Israeli forces Wednesday demolished a number of Palestinian structures in Khirbet Shaab al-Butum, to the east Yatta town, south of AlKhalil city, according to local sources.

Coordinator of the Popular Committees in Southern Hebron, Rateb al-Jabour, told WAFA news agency that Israeli forces escorted bulldozers into the community, where the heavy machinery tore down a room, a residential tent and a shack belonging to Palestinian citizen Musa al-Jabareen.

The bulldozers also demolished two other rooms, made of brick and tin sheets, a fodder shack and a traditional oven, known in Arabic as Tabun, belonging to Mohammad al-Jabareen.

He noted that the structures were demolished purportedly for their proximity to the nearby Israeli colonial settlement of Avigail.

Khirbet Shaab al-Butum is among dozens of small communities located in the Masafer Yatta area, which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood, and has a population of 300.

Masafer Yatta is classified as Area C, which is under full Israeli military control. Area C makes up around 60 percent of the occupied West Bank, which Israel plans to annex after expelling its Palestinian population.

It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since 1980s and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918.

Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent.