Demolishing Stores in Ya’bad / Jenin Governorate

• Violation: Demolishing Stores on the pretext of building without a license.
• Location: Ya’bad town/ southwest Jenin.
• Date: August 9^th 2021.
• Perpetrators: The building Inspector at The Israeli Civil Administration.
• Victims: Three families from the town.

Description:

Monday, August 9^th 2021, A massive army force accompanied by the building inspector at the Israeli Civil Administration raided the eastern entrance of Ya’bad, closed off the area, and leveled three stores to the ground.

In March 1^st 2021, the occupation forces served a halt of work notice for a Coffee shop, and a summon to a butcher shop, and in March 21^st 2021 they served a removal notice for a store on the pretext of building without a license, in conclusion all the mentioned facilities were demolished.

The town of Ya’bad:[1]

Ya’bad is located 18 km to the southwest of Jenin.  Its population is 16,012, according to the 2017 census. Its total area is 29,572 dunums, of which 1,814 dunums are a built-up area. 

The occupation has confiscated an area of ​​1,840 dunums of its lands, as detailed below:

1. 483 dunums for the construction of the settlements of Mevo Dotan and Hermesh.
2. 1357 dunums in favor of building bypass roads No. 596 and No. 585.

The lands of the town are classified according to the Oslo Accords as follows:

• Areas classified (A) 1674 dunums.
• Areas classified (B) 8124 dunums.
• Areas classified (C) 19774 dunums.

Legal Commentary:

The demolition of Palestinian homes and installations by the occupation authorities is part of their violations of international and humanitarian law, and the violation of the right to adequate housing for Palestinian citizens guaranteed by international law and international treaties presented by the following articles:

• Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, dated December 10, 1948 states that “No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property”.
• Article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1948prohibits the destruction of property, as this article states the following: “The occupying power is prohibited from destroying any private, fixed or movable property related to individuals or groups, the state or public authorities, or social or cooperative organizations, unless the war operations inevitably require this destruction.
• Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states: “No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed.
• Paragraph ‘g’ of Article 23 of the Hague Convention of 1907AD also warned against destroying or seizing the enemy’s property, unless the necessities of war necessarily require such destruction or seizure.

[1] GIS-LRC