Israeli Occupation Forces demolish three under construction residences in Jericho city

• Violation: demolition of houses
• Location:  Jericho governorate
• Date:  March 28, 2017
• Perpetrators: Israeli Occupation Forces
• Victims:  three Jerusalemite owners

Details:

 A massive force from the occupation army accompanied by a military dozer raided on March 28, 2017 the area of "Al-Matar", east Jericho  city, demolished three under construction residences and uprooted 13 palm trees that surrounded the attacked properties.

It should be noted that "Al-Matar" area is classified as "state lands" according to the Israeli government. This pretext enables the occupation to exploit lands for colonial expansionist plans. Noteworthy, the occupation uprooted 400 palm trees in the same location just days before the newest attack on the same claim of "state lands".

The affected houses are reported to be owned by three Jerusalemite families who intended to use the properties as resorts after the vicious attacks and violations on the Palestinian construction in Jerusalem city.  Noteworthy, the occupation claimed serving eviction orders on the houses one month prior to demolition. The following table shows information about the affected owners:

Source : Field observation- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2017

Signs of the destruction that followed the demolition operation

Land Research Center LRC sees that demolitions contradict with all 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."