Israeli troops have increased demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank this year, leaving over 700 people homeless, a rights group says.

Israeli human rights group B’Tselem said in a statement on Wednesday that Israeli forces have so far demolished "103 residential structures in which 706 persons lived."

The new figure shows a sharp rise from 86 structures destroyed in 2010, according to the statement.

Israel claims that it only demolishes structures built without permits.

B’Tselem said the Palestinians have no choice because Israel, which controls the occupied West Bank, rarely gives Palestinians permits to build.

On Tuesday, Israeli bulldozers razed Palestinian homes near the city of al-Khalil (Hebron) in the southern West Bank.

Israel occupied the West Bank alongside the other Palestinian territory of East al-Quds (Jerusalem) in 1967 and later annexed both in a move not recognized by the international community.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has called on Tel Aviv to cease the demolitions.

The developments come as Tel Aviv keeps up construction and expansion of settlements on the occupied land.

(Press TV)