Large
areas of Palestinian agricultural land burnt by Israeli settlers in Bourin
village near Nablus

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

      

 

 

Israeli forces have continued to open fire at the
Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip border area.

A Palestinian worker was wounded in the north of the
Gaza Strip.

 

A child was wounded during an Israeli incursion in
al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.

 

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

 

4 protesters, including a freelance photojournalist, were
wounded during a peaceful protest in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah.

A Palestinian child was wounded during a peaceful
protest in the north of Bethlehem.

 

 

Israeli forces conducted 70 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank.

 

24 Palestinian civilians,
including 6 children, were arrested in the West Bank.

 

Israel has continued its efforts to create Jewish
majority in the occupied East Jerusalem.

Israeli forces issued more house demolition notices in
the city.

The settlers attempted to seize a house and wrote
racist slogans on a church.

 

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.

5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were
arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

 

Israeli navy forces continued to target Palestinian
fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea.

Israeli forces opened fire at the Palestinian fishing
boats in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

 

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

 

Israeli authorities issued decisions to evacuate and
confiscate 595 dunums[1] in Qalqilia and Salfit in the north of the West Bank.

The settlers continued their systematic attacks
against Palestinian civilians and their property under the Israeli forces’ protection.
 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
30 May – 05 June 2013.

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 7
Palestinian civilians, including 2 children; 6 civilians, including 2 children,
were wounded during peaceful protests in the West Bank, while the 7^th
civilian was wounded in the Gaza Strip.

 

In the West Bank, on 30 May 2013, a child was wounded
when Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, and
opened fire.

 

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, including a freelance photojournalist, were wounded and
others suffered tear gas inhalation. 
Moreover, dozes sustained bruises due to attacks by Israeli soldiers.  The 4 civilians were wounded in Bil’in weekly
protest, west of Ramallah, on 31 May 2013.

 

Palestinian civilians also organized protests in
support to Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails, especially those on
hunger strike.  Israeli forces used
excessive force against the protestors. 
As a result, a child was wounded at the northern entrance of Bethlehem
on 31 May 2013.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 02 June 2013, Israeli forces
stationed on watchtowers along the border fence, east of Abu Safiya area in the
north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of workers and bird
hunters.  As a result, Ahmed al-Hamadeen
(21) was wounded by a bullet to the right thigh.

 

Israeli navy forces continued to pursue Palestinian
fishermen in Gaza sea.  On 02 June 2013,
Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing
within the 6 nautical mile limit off al-Waha resort in the north of the Gaza
Strip.  Neither casualties nor material
damage were reported.

  

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 70 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 24 Palestinians, including 6
children.

 

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 illegal closure has
not only caused a humanitarian crisis, but also a human rights crisis and the
erosion of human dignity for the people of the Gaza Strip. Recently-declared
measures to ease the closure are vague, purely cosmetic, and fail to deal with
the root causes of the crisis. The root causes can only be addressed by an
immediate and complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban
into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports. Palestinians in Gaza may
no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods but, as long as the closure is
allowed to continue, they will remain economically dependent on Israel, unable
to care for themselves, and socially, culturally, and academically isolated
from the rest of the world.

 

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.

 

Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in the occupied
East Jerusalem

 

On Sunday, 02 June 2013, crews of the
Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem handed administrative orders to demolish two
houses in Silwan village in the south of the old city.  The demolition orders were distributed to
houses that were built many years ago, and a fine was imposed on them after
their owners had been handed several administrative demolition orders times.

 

On Friday, 31 May 2013, settlers wrote
anti-Christian graffiti on the back wall of the Church of Zion near the
southern wall of the old city of occupied East Jerusalem. The graffiti written
on the wall of the church included various vulgar and racist statements,
including “Christians are slaves,” “Christians are Monkeys,” in addition to
“Price Tag”.

 

Also on Friday, a group of settlers
attempted to seize an apartment in Jaber family’s building in Sho’fat
neighbourhood in the north of Jerusalem by manipulating an order of the Israeli
Magistrate’s Court.  According to sources
from Sho’fat neighbourhood, approximately 15 settlers raided the apartment in
the evening in an attempt to seize it, but the Israeli police arrived at the
scene and forced them to leave; however, 1 settler stayed in it.

 

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.

