Nearly 50 people displaced as a result of demolitions
During the reporting period, Israeli authorities demolished 15 structures, including four donated structures, in Area C of the West Bank, due to lack of Israeli-issued building permits, bringing to 489 the number of structures demolished since the beginning of the year compared to 549 in the equivalent period of 2013. As a result at least 47 Palestinians, including 14 children were displaced, and almost 60 were otherwise affected.
Five of the structures, including three residential, were demolished on 21 October in At Tur Bedouin community located in Area C on the “Jerusalem” side of the Barrier. On 22 October in the same community, the Israeli authorities dismantled and confiscated another two donor-funded residential tents, provided as post-demolition humanitarian assistance. Also on 22 October, another tent was demolished and confiscated, which was provided by the Palestinian authority to a family of 10 members in Al Walaja village (Bethlehem) following the demolition of their structures by Israeli authorities in August 2014.
Six other residences and one oven structure were demolished on 27 October in the Um al Kher Bedouin community east of Yatta (Hebron). The targeted structures included one prefab donated by international donors through the Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) as humanitarian assistance in response to a previous demolition. So far in 2014, the Israeli authorities have demolished a total of nine structures funded by the ERF in Area C; issued demolition or stop work orders against another two such structures; and seized or confiscated three ERF-funded items. An ERF-funded residential structure was also demolished by its owner upon receiving an order from the Israeli authorities.
On two separate occasions during the period, the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) ordered residents of the community of ‘Ibziq’ (Tubas) to evacuate their homes to make way for military training by Israeli forces and confiscated agricultural tools and tractors. This is the eighth time this community has faced temporary displacement due to Israeli military trainings since the beginning of the year. Additionally, the community members were later verbally ordered to leave the area permanently by 2 November or the ICA will demolish their structures. ‘Ibziq, located in an Israeli-declared “firing zone” in the northern Jordan Valley, is home to 30 households comprising 176 persons, including 86 children.
Similarly, in Khirbet Ras al Ahmar in the northern Jordan Valley, Israeli forces conducted a military training for three consecutive days from 26 until 29 October. As a result nine Palestinian families were temporarily displaced during the duration of the training. Of note, a tractor, vehicle and three other agricultural tools were confiscated during the military training.
Additionally, ten demolition and stop-work orders were delivered on 21 October against 11 structures, including two residential tents and two animal shelters in Masafer Yatta (Hebron) due to their presence in the “918 firing zone” . At least 1,300 people currently live in 14 Palestinian communities in the Masafer Yatta area of the south Hebron Hills, many since before the Israeli occupation began in 1967. These communities are at continuous risk of forcible transfer from the area, due to its designation as a closed military zone for training, and have been subject to a range of policies and practices that have undermined their physical security, lowered their standard of living, and increased their poverty levels and dependence on humanitarian aid.
Finally, on 22 October, Israeli forces confiscated two agricultural caravans in Tuqu’ (Bethlehem) belonging to a Palestinian from Jerusalem, as they are placed without permit on a land located in Area C.
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