UN condemns Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) on Thursday condemned Israeli demolitions of Palestinian structures in the West Bank. UNRWA condemns the latest demolitions in the West Bank, which displaced 68 people, including 32 children, which occurred on Christmas Eve, said a statement made by UNRWA. It also calls on Israel to immediately halt them. “Israel violated international law and we call on it to abide by its obligations,” said the statement. At least 1,103 Palestinians have been displaced, with 663 structures, including 259 residential units demolished in the West Bank and east Jerusalem during the year 2013, according to UNRWA. Most of those displaced recently, 46, are Palestianian refugees, including a five-year-old girl who is paralyzed from the waist down. They are now being sheltered in tents distributed by the Palestinian Red Crescent. Night temperatures tend to come down to around zero Celsius.