"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything" ~ Hebrews 3:4

The Holy Land Trust’s latest rebuilding project has been featured in a short film made by global broadcaster, AJ+. The film was watched by more than 20,000 people in the first few hours of it being posted.

Working with partners, the Holy Land Trust has recently completed the building of a home for the Ali Moussa family in the village of Al Khader (St George) just south of Bethlehem. The family have had their home demolished three times by the Israeli army. This has led to huge hardship and indignity. Ali was injured in the final demolition and has been left unable to work. 

CEO of the Holy Land Trust, Elias Deis said the organization rebuilt homes for Palestinians living in Area C as a tactic resistance and to challenge policy. Area C is part of the Palestinian Territories but controlled by the Israeli Army. He explained that the house was mostly built at night to avoid attracting attention from the army.
 
On the short film the family talk about the indignity and humiliation they have suffered as the family of ten have been forced to live in a tent, a converted container and a shed built for chickens.

Over the last ten years, Israel has demolished over 6,000 Palestinian homes and structures, meaning that over 100,000 men, women, and children have been made homeless. Basically home demolition is a way of moving Palestinians from land the Israeli government wants to control. This is illegal under the Geneva Convention and other human rights declarations.

Elias Deis - Executive Director
Holy Land Trust’s E.D., Elias Deis has worked for over a decade at Holy Land Trust. He was formally the Travel & Encounter Program Director and serves on the Beit Sahour City Council.