Hebron –
Israeli forces attack Palestinian farmers in Khirbat Um al-Khair area

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

      

 

 

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

 

4 protesters were wounded during peaceful protests in Ramallah
and Qalqilia.

3 protesters were arrested during peaceful protests.

 

 

Israeli forces conducted 58 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank.

 

62 Palestinian civilians,
including 3 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.

12 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were
arrested 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.

15 residential tents, 11 livestock tenets and an artesian
well were demolished in the northern Jordan valley.

More demolition notices were issued in Ares “C.”

Israeli forces arrested 3 civilians and 2
international activists during the settler attacks in the south of Hebron.

The settlers continued their attacks against the
Palestinians and their property.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
04 – 10 July 2013.

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 4
Palestinian civilians during peaceful protests against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.

 

In the West Bank, 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, 4 civilians were wounded during
peaceful protests in Ramallah and Qalqilia on 05 July 2013. On 07 July 2013, a
fourth civilian was wounded during a peaceful protest in Ramallah against
attacks by settlers in Deir Qeddis and Shabtin villages, northwest of the Ramallah.

  

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 58 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 62 Palestinians, including 3
children.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 08 July 2013, Israeli forces
conducted 2 limited incursions in the southern Gaza Strip. They levelled lands
along the border fence and withdrew later.    

 

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

 

On 04 July 2013, Israeli forces issued 3 notices to
halt work Maghayer al-Abeed area, south of Hebron. The notices included 2
residential tents and solar panels funded by the EU.

 

On 05 July 2013, Israeli forces issued a notice to
halt work in a tin-made barrack in Kherbet Janaba, south of Hebron.

 

On 07 July 2013, Israeli forces demolished an artesian
well in al-Baqi’a valley near Atouf village, southeast of Tubas.  It should be noted that Israeli forces did
not send a prior notice to the well owner to halt work in this well.

 

On 08 July 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by
officers of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into al-Ra’s al-Ahmer and
al-Hadidiya areas in the northern Jordan Valley, east of Tubas. They demolished
a number of residential, livestock and fodder storage tents.

 

On 08 July 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by
officers of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into al-Deirat village to
the east of Yatta, south of Hebron. A Civil Administration officer handed 6
civilians notices to halt construction works in houses and a facility under the
pretext of not obtaining licenses.

 

Attacks carried out by settlers

 

On 05 July 2013, dozens of settlers,
from settlements established on Palestinians’ lands in the east of Yatta, south
of Hebron, organized a demonstration in front of the villages to the east of
the city: al-Twany, al-Baraka and al-Rakyz villages.  The settlers chanted religious and racist
slogans demanding the expulsion of Arabs from their lands.

 

On the same day, 4 settlers from
“Havat Maon” settlement moved into farmlands surrounding Kherbat
Touba area in the east of Yatta.  The
settlers attacked a civilian with stones while razing his sheep. As a result,
he sustained minor bruises.

 

On 05 July 2013, a group of
settlers, coming from “Susya” settlement, raided Palestinian
civilians’ lands in the southeast of Yatta, in the surroundings of al-Karmel
village.  The settlers, who were
accompanied by Israeli forces, performed Talmudic rituals near one of the Roman
archeological sites and chanted anti-Arab slogans.

 

On 06 July 2013, a group of
settlers, coming from “Carmiel” settlement, which is established on
the lands of Kherbat Um al-Khair area in the east of Yatta, attacked
Palestinian farmers and shepherds while in their lands, which are located in
the south of the area.

 

On 07 July 2013, a group of settlers
from “Beitar Illit” settlement, which is established on the western
countryside of Bethlehem governorate, pumped waste water into Ayn Madyq area,
in the south of Wad Foquin village, in the west of Bethlehem.

 

On 08 July 2013, a group of settlers
leveled agricultural lands in Wad al-Rakhim area to the southeast of Yatta,
south of Hebron. These lands belong to al-Halis family and are located near the
security fence of “Susya” settlement.

