Preamble:

Neighborhoods of occupied Jerusalem have been witnessing Israeli violations and attacks on Palestinian people and properties represented in demolition residences and structures and threatening others of demolition and closure.

The team of field research at Land Research Center documented the following violations during May 2017:

• 8 residential and commercial  structures were demolished by the occupation's municipality. In At-Tur village, a four apartments building was demolished in addition to two commercial structures. Sur Bhaer area got one residence demolished where Qalandiya town got one commercial structure demolished.
• 4 under construction buildings were threatened of demolition in Qalandiya and another building was threatened of closure.

Demolition of Palestinian residences:

During May 2017, the Israeli occupation municipality demolished 5 residences in East Jerusalem including 4 stone houses and one cement and bricks residence.

The following table illustrates the number of demolished residences in Jerusalem during May 2017:

Source : Field observation- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2107

Demolition of Palestinian structures:

During May 2017, the Israeli occupation municipality demolished 3  commercial structures in East Jerusalem. The following table illustrates the number of demolished structures during May  2017:

Source : Field observation- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2017

Demolition threats on residences and structures:

The Israeli occupation municipality notified four under construction buildings of demolition  in Qalandiya on the claim of "proximity to the apartheid wall".

Closure on residences and structures:

Israeli Occupation Forces closed a residential building in the area of Qalandiya.

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."

This case study is part of Kan'aan Project