Ramallah: The Israeli military on Tuesday handed 30 Palestinian families written orders to demolish their own houses and leave their land east of the village of Yatta, near Hebron.
The 30 families (comprising some 300 individuals) were given a week’s notice to implement the Israeli order.
Abdul Aziz Abu Fannar of the Yatta Municipality confirmed receipt of the demolition orders.
“This is the third time and we believe this is the final order as the Israeli military gave a deadline,” he told Gulf News.
He said the Palestinian families earlier went to the Israeli Higher Court and presented documents to prove their ownership of the land.
“The court however rejected their case under the pretext of security needs,” he said.
The families hired an Israeli lawyer and lodged an appeal with the court.
Israel does not question the land ownership issue, but claims that the families have constructed their homes without building licences from Israeli authorities.
Abu Fannar said the houses do not need licences as they don’t have cement ceilings.
“Israel wants to clear those families from the area which accommodates the Israeli colony of Sosia which is under expansion,” he said.
“The Israeli authorities are building a public park for the colony, and authorities want to seize the land for building the park.”
The families who received the demolition orders arrived at the premises of the Yatta Municipality where they told officials that they will not comply with the order.
Abu Fannar warned that this case will create major problems between the local residents of Yatta and the Israelis.
