Violation: Demolition of two agricultural water wells

Date: February, 5^th , 2025

Location: Karma- Dura town/ Hebron governorate

Perpetrating Party: The So- Called Israeli Civil Administration

Victims: Farmers Tawfiq and Abd Al Rahman Awawdeh

Details: 

On Wednesday, February, 5 ^th , 2025 , the Israeli occupation authorities demolished two agricultural water wells in Karma village , south of Dura ,  in the southern of Hebron governorate. On the pretext of building without a license.

Victims told LRC as follows: 

A force from the occupation army, accompanied by a demolition crews from the planning and building Department of the civil administration, arrived in the village around 10:00 am. they were carrying a bulldozer, a chain excavator and headed towards the area of (Hablat Al Masharaf) where their wells are located. After the occupation soldiers spread out across the agricultural lands and around the wells, the machinery proceeded to demolish them.

The occupation machinery targeted the wells that were constructed by Land Research Center in 2014, as a part of one its agricultural development project in the village. These activities include land reclamation, the construction of agricultural road, and the establishment of rainwater collection wells for an agricultural purpose.

The wells that were demolished by the occupation are owned by: 

1. Farmer Tawfiq Khalil Abd al Qadeer Awawdeh:

The well, located on his land, was demolished in 2014. it was built with reinforced concrete walls and roof, and has a capacity of 150 m³. it was used for irrigation a 3 dunums plot of land planted with vegetables, in addition to 7 dunams planted with olive trees and other plants.

On August 21^th, 2014, the occupation authorities issued a written notice with the reference number (180155), demanding a halt to the construction and work on the well, on the pretext of building without a license, and because it is located in Area C , which is under their control and administration .

At that time the farmer submitted a legal objection through the village council. However, on October, 8^th, 2024, the occupation authorities issued a final demolition order for the well, which was subsequently carried out.

The final demolition order number (651143) -was issued to demolish the well

The work stopped notice number (180155) targeted the well of the farmer  Awawdeh

show the aftermath of the well’s demolition and the lands that benefited from it

1. The farmer Abd Al Rahman Abd Al Fattah Awawdeh :

The well owned by him, located on his private agricultural land, which has a capacity of 100 m ³ ,was demolished , it was used for irrigation 6 dunums plot planted with olive trees. The occupation authorities had targeted this well with a work stopped notice, issued on August, 30^th , 2014, in which they demanded to a halt to the construction work , claiming it was started without a license . On January, 4^th ,  2015 , they issued a final demolition order for the well.  

The final demolition orded number (391716) was issued for the well

The work stopped notice number (180167) targeted the well of farmer Abd al Rahman Awawdeh

However, the farmer prepared a licensing file and the necessary engineering plans, along with documents providing ownership of the land, where the well was located. he submitted his application to the relevant authorities, that had issued the notice and appointed a lawyer to handle the objection to the occupation notifications. Nevertheless, the occupation authorities do not grant permits for buildings constructed by Palestinian citizens in area c and often provide flimsy excuses to reject the applications. As a result, his request was rejected, and the demolition order was carried out.

The two affected farmers clarified that they would face a major problem in providing water for their crops, after the occupation demolished their wells. they pointed out that their lands benefit around 30 people, including 12 of them are children, providing a source of livelihood for them.

Land Research Center LRC sees that demolitions contradict with all the International conventions and Humanitarian laws including:

• Article 17 of the (1948) Universal Declaration of Human Rights stating: “Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.”
• Section ‹G› of article 23 of the (1907) The Hague Conventions asserting: “In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden to destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war.”
• Article 53 of the Geneva Fourth Convention (1948) declaring: “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 cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.”
• Section 1, Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966): “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent."

مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC IV - FCDO

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