Israel property demolitions, confiscations displace 50 Palestinians in two weeks

Israel has displaced 50 Palestinians through property demolitions and confiscations in East Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank during a two-week period earlier this month.

There were 23 children among the displaced, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday in a report covering 2 to 15 May.

The report included instances where Israeli authorities forced people to demolish properties. It covered East Jerusalem and Area C of the West Bank, which is under Israel's control.

"The Israeli authorities demolished, confiscated, or forced people to demolish 42 structures in East Jerusalem and Area C of the West Bank, including 17 homes, citing the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible to obtain," said OCHA.

It added that nine of the structures – including a school – had been given as humanitarian aid.

Of the 42 structures in question, 26 were located in Area C.

"The remaining 16 structures were demolished in East Jerusalem, including two residential structures demolished in Wadi Qaddum area of Silwan, resulting in the displacement of seven households comprising 39 people including 22 children," OCHA said.

"Another seven structures were destroyed by their owners to avoid the payment of fines to the Israeli authorities."

The Jubbet Al-Dhib primary school near Bethlehem was destroyed by Israeli forces on 7 May, drawing sharp criticism from the European Union which had funded the project.

The EU said it was "appalled" after Israeli forces arrived at dawn at the school site, which a Palestinian Authority (PA) official said served 45 students and consisted of five classrooms.

The bloc called on Israel to "halt all demolitions and evictions, which will only increase the suffering of the Palestinian population and further escalate an already tense environment".

"Demolitions are illegal under international law, and children's right to education must be respected," the office of the EU representative to the Palestinian Territories said in a statement.

Separate to events in East Jerusalem and Area C, one further residential structure was destroyed and three more damaged in the West Bank's Area A, which is supposed to be under full PA control, OCHA said.

Israeli forces were responsible, according to the UN body, which said this happened during an operation in Nablus's Old City.

Nablus, along with the city of Jenin, has been a key target of deadly Israeli raids in the West Bank in recent months.

So far this year, Israeli forces and settlers have killed over 150 Palestinians – an average of more than one per day.

Agencies contributed to this report.