BETHLEHEM, Monday, May 20, 2024 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces Sunday morning began demolishing a building in the village of Artas, south of Bethlehem, under the pretext that it was built without a permit.

Local sources told WAFA correspondent that the Israeli bulldozers began demolishing a four-storey building located in Atan area, owned by local reisdent Yousef al-Atrash from Al-Walaja.

The head of the Artas Village Council, Lutfi Asaad, pointed out that the building was built more than 20 years ago, noting that there has been a clear recent escalation by the occupation forces against the people of Arta.

Such escalation includes demolishing a number of homes and other notices to stop construction, as well as the demolition of agricultural rooms, in addition to providing protection to colonists when they storm lands opposite the village and attempt to seize it, as happened in Khallet al-Qatun area.

K.T