 

Violations committed by Israeli forces

 

On Thursday, 30 May 2013, Israeli forces closed the
dirt road connecting Tafouh and Ethna villages, west of Hebron, with sand
barriers and rocks in the context of an Israeli policy to confiscate farmlands
in favour of settlement expansion in “Tailm” settlement.  Also, farmers from Barquin village were
surprised to find notices placed on their farmlands, ordering them to evacuate
22 dunums of land within 45 days, in order to confiscate them for the purpose
of the expansion of “Ariel” settlement. Furthermore, a map showing
the location and area was attached to the notices.

On Saturday, 01 June 2013, the locals in Jinasafout
village, east of Qalqilya, were informed that the Israeli authorities decided
to “transfer title” of 573 dunums from the residents of the village;
thus, confiscating the entire western side of the village’s lands.  The confiscated lands belong to the Eid,
Bashir, Sabra and Ayoub families from Jinasafout, and other families from the
neighbouring Hajja village.

 

On Monday, 04 June 2013, Israeli forces, moved into
Kherbat Um Neir area in the south of Yatta village, south of Hebron, and
destroyed and confiscated a tent that is used for storing grains, which is the
property of Omar Mohammed Ahmed al-Jabour.

 

Attacks Carried out by Settlers

 

On Friday, 31 May 2013, dozens of armed settlers
closed the entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. This incident took
place under the protection of Israeli forces, claiming that a protest was
attacked with stones while driving through bypass road no. (60), which is
located near the village.

 

On Sunday, 02 June 2013, a group of settlers from
“Nahalial” settlement, established in the eastern side of Betello
village, northwest of Ramallah, set fire to dry herbs.  The fire expanded and reached some forest
trees in “al-Thohour” agricultural area in the east of the village,
near the afore-mentioned settlement, before the Civil Defence crews could
control it.

 

On Sunday, 02 June 2013, dozens of settlers from
“Tafouh” settlement, south of Nablus, closed the main street of
Yassouf village, east of Salfit, and banned Palestinians from passing through
it.

 

 

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
30 May– 05 June 2013

 

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

 

 

Thursday, 30 May 2013

 

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

 

At approximately 00:05, Israeli forces moved into Koful
Hares village, north of Salfit.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported. 

 

At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm.  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 al-Jawaya
area to the southeast of Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided 2 houses
belonging to two brothers: Shaher and Mazen Yunis Nassar. However, no arrests
were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Wardan
area to the southeast of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.  They raided a house belonging to the family
of Ali Fares Suleiman al-Douda (65).  They
arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.  The Israeli forces claimed that al-Douda
possessed a hunting rifle that was licensed by the Palestinian Authority.  Mohammed Awad, spokesperson of the Popular
Committee against Settlement Activities, stated to a PCHR fieldworker that
al-Douda possesses a 4-dunum land, where he built a small house for his family
and a stockyard.  He added that al-Douda
was arrested because he refused to evacuate his land for the benefit of establishing
a road for settlers.    

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun
village, northwest of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of the
ex-prisoner Wasim Ahmed Mahmoud “Zayed” (28).  They questioned him on the spot and withdrew
later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Khalet
al-Mayya area to the south of Yatta, south of Hebron.  They raided a house belonging to the family
of Mohammed Jebril al-‘Emour (20) and arrested him.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit
‘Awwa village to the west of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:45, Israeli forces moved into Jalaboun
village, east of Jenin.   They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces moved into
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.  It should be noted that this
is the second incursion in Tulkarm within few hours.

 

At approximately 10:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. 
They positioned themselves around schools in the old town, where a
number of boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who in
response fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound
bombs.  As a result, Basel Mohammed Issa
(11) was wounded by a bullet to the right side of his face.  He was taken to Beit Jala Hospital to receive
the necessary medical treatment.  Medical
sources described his wound as moderate.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Ezbet al-Tabeeb village, east of Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets and surveyed lands
adjacent to the entrance of the village. 
They withdrew later and no further incidents were reported.  

 

At approximately 14:50, Israeli forces
moved into Fara’ta village, northeast of Qalqilia.  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 Ematin village, northeast of Qalqilia. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces
moved into Kofur Sour village, south of Tulkarm.  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 al-‘Aqaba village 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 17:15, Israeli forces
moved into al-Ras village, south of Tulkarm. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Friday, 31 May 2013

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Burj
village to the west of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They positioned themselves in the centre of
the village and raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Abdul Razeq
al-Talahma.  They handed his son, Diab
(25), a notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh
Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Daheriya village, south of Hebron. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved intoEzbet
al-Jarad, east of Tulkarm.  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 Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces moved into Asida
area in the centre of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and positioned
themselves at the main entrance of the village. They also deployed between the
houses and farmlands, where a number of boys gathered and threw stones and
empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters.  Dozens of civilians suffered tear gas
inhalation.    

