Violation : Order to seize 100 meters for the purpose of connecting the settlement of Rehalim to the bypass No.60

Location: As- Sawiya Village- Located South of Nablus

Date of Violation : January, 22^st2025

Perpetrator: The So- Called Commander of The Occupation Army in The West Bank

Affected Party :  Citizens from As-Sawiya village.

Details of Violation : 

The So-Called Commander of The Occupation Army in The West Bank, ‘’Aluf Balout’’  issued a new military  order that includes the confiscation of approximately  400 meters from the lands of As- Sawiya village south of Nablus , specifically those located in northeastern part of the village, within the natural block No.(7), known as Al-Ashara , and also Wadi  Yasouf.

It is noted that according to the map attached to the military notice that came under titled to confiscate lands No. 25/8/t , and signed by The So – Called Commander of the occupation army in the West Bank, it seems that the occupation is planning to residence military road linking the settlement of’’ Rehalim’’ , which is located on the parts of the village lands , specifically from its western side ,passing through the lands of the village and reaching to colonial bypass road No. 60, in addition to a part of this bypass section was recently implemented.

According to Field data , this road is estimated to be about 500 meters long , it is noted that it was partially implemented earlier by the settlers living in that settlements passing through Wadi Yasouf . This significantly contributes to the consumption and control of at least 60 dunums , located on both sides of the road, turning them into areas under the control of the settlers, knowing that most of lands are pastoral lands.

The farmer Mohammad Saleh Gazi informed to a researcher at Land Research Center as follows :

‘’I personally own a piece of land located in Wadi Yasuf, specifically just a few meters away from the location of the road that was recently constructed. The settlers from the ‘’Rehalim’’ settlement previously cut down my trees during the years of ( 2022,2023, and 2024) and my loss exceeded 60 olive trees on my land , which has an area of two dunams, I approached several authorities without any benefit, the settlers insist on continuing to violate my land and attempt to take control of it in one way or another. The land is located next to the bypass road, known as road No. 60 , and the  new military road is suited directly to the east of my land, I believe this road will significantly contribute to the expansion of colonial activities and will make it easier for the settlers to damage what remains of the trees in the Wadi Yasouf area.’’

As-Sawiya village:[1]

20 km south Nablus city , As-Sawiya is surrounded by Yatma and Yasouf (north) , Al-Lubban Ash-Sharqi (west) , Talfit and Qablan (east) and Al-Lubban Ash-Sharqi and “Eli” Israeli illegal settlement (south).

As-Sawiya has a population of (2761) people according to 2017 census.

As-Sawiya has a total area of 10,733 dunums , of which 310 dunums are a built up area for the village.

The Israeli occupation confiscate (2662) dunums of its lands for the following purposes:

1. Israeli settlement took over (2022) dunums for :

1. Bypass 60 devoured 640 dunums.

Oslo accords divided the town’s lands as the following:

• B area: (1459) dunums.
• C area : (9274) dunums.

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.

Source :  GIS-LRC.

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