Demolitions and confiscations in communities facing expulsion

17 January 2016 Kh. 'Ein Karzaliyah, Kh. Yarza, Kh. 'Einun, Kh. 'Ein Karzaliyah, Kh. Yarza, Kh. 'Einun

Week of harassment in Jordan Valley continues harm to Area C communities

From 12 to 14 Jan.2016, B'Tselem documented Civil Administration harassment of five Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley, in continuation of efforts to force Palestinians out of Area C. In Kh. ‘Ein Karzaliyah, structures were photographed, apparently ahead of repeat demolitions; in Kh. ‘Einun, forces destroyed agricultural structures and a water reservoir; and in Yarza and Kh. a-Ras al-Ahmar, families were informed that they would again be displaced for military training.

14 January 2016 Kh. a-Rahwa, Kh. a-Rahwah

Civil Administration demolishes family’s tent home and livestock pen in Khirbet a-Rahwa, south Hebron hills

In the early hours of 13 January 2016, representatives of the Civil Administration and the military came to the Palestinian community of Khirbet a-Rahwa, which lies south of the town of a-Dahariya and close to the settlement Tene. The force demolished a tent that was home to a family of nine, including seven minors, and a livestock pen that belongs to the family. The force also confiscated a solar panel donated to the family by humanitarian aid organizations. The family’s tent had already been demolished a year ago and re-erected since.

6 January 2016 al-Hadidiyah, al-Hadidiyah

HCJ issues interim injunction on demolitions in al-Hadidiyah

On 10 December 2015 Israel’s High Court of Justice (HCJ) issued an interim injunction in the petition filed by families from al-Hadidiyah. The injunction orders authorities not to demolish the families’ tents. On 30 December 2015 the HCJ ruled, with the agreement of the petitioners and the state, that as long as the residents erect no new structures or implement changes in extant structures, no demolitions will be carried out until further notice. The residents’ petition is scheduled to be heard in February 2016.

3 December 2015 الحديدية, al-Hadidiyah

Civil Administration confiscates tents in al-Hadidiyah again today, the fourth such act in a week

Today, Dec. 3, Civil Administration personnel and soldiers came to the al-Hadidiyah community in the northern Jordan Valley and confiscated seven tents donated to the community by the French aid organization ACTED. Residents were already living in four of the tents confiscated, which were erected after the authorities demolished and confiscated tents on three separate occasions between Oct. 26-30th. Two of the families whose tents were confiscated, with a total of 15 members, including four minors, were left with no shelter against the rain and cold. The Israeli authorities’ continued harassment of the al-Hadidiyah community is part of ongoing efforts by the Civil Administration and by the military to expel Palestinian communities from Area C. This government, systematically pursued for years in contravention of international humanitarian law, constitutes the forcible transfer of protected persons inside the occupied territory, whether directly through home demolitions, or indirectly, by creating unlivable conditions.

1 December 2015 al-Hadidiyah, al-Hadidiyah

Authorities continue to harass al-Hadidiyah community

On 30 Nov., Israeli authorities confiscated tents given by aid organizations to the al-Hadidiyah community in the northern Jordan Valley, following an earlier demolition that left 15 people, including 4 minors, homeless and the dirt road to the community severely damaged. This is the latest step in ongoing harassment of this community. Hiding behind building laws, Israel is pursuing a policy of expelling Palestinians from Area C by making life there unbearable, which amounts to the forcible transfer of protected persons in occupied territory.

25 November 2015 Kh. Humsah, Kh. Humsah al-Foqa

November in the Jordan Valley – military repeatedly forces 13 families from Khirbet Humsah out of their homes in wind and rain

Civil Administration displaces 13 families in Khirbet Humsah 7 times in November for military training. Residents have been temporarily displaced 18 times this year, with another expected before month’s end. Entire families are forced to leave their homes on short notice, with their livestock, for extended durations, remaining without proper shelter in harsh weather. Frequent military training in the area is part of Israel’s badgering of local residents in an unlawful bid to reduce Palestinian presence in the Jordan Valley and Area C.