 

At approximately 18:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Arqa village, west of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 21:00, Israeli forced moved into ‘Anin village, northwest of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.  

 

Saturday, 01 June 2013

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and positioned
themselves at the centre of al-Shorfa neighbourhood.  A number of boys gathered and set fire to
tyres and threw stones at the Israeli vehicles. 
In response, the Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters
and rubber-coated metal bullets. The Israeli forces withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.     

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast
of Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets and
fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets.  The Israeli soldiers fixed posters of 4
children on walls of Omar Ben al-Khattab mosque. The posters stated that: (We
are the army, be careful. If we see you, we will catch you or go to your
house).  The wanted children are:

 

1. Omran Hekmat Ali (17);

2. Ra’ed Nasser Ishtiwi (15);

3. Sari Jamal Barham (17); and

4. Abdul Latif ‘Atwa Jom’a (17).

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Zbeidat village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 09:30, Israeli forces moved into Kherbatha Bani Hareth, northwest
of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later.  No
arrests were reported.  

 

At
approximately 22:30, Israeli forces moved into Sheqba village, northeast of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  No arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aboud village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

Sunday, 02 June
2013

 

At approximately 00:20, Israeli forces
moved into Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia.  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 Wad Aziz area to the west of Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They raided a number of houses, but no
arrests were reported. Some of the raided houses belong to: Ahed Ahmed Awwad;
Nader Hassan Tmeisi; Akram Hassan Tmeisi; Kamel Mohammed Awad; Talal Mohammed
Tmeisi and Ra’ed Isma’il Tmeisi.

 

At approximately 01:10, Israeli forces
moved into Dar Salah village, east of Bethlehem.  They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Maher Mohammed Salah (32).  They handed him a notice to refer to the
Israeli intelligence service at “Gush Etzion” settlement.   

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces
moved into the eastern Mazra’a village, northeast of Ramallah.  They raided 2 houses from which they arrested
Nader Abdul Razeq Sa’d (21) and Rami Riyad Zaben (22).

 

At approximately 06:00, Israeli forces stationed
on watchtowers along the border fence, east of Abu Safiya area to the east of
Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of workers and
bird hunters.  As a result, Ahmed Emad
al-Hamadeen (21), from Beit Hanoun, was wounded by a bullet to the right thigh
while he was riding a cart 300 meters away from the border fence. His friends
immediately took him to the eastern cemetery, where a Palestine Red Crescent
Society ambulance was waiting.  He was
taken to Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia and underwent a surgery.

 

The wounded person said to a PCHR
fieldworker that he and some friends went to look for a farmland, whose owner
would allow them to harvest.  When he was
approaching Abu Safiya area, he heard sounds of shooting and saw his leg as if
it was torn. He could not move it.  Due
to the gunfire, the horse ran away towards the eastern cemetery.  Meanwhile, his friends called the ambulance that
took him to Kamal Odwan Hospital.  

 

At approximately 08:00, Israeli forces
moved into al-Zababda village, south of Jenin. 
They positioned themselves near Deir al-Latin in the centre of the
village and took photos of the area. 
They patrolled the streets and took photos of different areas.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces
moved into ‘Etil village, north of Tulkarm. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.  

 

At approximately 10:05, Israeli forces
moved into Ezbet Salman village, south of Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30, Israeli forces
moved into eastern Baqa village, north of Tulkarm.  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 al-Hatheleen area to the east of Yatta, south of Hebron.  They searched a number of tents and arrested
3 children: Ouda Mohammed al-Hatheleen (17); Akram Mohammed Hatheleen (15) and
Ammar Shu’aib al-Hatheleen (17).

 

At approximately 11:15, Israeli forces
moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.  They positioned themselves wound schools of
the Old Town, where a number of school students gathered and threw stones at
the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound
bombs and tear gas canisters.  As a
result, a number of students suffered gas inhalation and were treated on the
spot.

