UN Officials Call for An End to Israeli Demolitions in West Bank

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Jamie McGoldrick; the Head of West Bank Operations for UNRWA, Scott Anderson; and the Head of the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, James Heenan, expressed serious concern over Israeli demolitions and related events in vulnerable Palestinian communities in the central West Bank.

News ID: 71117

Date: 07 July 2018 - 15:01

TEHRAN (Defapress)- “What we are seeing unfold on the ground is deeply disturbing,” McGoldrick said.

“Demolitions have a devastating impact on families and on communities. These demolitions are particularly outrageous because they target communities who already live in extremely difficult conditions, with high levels of humanitarian needs. I call again on the Israeli authorities to cease demolitions and other measures that may result in the forcible transfer of Palestinians,” he added.

“The escalation of events in the last few days – the demolitions in Abu Nuwar, the declaration of the Khan al Ahmar community as a closed military zone, the violence and large presence of armed Israeli forces – makes life in these communities virtually untenable," Anderson said.

"The latest developments are of serious concern as it is evident that they are undertaken with the objective of relocating the concerned communities, as well as causing serious distress to the vulnerable residents who are watching what appear to be preparations for the demolition of their community,” he added.

“These pastoral communities are mostly Palestine refugees – originally displaced from their tribal lands in the Negev. They should not be forced to experience a second displacement against their will,” the Head of West Bank Operations for UNRWA stated.

“The demolitions in the community will have serious human rights and humanitarian law consequences,” Heenan said, adding that “there is high risk of forced evictions of individuals, destruction of private property as well as a dramatic increase in the coercive environment under which the community already lives, in turn raising the risk of forcible transfer”.

On Wednesday, Palestinians protested in and around Khan al-Ahmar as Israeli forces began preparations to destroy the Bedouin village. Residents and activists climbed onto bulldozers and waved Palestinian flags in a bid to halt the demolition.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, eleven people were arrested. Dozens of Palestinian were wounded, four of whom taken to hospital.

The demolition of Bedouin homes is part of the regime’s massive land-grab policy, which will forcefully displace thousands of people.

Tel Aviv has so far refused to recognize the rights of Palestinian Bedouins and denies them access to basic services.

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