Among the demolished structures were: seven residential tents, 18 animal barracks and pens and four outdoor kitchens. Al-Hadidiya has already suffered a demolition on 10 June 2011 when one residential tent and three animal shelters were demolished, affecting 10 people. The last mass demolition in the area took place in 2008 but the community continued to receive demolition and eviction orders.
The demolition team comprised one Civil Administration vehicle with two officers, 9 Israeli military vehicles with more than 100 soldiers, one Israeli border police vehicle and two bulldozers. Several families were prevented from removing their belongings from the tents before the demolition and they were buried under the rubble. At least some things were subsequently rescued though. So far, the ICRC and Palestinian Red Crescent Society have visited Al-Hadidiya to assess the situation and OCHA has been in regular touch with the community.
Background
Some 112 people live in Al-Hadidiya on a permanent basis, all of them outside the boundaries of the closed military area. According to the community spokesperson, another 120 people live in Al Hadidiya on a seasonal basis during the winter, including some 90 people who live within the closed military area. Al-Hadidiya is a Bedouin community relying on herding. Some community members report having born in this location in the 1950s, but community members h… >>>
