HEBRON, October 9, 2018 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Tuesday demolished two residential structures and seized solar panels from Khirbet al-Halawa hamlet in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, said a local activist.

Ratib Jabour, who monitors settlement construction in southern Hebron, said that Israeli forces, escorting bulldozers, raided al-Halawa hamlet, where they demolished two residential structures and seized EU-funded solar panels.

The structures and panels reportedly belonged to Ahmad Ismail Abu ‘Eram and Khalil Younis Abu ‘Eram.

Jabour slammed the demolition as part of an Israeli scheme to forcefully displace Palestinians from the area to make room for settlement construction.

Khirbet al-Halawa is one of six localities making up Masafer Yatta, a collection of almost 19 hamlets to the south of Hebron, which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood.

Located in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli administrative and military control, the area has been subjected to repeated Israeli violations by settlers and soldiers targeting their main source of living - livestock.

It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since 1980s and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918.

Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent.

K.F.