• Violation: Demolishing three agricultural residences.
• Date : 2^nd and 7^th of April.
• Location: At-Tayba – Tarqumiya village / Hebron governorate.
• Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation civil administration.
• Victims: citizens from Tarqumiya village.

Description:

Tuesday , April 7^th 2020, The Israeli Occupation authorities demolished an agricultural residence that belongs to citizen Younis Ghrayeb , on the pretext of building without licenses .

Affected citizen said that a massive army force accompanied by a vehicle from the building and organization department and an excavator raided At-Tayba village , encircled the targeted structure, took out the properties that were inside and carried on the demolition.

The targeted structure is built of bricks and strengthened concrete  , with a total area of 42 m² , the owner built the structure in 2020 , to rest inside it during working in his land.

Photos 1-2: the remains of the demolition

The owner said that the occupation’s building and organization department raided the area in March 31^st 2020 , and hanged a notice to remove the structure within 96 hours.

Photo 3: a removal notice targeting the structure

 

The occupation authorities in this notice referred to military order 1797 issued in 2018 , which allows the occupation forces to demolish any under construction structure within 69 hours from delivering the notice.

A previous demolition operation in At-Tayba:

The occupation authorities had demolished another two agricultural residences in April 2^nd , on the pretext of building without licenses:

• Citizen Khalil Al-Hroub : the occupation authorities demolished an agricultural room built of bricks and strengthened cement , with a total area of 50 m² , and used to rest inside during farm work seasons, Khalil owns a plot with an area of 1350m², that he uses in agricultural.

Noteworthy, the owner did not receive any preceding military orders before the demolition , he also lost another structure in June 17^th 2019 , on the pretext of building without licenses.

• Citizen Qadeh Dababsa: The occupation authorities demolished a residence built of steel sheets with a total area of 35 m², the targeted structure was a donation from a humanitarian aid institution, under a project that aims to support farmers’ steadfastness on their lands.

At-Tayba area in Tarqumiya is known for its fertile soil, and a destination for farmers and ranchers , but the occupation authorities aims to take over the area for future colonial schemes, and as a future reserve for a possible expansion for “Telem” and “Adora” settlements. 

 About Tarqumiya:[1]

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.

 

[1] GIS-LRC