The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) has condemned the large-scale demolition and displacement campaign that was carried out last Tuesday in the northern Jordan Valley describing it as an ethnic cleansing operation.
“On Tuesday evening 03 November 2020 Israeli occupation forces (IOF) carried out a large-scale demolition operation against civilian properties in Hemsa al-Foqa area in the northern Jordan valleys eastern Tubas. Seventy homes and facilities were demolished displacing 60 Palestinians (mostly children) in the 6-hour operation” PCHR said in a report published on its website.
“The demolitions were preceded by the confiscation of 16 vehicles and 5 water tanks in a nearby area in the valleys. Yesterday’s operation comes within an accelerated campaign by IOF to demolish and destroy Palestinians’ homes and properties in the West Bank and east Jerusalem under the Israeli annexation and settlement-expansion schemes in what can only be considered an act of ethnic cleansing against the indigenous Palestinian population” PCHR added.
According to PCHR investigations the IOF accompanied by Israeli civil administration SUVs and construction vehicles stormed on Tuesday Khirbet Hemsa al-Foqa in the northern Jordan valleys eastern Tubas. The construction vehicles proceeded to demolish 70 civilian properties including storerooms and residential tents that sheltered 11 families composed of 60 persons mostly children.
IOF demolished 11 residential tents 27 structures some used for housing and several cattle shelters as well as kitchens mobile lavatories water tanks and other properties. The IOF also confiscated two tractors and a private Subaru car.
“Earlier on Tuesday the IOF moved into Khirbet Ibziq in northern Jordan valleys eastern Tubas. The Israeli soldiers raided civilians’ houses and confiscated the following items: 9 tractors 5 water tanks 5 carts and 2 private vehicles. IOF aims at vacating the area and expelling its indigenous residents” PCHR elaborated.
PCHR has called on the international community and UN bodies to uphold their legal and moral duties and to urgently intervene to curb Israel’s ongoing crimes against the Palestinians and to guarantee their protection.