 

At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces
moved into Termis’ya village, north of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces
moved into Deir Abu Da’eef village, east 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 Um al-Tout village, southeast of Jenin. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:00, Israeli gunboats
stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza
Strip, opened fire sporadically at the Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing
in the 6 nautical mile limit.  The
fishermen fled back to the shore fearing of injury or arrest.  However, neither casualties nor material
damage were reported.

 

At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces
raided a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Fat’hi al-Ja’bari (55) near
the Ibrahimi Mosque in the centre of Hebron. 
They kept the occupants out of the house and arrested al-Ja’bari.

 

At approximately 22:00, Israeli forces
moved into Jenin.  They patrolled the
streets, where some boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the
Israeli soldiers, who in response fired sound bombs and tear gas
canisters.  The Israeli forces withdrew
later.  Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, Israeli forces
moved into Deir Qeddis village, west of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces
moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled the
streets and moved into Nour Shams refugee camp. They withdrew later and no
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. No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:45, Israeli forces
moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Monday, 03 June 2013

 

At approximately 00:45, Israeli forces moved into Jeet
village, northeast of Qalqilia.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 01:25, Israeli forces moved into
‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilia.  They
raided a number of houses and handed 4 persons summons to refer to the Israeli
intelligence service and arrested 5 civilians, including a child. The summoned
persons were:

 

1. Yusef Basim Shbeita (17) under the pretext of
searching for his son Abed (22);

2. As’ad Muhanna Mesh’al (16);

3. Wa’el Anwar Mesh’al (22); and

4. Ahmed Basem Salim (17).

5. While the arrested were:

6. Qasem Ahmed Salim (21);

7. Mahdi Majed Redwan (17);

8. Ashraf Ahmed Hussein (28);

9. Adam Basem Salim (19); and

10. Yusef Saqer Salim (18).

 

At approximately 03:40, Israeli forces moved into
al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. 
They raided a house belonging to the family of Baha’ Mohammed Salah (20)
and arrested him.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Dheisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Khaled As’ad al-Salehi (19) and arrested him.

 

At approximately 08:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Qad village, east of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

 

At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces moved into
Jalaboun village, east 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 Deir
Ghazala, north 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 the
centre of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and positioned themselves around
al-Rabat mosque near Hebron University. They stopped the worshipers while going
out of the mosque and checked their ID cards. 
The Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests were reported.    

 

At approximately 14:30, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin. They patrolled the streets and positioned themselves in the industrial
zone.  They raided and searched a plastic
factory and questioned the workers. Israeli forces withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces moved into
‘Arabouna village, north of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 23:23, Israeli forces moved into
al-‘Asakra village, east of Bethlehem. 
They raided a house belonging to the family of Shadi Ali Asakra (19) and
arrested him.

 

At approximately 23:30, 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.

   

Tuesday, 04 June 2013

 

In the early morning, Israeli forces moved into
Qabatya village, south of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Sari Ahmed Zakarnah
(37).  They arrested the aforementioned
person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 12:30, Israeli forces moved into
Ramin village, northeast of Tulkarm. 
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 the
centre of Hebron.  They patrolled the
streets and positioned themselves in Jabal Abu Rumman neighbourhood.  They raided a house belonging to the family
of Baha’ Hashem Srour (22) and arrested him.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
Birzeit village, north of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:10, Israeli forces moved into Housan
village, west of Bethlehem.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses, from which they arrested 3
civilians, including 2 children:

 

 

 

1. Mahmoud Helmi Shousha (17);

2. Oday Adul Qader Shousha (18); and

3. His brother Mohsen (17).

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Budrus
village, west of Ramallah. They raided a house belonging to the family of Lafi
Yusef Mostafa Awad (19) and arrested him.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into the
southern area of Tulkarm.  They raided a
house belonging to the family of Rami Yusef Barri (30) and arrested him. It
should be noted the Barri is an ex-prisoner who works in a private
company.  He served many years in the
Israeli jails during the al-Aqsa Intifada on the grounds of his affiliation to Fatah
movement.

 

At approximately 12:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir
al-‘Asal al-Tahta village to the west of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and positioned
themselves in the centre of the village. 
They also raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Ibrahim
Nasser (25) and arrested him.

 

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, including a freelance photographer.  Also, dozens of demonstrators suffered from
tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Palestinian civilians also organised peaceful demonstrations
in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, particularly those
on hunger strike. Israeli forces used excessive force against these
demonstrations. As a result, a 16-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to
the abdomen.

