The Israeli occupation army demolished on Wednesday eight Palestinian homes and number of sheep pens and agricultural sheds in Masafer Yatta in al-Khalil province.

Local sources said that the demolitions took place in the hamlets of Tuwanah al-Markaz and al-Fakhit adding that the Israeli high court of justice had already approved a military decision to carry out demolitions in Masafer Yatta.

Last Thursday the high court in Occupied Jerusalem rejected a petition submitted by residents of 12 Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta south of al-Khalil against an Israeli army decision designating their areas as “firing zones.”

The Israeli decision to demolish these Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta will lead to the displacement of about 4000 civilians including children.

Meanwhile the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed Walaja village in western Bethlehem on the same day and demolished a house at the pretext of unlicensed construction.

Local sources said that a bulldozer escorted by Israeli soldiers entered Ein Huwaiza area in Walaja and embarked on knocking down a house belonging to Ahmed Barghouth.

The Israeli occupation army on Thursday demolished four Palestinian-owned structures in Masafer Yatta south of al-Khalil city in the West Bank.

According to local sources Israeli troops escorting bulldozers stormed different areas in Masafer Yatta and knocked down two homes and livestock stores at the pretext that construction in their areas are forbidden.

The homes belonged to Mohamed Abu Arram and Ahmed Hamamdeh and the cattle structures belonged to Ezzat Zain and Kayed Zain.

The Israeli occupation authority and its army systematically destroy Palestinian homes and structures in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem using the lack of building permits as justification to carry out demolitions.

This along with the fact that Palestinians are very rarely granted construction permits allows Israel to control the demographic map of the occupied territories and to build and expand homes for Jewish settlers on Palestinian lands while forcing the Palestinian natives out.

Human Rights Group B’Tselem says international humanitarian law stipulates that the people who have been living in occupied territory before its occupation are considered “protected persons” and may not be exposed to mass punishment or violence their private property may not be confiscated their dignity may not be violated and they may not be expelled from their homes.