Five Stop-Work Orders in Al ‘Aqaba -Tubas governorate

Violation: stop-work orders for 5 structures.

Date: December 19, 2011.

Location: Al ‘Aqaba – Tubas.

Perpetrators: the Israeli Occupation so-called Inspection Subcommittee.

Victims: Jber, Sbeih, and Saleh families.

 

‘We will remain despite the demolitions intended to uproot us from our lands, we will keep a hold of our lands even if it cost us our lives.’ These simple words were Basem Sbeih (37) response on the stop-work order issued against his residence on December 19, 2011; the residence was built on the rubble of a previous one which was demolished on September 17, 2011. The house sheltered a 7-member-family consisting of 5 children.

 

 

 

Al ‘Aqaba has become a symbol of the Palestinian struggle; despite the fact that 90 % of the village houses were either demolished or awaiting demolition, signs of development can be seen all around the village. A school, a mosque, a kindergarten, a women’s club, and new roads were recently added. The Israelis responded by turning the village into a training ground for its Army which resulted in the death and injury of tens of residents.

 

Nevertheless, the locals managed to try the Army and succeeded to obtain a removal order for the military encampment near the village from the Israeli Supreme Court; the encampment was evacuated in 2006.

 

Victim	Family members	Children	Damage			Remarks
			Residence	Shed	others
Mahmoud Jaber	9	6	1	—	—
Alaa Saleh	8	6	—	—	1 caravan
Abdul Baset Jaber	7	2	2	1	—
Basem Sbeih	7	5	1	1	—	A victim of previous demolitions
Khaled Sbeih	8	5	1	1	—	A victim of previous demolitions
Total	39	24	5	3	1

 

It must be noted that 45 demolition orders were issued against structures in the village including the mosque and the kindergarten. In 2007, the electricity network, and the main water tank were demolished alongside 7 residences. In 2011, Al Muhajereen and Al Salam streets were ravaged twice.