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
04–10 July 2013

 

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

Thursday, 04 July 2013

 

In the early morning, Israeli forces moved into Silet
al-Harithiya village, north of Jenin. 
They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of
Ibrahim Abdul Fattah Shalabi (36), who was not home. They questioned its
occupants because Ibrahim refused to refer to the Israeli intelligence service
that had summoned previously.  Israeli
forces handed them a new summon for the same person on 14 July 2013. They
withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun
village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Mahyoub Mer’i Khamaysa (76).  They forced its occupants out to be
searched.  They then raided another house
belonging to the family of Emad Hamdan Samoudi (33), who was questioned by an
intelligence officer.  They withdrew
later and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:10, Israeli forces moved into
al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. 
They raided a house belonging to the family of Yusef Aref Saleh (24),
and arrested him.    

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Budrus
village, west of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses from which they arrested 8
civilians:

1. Kamal Hassan Khalifa (26);

2. Ahmed Shokri Awad (30);

3. Abdullag Shokri Awad (28);

4. Abdul Nasser Ahmed Murrar (40);

5. Israr Yusef Murrar (19);

6. Sa’dat Sha’ban Awad (33);

7. Mohammed Abdul Karim Abdul Karim (20); and

8. Mohammed Na’im Murrar (18).

 

Israeli forces also handed summons to another two
civilians to refer to the Israeli intelligence service at the same detention
facility: Yazid Khalil Awad (22) and Mohammed Ibrahim Awad (20).  

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
Haninah neighbourhood to the south of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and surrounded a
house belonging to the family of Ra’fat al-Daraweesh (18).  They raided the house and arrested the
aforementioned person. At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Abu Ghubarah
neighbourhood, south of the city.  They
raided 2 houses from which they arrested Ashraf Fat’hi Abu Hashem (18) and
Nadim Mahmoud Ouda (18).  

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Wad
al-Hariya area, south of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Nabil
al-Shweiki (38).  They climbed on the top
of the house and turned it into a military site. Israeli forces withdrew later.,
and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:40, Israeli forces moved into Talfit
village, southeast of Nablus.  They
patrolled the streets, raided a number of houses and arrested Abdullah Hajj
Mohammed (28).

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Awarta
village, east of Nablus.  They patrolled
the streets and raided a number of houses. 
They arrested Morad Khaled al-Qadi (22).

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Oula village, west of Hebron. They patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging
to the family of Maher Khalil al-‘Adam (33) and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
Kherbet Safa to the west of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Ra’ed Mefleh ‘Adi (37), who is detained in Israeli
jails.  They also raided a house
belonging to the family of Ammar Kassab Abu Dayya.  They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Shyoukh village, north 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
Yatta village, south of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Iyad Hassan
Abu ‘Eram (29).  They handed him a notice
to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gush Etzion”
settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Awwa village to the west of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Sajed Isma’il Masalmah (28).  They arrested the aforementioned person and
withdrew later.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. 
They patrolled the streets, deployed between the houses and raided a
house belonging to the family of Malek Ahmed Issa Eweidat (15). They arrested
the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Ethna
village, west of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Jihad Abdul Halim Tmeizi. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin.  They
raided 3 houses from which they arrested 3 civilians:

1. Majdi Ghazi Barri (25), a trainee lawyer;

2. Ezz al-Din Farouq Herzallah (20); and

3. Mohammed Samir Abu Baker (22).

 

At approximately 20:00 Israeli forces with a group of
settlers from “Mitzpe Yair” settlement, to the east of Yatta, south
of Hebron, attacked Kherbet Janaba in al-Musafer area, which is known as a
military training area no. 918.  Israeli soldiers
raided a number of houses, tents and caves resided by Palestinian
families.  They destroyed their contents
under the pretext of looking for stolen sheep that belong to a settler.  Israeli soldiers also fired sound bombs
inside the caves and then attacked 2 children with gun butts.  The attacked children were: Tha’er Khaled
Jabareen (16); and Oday No’man Jabareen (16). Israeli forces also arrested
Mohammed Issa Rab’i (39) and took him to the Israeli military camp near the
abovementioned settlement.  However, he
was released later.

 

Friday, 05 July 2013

 

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

 

At approximately 01:20, Israeli forces moved into
Hindaza Mountain, east of Bethlehem. They raided a house belonging to the
family of Saleh Dawood al-Qadi (40) and arrested him.

