New York, Sept. 10 (Petra) The U.N. Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Thursday warned of an increase in
demolitions of Palestinian homes and property by Israeli occupation
authorities in the Masafer Yatta area of the southern West Bank in
recent days.

Farhan Haq, U.N. deputy spokesperson, said at the daily press
briefing that Israeli authorities on Tuesday demolished 20 homes and
other structures, including a water tank and solar panels, in two
Palestinian herding communities in the area.

Haq said the demolition of a third community on Wednesday displaced
nearly 60 people, half of them children, and affected another 30
people who remain in the area for the current season. He noted that
much of the destroyed property had been built with donor support.

About 1,200 Palestinians live in 13 communities in Masafer Yatta, all
of which are facing pressure to leave the area designated by Israeli
authorities as a “firing zone.”

OCHA said the pressure has increased as settler violence against
these communities has escalated following the establishment of
settlement outposts in the area in recent years.

Across the West Bank, 1,500 Palestinians have been displaced this
year as a result of demolitions, while more than 2,600 have been
displaced due to settler violence and related restrictions, the
office said.

//Petra// AF