Bethlehem
– Israeli forces dismantle Canaan village established by activists of public
committees against the wall and settlements for the fifth time

 

Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians
and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

      

 

 

Israeli forces continued to fire at Palestinian
civilians in border areas in the Gaza Strip.

2 Palestinian civilians were wounded in the central
and northern Gaza Strip.

 

5 Palestinian civilians were wounded in the West Bank
during Israeli incursions.

 

Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force
against peaceful protesters in the West Bank.

 

2 Palestinian civilians, including a B’Tselem
volunteer, were wounded by Israeli forces.

Dozens suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained
bruises due to Israeli soldiers’ attacks.

 

 

Israeli forces conducted 51 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank.

 

At
least 26 Palestinian civilians, including 8
children, were arrested.

 

Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the
oPt and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

Israeli
forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.

2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were
arrested by Israeli forces at checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

Israeli forces have continued to support settlement
activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.

More demolition notices were issued.

The settlers continued their attacks on the
Palestinian farmers and shepherds, south of Hebron.

Israeli forces arrested 3 Palestinian civilians while
Israeli settlers were attacking farmers and shepherds. .

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
(25 – 31 July 2013).

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 9
Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  Dozens of civilians also suffered tear gas
inhalation during peaceful protests against the construction of the annexation
wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. Furthermore, a number of
civilians sustained bruises due to Israeli soldiers’ attacks against them.

 

In the West Bank, 5 Palestinian civilians were wounded
in Jenin town and refugee camp during clashes with Israeli forces that moved
into the town and the refugee camp.

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces continued
the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by
Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of
the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians,
including a B’Tselem’s volunteer, were wounded. Besides, dozens suffered tear
gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to Israeli soldiers’ attack on
them.

 

In the Gaza Strip, 2 Palestinian civilians were
wounded by Israeli forces in the central and northern Gaza Strip

 

During the reporting period, Israeli naval forces
continued to attack Palestinian fishing boats. 
On 27 July 2013, a Palestinian fishing boat was damaged as it was hit by
the Israeli gunfire when it was sailing 6 nautical miles of Gaza shore.

  

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 51 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 26 Palestinians, including 8
children.

 

During one of these incursions, Israeli forces
attacked a Palestinian family in al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron,
while arresting a child.

 

Restrictions on movement:

 

Israel continued to impose a tightened closure of the
oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in
the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

 

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has
steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian
and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. 
The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of
trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the
agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 7 consecutive years,
Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from
the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the
world. This resulted in a grave violation of the economic, social and cultural
rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7 million people.  The Israeli authorities has established Karm
Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order
to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy that has been aggravating
for years due to the shortage of imports. 
They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s
exports. 

 

Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank,
including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

Settlement activities:

Israel has continued its settlement activities in the
oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers
have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

 

Attacks carried out by Israeli forces

 

Attacks carried out by settlers

 

On 30 July 2013, Israeli forces moved in Be’r
al-Ballouta area to the west of Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They delivered a notice to a Palestinian
civilian ordering the demolition of a 200-cubic-meter water reservoir that
belongs to the municipality, claiming that it was established without a
license. 

Attacks carried out by settlers

 

On 26 July 2013, dozens of Israeli
settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, stormed the lands of Seilat al-Zaher
village, south of Jenin, where an evacuated Israeli settlement, “Homesh,” used
to stand.  The settlers performed
Talmudic rituals and set up a number of tents in the area.  They left the area later and no more
incidents were reported.

 

On the same day, a number of Israeli
settlers from “Matsvi Yair” settlement to the southeast of Yatta village, south
of Hebron, stormed the lands of Khirbat Qoyous area and attacked Palestinian
farmers and shepherds and international solidarity activists.  Israeli forces also intervened and arrested 3
Palestinians.

 

On 27 July 2013, a number of Israeli
settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, stormed the lands to the south of Jenin,
where an evacuated Israeli settlement, “Tirsla,” used to stand.  The settlers performed Talmudic rituals and
set up a number of tents in the area. 
They left the area later and no more incidents were reported.

 

On 29 July 2013, a number of Israeli
settlers from “Bitar Elite” settlement, which stands on Palestinian lands to
the west of Bethlehem, stormed ‘Ein Fares area in the west of Nahalin
village.  

