Gaza, Alray - Human Rights Watch called on Israel to end immediately the unlawful demolitions of Palestinian homes and other structures in occupied Palestine, noting that it raises war crime concerns.

HRW issued a report  on Sunday in which it indicated that the Israeli  demolitions have displaced 79 Palestinians since August 19, 2013. It considered demolitions of homes and other structures that compel Palestinians to leave their communities may amount to the forcible transfer of residents of an occupied territory, as a war crime.

Human Rights Watch documented demolitions on August 19 in East Jerusalem that displaced 39 people, including 18 children. Israeli human rights groups and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documented additional demolitions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank on August 20 and 21 that destroyed the homes of 40 people, including 20 children.

Joe Stork, acting Middle East director at Human Rights Watch said " When Israeli forces routinely and repeatedly demolish homes in occupied territory without showing that it’s necessary for military operations, it appears that the only purpose is to drive families off their land, which is a war crime,”.