The Israeli Occupation demolishes residents in Beer al Ad Yatta – Hebron Governorate

On June 20, 2011, the Israeli Occupation Authorities demolished 7 residential tents in Beer al Ad, south east Yatta. Tens of Israeli soldiers accompanied by 2 dozers and a truck surrounded the village before launching the demolitions. 60 people, including 20 children, were left homeless as a result.

Picture 1 before demolition Picture 2 after demolition

Picture 3: homeless children

Ismael al Udra (64) stated that the Israelis had destroyed all the family’s residences and expropriated the remains; he said that the dozers had also destroyed a huge quantity of fodder. He made clear that the Israeli campaign targeted only residential tents and left the tents used as barns unharmed.

Picture 4-5: traces of damage

He said:’ the Israelis did not give us a respite; they initiated the demolition with all the contents inside the tents; we tried to salvage as much as we could despite the fact that most of the things were smashed by the dozers’.

The Israeli dozers had also sabotaged the solar power system that feeds the village besides uprooting around 20 grape trees. The tents were provided by the ACF; they were given to the residents to enable them to get back to their homevillage.

Table 1: victims:

No.	Victim	Age	Family members	Children	Structure	Area (m2)	Extra damage
1	Zyad abu Yonis	53	12	8	tent	24	Expropriating belongings
2	Mousa Rebi	55	5	–	tent	24	Expropriating belongings
3	Ahmad Salama	58	5	–	tent	24	Expropriating belongings
4	Naser Mohammad	40	8	5	tent	24	Expropriating belongings and damaging fodder
5	Ali al Udra	42	15	12	tent	24	Expropriating belongings
6	Ismael al Udra	64	16	14	Tent (2)	60	Expropriating belongings and uprooting trees

After the demolition of the tents, the PRCS provided emergency aid to the residents; they provided first aid, blankets and tents.

Picture 6: a demolished tent

Picture 7: one of the provided tents

The locals considered the Israeli measures as a mean to drive them out of their lands; pointing out the Israeli colonization yearns. The Israelis tend to take over the 2000-dunum-village and use the lands for colonization purposes. The Israeli campaign is a violation of the Palestinians right to residency; it is a violation of part (g) of article 23 of the ‘La Hague’ Conventions of 1907 stating that ‘destroying or seizing the enemy’s property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war’ is prohibited.

It is also a violation of article 17 of the universal declaration of human rights, 1948, stating:

1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.’

Furthermore, it is a violation of article 53 of the Geneva Fourth Convention, 1949, stating: ‘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.’

And article 55: ‘To the fullest extent of the means available to it, the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population; it should, in particular, bring in the necessary foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate.’

Beer al Ed residents were arbitrary evicted from their lands in 2000; however, the Israeli Supreme Court permitted their return to their homes in 2009 after a long lasting lawsuit.The locals stated that they received a court order dated June 20, 2011 overriding any previous demolition order; nonetheless, they received it hours after the destruction campaign was carried out.