UN: 3 buildings demolished, 27 olive trees cut down by Israel in occupied West Bank

The Israeli authorities demolished three structures belonging to a traditional charcoal factory in the Area B town of Ya’bad (Jenin), citing the violation of environmental regulations, and confiscated over 150 tons of wood, affecting the livelihoods of 24 families, said a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 

During the incident a large fire broke up on the site and it took several hours to put out. Three similar demolitions and confiscations have taken place in the same location since November 2016. 

Additionally, the Israeli authorities cut down 27 olive trees in Husan (Bethlehem), claiming they had provided cover for Palestinians throwing stones at passing Israeli vehicles.

Following the decision of the Palestinian government in Ramallah city to reduce its monthly payments to Israel for its supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip by 30 percent, on June 11, the Israeli cabinet approved a cut in that supply. 

On June 11, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called upon the Israeli authorities to clarify the fate of 19 Palestinians who went missing during the 2014 conflict in Gaza, whose bodies the Israeli authorities publicly acknowledged holding.

A similar call was made to the Hamas authorities in Gaza by the ICRC a few days previously, in relation to the fate of five missing Israeli nationals.

Around 65,000 Palestinians were allowed into East Jerusalem through the surrounding checkpoints for prayers on first Friday of Ramadan and 85,000 for the second Friday, according to the Israeli official sources. This followed the temporary lifting of the permit requirement for Palestinians holding West Bank ID cards: males above the age of 40, and for all females. 

Additionally, around 100 Palestinians from Gaza above the age of 55 were allowed to enter East Jerusalem for the Friday prayers and another 300 during the week days. 

The Israeli authorities extended the expansion of the fishing limits along the southern coast of Gaza from six to nine nautical miles off shore, for another three weeks. 

Citing security concerns, Israel has been enforcing a six-nautical-mile fishing limit along the entire Gaza coast since 2013, severely undermining fishing livelihoods.

Source: MENA