On March 30, 2016, the dozers of the Israeli occupation's municipality in Jerusalem demolished a residence belonging to Shabaneh family in the area of Khallet Al-Ain in the Jerusalem neighborhood of At-Tur. Dozers also reached out a barn for sheep belonging to citizen Ramadan Shabaneh on the claim of "unlicensed construction".
Citizen Ramadan Shabaneh told Land Research Center the following: " I, citizen Ramadan Shabaneh, work as a bus driver and live with my family in At-Tur neighborhood. I own this plot of land, where I built a 30m2 residence that is composed of one bedroom, a living room and a bathroom to be home for my four male sons. My two daughters and I live in a 25m2 house since one residence is not enough in space for all of us".
He also added: " I built the house even after being demolished for the fifth time by the occupation. This is the sixth time the occupation's municipality demolishes my place. I built the house first time in 2006 and was demolished in 2009. I re-built the house in 2009 and was demolished in 2010. The house was also demolished in 2012, 2015 and 2016 as well. I insist on building it once again since I need a residence to shelter us. I also built a 100m2 barrack to shelter my 10 sheep that I raised for milk production.
On February 2016, employees from Israel Nature Authority and Israel's Occupation Municipality arrived at my place and photographed the structure. I asked them if they intend to demolish it soon but the response came negative. The employees did not deliver any paper indicating demolition.
On March 30, 2016, a massive force from Israel Police accompanied by a dozer arrived at the location and demolished the structure without any previous warning. Demolition occurred after we were sent away from the house. The dozer then reached out the barrack and threw a pile of hay on the roof, which collapsed and killed seven sheep. The demolition continued making sure that the structure was leveled to the ground.
After the demolition was over, the officer said: " and here we got rid of another rat" addressing me after I got my place demolished. Laughs of policemen were heard at time".
Land Research Center LRC sees that demolitions contradict with all of the International conventions and Humanitarian laws including:
- 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.”
- Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 indicated that:
Extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly. is a grave breach of the Convention
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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
