Eight homes seized

The United Nations has condemned the seizure of eight Palestinian homes by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank city of Jericho, saying the settlers assaulted residents and forced dozens of people to flee. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, told reporters on Thursday that the settlers reportedly used live ammunition during the takeover the previous day. "We once again condemn all of these violent activities by the Israeli settlers," he said.

What happened in Ein a-Duyuk a-Tahta

About 30 settlers took over the houses in Ein a-Duyuk a-Tahta, a community on the outskirts of Jericho, on Wednesday afternoon, according to Peace Now, an Israeli settlement watchdog. The group said the settlers assaulted and robbed two Israeli activists and shot a Palestinian man in the leg. The Israeli military has since declared the area a closed military zone, preventing humanitarian workers from reaching the displaced families. The settlers say they bought the homes legally, but Palestinian officials say the sale documents were forged.

A disputed sale in Area C

Hanan Greenwood, a representative of the settlers, told the AFP news agency that Nachala, a right-wing Israeli organisation, had bought the eight homes "with our help". But Hussein Hamayel, governor of the Jericho region, told AFP the land belongs to the Palestinian Authority and cannot be sold. The properties lie in Area C of the West Bank, which has been under Israeli control since the Oslo Accords of the 1990s. Peace Now has warned that settlers living next to Palestinian homes can lead to displacement and friction.