21 july 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed on Sunday morning Wadi Hummus neighborhood in Sur Baher town, east of Jerusalem, and laid siege to it as a prelude to demolishing dozens of Palestinian apartments.
Head of the Wadi al-Hummus Committee Hamada Hamada said that a large number of Israeli army and police forces stormed and cordoned off the neighborhood after the Israeli municipality recently took measurements of the apartment buildings to be razed.
According to the Israeli occupation authority (IOA), the apartment buildings are located near the separation wall and pose a security threat to the settlers living in the area.
Last Thursday, staff from the Israeli municipality and police forces stormed Wadi al-Hummus neighborhood in Sur Baher town and took measurements of apartment buildings slated for demolitions.
Hamada said at the time that they took measurements of 16 buildings composed of 100 apartments in the presence of Israeli contractors.
Hamada added that such step came after the period given by IOA to the owners to demolish their apartments on their own expired on July 18, 2019, so the Israeli municipality would carry out the demolitions and make the owners pay the expenses.
The Israeli high court of justice recently rejected an appeal filed by local residents against an Israeli decision ordering the demolition of 16 apartment buildings containing 100 housing units in Sur Baher town.
This court ruling sets a precedent that will enable the IOA to demolish thousands of buildings and homes in the West Bank.
The Wadi Hummus neighborhood is located on the edge of Sur Baher, in southeast Jerusalem. Unlike the rest of the town, this neighborhood lies beyond the city’s municipal boundaries in the West Bank. Most of the area it occupies is designated as part of Area A, which is under the control of the Palestinian Authority.
But after local residents submitted a petition while the separation fence was being built, beginning in 2003, the location of the wall was moved so that it would not pass through the heart of Sur Baher. Thus Wadi Hummus ended up on the Israeli side of the barrier, although legally it is considered to be part of the West Bank and under the PA’s control.
Wadi Hummus is the only area that remains for future expansion of the town, which is surrounded by the fence and Jewish settlements. Many buildings were erected in the neighborhood over the last decade or so, most occupied by young couples and families from the town. The buildings set for demolitions have some 100 apartments, 20 of which are tenanted and the rest are under construction.
Building permits for those buildings were issued by the PA's planning ministry. However, seven years ago, the Israel army’s central command issued an injunction banning construction of buildings within 250 meters of the separation barrier.
Locals say the order was not publicized and they had no knowledge of it, and that in any case, it is the PA that has planning authorization in the area.
Head of the Wadi al-Hummus Committee Hamada Hamada said that a large number of Israeli army and police forces stormed and cordoned off the neighborhood after the Israeli municipality recently took measurements of the apartment buildings to be razed.
According to the Israeli occupation authority (IOA), the apartment buildings are located near the separation wall and pose a security threat to the settlers living in the area.
Last Thursday, staff from the Israeli municipality and police forces stormed Wadi al-Hummus neighborhood in Sur Baher town and took measurements of apartment buildings slated for demolitions.
Hamada said at the time that they took measurements of 16 buildings composed of 100 apartments in the presence of Israeli contractors.
Hamada added that such step came after the period given by IOA to the owners to demolish their apartments on their own expired on July 18, 2019, so the Israeli municipality would carry out the demolitions and make the owners pay the expenses.
The Israeli high court of justice recently rejected an appeal filed by local residents against an Israeli decision ordering the demolition of 16 apartment buildings containing 100 housing units in Sur Baher town.
This court ruling sets a precedent that will enable the IOA to demolish thousands of buildings and homes in the West Bank.
The Wadi Hummus neighborhood is located on the edge of Sur Baher, in southeast Jerusalem. Unlike the rest of the town, this neighborhood lies beyond the city’s municipal boundaries in the West Bank. Most of the area it occupies is designated as part of Area A, which is under the control of the Palestinian Authority.
But after local residents submitted a petition while the separation fence was being built, beginning in 2003, the location of the wall was moved so that it would not pass through the heart of Sur Baher. Thus Wadi Hummus ended up on the Israeli side of the barrier, although legally it is considered to be part of the West Bank and under the PA’s control.
