April 16^th 2019, The Israeli occupation authorities demolished two plants nurseries and a room for utilities that are related to agriculture.

The occupation claims that the targeted structures were built before getting proper licenses. A plants nursery in a 200 m² barracks and a 16 m² room that belong to Mohammad Sbaih, and a 60 m² plants nursery that belongs to Awad Al-Abasi.

Mohammad Sbaih told LRC reporter:

“The occupation’s ministry of interior issued several military orders targeting nurseries in this area.

 A month ago, Israeli troops showed up and hanged demolition orders on the targeted structures, and this morning they showed up supported by bulldozers, and completely demolished our properties”.

About Hizma:

It is 8km to the northeast of Jerusalem; it populates 9256 people on a built-up area of 1000 dunums out of its 18000 dunums total land area. According to Oslo lands classification of 1993, a small part of the village's area — the built-up area– is classified as area "B" that is under Palestinian control where the rest is classified "C" that is administratively run by the occupation municipality of Jerusalem .

The occupation confiscated 2500 dunums of Hizma for the expansion of various colonies namely ( Pisgat Zev, Pisgat Amir, Adam and Nevi Yaacov)

It should be marked that the apartheid wall travels 4km on the lands of Hizma town, isolating 40% of the village's total area behind its construction.

Noteworthy, closures on the town have been applied on the town ever since the first intifada of 2000. Such measure was meant as a collective punishment on the town's residents.

Legal Feedback:

International Conventions and agreements pertaining demolition of properties:

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.