The Israeli Occupation Demolished Agricultural Structures in Tarqumiya / Hebron Governorate

June 17, 2019

• Violation: The Israeli occupation demolished a room, barn and retaining walls.
• Date: 17/06/2019.
• Location: At-Tayba – Tarqumiya village/ Hebron governorate.
• Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation army.
• Victims: families of Shaher Hamouri, Radwan Fatafta and Khaleel Hroub.

Description:

Monday 17 June 2019, the occupation authorities demolished agricultural rooms , retaining walls and a barn east Tarqumiya / Hebron governorate.

About 8:00 in the morning the occupation forces, officers from the civil administration , A Volvo bulldozer and a JCP excavators  raided the area and demolished the following structures:

• Demolishing an under construction agricultural room: The occupation authorities demolished an agricultural room owned by Sahaher Hamuri from Hebron, the room has an area of 40 m² with a 4 m² bathroom , the room was used as a store for tools and a rest room for him during working in his land, but the occupation destroyed it along with the equipment it contained.

Photo 1: the remains of the room after the demolition

• Ravaging retaining walls: The occupation’s machineries ravaged the retaining walls that protected Hmouri’s land in the same area, the retaining walls are 270 m*1 m, and topped by iron corners and barbed wires.

Hamouri said that in August 2018 , he found a military order in his land , the military order requested the stoppage of construction works on the room and land on the pretext of building without licenses, the owner hired a lawyer from a legal aid institution to file a plea, but the occupation authorities demolished it anyway.

Photos 2-3: The remains of the demolition

3 – Demolishing a barn: The Israeli occupation’s machineries also demolished a barn owned by Saleem Fatfata, the targeted barn was constructed recently to accommodate 50 cattle heads , Fatafta stays in the area in the summer to herd his cattle.

Fatafta said that the occupation authorities demolished the 70 m² barn, without any preceding military orders . Reportedly, the barn composes of barbed wires fixed on iron corners and a sealing of plastic sheds and wood.

Photo 4: the remains of the barn after the demolition

• Demolishing an agricultural room: The occupation authorities demolished another agricultural room belongs to Khaleel Al-Hroub, the room has an area of 30 m² , and the owner used to rest in it during working in his land.

Photo 5 : the remains of the room after the demolition

Noteworthy, At-Tayba is located to the east of Tarqumiya , and bordered by “Telem” from the north , “Adora” west and close to bypass 35.

Recently, the occupation authorities have been targeting At-Tayba with their assaults , through demolishing structures and facilities.

About Tarqumiya:

10 km to the west of Hebron city , Tarqumiya is edged by Beit Ula and Beit Kahil villages from the north,  Idhna village from the west, Taffuh village from the east and Dura village from the south.

Its population mounts up to 19,311  people (2017 census). Tarqumiya‘s total land area is 22,106 dunums, of which 2,117 dunums are considered the village’s built-up area.

Israeli colonies confiscated 948 dunums from Marda lands. Adora colony that was established in 1982 confiscated 442 dunums from the village. It is now home for 191 colonists.

As for Telem colony, it confiscated 506 dunums from Tarqumiya and is now home for 127 colonists.

The lands of Tarqumiya are classified according to Oslo Accords as the following:

• 8,186 dunums (37%) are classified as area B
• 13,920 dunums (63%) are classified as area C

Legal Feedback:

• Article 147 of Geneva fourth convention  : extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly. ( it is considered a serious violation of the convention)
• Article 53 of Geneva fourth convention that forbids destroying properties : 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 co-operative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.
• Article 33 of Geneva fourth convention: No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed.
• Article 32 of Hague convention 1907 part g: To destroy or seize the enemy’s property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war.
• Article 17 of Universal declaration of human rights 10 –Dec- 1948:  No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

  Prepared by
   The Land Research Center
  LRC