Wadi Hummus is the only area that remains for future expansion of the town, which is surrounded by the fence and Jewish settlements. Many buildings were erected in the neighborhood over the last decade or so, most occupied by young couples and families from the town. The buildings set for demolitions have some 100 apartments, 20 of which are tenanted and the rest are under construction.
Building permits for those buildings were issued by the PA's planning ministry. However, seven years ago, the Israel army’s central command issued an injunction banning construction of buildings within 250 meters of the separation barrier.
Locals say the order was not publicized and they had no knowledge of it, and that in any case, it is the PA that has planning authorization in the area.
18 july 2019
Published By: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): Statement by Mr. Jamie McGoldrick (Humanitarian Coordinator), Ms. Gwyn Lewis (Director of West Bank Operations for UNRWA), and Mr. James Heenan (Head of OHCHR in the occupied Palestinian territory)
We are following very closely developments in the Sur Bahir area of the Jerusalem governorate.
Seventeen Palestinians, including nine Palestine refugees, face the risk of displacement, and over 350 others risk massive property loss, due to the Israeli authorities’ intention to demolish 10 buildings, including around 70 apartments, due to their proximity to the West Bank Barrier.
One month ago, following the exhaustion of almost all domestic legal remedies, Israeli forces sent the residents, a “Notice of Intent to Demolish” which will expire tomorrow, 18 July.
Demolitions and forced evictions are some of the multiple pressures generating a risk of forcible transfer for many Palestinians in the West Bank. Residents of East Jerusalem and adjacent areas have been particularly affected, with a significant rise in demolitions there in 2019.
Amongst the seventeen Palestinians now at risk of displacement, nine of them are Palestine refugees, including an elderly couple and five children. For many refugees in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, displacement is both a living memory and an imminent risk. Displacement, particularly for the most vulnerable, is traumatic and has lasting consequences.
We join others in the international community in calling on Israel to halt plans to demolish these and other structures and to implement fair planning policies that allow Palestinian residents of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the ability to meet their housing and development needs, in line with its obligations as an occupying power.
We are following very closely developments in the Sur Bahir area of the Jerusalem governorate.
Seventeen Palestinians, including nine Palestine refugees, face the risk of displacement, and over 350 others risk massive property loss, due to the Israeli authorities’ intention to demolish 10 buildings, including around 70 apartments, due to their proximity to the West Bank Barrier.
One month ago, following the exhaustion of almost all domestic legal remedies, Israeli forces sent the residents, a “Notice of Intent to Demolish” which will expire tomorrow, 18 July.
Demolitions and forced evictions are some of the multiple pressures generating a risk of forcible transfer for many Palestinians in the West Bank. Residents of East Jerusalem and adjacent areas have been particularly affected, with a significant rise in demolitions there in 2019.
Amongst the seventeen Palestinians now at risk of displacement, nine of them are Palestine refugees, including an elderly couple and five children. For many refugees in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, displacement is both a living memory and an imminent risk. Displacement, particularly for the most vulnerable, is traumatic and has lasting consequences.
We join others in the international community in calling on Israel to halt plans to demolish these and other structures and to implement fair planning policies that allow Palestinian residents of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the ability to meet their housing and development needs, in line with its obligations as an occupying power.
- For more on Sur Bahir demolitions, see OCHA oPt article, Threat of Demolitions in East Jerusalem.
- For detailed data on demolitions, see the West Bank Demolitions and Displacement data set.
16 july 2019
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) demolished a pool used for irrigation in Wadi al-Ghroos, an area close to the illegal Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba, to the east of the occupied southern West Bank city of Hebron on Tuesday.
WAFA News correspondent said a large unit of IOF, accompanied by bulldozers and other heavy machinery, raided the area and demolished the 4500 cubic meter pool owned by local resident Ziad Jaabari.
The pool is used for the irrigation of fields and crops, and the pretext for demolition was that it was built in Area C of the occupied West Bank, which is under full Israeli military rule.
