The Israeli occupation demolish residences and a barn in Al-Mafqara village – East Yata / Hebron governorate

• Violation: Demolishing 4 residences.
• Date: 11/09/2019.
• Location: Al-Mafqara village- Yatta / Hebron governorate.
• Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation civil administration.
• Victims: 4 families from Al-Hamamda extended family.

Description:

September 11^th ,2019 , the Israeli occupation authorities demolished three residences in Al-Mufqara – South Hebron , on the pretext of building without licenses.

 Victims of the demolition operation said that a massive army force accompanied by officers from building and organization department in the civil administration , and two bulldozers (a JCB and a VOLVO) raided the area at about 8:00 in the morning , the occupation forces surrounded the targeted residences , forced citizens to leave their asylums before leveling them to the ground.

Photos 1+2: scenes from the demolition operation

The Israeli occupation authorities demolished residences that belong to four Palestinians from Al-Mufaqara , and they are “Caravans” set on A baton floor , the caravans were granted by a human rights organization after they lost their houses a precedent demolition operation. 

Photos 3-6: remains of the demolition operation

The tents were set up in 25^th November , 2012.However, in 2^nd May,2012, the occupation authorities notified the residences on the pretext of working without licenses , owners prepared the legal file with ownership deeds and filed them to the building and organization department in the occupation authorities and hired a lawyer to follow up with the case.

Owners said that the occupation authorities refused their applications and issued a final demolition order. In 2015, the lawyer filed a petition to the supreme court and managed to freeze the demolition until drawing an organizational plan for the area. In March, residents had prepared the organizational plan and filed it to relevant bodies , but the Israeli authorities refused the organizational plan and implemented the demolition.

The targeted residences belong to the following people:

• Muath Hamamda : The occupation demolished his family residence, which is a caravan built of insulated steal sheets , and has an area of (25 m²) and was an asylum for a family of (4), (2) of them are children (under 4 years old).
• Baker Hamamda : The occupation demolished his family residence, which is a caravan built of insulated steal sheets , and has an area of (25 m²) and was an asylum for a family of (4) , 2 of them are children (under 3 years old).
• Fadi Hamamda: The occupation demolished his family residence, which is a caravan built of insulated steal sheets , and has an area of (25 m²) and was an asylum for a family of (3) , one of them is an infant.
• Adla Hamamda: Adla is a widow who supports 5 children , The occupation demolished hes family residence, which is a caravan built of insulated steal sheets , and has an area of (25 m²) .

The occupation authorities also sabotaged a cattle barn that belongs to Mohammad Hamada , it is built of barbed wires and metal corners, and has an area of 150 m², the occupation bulldozers destroyed ravaged parts of the barn to get  to the targeted structures.

After the demolition, the Palestine red  crescent society provided tents for the homeless families, but they are not an adequate house , especially that winter is approaching.

Khirbet al-Mafqara :[1]

It is a primitive community that is located 17 km to the far east  of Yatta town. The Khirbet populates around 73 people according to 2017 census, who are divided on 22 family from the al-Hamamdeh clan. Noteworthy, the khirbet is administered by a joint village council for the khirbets of al-Mafqra and al-Tawani , which  is ran by Mr. Saber al-Herini .

Al-Mafqara borders :

1. Khafat Maaon settlement , built on confiscated lands to the north.
2. Afai Gal and bypass road no. 60 , on confiscated lands to the west.
3. Yaqub Dalia colony, on confiscated lands to the south.
4. Maaon colony on confiscated lands to the east.

Legal Feedback:

Demolition operations conducted by Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories in a violation of international and Humanitarian Law:

• 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.

Prepared by

 The Land Research Center
LRC