Introduction » Background » Why are houses demolished? » What happens after?
Introduction
The demolition of a home not only destroys a physical structure, but has numerous other consequences: it tears down the family structure, increases poverty and vulnerability, and ultimately displaces a family from the environment that gives it cohesion and support. This has long-term physical and mental health consequences.
Forced displacement is not only an acknowledged part of Palestinian history. Palestinians, both refugee and non-refugee, are still being displaced today, and one of the primary vehicles for their displacement is the Israeli policy of house demolitions.
This section is based on materials from the Report Broken Homes issued by the Palestinian Counseling Center, Save The Children UK, and the Welfare Association. ICAHD Israel contributed data to this report.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are Israel’s house demolitions legal under international law?
No. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention Occupying Powers are prohibited from destroying property or employing collective punishment. Article 53 reads: “Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons…is prohibited.” Under this provision the practice of demolishing Palestinian houses is banned, as is the wholesale destruction of the Palestinian infrastructure. - What are the reasons given by the Israeli government for demolishing Palestinian homes?
The majority of house demolitions are conducted for ‘Administrative’ reasons and are generally because the house was built without a permit. However permits are almost impossible to obtain by Palestinians living under Occupation. - Are expulsions of Palestinians legal under international law?
Under Articles 35 & 49 of the 4th Geneva Convention it is forbidden to deport or “forcibly transfer,” the local population, including such common Israeli practises as revoking the Jerusalem residency of Palestinians or banning Palestinians from returning from work, study or travel abroad. - During the Oslo Process were Palestinian Homes demolished in East Jerusalem?
During the Oslo negotiations, the Jerusalem municipality and the Ministry of Interior demolished almost 300 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem. - Why is it a problem for East Jerusalem Palestinians to obtain housing permits?
Since 1967, Israel has created a “Greater” Jerusalem which controls the entire central portion of the West Bank and cuts the economic heart out of Palestinian state. While constructing 90,000 housing units for Jews in East Jerusalem, the municipality has intentionally created a shortage of 25,000 housing units for Palestinians. The goal is three-fold: (1) the blatantly racist objective of maintaining a 72%-28% majority of Jews over Arabs; (2) to confine the Palestinian population to small islands – the Arabs make up a third of the Jerusalem population, but only have access to 7% of the urban land; and (3) to ultimately force them out of the city. - How many houses have been demolished since the Occupation began?
Since 1967, over 22,000 houses Palestinian homes have been demolished in the Occupied Territories, including East Jerusalem.
