Palestinianshaveexpressed alarmat a sharp rise in Israelidemolition of theirhomes in the occupied territories, urging international action tostop Tel Aviv from driving more families from their homes.
Secretary of the PalestinianLiberation Organization Saeb Erekat said Wednesday Israel had displaced more than 30 families after demolishing their homes inEast Jerusalemal-Quds and the West Bank over the past 24 hours.
This crude attack conducted by heavily armed forces against a defenseless people under occupation is a clear demonstration of Israels intention to forcibly displace Palestinians while intensifying the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine, he said.
On Wednesday, Israel sent a heavy contingent of troops andarmored vehicles toSurif northeast of al-Khalil (Hebron) where theykilled 29-year-old Mohammad Faqih afterrocketingand demolishinghishome.
Erekat denounced the international community's inaction,saying this idleness and silenceis encouraging Israel to continue and escalate its violations against the Palestinians and their property."
The International community must act instantly, provide our people with the needed protection, and hold Israel accountable for its crimes, he said.
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A woman stands on July 18, 2016 in front of the house belonging to a Palestinian man after it was demolished overnight by Israeli army in the village of Qabatiyah in the occupied West Bank. AFP[/caption]Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallahsaid the demolitions are against international law and against every standard of human decency.
UN special coordinator for the so-called peace processNickolay Mladenovalso said the demolitionsreflect Israels systematic policy of denying Palestinian development in the occupied West Bank.
After killing Faqih, Israeli troops took away with them four Palestinians, including a woman, in Surif and one in al-Khalil.
Several Palestinians were injured after Israelisoldiers fired live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, and gas bombs at residents who hurled stones and empty bottles at them.
An Israeli non-profit organization says Israeli officials have demolished 168 Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank between January and the end of June this year, leaving 740 Palestinians homeless.
BTselem said on Monday that the figure is unusually high, and exceeds the number of homes demolished during the corresponding period last year. It is also higher than the annual rate of demolitions since 2006, excluding the 175 Palestinian homes that were razed in 2013.
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This picture taken on July 6, 2016 shows a Palestinian man standing in front of buildings in the Kiryat Arba settlement on the outskirts of al-Khalil (Hebron). AFP[/caption]The Israeli demolitions and its sustained violation of international lawhave raised alarm among diplomats and human rights groups.
Over half a million Israelis live in more than 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem al-Quds. The settlements are considered by theinternational community as illegal.
By Press TV