 

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
(25 -31 July 2013)

 

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks
on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

Thursday, 25 July 2013

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
Nablus.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Jihad Bashar Dashoun, 19, in Rafidya neighbourhood
in the west of the city, and arrested him. 
They then raided and searched a house belonging to the families of
Mohammed Rebhi al-Damouni, 28, a member of the Palestinian Intelligence
Service, in al-Makhfiya neighbourhood in the west of the city, and arrested
him.

 

At approximately 04:45, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin town and refugee camp.  They raided
and searched an under-construction kindergarten in the camp.  In the meantime, a number of Palestinian
youngsters gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli
forces.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers
fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the youngsters.  As a result, a 20-year-old Palestinian was
injured by shrapnel from sound bombs, and a number of others suffered tear gas
inhalation. 

 

At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces moved in the
landfill area located to the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron.  They held workers and checked their
ID’s.  They then arrested one of the
workers, Fawaz ‘Eissa Reb’ei.

 

At approximately 09:40, Israeli forces moved into
Ertah suburb, south of Tulkarm.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 13:30, Israeli forces positioned at
the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Hanoun
fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting wood,
approximately 500 meters away from the border. 
As a result, ‘Awadh R’fat ‘Abdul ‘Aati, 19, from Sheikh Zayed quarter in
Beit Lahia, was wounded by 2 bullets to the right thigh and leg, and shrapnel
from a bullet to the abdomen. According to ‘Abdul ‘Aaati, Israeli soldiers
called on him through megaphones to leave the area, and when he carried woods
to move away, the soldiers fired at him. 

 

At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces arrested
Mustafa Hammad Jaber, 25, from ‘Arraba village southwest of Jenin.  Jaber had been summoned by Israeli forces to
Salem military post, northwest of the town, for questioning.

 

At approximately 20:00, Israeliu forces moved into
Ethna village, west of Hebron, and a patrolled the streets.  A number of Palestinian boys gathered and
three stones at the Israeli forces. 
Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs.  As a result, a number of boys suffered tear
gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. 
They indiscriminately fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian
homes.  As a result, a number of civilians
suffered tear gas inhalation.  The
Israeli forces withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

   

Friday, 26 July 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Wad
al-Hariya and Jabal Abu Rumman neighbourhoods in the south of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:15, Israeli forces moved into
Brouqin village, west of Salfit.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 06:30, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin refugee camp.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Dawood Mohammed Zbaidi, 33, and
arrested him.  In the meantime, a number
of young men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli forces.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at those
young men, wounding one of them (PCHR keeps his name).

 

At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They patrolled
the streets for some time.  They moved
out of the village and established a checkpoint at its entrance.  They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles.  They also distributed
a statement issued by the so-called “military commander of Hebron” warning that
continuing to damage the annexation wall will force the Israeli military to
impose restrictions on the movement of people.”

 

At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into
Kharabtha al-Misbah village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into
Deir Abu Mash’al village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 27 July 2013

 

At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Nabi
Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Rummana village, northwest of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 10:00, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats
that were sailing 6 nautical miles off Gaza shore.  As a result, a boat belonging to Sa’id
Mohammed Abu Riala, from al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City, was
damaged. 

 

At
approximately 19:15, Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel fired at a person who approached the border in the central
Gaza Strip, wounding him with 2 bullets to legs.  He was identified as Fadi Waleed ‘Eissa, 29,
from Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in Gaza City. 
According to his mother, he suffers from a physiological disorder.

 

At
approximately 22:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Allar village, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 28 July
2013

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Zahiriya village, south of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Attil village, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir al-Ghossoun village, north
of Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 03:55, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village, south of
Bethlehem.  They raided a house belonging
to the family of Sameh Jameel al-Balboul, 32, and delivered him a notice to
refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gush Etzion” settlement bloc.

 

At
approximately 11:00, an Israeli military infantry unit moved into al-‘Arroun
refugee camp, north of Hebron.  Israeli
soldiers arrested 9-year-old Khaled Badran Jawabra claiming that he threw
stones at them.  They released him a few
hours later.

 

At
approximately 15:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of
Hebron, and patrolled in the streets. 
They arrested 14-year-old Mohammed Fayez al-Wawi claiming that he threw
stones at them.  They released him a few
hours later.

