Israeli forces order demolition of 9 homes south of Bethlehem

The Israeli Occupation Forces on Wednesday issued demolition notices for nine homes, some inhabited and others still under construction, in the village of Artas, south of Bethlehem in the southern West Bank.

Local sources said that an Israeli army unit entered the Jabal Abu Zeid area of the village and posted demolition orders on the houses.

The notices called on the owners to remove the buildings themselves, warning that the army would demolish them at their own expense if they failed to comply. The residents were given 30 days to submit documents proving ownership of the land.

According to local residents, four of the homes under threat are inhabited and belong to brothers Mohammed and Ali Ibrahim Shaheen, and Fadi Emad Asaad, while the owner of the fourth home has not yet been identified.

The other houses are at various stages of construction. They belong to Hussein Mohammed Ismail, Hussam Khaled Ismail, Waleed Ismail Ahmad Ismail, Suleiman Mohammed Saad, and Khaled Ismail Ahmad Ismail.

The Israeli authorities continue to issue demolition orders for residential and commercial properties across the occupied West Bank and inside Israel, claiming they were built without permits. Meanwhile, Palestinians say Israel systematically restricts the granting of building permits as part of a policy aimed at pressuring them to leave their land.