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Nidal
Abdullah al-Najjar (33). They arrested the aforementioned person and withdrew
later.  

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Arraba village, southwest of Jenin.  They
raided a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Adnan al-Mardawi (23).  They arrested him and confiscated his laptop.
 

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Razah village to the east of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  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 Budrus
village, west of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed
Ezzat Abdul Kareem (30).  They handed him
a notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in Ofer detention
facility, southwest of the city.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Shawawrah village, east of Bethlehem. 
They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of
Mohammed Ibrahim Matloub (33).  The
arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Rajem
Abu Helal area to the southeast of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Ra’fat Taleb Abu Seba’ (20).  They arrested the aforementioned person and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 04:20, Israeli forces moved into
Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets and
raided a house.  At approximately 05:30,
they arrested Iyad Mohammed Sha’at (23).

 

At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Leed village, east of Tulkarm.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Saturday, 06 July 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
Balata refugee camp, southeast of Nablus. 
They patrolled the streets, raided a number of houses and arrested
Khaled Husam Habash (14).

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Ahmed Abu Fanouna (40).  They arrested the aforementioned person and
took him to an unknown destination. 

 

Sunday, 07 July
2013

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Nablus.  They patrolled the streets and raided a
number of houses from which they arrested 6 civilians:

1. Khaled Hassan Abu Za’rour (22);

2. Mohammed (21);

3. Ahmed Jihad al-Natour (18);

4. Karam Mansour (20);

5. Mahmoud al-Shami (20); and

6. Mos’ab Hani al-Shami (21).

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Ibrahim Ali Ikhlail (20). They arrested the
aforementioned person and raided another house belonging to the family of Oday
Mohammed Ikhlail (21).  They arrested the
aforementioned person and withdrew later.

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem.  They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Khalil al-Ta’mari (20).  They arrested the aforementioned person and
withdrew later.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They raided a house belonging to the family
of Jebril al-Jiyawi (48).  They arrested
his 2 sons: al-Montaser Bellah (20) and al-Mojahed Bellah (20), and took them
to an unknown destination.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Emreish village to the south of Doura,
southwest of Hebron.  They raided a house
belonging to Mohammed Taleb al-Sha’rawi (22) and arrested him.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into many neighbourhoods in Hebron, including
al-Hariya valley, al-Rahma Mountain, al-Karantina area, al-Salam streets, Doura
al-Tahrir and al-Sheikh neighbourhood. 
They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a cafe belonging to
the Ammar al-Ja’bari.  Israeli forces
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir Samet village, to the
southwest of Doura, southwest of Hebron. 
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-Aroub refugee camp, north of
Hebron.  They raided a number of houses
from which they arrested 3 civilians:

1. Mohammed Majed al-Ra’i (18);

2. Mesbah Mostafa al-Hour (43); and

3. Mohammed Omar Banat (17).

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Bil’in village, west of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets and
raided a house belonging to the family of Basman Yassin. At approximately
03:30, they arrested his 2 sons: Asem and Mohammed (19) and took them to an
unknown destination.     

 

At
approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir Abu Mesh’el village,
northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled
the streets and raided a number of houses. 
At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces arrested 7 civilians, including 2
brothers:

1. Ibrahim Mahmoud Zahran (23);

2. Baha’ Saleh Atta (25);

3. Salem Othman Zahran (20);

4. Mahmoud Ibrahim Barghouthi (21);

5. Alaa Noah Atta (19);

6. Hamada Noah Atta (20); and

7. Zaki Fayeq Atta (18).

 

At
approximately 16:30, Israeli forces moved into Shweika suburb, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family
of Abdullah Mostafa al-Badawi (46).  They
arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

Monday, 08 July 2013

 

In the early morning, Israeli forces moved into Qufin
village, north of Tulkarm.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Abdullah
As’ad Aqel (19). They arrested the aforementioned person and moved into raid
another house belonging to the family of Ra’fat Belal Khatib (23). They
arrested him as well and took both of them to an unknown destination.

