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Israel demolishes Bedouin homes, seizes solar power units in the West Bank 

July 14, 2021 at 2:11 pm

Palestinians collect their usable wares from ruins after Israeli forces demolished their house in the West Bank on 17 June 2021 [Mamoun Wazwaz/Anadolu Agency]

Israeli forces demolished 11 Palestinian-owned homes this morning in the Bedouin village of Al-Qabbun, to the northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, reported Wafa news agency.

The locals said large Israeli military forces raided the village with lorries and bulldozers.

Local activist, Fares Ka‘abneh, told Wafa that the Israeli occupation forces also seized tractors, water tankers and solar power units.

Dismantling Palestinian homes and shelters is part of a larger Israeli campaign aimed at emptying all of the Bedouin communities in the area in favour of the Israeli colonial settlement enterprise.

According to Palestinian sources, Israeli authorities demolished more than 500 Palestinian homes and businesses in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in the past year alone.

On Monday Michael Lynk, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, condemned the “unlawful and heartless” actions of Israeli authorities in repeatedly demolishing homes belonging to the Palestinian Bedouin communities in the occupied West Bank.

READ: Israel blocks access of relief aid to Bedouin community

He called on the occupying state to “immediately halt its property demolitions”, return to full compliance with international humanitarian and human rights obligations, and “provide protection for, rather than displacement of, the protected population.”

“As the occupying power, Israel is strictly forbidden from destroying Palestinian property unless it is absolutely required by military necessity during active armed operations.”

Moreover, he urged the international community “to take meaningful accountability measures to ensure that Israel complies with its legal obligations.”