Violation: shutting down a village entrance and a road

Location:  Ramallah governorate

Date:  October 02, 2015

Perpetrators: the Israeli occupation army

Victims:  residents of the area

Details:

The Israeli occupation authorities on October 02, 2015 shut down the northern entrance of Deir Nezam village via road blocks. It should be marked that this incident came in synchronization with violence escalation from the colonists’ side in Jerusalem and West Bank, which is represented in the repeated break-ins and attacks on Al-Aqsa mosque, worshipers and Palestinian properties.

Closing the only entrance of the village will increase people’s suffering and restrain their movement. Travelers will take new dangerous and substitute route to reach their destination. Noteworthy, the village is inhabited by 1,033 people (PCBS 2013).

The Israeli occupation army has previously shut down the entrance. This created a chance for colonists to take over some lands for the favor of expanding Halmish colony. For further information, please read the following report issued by Land Research Center in this regard (Eng)

 As usual, the Israeli occupation authorities take such measures under the claim of “security purposes”. In reality, this serves at the very favor and interest of colonists, who reside in the nearby colonies and outposts.

The village of Deir Nezam is 14km to north of Ramallah city. The presence of Halmish colony right next to the village is forming a big challenge to the residents of the area, taking into account that colonists have confiscated around 600 dunums since the year of 1971.

Photo 1: the closed road

An aerial photo of the closed location

 

Closing the main road of Ramallah-Nablus again:

It is indicated that in the same day, the Israeli occupation army closed the road (Ramallah-Nablus); more specifically at the entrance of Al-Jalazun refugee camp that is next to Beit El colony.

The closure is the eighth of its kind since the road was re-opened in 2012 after a closure that lasted for 12 years.

It should be marked that closing the road is considered a means to create pressure on Palestinians and a method of collective punishment.

A substitute road of 9km through Surda village to Ramallah will be the new route people will travel through to reach their destinations.

Noteworthy, the road is reported to be opened during the Ottoman era; according to Geneva Convention, “it is prohibited to change any landmarks existed before occupation”

An aerial photo of the location

 

International conventions and laws regarding freedom of movement which Israel unabatedly violates:

• Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person”.
• Article 5: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”.
• Article 9: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile”.
• Article 13: Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

• Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.”
• Article 9: “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.

 

 

Prepared by
 The Land Research Center
LRC