- Violation: Violating the right to freedom of movement.
- Location: ‘Sakut Spring / Tubas Governorate.
- Date: February 3rd 2020.
- Perpetrators: The Israeli Occupation Forces.
- Victims: Farmers of the area.
Description:
Monday, February 3rd 2020, The Israeli Occupation Forces closed off the agricultural road that leads to Sakut Spring through massive cement blocks, with the intention of hindering farmers’ access to their lands.
Sakut spring provides irrigation water for number of farmlands at the area, in addition to being an important tourist attraction for hundreds of Palestinian families since 2016 and until this day.
‘Sakut spring is located to the east of As-Sakut valley, noting that during the last two years the occupation prohibited developmental agricultural projects at the area with a decision from the supreme court in 2014.
Ghassan Faqha (55) , who is one of As-Sakut farmers told LRC the following:
“Since the closure of the road that leads to Sakut spring, we’ve been facing great difficulties in implimenting water harvesting projects at the Jordan Valley , there are about 400 dunums planted with vegetables and field crops in As-Sakut. we have tried to open roads that lead to the spring, but the occupation made sure we won’t succeed in that.”
Before 1967 , As-Sakut was full of farmers producing a variety of agricultural products and was a destination for agricultural investments. After 1967 , the occupation Authorities took over it and planted it with landmines as the area is at the borders of Jordan . However, In 2011 the landmines were dismantled, which was followed by a scheme to take over fertile lands at the location (3500 dunums) originally belong to Palestinians, the scheme failed after owners filed a petition to the supreme court in 2012, and where able to regain their right to the land and returning it to its original owners in 2014, but illegal colonists are still trying day and night to illegally seize the land to use it in future colonial projects.
Photos 1-5: Sakut Spring and the closed road
Legal Commentary:
The constringing policy by the Israel occupation authorities towards the Palestinian civilians in all West Bank’s governorate including closing roads and obstructing their movement can only be regarded as a violation of their right in the liberty of movement pledged by all international conventions and agreements like:
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights(1948) article(13) states:
Every person has the right of liberty of movement and to choose his place of residence inside the borders of each country.
Each person has the right to depart or to come back to any country including his country.
- The Universal Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965) article 3(5)paragrah2-d
Every person has the right of liberty of movement and to choose his place of residence inside the borders of each country.
Each person has the right to depart or to come back to any country including his country.
- The Universal covenant on civil and political rights (1966) article(12-3)
Each person legally has the liberity to move and to select his residence place.
