The escalation of Israeli aggression in the Palestinian territories, particularly in the town of Tammun, south of Tubas, has intensified significantly. In the latest episode of this ongoing escalation, the Israeli occupation Army committed another act of violence against innocent civilians by deliberately setting fire to commercial establishments. This hate and discriminatory act is part of a long series of continuous Israeli violations, including home raids, demolitions, arrests, and killings, emphasizing Israel’s persistent policy of violence and destruction against the Palestinian people.
The latest crime involved the arson of a sweets shop owned by Mr. Yazan Bani Odeh, the sole breadwinner for his family, which includes his parents and married siblings who assist in running the business. The shop, which went into business just as of April 15, 2024, served as the family’s primary source of income, generating approximately 5,000 shekels monthly. The arson was carried out by setting fire to tires placed at the shop’s entrance.
Mr. Yazan Bani Odeh shop pre and after the fire,
Even more, the Israeli soldiers refused without any justification to allow the Palestinian civil defense team from intervening in order to put the fire out. This deliberate act caused serious damages and devastating financial losses estimated at 70,000 shekels, depriving the family of their main livelihood, which constitutes an act of collective punishment.
Mr. Yazan Bani Odeh shop pre and after the fire,
The shop had been the backbone of the family’s economy, their sole source of income, sustaining their basic needs. However, after the fire, they lost everything. The family now faces mounting debts from the shop’s initial five months of operation, plunging them into a financial crisis that has upended their lives and jeopardized their well-being.
As a result of the fire, the family was forced to close their business permanently. The comprehensive damage and lack of financial resources to rebuild and reopen the shop left them unable to recover from this economic ruin. Consequently, they lost their only source of income, deepening their suffering and leaving them unable to meet even their basic needs.
The impact of this crime extends beyond financial loss, plunging Mr. Yazan’s family into a severe economic crisis. The mounting debt remains a significant challenge, which if anything highlights the broader injustice Palestinians face under collective punishment policies. This incident underscores the urgent need for international protection and the safeguarding of Palestinians’ rights to live with dignity.
About Tammun,
Tammun is located north of Tubas and is bordered to the east by the village of Atuf and the Beqaa Valley, to the south by Wadi Al-Far’a village, and to the west by Al-Far’a Camp. The town built up area stands on 6000 Dunums, whereas its land covers a total area of 97000 Dunums. Tammun is home to approximately 16,000 residents, with a gender distribution of 49% female and 51% male.
Prepared as part of the project:
“Mapping and Diagnosing Palestinian Rural Women’s Livelihood and Economic Empowerment in Area “C”
Implemented by: The Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem (ARIJ)
Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
