Israeli Army Cancels Demolition of a Building in Qalandiyah Refugee Camp Following Adalah's Intervention
Today, Adalah Staff Attorney Marwan Dalal sent a letter to the Attorney General's office demanding that the office compel the Israeli army to cancel the demolition of a four-story residential building in the Qalandiyah Refugee Camp. The army raided the building this morning, arresting six of the building's twenty-two residents as part of its ongoing military operation in the West Bank. The remaining residents were told to evacuate before 18:00, at which time the army would return to demolish the building.
Adalah received information of the pending demolition from eyewitnesses, including one of the building's residents. In the letter to the Attorney General's office, Adalah argued that the demolition constitutes collective punishment, and as such is a violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. Adalah noted that if the Attorney General's office did not fulfill its duty to uphold the law, Adalah would be obliged to take the matter before the courts. Two hours after sending the letter, Adalah received a call from the Legal Advisor of the Israeli Army, who verified that the army had intended to demolish the building, but announced that the plan has been abandoned. No further explanation was given for the cancellation.