The correspondent added that Israeli forces verbally insulted and physically attacked residents, journalists and activists while they were at the scene.
Jaabari said the pool was used to collect rain water in order to use during the summer season to irrigate their farms, expressing fear that without the pool and the water, many crops, in particular tomatoes and cucumbers, may get ruined.
Several houses in the same area have been given notices of demolition by Israeli soldiers for the same reason, which is construction without a the impossible-to-get permit in Area C.
WAFA News correspondent said a large unit of IOF, accompanied by bulldozers and other heavy machinery, raided the area and demolished the 4500 cubic meter pool owned by local resident Ziad Jaabari.
The pool is used for the irrigation of fields and crops, and the pretext for demolition was that it was built in Area C of the occupied West Bank, which is under full Israeli military rule.
The correspondent added that Israeli forces verbally insulted and physically attacked residents, journalists and activists while they were at the scene.
Jaabari said the pool was used to collect rain water in order to use during the summer season to irrigate their farms, expressing fear that without the pool and the water, many crops, in particular tomatoes and cucumbers, may get ruined.
Several houses in the same area have been given notices of demolition by Israeli soldiers for the same reason, which is construction without a the impossible-to-get permit in Area C.
12 july 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday delivered stop-work orders issued against six homes and one farm structure in Rummanah village, west of Jenin in the West Bank.
According to local sources, a large number of Israeli troops stormed Rummanah village and took photos of six homes under construction and one small barn, which belong to local residents.
The stop-work and removal notices, which the owners received, claimed the structures were built near the separation wall.
According to local sources, a large number of Israeli troops stormed Rummanah village and took photos of six homes under construction and one small barn, which belong to local residents.
The stop-work and removal notices, which the owners received, claimed the structures were built near the separation wall.
10 july 2019
Israeli forces confiscated a bulldozer working on the rehabilitation of an agricultural land in Kufr Qaddoum village, east of Qalqilia, in the occupied West Bank, said local WAFA sources.
Israeli forces were said to have confiscated a bulldozer belonging to Suhaib Jamal, while he was working on rehabilitating an agricultural land belonging to one of the village residents in the north-eastern part of the village.
In Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished the foundations and concrete pillars of a residential building under construction in az-Za’ayyem village, said a local official.
The head of az-Za’ayyem village council said Israeli forces demolished the foundations and concrete pillars of a residential building under construction, and razed a 700-square-meter of land belonging to local resident Dawood ‘Adwan, in the Sheikh Anbar area, in az Za’ayyem neighborhood.
Israeli forces were said to have confiscated a bulldozer belonging to Suhaib Jamal, while he was working on rehabilitating an agricultural land belonging to one of the village residents in the north-eastern part of the village.
In Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished the foundations and concrete pillars of a residential building under construction in az-Za’ayyem village, said a local official.
The head of az-Za’ayyem village council said Israeli forces demolished the foundations and concrete pillars of a residential building under construction, and razed a 700-square-meter of land belonging to local resident Dawood ‘Adwan, in the Sheikh Anbar area, in az Za’ayyem neighborhood.
9 july 2019
Crews from Israel's Jerusalem municipality, under heavy police guard, on Sunday evening stormed Wadi al-Hummus neighborhood in Sur Baher town, south of Jerusalem, and took measurements of homes threatened with demolition.
Head of Wadi al-Hummus Committee, Hamada Hamada, said that the planned demolition campaign will include 237 apartments that are homes for about 500 people.
Hamada said that the Jerusalem municipality asked the residents to demolish their own homes. Otherwise, it would do the demolition and force them to pay steep fines.
He added that an Israeli court has given the families a time limit until 18 July to evacuate and demolish their homes.
The demolition campaign comes under the pretext that the targeted homes are close to the separation wall and pose a security threat.
Israeli laws stipulate that Palestinian homes must be at least 250 meters away from the wall.
Wadi al-Hummus is inhabited by over 6,000 Palestinians, 500 of whom will be forced to leave after the demolition.
