Ramallah- Human Rights and Democracy Media Center “SHAMS”, issued its monthly documentation report for June 2022, about targeting the Palestinian establishments by demolishing, confiscating, or notifying of being demolished later on or being notified to stop working. Through the report, SHAMS Center documents targeting all types of the Palestinian establishments including religious, tourism, commercial, industrial, educational, residential, or agricultural establishments. The focus is on the residential units that Israel “The Occupation Power”, commits against Palestinians as one of its ongoing violations against Palestinians. SHAMS Center usually releases periodical documentation reports (monthly, semi- annually, and annually) about the various violations committed by the occupation against Palestinians.
The applied methodology in preparing the report is based on field documentation of the violations through the field officers and documentation team of the organization. The team members worked between 1 and 30 June/2022 on documenting the Israeli violations against the Palestinian establishments through over the West Bank, including Jerusalem. The collected data is processed and distributed through table that are easily read with clear direct quantitative and qualitative indexes. During June, the Israeli occupation authorities targeted 237 Palestinian establishment owned by Palestinians. The targeting took the forms of demolishing, confiscating (stealing), or notifying to be targeted in the near future.
The majority of the violations during June was demolishing where 101 establishments were targeted including two where the owners were given no chance but to demolish the establishments of their own. Palestinians had no choice but to demolish their houses on their own because if they do not, then they are subject to high financial fines or even being arrested till they pay the fine.
Regarding the notifications, the Israeli authorities notified the owners of 129 establishments with decisions of either to be demolished in the near future or to stop construction work. Most of the notified establishments are residential establishments in addition to agricultural and livestock establishments as well as warehouses and water facilities. Additionally, the owners of some terraces and walls were notified with demolishing orders. Two of the notified establishments are owned by women where Ms. Zainab Mahmoud Manassra from Khallet en- Najar- Zeif Village- Hebron, was notified with a decision to stop construction of a well under the justification of unlicensed building. Additionally, Ms. Ahlam Yousef from Deir Ballout Village- Salfeet, was notified with a decision to of demolishing her house under the justification of unlicensed building.
The Israeli authorities, on a related level, confiscated 7 establishments where 3 tents in Fkheit area- Yatta- Hebron were confiscated under the justification of unlicensed building while the Israeli settlers stole two tents and two water containers in Beit Hassan Village close to Nablus under the justification of unlicensed building.
The first index within the report addressed the types of the targeted establishments (demolishing, confiscation, or notification to be targeted). The types of the demolished establishments during June were as follows: houses 16, residential rooms 5, residential tents 16, residential barracks 4, religious establishments 1, agricultural rooms 13, water wells/ pipes/ containers 7, commercial establishments 4, livestock facilities 12, terraces/ walls 1, car wash garage 2, local council establishment 1, horses stable 1, gas station 1, agricultural tents 4, agricultural pergolas 11, stone terraces 1, and one Martyrs Momentum
Regarding the notified establishments, they were: houses 77, residential rooms 2, residential tents 1, agricultural rooms 2, water wells/ pipes, containers 12, commercial establishments 27, livestock barracks/ sheds 1, walls 1, car wash garage 1, warehouses 1, agricultural barracks 2, solar energy unit 1, and greenhouse 1.
The second index addressed the geographical distribution of the targeted establishments where Hebron governorate ranked first with 43 establishments while Jerusalem ranked second with 29 establishments.
Regarding the notifications (either demolishing, confiscating, or stop construction) or other forms of violations that ban Palestinians from their right to utilize their establishments, analyzing the notifications where indicate which areas will be targeted in the coming period. The majority was once again in Hebron (36) and Salfeet (33)
Regarding confiscation, the Israeli authorities confiscated 4 establishments in Nablus and 3 in Hebron.
The third index targeted the affected population as targeting the Palestinian establishments is connected with targeting people who already own and utilize these establishments. During June, the number of affected persons was 219 including at least 90 kids and 6 women according to the available data.
Regarding the justifications used by the Israeli authorities to legalize targeting the Palestinian establishments, 87 out of 101 demolished establishments were under the justification of unlicensed building in area (c). 11 establishments were demolished under the justification to expand the settlements and one establishment was demolished within the policy of collective punishment against Palestinians involved in resisting the occupation. One establishment was targeted within the frame of the annexation policy of the Palestinian areas to the occupation’s state while one establishment was demolished under the justification of being built on an archeological site. Regarding notifications, 122 out of 129 notified establishments were under the justification of unlicensed building in areas classified as (c) while 6 establishments were notified within the process of collective punishment against Palestinians involved in resisting the occupation. An establishment was notified with a demolishing order under the justification of being built on an archeological site. The confiscated 7 establishments were under the justification of unlicensed building in areas classified as (c)
The report addressed the self- demolishing acts and the oppression of Palestinians where they are forced to demolish their establishments on their own to avoid unaffordable financial penalties or being arrested. 2 out of the 101 demolished establishments during June, the Israeli authorities obligated the owners to demolish them on their own. Citizen Fareed Jaber from Wadi el- Jouz- Jerusalem, was forced to demolish his house on his own under the justification of unlicensed building where the house (80 squared meters) is inhabited by the man and his disable wife. Likewise, the Israeli authorities obligated the citizen Murad Hamamra in Rakeez Gathering- Tiwwana- Yatta, to demolish a residential room under the justification of unlicensed building.
Within the policy of the collective punishment against the Palestinians involved in the national resistance in order to deter Palestinians from resisting the occupation, the Israeli authorities demolished a house in Jenin Governorate and notified the owners of another 6 houses in Jenin and Salfeet.
To read the full report, please click here.