LETTER: We denounce strongly the brutal action of Israeli forces in demolishing dozens of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank on Monday. The zionist Israel army destroyed a Palestinian settlement in the al-Muarrajat region, east of Ramallah.
The European Union has called upon Israel to stop the demolition of Palestinian residential structures in the occupied Jordan Valley. This was disclosed by Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff, representative of the EU in the Palestinian territories.
The call came after Israeli forces destroyed the Palestinian Bedouin community in the occupied West Bank village of Khirbet Humsah last week for the second time in three months, leaving several families homeless.
We call the EU not only to laud their concern of the large-scale demolition as a deplorable trend of confiscation and destruction, but also to act firmly with concrete measures to deter Israel from continuing its oppression.
We demand that this statement be translated into action to halt and punish Israel.
The confiscation and demolition of structures in Hamsa al-Foqa and dislocation of around 60 people confirm the regrettable trend despite the risks of Covid-19 & obligations of [Israel] as occupying power under the [international] humanitarian law.
This aggression must be strongly objected. Khirbet Humsah's 130 inhabitants are now sleeping on mattresses and plastic tarpaulins on the rocky soil.
In a press release last week, Israeli rights group B'Tselem said that the demolition at Khirbet Humsah was "unusually broad". The organisation accused Israel of seeking "to forcibly transfer Palestinian communities in order to take over their land."
B'Tselem which last month described Israel as an "apartheid state", pointed out that Israeli occupation forces confiscated 13 tents that were home to 11 families, numbering 74 members, including 41 minors; two of the families had relocated temporarily to the Furush Beit Dajan area after their homes were demolished in November 2020.
We deplore the inaction of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on this matter. It is clearly a double standard when the agency seems to be non assertive in taking Israel to be accountable.
The Israel's widely practice of home demolition, targeting the entire families are acts of illegal collective punishment and are a direct violation of international human rights law.
EU spokesperson Peter Santo announced in a statement: "This week, Israeli forces demolished more than 70 structures, including residential, livelihood and sanitation facilities belonging to 11 Palestinian families with 41 children in Khirbet Hamsa Al-Foqa, in the northern Jordan Valley."
The threat of demolition of the Palestinian school in the Ras Al-Teen community in the central West Bank, co-funded by the EU and several EU member states.
The EU official indicated: "There are currently 52 Palestinian schools under threat of demolition."
Santo asserted: "As reiterated in previous EU Council Conclusions, the EU calls for the protection of children, including ensuring their right to education in a safe and secure school environment. Education is a basic human right that should be protected and maintained."
According to Yvonne Helle, acting humanitarian coordinator in the occupied territory of West Bank in a statement that these demolitions resulted in the displacement of 869 Palestinians who lost their homes.
In fact, Israel, had in November 2020, destroyed a Belgian-funded homes in the occupied West Bank. Belgium urged Israel to refrain from destroying Palestinian schools and demanding compensation for Palestinians affected by the demolitions.
A number of homes in the village of Al-Rakeez, in the occupied West Bank district of Hebron, have also been demolished by Israeli authorities in violation of international humanitarian laws.
Belgium called on the Israeli occupation authorities "not to execute the demolition orders for the schools in Ras Al-Tin, Jinba and Khirbet Al-Fakheit, and to safeguard all 52 schools in the West Bank which are at risk of demolition."
The increase in the number of demolitions and seizures of structures and humanitarian projects in Area C in the West Bank, is a clear evidence of Israel's act of disrespect to international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel's obligations as an occupying power and UN Security Council resolutions.
On November 3, 2020, more than 80 structures in the village of Khirbet Hamsa Al-Foqa in the Jordan Valley, were destroyed.
The demolition of schools by Israel is intentional to destroy the right to education for Palestinian children guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
We urge the Palestinian homes and schools to be protected by the international agencies. Those that have been destroyed must be compensated by Israel.
MOHD AZMI ABDUL HAMID
MAPIM President
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times