Israel's Ben-Gvir orders demolition of Palestinian homes in East al-Quds during Ramadan

Tel Aviv - Israel's so-called National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has ordered regime forces to speed up the demolition of Palestinian houses during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan allegedly built "without permits" in occupied East al-Quds. According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, Monday's announcement comes despite the fact that the occupying regime has not carried out house demolitions during Ramadan in recent years to avoid tensions with the Palestinians and their subsequent retaliatory actions.

Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, is scheduled to begin later this month. Meanwhile, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth said Israeli police warned Ben-Gvir that implementing the measure during the fasting month of Ramadan could be extremely dangerous as Palestinians have already been stretched to the limit amid rising tensions in the occupied West Bank.

The demolitions of Palestinian homes in the occupied territories have increased since Israel's far-right government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, took office. Palestinians view the new cabinet ministers, particularly far-right Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, as racist and fascist for publicly advocating the eviction of Palestinians and the demolition of their homes, support for Israeli extremist groups that repeatedly target Palestinians, and Incite incitement to racism against Arabs and non-Jews.

Last week, Smotrich caused an uproar when he said the Palestinian town of Huwwara, south of Nablus, should be "obliterated". "I think the village of Huwwara must be wiped out. I think Israel should do it,” he was quoted as saying by Israeli media on March 1.