2025-03-06
Settlers establish new outpost in Ras Zaid, southwest of Huwwara/ Nablus governorate
Violation: Establishment of a new colonial outpost
Location: Huwwara town / south of Nablus
Date: March, 6th 2025
Perpetrator: Settlers
Affected Party: Residents of Huwwara and the farmers in particular
Details:
On Monday, March,10th 2025, at the same time while construction work of the colonial road in Basin no.’2’ are being carried out, in Za’tara area south of Nablus, a group of settlers set up a new pastoral outpost in area. Specifically in the forested area of ‘Ras Zaid’, which belongs to Huwwara town.
It is worth mentioning that the settlers sat up 3 tents there and began setting up a sheep barn , indicating their intention in Ras Zaid area, which spans 500 dunams, according to the records of Huwwara Municipality.
Photo -1- A new colonial outpost
Field monitoring by the Land Research Center's team has observed settlers themselves constructing colonial roads extending over 1500 meters within the lands of Za’tara plot.
Ms. Rana Abu Hani, a member of the Legal Information Office at Huwwara Municipality (Milad), stated:
“What is happening is the complete takeover of all the lands of Huwwara from the southern side. The process began with the construction of a road 900 meters long and 4 meters wide through the lands of Za’tara plot, which are owned by several farmers in the villages of Beta, Huwwara, and Yasuf. Today the leveling is being extended to reach toRas Zaid. This area has historically been a breathing space for the people of Huwwara, in light of the settlers’ control over vast stretches of the town’s lands. Today a new colonial outpost is effectively being established after the roads have been constructed.”
The field research team at the land research center documented, in late February of last year, the settlers’ construction of a settlement road through the lands of Za’tara plot, which belongs to Huwwara town. A few days later, in March 2025, the road construction was completed, and plans are in place to establish a new settlement in the entire area. Thia marked a beginning of the new outpost. This paves the way for full control over the entire southern lands of Huwwara, in addition to serving Palestinian residential areas from one another, and disrupting the main road connecting the northern and central west bank. The targeted area is strategically important due to its location and crossroads linking the northern and the central parts of the occupied West Bank.
Huwwara town:
8km to south of Nablus city, Huwwara is located on the Israeli bypass road no. 60 that links the northern parts of the West Bank to its south and known as ” death street ” in reference to the numerous car accidents that take place there. The municipality of Huwwara rehabilitated the road and installed warnings but the Israeli occupation still hinders any attempt at restoring the road and does not approve any signs or warnings.
Huwwara is inhabited by 5,570 people (2014 projections). It has a total area of 8,520 dunums, 1116 of which are the village’s built-up area.
The Israeli occupation confiscated 331 dunums in favor of the establishment of Yitzhar colony. Besides, the bypass road number 60 confiscated more than 430 dunums from the village lands under its route.
Land Confiscation Violates International Laws:
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.
Lahay Convention / 1907:
Article 46: The occupying power may not confiscate private property.
Article 55: The occupying power is considered a manager of lands in the occupied country and must treat the country's properties as private property.
Fourth Geneva Convention / 1949:
Article 49: The occupying power has no right to transfer its citizens to territories it has occupied, or to take any action that leads to demographic change in them.
Article 53: The occupying forces have no right to destroy individual or collective personal property, or property belonging to individuals, the state, or any authority in the occupied country.
Article 147: The destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity and carried out on a large scale in an unlawful and arbitrary manner is a grave breach.
Related links:
Israeli colonists set a vehicle ablaze in Nablus city
The Israeli occupation demolishes a metal room and an agricultural shed in the town of Hawara
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
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