Head of Wadi al-Hummus Committee, Hamada Hamada, said that the planned demolition campaign will include 237 apartments that are homes for about 500 people.
Hamada said that the Jerusalem municipality asked the residents to demolish their own homes. Otherwise, it would do the demolition and force them to pay steep fines.
He added that an Israeli court has given the families a time limit until 18 July to evacuate and demolish their homes.
The demolition campaign comes under the pretext that the targeted homes are close to the separation wall and pose a security threat.
Israeli laws stipulate that Palestinian homes must be at least 250 meters away from the wall.
Wadi al-Hummus is inhabited by over 6,000 Palestinians, 500 of whom will be forced to leave after the demolition.
8 july 2019
The Israeli occupation forces on Monday demolished a Palestinian home under construction in Beit Ummar town north of al-Khalil city.
Local sources said that the Israeli forces, accompanied by military bulldozers, in the early morning hours stormed Khirbet al-Qit area and levelled Palestinian lands.
Activist Mahmoud Awad said that the Israeli bulldozers further demolished a home under construction owned by the Palestinian citizen Mohammed Sabarneh.
The Israeli forces on a regular basis demolish Palestinian homes and facilities in the West Bank and Jerusalem under the pretext that they lack the necessary building permits in an attempt to force the Palestinians to leave their cities.
Local sources said that the Israeli forces, accompanied by military bulldozers, in the early morning hours stormed Khirbet al-Qit area and levelled Palestinian lands.
Activist Mahmoud Awad said that the Israeli bulldozers further demolished a home under construction owned by the Palestinian citizen Mohammed Sabarneh.
The Israeli forces on a regular basis demolish Palestinian homes and facilities in the West Bank and Jerusalem under the pretext that they lack the necessary building permits in an attempt to force the Palestinians to leave their cities.
6 july 2019
Ali al-Hayek, head of the Palestinian Businessmen Association, has called for necessarily lifting the Israeli ban on the entry of many raw materials and construction needs to the Gaza Strip on allegations they are dual-use goods.
In a press release, Hayek also stressed the need to end the UN-sponsored reconstruction mechanism in Gaza, known as “GRM,” saying such mechanism led to disastrous and destructive impacts on Gaza’s economy.
The GRM is a temporary agreement between the Palestinian Authority, Israel and the UN that went into effect after the 2014 aggression against Gaza.
The GRM sets out procedures supposedly to enable the entry of essential construction materials to Gaza, which is under Israeli blockade.
However, it has failed to enable large-scale construction and reconstruction in the coastal enclave.
Hayek underlined that the Gaza reconstruction mechanism (GRM) contributed to strengthening the siege on post-war Gaza, strangulating its economy and destroying the construction sector — the largest employer of workers — by restricting the entry of building materials needed to construct and reconstruct homes and infrastructure.
He also called for lifting Israel’s ban on the entry of more than 500 types of goods needed by the commercial and industrial sectors in Gaza.
In a press release, Hayek also stressed the need to end the UN-sponsored reconstruction mechanism in Gaza, known as “GRM,” saying such mechanism led to disastrous and destructive impacts on Gaza’s economy.
The GRM is a temporary agreement between the Palestinian Authority, Israel and the UN that went into effect after the 2014 aggression against Gaza.
The GRM sets out procedures supposedly to enable the entry of essential construction materials to Gaza, which is under Israeli blockade.
However, it has failed to enable large-scale construction and reconstruction in the coastal enclave.
Hayek underlined that the Gaza reconstruction mechanism (GRM) contributed to strengthening the siege on post-war Gaza, strangulating its economy and destroying the construction sector — the largest employer of workers — by restricting the entry of building materials needed to construct and reconstruct homes and infrastructure.
He also called for lifting Israel’s ban on the entry of more than 500 types of goods needed by the commercial and industrial sectors in Gaza.
2 july 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday delivered stop-work orders against three homes and one industrial structure in Jalama town, north of Jenin in the West Bank.
