Wednesday , April 17 2019 , The occupation’s municipality demolished a residential structure in Al-Ashqariya neighborhood in Beit Hanina, on the pretext of building without getting licenses from the occupation.

Reportedly, the house is built of bricks and Zinc , it has an area of 85 m², and inhabited by Imran Al-Masri family (7 members , 5 minors).

Owner Imran Al-Masri told LRC reporter:

“I built this house in 2008, in order to provide a home for my family, After completing the construction, I received a military order from the occupation’s court, When I attended the court, they imposed a high fine on me (about 40,000 NIS), I pay 1000 NIS monthly.

Wednesday noon, a massive Israeli army force showed up , and told me that my house will be demolished, I tried to take out everything I could , before they destroyed the house before my eyes.

And now, we are staying with relatives, until I find a new home for my family.”

Noteworthy, The occupation’s municipality in Jerusalem is targeting residents of Al-Ashqariya neighborhood, The great majority of houses were built without licenses, as the municipality refuses to issue construction licenses in the location, and the residents naturally need to expand.

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.

The doings of the Israeli occupations 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