2018-12-04

Demolition of a commercial facility in Beit Hanina / North Jerusalem

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December 4 -2018,  The Israeli occupation machineries demolished a commercial facility on the pretext of building before getting proper licenses, the targeted structure is reported to be an iron container (50 m2) used for trading building materials.

Eyewitnesses told LRC observer that Israeli troops raided the area with a heavy machinery, prevented any one from approaching and completely demolished the container.

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The container lies on a 3 dunums land in Wad Ad-Dum area in Beit Hanina, the area is targeted to Israeli demolition operations due to its closeness to The Apartheid wall and Bypass 443

The occupation authority’s observers are very active in Beit Hanina town in general monitoring any new constructions. Examples of Israeli violations documented by LRC team during 2018:

  • October 8-2018, The Israeli occupation forces a citizen to demolish his own home in Jerusalem.

  • January 3 -2018,  Forth part of colonial street 21 in opened Beit Hanina and Shu'fat North occupied Jerusalem.

  • January 17-2018,  Israel Municipality demolishes parts of a residence in Beit Hanina.

  • February 21 2018, Israeli Occupation Forces demolish a commercial establishment in Beit Hanina.

  • March 6 2018, Israeli Occupation Forces demolish a commercial establishment in Beit Hanina for second time in row.

  • January 2 -2018, Israel Municipality I Jerusalem demolishes part of a house in Beit Hanina town.

About Beit Hanina:[1]

5 km north Jerusalem, Beit Hanina is surrounded by Bir Nabala (north), Beit Hanina down town (Bait Hanina town was divided to two parts by the Apartheid wall Upper Beit Hanaina and Beit Hanina down town) (west), Hizma (east) and Shufat (south). Beit Hanina has a population of 33,617 people in 2009, and an area of (8,877) , (3,341) dunums are a built up area.

The occupation confiscated over 3700 dunums for the following purposes:

Illegal colonies confiscated (3064) dunums as follows:

colony

Establishing year

Area of confiscated lands/ dunums

Number of settlers

Neve Yaacov

1972

575,5

20,250

Pisgat Amir

1985

684

unavailable

Pisgat Zeev

1985

1,458

38, 684

Ramat Shlomo

1990

346

12,822

  • Bypass roads (50 +60) confiscated over 482 dunums.

  • Apartheid wall took over 50 dunums and has a length of (987) meters.

  • Occupation's military camps took over (103) dunums.

The doings of the Israeli occupations of demolition Palestinian constructions is a violation of the rights of Palestinian citizens as ensured by international law and international conventions especially the right of an appropriate residence. According to the following articles:

  • Article 147 of Geneva fourth convention: extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly. ( it is considered a serious violation of the convention)

  • Article 53 of Geneva fourth convention that forbids destroying properties: Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or co-operative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.

  • Article 33 of Geneva fourth convention: No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed.

  • Article 32 of Hague convention 1907 part g: To destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war.

  • Article 17 of Universal declaration of human rights 10 –Dec- 1948:  No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

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This case study is part of Canaan project