Violation: Leveling 6 houses and a shack to the ground
Location: Khallet al-Furn, Yatta/ Hebron governorate
Date: 18/06/2014
Perpetrators: The Israeli occupation army and the Civil Administration
Victims: People of the family of Abu Dhahir
Details:
On Wednesday, June 18, the state authorities embarked on tearing down six houses and a shack for sheep in Khallet al-Furn, east of Yatta in Hebron governorate.
Eyewitnesses informed LRC field researcher that they were shocked to see a large force of the Israeli occupation army riding two bulldozers accompanied by officers of the police and the Civil Administration showing up at the area at 3p.m. and informing them they came to demolish a number of structures.
Citizens also pointed out that earlier that day, an officer of the Civil Administration took a tour around Khallet al-Furn and examined its structures. When asked by citizens about the reason behind the visit, he told them he only wanted to know whether new structures were built in the area or not. He left only to be back backed up by other officers and bulldozers to level the houses of people.
Pictures 1-7: Ensued damage after the demolition of houses
Affected citizens confirmed they received stop-work orders on their houses in 2010 to which they responded by seeking legal aid from St. Yves Society and preparing the needed files to object the orders. They thought matters ended there especially that they had not received a final order before the state authorities reduced their shelters into rubble.
The table gives details about the property owners and destroyed structures:
|
# |
Name |
# of family |
Including children |
Structure |
Area (m2) |
Year of construction |
|
1 |
Saeed Abu- Dhahir |
12 |
10 |
Shack for sheep husbandry |
110 |
2007 |
|
2 |
Muhammad Abu- Dhahir |
4 |
2 |
House built with concrete and cement |
60 |
2009 |
|
3 |
Eid Abu- Dhahir |
12 |
7 |
House built with concrete and cement |
60 |
2008 |
|
4 |
Ahmad Abu- Dhahir |
2 |
0 |
House built with concrete and cement |
50 |
2009 |
|
5 |
Sara Abu- Dhahir |
2 |
0 |
House built with concrete and cement |
100 |
2008 |
|
6 |
Fatima Abu- Dhahir |
3 |
0 |
House built with concrete and cement |
60 |
2009 |
|
7 |
Mansour Abu-Mazni |
N.A |
N.A |
House built with plastic sheets and cement |
40 |
2010 |
*Source: Field Research- Monitoring Israeli Violations Team- Land Research Centre (LRC).
It should be marked that the workers who came along with the Israeli army forces took furniture out before embarking on the demolition. Upon being informed of the attack, the Red Cross offered tents, mattresses and sheets to the affected citizens who explained to organization that the tents alone will not protect them from the rodents that are spread in the area especially in summer.
The people of Abu- Dhahir family fled to Khallet al-Furn after they were expelled from their lands in 1948. They now live on a 150-dunum piece of land and work on animal husbandry.
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
