- Violation: Demolition notice targets retaining wall.
- Location: ‘Azzun ‘Atma village / Qalqilya Governorate.
- Date: October 12th 2022.
- Perpetrators: Antiquities department at the occupation authorities.
- Victims: Family of Hamzeh Shahwan.
Description:
Wednesday morning October 12th 2022 , ‘Azzun ‘Atma village witnessed a raid by the occupation authorities to its agricultural lands , and served a notice to an agricultural production project targeting its walls and retaining walls.
The antiquities officer raided “Al-Masaya” location in Natural block 8 of the village northern lands , and targeted walls and retaining walls of a plot with a total area of (2943 m2) that belongs to citizen Hamza Shahwan (36) from Habla town lands.
The Occupation authorities served a notice of “Halt of destroying antiquities” numbered (710) , and threatened in case the owner did not demolish his own wall the occupation forces will demolish it.
Demolition order 710 which targets retaining walls
Photo 1: The targeted plot and retaining walls
The Owner of the project told LRC:
“Few months ago, I started building retaining wall preparing to cultivate a plot, but I was surprised when I received a notice claiming that the area is an antiquities site , which is a false claim , because we’ve never seen any antiquities at the area.”
The affected citizen supports a family of 5, among them 2 females and 3 children.
Noteworthy , the occupation targeted a number of residences and agricultural lands in ‘Azzun ‘Atma , which affected lives for people of the village.
About Azzun Atma:
Located 8km to Qalqiliya city with a total area of 9,472 dunums, of which 1,054 dunums are the village’s built-up area, Azzun is inhabited by 7,821 people (2007).
The occupation confiscated vast area from the village for the favor of colonization and the apartheid wall; the areas are detailed as follows:
- 276 dunums were confiscated for Maale Shamron colony that was established in 1980.
- 417 dunums were confiscated for the bypass road number 55
It should be marked that the vast majority of Azzun lands (6,927 dunums) is classified as area “C” according to Oslo accords; areas that are controlled by the Israeli occupation. The village has zero percentage of area “A” that is under the control of Palestinian Authority. As for other classifications, the village has 2,546 dunums classified as area “B”. (Geographical Information System- Land Research Center)
3 colonies are built on ‘Azzun lands and they are:
- Maale Shomron: Built in 1980, the colony has a total area of 1903 and a built-up area of 216 dunums. 549 colonists live in it (according to a 2004 census).
- Genot Shomron: Built in 1985, the colony’s built-up area is 484 dunums.
- Karni Shomron: Built in 1978, the colony’s built-up area is 1351 dunums. 6270 colonists live in it (according to a 2005 census).
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