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

 

 

Following the Friday Prayer, 31 May 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, chanted slogans calling for national unity,
raised Palestinian flags and pictures of prisoners, 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 in the
area, 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, 4 Palestinians
sustained wounds: Hamdi Fathi Mustafa Abu Rahma (25), a photographer, was hit
by a tear gas canister to the right leg; an 18-year-old boy was hit by a tear gas
canister to the left leg; an 18-year-old boy was hit by a tear gas canister to
the right arm; and a 40-year-old man was hit by a tear gas canister to the
right foot.

 

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, settlement activities and
in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike inside Israeli
jails. 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, and 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 with
waste water. As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffered from tear gas
inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Following Friday Prayer, dozens of
inhabitants of al-Mas’ra 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. 
The demonstration was also organized in protest to the construction of a
school for settlers in the south of Bethlehem. 
It started outside Shomou’ Cultural Centre in the centre of the
village.  The participants carried
Palestinian flags, roamed the streets of the village.  Upon their arrival to the village’s entrance,
Israeli soldiers were formed in a human shield to prevent the demonstrators from
reaching the wall, and the beat the demonstrators in order to disperse them.  As a result,
13-year-old Obada Hussain Brijia sustained bruises, and many other
demonstrators suffered due to tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 13:30
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 their arrival in the area, Israeli soldiers fired sound
bombs and tear gas canisters; as a result, many demonstrators suffered from
tear gas inhalation and Mazen Basim Eshtaywy’s family suffocated while Israeli
soldiers chased the demonstrators and fired tear gas canisters indiscriminately
in the centre of the village.  Israeli
forces detained an activist from the Israeli movement, Peace Now, and arrested
another activist, Amnon Lotan for one day. 
Furthermore, Israeli authorities issued a decision to deport Lotan to
the West Bank for 3 days and fined him with 3,000 NIS.  They also detained an Israeli activist called
Yosam for three hours.

 

At approximately 21:30
on Friday, 31 May 2013, a group of boys gathered near the Israeli military
tower, which is established in the parameter of Belal Bin Rabah mosque
(Rachel’s Tomb), by the northern entrance of Bethlehem.  The boys threw Molotov cocktails at the
military tower in the area, and in response, the soldiers sheltered inside the
military tower fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the children.  As a result, a 16-year-old boy sustained a
bullet wound to the abdomen.  The wounded
child was taken to Beit Jala Public Hospital for treatment where he underwent
an emergency surgery; medical sources described his condition as critical.

 

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

 

Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to
the Gaza Strip for more than 5 years. The illegal Israeli-imposed 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.

 

Israeli forces have tightened the closure
of the Gaza Strip, 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 at preventing economic development in the Gaza Strip, 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. This crisis started on 04
January 2010, when Israeli authorities completely closed the Nahal Oz crossing,
which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza.
They then shifted the transport of fuel and cooking gas supplies to the Karm
Abu Salem crossing, which is not equipped to receive enough quantities of fuel
to meet Gaza needs. The Karm Abu Salem crossing, when operating at full
capacity, can receive only 200 tonnes of cooking gas per day.

 

Approximately 80% of the people living in
the Gaza Strip continue to depend on humanitarian aid provided by UNRWA and
other relief agencies. The number of families who are living below the poverty
line has continued to increase. Approximately 40% of Gaza’s manpower continues
to suffer from permanent unemployment as the majority of Gaza’s businesses have
closed down.

 

Israeli forces have continued to impose a
total ban on the export of products from the Gaza Strip, especially industrial
products, undermining any real chance of reopening businesses. The situation
has been aggravated since the Karm Abu Salem crossing was designated as Gaza’s
sole commercial crossing; the repeated closure of this crossing negatively
affects the quantity of products which are allowed to be exported from the Gaza
Strip.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Israel has imposed
additional access restrictions on traders, international diplomats,
journalists, and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip.

 

 

 

 

 

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

28 May – 04 June 2013

 

 

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

29 May – 04 June 2013

 

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing

 

Note: PCHR fieldworker was unable to obtain this week’s
statistics for technical reasons, but it will be included in next weekly
report.

 

 

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 09:30 on Friday, 31 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint near the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah. The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were
reported.

