HEBRON, September 16, 2015 (WAFA) –
Israeli forces Wednesday handed notices to demolish three houses and a
residential tent belonging to Palestinian locals in the Hebron’s locality of
Massafer Yatta in the southern West Bank, said a local activist.
Both Mohammad al-‘Adra
and Isma‘il al-Najjar were handed notices notifying them of the Israeli forces’
intention to demolish their two-storey home in Khalet al-Maiyya.
Forces also stormed the Massafer
Yatta’s locality of Ein Irfa'iya, and handed local Ra’ed ‘Amur a a demolition
notice for his home.
Forces also broke into al-Adra,
another locality of Massafer Yatta, where they handed a Palestinian from
al-Adra family a notice to tear down his tent, which shelters him and his
family.
According to OCHA weekly report
covering the period between 1-7 of September 2015, “On 3 September, the Israeli
authorities demolished seven Palestinian-owned structures in East Tayba Bedouin
community in Area C for lack of Israeli-issued building permits, displacing 9
people, including five children, and otherwise affecting 10 others.”
“This was the eighth Bedouin
community targeted with demolitions in just over two weeks, from the group of
46 communities in the central West Bank at-risk of forcible transfer due to an
official Israeli 'relocation' plan, said OCHA.
The report said that, “In the
southern West Bank, dozens of demolition and stop work orders were issued in
Area C, including against 18 residential structures and a donor-funded school
serving 40 students in three communities in the Massafer Yatta area (Hebron)
which has been designated by the Israeli authorities since the 1980's as a
closed military zone for training, also referred to as the '918 firing
zone'. Around 1000 people currently living in this area are at risk of
forcible transfer.”
OCHA argues that the planning
policies applied by Israel in Area C and East Jerusalem discriminate against
Palestinians, “making it extremely difficult for them to obtain building
permits.” “As a result, many Palestinians build without permits to meet their
housing needs and risk having their structures demolished. Palestinians must
have the opportunity to participate in a fair and equitable planning system
that ensures their needs are met,” it added.
UN Resident and Humanitarian
Coordinator James Rawley argued the demolitions violate international law.
“Demolitions that result in forced evictions and displacement run counter to
Israel’s obligations under international law and create unnecessary suffering
and tension,” he said. “They must stop immediately.”
K.F./M.H.
