- Violation: setting up a military watchtower
- Location: Tuqu' village- Bethlehem
- Date: August 23, 2016
- Perpetrators: Israeli Occupation Forces
- Victims: residents of the village
Details:
Israeli Occupation Forces set up on August 23, 2016 cement foundations at the western entrance of Tuqu' village in preparation to establish a military watchtower and post on the claim of "security reasons"
At the beginning, the occupation set up a military watchtower and then encircled it with cement blocks for ultimate protection. In addition, a military post was also set up in the location, taking into consideration that Israeli soldiers never leave the western entrance and search passerby and travelers.
Noteworthy, the occupation carried out such step for the following two reasons:
- Insuring colonists' security and safety while traveling by the main road
- Watching Palestinians' movement in and out of the village to harass them.
The presence of Israeli occupation forces in the area, which is considered the main entrance of the village that contains hundreds of agricultural dunums is seen as imminent threat on the residents of Tuqu' and lands owners. Owners and farmers are now denied access to their lands after the road got closed.
Photos 1+2: the new military post
About Tuqu':
Tuqu' is an old Canaanite name which meant "placing of tents"; the crusaders called it "Thecua" as it was one of their strongholds in Bethlehem area.
Tuqu' has a great deal of Roman, Greek, and Mamluke ruins considering its strategic location.
One of the most significant ruins is the "baptism basin" which is a stony artifact that has been cut and formed. It represents a number of Christian sects.
It is believed that the artifact has been made around the 1750s; it is also believed that this is one part of a two-part artifact; the second part's location is unknown.
Tuqu' is surrounded by 5 Israeli colonies including Tquah, AlDavid, Nokdim, in addition to two other colonies to the south, Mizpe Shalim and Mushki Dar Got.
Tuqu' total area is 10 km2. Therefore it is considered the largest rural community in Palestine. The village is 12km to the west of Bethlehem governorate and is covered by evergreen trees, making it an attractions to many visitors and tourists.
It is inhabited by 13000 people by 2014 including all its four parts namely: Tuqu' , Khirbet Tuqu', Khirbet al-Dair, and al-Halqum .
International conventions and laws regarding freedom of movement which Israel unabatedly violates:
Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person”.
Article 5: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”.
Article 9: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile”.
Article 13: Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.”
Article 9: “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
