Violation: Demolition of an agricultural room and uprooting nine palm trees.
Location: Marj Na’ja Village, Jericho Governorate.
Date of Violation: September 9, 2024.
Perpetrator: so-called Israeli Civil Administration.
Affected Party: Farmer Ibrahim Nimer Suwaraka.

Description:

On the afternoon of Monday, September 9, 2024, Israeli occupation forces raided Marj Na’ja Village, located north of Jericho and the Jordan Valley. They targeted a 60-square-meter agricultural room constructed from bricks with a tiled roof, owned by farmer Ibrahim Nimer Suwaraka, the sole provider for a family of 9, including 5 females and 1 child.

The occupation authorities claimed that the agricultural room was demolished under the pretext of being built without a permit in what is classified as "Area C" under the Oslo Accords. The farmer had previously received a demolition and removal notice with a 96-hour deadline in July of this year.

Rubble of the Agricultural Room Demolished by the Occupation

In addition to the demolition, the occupation forces, using a civilian bulldozer accompanying them, cut down and destroyed nine palm trees, each five years old, leveling them completely.

The affected farmer, Ibrahim Nimer Suwaraka, stated:

"I built this room last April and used it directly as a storage space for agricultural equipment on my land, which is located north of the village and spans nine dunams planted with palm trees. I rely entirely on agriculture as my primary and sole source of income. Despite this, we face constant harassment from the occupation, the latest of which was the demolition of this room and the uprooting of nine palm trees. Nevertheless, I will continue to stay here and persevere."

Marj Na’ja Village:

Marj Na’ja is located north of Jericho, approximately 37 kilometers away. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics in 2012, the village has a population of 940 residents.

All the inhabitants of Marj Na’ja are refugees originally displaced from the areas of Umm al-Fahm and Ar’ara, which were occupied in 1948. The residents belong to several families, including Sheikh Khalil, Masoud, Bsharat, Abu Shadad, Al-Ayed, Manawe, Abu Hilal, Mar’i, Suwaraka, and Bani Ouda.

Marj Na’ja Village:

The total area of Marj Na’ja village is 4,872 dunams, of which 244 dunams fall within the village’s structural plan. Additionally, 90 dunams are under colonial activities, represented by the "Argaman" settlement. Approximately 1,500 dunams are utilized for agriculture, while the remaining land is used for grazing.

Agricultural Rooms Under Israeli Targeting:

It is noteworthy that the LRC has documented over 365 settler attacks on agricultural facilities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the beginning of 2024 up to the preparation of this report. These attacks have targeted more than 62 agricultural rooms through arson, vandalism, destruction of contents, or theft.

The targeting of agricultural rooms built by Palestinian farmers on their land, intended to store agricultural tools and provide a place to rest after labor-intensive tasks such as plowing, irrigating crops, weeding, and spraying pesticides, is part of a broader strategy by settlers. These attacks aim to intimidate the Palestinian farmer, making him feel that his presence on his land is dangerous and that his life is at risk. The ultimate goal is to deprive the farmer of his ability to access his land safely, thus discouraging him from continuing his agricultural activities.

مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC IV - FCDO

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of Land Research Center and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the project donor; the Norwegian Refugee Council.

إخلاء المسؤولية: الآراء ووجهات النظر الواردة في هذا التقرير هي آراء ووجهات نظر مركز أبحاث الأراضي ولا تعكس بالضرورة وجهات نظر أو مواقف الجهة المانحة للمشروع؛ المجلس النرويجي. للاجئين