Violation: Ravaging an agricultural road and destroying water lines.

Location: Atouf village/ Tubas governorate.

Date: February, 4^th 2025.

Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation forces.

Affected party: The residents of Atouf village.

Details:

On Tuesday morning, February, 4^th 2025, Atouf village raided by the occupation conjunction with military activation for the occupation forces in Tamoun and Atouf areas.

The occupation forces using a military bulldozer to carried a new attack including ravaging a section from agricultural road linking between Atouf village and Tamoun town with 80 length in addition to destroying water pipe line from Tamoun town towards Atouf village, noted that a water line with 8 inches diameter which was provided about 100 families from Atouf village with drinking water (1600 person). Now the village is without water until this moment.

Mr. Abdallah Mohammad Bsharat, a head of Atouf village council told to the LRC researcher as follows:

‘’ Since the invasion of Tamoun town in Tubas governorate, the occupation deliberate to demolish and destroy a part of agricultural road and destruction a water line for the village, now we are suffering from difficult circumstances as there is no any source of water or road to move, so the village become surrounding completely with settlements and bypass road and it’s difficult to entering and exiting towards the fields.’’

 It's worth mentioning that seven days ago, Atouf area and Tamoun witnessed the destruction of infrastructure and imposing a curfew for security reasons.

About Atouf Community:

Atouf village is located 12 kilometers east of Tubas, it is surrounded by Bak’out settlement to the east, Yarza village to the north, Tamoun to the west and Al Nasariya village to the south.

The village's population approximately 1300 people, including 46% are females. 

Legal Commentary:

Demolishing Palestinian structures is a violation of international conventions and agreements such as:

• Article 147 of Geneva fourth convention: extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly. (it is considered a serious violation of the convention)
• Article 53 of Geneva fourth convention that forbids destroying properties: 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 co-operative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.
• Article 33 of Geneva fourth convention: No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed.
• Article 32 of Hague convention 1907 part 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 Universal declaration of human rights 10 –Dec- 1948:  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