West Bank: Demolition

Department for International Development written question – answered at on 2 May 2018.

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Photo of Jo Stevens Jo Stevens Labour, Cardiff Central

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the humanitarian effects of recent trends in the number of demolitions and evictions in the West Bank.

Photo of Alistair Burt Alistair Burt Minister of State (Department for International Development) (Joint with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office), Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) (Joint with the Department for International Development)

Demolitions of Palestinian homes and buildings, and evictions of the residents, cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, are harmful to the peace process and, in most circumstances, are contrary to international humanitarian law. According to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian affairs, 97 structures were demolished or seized in the West Bank in the first quarter of 2018 (January-March), including homes and livelihood structures. The humanitarian effects include impact to children’s education, displacement, psychological distress and damage of livelihoods. The UK continues to make clear to the Israeli authorities our serious concerns over the demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes.

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