HEBRON, May 7, 2011 (WAFA) – The Israeli army Friday declared the area of Amniyr, a Palestinian village south of Yatta, in the Hebron region, a closed military zone and chased away the families who own the land, after demolishing structures and trees on the land the day before, according to an international peace group.

The army destroyed six shacks and uprooted 150 olive trees in Amniyr early Thursday, said Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT).

On Friday, the Palestinians of Amniyr had returned to the land and hung six tarps to create makeshift tents. However, the Israeli army quickly issued a “closed military zone” order on the area and dispatched seven military jeeps to the area to evict the residents, who had only one minute to leave, said the group.

Using sound bombs and tear gas, the soldiers and police forced off the land all the Palestinians present—about 30 adults, many of them elderly, and 10 children—as well as accompanying internationals. One woman passed out due to the bombs and required medical attention.

Later that evening, four military jeeps returned to Amniyr and destroyed the tarps and what had been left standing in the area.

This is the third time in 10 weeks that the military has destroyed trees, tents, dwellings and other structures on the land of Amniyr, effectively demolishing the entire village and affecting six families.

Although Amniyr is Palestinian-owned private property, Israel has declared it “state land” and prohibits the people of Amniyr from building any structures or using the land.

A local Palestinian leader has told CPT that he believes Israel is trying to confiscate the land of Amniyr because of its proximity to the Israeli settlement of Susiya.

M.A.