               

At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 01 June 2013,
Israeli forces re-established at
‘Atara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Bir Zeit, north of the city, and
prevented people from leaving or entering via the aforementioned checkpoint.
At approximately 17:30, they established another checkpoint at the entrance of
Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta, southwest of the city.  

 

At approximately 17:30 on Sunday, 02 June 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Loqaya village,
southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 19:00, they established
another checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Tibah village, northeast of the
city.  At approximately 20:30, they established another checkpoint
at the entrance of ‘Abod village, northwest of Ramallah. All checkpoints were
later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00 on
Monday, 03 June 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance
of al-Moghir village, northeast of Ramallah. 
At approximately 19:30, they re-established at ‘Atarah checkpoint at the
northern entrance of Bir Zeit, north 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 15:00 on Sunday, 02 June 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp,
south of Hebron.  The checkpoint was
later removed and no arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 03 June 2013,
Israeli forces established two checkpoints; the first one at the northern
entrance of Hebron and the second at the entrance of Beit Ummar village, north
of the city.  Israeli soldiers stationed
at the second checkpoint stopped and searched a Skoda car belonging to Ahmed
‘Ali ‘Ayyad ‘Awad.  They forced him to
take off their clothes at gunpoint.  At
approximately 14:00, Israeli soldiers released the aforementioned person.

 

Qalqilya: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 18:10 on Saturday, 01 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun village, east
of Qalqilya.  At approximately 23:35,
another checkpoint was established between ‘Azoun village and Kafr Theleth,
east of the city.  The two checkpoints
were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 13:20 on Sunday, 02 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of
Qalqilya.  At approximately 18:30,
another checkpoint was established near Jeet village, northeast of the
city.  The two checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Tulkarm: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. In the afternoon on Thursday, 30 May 2013, Israeli
forces reclosed the road between villages of Shofah and ‘Azbet Shofah,
southeast of Tulkarm, while attempts of residents and activists of the
Israeli Peace Now movement failed to prevent
Israeli forces from closing it. 
According to a PCHR fieldworker’s testimony, in the afternoon of the
aforementioned day, a number of Peace Now activists gathered on the
above-mentioned road after knowing that the Israeli forces is going to close
it.  Israeli forces accompanied with a
bulldozer made sand mounds and positioned concrete cubes.  As a result, a number of residents in the
area got out of their cars and quarrelled with the Israeli soldiers.  Israeli soldiers then forced the residents
and Peace Now activists to move away from the closed area.  It should be mentioned that this road
connects “Avni Heifetz” settlement; which was established on Palestinian lands
in 1987, with the bypass road that connects the aforementioned settlement and
“’Inab” settlement with Israel.  In 2001,
Israeli forces closed the aforementioned road for 10 years isolating of Shofah
village from ‘Aezbet Shofah village. 
Shofa residents were then forced to take the road between Tulkarm and
Nablus and pass through ‘Inab checkpoint in order to reach their village.  This means around 27 kilometres and this
situation stayed till August 2010 when Israeli forces reopened the road and
only 1 year later they closed it again. 
On 28 March 2012, they reopened the road, but from time to time they
establish a checkpoint on it to obstruct the Palestinians’ movement.  At approximately 15:00, the Israeli forces
stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east
of Tulkarm, tightened the restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians
through it.  The tightening later ended
and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:30 on Sunday, 02 June 2013, 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.  The
tightening later ended and no arrests were reported.

 

Jenin: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:30 on Thursday, 30 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Te’anak village, northwest
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 11:00 on Sunday, 02 June
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on al-Mo’arajat Road between
Jericho and Ramallah.  At approximately 17:00,
they established a checkpoint near the southern entrance of Jericho and
prevented people from leaving or entering via the aforementioned entrance.  At approximately 19:30, they established
another checkpoint near the entrance of Marj Na’aja, north of the city.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Salfit: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
15:10 on Saturday, 01 June 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint
between Haris village and Kafr Haris village, north of Salfit.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Arrests at military
checkpoints

 

At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 30 May
2013, Israeli forces stationed at al-Container checkpoint, northeast of
Bethlehem, arrested Mo’ataz Mazin Kwamleh (20) from al-‘Arroub refugee camp,
north of Hebron, when he was on his way back from work in Ramallah and took him
to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 00:30 on Monday, 03 June
2013, Israeli forces arrested Yasin ‘Ali Kayed Abu Jaber (26) from al-Moghir
village, southeast of Jenin.  Local
sources stated that Israeli forces arrested the aforementioned person when he
was around al-Jalmah checkpoint, which separates Jenin from Israel, northeast
of Jenin, and took him to an unknown destination.

