23 july 2019
The Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor (Euro-Med) said today that Israel’s demolition of Palestinian residential buildings in Jerusalem and displacement of civilians from their homes constituted a war crime.
On Monday, Euro-Med sent urgent letters to United Nations representatives urging them to take urgent steps to prevent the Israeli authorities demolishing residential buildings in Wadi al-Hummus area of Sur Baher neighborhood in Jerusalem.
The United Nations Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief were the recipients of these letters.
The letters stated that the Israeli authorities' displacement of residents from their homes and the placing of explosive materials inside Palestinian buildings constituted a war crime under the Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Euro-Med's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Anas al-Jarjawi, said that "Israeli officials should know that arbitrary demolition and displacement aren't time-barred and that they will be brought to justice for these actions."
Al-Jarjawi said that it is the duty of the UN to ensure the implementation of international law, specifically the Geneva Conventions. The UN must also make it clear to the Israeli officials that if the demolitions and displacement continue, those responsible will be held accountable to judicial authorities outside Israel, he added.
According to Palestinian and Israeli reports, the Israeli authorities demolished about 70 apartments in 10 buildings in the Palestinian Authority controlled neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
The Israeli authorities issued the demolition orders under the pretext that houses were near the Israeli wall that separates Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank.
"The Israel security excuse is not enough to proceed with the demolitions, especially against the buildings built on Palestinian land and under the supervision of the Palestinian National Authority," Euro-Med legal researcher Mohammed Emad said.
Emad stressed the need for urgent action by the UN special rapporteurs and highlighted the urgent need for relief for the dozens of families displaced during the demolitions.
According to Euro-Med, international law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Fourth Geneva Convention, prohibits an occupying power from demolishing the property of citizens of the occupied territory. International human rights law also guarantees the right to housing and the protection of private property.
The rights organization stressed that housing is a prerequisite for other rights such as the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to physical and psychological health, the right to privacy and the right to family life. Hence, the Israeli authorities, in light of their control over the Palestinian territories, are obliged to respect the right to housing for Palestinian citizens.
At the end of its statement, Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor demanded the United Nations and the Security Council intervene immediately to prevent the Israeli authorities from violating Palestinians' rights in Wadi al-Hummus.
The organization called on the international community to exert all forms of pressure on the Israeli authorities to abide by basic international law. The rights organization also called on Israel to protect the civilian population and their homes from constant assaults by security forces and through the court system.
Euro-Med concluded by warning that the demolitions are one of the most common crimes against the Palestinians, extending as far back as the 1967 demolition of the Mughrabi neighborhood of Jerusalem.
Related: France, Germany, Spain and the UK strongly condemn demolitions in Wadi al Hummus
Turkey: Demolition of homes aims at changing Jerusalem's demographic structure
Russia: Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes violates international law
On Monday, Euro-Med sent urgent letters to United Nations representatives urging them to take urgent steps to prevent the Israeli authorities demolishing residential buildings in Wadi al-Hummus area of Sur Baher neighborhood in Jerusalem.
The United Nations Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief were the recipients of these letters.
The letters stated that the Israeli authorities' displacement of residents from their homes and the placing of explosive materials inside Palestinian buildings constituted a war crime under the Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Euro-Med's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Anas al-Jarjawi, said that "Israeli officials should know that arbitrary demolition and displacement aren't time-barred and that they will be brought to justice for these actions."
Al-Jarjawi said that it is the duty of the UN to ensure the implementation of international law, specifically the Geneva Conventions. The UN must also make it clear to the Israeli officials that if the demolitions and displacement continue, those responsible will be held accountable to judicial authorities outside Israel, he added.
According to Palestinian and Israeli reports, the Israeli authorities demolished about 70 apartments in 10 buildings in the Palestinian Authority controlled neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
The Israeli authorities issued the demolition orders under the pretext that houses were near the Israeli wall that separates Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank.
