Violation: demolishing a house
Location: Tuqu’ village- Bethlehem
Date: August 13, 2015
Perpetrators: Israeli occupation army
Victims: Citizen Mousa Salim Huessein
Details:
The Israeli occupation authorities accompanied by military dozers on August 13, 2015 raided the Bethlehem village of Tuqu’ and embarked on demolishing a residence relative to Citizen Mousa Hussein. The 150m2 was still under construction; it was supposed to be home for Hussein’s seven member family including 5 children.
Hussein told a researcher from Land Research Center the following:
“Our sons work hard to build themselves and their future but the occupation comes to destroy their dreams and aspirations. Despite that, we will be deeply rooted in our lands”
Photos 1+2: the rubbles of Hussein’s house
Israel Civil Administration on December 15, 2014 served the stop-work order no. 160457 on four residences that were still under construction. For further information, please read through the following report issued by Land Research Center in this regard (Ar, Eng)
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 attraction 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.
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.”
- 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
