Violation: Demolishing four water Harvesting Cisterns.

Location: Al-Lawayat – Rammun village / Ramallah Governorate.

Date: August 5^th 2021.

Perpetrators: The Israeli Civil Administration.

Victims: Heirs of ‘Izzat Mansour, Heirs of Abdel ‘Awwad Al-‘Awwad , Heirs of Abdel Nabi Al-Mansour , Heirs of Mohammed Abu Farha.

Description:

August 5^th , the Israeli Occupation bulldozers demolished four water harvesting cisterns built 140 years ago at Al-Lawayat area in Rammun village , the targeted cisterns belong to heirs of number of families at the area.

Al-Lawayat area in Rammun plains is heavily targeted by the occupation, noting that it is located to the east of the so-called bypass Alon.

The targeted Cisterns were rehabilitated in 2015 by GVC organization. The rehabilitation included leveling a baton floor , widening the cisterns’ opening, and cleaning them from the inside.

The Israeli Occupation Served a halt of work notices for the targeted cisterns in 2021 . The Occupation took advantage of the fact that most heirs are abroad and cannot sign a petition (Arabic, English).

Rammun plain land is known of its rich soil, and in the past few years the area became a destination for Bedouins and herders towards its postures . The targeted cisterns provide water for agricultural lands and herds, the area is inhabited by 13 Bedouin and rural families. Destroying the cisterns, put the families in the face of a crisis, that the only solution may be eviction, which is the occupation's government goal after all.

The following table shows more information about the owners:

Rammun village:[1]

16 km to the east of Ramallah, Rammun is surrounded by At-Tayba (east and north) , Ein Yabroud (west), and Deir Dibwan (south).

The village of Rammun has a total area of 27,341 dunums, of which 463 dunums are a built-up area.

The Israeli Occupation confiscated 410 dunums for bypasses numbers 449 and 458 (about 4,100 m long).

Oslo Accords classified the town’s lands:

A area: 407 dunums.

B area: 7,205 dunums.

C area: 19,729 dunums.

Legal Commentary:

The demolition of Palestinian homes and installations by the occupation authorities is part of their violations of international and humanitarian law, and the violation of the right to adequate housing for Palestinian citizens guaranteed by international law and international treaties presented by the following articles:

Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, dated December 10, 1948 states that “No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property”.

Article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1948 prohibits the destruction of property, as this article states the following: “The occupying power is prohibited from destroying any private, fixed or movable property related to individuals or groups, the state or public authorities, or social or cooperative organizations, unless the war operations inevitably require this destruction.

Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states: “No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed.

Paragraph ‘g’ of Article 23 of the Hague Convention of 1907 AD also warned against destroying or seizing the enemy’s property, unless the necessities of war necessarily require such destruction or seizure.

[1] GIS-LRC

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