"The Israel security excuse is not enough to proceed with the demolitions, especially against the buildings built on Palestinian land and under the supervision of the Palestinian National Authority," Euro-Med legal researcher Mohammed Emad said.
Emad stressed the need for urgent action by the UN special rapporteurs and highlighted the urgent need for relief for the dozens of families displaced during the demolitions.
According to Euro-Med, international law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Fourth Geneva Convention, prohibits an occupying power from demolishing the property of citizens of the occupied territory. International human rights law also guarantees the right to housing and the protection of private property.
The rights organization stressed that housing is a prerequisite for other rights such as the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to physical and psychological health, the right to privacy and the right to family life. Hence, the Israeli authorities, in light of their control over the Palestinian territories, are obliged to respect the right to housing for Palestinian citizens.
At the end of its statement, Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor demanded the United Nations and the Security Council intervene immediately to prevent the Israeli authorities from violating Palestinians' rights in Wadi al-Hummus.
The organization called on the international community to exert all forms of pressure on the Israeli authorities to abide by basic international law. The rights organization also called on Israel to protect the civilian population and their homes from constant assaults by security forces and through the court system.
Euro-Med concluded by warning that the demolitions are one of the most common crimes against the Palestinians, extending as far back as the 1967 demolition of the Mughrabi neighborhood of Jerusalem.
Related: France, Germany, Spain and the UK strongly condemn demolitions in Wadi al Hummus
Turkey: Demolition of homes aims at changing Jerusalem's demographic structure
Russia: Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes violates international law
Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) today called in letters to world foreign ministers to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an immediate investigation into what he described as war crimes committed Israeli officials.
He also called for the support of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in implementing her mandate under UN Human Rights Council resolution 31/36 (2016) to issue a database of the companies working and complicit in illegal Israeli settlements and to strive for international protection of the Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation.
This came in identical letters sent by Erekat and addressed to the foreign ministers of the European Union, Russia, China, India, Latin America and the Caribbean, Canada, Australia, Japan and other countries explaining the systematic and illegal measures of the occupying power, including the illegal annexation of Jerusalem since 1967, aimed at abolishing Palestinian existence, creating a majority of Jewish settlers and expanding the colonial settlement project at the expense of Palestinian rights.
He explained the unilateral policies taken by the occupation authority to expel Palestinians from the city, including confiscation of land, resources, identification papers, revocation of residency status, rejection of family reunification, diving land, prohibition of Palestinian construction and other illegal measures. He stressed that the policy of forced displacement, home demolitions, displacement of protected Palestinians are an integral part of this policy, which is flagrantly contrary to the rules of international law.
Erekat briefed the foreign ministers on the serious Israeli escalation in the town of Sur Baher in occupied East Jerusalem and the demolition of at least 10 Palestinian buildings, including some 70 apartments, and the displacement of 24 Palestinians, including 14 children. "The Israeli occupation forces, with the support of the Israeli Supreme Court, have ordered the demolition of these buildings using a security pretext, but the demolitions in Sur Baher are another example of Israel's illegal policies and practices aimed at eliminating the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem and defending the existence of the Israeli occupation.”
He stressed that, despite repeated calls on the international community to intervene to stop these demolitions and the resulting forced displacement and countless Israeli violations against the Palestinian people under occupation, Israel nevertheless continue to escape punishment time and time again.”
He added, "The international community has not only failed to stop the demolitions and forced displacement in Sur Bahir but also failed to hold Israel accountable for its continued violations of international law. Israel's actions are not only serious violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention but are war crimes pursuant to the Rome Statute of the ICC and therefore we urge you to comply with your legal and political obligations and to intervene urgently to stop the committing of internationally recognized crimes in the occupied State of Palestine."
He also called for the support of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in implementing her mandate under UN Human Rights Council resolution 31/36 (2016) to issue a database of the companies working and complicit in illegal Israeli settlements and to strive for international protection of the Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation.
