Violation: Demolition of an agricultural room on pretext without a license.

Location:  Budrus village/ Ramallah governorate.

Date: January, 7^th 2025.

Perpetrator: The so- called Israeli Civil Administration.

Affected party: Farmer Mohammad Hassan Khalil Awad.

Details:

On Tuesday, January, 7^th 2025, the inspector of building followed by the Israeli civil administration targeted Budrus village located west Ramallah governorate, as a force of occupation with a military bulldozer demolishes an agricultural room made of zinc, causing severe damages. The room belongs to farmer Mohammad Hassan Awad, who supports a family consisting of 3 members, two of them are females.

The damages included: ravaging land with reinforced concrete with 108m², where an agricultural room was built on it, its walls made of reinforced concrete, as the roof is made of zinc and metal, which was used to poultry farming. In addition to killing 20 of broiler chickens were existed in this room, as 5 ancient trees were uprooted.

According to the affected citizen, he told to the LRC researcher as follows:

‘’ I own this agricultural room and I have relied on poultry farming as my only source of income. Over past 3 years, I received a notice to halt work and construction then I opened a legal fille in Jerusalem Center, after that I didn’t receive any notice. On previous Tuesday, I was shocked that the occupation demolished the agricultural room with all contents and killing broiler chickens in it. My loss is amounted 45 thousand shekels.’’

It's noted that Budrus village, according to the head of village council, Mr. Ahmad Khaled to the LRC researcher stated that the village suffers from narrow organizational structure with total area of 286 dunams from 3500 of total area of the village, which promoted the residents to building out of structural plan to become 65% from the villages’ homes are out of the organizational structure.

 The village has a population of (2160) people, divided into 4 families: Abd Al Kareem, Awad, Elyyan, Marra.

Legal Commentary: 

Agricultural Rooms is a target for Israeli violations:

The Israeli Occupation forces target agricultural rooms built by Palestinian farmers on their land—the rooms are used to rest after ciompletin any of the farm’s tiring work like plowing, irrigation, and pesticide spraying—serves a clear purpose. The occupation and its settlers aim to Palestinian farmers from accessing their land, instill fear for their safety, and ultimately prevent them from reaching their land securely. According to Land Research Center, since the start of the war on Gaza up until November 2024, Israeli authorities have demolished 377 agricultural structures, including 70 agricultural rooms. Additionally, settlers have burned, vandalized, or destroyed 452 agricultural properties, including 110 agricultural rooms. This systematic targeting reveals a coordinated effort between the Israeli military and settlers to attack agricultural infrastructure and lands, aiming to render these areas vacant. By instilling fear among Palestinians, the occupation seeks to turn these lands into reserves for colonial expansion.

The demolition of Palestinian homes and facilities by the occupation authorities comes within its violations of international and humanitarian law, and a violation of a right of Palestinian citizens guaranteed by international law and international treaties, which is the right to adequate housing, within the following articles:

Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention:

Stipulates that “extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly” is a “grave breach” of the Convention.

Article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1948:

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.

Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states:

No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.

Pillage is prohibited.

Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited.

(G) To destroy or seize the enemy’s property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war.

Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property. “.

مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC IV - GFFO

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