 

At
approximately 18:10, Israeli forces moved into Beit Jala town, west of
Bethlehem.  They raided a monastery in
the town.  They held all people who were
there and verified their ID’s.  They
withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into Misliya village, south of Jenin,
and patrolled the streets.  A number of
Palestinian youngsters gathered and threw stones at the Israeli forces.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them.  The
Israeli forces moved out of the village later and no casualties or arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Ouja village, northeast of
Jericho.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Jiftlek village, north of
Jericho.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Monday 29 July 2013

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north
of Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian children:

1) ‘Abdul Karim Jaber al-Titi, 16;

2) Ma’ath Mahmoud Abu Hashash, 16;

3) Hatem Khalil Mahfouz, 16;

4) ‘Ali Muatafa Abu Sal, 14; and

5) ‘Ali Ibrahim Abu Hashah, 14. 

 

While raiding al-Titi’s house, the Israeli
forces harassed the family.  They also
used tear gas inside the house causing extreme difficulties of breathing for a
pregnant woman in the house. 

 

Also at
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of ‘Omar Ya’qoub al-Muhtasseb, 27, and arrested him.

 

Also at
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Khirbat Abu Falah village,
northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1) ‘Ezzat Jebril al-Tumaizi, 21;

2) Rami ‘Eissa Abu Juhaisha, 26; and

3) Hisham Tumaizi, 26.

 

Also at
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Shyoukh village, east of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Tirah neighbourhood, west of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately
02:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Mughayar village, northeast of
Ramallah.  They raided two houses in the
village and arrested 2 Palestinians:

1) Mujahed Rafiq Abu ‘Alia, 20; and

2) ‘Ammar ‘Abed Abu ‘Ammar, 22.

 

At
approximately 02:50, Israeli forces moved into Taqqou’ village, southeast of
Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of ‘Atallah Mohammed al-‘Omour, 17, and arrested
him.

 

At
approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Jericho.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 09:30, Israeli forces moved into Kufor Dan village, northwest of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 12:30, Israeli forces moved into Baqa al-Sharqia village, north
of Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north
of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets
and fired tear gas canisters at houses. 
No clashes or casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into Qabatya village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 30 July 2013

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin refugee camp.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Hassan Shabrawi, 30, and
arrested him.  In the meantime, a number
of Palestinian youngsters gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the
Israeli forces.  Immediately, Israeli
soldiers fired at the stone throwers wounding 3 of them: An 18-year-old
Palestinian, wounded by a live bullet to the left hand; a 23-year – old one,
wounded by a live bullet to the foot; and a 21-year-old one, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet to the thigh.  

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Estia village, north of Salfit. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 05:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit
‘Aur al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 06:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aaboud
village, northwest of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into
Bitillu village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 16:30, Israeli forces moved into Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 31 July 2013

 

At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into
Kharabtha Bani Hareth village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
Yatta village, south of Hebron.  They
raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mousa Shihda Makhamra, 40.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. 
They raided and searched 3 houses in the camp and arrested 3
Palestinians:

1) Wissam ‘Aatef Swailem, 18;

2) Ahmed Jamal al-Khatib, 18; and

3) Anas Nafez ‘Awalma, 20.

 

A number of Palestinian boys threw stones
at the Israeli forces, which fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at
them.  As a result, a number of civilians
suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Ra’fat al-‘Athamna, and arrested him.

 

Also at
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad village, west of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun village, northwest of
Jenin.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Tayeb ‘Ammar Houshiya, 19, and arrested him.

 

At
approximately 04:30, Israeli forces moved into Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

2. Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting
settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall

 

During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used
excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian
civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West
Bank.  As a result, two Palestinian
civilians were wounded, and a number of others suffered tear gas inhalation or
sustained bruises due to the Israeli forces’ attacks.

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 26 July 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.
The demonstrators made their way towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed
the wall gate with barbwire.  When the
demonstrators attempted to access the lands behind the barbwire, they were
stopped by Israeli soldiers. The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli
soldiers who responded with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound
bombs, and tear gas canisters, and chased them across fields of olive trees. As
a result, Haitham Mohammed al-Khatib, a photographer of the Public Committee
against the Wall in Bil’in and a volunteer in B’Tselem – the Israeli
Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, was hit by a
tear gas canister.  An 18-year-old
civilian was also wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg.  Additionally, dozens of demonstrators
suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.
The demonstrators made their way towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces
closed the wall gate with barbed wire and, when the demonstrators attempted to
access the lands behind the barbed wire, they were stopped by Israeli soldiers.
The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who responded with live
ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters,
and chased them across fields of olive trees as far as the outskirts of the
village. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and
others sustained bruises.

