ICRC News Release

13 September 2018

West Bank: Israel Must Abide by International Humanitarian Law 　

Jerusalem/Tel Aviv (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is deeply concerned by Israel’s decision to demolish private houses and other structures in Khan al Ahmar village in Area C of the West Bank.

“The planned demolitions will dramatically affect the lives and dignity of this community,” said David Quesne, Head of ICRC Mission in Jerusalem. “As long as zoning and planning policies in the West Bank fail to serve the population living under occupation, they cannot be used as justification for destruction of property.”

As the Occupying Power in the West Bank, Israel is bound by the International Humanitarian Law. It has a duty to ensure the protection, security, and welfare of the people living under occupation and to guarantee that they can live as normal a life as possible, in accordance with their own laws, culture, and traditions.

For further information, please contact:

Alyona Synenko (English, Russian, French, and Spanish), ICRC Jerusalem, tel: +972 52 6019150

Yehonatan Saban (Hebrew, English) ICRC Tel Aviv, tel: + 972 52 275 7517

Tamar Abu Hanna (Arabic, English), ICRC Jerusalem, tel: +972 52 601 9148