This came in identical letters sent by Erekat and addressed to the foreign ministers of the European Union, Russia, China, India, Latin America and the Caribbean, Canada, Australia, Japan and other countries explaining the systematic and illegal measures of the occupying power, including the illegal annexation of Jerusalem since 1967, aimed at abolishing Palestinian existence, creating a majority of Jewish settlers and expanding the colonial settlement project at the expense of Palestinian rights.
He explained the unilateral policies taken by the occupation authority to expel Palestinians from the city, including confiscation of land, resources, identification papers, revocation of residency status, rejection of family reunification, diving land, prohibition of Palestinian construction and other illegal measures. He stressed that the policy of forced displacement, home demolitions, displacement of protected Palestinians are an integral part of this policy, which is flagrantly contrary to the rules of international law.
Erekat briefed the foreign ministers on the serious Israeli escalation in the town of Sur Baher in occupied East Jerusalem and the demolition of at least 10 Palestinian buildings, including some 70 apartments, and the displacement of 24 Palestinians, including 14 children. "The Israeli occupation forces, with the support of the Israeli Supreme Court, have ordered the demolition of these buildings using a security pretext, but the demolitions in Sur Baher are another example of Israel's illegal policies and practices aimed at eliminating the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem and defending the existence of the Israeli occupation.”
He stressed that, despite repeated calls on the international community to intervene to stop these demolitions and the resulting forced displacement and countless Israeli violations against the Palestinian people under occupation, Israel nevertheless continue to escape punishment time and time again.”
He added, "The international community has not only failed to stop the demolitions and forced displacement in Sur Bahir but also failed to hold Israel accountable for its continued violations of international law. Israel's actions are not only serious violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention but are war crimes pursuant to the Rome Statute of the ICC and therefore we urge you to comply with your legal and political obligations and to intervene urgently to stop the committing of internationally recognized crimes in the occupied State of Palestine."
The demolition of 10 buildings by Israeli forces in the Sur Baher neighborhood in East Jerusalem yesterday, totaling around 70 apartments, is a grave breach of international humanitarian law and sets a dangerous precedent, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said today.
The majority of the structures are located in Areas A and B, which fall under Palestinian civil control, including for planning and building matters, as designated by the Oslo Accords.
“Israel’s security arguments to justify these demolitions sets a dangerous precedent that leaves thousands at heightened risk,” said NRC’s Palestine Country Director, Kate O’Rourke. “The commission of grave breaches of international humanitarian law must be challenged by the international community.”
An Israeli military order issued in 2011 designated a buffer zone of 100 to 300 meters on both sides of the separation barrier in Sur Baher and prohibited construction in the Wadi al-Hummus area of the neighborhood as a security measure. While the number of structures facing similar risk is difficult to estimate, local residents say that roughly 100 additional buildings could be at heightened risk of demolition in Sur Baher alone.
Sur Baher land in Area A, B, and C remain part of the West Bank, but the route of Israel’s separation barrier left them on the Israeli side, preventing the Palestinian Authority from accessing or delivering services to these areas. Nonetheless, the Palestinian Authority still issues building permits to the residents as permitted under the Oslo Accords.
Residents, represented by attorney Saher Ali and the Society of St. Yves, a Jerusalem-based human rights organization and local NRC partner, petitioned the Israeli High Court to request the cancellation of the military order prohibiting construction or, alternatively, a reprieve from demolishing the structures. On 11 June, the court dismissed their petitions.
The developments in Sur Baher come amid renewed momentum to further entrench and tighten Israeli control over key locations across East Jerusalem. Since the beginning of the year, Israeli authorities have demolished 140 Palestinian-owned structures in the city, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Together with an increase in eviction cases, these demolitions point toward an intent to accelerate forcible transfer of Palestinian communities in East Jerusalem and alter the demographic composition of the city.
“Israel’s destruction of property in Sur Baher breaches its obligations under international humanitarian law and other peremptory norms of international law, including the duty to maintain territorial integrity and the prohibition on acquisition of territory by force,” said NRC.
