Animal sheds destroyed as demolition orders were issued against structures in south of West Bank

The Israeli occupation authorities today demolished animal sheds in a village of east of Bethlehem, as owners of tin structures in the south of the West Bank, were told their shelters will be demolished, according to sources.

Ahmad Ghazal, deputy head of Kisan village council, east of Bethlehem, told WAFA that an Israeli occupation force raided the village this morning with a bulldozer and proceeded to demolish animal shelters used by two local residents under the pretext of building without permit.

He said the owners were informed only yesterday of the demolition order and given only 24 hours to empty them of their contents or they will be arrested.

In the Masafer Yatta village of Shaab al-Batem, south of the West Bank, the Israeli army informed four residents of the intention to demolish their tin structures used to shelter their families under the pretext they were built without a permit, according to Rateb al-Jabour, coordinator for the Wall and Settlements Resistance Committee in the Hebron area.

He said that 20 people will be displaced if the demolition takes place.

Jabour said Israel is seeking to empty that area of its Palestinian residents in order to expand the illegal settlement of Avigal, built on expropriated Palestinian land.