HEBRON, December 15, 2016 (WAFA) – Israel continued on Thursday to seize European Union humanitarian assistance structures and equipment provided to Palestinian residents of Area C of the occupied West Bank, which is under full Israeli military control.
Two days after Israeli forces had seized an Italian Cooperation caravan used as a clinic in al-Markaz in Masafer Yatta, they notified on Thursday Palestinians in Kherbet Esfi al-Foqa, east of Yatta in Hebron district, about their intention to confiscate a medical clinic caravan also provided by the Italian Cooperation as a humanitarian assistance to serve local Palestinians.
Rateb Jbour, coordinator of the anti-settlement committee in Hebron, told WAFA that Israeli forces accompanied by staff from the so-called Israeli "Civil Administration" informed residents about their intention to seize the medical clinic caravan inaugurated only few days ago as well as solar panels used to generate power in an area where there is no power lines.
The forces also said they would demolish water well dug in the area to benefit residents and seize a water tanker and a privately-owned car.
The village is part of Masafer Yatta, a congregation of some 19 Palestinian hamlets that have been a frequent target for Israeli violations, including house demolitions and attacks by Israeli settlers.
The European Union has regularly criticized, including in a statement issued on Wednesday, Israeli demolition of Palestinian structures and confiscation of solar panels mainly provided as humanitarian aid by member states.
It said Israel has either demolished or confiscated 866 structures in Area C during 2016 worth over half a million euros affecting 5,704 Palestinians, of whom 1,221 have been rendered homeless including 586 children.
The EU called upon the Israeli authorities “to halt demolitions of Palestinian houses and property, in accordance with its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law, and to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion, of designating land for exclusive Israeli use and of denying Palestinian development,” said the statement.
M.N/M.K