The majority of the structures are located in Areas A and B, which fall under Palestinian civil control, including for planning and building matters, as designated by the Oslo Accords.
“Israel’s security arguments to justify these demolitions sets a dangerous precedent that leaves thousands at heightened risk,” said NRC’s Palestine Country Director, Kate O’Rourke. “The commission of grave breaches of international humanitarian law must be challenged by the international community.”
An Israeli military order issued in 2011 designated a buffer zone of 100 to 300 meters on both sides of the separation barrier in Sur Baher and prohibited construction in the Wadi al-Hummus area of the neighborhood as a security measure. While the number of structures facing similar risk is difficult to estimate, local residents say that roughly 100 additional buildings could be at heightened risk of demolition in Sur Baher alone.
Sur Baher land in Area A, B, and C remain part of the West Bank, but the route of Israel’s separation barrier left them on the Israeli side, preventing the Palestinian Authority from accessing or delivering services to these areas. Nonetheless, the Palestinian Authority still issues building permits to the residents as permitted under the Oslo Accords.
Residents, represented by attorney Saher Ali and the Society of St. Yves, a Jerusalem-based human rights organization and local NRC partner, petitioned the Israeli High Court to request the cancellation of the military order prohibiting construction or, alternatively, a reprieve from demolishing the structures. On 11 June, the court dismissed their petitions.
The developments in Sur Baher come amid renewed momentum to further entrench and tighten Israeli control over key locations across East Jerusalem. Since the beginning of the year, Israeli authorities have demolished 140 Palestinian-owned structures in the city, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Together with an increase in eviction cases, these demolitions point toward an intent to accelerate forcible transfer of Palestinian communities in East Jerusalem and alter the demographic composition of the city.
“Israel’s destruction of property in Sur Baher breaches its obligations under international humanitarian law and other peremptory norms of international law, including the duty to maintain territorial integrity and the prohibition on acquisition of territory by force,” said NRC.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) presidency said it would hold a series of important meetings in the coming days in response to Israel’s mass demolitions in Sur Baher town, east of Occupied Jerusalem.
Spokesman for the presidency Nabil Abu Rudeina told the official news agency that the PA leadership would take during these meetings decisive decisions on the relations with Israel and the agreements signed with it.
In this regard, Saeb Erekat, secretary of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, told a news conference following an emergency meeting at the PLO headquarters in Ramallah on Monday that the Palestinian leadership decided to put in place mechanisms to cancel all treaties with the Israeli occupation state.
“The government has decided at the behest of president Mahmoud Abbas to take all the necessary procedures to help the affected families in Jerusalem through providing them with housing and full compensation,” Erekat said.
The PLO official called on the International Criminal Court to launch an immediate investigation into Israel’s crimes against the Palestinians.
The Israeli occupation authority started at dawn Monday to carry out widespread demolitions of homes in Wadi Hummus neighborhood of Sur Baher town.
Related: Hezbollah: Israel’s demolition of Palestine homes amount to war crime
Spokesman for the presidency Nabil Abu Rudeina told the official news agency that the PA leadership would take during these meetings decisive decisions on the relations with Israel and the agreements signed with it.
In this regard, Saeb Erekat, secretary of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, told a news conference following an emergency meeting at the PLO headquarters in Ramallah on Monday that the Palestinian leadership decided to put in place mechanisms to cancel all treaties with the Israeli occupation state.
“The government has decided at the behest of president Mahmoud Abbas to take all the necessary procedures to help the affected families in Jerusalem through providing them with housing and full compensation,” Erekat said.
The PLO official called on the International Criminal Court to launch an immediate investigation into Israel’s crimes against the Palestinians.
The Israeli occupation authority started at dawn Monday to carry out widespread demolitions of homes in Wadi Hummus neighborhood of Sur Baher town.
