Israel Demolishes Palestinian Homes in The West Bank

Israel has started demolishing 13 residential buildings in East Jerusalem's Wadi Hummus for being too close to the separation barrier, even though the area falls under the Palestinian Authority's administration.

Israel Defense Force soldiers were seen placing explosives in a building set for demolition after they arrived before dawn. Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said 700 police and 200 soldiers were involved in the operation. They evacuated a family from one of the buildings and removed activists protesting the demolition. Construction vehicles smashed up a number of buildings.

The buildings are set on land that falls within Area A of the West Bank, which is administered by the Palestinian Authority, and the residents got permits from the PA to build there.

However, the High Court ruled in favor of an Israeli Defense Ministry order to demolish 13 buildings because they are too close to the separation barrier, which Israel built around and inside the West Bank. The June decision has sparked fears that it will set a dangerous precedent for other homes in the PA-controlled area.

The events in Sur Baher are a microcosm of what is happening across Palestine. Israel's deliberately discriminatory planning regime forces Palestinians to build 'illegally'. And while Palestinians are torn out of their own homes, settlers are thriving...https://t.co/p1KYf62CkP pic.twitter.com/Sbo3F8fKgB

— Ben White (@benabyad) July 22, 2019

The scene right now: pic.twitter.com/z4cDIo3gUq

— All That's Left: Anti-Occupation Collective (@ATLCol) July 22, 2019

WATCH: This is what it looks like when occupation military raids a house in the early morning to demolish it, because Palestinians call it home.

When trying to make him leave, the resident refuses to move. "This is our life", he says pic.twitter.com/62MSw6iVZk

— All That's Left: Anti-Occupation Collective (@ATLCol) July 22, 2019

After nearly a day preparing to demolish most of this building with explosives, the Israeli occupying forces detonated the building of Mohammad Abu Teir around an hour ago. This is the ninth building to be demolished today in #SurBahir #Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/ULUvnRSi1B

— Palestine PLO-NAD (@nadplo) July 22, 2019

*Video* 🎥
How the Israeli occupation forces demolish the buildings today in Jerusalem, West Bank.
This is a moment when "Israeli" occupation forces blew up a residential building in Sur Baher neighborhood. #IsraeliCrimes pic.twitter.com/5CqKEw1fJW

— Reeham Budier (@BudierReeham) July 22, 2019