Qalqilia (Ma'an) – A public park and children's playground in the northwestern West Bank are now gone.
Israeli bulldozers destroyed seven and one half dunams of public Palestinian property in 'Azoun Village in Qalqilia on Wednesday.
Ma'an's area correspondent reported that approximately 20 Israeli military vehicles and two bulldozers raided the area and began raising the land.
'Azoun Municipality member, Ra'ed Radwan, told Ma'an, ‘They have destroyed a huge part of the public space, including a swimming pool.’
He continued, ‘The public park and children's playground were built two years ago with funding from USAID.’
The Municipality condemned the act as another in a long string of aggressions against the Palestinian people. In a statement issued today, the 'Azoun Municipality called on ‘all peace loving people in the world to stop Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people.’
The Israelis attempted to claim that park was built on ‘Area C’ lands that are inside the West Bank, but under Israeli civil and security control. The Municipality denies this, but also says that even if it were, it would be no excuse for such destruction.