 

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

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Luqia, southwest of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Rabah
Shokri Assi (54).  They arrested the
aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family
of Shaher Abu Ghalyoun (50).  They
arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader
village, south of Bethlehem.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Ahmed
Rashad Issa (20) and another house belonging to the family of Mohammed Ali Issa
(18). They arrested the aforementioned two persons and took them to an unknown
destination.

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Bruqin
village, west of Jenin.  They patrolled
the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Ali Jamal Mohammed
Khalaf (23).  They arrested Khalaf and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces moved into
Tulkarm. They raided an apartment belonging to the family of Dergham Fo’ad
Mousa “al-Ali” (37) and attacked him. 
They also arrested his brother Hasib (23). Meanwhile, Israeli forces
sneaked into the neighbouring apartment that is resided by an ex-prisoner,
Nabil Adel Tahoun (32).  Tahoun said to a
PCHR fieldworker that he was asleep when Israeli soldiers raided the house and
started punching him in the face. Israeli forces withdrew later taking the
arrested person to the Israeli liaison office southwest of Tulkarm.  However, he was told to make his brother
Nidal (25) surrender to the Israeli forces and was released a few hours later.

 

At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into Um
al-Tout village, southeast of Jenin. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
Jelqamous village, southeast of Jenin. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Abu Da’if village, southeast of Jenin. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Our al-Tahta, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 21:30, Israeli forces moved into
Doura al-Qare’ village, northeast of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 22:45, Israeli forces moved into
Azzoun village, east of Qalqilia.  They
patrolled the streets and fired sound bombs under the pretext that some
civilians had thrown stones at the settlers’ vehicles on the main street, north
of the city.  Israeli forces withdrew
later and no arrests were reported.   

  

Tuesday, 09 July 2013

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
Ethna village, west of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Jehad Mohammed Salimiya (38). They arrested the
aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into the
eastern Barta’a village, west of Jenin. 
They declared the village as closed military area and raided and
searched a number of stores. Meanwhile, a number of the village residents
gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli vehicles. Israeli
soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response, arrested Abdul
Wahab Qabha (45) and withdrew later.

 

At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces moved about 200
meters into the east of Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis, in the southern
Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along the border fence for a few hours and
withdrew later.

 

At approximately 08:00, Israeli forces moved into the
east of Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.  They levelled lands along the border fence
and withdrew later.

 

Wednesday, 10 July 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
Jaba’ village, south of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ethna village, west of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided and
searched 3 houses belonging to Ahmed al-‘Asoud, Abdul Naser al-Batran and
Mohammed al-Batran. They withdrew later and no 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, 4 Palestinians
sustained wounds and dozens of civilians suffered due to tear gas inhalation
and others sustained wounds.

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

 

Following the Friday Prayer, 05 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 activity.  The demonstrators marched through the streets
of the village, chanting slogans calling for national unity, raised Palestinian
flags and made their way towards the lands adjacent to the annexation
wall.  Israeli forces had closed all
entrances to the village since early morning to prevent Palestinians,
journalists, and international activists from joining the protest. The
demonstrators walked along the wall and attempted to breach it. Israeli forces
stationed behind the western side of the wall, and dozens of soldiers who were
deployed along the route of the wall, fired live ammunition, rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs, tear gas canisters, and waste water at the
demonstrators, and chased them across olive fields.  As a result, a 20-year-old sustained a metal
bullet in the right arm and a 37-year-old was hit in the right hand with a tear
gas canister.  Also, dozens of
demonstrators suffered from 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 hold 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
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Following Friday Prayer, dozens of civilians
in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, international and Israeli human
rights activists, and activists in the Popular Resistance Committees gathered
for the weekly peaceful demonstration against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity, which was titled
“Water.”  It started outside
Shomou’ Cultural Centre in the centre of the village; and while on their way to
the wall, Israeli forces, backed-up by Israeli police and border guards, fired
tear gas canisters at them in order to disperse them.   Many demonstrators suffered due to tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 13:10 on Friday, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organised a
peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kufor Kadoum village, northeast of
Qalqilya, in protest at the continuous closure of the eastern entrance of the
village which has been ongoing since the outbreak of al-Aqsa Intifada. Upon the
demonstrators’ arrival to the afore-mentioned gate, Israeli forces had set up
ambushes for them and started chasing them, firing rubber-coated metal bullets,
sound bombs and tear gas canister at them. 
As a result, a 40-year-old sustained wounds in his eye after a tear gas
canister exploded near him and shrapnel scattered around.

