Tuesday, 27^th August 2019, the occupation municipality demolished a residential building belongs to Jerusalemites from Beit Hanina , on the pretext of building without licenses.

The building consists of two apartments, the first apartment is a home for 9 family members (1 child) , the other  one is a home for 3 family members (one child).

One of the family members,  Hanan Ar-Rajabi told LRC reporter:

“The building was constructed 15 years ago, in 2005, It composes of two apartments,  the first Apartment has an area of 220 m², while the other one has an area of 70 m²”.

Ar-Rajabi asserted:

“ A massive army force accompanied by a bulldozer , encircled the building and blocked people from approaching the location , then took out few properties before they completely leveled the building to the ground. Now after losing our home, we live with our relatives, and we’ve been looking for an apartment to rent.”

Scenes from the demolition

Noteworthy, after few years of completing the construction, the occupation’s municipality workers showed up , and gave an order to stand before the court , in addition to a demolition order, the owner also paid high fine imposed by the court, and since that day the owners have been following up the file with a human –right lawyer. One month before the demolition, the court issued a demolition order.

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:

• 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.

Israeli occupation measurments 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.

[1] GIS-LRC