 

Around the same time on Friday, dozens of Palestinian
civilians, Israeli and international human rights activists gathered at
the Martyrs Square in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to organize a
weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activities. The protesters walked towards Palestinian lands that
Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halmish” settlement are trying to
seize.  From the morning, Israeli forces
had closed all entrances to the village to prevent Palestinians, international
activists, and journalists from joining the demonstration.  Upon their arrival in the area, Israeli soldiers
fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas
canisters, chased the demonstrators into the village and sprayed them and
civilian houses with waste water. As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation
and others sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a
peaceful demonstration in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in protest at
the construction of the annexation wall. 
The demonstration moved from the center of the village towards the
wall.  Israeli forces attacked the
demonstrators and arrested Mahmoud ‘Alaa’ al-Din, 27.

 

At approximately 13:12, following the Friday Prayer, 26
July 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human
rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast
of Qalqilya, heading to the eastern entrance of the village in protest at
closing that entrance since al-Aqsa Intifada. 
The demonstrators gathered in front of the entrance.  Israeli forces fired live ammunition,
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators.  As a result, dozens of
demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation. Neither casualties nor arrests were
reported.

 

3. Continued closure of the oPt

 

Israel has continued to
impose a tightened closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,
including occupied East Jerusalem.

 

Gaza Strip

 

 

Israeli forces continuously tightens the
closure of the Gaza Strip and closes all commercial crossings , making the Karm
Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it
is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity
and distance from markets.

 

Israeli forces have continued to apply the
policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by
imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.

 

The total closure of al-Mentar
(“Karni”) crossing since 02 March 2011 has seriously affected the
economy of the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all economic and commercial
establishments in the Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off. It should be noted
that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip, in terms of
its capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision to close
al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions resulting in
the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip in the
beginning of 2009, and the Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which was
dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the
beginning of 2010.

 

Israeli forces have continued to impose a
total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very
limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed
into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza
Strip.

 

The cooking gas crisis, which erupted last
November, has continued to affect the Gaza Strip due to the closure of Karm Abu
Salem for long periods per month and also due to limited quantities recently
allowed by the Israeli authorities. 
According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli authorities only allow around 98
tonnes of cooking gas into Gaza per day. 
This limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is 200
tonnes per day, of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during the winter.

 

 

For almost 6
consecutive years, Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of
construction materials to the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, Israeli
forces approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials
for a number of international organisations in the Gaza Strip.  Israeli forces also continued to impose
almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and
industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers,
strawberries, and spices.

 

Israel has continued to
close the Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing for the majority of Palestinian
citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited
number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel
has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian
patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical
treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel
denied permission to access hospitals via the crossing for new categories of
patients from the Gaza Strip.

 

For around a year,
Israeli forces have allowed Palestinian detainees’ families to visit their sons
in the Israeli jails according to special and unfair conditions after more than
5 years of deprivation in violation of international humanitarian law.

 

The Egyptian
authorities allow the population of the Gaza Strip to travel via Rafah
International crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip with the outside
world.  Only limited and specified
categories are allowed, including patients, students, persons that hold
residencies in Egypt or abroad, men over 40 years, females in all ages,
children under 18, persons who hold Arab and foreign nationalities, and members
of Arab and international humanitarian delegations.  It should be mentioned that the crossing
opens seven days a week.

 

Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing, in
the north of the Gaza Strip, is dedicated for the movement of individuals, and
links the Gaza Strip with the West Bank.

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing

23 – 30  July
2013

 

 

 

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

 24-30 July 2013

 

The Egyptian Authorities re-opened Rafah
International Crossing Pont after closing it for 5 consecutive days to the
humanitarian cases, patients, holders of foreign passports and holders of
residency permits, and the crossing was open only for 4 hours daily.  It should be mentioned that the crossing was
closed in light of updates that Egypt witnessed and the intervention of the
Egyptian Army to oust President Mohammed Morsi following protests in the
Egyptian cities at the end June.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing

 

 

 

Exports:

 

On Sunday, 28 July 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of
40 tons of potatoes.

 

Other
Imports:

 

 

On Tuesday, 23 July 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 910 tonnes of construction aggregates for the private
sector; and 1,400 tonnes of construction aggregates for the Water Authority.  They also allowed the entry of 936 tonnes of
fodders and 234 tonnes of wheat.

