Israeli Forces Wreack Havoc on Palestinian Land in Jerusalem

Israeli Forces Wreack Havoc on Palestinian Land in Jerusalem

Demolition in Wadi Yasul area of Silwan, 30 April 2019. © Photo by OCHA

The occupation forces launched on Monday a raid in the village of Beit Iksa, north-west of occupied Jerusalem, to destroy land belonging to a local Palestinian family, reported Wafa news agency.

Local witnesses told Wafa that forces, accompanied by a bulldozer, razed a plot of land belonging to the Hamayel family.

Residents described how the soldiers stationed themselves in the area, sealed off the village entrances and took over the rooftops of several nearby homes turning them into military outposts before razing the land.

Occupation forces continue to impose severe restrictions on the citizens of the village as access to Beit Iksa is only possible through one entrance which is an Israeli military checkpoint.

Over the years, land surrounding the village and some plots of land owned by villagers were seized for the establishment of the illegal settlement of Ramot, whose settlers regularly harass the Palestinians.

Between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in illegal Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law, with recent announcements of settlement expansion provoking condemnation from the international community.

This comes two days before the Israeli government is planning to annex the occupied Jordan Valley and settlements in the West Bank on 1 July.

Palestinian estimates indicate that the Israeli annexation plan will cover more than 30 per cent of the West Bank.

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