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.
Fire caused by previous military’s training near the community. Photo: ‘Aref Daraghmeh,, B’Tselem, 25 June 2015
14 Oct 2015
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.
A-Ras al-Ahmar residents wait to be allowed to return home. Photo by ‘Aref Daraghmeh, B’Tselem, 12 October 2015
7 Sep 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.
Demolition in Bedouin community east of the village a-Taybah. Photo: Iyad Hadad, B'Tselem, 3 Sept. 2015
6 Sep 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.
Civil Administration bulldozer razing structure in al-‘Aqabah. Photo: ‘Aref Daraghmeh, B’Tselem, 5 August 2015
31 Aug 2015
The Civil Administration and the military demolished 15 structures in al-Khdeirat community
The data we released regarding the demolition that took place on 31.8.2015 at the 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.
A girl looking through her family possesions in the Palestinian community of al-Khdeirat this morning. Photo: 'Amer 'Aruri, B'Tselem
20 Aug 2015
Wave of demolitions in Area C continues: Civil Administration Destroys Homes of 3 families in the Jordan Valley
Today, 20 Aug. 2015, the Israeli authorities left 19 persons, including 10 minors, in conditions of extreme heat without any solution. This is the third time this week the authorities have demolished homes and income generating structures in area C. The wave of demolitions left dozens of people homeless in the extreme August heat. Since 5 Aug. 2015, the Civil Administration has demolished 34 residential buildings and 31 other structures in Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley, in the vicinity of Ma’ale Adumim, and in the southern Hebron hills. A total of 167 people have lost their homes in these actions, including 101 minors.
The Daraghmeh family home in Khirbet Einun this morning, before and after demolition. Photo: 'Aref Daraghmeh, B'Tselem
18 Aug 2015
40 Degrees in the Shade: Civil Administration Destroys Homes of 48 People in Jordan Valley, including 31 Minors
This morning (18 Aug.) the Civil Administration demolished 17 home and 7 structures for livestock in the village of Fasayil in the Jordan Valley, leaving 48 people, 31 of them minors homeless. Israel prevents Palestinians in the community from establishing permanent homes and connecting them to water and electricity infrastructures, thereby leaving them exposed to harsh weather conditions. Since 5 Aug. 2015, the Civil Administration has demolished 31 residential buildings and 26 other structures in Palestinian communities in area C. A total of 167 people have lost their homes in these actions, including 101 minors.
Demolitions in the village of Fasayil today. Photo: 'Aref Daraghmeh, B'Tselem
17 Aug 2015
Civil Administration continues demolition sweep: 14 Bedouin families left homeless in the Ma'ale Adumim area today
This morning, around 6am, civil Administration and army forces demolished the homes of four families numbering 32 people, of them 21 minorsat the a-Sa'idi community, near a-Za'ayem. The forces then moved to the abu-Falah community, in the Khan al-Ahmar area, and demolished a residential shack housing two people and a structure used to house guests. Later the authorities demolished 12 structures in the adjacent Bir al-Maksub and Wadi Shneisel communities, nine of them residential homes. Authorities leave the residents and herds with no shelter in harsh weather conditions.
Demolitions in a-Sa'idi community today. Photo: 'Amer 'Aruri, B'Tselem
11 Aug 2015
Civil Administration demolishes homes of three Palestinian families in Humsah and al-‘Ajaj communities, Jordan Valley
This morning, 11 August 2015, representatives of the Civil Administration (CA) and the military came to the Palestinian community of Khirbet Humsah, which lies about two kilometers from the Hamra Checkpoint in the northern Jordan Valley, in the West Bank. The forces demolished a structure under construction that was intended to house a family of four who live in a tent nearby. They also demolished two livestock pens belonging to another family in the community. Since the beginning of 2015, residents of this community have been made to evacuate their homes 11 times due to military training in the area, and nearby fields where the residents graze their flocks have been burned down. The forces then continued to the community of al-‘Ajaj (also known as Id’eis), which lies between the Palestinian village of al-Jiftlik and the settlement of Masu’a. There, they demolished two homes and two livestock pens. The families now remaining homeless number 12 people, half of them minors. In May 2014, the CA already demolished about half of the homes in the community. The forces then continued to the village of a-Zubeidat, where they demolished a structure for storing livestock fodder that lies in the part of the village defined as Area C.
Children from the Id'eis family whose home was demolished in al-'Ajaj. Photo by 'Aref Daraghmeh, B'tselem, 11 Aug. '15
6 Aug 2015
Israel’s Civil Administration demolishes homes of 3 families in ‘Ein al-Meyteh and al-‘Aqabah, Jordan Valley
On 5 August 2015, at approximately 5:00 A.M., Civil Administration (CA) personnel and military forces came to the Palestinian community of al-'Aqabah, which lies some two kilometers east of the Palestinian village of Tayasir in the Jordan Valley, the West Bank. They demolished the home of a five-person family (including two minors) in the community. CA personnel also demolished five structures that five of the community’s families used for storage and holding livestock.
Later, in the Palestinian community of ‘Ein al-Meyteh, also in the Jordan Valley, close to the Israeli settlement Maskiyot, the CA with their military escort demolished three residential tents and four structures used for raising livestock. These tents and structures were used by two families numbering eight people, including two minors. Since the beginning of 2015, the residents of ‘Ein al-Meyteh have been forced to temporarily leave their homes five times, due to military training close to their land. CA personnel also demolished a livestock pen in the nearby Palestinian community of Khirbet Yarza. This community, too, has been harmed by CA activity in the past year: in January 2015, the CA dismantled and confiscated pipes that had been laid to supply water to the community.
