Seven Palestinian graves face demolition by Israel in West Bank village

Seven graves face destruction in a Palestinian village after Israeli forces reportedly served a demolition notice on Friday.

The graves - which are currently being built - are located in Al-Burj in Hebron province, south of the occupied West Bank, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

Israeli forces entered the Al-Burj cemetery with the demolition notice, which relates to the Talahmeh and Faqih family graves.

The move supposedly comes because the resting places are in Area C of the West Bank, which is under Israel's full control.

Israel routinely rejects Palestinian applications to carry out building work in the West Bank, especially in Area C and East Jerusalem.

With only limited space available, many Palestinians are forced to go ahead with construction, including homes, despite the risk of being served a demolition notice by the occupation forces.

The destruction of the graves was described as "imminent" by Wafa, which are on lands owned by the Palestinian religious affairs ministry.

Locals are worried about the potential defilement of Al-Burj's cemetery.

Israeli authorities are facilitating the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, where over 700,000 settlers live, viewed as an attempt to grab more Palestinian land for their eventual annexation into Israel.

To protect the settlers, the Israeli army maintains its brutal occupation of the Palestinian territory, carrying out regular raids, even in Area A where the Palestinian Authority is supposed to maintain full control.

So far this year, 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

It means more than one Palestinian has lost their life a day on average in 2023.