Hamas: Israel demolition of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem ‘ethnic cleansing’

Hamas yesterday described the Israeli demolition of more than 100 Palestinian apartments in occupied Jerusalem as “ethnic cleansing”.

In a press release, Hamas spokesman Hazim Qasim said: “The increasing Israeli crimes against Palestinians in the holy city is a result of the endless American support for the racist behaviour of the Israeli occupation.”

He added: “The American support for the Israeli occupation encouraged it to carry out more crimes against the Palestinians, mainly after the Bahrain economic workshop, whose consequences we had warned about.”

Qasim continued: “All the racist Israeli crimes and policies will never stop the resistance of the Palestinians against the colonial Zionist enterprise which has been targeting the Palestinian people and their land.”

READ: Israel’s demolition of 100 homes in Jerusalem a ‘war crime’

The Hamas spokesman stressed that the “comprehensive” resistance is the “only way” to end the Israeli occupation.

Israeli demolition of the Palestinian homes in Jerusalem’s neighbourhood of Sur Baher was widely condemned by regional and international powers, in addition to rights groups.

In a statement released yesterday the UN said: “We are following with sadness today the Israeli authorities’ destruction of homes in the Palestinian community of Sur Bahir.”

“Among those forcibly displaced or otherwise impacted are Palestine refugees, some of whom today are facing the reality of a second displacement in living memory.”

Adding: “Israel’s policy of destroying Palestinian property is not compatible with its obligations under international humanitarian law.”

READ: Israel demolishes farming and commercial facilities in occupied West Bank