Violation: Demolishing structures.

Date: 02/09/2019.

Location: Jabal Jouhar / Hebron.

Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation civil administration.

Victims: People of Johar Mount.

Description:

Sunday, 19 September , the Israeli occupation authorities demolished a mosque , a cistern and two room in Jabal Jouhar area south Hebron, on the pretext of building without licenses.

An army force accompanied by a vehicle related to the building and organization department , a Hyundai excavator raided the area and demolished the mosque (Masjid Al-Umah) , the mosque’s  cistern, and two room on the other side.

The targeted mosque had an area of (150 m²) and still in the construction process , the construction of the mosque commenced in 2018 , it was built of stones and strengthened cement.

The occupation forces also demolished a cistern with a storage capacity of 100 m³ , that provided  water for the construction of the Mosque, and was supposed to provide water for worshippers after the construction.

Photos 1-3: The ruins of the mosque and the cistern

In the same context, the occupation authorities headed to two residential rooms that belong to Bilal Ar-Rajabi , and demolished them on the pretext of building without licenses. The targeted rooms were built of bricks and strengthened cement , and were under construction , they had an area of 40 m², the construction commenced in 2018.

Photo 4: the remains of the demolition

Ar-Rajabi pointed out that in May 2019  , he found a notice of demolition on the rooms , but failed to file for an objection before the deadline.

Noteworthy , the occupation authorities target houses and facilities in Jabal Jouhar (Khallet Al-Eideh , Khallet Ash-Sharabati , Mazare’a Al-Baqar), where the occupation authorities implemented several demolition operations on houses and facilities.

“Kiryat Arba” settlement is close to the location of the violation , the industrial area in the location overlooks Jabal Jouhar to the northern and eastern areas.

For more information about Israeli violations on the rights of Land and Housing at the same locations, read the following LRC reports:

• Israeli troops demolish a building and a cistern south Hebron

The Israeli occupation demolition policies are not and never have been leaded by security purposes or military necessities but came to achieve colonial goals, Specifically, constructing settlements.

The occupation authorities throughout their repressive policies that aim to displace Palestinian people or cram them in small areas seek to take over as much as possible of Palestinian lands. Such measurements are a violation of international conventions and agreements:

• 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 conventionthat 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