 

At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 07 July 2013, dozens
of Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights activists
gathered near ‘Ayn Ayoub area, in the northwest of Ramallah for a demonstration
in protest to the daily settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians, and
the Israeli government’s discrimination and settlement expansion policies and
confiscation of lands for the expansion of “Nili” settlement, which
is established on Deir Qedis and Shabtin villages, in the northwest of
Ramallah.  The demonstration was
organized by Popular Committees against the Wall and Settlement Activity in
Ramallah and al-Bireh.  The demonstrators
gathered in the centre of the main street, which is used by settlers, leading
to traffic jam in the area.  The
participants held Palestinian flags; immediately, Israeli forces, stationed in
the area, fired rubber-coated metal bullets to the air, tear gas canisters and
sound bombs and attempted to disperse them with force.  As a result, Jamil al-Barghouthy (43) was hit
in the chest with a tear gas canister, and was taken to Palestine Health
Complex for treatment; also, dozens of civilians suffered due to tear gas
inhalation and others sustained bruises. 
Furthermore, Israeli forces detained 3 civilians, including the wounded
civilian, for half an hour at the scene. 
The other detainees are: Iyad Mahmoud Diab Barghouthy (37) and Jaber
Moahmmed Abu Rahma (25).

 

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 Point, 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
point opens seven days a week.  On
Friday, 05 July 2013, the Egyptian authorities closed the crossing point due
the current situation in Egypt.  

 

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

01-09 July 2013

 

 

 

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

 03-09 July 2013

 

 

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing

02-08 July 2013

 

 

Other
Imports:

 

 

 

On Tuesday, 02 July 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 592 tonnes of cement and 2,590 tonnes of construction
aggregates for UNRWA; 980 tonnes of construction aggregates for the private
sector; and 1,330 tonnes of construction aggregates and 240 tonnes of cement
for the Water Authority.  They also
allowed the entry of 1,326 tonnes of fodders and 390 tonnes of wheat.

On Wednesday, 03 July 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 486 tonnes of cement, 32 tonnes of construction steel; and
3,290 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; 910 tonnes of construction
aggregates for the private sector; 120 tonnes of cement for UNDP; and 1400
tonnes of construction aggregate.  They
also allowed the entry of 1,209 tonnes of fodders and 234 tonnes of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 04 July 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 640 tonnes of cement for UNRWA; 980 tonnes of construction
aggregates for the private sector; 120 tonnes of cement for the UNDP; and 120
tonnes of cement for the Turkish Hospital. 
They also allowed the entry of 1,092 tonnes of fodders and 546 tonnes of
wheat.

 

On Sunday, 07 July 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 140 tonnes of construction aggregates, 32 tonnes of
construction steel, and 496 tonnes of cement for UNRWA; 980 tonnes of construction
aggregates for the private sector; 910 tonnes of construction aggregate for the
Water Authority; and 108 tonnes of cement for the Turkish Hospital.  They also allowed the entry of 936 tonnes of
fodders and 390 tonnes of wheat.

 

On Monday, 08 July 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 1,470 tonnes of construction aggregates, 57 tonnes of
construction steel, 360 tonnes of cement, and 40 tonnes of white cement for
UNRWA; 980 tonnes of construction aggregates for the private sector; 1400
tonnes of construction aggregate for the Water Authority; 1400 tonnes of
construction aggregate and 348 tonnes of cement for the UNDP; and 140 tonnes of
construction aggregates and 240 tonnes of cement.  They also allowed the entry of 858 tonnes of
fodders and 585 tonnes of wheat.

 

Empty Plastic
Containers Returned to Israel via Karm Abu Salem

 

 

 

On Tuesday, 02 July 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 2 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On Wednesday, 03 July 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 4 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On Thursday, 04 July 2013,
Israeli forces allowed 2 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned
via Karm Abu Salem.

