Palestinian protesters block IOF attempt to destroy village, homes

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More than 200 Palestinians are to take part in a two-day vigil in Khan al-Ahmar, east of Al-Quds, to block an Israeli attempt to destroy the village and displace its people. Others have gone on strike in Al-Quds's Jabal Mukkaber in protest against the demolitions. 

The Palestinian protesters voiced their objection to the occupation's repression at the entrance of the village and prevented the Israeli army from carrying out the demolition. 

The head of the Wall and Settlements Resistance Commission, Muayyad Shaban, said that he had called for the two-day vigil on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian WAFA news agency, one day before the Israeli Supreme Court was scheduled to issue a ruling on this issue.

Concerns escalated over demolishing the village, where 200 people live, half of them children, following a call by the Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to immediately demolish it and displace its residents. 

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For numerous years, Israeli authorities have threatened to demolish Khan al-Ahmar, which encompasses 25 Bedouin settlements.

The deputy head of the Directorate of Education of the suburbs of Al-Quds, Issam al-Ahmad, told Palestine TV that the demolition policies of houses and facilities across Palestine, especially Khan al-Ahmar, are not new.

“The school of Khan al-Ahmar was established 15 years ago, and since that moment, the Israeli occupation has been threatening to demolish it. This takes place at a time Palestinian children should enjoy the right to study in a safe and appropriate environment and circumstances, which does not happen often in the occupied territories,” he explained.

Moreover, a resident from the Bedouin village told Palestine TV on Tuesday that the home demolition policies are not strictly limited to Khan al-Ahmar. “Just like they attack Khan al-Ahmar, they attack other Palestinian residential areas. They attacked Khan al-Ahmar multiple times, including major attacks in 2000 and 2018. We will not leave Khan al-Ahmar, and they can maybe demolish our houses, but they will never be able to demolish our morale and adherence to our rights and lands,” he said.

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The Israeli Supreme Court greenlit the village’s removal in September 2018, leaving it open to being demolished at any time. However, these plans have since been put on hold several times.

Moreover, Palestinian residents of the Jabal al-Mukabber neighborhood of occupied East al-Quds also observed a general strike on Tuesday in protest against the Israeli wave of home demolitions under the pretext of construction without a permit.

Residents closed roads with burnt tires and rocks and poured oil on the streets to prevent Israeli bulldozers and army vehicles from entering the neighborhood to carry out more demolitions.

Israeli occupation forces intend to demolish 14 other Palestinian homes in different neighborhoods of the occupied city in the next few days, according to WAFA.

Since Benjamin Netanyahu took office again, the number of demolitions increased across the occupied territories. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, ministers of the new cabinet, are seen by public opinion around the world as racist and extremist for publicly advocating the expulsion of Palestinians and the demolition of their homes.