2019-06-11
Demolishing four Barracks in Bir Ouneh – Beit Jala / Bethlehem governorate
Violation: Demolishing four Barracks.
Location: Bir Ouneh- Beit Jala / Bethlehem governorate.
Date: 11/06/2019.
Perpetrator : The Israeli occupation civil administration and Forces.
Victims: Citizen Mohammad Zrina.
Description:
About 6:00 AM Tuesday, the Israeli occupation forces and dozers raided Bir Ouneh in Beit Jala , and carried on ravaging 4 barracks used as barns and stables , on the pretext of building without licenses.
Noteworthy, the family used to have four barracks for cattle breading , but after the construction of the segregation wall , the barracks became isolated behind it, the family moved the barracks to another location to make it easier for them to reach them out.
Thursday, 13 June 2019, a massive army force raided the area at 3:00 am and arrested Mohammad Zraina, His wife and eldest son, after the occupation forces complained that the family fought and tried to stop the demolition.
LRC team visited the demolition site, and found child Issa alone on the ruins, he was left with his older sister after all his family are imprisoned in the Israeli jails. What a tragedy, Palestinian children face the pains of demolition and imprisonment , instead of living a normal life and attending summer camps and talents’ classes , or enjoy a safe live as guaranteed in international conventions and agreements.
Child Issa Mohammad Zraina told LRC reporter:
“We woke up in the middle of the night , like criminals , they attacked us and demolished everything , I do not know what do they want.”
Noteworthy, the family has an ownership deed on the plot, and has no other place to go to; their only request is to live in peace.
The following table shows more information about the damages:
Name | Family members | children | Nature of the building |
Mohammad Zraina | 5 | 1 | 4 barracks |
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The targeted barracks
About Bir Ouneh :[1]
It is important to point out that Bir Ouneh is a part of Beit Jala city, but since 1967 it is annexed to the occupation's municipality in Jerusalem who impose their terms and complications on the people , after "Israel" occupied West bank including east Jerusalem and Gaza strip, most of Bir Ouneh inhabitants hold an east Jerusalem identity card, and pay "Arnona" to the occupations municipality , except that the occupation does not guarantee any building permissions on that area, and impose complication in order to take over their lands.
Beit Ouneh has a population of 1413 people in 2017 census.
The occupation devoured wide area of Beit Jala and Bir Ouneh areas for the construction of these settlements:
“Gilo” settlement was established in 1971 on confiscated lands from Beit Jala, “Gilo” settlement ate up about 2738 dunums of which 1117 dunums were confiscated from Beit Jala, Gilo is populated 31500 illegal settlers.
“Har Gilo” settlement was established in 1972 on lands confiscated from Beit Jala, Har Gilo ate up 420 dunums, of which 314 dunums were confiscated from Beit Jala. Har Gilo is populated 414 illegal settlers.
[1] GIS-LRC
The contents of this document is the sole responsibility of LRC and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union
