Israeli forces demolish more Palestinian homes in East al-Quds

Israeli forces have razed to the ground several homes belonging to Palestinians in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Israeli forces demolished at least three apartments in the Beit Hanina neighborhood of East al-Quds on Monday, the Palestinian Ma’an news agency reported.

According to witnesses, Israeli forces used bulldozers to demolish a housing complex which contained three apartments. The Israeli forces demolished the homes with all of the families’ belongings inside.

Sources say the destruction has cut the supply of water and electricity to nearby houses and facilities in the neighborhood.

Local residents say the demolition took place although they had obtained an order from an Israeli court to halt the plan.

Israeli bulldozers accompanied by dozens of soldiers earlier entered the Jabal al-Mukkabir neighborhood of East al-Quds. They forced a family out of their home at gunpoint before destroying it.

In recent months, Israeli forces have demolished hundreds of Palestinian homes across the occupied Palestinian territories.

According to Israeli rights group B’Tselem, the Tel Aviv regime has razed nearly 580 Palestinian homes over the past 12 months. Palestinians say Israel is seeking to expand settlements through the demolitions.

Tel Aviv’s policy of demolitions comes hand in hand with the regime’s tight restrictions on Palestinian construction.

Thousands of Israelis currently reside in more than 120 illegal settlements constructed since Tel Aviv’s occupation of the Palestinian territories in 1967. The settlements are considered illegal by much of the international community.