JERUSALEM The Israeli military has reportedly sent reinforcements to Khan al-Ahmar as the regime prepares to demolish the Palestinian Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank in defiance of international warnings and criticisms.
The Palestinian Information Center reported on Thursday that Israeli forces had completely besieged Khan al-Ahmar, situated east of Jerusalem al-Quds, and deployed bulldozers to the village.
Last week, Israels Supreme Court rejected appeals against the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar and said a temporary injunction that had put the move on hold would expire within seven days.
The Tel Aviv regime says the village is built illegally, but Palestinians say the demolition plan is part of the regimes forcible displacement policy to make room for its settlement construction activities on occupied land.
The United Nations urged Israel not to demolish the village, home to 180 Palestinians, adding that the planned move violates international law.
Saeb Erekat, Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said on Tuesday that he had filed a complaint against Israel with The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC).
The dossier submitted included a focus on the war crimes facing Khan al-Ahmar, specifically the crimes of forcible displacement, ethnic cleansing and the destruction of civilian property, Erekat said.
However, US National Security Adviser John Bolton attacked the ICC, threatening to sanction judges and other officials should the court conduct any probe into Israel or other US allies.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) condemned the Israeli courts illegal decision, saying it was meant to isolate Israeli-occupied Jerusalem al-Quds.
It also stressed that the demolition plan is part of the regimes attempts to try to legalize the crimes of the Israeli occupation and its policies which are based on the forcible settlement and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian residents of their land and property.
The PA further called on Palestinians to come to the streets of Khan al-Ahmar to protest any attempt to demolish the village.
Responding to that call, dozens of protesters marched in the village carrying Palestinian flags.