60 Palestinians last week displaced by Israel

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- The UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) said Israel displaced more than 60 Palestinians during one week after demolishing their homes in West Bank areas in addition to its demolition of other homes and structures. In a recent report, OCHA stated that Israel destroyed 17 Palestinian homes last weeks in the West Bank, seven of them were razed in Area C. The demolition of these homes led to the displacement of 60 Palestinians including 40 children at least, it added. Its report noted that some of these razed homes were provided by the UN humanitarian response fund as emergency assistance for Palestinian civilians who had been displaced following earlier demolitions. It also said two other homes in the occupied city of Jerusalem were also demolished during the reporting week by their Palestinian owners who were forced by the Israeli authorities to do so. At least 100 Palestinian civilians lost their means of livelihoods during the week after Israel knocked down 11 structures used by them for commercial purposes, including animal shelters and stores, according to the report. The report also pointed out that the Israeli authorities, during its demolitions in Hazma village northeast of occupied Jerusalem, confiscated containers full of fuel and civilian equipment including fuel pumps and power generators. Israel also ordered the cessation of construction activities in two Palestinian residential buildings in Hajja village near Qalqiliya city and annexed 30 dunums of Palestinian land owned by Deir Istiya villagers at the pretext of their location near Emmanuel settlement.