Land Research Center

• Violation: demolition of two residences

• Location: Khirbet Umm al-Marajem, southeast of Duma village, Nablus governorate

• Date: 15/07/2018

• Perpetrator: the Israeli occupation army.

• Victim: Two families, Musallam and Sharbati

Details:

On Sunday afternoon, 15 July 2018, a large force of the Israeli occupation army stormed Umm al-Marajem village in the southeast of Duma village in Nablus. Then, the Israeli army bulldozers embarked on knocking two structures down. These structures were houses that belonged to:

- Farmer Salim Musallam (60 years) whose house had an area of 48 square meters and 8 people inhabiting it.

- Farmer Amin Selim Sharbati (40 years) with an area of 16 square meters.

Naseem Mohammed Musallam, a farmer and an activist, documenting the Israeli violations at Umm Al-Mergam, told the Land Research Center researcher that:

“A  force of the Israeli army came to Khirbet with two bulldozers in the afternoon of Sunday, 15/7/2018 and proceeded to level the two houses to the ground, under the pretext of being built without a permit and in Area C. This is not accurate as Musallam’s structure dated back to 150 years and was in dire need of restoration. Thus, the restoration process started two years ago…”

Nassim Musallem further stated:

“The Israeli occupation forces have constantly threatened the residents of Um Al-Matarjem with the demolition of their homes and the destruction of the water line near the village of Duma, south of Nablus. The residents of the village are afraid of Israeli army patrols hovering around to monitor any change in the structures and/ or any unlicensed construction. So residents are forced to use temporary tin roofs instead of concrete ones, despite the heat in summer and cold in the winter.”

Khirbat Umm al-Marajem:

Khirbet Umm al-Marajem lies 4 km east of Duma village. Its land lies between two mountains belonging to the village of Talfit south of Nablus. The total area of the village is about 13 thousand dunums, while the number of inhabitants does not exceed 60 people who depend on the agricultural sector and sheep raising for living.

Like other Bedouin ruins in the southern countryside of Nablus, the Khirbat or Khirbet al-Mergam is a target of the Israeli occupation that is trying to kick Palestinians out and take over. Most structures in the Khirbet, the simple houses made of bricks or tin, are threatened with demolition or stop-work orders. Only with the steadfastness of its people that the Khirbet is managing to still exist until today.

International Conventions and agreements pertaining to house demolition:

 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Article 17: " (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property."

The 1907 the Hague Convention

 Article 23: " 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."

The Geneva Fourth convention

Article 53: " 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."

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:

Article 11.1 states: "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".

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:

 Article 1 states: "1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.

3. The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations."

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union

The contents of this document is the sole responsibility of LRC and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.