Catholic Online: The number of demolitions increased by almost half, 25 aid organizations have said. There is also the issue of displacement of Palestinians — by nearly three-quarters between July 2013, when the talks began, and the end of the year, compared to the same period in 2012.
The groups report that the 663 Palestinian structures torn down last year, the highest number in five years, 122 was built with international donor aid.
In response, the International Red Cross has announced that it would stop delivering tents to Palestinians that have been made homeless by demolitions in the Jordan border region of the occupied West Bank. The Red Cross cites Israeli obstruction and confiscation of aid as the reason why.
“International and local aid organizations have faced increasingly severe restrictions in responding to the needs created by the unlawful demolition of civilian property, in violation of Israel’s obligation to facilitate the effective delivery of aid,” the groups, which included Oxfam and Christian Aid, said in a statement. More of the report here.
