA reports.

In terms of a breakdown, 265 structures have been demolished in “Area C” of the West Bank, 136 in East Jerusalem, and 11 in Areas A and B.

More than half of those displaced, 369, lost their homes in Area C, while 228 were displaced in East Jerusalem (and 33 in Areas A and B).

Read: UK debates Israel demolitions of Palestinian properties

UN OCHA’s update, which covers the period 21 November to 4 December, records the punitive house demolition carried out in Qabatiya, near Jenin, which displaced five, including three children.

“Since the beginning of 2017,” UN OCHA noted, “nine homes have been demolished or sealed on punitive grounds, displacing 49 Palestinians.”

In addition, during the two-week recording period, Israeli authorities demolished 13 structures in Area C and East Jerusalem, citing the lack of Israeli-issued building permits. These displaced 24 Palestinians, including 12 children, and affected an additional 78 people.