Israel orders demolition of Palestinian homes in West Bank village

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Israeli authorities on Wednesday ordered the demolition of Palestinian homes in the village of Hamsa al-Fawqa in the northern Jordan Valley, northeast of the occupied West Bank.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Moataz Basharat, a senior official who monitors Israeli settlement activities, said the Israeli army stormed Hamsa al-Fawqa village and have so far demolished and confiscated three houses, noting that the demolition process is still ongoing.

Housing units in the village were previously subjected to four demolitions, including as recently as last November.

The village is one of 38 Bedouin villages that are partially or completely located within a field that Israel declared a military firing site.

Palestinian homes in the Jordan Valley are subjected to demolitions by Israeli authorities who claim that they were built without a permit.

The area of the Palestinian Jordan Valley covers about 395,368 acres with about 13,000 Israeli settlers living across 38 settlements. Meanwhile, around 65,000 Palestinians live in 34 communities.

*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar in Ankara.