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Israeli settlers have demolished about 15 Palestinian homes and an animal pen in the village of Al-Duyuk Al-Tahta near Jericho in the occupied West Bank, residents and activists told AFP on Wednesday.
The demolitions took place a day earlier, as violence involving settlers continues to displace Palestinian families. The incident followed Israel’s security cabinet approval of new measures aimed at tightening control over the West Bank, a move expected to accelerate settlement expansion.
Mustafa Kaabneh, a resident who has lived in the village for nearly 20 years, said around 50 settlers arrived, forced families out of their homes and began tearing down the structures.
“About 50 settlers arrived, forced everyone out of the houses and began demolishing them. Then they took everything — even the chickens,” he said.
He added that many of the settlers were armed and masked and were accompanied by an Israeli army vehicle before later returning with a bulldozer.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
On Sunday, Israel’s security cabinet approved measures enabling expanded Israeli control in areas administered by the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo framework. The plans would allow Jewish Israelis to purchase land directly in the West Bank and permit Israeli authorities to oversee certain religious sites, even those located in areas under Palestinian Authority administration.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements and outposts across the territory, excluding annexed East Jerusalem. International law considers these settlements illegal, though Israel disputes this interpretation. Around three million Palestinians live in the West Bank.
The United Nations reported last week that Israeli settler violence and harassment displaced nearly 700 Palestinians in January alone, marking the highest monthly figure since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
Palestinians in the West Bank also face displacement when Israeli authorities demolish structures they say were built without the required permits.