Jalama mayor Mohamed Abu Farha said that owners of three homes and one industrial facility under construction received stop-work orders from the Israeli army’s civil administration at the pretext of unlicenced construction.
The structures under construction belong to Ahmed Mahmoud, Naser and Mohamed Ahmed, and Mahmoud Zakariya.
Jalama mayor Mohamed Abu Farha said that owners of three homes and one industrial facility under construction received stop-work orders from the Israeli army’s civil administration at the pretext of unlicenced construction.
The structures under construction belong to Ahmed Mahmoud, Naser and Mohamed Ahmed, and Mahmoud Zakariya.
1 july 2019
Sixteen apartment buildings, home to more than 100 Palestinian families, will have their homes destroyed by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem after a ruling Sunday by the Israeli Supreme Court allowing the demolition.
The High Court accepted the argument of the Israeli government that the homes were “too close to the Israeli ‘security wall’”, despite the fact that these homes were constructed on Palestinian land and were permitted by the Palestinian Authority – and the fact that the Wall was constructed on Palestinian land with no consultation with the Palestinian Authority as to its route.
The Israeli Annexation Wall, as it is known to Palestinians, illegally confiscates hundreds of acres of Palestinian land and annexes it into Israel, in direct violation of international law and signed conventions.
According to the Palestinian Wafa News Agency, the Israeli Supreme Court dismissed the appeal which was filed by Palestinian residents against the demolition of 16 apartment buildings in Wadi al-Hummus area of Sur Baher neighborhood, southeast of occupied Jerusalem.
Wafa reporters said that Hamada Hamada, the head of Wadi al-Hummus Committee, told them that the buildings slated for demolition are located in areas classified as (a), under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, where building permits are obtained from the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government.
The Palestinian owners of the buildings have until July 18th to demolish the buildings themselves, or Israeli officials will send the army to demolish them, and send the Palestinian owners the bill, along with massive fines.
The High Court accepted the argument of the Israeli government that the homes were “too close to the Israeli ‘security wall’”, despite the fact that these homes were constructed on Palestinian land and were permitted by the Palestinian Authority – and the fact that the Wall was constructed on Palestinian land with no consultation with the Palestinian Authority as to its route.
The Israeli Annexation Wall, as it is known to Palestinians, illegally confiscates hundreds of acres of Palestinian land and annexes it into Israel, in direct violation of international law and signed conventions.
According to the Palestinian Wafa News Agency, the Israeli Supreme Court dismissed the appeal which was filed by Palestinian residents against the demolition of 16 apartment buildings in Wadi al-Hummus area of Sur Baher neighborhood, southeast of occupied Jerusalem.
Wafa reporters said that Hamada Hamada, the head of Wadi al-Hummus Committee, told them that the buildings slated for demolition are located in areas classified as (a), under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, where building permits are obtained from the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government.
The Palestinian owners of the buildings have until July 18th to demolish the buildings themselves, or Israeli officials will send the army to demolish them, and send the Palestinian owners the bill, along with massive fines.
30 june 2019
Israeli soldiers invaded, Sunday, Karm Hadidon area, east of Battir town, west of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, and stopped the town’s local council from paving a new road.
The soldiers, accompanied by personnel of the “Civil Administration Office” invaded the area, and halted the work, under the allegation that the lands are in Area C of the occupied West Bank, under full Israeli military and administrative control.
Taiseer Qattoush, the Mayor of Battir, said the soldiers held his ID card, and ordered him to stop the work.
Qattoush added that the soldiers also fired many gas bombs and concussion grenades at the Palestinians, and tried to confiscate the machines used in the work.
The soldiers, accompanied by personnel of the “Civil Administration Office” invaded the area, and halted the work, under the allegation that the lands are in Area C of the occupied West Bank, under full Israeli military and administrative control.
Taiseer Qattoush, the Mayor of Battir, said the soldiers held his ID card, and ordered him to stop the work.
Qattoush added that the soldiers also fired many gas bombs and concussion grenades at the Palestinians, and tried to confiscate the machines used in the work.