 

In the early morning of the same day,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road that connects Jenin
with Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection that leads to Bazaria village,
south of Jenin.  Israeli soldiers
stationed at the checkpoint arrested Mohammed Ahmed Fahmi Freihat (22), from
al-Yamoun village northwest of Jenin, when he was on his way back from
Palestine Technical University (Khdouri) in Tulkarm and took him to an unknown
destination.  The checkpoint was later
removed.

 

On the same day afternoon, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint on the main road that connects Jenin with Tulkarm and
Nablus near the intersection of ‘Arrabah village, south of Jenin.  The Israeli soldiers stationed at the
checkpoint arrested Wisam Ghalib Tawfeeq Ghannam (29) from Jab’a village, south
of Jenin, and took him to an unknown destination.  .  The
checkpoint was later removed.

 

At approximately 10:00 on the
aforementioned Monday, Israeli forces deployed in the old city neighbourhoods
in the centre of Hebron arrested Ismail Ziab al-Rajbi (10) under the pretext of
throwing stones, and transported him to an Israeli Police Station near
al-Ibrahimi Mosque.

 

4. Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in the occupied East Jerusalem

 

On Sunday, 02 June 2013, crews of the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem
handed administrative demolition orders to two houses in Silwan village, in the
south of the old city.  According to the
Director of Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan, Mr. Jawad Siam, the crews
photographed a number of houses in different neighbourhoods in Silwan, including
Be’r Ayoub, al-Bostan, Wadi Hilweh and ‘Ayn al-Loza.  He added that the municipal crews pinned the
administrative demolition orders on two houses in al-Bostan neighbourhood, the
houses belong to the Oda family (two houses for two brothers, Mazen and Wael
Oda) and the al-Rajbi family.  Furthermore,
the Rowaidy family’s residence was raided in order to inspect the apartments
and the date of their construction, and a number of houses, which are the
property of Oda and al-Reshq families, in the neighbourhood were
photographed.  Siam also pointed out that
the demolition orders were distributed on houses that were built many years
ago, and a fine was imposed on them after their owners were handed several
administrative demolition orders.

 

On Friday morning, 31 May 2013, settlers wrote anti-Christian graffiti
on the back wall of the Church of Zion near the southern wall of the old city
of occupied East Jerusalem.  According to
Luba Samir, Israeli police spokesperson for Arab media, the graffiti written on
the wall of the church included various vulgar and racist statements, including “Christians are
slaves,” “Christians are Monkeys” and “Price Tag”.

 

On 31 may 2013, a group of settlers attempted to seize an apartment in
Jaber family’s building in Sho’fat neighbourhood in the north of Jerusalem, by
manipulating an order of the Israeli Magistrate’s Court.  According to sources from Sho’fat
neighbourhood, approximately 15 settlers raided the apartment in the evening in
an attempt to seize it, but the Israeli police arrived at the scene and forced
them to leave; however, 1 settler stayed in it. 
Jamal Jaber said in a statement given to Maan News Agency that his
father leased the house before the occupation of Jerusalem to a foreigner who
turned out to be an Israeli.  The tenant
lived there with his wife, kids and a maid since then as a protected tenant
until he died 8 months ago.  However, his
death was kept a secret from the family, but they found out about it later
after investigating the matter and they found out that the Israeli maid comes
to the apartment every now and then and does not want to leave it.  It should be mentioned that the apartment is
located near the former Israeli Labour Court in Sho’fat neighbourhood, within a
compound of two floors, each floor has two apartments.  Also, the area of the apartment is threatened
with confiscation is 160 square metres.

 

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

 

Violations committed by Israeli forces

 

At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 30 May 2013,
Israeli forces closed the dirt road connecting Tafouh and Ethna villages, west
of Hebron, with sand barriers and rocks. 
This road is considered the sole outlet for Palestinians into their
farmlands and the water springs in the area. 
This closure comes under the Israeli policy to confiscate farmlands in
favour of settlement expansion in “Tailm” settlement, established on
Palestinian civilians’ land in the west of the city.