 

On Wednesday, 24 July 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 910 tonnes of construction aggregates for the private
sector; and 1,960 tonnes of construction aggregate and 312 tonnes of cement for
UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of
741 tonnes of fodders and 234 tonnes of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 25 July 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 155 tonnes of cement, 14 tonnes of construction steel, and
2800 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; 980 tonnes of construction
aggregates for the private sector; 40 tonnes of cement and 1,330 tonnes of
construction aggregate for the Turkish Hospital; and 200 tonnes of cement for
the Water Authority; and 21 tonnes of construction steel for the UNDP.  They also allowed the entry of 663 tonnes of
fodders and 780 tonnes of wheat.

 

On Sunday, 28 July 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 56 tonnes of cement, 30 tonnes of construction steel and
1,400 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; 980 tonnes of construction
aggregates for the private sector; 1,400 tonnes of construction aggregate for
the Red Cross; 200 tonnes of cement for the Water Authority; and 21 tonnes of
construction steel for the UNDP.  They
also allowed the entry of 663 tonnes of fodders and 780 tonnes of wheat.

 

Empty Plastic Containers Returned to Israel
via Karm Abu Salem

 

 

On Tuesday, 23 July 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 5 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On Wednesday, 24 July 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 5 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On Thursday, 25 July 2013,
Israeli forces allowed 6 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned
via Karm Abu Salem.

On Sunday, 28 July 2013,
Israeli forces allowed 7 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned
via Karm Abu Salem.

 

 

Israel has
imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli
forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians:

 

Ramallah: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 11:00
on Thursday, 25 July 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the
entrance of Beit Loqaya village, west of Ramallah.  At approximately 17:00, another checkpoint
was established at the intersection of Beit ‘Aor al-Fawqa, southwest of the
city.  The two checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 26 July 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30 on
Monday, 29 July 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance
of Senjal village, north of Ramallah.  At approximately 20:30, another checkpoint was
established at the entrance of ‘Ein Yabroud village, northeast of the
city.  At approximately 22:00, they
established a checkpoint near the entrance of Beit Loqaya village, west of
Ramallah.  All checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Hebron: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 17:00 on Thursday, 25 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kharsa village,
south of Dura, southwest of Hebron.  Around
the same time, they established another checkpoint at the entrance of
al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. 
The two checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

 At
approximately 07:00 on Friday, 26 July 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’air village, northeast of Hebron.  At approximately 16:30, they established
another checkpoint at the southern entrance of Halhoul, north of Hebron.  At approximately 17:00, a similar checkpoint
was established at the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:00 on Monday, 29 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Hebron, as
this entrance is connected with Bypass Road (60).  Around the same time, another checkpoint was
established at the entrance of Qayzoun neighbourhood, east of Hebron.  At approximately 07:30, they established a
similar checkpoint at the entrance al-Fawwar refugee camp, north of the
city.  All check[oints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Tulkarm: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
18:00 on Thursday, 25 July 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the
road between the villages of ‘Ezbet Shofah and Shofah, southeast of Tulkarm, in
order to prevent the entry of Israeli cars into the village.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported. At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Ennab
checkpoint on the main road between Nablus and Tulkarm, east of Tulkarm,
tightened its restrictions against Palestinians and obstructed their
movement.  The tightening later ended,
and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 26 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road between the villages of
‘Ezbet Shofah and Shofah, southeast of Tulkarm, in order to prevent the entry
of Israeli cars into the village.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 09:30 on Saturday, 27 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road between the villages of
‘Ezbet Shofah and Shofah, southeast of Tulkarm, in order to prevent the entry
of Israeli cars into the village. The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 15:00 on Monday, 29 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road between the villages of
‘Ezbet Shofah and Shofah, southeast of Tulkarm, in order to prevent the entry
of Israeli cars into the village.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 09:30 on Tuesday, 30 July 2013,
Israeli forces Israeli forces stationed at ‘Ennab checkpoint on the main road
between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm tightened restrictions against
Palestinians and obstructed their movement through the checkpoint.  The tightening later ended, and no arrests
were reported.

