Violation: Issuance of an Order Concerning Government Property.
Location: Villages of Shibtin, Deir Qaddis, and Deir Ammar in Ramallah Governorate.
Date of Violation: July 15, 2024.
Responsible Party: The Official for Government and Absentee Property / Israeli Civil Administration.
Affected Party: Residents of the mentioned villages.

Description:

On July 15, 2024, the so-called Official for Government and Absentee Property of the Israeli Civil Administration issued a new military order to seize an area of 441 dunams from the lands of three villages west of Ramallah.

The seized lands were designated as state lands according to the new military order and the accompanying map, signed by "Yossi Segal – Official for Government and Absentee Property." The decision is based on )Order No. 59 of 1967(. 

According to the order, the seized lands are located in the following areas:

Shabtin Village: Within Basin No. (2), sites: Al-Aroud, Abu Al-Lawz, Al-Khirbeh, Al-Raas, Al-Sanam, Al-Aqdeh, and part of Natural Basin No. (3).

Deir Qaddis Village: Within Basin No. (2), sites: Khillet Al-Rabee', Najmat Eid, Al-Ardoud, Sha'b Al-Halas, and Natural Basin No. (3), site Al-Maysah.

Deir Ammar Village: Within Basin No. (4), site Al-Midan.

 The seized lands surround the settlements of “Nili” and “Naaleh”. Declaring the surrounding lands as state property is part of a broader plan to take control of additional lands to expand these settlements. The occupied lands will serve as a reserve for future settlement expansions, coinciding with ongoing construction and the addition of dozens of housing units in the settlements.

Mr. Radi Mahmoud Nasser, head of the Deir Qaddis Village Council, stated to the LRC researcher:

"We are already suffering from the continuous harassment by settlers, as the two settlements are noticeably and significantly expanding. The announcement of the seizure of 441 dunams around these settlements is, in reality, a declaration to annex the lands surrounding these settlements, effectively separating the western villages from one another."

Land Seizure Violates International Laws

Israel's actions in the occupied Palestinian territories constitute a violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and their lands, as well as a breach of international laws and norms. Below are key provisions from international laws and treaties that prohibit Israeli settlement in Palestinian territories and safeguard civil and public rights and property in occupied lands, along with relevant United Nations resolutions:

The Lahay Convention (1907):

• Article 46: The occupying power is prohibited from confiscating private property.
• Article 55: The occupying power is considered an administrator of the land in the occupied country and must treat its properties as private property.

Fourth Geneva Convention (1949):

• Article 49: The occupying power is prohibited from transferring its own citizens to the occupied territories or taking any action that leads to demographic changes in those areas.
• Article 53: The occupying forces are not allowed to destroy private or collective property, or property belonging to individuals, the state, or any authority in the occupied country.
• Article 147: The destruction and seizure of property on a large scale, not justified by military necessity, and carried out unlawfully and arbitrarily, constitute a grave breach.
• مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC IV - GFFO

  Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of Land Research Center and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the project donor; the Norwegian Refugee Council.

  إخلاء المسؤولية: الآراء ووجهات النظر الواردة في هذا التقرير هي آراء ووجهات نظر مركز أبحاث الأراضي ولا تعكس بالضرورة وجهات نظر أو مواقف الجهة المانحة للمشروع؛ المجلس النرويجي. للاجئين