Humanitarian Coordinator for Occupied Palestinian Territory Urges Israel to Halt Demolitions

Lynn Hastings’ Wednesday statement came a day after visiting the community of Humsa al-Baqaia, in the northern Jordan Valley, where the homes and belongings of the families living there were either demolished or seized by Israel five times in the last month in an effort to drive them out of their homes and lands.

Tents, food, water tanks and fodder for the community’s livestock have all been confiscated despite repeated calls by the international community for these actions to stop in accordance with international law, said Hastings.

"As we have noted previously, situations where communities are put under pressure to move raises a real risk of forcible transfer," said the Humanitarian Coordinator.

"Although the Humsa al-Baqaia community has exhausted its recourse through the domestic legal process, in accordance with international law, the Israeli authorities should immediately halt all further demolitions of Palestinian homes and possessions, allow the humanitarian community to provide shelter, food and water to this most vulnerable group and these people to remain in their homes," concluded the statement.