EU condemns Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes, as in November 23, 22 lost homes
The European Union on Friday has called on Israeli occupation government to halt “demolitions and any other unlawful practices that coerce Palestinians out of their homes,” as in November 23, 22 Palestinians, including 15 children, lost their homes.
“We reiterate our call to halt demolitions and any other unlawful practices that coerce Palestinians out of their homes,” the European Union Delegation to the Palestinians tweeted on Friday.
“Demolitions are illegal under international law and significantly undermine the prospects for peace,” the EU Delegation to the Palestinians added.
1/3 On 23 November, 22 Palestinians, including 15 children, lost their homes. In one single day Israeli authorities destroyed and confiscated several dwellings, tents, livestock enclosures, and buildings under construction.
— EU and Palestinians (@EUpalestinians) November 26, 2021
On 23 November, 2021, ‘Israel’ embarked on a large-scale demolition campaign throughout the occupied West Bank, in which it destroyed and confiscated Palestinian dwellings, tents, livestock enclosures, buildings under construction, a road, and even a structure intended for burial.
Twenty-two people, including 15 children, lost their homes in one day.
In Jerusalem, ‘Israel’ demolished three homes of six Palestinians, including three minors.
In the Masafer Yatta in Hebron, ‘Israel’ demolished a home which was under construction and a burial infrastructure.
In Nablus, ‘Israel’ razed a section of agricultural road recently renovated in ‘Asirah al-Shamaliyah. The road is used by the residents of ‘Asirah al-Shamaliyah to reach their farmland and also connects the town to Nablus.
According to Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem, such a “wave of demolitions expresses the perception of the Israeli regime, which holds that land is a resource intended primarily to serve the Jewish population.”
“This regime uses a variety of administrative, planning and bureaucratic tools to implement this concept. Governments come and go, but the apartheid regime remains untouched.”
Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem increased 21 per cent this year, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said lately.
In a report, the UNOCHA said: “In September, the Israeli authorities demolished, forced people to demolish, or seized eight Palestinian-owned structures across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.”
The report stated that the demolition and confiscation of the Palestinian structures “resulted in the displacement of two people, and affected the livelihoods or access to services of about 50 others.”
“The number of structures demolished or seized, and people displaced in September was the lowest recorded since June 2017; however, the number of structures demolished or seized, and people displaced, so far in 2021 represents an increase of 21 and 28 per cent respectively, compared with the equivalent figures in 2020.”
“311 structures, or 56 per cent of all structures” targeted in Area C in 2021 had been “seized without, or with very short, prior notice, utilizing various military orders, effectively preventing people from objecting in advance.”
“All the structures were targeted due to the lack of building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain in Area C and East Jerusalem.”
