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Nakba 2.0: In a herder community in the occupied West Bank, Israel destroys 13 structures, including 9 homes and a classroom

From a UN source, here’s info on demolitions that took place yesterday in the village of Dkeika, in the south Hebron Hills.

On the morning of Jan. 12, Israeli authorities, using 4 bulldozers, demolished 13 Palestinian structures in the community, including: 9 residential structures (brick, concrete, corrugated iron), forcibly displacing 50 people, including 30 children. 1 animal shelter 1 store (affecting the livelihood of 7 people) 1 communal kitchen-and-sitting room, 1 class room (for 15 children). 

Initial reports say these demolitions have displaced almost 50 people at minimum and otherwise affected at least another 15 students. 

The families affected are among some of the most vulnerable in the West Bank and the impact of the demolitions on their lives and well-being is devastating. Many of the families rely on regular food aid from WFP/UNRWA to survive. The demolitions are likely to further increase poverty and aid dependency.

Israeli authorities justify the demolitions because the structures lacked Israeli-issued permits, which according to the Oslo Accords are needed for Palestinian construction in Area C. However, as most of you know, it is next to impossible for Palestinians to obtain such permits from Israeli authorities, leaving them with no option but to build “illegally” or leave the area and move abroad or into Areas A or B.

Leaving Area C is out of the question for the families in Dkeika. They rely on herding for their livelihood and thus need access to grazing land. Most of the families are refugees, who were forced to leave their land and homes in what is now the State of Israel. Like many other refugee families in oPt, they are now losing their homes for the second time.

A number of other structures in Dkeika have also received demolition orders and remain at risk of demolition. The community has, with support from various organizations, including Rabbis for Human Rights, but also Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, UNHABITAT and the Humanitarian Response Fund run by OCHA, developed a master plan to try to obtain permits. Their efforts have been categorically rejected by Israeli authorities.

There are still a number of outstanding demolition orders against other homes in the community, meaning that the community remains at imminent risk of further demolitions.

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