2025-03-02
Israeli Occupation Demolishes Agricultural and Commercial Structures in Az Zubeidat Village/ North Jericho
Violation : Demolition of agricultural and commercial structures
Location : Az Zubeidat, Marj Ghazal , north Jericho
Date : March, 2 2025
Perpetrator :The so -called Israeli civil administration
Affected Party: Two families from the area
Details :
On Sunday, March, 2nd ,2025, Az Zubeidat area, located north of Jericho, witnessed an attack by Israeli occupation’s planning and building inspector. At around 6:00 am, demolition crews, supported by a force of approximately 40 Israeli soldiers, stormed the area accompanied by three civilian bulldozers and targeted an agricultural station for sorting and packaging dates at the eastern entrance of the village. The occupation proceeded with demolishing the entire station, leaving nothing, and destroying all related facilities covering with total area of one dunam, on the pretext of building without license within area C.
In addition, Israeli occupation also demolished a commercial structure, located on the main road east of Az Zubeidat, Marj Ghazal villages, This structure is situated one kilometer away from the previously mentioned agricultural station, The occupation deliberately leveled the entire building, destroying all the facilities and commercial contents associated with it.
It is worth mentioning that the LRC team documented, on November 23, 2022, the delivery of demolition orders by an Israeli civil administration building inspector to 11 agricultural and commercial structures, including those recently demolished. These orders were issued on the pretext of building without a license in ‘Area C’ according to Oslo Accords.
The following table details the damages based on field monitoring at the site of the violation:
Affected Farmer
| Family member | Female Number
| Children Number | Nature of Damage | Photos |
Ahmad Saleh Salameh Zubeidat | 7 | 3 | 4 | *Demolition of concrete yard, 700m2, destruction of panel shed, 550 m2 that was used as a sorting and packaging station. *destruction of an electricity line. * destruction of 18 tables . *destruction of a refrigerator. *destruction of panel- made bathrooms and kitchen. *destruction of a water network, two plastic water tanks and 300 dates boxes. | 1-8 |
Sail Majed Ahmad Abu Jrar | 6 | 4 | 1 | *destruction of concrete bathrooms, a concrete yard, 3 dunams. *building made of concrete walls with a roof and sides made of panels, 1500m2 , used as supermarket and bakery. * all equipment and food supplies were completely destroyed. | 9-12 |
Farmer Ahmad Zubeidat stated:
‘’The station that was targeted, which is used for gathering and packaging dates, has been operating since 2021, It supports at least 50 families who were working there on seasonal basis. The losses are estimated at around 500000 shekels. Noting that, since I received the notice in 2022, I immediately coordinated with Jericho governorate and opened a legal file with wall and settlement resistance commission, I have already paid no less than 45000 shekels in Israeli court fees. The courts have not yet concluded, and I have a new session next month, despite the fact that the occupation has completely destroyed that station, I am striving to rebuild what the occupation has destroyed, despite the difficult financial circumstances we are facing.’’
On the other hand, the affected citizen, Sail Abu Jarar, stated:
‘’I owned a large store and bakery in Marj Gazal, which supports 12 of families. My losses after the demolition were estimated at around 1.2 million shekels. Since I received the notice in 2022, I submitted a licensing file and hired a lawyer to follow up on the case. I incurred huge amounts in Israeli court fees. However, the occupation insists on destroying everything. I have lost all my money and belonginf , and I don’t have ability to recover and rebuild again.’’
Zbeidat village in lines: [1]
Zbeidat is located 39 km to the north of Jericho edging the Jordan River. It was called Zbeidat because Zbeidat family settled there after being forcedly displaces from Beer Shiva following the Nakba in 1948.
The village total area is 4123 dunums including 131 dunums of built up area, inhabited by around 1500 people (2009 census). 99 % of the village area are classified as area 'C' according to Oslo, the rest are classified 'B'. Colonists captured 48 dunums of the village lands to erupt Arjman colony in 1970; the colony is now inhabited by 180 colonists.
It is worthy to me mention that any application for a construction permit is deemed unsuccessful for 'security reasons'. In 2009, the Israeli Occupation Authorities served the villagers 17 stop-work orders. In 2010, more than 50 trees were uprooted for the enlargement of bypass '90'
What Israel is doing in the occupied Palestinian territories is considered a violation of the
Palestinian people's rights and their lands, and a violation of international laws and conventions. The following are the most important texts contained in international laws and treaties that prohibit Israeli settlement in Palestinian territories and prevent interference with civil and public rights and properties in occupied territories, along with relevant United Nations resolutions
Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states: "Extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly is considered a grave breach of the Convention."
- Article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1948 prohibits the destruction of property, stating: "The occupying power may not destroy private property, whether movable or immovable, belonging to individuals or groups, or to the State or public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, unless such destruction is imperatively demanded by military operations."
- Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention stipulates: "No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed."
- Paragraph 'j' of Article 23 of the Hague Convention of 1907 warns against the destruction of "enemy property or its sequestration, unless such destruction or sequestration is imperatively demanded by the necessities of war."
- Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, dated December 10, 1948, states: "No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property."
- مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC IV - FCDO
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of Land Research Center and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the project donor; the Norwegian Refugee Council.
إخلاء المسؤولية: الآراء ووجهات النظر الواردة في هذا التقرير هي آراء ووجهات نظر مركز أبحاث الأراضي ولا تعكس بالضرورة وجهات نظر أو مواقف الجهة المانحة للمشروع؛ المجلس النرويجي. للاجئين
