UN STATISTICS SHOW THAT ISRAELI OCCUPATION IS MORE AGGRESSIVE

New statistics from the United Nations demonstrate that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip is becoming more aggressive and dangerous for Palestinian civilians.

A report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied territories (UNOCHA) has revealed an increase in Israel’s demolitions of Palestinian houses and other buildings in 2011. The number of Palestinians injured by Israeli forces this year has more than doubled compared with last year.

The UNOCHA report said that the Israeli Occupation Authorities demolished 409 Palestinian structures in 2011 compared with 290 over the same period in 2010. Just over 800 Palestinians have been injured to-date in 2011; the figure for January to September 2010 was 374.

Attacks by illegal Jewish settlers accounted for 139 Palestinians being injured so far this year; in 2010 the figure was 74. Settler-related incidents resulting in Palestinian injuries or property damage, said UNOCHA, numbered 326 in 2011 compared with 202 in 2010.

The report also revealed that the number of Palestinians injured at the hands of Israeli forces has doubled in 2011 when compared to last year: 471 Palestinians were injured by the Occupation forces this year while there were 194 such cases in 2010. Israeli forces have killed 85 Palestinians this year; in 2010 the figure was 53.