Israeli soldiers stand by as excavators demolish a Palestinian house (still under construction) located within the area C of al-Khalil (Hebron) in the occupied West Bank. (Photo: AFP)

United Nations, March 21 (RHC)-- Israel demolished or seized 26 structures belonging to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds in only two weeks, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says.

In its “Protection of Civilians Report,” which is covering the period between 2 and 15 March, the office said “the Israeli authorities demolished or seized 26 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and East Jerusalem (al-Quds), displacing 42 people, of whom 24 were children, and otherwise affecting about 120.”

“Seventeen of the structures, and all of the displaced people, were recorded in Area C” of the West Bank, whose management of resources, planning, and construction are under the full control of Israel.

The Area C accounts for more than 60 percent of the West Bank, and forms a significant part of a future Palestine state under the so-called two-state solution.  According to the OCHA, the demolitions were carried out under the pretext of the lack of construction permits.

The UN office added that a vegetable stall near the city of Qalqiliya was demolished, affecting the livelihood of 20 people, while 16 were affected by the demolition of two uninhabited houses and the confiscation of one metal container in Isteih in the province of Ariha (Jericho).

According to the report, authorities forced the owners of two of the nine structures targeted in East Jerusalem al-Quds to demolish their property.