Ramallah, July 22 (RHC)-- In the occupied Palestinian territories, hundreds of Israeli troops have begun demolishing homes in the Wadi al-Hummus neighborhood of Sur Baher, a West Bank village located close to the separation barrier with Israel.  Dozens of families could be pushed out of their homes.

Residents say Israel wants to build more illegal settlements on the land and is destroying structures that were built with permits from the Palestinian Authority. Palestinians have been protesting against the planned demolitions for years.  U.N. officials called on Israeli authorities to halt the move last week, after the Israeli Supreme Court allowed the destruction to go ahead.