 

Qalqilya: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
17:10 on Thursday, 25 July 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya. 
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:10 on Friday, 26 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Jeet village, northeast
of Qalqilya. At approximately 13:40, they established another checkpoint at the
entrance of ‘Azoun, east of Qalqilya, and they re-established it at
approximately 21:45.  The checkpoint was
later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:05 on Sunday, 28 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of
Qalqilya.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Jenin: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 21:00 on Friday, 26 July 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Jalmah village, north of
Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:00 on Tuesday, 30 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road, which connects Jenin
with Tulkarm and Nablus, near the intersection of al-Shuhada village, south of
Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests at military
checkpoints

 

At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 28 July
2013, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of “Gush Etzion” settlement,
south of Bethlehem, arrested Rami Bassam Khalil Za’aqeeq (35) when he was on
his way to the Israeli intelligence as stated in the summon he was given by the
Israeli forces at the entrance of the village several days ago.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces deployed
in the old city neighbourhoods in the central Hebron arrested Mohammed Yehia
Mahmoud Abu Sineyeh (16), from Abu Sineyeh neighbourhood, south of the old
city.  Israeli forces claimed that the
aforementioned child had thrown stones at some soldiers, and he was released
after a couple of hours.  He was then
handed over to the Palestinian Military Liaison.

 

5. Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian
civilians and property

 

Attacks carried out by Israeli forces

 

At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 30 July 2013,
Israeli forces, accompanied by officers from the Civil Administration, moved in
Be’r al-Ballouta area to the west of Ethna village, west of Hebib.  They delivered a notice to a Palestinian
civilian ordering the demolition of a 200-cubic-meter water reservoir that
belongs to the municipality, claiming that it was established without a
license.  A few months ago, Israeli
forces expelled workers who were establishing the reservoir from the area.  

 

Attacks carried out by settlers

 

At approximately 00:30 on Friday, 26
July 2013, dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, stormed the
lands of Seilat al-Zaher village, south of Jenin, where an evacuated Israeli
settlement, “Homesh,” used to stand.  The
settlers performed Talmudic rituals and set up a number of tents in the
area.  They left the area later and no
more incidents were reported.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 26
July 2013, a number of Israeli settlers from “Matsvi Yair” settlement to the
southeast of Yatta village, south of Hebron, stormed the lands of Khirbat
Qoyous area and attacked Palestinian farmers and shepherds and international
solidarity activists.  Israeli forces
also intervened and arrested 3 Palestinians: Sa’id Mohammed ‘Awadh, 43; Jameel
Ahmed ‘Awadh, 47; and Mohammed Tawfiq ‘Awadh, 19.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Saturday,
27 July 2013, a number of Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, stormed
the lands to the south of Jenin, where an evacuated Israeli settlement,
“Tirsla,” used to stand.  The settlers
performed Talmudic rituals and set up a number of tents in the area.  They left the area later and no more incidents
were reported.

 

At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 29
July 2013, a number of Israeli settlers from “Bitar Elite” settlement, which
stands on Palestinian lands to the west of Bethlehem, stormed ‘Ein Fares area
in the west of Nahalin village.  

 

 

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 

 

PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position
that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is still
under the Israeli occupation, in spite of the Israeli military redeployment
outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli force have
continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which
have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which
Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR
stresses that there is an international recognition of Israel’s obligation to
respect international human rights instruments and the international
humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the
Laws and Customs of War on Land and the
Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law
and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way
that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.

 

In light of continued arbitrary measures, land
confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the continued
aggression against civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially the latest offensive
that lasted for 8 days in November, PCHR calls upon the international
community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural
obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act
according to the following recommendations:

 

1. PCHR calls upon the international community and the
United Nations to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to
enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the
Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast
majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end
the occupation of the State of Palestine;

2. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international
protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence of
aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the
Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;

4. PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human
rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to
comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the
human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned
committees;

5. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the
Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to
prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the
perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected
Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;

6. PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of
universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal
jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war
criminals;

7. PCHR calls upon the international community to act in
order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through
imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;

8. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer
the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the
International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome
Statute;

9. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that
holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to
achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on
the expense of human rights and victims;

10. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human
Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza
and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the
two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel
it to remove them;

11. PCHR calls upon the international community, in light
of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at
least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of
hostilities launched by Israel which directed targeted the civilian
infrastructure;

12. PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European
Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the
international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the
annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;

13. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article
2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must
respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU
states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violation and crimes
against Palestinian civilians;

14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and
accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva
Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the United
Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to international human
rights law and humanitarian law instruments.

 

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

Public Document

For further information please visit our website www.pchrgaza.org or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by
email [email protected] or telephone +972 08 282 4776 – 282 5893.