Related: Hezbollah: Israel’s demolition of Palestine homes amount to war crime
Qatar’s foreign ministry has strongly denounced the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) for carrying out mass demolitions in Sur Baher town, east of Jerusalem, describing the measure as “an assault on the Palestinian people’s historic rights” and “a crime against humanity.”
In a statement on Monday, the foreign ministry also said that the demolitions in Sur Baher reflected Israel’s contempt for international laws and resolutions.
The ministry stressed the need for urgent international intervention to protect the Palestinian people and compel Israel to stop its demolition policy.
Its statement reiterated Qatar’s firm and unwavering position in support of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, their national cause and their aspiration for the establishment of their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Video: Israeli soldiers cheer and celebrate the demolition
In a statement on Monday, the foreign ministry also said that the demolitions in Sur Baher reflected Israel’s contempt for international laws and resolutions.
The ministry stressed the need for urgent international intervention to protect the Palestinian people and compel Israel to stop its demolition policy.
Its statement reiterated Qatar’s firm and unwavering position in support of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, their national cause and their aspiration for the establishment of their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Video: Israeli soldiers cheer and celebrate the demolition
UN Middle East peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov and the European Union (EU) have called on the Israeli occupation authority to halt demolishing dozens of Palestinian apartments in Wadi Hummus neighborhood of Sur Baher town, east of Jerusalem.
“Despite calls not to go ahead with the demolition, the destruction of residential buildings in Sur Baher will displace many Palestinian families,” Mladenov said in Twitter remarks.
“No amount of humanitarian aid can compensate their suffering! Israel must stop this policy,” he added.
The EU also urged Israel to immediately halt the demolitions.
“In line with the EU’s long-standing position, we expect the Israeli authorities to immediately halt the ongoing demolitions,” a spokesperson for the EU’s foreign policy arm said.
“The continuation of this policy undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospect for a lasting peace and seriously jeopardizes the possibility of Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both States,” the spokesperson added.
“Despite calls not to go ahead with the demolition, the destruction of residential buildings in Sur Baher will displace many Palestinian families,” Mladenov said in Twitter remarks.
“No amount of humanitarian aid can compensate their suffering! Israel must stop this policy,” he added.
The EU also urged Israel to immediately halt the demolitions.
“In line with the EU’s long-standing position, we expect the Israeli authorities to immediately halt the ongoing demolitions,” a spokesperson for the EU’s foreign policy arm said.
“The continuation of this policy undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospect for a lasting peace and seriously jeopardizes the possibility of Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both States,” the spokesperson added.
The Israeli authorities on Monday morning demolished all the homes of the Palestinian Bedouin village of Araqib in the Negev desert for the 147th consecutive time.
Local sources said that Israeli bulldozers escorted by police forces stormed the village and embarked on removing all crude homes and tents.
Dozens of Bedouin citizens, including children, women and elderlies, have become homeless and will suffer from the harsh weather of the desert for a while before they could have new makeshift homes again.
Araqib residents live in a constant state of fear because they expect the demolition of their village at any moment after they manage to rebuild their homes again.
Araqib is one of several Bedouin villages in the Negev desert, which are "unrecognized" by Israel.
The demolition of Araqib and other villages in the Negev falls in line with a systematic Israeli policy aimed at expelling the native population from the Negev to pave the way for the expansion of Jewish communities.
Local sources said that Israeli bulldozers escorted by police forces stormed the village and embarked on removing all crude homes and tents.
Dozens of Bedouin citizens, including children, women and elderlies, have become homeless and will suffer from the harsh weather of the desert for a while before they could have new makeshift homes again.
Araqib residents live in a constant state of fear because they expect the demolition of their village at any moment after they manage to rebuild their homes again.
Araqib is one of several Bedouin villages in the Negev desert, which are "unrecognized" by Israel.
The demolition of Araqib and other villages in the Negev falls in line with a systematic Israeli policy aimed at expelling the native population from the Negev to pave the way for the expansion of Jewish communities.
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