Israeli forces seize solar power equipment used for Jordan Valley electricity

Israeli forces on Monday seized and destroyed equipment used to generate solar power in the occupied central and northern Jordan Valley, a Palestinian energy official has said.

Zafer Melhem, chairman of the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority, said Israeli forces destroyed parts of solar energy systems in the Baziq and Yarzeh areas of the Jordan Valley.

Israeli forces inflicted further damage to residents' homes and structures in the area, according to Palestinian Authority's news agency, Wafa.

Melhem said the Israeli seizure and vandalism was committed as part of the occupation's policy of ethnic cleansing "with the aim to Judaise the area and secure control over it and destroy everything related to livelihoods in an aim to force the residents to leave for the benefit of settlement expansion".

He said diversification of energy supplies was a keen aim and that solar projects are a step towards energy independence from the Israeli occupation.

The Energy and Natural Resources Authority installed solar energy systems in the central and northern Jordan Valley as part of a project approved by the government that aims to install more than 400 units.