Ramallah: Democracy and Human Rights Media Center- SHAMS, released its monthly documentation report for May 2022, about the demolition, confiscation, and notifications of demolition against the Palestinian establishments. SHAMS documents violations against the various types of establishments, whether residential, industrial, tourism, commercial, educational, agricultural, or religious establishments. However, the focus within the report is on the residential establishments. SHAMS releases periodical documentation reports (monthly, semi annual, and annual) about the violations against residential rights and other kinds of violations, as well.
The report is based on a methodology of field documentation by the field and researching team of SHAMS who work on regular documenting the Israeli violations against the Palestinian establishments. The documentation process covers the various governorates where the collected data is processed and analyzed to be developed in the form of tables. A group of indicators, to draw the direction of the violations, are adopted in order to release accurate clear data that includes quality and quantity indicators. During May, the Israeli authorities targeted 118 Palestinian establishments through either demolishing, confiscation, or notification of demolishing in the near future.
The majority of the violations was demolishing where 74 establishments were demolished including five establishments that the owners were forced to demolish them on their own as if they do not, then they will be forced to pay high financial penalties or even be arrested. The justification given for the demolishing orders of the establishments is unlicensed building. On a related level, one of the demolished facilities (green house) is owned by a woman named Itab Hnein from Froush Beit Dajan Village- Nablus. The justification given for demolishing the green house is that it is built in an area of military training.
Regarding the notifications of demolishing orders, the Israeli occupation authorities notified the owners of 38 establishments of orders either demolition or stop construction where most of these establishments are residential units in addition to livestock sheds, poultry farms, and a café.
The Israeli authorities confiscated 6 establishments where in ein el- Maita- northern Jordan Valley, 6 residential tents, fences, and bars owned by Palestinian farmers, were confiscated under the justification of being unlicensed building.
The first indicator addresses the establishments either demolished or notified of demolishing orders based on the type of the establishment. During May, 62 residential houses (concrete) and 13 residential tents were targeted. Additionally, the Israeli authorities targeted two residential sheds, seven residential rooms, 8 agricultural rooms, two commercial establishments, 2 water wells/ pools/ pipes, five livestock sheds, seven walls, three poultry farms, two warehouses, one wooden room, one café, one agricultural pergola, one green house, and one mosque.
The second indicator is related to the geographical distribution of the targeted establishments where the majority is in Jerusalem (22 establishments) and 16 in Jericho
As for the notifications, either those for demolition, confiscation, stop building, and other violations that ban Palestinians rights regarding their own establishments, there were 38 notifications during May in the various governorates of the West Bank. Based on the indicator of the geographical distribution of the notifications, Hebron and Salfeet will be the most to be targeted in the coming days.
The third indicator focused on the targeted population as the targeted establishments are owned by Palestinians and depend on these establishments for several purposes (residential, work,….). 117 persons were affected by the committed violations during May, including 13 children and 3 women.
Regarding the justifications given by the Israeli authorities (the occupying power), to legalize its crimes, they are mainly unlicensed building as 67 establishment out of 74 targeted establishments were justified by unlicensed building while one establishment was demolished as a collective punishment. The Israeli troupes exploded the house of the Palestinian prisoner, Omar Jaradat from Seilet el- Harithiya Village- Jenin and one establishment was demolished under the justification of being built in military training area. The Israeli bulldozers demolished a green house in Froush Beit Dajan Village to the east of Nablus, owned by a woman named Itab Hneini. The justification given for this order is that the area is military training area. 5 establishments were demolished by the Israeli troupes that invaded Jenin Refugee Camp to arrest wanted Palestinians. Five houses owned by Muhammad Faris ed- Dibi and his sons were shelled and destroyed in el- Hadaf Quarter- Jenin Refugee Camp.
Regarding the notifications of demolishing orders, 36 out of 38 notified establishments are under the justification of unlicensed building (in c areas) while two as collective punishment for fighters involved in resisting the occupation. On 6/5/2022, the Israeli authorities notified the family of martyr Rad Hazem with the order to demolish the family’s house in Jenin Refugee Camp in the north of the West Bank and on 23/5/2022, notified the family of the prisoner Yahya Mari, from Qarawa Bani Hassan Village- Salfeet with an order to demolish the family’s house
The six confiscated establishments were under the justification of unlicensed building in (c) areas.
The last indicator tackles the self- demolition acts and the deep oppression imposed on Palestinians. Palestinians are forced to demolish their establishments on their own and if not, then big financial fines are imposed. During May, there were 5 establishments (out of 74 establishments) demolished by their owners. In Silwan, the Israeli authorities forced Nafez Zaytoun to demolish his house by himself as he was notified earlier with a demolition order. In Sour- Baher Village, Faraj Dabash was forced to demolish his 70 square meters house also by himself where he was notified earlier with a demolition order. In Walaja Village- Bethlehem, the occupation’s authorities obligated Ahmad Ibrahim esh- Sheikh to demolish his house on his own based on a notification order issued earlier. The given justification is unlicensed building and the owner was forced to demolish the house on his own to avoid paying a high financial fine.
To read the full report, please click here.