The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has warned that the Israeli occupation government is taking measures to forcibly displace large numbers of Palestinians from towns and communities, including in occupied East Jerusalem.

In a statement, the office highlighted a new Israeli decision that paves the way for the displacement of around 1,200 Palestinians from Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, by rejecting all Palestinian applications for construction and planning under the pretext that the area is used by the Israeli army for military training purposes.

The statement added: “In recent months, Israel has significantly intensified home demolitions, alongside arbitrary arrests, mistreatment of Palestinians and human rights defenders, and tightened restrictions on freedom of movement in and around Masafer Yatta—all aimed at forcing Palestinian residents to leave the area.”

At the same time, “settlers from nearby outposts—who are not subject to evacuation orders—have ramped up their daily attacks and assaults on Palestinians in an effort to drive them out.”

The statement concluded: “The recent decision paves the way for the Israeli military to demolish existing structures and expel some 1,200 Palestinians who have lived in the area for decades.”