Israeli violations against Palestinian Right to Housing in Occupied East Jerusalem During March 2017
Preamble:
Four neighborhoods from occupied Jerusalem witnessed Israeli violations and attacks on Palestinian people and properties. Not only that, the occupation implements collective punishments on Jerusalemites. One example was closing martyr Fadi Qanbar's residence via pumping cement into it.
Not only, the occupation forces violated the right to education and closed a school in the area of East Jerusalem.
With seven residences demolished by Israel municipality, Isawiya town was most targeted by the occupation. Next comes Jabal Al-Mukbbir with five residences demolished. Silwan and Beit Hanina area came last.
Demolition of Palestinian residences:
During March 2017, the Israeli occupation municipality demolished 12 residences in East Jerusalem including 9 stone houses and 5 cement and bricks ones.
The following table illustrates the number of demolished residences in Jerusalem during March 2017:
Location | Aream2 | No. of residences | Family | Children |
Isawiya | 770 | 7 | 35 | 7 |
Beit Hanina | 60 | 1** | 0 | 0 |
Jabal Al-Mukabbir | 250 | 3 | 20 | 14 |
Silwan | 50 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Total | 1130 | 12 | 59 | 23 |
Source: Direct field research- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center- 2017
- ** self-demolition
Demolition of Palestinian structures:
During March 2017, the Israeli occupation municipality demolished 2 agricultural structures in East Jerusalem. In addition, a storage was ordered self-demolished by owners by the occupation in Silwan.
The following table illustrates the number of demolished structures during March 2017:
Location | No. of structures | Family | Children |
Jabal Al-Mukabbir | 2 | 10 | 4 |
Silwan | 1 | 5 | 3 |
Total | 3 | 15 | 7 |
Source: Direct field research- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center- 2017
Closure on residences:
Israel municipality closed the residence of martyr Fadi Qanbar via pumping cement into it. The attacked house was of two floors and was home for the martyr's wife and four sons, youngest of whom was nine months old.
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."
This case study is part of Kan'aan Project
