On November 07, 2016 dozers of the Israeli occupation army demolished a carwash in the neighborhood of Al-Jib, northwest Jerusalem on the claim of "unlicensed construction". Additionally, the attacking force confiscated some equipments from the carwash and demolished a caravan and a foundation owned by citizen Mustafa Alqam.
Alqam told Land Research Center the following:
" The carwash was constructed in 2011 on a total area of 60m2; nine workers live off of it. After the construction was done, members of Israel Civil Administration arrived at the location and delivered us a demolition order after photographing the structure. At time, I sought an attorney to defend my case in Israeli courts.
One day before the demolition took place, the attorney was informed of another demolition order on the structure. At eight in the morning of next day, a massive force from Israel Police accompanied by two dozers arrived at the location, encircled the carwash and embarked on the demolition operation. We were banned from approaching the structure and even saving any of the equipments left inside. The dozers ravaged the land, on which the carwash is established and demolished a container that had items worth of 4000 NIS in it. Also, the force's soldiers confiscated water pumping equipments with the cost of 12,000 NIS.
The demolition lasted until ten in the morning. The Civil Administration obliged me to clean the rubbles otherwise I get fined, which I did by the end of the day".
Land Research Center LRC sees that demolitions contradict with all 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.”
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.
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
