The Israeli occupation authorities demolished a number of homes and commercial establishments in various parts of the West Bank, under the pretext of building without a permit.

Israeli forces stormed the Hasaka area, northwest of Hebron, and demolished a three-storey residential villa. Eyewitnesses said that the occupation bulldozers leveled the villa to the ground.

In the Farsh al-Hawa area of Hebron, the Israeli army demolished an agricultural room, destroyed its contents, and damaged fruit trees.

Bulldozers belonging to the Jerusalem Municipality also demolished a house in the village of Al-Walaja, located between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, according to the head of the village council, Khader Al-Araj.

In the northern Jordan Valley, the Israeli authorities demolished 3 Palestinian homes in the village of Al-Jiftlik.

These demolitions come in implementation of new decisions by the Israeli government to prevent construction in the West Bank, areas classified as “B” and “C.”

Data from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission showed that the occupation authorities have carried out 311 demolitions since the beginning of this year, affecting 392 homes and commercial establishments.

Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights organizations say that the occupation municipality in Jerusalem grants building permits to settlements in the holy city, while tightening restrictions on granting building permits to Palestinians.

The 1995 Oslo Accords classified the West Bank into three areas: (A) under full Palestinian control; (B) under Israeli security control and Palestinian civil and administrative control; and (C) under Israeli civil, administrative and security control. The latter constitutes about 61% of the West Bank.