On Sunday, 07 July 2013,
Israeli forces allowed 5 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned
via Karm Abu Salem.

On Monday, 08 July 2013,
Israeli forces allowed 3 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
08:30 on Friday, 05 July 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
eastern entrance of al-Tibah village, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately
18:00, Israeli forces re-established at ‘Attara checkpoint, at the northern
entrance of Birzeit, north of Ramallah. 
Israeli forces later withdrew, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 19:30, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta, southwest of
Ramallah.

 

At approximately 09:30 on Saturday, 06 July 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately
17:30, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Beit Loqaya,
southwest of the city.  The two
checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30 on
Sunday, 7 July 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah.  At
approximately 20:30, another checkpoint was established under the bridge of Kherbtha
al-Mesbah, southwest of the city.  The two 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, 20 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aynoun,
northeast of Hebron.  At approximately
18:30, Israeli forces established another checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’ir
village, east of the city.  The two
checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:00 on Friday, 05 July 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint on Wad Abu Rishah Road, west of Ezna village,
north of Hebron.  The checkpoint was
later removed, and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 15:00, another checkpoint was established at the
entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.  At approximately 17:00, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of Kharsa village, south of Dura, southwest
of the city.  All checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00 on Monday, 08 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee
camp, north of Hebron.  The checkpoint
was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 10 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Sa’ir
village, east of Hebron.  Around the same
time, another checkpoint was established at the northern entrance of the
city.  At approximately 07:30, they
established another checkpoint at the entrance of al-Samou’a village, south of
Hebron.  All checkpoints 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
09:00 on Thursday, 04 July 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the
main road between the villages of ‘Ezbet Shofah and Shofah, southeast of Jenin,
southeast of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was
later removed, and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint on
the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened the
restrictions on movement of the Palestinian civilians through it.

 

At approximately 10:30 on Friday, 05 July 2013,
Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint on the main road between the
villages of ‘Ezbet Shofah and Shofah, southeast of Jenin, southeast of
Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 21:00, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint on the main
road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened the restrictions on
movement of the Palestinian civilians through it.

 

At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 06 July 2013,
Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint on the main road between the
villages of ‘Ezbet Shofah and Shofah, southeast of Jenin, southeast of
Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 09:00, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint on the main
road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened the restrictions on
movement of the Palestinian civilians through it.  At approximately 15:30, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus near the
intersection of Beit Leed, as the area is known as “Abu Martein”, east of
Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 07 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Qalqilya,
east of Tulkarm, near Jubarah village, south of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:00 on Monday, 08 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Qalqilya,
east of Tulkarm, near Jubarah village, south of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 08 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Qalqilya,
east of Tulkarm, near Jubarah village, south of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 09 July 2013, Israeli
forces, stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint, which is established on the main Tulkarm
– Nablus road, tightened its restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.

 

Qalqilya: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
08:20 on Sunday, 07 July 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya. 
At approximately 13:30, they established another checkpoint at the
eastern entrance of Qalqilya, and then re-established it at approximately
20:20.  At approximately 22:15, they
established another checkpoint on the road between Qalqilya and Tulkarm.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 08 July 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Qalqilya and
Nablus near Jeensafout village, east of Qalqilya.  At approximately 22:20, they established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya, and
prevented people from leaving or entering the village.

 

Jenin: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 05 July 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Abu Da’aif village,
southeast of Jenin.  The checkpoint was
later removed, and no arrests were reported. 

 

Jericho: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 04 July
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the entrance of al-Zbeidat village,
north of Jericho.  At approximately
20:00, they established a checkpoint near the southern entrance of the city.  The two checkpoints were later removed, and
no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests at military
checkpoints

 

At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 04 July
2013, Israeli forces deployed in the old city neighbourhoods in the central
Hebron arrested Mohammed Mazen ‘Abdel Sami’a al-Haddad (16) while he was
playing between the houses.  He was then
taken to the detention centre in “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

At approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 05 July
2013, Israeli forces stationed at the gate of the annexation wall near Jayous
village, northeast of Qalqilya, arrested Jihad ‘Omar ‘Ezat Shamasneh (23) while
he was being searched at the aforementioned gate specified for farmers.  They then tied his hands and took him to an
unknown destination.

