Mass Demolition Campaign took place in Jerusalem 39 Houses demolished and other facilities

On July 26, 2016, the Israeli bulldozers stationed in Qalandya al Balad neighborhood north of the city of Jerusalem and demolished a 12 buildings under the pretext of lacking building permits and their proximity to the Israeli Segregation Wall.

According to the Palestinian resources, the Israeli Authorities stormed the area on the 24^th of July 2016, and threw the demolition orders around the targeted buildings, while the residents noted the orders late on the 25^th of July. More than that, according the same orders the Israeli Authorities gave the residents 72 hours to evacuate their houses, but the demolition campaign carried out before the ended of this period of time. 

During the demolition campaign the Israeli soldiers clashes with the owners of the targeted houses and a number of causalities reported. Following are the details of the targeted houses :-

Where in total, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 38 apartments inhabited by 79 Palestinians included children.

Later on and on the same day, the Israeli bulldozers stationed in Al Issawiya neighborhood and demolished an under construction house, two artesian walls and a garage under the pretext of lacking building permits.

The demolished 140 m²  house owned by the local resident Hamada Salah Abdel Nabi Mahmoud and the two walls owned by the resident Youseph Mahmoud Mustapha (220 m length)  and the garage owned by the resident Haitham Mustapha.

The resident Salah Mahmoud indicated that an Israeli crews from the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem threw a an administrative demolition in front of his house door after the midnight of July 25, while the demolition took place at 4:30 am July 26 in less than four hours!.

Systematic Demolition Campaign all over the oPt

From the beginning of the year 2016, the Israeli Occupation Authorities started a systematic demolition campaigns against the Palestinian houses and structures located in areas under its control, such as the area classified as Area “C” in the West Bank and  in the eastern oart of the city of Jerusalem, under the claim of lacking building permits. 

Therefore, the database  of the Applied Research Institute- Jerusalem (ARIJ) showed that from January to July 2016,  the Israeli bulldozers demolished about 343 houses and 347 structures in several areas in the occupied West Bank. Where these number is highest that the number of demolishing houses and structures in the year 2015.

While in Jerusalem governorate only, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 127 houses and 135 structures… see the chart below

In Jerusalem Governorate, and especially in the city of Jerusalem,  the Israeli Authorities are moving forward with its colonial plans which aim to push the Palestinians Jerusalemites to leave their city while keeping Jewish majority and changing the demographic equation for the interest of the Israeli settlers.

Legal & International Status

With no “military necessity”  justifications , the fierce demolition campaign against the Palestinian houses constitute a flagrant and grave breach for the International law rules and conventions (Art. 51 of the 1949 Geneva Convention II –Art. 147 of the 1949 Geneva Convention IV- Art. 53 of the 1949 Geneva Convention IV-Art. 23(g) of the 1899 Hague Regulations – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of, December 10, 1948, Articles 13 and 17 and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 19 December 1966  :-

• Articles 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention indicated that: Extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly. is a grave breach of the Convention.

• Art. 23 of the Hague Convention of 1907 also provides: 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 same convention provides that 'any destruction by the Occupying power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or other public authorities or social or cooperative organizations is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.'

• Article 147 of the convention considers 'extensive destruction and appropriate of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly' as a grave breach of the Convention and thus constitute a war crime.

• Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of, December 10, 1948, Article 17 reads: 'No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.' Which means it bans Israel from destroying or confiscating the property of the Palestinians at any case.

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 13: Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. 

• Article 12' of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 19 December 1966: Everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence.

Prepared By  
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
ARIJ