 

At approximately 08:30 on Thursday, farmers from
Barquin village, west of Salfit, went to their farmlands, known as
“al-She’ab” area, located in the north of the village. Upon their
arrival, they were surprised to find notices placed in the area ordering them
to evacuate 22 dunums of land within 45 days, in order to confiscate it for the
expansion of “Ariel” settlement. 
The notices determined the lands to be confiscated: the first 9 dunums
are the property of Salah ‘Oda ‘Amer, and the other 13 dunums are the property
of Nafez Ahmed Abdelhadi Barakat. 
Furthermore, a map showing the location and area was attached to the
notices.

 

On Saturday morning, 01 June 2013, the locals in
Jinasafout village, in the east of Qalqilya, were informed that the Israeli
authorities decided to “transfer of title” of 573 dunums from the
residents of the village; thus, confiscating the entire western side of the
village’s lands.  The confiscated lands
belong to Eid, Bashir, Sabra and Ayoub families from Jinasafout, and other
families from the neighbouring Hajja village. 
In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Eid Mohammed Abdelrazeq Eid,
head of Jinasafout village council, said:

 

“We were informed on Saturday morning, 01 June
2013, that there was an announcement published in al-Quds newspaper on 23 May
2013, and it aims to confiscate more of Jinasafout’s lands.  According to the announcement, the ownership
of the lands will be ‘transferred’ from the inhabitants of the village, under
what is called ‘renewed registration,’ to the Israeli forces in ‘Karni Shomron’
settlement, ‘Navi Eliza’ and ‘Ramat Gilad’ outposts in the west of the
village.  Thus, an area of 573 dunums will
be confiscated, distributed to several location, including: Khelat al-Bala’a,
al-Thahera, al-Qarnain al-Shami (Dock no. 6), the Southern Qarnin location, and
Ras Bashar location (Dock no. 7).  This
confiscation order was issued on 04 April 1987, as it was announced at the time
that 1660 dunums will be confiscated, but a new order was issued recently to
transfer the ownership of 573 dunums for settlement activity.  The ownership of the mentioned locations goes
to families from Jinasafout and Hajja villages. 
Furthermore, we only have a few days to challenge the decision according
to the announcement in the newspaper.”

 

At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 04 June 2013,
Israeli forces, accompanied by military vehicles and a vehicle of the Israeli
Civil Administration, moved into Kherbat Um Neir area, in the south of Yatta,
in the south of Hebron.  The Israeli
soldiers destroyed a tent used for storing grains, which is the property of
Omar Mohammed Ahmed al-Jabour and confiscated it.  It should be mentioned that the Israeli
authorities demolished Kherbat Um Neir twice in 2011 without prior
warning.  Also, the civilians’ lands are
subjected to constant attacks disguised under archaeological excavations by
Israel Antiquities Authority, as well as construction works and expansion of
“Susiya” settlement, which is established on the lands of Palestinian
civilians in the south of the city.

 

Attacks carried out by settlers

 

At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 31 May 2013, dozens
of armed settlers closed the entrance of Beit Ummar village, in the north of
Hebron. This incident took place under the protection of Israeli forces,
claiming that a protest was attacked with stones while driving through Bypass
Road No. (60), which is located near the village.  In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Ahmed
Abu Hashem, member of the Popular Committee against Settlement Activity, said
that the Israeli soldiers were deployed in the al-Koroum area, which is near
the entrance of the village, and forced Palestinian civilians to evacuate their
vehicles from the area.

 

At noon on Sunday, 02 June 2013, a group of settlers
from “Nahalial” settlement, established in the eastern side of
Betello village, northwest of Ramallah, set fire in dry herbs.  The fire expanded and reached some forest trees
in “al-Thohour” agricultural area, in the east of the village, near
the afore-mentioned settlement, before the Civil Defence crews could control
it. The assaulted land is the property of ‘Ahed Mohammed Othman Harb’s family.  It should be mentioned that on 19 August
2012, settlers broke and burnt 19 fruitful olive trees that belong to the
afore-mentioned family.

 

On Sunday morning, 02 June 2013, dozens of settlers
from “Tafouh” settlement, in the south of Nablus, closed the main street
of Yassouf village, east of Salfit, and banned Palestinians from passing
through it.  According to local sources,
dozens of settlers gathered since the early morning, started attacking the
civilians’ vehicles and closed the village’s main street.  It should be mentioned that the
afore-mentioned street connects Za’tra intersection with Salfit, and goes
through Eskaka and Yassouf villages.

 

 

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.