 

At approximately 20:00 on the
aforementioned Thursday, Israeli forces arrested 3 civilians while they were
passing through Hawarah checkpoint, south of Nablus.  The arrested were later identified from Jenin
and their names are: Hasan Mohammed al-Qadi (32); Sa’id ‘Ali al-Qadi (34); and
‘Abdel Rahman Salit (34).

 

At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 05 July
2013, Israeli forces stationed at al-Karmah crossing, which separates the West
Bank from Jordan, Dr. Fadi Saqer ‘Asidah (33) from al-Tal village, southwest of
Nablus.  The aforementioned was arrested
when he was on his way back from Malaysia After earning a Ph.D. in Arabic
language and then was taken to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 22:00 on the same Friday,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between the city of
Jenin and the cities of Tulkarem and Nablus near al-Mansourah village, south of
Jenin.  They arrested Nadi Sa’ed
“Mohammed Nadi” Shalbak (20) from Jenin while passing through the
checkpoint.  They later removed the checkpoint
taking him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 07 July
2013, Israeli forces deployed in al-Shuhadaa’ Street, which has been closed for
12 years, in the central Hebron arrested Tamer Mahmoud al-Atrash (25), an
activist in Youth Against Settlement, while he was conducting a tour with a
number of foreign peace activists.  He
was then transferred to “Karayat Arb’a” police station, east of the city.

 

At approximately 19:30 on
the aforementioned day, Israeli forces arrested Mohammed Tayseer ‘Abdel Rahman
Abu Hammad (21) when he was near his house near the annexation wall, west of
Romanah village, northwest of Jenin. 
Local sources said to a PCHR fieldworker that the village was completely
clam when the aforementioned was in the agricultural area near the wall.  Israeli forces then attacked and arrested
him.

 

At approximately 21:20
on the same day, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. 
They then arrested Ahmed ‘Abdel Jaber Salim (22) and took him to an
unknown destination.  The checkpoint was
later removed.

 

At approximately 17:30
on Tuesday, 09 July 2013, Israeli forces stationed at al-Container checkpoint,
northeast of Bethlehem, arrested Samer Abu Sarhan (20) from al-‘Abidiya
village, east of the city while passing through the checkpoint.

 

Later on, Israeli
forces stationed at al-Karamah crossing border, which separates the West Bank
from Jordan, arrested Merwan Khalil al-Zeer (26) from Harmalah village, east of
Bethlehem, while he was on his way to Jordan.

 

 

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

 

Attacks carried out by Israeli forces

 

At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 04 July 2013,
Israeli forces, accompanied by officers of the Israeli Civil Administration,
moved into Maghayer al-‘Abeed area to the east of Yatta, in the south of Hebron.
This area is declared as an Israeli military training area according to
decision no. 918.  The Civil Administration
officer handed 3 civilians notices to halt work in:

1. A 10-square-meter residential tent belonging to
Shehada Salama Makhamrah;

2. A 10-square-meter residential tent belonging to Kamel
Salama Makhamrah; and

3. Solar panels funded by the EU to provide the area with
electricity.

 

At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 05 July 2013,
Israeli forces, accompanied by officers of the Israeli Civil
Administration, moved into Kherbet Janaba to the east of Yatta,
south of Hebron. This area is declared as an Israeli military training area
according to decision no. 918. The Civil Administration officer handed Ali
Mohammed al-Najjar a 3-day notice to halt work in a tin-made barrack with an
area of 40 square meters and demolish it.

 

At approximately 07:00 on Sunday, 07 July 2013,
Israeli forces moved into al-Baqi’a valley near Atouf village, southeast of
Tubas.  They demolished an
under-construction artesian well belonging to Yusef Mohammed Qteishat.  It should be noted that Israeli forces did
not send a notice to Qteishat previously to halt work in this well.

