Israel forces surround Bedouin village ahead of demolition despite injunction, international concern

Israeli forces have surrounded a Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank in preparation to raze the hamlet and evict its residents, despite growing international concern over the move.

"Israeli forces have prevented residents from leaving Khan al-Ahmar and people from entering, saying they are setting up a closed-off military zone," activist Abdallah Abu Rahma told The New Arab's Arabic-language service.

Abu Rahma said the forces also barred a Palestinian medical team from entering the village to provide food and aid to villagers.

Last week, Israel's supreme court temporarily blocked the planned demolition of Khan al-Ahmar after a wave of criticism from the international community.

The order stops Israel from razing Khan al-Ahmar until at least Wednesday.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Wednesday that despite the injunction, the government still plans to carry out the eviction "within days".

Before the freeze was issued, Israeli troops injured 35 people as they stormed the village and began to bulldoze homes.

Locals accuse Israeli authorities of wanting to demolish the village to make room for more illegal Jewish settlements.

Israel claims the structures that make up the encampment, which include an Italian-funded school, were illegally built and pose a threat to residents because of their proximity to a highway.

The village is located in the 60 percent of the West Bank known as Area C, which remains under exclusive Israeli control and is home to dozens of Israeli settlements.

Israel places severe restrictions on Palestinian development in Area C, and home demolitions there are not unusual.

The UN's humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, Jamie McGoldrick, has condemned the planned demolition.

"These demolitions are particularly outrageous because they target communities who already live in extremely difficult conditions, with high levels of humanitarian needs," he said.