Land Research Center

• Violation: Two notices of land confiscation
• Location: Town of Habla, south of Qalqiliya city
• Date of Violation: Beginning of January 2025
• Perpetrating Party: Commander of occupation army forces
• Impacted farmer: Residents of Habla town

Details of the Violation:

At the start of the current year 2025, the so-called Israeli Civil Administration issued two military orders, including orders to expropriate a total of 67 dunams of land from the town of Habla, located south of Qalqiliya city, for the purpose of expanding a section of bypass road number "55" starting from the "Eyal" military checkpoint towards the so-called Green Line.

It is noted that these orders, signed by the so-called "Hillel Rot," deputy director of the Israeli Civil Administration, were issued at the beginning of last November and were delivered at the beginning of this January. The occupation authorities set a period of 60 days from the date of issuance for submitting objections to this new plan.

The following table includes details of the two notifications:

 According to direct field research indicators, the Israeli occupation is planning to expand the lanes of this section of the bypass road with a length of 1,200 linear meters on both sides of the section at the expense of town lands. This expansion only serves settlers' vehicles heading towards Israeli settlements located on the governorate's lands, specifically the " Shomron" settlement cluster, in addition to the " Kedumim" settlement and " Alfei Menashe" settlement. This falls within what was announced by the Israeli Infrastructure Minister regarding the development of services and road networks in Israeli settlements located in the West Bank.

Mr. Mahmoud Abu Al-Sheikh, an activist in the Qalqiliya area, stated:

"This section that the occupation plans to implement is one of a series of locations where expropriation orders are also being implemented on the same Road 55. This includes the section at Al Funduq village which is planned for implementation, as well as what was previously implemented at Nabi Elias village, and today the occupation is proceeding with expanding the section at the outskirts of Habla town. These primarily and clearly aim to create new infrastructure that aligns with the settlement activities taking place on the governorate's lands. Therefore, what is happening is the development of the road network and services provided to Israeli settlements on the governorate's lands."

In the same context, and according to field monitoring, there are at least four agricultural nurseries located on the edges of this targeted section that serve as a source of income for several families from the Qalqiliya area. These nurseries are vulnerable to Israeli targeting during the expansion of this bypass road section as they are located on both sides of this section.

In addition to the above, the Israeli occupation had previously announced in 2023 the expropriation of other areas of land from the villages of Jinsafut, Al Funduq, and Immatin for the purpose of expanding another section of the same road, with the aim of serving the infrastructure of the settlements established there.

Land Confiscation Violates International Laws:

What Israel is doing in the occupied Palestinian territories is considered a violation of the Palestinian people's rights and their lands, and a violation of international laws and conventions. The following are the most important texts contained in international laws and treaties that prohibit Israeli settlement in Palestinian territories and prevent interference with civil and public rights and properties in occupied territories, along with relevant United Nations resolutions.

Lahay Convention / 1907:

• Article 46: The occupying power may not confiscate private property.
• Article 55: The occupying power is considered a manager of lands in the occupied country and must treat the country's properties as private property.

Fourth Geneva Convention / 1949:

• Article 49: The occupying power has no right to transfer its citizens to territories it has occupied, or to take any action that leads to demographic change in them.
• Article 53: The occupying forces have no right to destroy individual or collective personal property, or property belonging to individuals, the state, or any authority in the occupied country.
• Article 147: The destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity and carried out on a large scale in an unlawful and arbitrary manner is a grave breach.
•  مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC IV - GFFO

  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