More than 500 volunteers helped the Al-Tanib family dismantle their Hakoortna farm in the West Bank's Tulkarem region. This urgent effort followed an Israeli demolition order, though a court later paused the process before a December hearing.
The 500-volunteer race against the September 16 deadline
Facing a demolition order issued on September 16, the Al-Tanib family sought help to avoid a costly forced removal. According to the source, Israeli authorities warned that if the family did not dismantle the structures themselves, the army would use machinery to do so and bill the owners for the expense.
In response, over 500 volunteers spent three days working into the evening to save what they could. The group focused on emptying fish ponds, moving beehives, and relocating tree-cultivation equipment. This frantic effort occurred just before the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center secured a temporary court order from the Jerusalem District Court to freeze the demolition.
32 dunams of organic farming caught between the wall and factories
The Hakoortna farm, managed by Fayez Awad al-Tanib since 1984, spans approximately 32 dunams (7.9 acres). The property features 20 dunams dedicated to citrus and fruit trees, along with a two-storey agricultural house and various greenhouses. For decades, the site functioned not only as a family livelihood but as an educational hub where university students and thousands of children received agricultural training.
The farm's viability has been under pressure since the construction of Israel's separation wall began in 2002. As reported in the source, the wall's route—which often runs inside the occupied West Bank—led to the loss of land and restricted access for the Al-Tanib family. today, the farm is squeezed between the wall and Israeli industrial facilities, which the family claims have caused environmental damage to their crops.
1,164 structures demolished since the start of 2026
The crisis at Hakoortna is part of a documented acceleration in land clearances. Data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates that since the beginning of 2026, Israeli authorities have demolished or forced the demolition of 1,164 structures due to a lack of permits, displacing more than 1,500 people.
This trend represents a significant escalation in admministrative demolitions. OCHA reports that the average number of structures removed monthly in East Jerusalem and Area C since 2024 has at least doubled compared to the previous 15-year average. The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission further noted that in August alone, 71 demolition operations affected 155 structures, many of which were essential for Palestinian livelihoods.
The December 17 hearing and the 'security' justification
The legal battle now centers on a hearing scheduled for December 17 at the Jerusalem District Court. Israeli authorities have justified the demolition order on security grounds, claiming that certain structures on the Hakoortna farm obstruct visibility near the separation wall or were built without the necessary permits.
However, several critical points remain unverified or contested. While the state cites security, the Al-Tanib family argues the true motive is to clear land for nearby chemical factories. Furthermore, while the state cites a lack of permits, OCHA maintains that such permits are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain, leaving a gap between the legal requirement and the practical possibility of compliance.
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