In Pictures

Palestinian homes demolished by Israeli troops

Palestinians accuse Israel of using ‘security’ as a pretext to force them out and expand illegal settlements.

This picture taken from Jerusalem on July 22, 2019 shows Israeli security forces tearing down one of the Palestinian buildings still under construction which have been issued notices to be demolished — Israeli security forces tear down one of the Palestinian buildings still under construction. [Ahmad Gharabli/AFP]

Israeli troops, accompanied by bulldozers, began demolishing homes in the Palestinian village of Sur Baher on Monday.

Residents of the village’s Wadi al-Hummus neighbourhood told local media that 16 residential buildings, which hold about 100 apartments, were targeted.

The Israeli military considers the homes, which are close to an Israeli separation wall that crisscrosses the occupied West Bank, a security risk.

The Israeli Supreme Court ended a seven-year legal battle when it ruled in favour of the military last month, and set Monday as the deadline to knock down the homes. Palestinians say the move sets a precedent for other towns along the route of the barrier, which runs for hundreds of kilometres around and through the occupied West Bank.

Palestinians accuse Israel of using “security” as a pretext to force them out of the area as part of long-term efforts to expand illegal settlements.

All settlements on occupied Palestinian lands are illegal under international law.

The European Union issued a statement saying: “The continuation of this policy undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospect for a lasting peace.”

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s internal security minister, accused the EU of buying into “the lies of the Palestinians”.

Palestinians watch as an Israeli military bulldozer demolishes a building near a military barrier in Sur Baher, a Palestinian village on the edge of East Jerusalem in an area that Israel captured and — Palestinians watch as an Israeli military bulldozer demolishes a building in Sur Baher. [Ammar Awad/Reuters]

This picture taken from the West Bank on July 22, 2019 shows an Israeli flag waving as Israeli security forces tear down one of the Palestinian buildings still under construction which have been issue — An Israeli flag is seen as security forces tear down one of the Palestinian buildings in the Wadi al-Hummus area. [Hazem Bader/AFP]

An Israeli military bulldozer demolishes a building near a military barrier in Sur Baher, a Palestinian village on the edge of East Jerusalem in an area that Israel captured and occupied in the 1967 M — Residents of Wadi al-Hummus told local media that 16 residential buildings were targeted. [Ammar Awad/Reuters]

This picture taken from the West Bank on July 22, 2019 shows Israeli security forces tearing down one of the Palestinian buildings still under construction which have been issued notices to be demolis — The Israeli military considers the homes a security risk. [Hazem Bader/AFP]

An Israeli army excavator machine demolishes a building in the Palestinian village of Sur Baher, in East Jerusalem, 22 July 2019. Israeli authorities decided to demolish at least six Palestinian resid — An Israeli army excavator demolishes a building in the village of Sur Baher. The sprawling village straddles the line between occupied East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. [Abed al-Hashlamoup/EPA]

This picture taken from the West Bank on July 22, 2019 shows Palestinians looking at Israeli security forces tearing down one of the Palestinian buildings still under construction which have been issu — Palestinians accuse Israel of using 'security' as a pretext to force them out of the area, meant to be under Palestinian Authority civilian control under the Oslo accords. [Hazem Bader/AFP]

This picture taken on July 22, 2019 shows Israeli security forces preparing to demolish the Palestinian buildings still under construction which have been issued notices to be demolished in the Wadi a — Israeli Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan said the residents 'are making their own law' by constructing these buildings. [Ahmad Gharabli/AFP]

Israeli forces began preparations to demolish homes near a military barrier on the outskirts of Jerusalem July 22, 2019. REUTERS/Ammar Awad — The European Union issued a statement saying: 'The continuation of this policy undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospect for a lasting peace.' [Ammar Awad/Reuters]