22 November 2015 Kh. Humsah, Kh. Humsah al-Foqa

Sixth time this November: Israeli CA relocates Kh. Humsah families to make way for military training

On Thursday, 19 November 2015, 13 families from Khirbet Humsah in the northern Jordan Valley were forced to temporarily evacuate for the purpose of allowing the military to hold exercises in the part of the village close to their homes. The families – a total of 86 people, including 48 minors – had to leave their homes at 6:00 A.M. and stay away for six hours. It was the sixth time this month that these families have been forced to leave their homes. On three of these occasions, the Civil Administration (CA) did not allow them to return until midnight. The orders the residents were served about a week ago by CA officials stated they would be required to leave their homes on two more occasions before the end of November. The CA has relocated residents of this community 17 different times since the beginning of 2015 – on the grounds that the area is needed for military training.

3 November 2015 Kh. Humsah al-Foqa

For twelfth time this year, Israeli military temporarily displaces Khirbet Humsah families

On 2 Nov. 2015, the Civil Administration made 13 Palestinian families from Kh. Humsah in the northern Jordan Valley leave their homes due to military training nearby. A total of 86 people, including 48 minors, were told to vacate their homes from 6:30 A.M. to midnight. All 13 families live in the northern part of Kh. Humsah. The families took food and water and went with their flocks to areas far distant from their homes. They were informed that they would have to leave their homes three more times in the near future. This follows 11 previous instances of temporary displacement in 2015 because the military chose to train near their homes.

14 October 2015 Kh. a-Ras al-Ahmar, Kh. a-Ras al-Ahmar

Dozens of Palestinians in Jordan Valley forced to vacate homes for hours of military exercises

On 12-13 Oct. 2015, the military forced ten Palestinian families from Kh. a-Ras al-Ahmar to vacate their homes for three hours each day so troops could train nearby. Pursuant to orders served on 8 Oct., the families were made to leave the area with their flocks for the duration of the training. These repeated short-term displacements cause unreasonable disruption to the lives of communities in the Jordan Valley. In some cases, residents have no alternative accommodation and must wait it out in the open, trying to find shelter, food and water in the harsh weather.

7 September 2015

Israeli authorities demolish 3 families’ structures near a-Taybah, Ramallah District

On Thursday, 3 September 2015, the Civil Administration demolished tents and shacks belonging to three families of the Ka’abneh tribe living in one of the Bedouin communities east of the village a-Taybah, Ramallah District, near the settlement of Kokhav Hashachar. Two families – a total of ten people, including six minors – lost two residential structures and one livestock pen to demolition by authorities. CA and military personnel also demolished four livestock structures belonging to a third family. Twenty people live in this compound on private lands they rent from a resident of a-Taybah. The residents said that while the demolitions were underway, CA representatives told them that they plan to demolish other residential structures there as well.This action comes on the heels of an unusually large-scale demolition campaign in August, in which Israeli authorities demolished the homes of 228 individuals, including 124 minors, in Area C. The demolitions are part of efforts by the CA and the military to force Palestinian communities out of Area C. This government policy, which has been systematically implemented for years, constitutes the forcible transfer of protected persons inside an occupied territory, be it directly – through the demolition of Palestinians’ homes – or indirectly, by creating an intolerable reality.

6 September 2015

Israel’s Civil Administration steps up efforts to expel Area C Palestinian communities

In August 228 people - including 124 minors – lost their homes in a demolition spree in the West Bank by Israeli authorities. Most demolitions were carried out in small shepherding communities which face the constant threat of expulsion from Area C. Under the guise of enforcing construction laws, Israel pursues a policy to minimize Palestinian presence in Area C by making life there unbearable. This policy, systematically implemented for years, constitutes the forcible transfer of protected persons inside an occupied territory, be it directly – through the demolition of homes – or indirectly, by creating an intolerable reality.

31 August 2015 Ma’azi Jaba' (al-Khdeirat)

The Civil Administration and the military demolished 15 structures in Ma’azi Jaba' (al-Khdeirat) community

The data we released regarding the demolition that took place on 31.8.2015 at the Ma’azi Jaba' (al-Khdeirat) Bedouin community contained numerous essential errors. Following is the correct data : The Civil Administration and the military demolished 15 structures, ten of them were residential, and five were used for livestock, not twenty five, as we originally said. Click to view full data.