OCHA: Israeli occupation has demolished 474 Palestinian structures since the beginning of 2021

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stressed that so far in 2021, the Israeli occupation authorities have demolished, seized or forced people to demolish at least 474 Palestinian-owned buildings, displacing 656 people, including 359 children, across the West Bank.

Maan news agency said on Friday citing a new OCHA report that this Israeli behavior constitutes a grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and amounts to a war crime.

According to the report, the demolition incidents represent a 32 per cent increase in the number of structures demolished or seized and nearly a 70 per cent increase in the number of people displaced, with a nearly 75 per cent increase in children, compared with the equivalent period in 2020.

Eighty-four Palestinians lost their homes on 14 July when Israeli occupation forces confiscated at least 49 structures in the herding community of Ras al Tin, an initial assessment indicates. Those displaced belong to thirteen Palestinian families, which include 53 children and 14 women.

 The Israeli occupation continues its violations against the Palestinians with complete disregard for all international norms and laws through assaulting them, killing them, demolishing their homes, displacing them and seizing their lands.

Hamda Mustafa