Israel demolishes buildings in southern West Bank

Jerusalem:Israeli forces demolished more than a dozen buildings in a disputed military zone in the southern West Bank Tuesday leaving a number of families homeless authorities and residents said.

Soldiers destroyed 24 structures in and around the village of Khirbet Jenbah south of Hebron the Association of Civil Rights in Israel said. Israeli officials said the structures were illegal.

Forces arrived at around 7:00 am and carried out the demolitions leaving 12 families temporarily homeless Nidal Younes head of a local village council told AFP.

"In total it is around 80 people" he said.

Israel has carried out a long campaign to relocate the residents of the area which was declared a military zone by the Israeli government in the 1970s.

Human rights groups have repeatedly challenged Israel's claim to the land arguing it is illegal to establish a military zone in occupied territory Sarit Michaeli from the B'Tselem NGO told AFP.

The families many of whom are cave dwellers argue their ancestors have lived on the land since long before Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967.

AFP