Violation: closure of a main road.

Location: Tuqu’ town/ Bethlehem governorate.

Date: 09/04/2019.

Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation army,

Victims: People  of Tuqu’.

Description:

Tuesday, April 09, the Israeli occupation troops sealed off a main road in Tuqu’ via earth mounds. The targeted road leads to schools cluster in Tuqu’, the troops claim that school children throw stones on them while they are going or leaving school.

While in reality, the school children are exposed to attacks by settlers and troops due to the location of the schools.

An employee from Tuqu’ municipality told LRC reporter: “ The occupation troops daily arrest children for hours ”

Noteworthy, the occupation troops are always on the entrance of Tuqu’s harassing children, which controverts international conventions and agreements regarding protection of children.

Due to the closure, residents of Tuqu’ are forced to take longer routes in order to reach their destinations, which takes more time and money.

 the sealed off road

About Tuqu': [1]

Tuqu' is an old Canaanite name which meant "placing of tents"; the crusaders called it "Thecua" as it was one of their strongholds in Bethlehem area.

Tuqu' has a great deal of Roman, Greek, and Mamluke ruins considering its strategic location.

One of the most significant ruins is the "baptism basin" which is a stony artifact that has been cut and formed. It represents a number of Christian sects.

It is believed that the artifact has been made around the 1750s; it is also believed that this is one part of a two-part artifact; the second part's location is unknown.

Tuqu' is surrounded by 5 Israeli colonies including Tquah, AlDavid, Nokdim, in addition to two other colonies to the south, Mizpe Shalim and Mushki Dar Got.

Tuqu' total area is 10 km². Therefore it is considered the largest rural community in Palestine. The village is 12km to the west of Bethlehem governorate and is covered by evergreen trees, making it an attractions to many visitors and tourists.

It is inhabited by 8767 people by 2017 including all its four parts namely: Tuqu' , Khirbet Tuqu', Khirbet al-Dair, and al-Halqum .

[1] GIS-LRC

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union

The content of this document is the sole responsibility of LRC and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union