Nairobi: The Israeli army issued 22 eviction and demolition orders for Palestinian homes in the town of Kafr Aqab, located north of the occupied East Jerusalem. This move comes amid an escalating Israeli campaign targeting Palestinian presence in the West Bank.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Jerusalem Governorate stated that Israeli forces conducted a raid in the town, distributing eviction orders for an unspecified number of homes scheduled for demolition. The notices provided Palestinian homeowners with a one-week deadline to evacuate their buildings before demolition procedures begin.

The governorate had previously indicated that Israeli authorities issued notices to halt construction for approximately 20 homes in Kafr Aqab. Concurrently, Israeli forces placed concrete blocks in the Khneideq area on the road connecting the towns of Beit Anan and Beit Liqya, northwest of East Jerusalem, in preparation for setting up a military gate, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Wafa also reported that Khneideq experiences frequent raids and attacks by Israeli forces, which target farmers and obstruct their access to lands, aligning with ongoing Israeli restrictions in East Jerusalem. Data from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission indicates that Israel has established 917 military checkpoints in the occupied West Bank, including 244 gates erected since October 2023.

The intensification of Israeli operations in the West Bank has been noted since the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023. Official Palestinian figures reveal that these operations have resulted in the deaths of at least 1,181 Palestinians, injuries to 13,000, and nearly 24,000 arrests.