«Israeli» Forces Demolitions Leave Dozens of Palestinian Adults, Children Homeless

Local Editor

"Israel" has stepped up its demolition of Palestinian homes this year, with the "Israeli" Occupation Forces [IOF] destroying 11 more houses on the outskirts of al-Quds [Jerusalem] on Tuesday. The total number of bulldozed buildings in 2015 could become the highest in a decade.

At least 44 people were left homeless, including 11 children, according to a rights group. One of the homes destroyed on Tuesday was a two-story building.

The demolished homes were located in Qalandiya, near al-Quds.

The reason behind the demolitions is said to be the lack of proper building permits for the houses. However, it is almost impossible for Palestinians to receive permits in the part of the occupied West Bank that is under full "Israeli" occupation - which happens to be about 60 percent of the territory, according to the UN.

Authorities did not comment directly as to why the homes were demolished.

Two of the destroyed homes were considered part of the occupied West Bank and nine were part of annexed East al-Quds [Jerusalem], the group said.

Tuesday's move brings the total of bulldozed homes to 89 this year in the West Bank and East al-Quds. This is more than the whole of last year, which saw 74 homes destroyed, and higher than any other year over the last decade except for 2013, when 175 homes were brought down.

The Tuesday demolitions were accompanied by clashes in which several Palestinians were injured, another "Israeli" group said.

Palestinians reportedly clashed with IOF soldiers, who used stun grenades and tear gas canisters to disperse protesters.

One of the residents whose home was destroyed on Tuesday said his family was informed of the planned demolition less than 24 hours in advance.

"Israeli" authorities "warned us on Monday afternoon that they were going to destroy our houses, some of which were still under construction," Mohammed al-Jouri told Middle East Eye.

The group had warned that such demolitions put the two-state solution at risk. "These efforts to break the continuity of Palestinian East al-Quds [Jerusalem] with the West Bank pose a severe threat to the two-state solution," the rights group said.

Earlier this month, at least three people were wounded in clashes with IOF troops when "Israeli" authorities bulldozed the house of Bilal Abu Zeid, who "Israeli" authorities alleged is an accomplice of a group of Palestinians involved in a February operation that left one "Israeli" police officer dead and another injured. Zeid is currently being held in an "Israeli" prison.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team