 

At approximately 06:00 on Monday, 08 July 2013,
Israeli forces, accompanied by officers of the Israeli Civil Administration,
moved into al-Ra’s al-Ahmer and al-Hadidiya areas in the northern Jordan
Valley, east of Tubas. They demolished a number of residential, livestock and
fodder storage tents: 15 residential tents that shelter 7 families, including
46 civilians, and 11 livestock tents. It should be noted that Israeli forces
had demolished their shelters on 27 June 2013.

 

The victims were:

 

 

At approximately 11 on Tuesday, 08 July 2013, Israeli
forces, accompanied by officers of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into
al-Deirat village, to the east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Civil
Administration officer handed 6 civilians notices to halt construction work in
houses and a facility under the pretext of not obtaining licenses. The notices
included:

1. A 80-square-meter house belonging to the family of
Isma’il Mahmoud al-Edrah;

2. A 80-square-meter house belonging to the family of
Ibrahim Mahmoud al-Edrah;

3. A 100-square-meter house belonging to the family of
Omar Mahmoud al-Edrah;

4. A 140-square-meter house belonging to the family of
Tayseer Mohammed al-Edrah;

5. A 120-square-meter house belonging to the family of
Mohammed Hussein al-Edrah; and

6. A tin-made stockade of 70 square meters belonging to
Fadel Ibrahim al-Edrah.

 

Attacks
carried out by settlers

 

At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 05
July 2013, dozens of settlers, from settlements established on Palestinians’
lands in the east of Yatta, in the south of Hebron, organized a demonstration
in front of the villages to the east of the city: al-Twany, al-Baraka and
al-Rakyz villages.  The settlers chanted
religious and racist slogans demanding the expulsion of Arabs from their lands.

 

At approximately 18:00 on Friday
too, 4 settlers from “Havat Maon” settlement moved into farmlands
surrounding Kherbat Touba area, in the east of Yatta.  The settlers attacked Maher ‘Eissa ‘Awawda
(20) with stones while razing his sheep; as a result, he sustained minor
bruises.

 

At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 05
July 2013, a group of settlers, coming from “Susya” settlement,
raided Palestinian civilians’ lands in the southeast of Yatta, in the
surroundings of al-Karmel village.  The
settlers, who were accompanied by Israeli forces, performed Talmudic rituals
near one of the roman archeological sites and chanted anti-Arab slogans.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Saturday,
06 July 2013, a group of settlers, coming from “Carmiel” settlement
which is established on the lands of Kherbat Um al-Khair area in the east of
Yatta, attacked Palestinian farmers and shepherds while in their lands, which
are located in the south of the kherba. 
The settlers threw stones at them and a skirmish started between the
settlers and Palestinian civilians; however, an Israeli infantry unit arrived
at the scene and assaulted the civilians and a number of international human
rights activists.  As a result, Suliman
Eid Hathaleen (72); Amna Hathaleen (30); and Maliha Hathaleen (83) sustained
minor wounds.  They were transferred in a
Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance to Hebron public hospital.  Before withdrawing from the area, Israeli
soldiers arrested Suliman Eid Hathaleen (20); Belal Salem Eid Hathaleen (25);
Khayry Suliman Hathaleen (30); and two international human rights
activists.  They were taken to an unknown
destination.

 

On Sunday morning, 07 July 2013, a
group of settlers from “Beitar Illit” settlement, which is
established on the western countryside of Bethlehem governorate, pumped waste
water into Ayn Madyq area, in the south of Wad Foquin village, in the west of
Bethlehem.  In his testimony to a PCHR
field worker, the head of the Wad Fouqin village council said that the area of
the affected land is about 10 dunums, and is the property of a about 50 farmers
from the village.  He added that it was
completely drowned; thus, these lands became unfit for agriculture.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 08
July 2013, a group of settlers leveled agricultural lands in Wad al-Rakhim
area, to the southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron. These lands belong to
al-Halis family and are located near the security fence of “Sousia”
settlement. Rateb al-Jbour said that big vehicles leveled agricultural lands
and transported sand using trucks into “Sousia” settlement.  It should be noted that the family had
obtained a decision from the Israeli court to prevent settlers from entering
their lands to repossess the lands as the settlers tried to seize them few
years ago.

 

 

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 pchr@pchrgaza.org or telephone +972 08 282 4776 – 282 5893.