| Khirbet Humsa al-Fawqa | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
| Arabic transcription(s) | |
| • Arabic | خربة حمصة الفوقا |
  Khirbet Humsa al-FawqaLocation of Khirbet Humsa al-Fawqa within Palestine | |
| Coordinates: 32°15′53.38″N 35°26′12.98″E / 32.2648278°N 35.4369389°E / 32.2648278; 35.4369389 | |
| State |  State of Palestine |
| Governorate | Tubas |
| Population | |
| • Total | 130 |
Khirbet Humsa al-Fawqa (Arabic: خربة حمصة الفوقا), also known simply as Khirbet Humsa or just al-Humsa, is a Palestinian Bedouin village that is located in Tubas Governorate of the State of Palestine, in the northern Jordan Valley, in the northeast of the West Bank. It forms one of the three villages of the al-Bikai'a cluster that includes the three hamlets of Khirbet al-'Atuf, al-Hadidiyah, and Khirbet Humsa al-Fawqa.
History
In 1972, Israel declared the area to be a live-fire zone, according to court filings. In 2005, Khirbet Humsa al-Fawqa was reported as having been completely evacuated since 2002 as it was considered a heavy training ground for militants. On 5 November 2020, Israeli bulldozers demolished most of the village and forced 73 of its Palestinian residents, including 41 children to leave in what was the largest demolition in years. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh accused Israel of timing the demolition for election day in the United States, when the world was distracted. The residents returned soon after. The demolition was condemned by the European Union and the United Nations. On 4 February 2021, Israel razed for the second time because of what it claimed was an illegal settlement next to a military firing range. The Israeli rights group B'Tselem called the demolition "unusually broad", accusing Israel of seeking "to forcibly transfer Palestinian communities in order to take over their land." On 7 July 2021, it was demolished by Israel again for at least the third time.
Water and electricity
The local authorities in Tubas Governorate provided electricity through solar energy, which was later destroyed by Israel, and it controls the sources of water and deprives the Palestinian population of its use. This forces them to buy water tanks from far away.
References
- ^ Israel begins razing Palestinian Bedouin village for second time 4 February 2021 www.nbc.com accessed 18 April 2021
- ^ Al-Bikai'a Villages Profile Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem. February 2006.
- ^ EU, UN condemn Israeli demolition of West Bank Palestinian hamlet 5 November 2020 www.timesofisrael.com accessed 18 April 2021
- Israel demolishes most of Palestinian Bedouin village in West Bank 5 November 2020 www.abc.net.au accessed 18 April 2021
- Israel again tears down contested Palestinian hamlet in Jordan Valley 7 July 2021 www.timesofisrael.com accessed 14 July 2021
- Opinion | The Israeli Occupation Is Making the Most of One More Day of Trump 6 November 2020 www.haaretz.com accessed 17 April 2021
- Israel razes Bedouin campsite in largest West Bank demolition in a decade 5 November 2020 www.timesofisrael.com accessed 17 April 2021
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