April 2^nd 2019, the Israeli occupation bulldozers carried on demolition of an under construction residential structure in Shufat refugees’ camp, on the pretext of building before getting proper licenses.

Reportedly, the property belongs to Alaa Hushiya  , it is an under construction house consisting of 2 floors (each one is 225 m²), and about (50 m) from the segregation wall. The new house was supposed to be the family’s home.

The owner, Alaa Hushiya told LRC reporter:

“About one year ago, we carried on constructing a residential building for the family, but at the beginning of 2019, the occupation authorities issued a demolition order against the property on the pretext of building before getting proper licenses. We headed to the Israeli court, and the later gave us until may to demolish our own structure.

But we were shocked on Thursday, when Israeli troops and bulldozers circulated the area, before they completely demolished my structure.

The occupation fanatic troops also assaulted my father (53) and shoot him with four rubber bullets, and served him a call for investigation on Wednesday.”

After the demolition, the occupation police served an order to Hoshiya , telling him to visit the ministry of interior and pay the demolition operation costs which are about 150,000-200,000 NIS. This is an additional punishment imposed on Jerusalemites, in order to push them to self-demolish their structures.

Noteworthy, the occupation authorities in Jerusalem escalated waves of demolition and demolition-threats in Jerusalem, since ending the UNRWA mission in Jerusalem and closing out refugees’ case, since that time, the occupation demolished 19 commercial facilities, a school and number of residential buildings.

Shu’fat Refugees’ camp[1]:

4 kilometers north east Jerusalem, Shu’fat is surrounded by “Pizgat Amir” settlement built over confiscated lands (north), Shu’fat town (west) , Anattah( east) and Isawiya (south). Shu’fat refugees’ camp has a population of (60000) people in 2016.

Shu’fat town including the refugees’ camp have together an area of 8494 dunums, of which 2033 dunums are a built-up planned area.

The occupation devoured from Shu’fat town and its refugees’ camp (8591) dunums for the following purposes:

Settlements devoured (3781) dunums for the following:

2. Bypass 60 devoured 8 dunums.

3- The Apartheid wall devoured of 4802 donums and isolated 1013 donums behind it –about 4021 meters long-.

[1] GIS -LRC.

Legal commentary:

Israeli policies in demolishing Palestinian facilities and constructions are a violation of basic human rights guaranteed by international conventions like 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.