Funded by the EU: the Israeli Occupation Forces demolish structures and water network north of Jericho city

• Violation: demolition of structures
• Location:  Al-Jiftlik and Fasayil villages
• Date: February 10, 2016
• Perpetrators: Israeli Occupation Forces
• Victims:  eight families

Details:

The area of Palestinian Jordan Valley (Al-Ghour) witnessed large-scale demolition operations targeting Bedouin communities for the sake of displacing the indigenous inhabitants and taking over the area.

It should be marked that a massive force from the occupation army accompanied by two military dozers raided Al-Jiftlik village and embarked on demolishing a number of tents and barracks for sheep founded in different areas of the village.

Not only, the dozers reached out a number of tents in the area of Karzliya, southeast of Al-Jiftlik village. Noteworthy, the demolished tents were donated by the EU through ACTED organization. An affected person pointed out that the community residents were verbally notified of the demolition a week ago.

Photos 1+2: signs of demolition in Khirbet Karzliya

Moreover, the occupation demolished a water supply pipeline (2km length) in Al-Jiftlik village. The pipeline starts off from Al-Shuneh area and ends up in Khallet Fuleh, south al-Jiftlik village. It should be marked that pipeline serves 230 agricultural dunums cultivated with irrigated crops and vegetables in addition to 53 families residing the area.

As a result, a big number of families and vast area of lands will be deprived of water. Noteworthy, the demolished pipeline was implemented through Palestinian Hydrology Group.

Photos 3-8: the demolished structures in Al-Jiftlik village

Photo 9: the demolished water supply pipeline

 Demolition of a residential tent and another for sheep in Fasayil Al-Wusta village:

The Israeli Occupation Forces demolished a residential tent and another for sheep in the Jericho village of Fasayil Al-Wusta. The tent accommodates 9 people and belong to citizen Ibrahim Abu Kreibish.

It should be marked that the targeted tents were donated by the EU through ACTED organization. Noteworthy, Kreibish got his residence and tents demolished more than four times over the past five years. The following table shows information about the affected and their properties:

Source : Field observation- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2016

Land Research Center LRC sees that demolitions contradict with all of the International conventions and Humanitarian laws including:

1. Article 17 of the (1948) Universal Declaration of Human Rights stating: “Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.”
2. Section ‹G› of article 23 of the (1907) The Hague Conventions asserting: “In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden to destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war.”
3. Article 53 of the Geneva Fourth Convention (1948) declaring: “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 cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.”
4. Section 1, Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966): “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent."

Prepared by
 The Land Research Center
LRC