Israeli
soldiers at al-Jalama checkpoint near Jenin during clashes with some young men
who gathered near the checkpoint – 08 February 2013

 

Israeli Forces Continue
Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the occupied
Palestinian territory (oPt)

 

---

 

 

The
Israeli forces continued to open fire at the Palestinian civilians in the
border area of the Gaza Strip

 

4
Palestinian civilians, including a child and a journalist, were wounded in the incursions
conducted in the West Bank.

 

The
Israeli forces conducted 77 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West
Bank.

At
least 46 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children, were arrested in the West
Bank.

6 children
from the Gaza Strip were arrested when they attempted to cross the borders into
Israel.

 

The
Israeli forces continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the sea.

The
Israeli forces opened fire at the Palestinian fishing boats, but neither
casualties nor material damages were reported.

4
fishermen, including 2 children, were arrested and then released after the
confiscation of their boat.

 

The
Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against peaceful protests in
the West Bank.

3
Palestinian civilians, including a child and a journalist, were wounded in
protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities.

 

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

The Israeli
forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.

At
least 18 Palestinian civilians, including 11 children and a girl, were arrested
at checkpoints.

2 of
these detainees were arrested at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, north of the Gaza
Strip.

 

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

4
houses, 3 tents, a barrack, a water well and a grocery shop were demolished.

The
Israeli government approved the construction of 436 settlement units in the
West Bank’s settlements.

The
settlers continued their attacks on the Palestinian civilians and their
property.

 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt
continued during the reporting period (07– 13 February 2013):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, the
Israeli forces wounded 7 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and 2
journalists, in the West Bank; 3 of whom, including a child and a journalist,
were wounded in peaceful protests against the annexation wall and settlement
activities, while the 4 others, including a child and a journalist, were
wounded during 2 separate incursions. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces
continued to open fire at the Palestinian civilians near the border fence.    

 

In the West Bank, on 09 February 2013,
3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded when some settlers
moved into Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliam and threw stones at a number of
houses.  Palestinian villagers hurried to
get the settlers out of the village, but the Israeli forces moved into it and
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
Palestinians.  As a result, 3 persons
were wounded.   

 

On 11 February 2013, journalist Amer
Mohammed ‘Abdeen, 32, was hit by a tear gas canister to the right leg when the
Israeli forces moved into al-Sa’ida area, southwest of Beit Awwa village, south
of Hebron, to demolish civilian facilities.  Following the demolition works, the Israeli
forces attacked the Palestinians, who were in the area and fired tear gas
canisters, sound bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets at them. As a result,
the abovementioned journalist was wounded.

 

In the same context, the Israeli forces
continued to systematically use excessive force against peaceful protests
organized by Palestinians and Israeli and international activists protesting
against the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a
result, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded, including a child and a
journalist who were wounded in Kofur Qaddoum protest, northeast of Qalqilia.  The third one was wounded by 3 bullets to the
back and left thigh in Budrus village, west of Ramallah and al-Bireh.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 08 February
2013, the Israeli forces positioned at watchtowers along the border fence,
north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at some
Palestinians who were few meters away from the abovementioned fence. On the
same day, the Israeli forces positioned at watchtowers along the border fence,
east of Abu Safiya area in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at some
Palestinians who were few meters away from the abovementioned fence.  Palestinian civilians were frightened, but
neither casualties nor material damage were reported in both incidents.  

 

In the context of targeting
Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 10 February 2013, the Israeli gunboats
arrested 4 Palestinian fishermen, including 2 children, who were on board a
fishing boat belonging to Mohammed Abdul Razeq Sa’id Baker, 42. The fishing
boat was 3 nautical miles of al-Sudaniya shore, north of Gaza City.  The Israeli gunboats arrested and transported
them to Ashdod seaport and then to Erez (Beit Hanoun) crossing to be
questioned. The Israeli forces released them on the same day, but the boat
remained in custody.

 

On 11 February 2013, the Israeli
gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, opened fire at
the Palestinian fishing boats.  As a
result, the fishermen were frightened and fled back to the shore for fear of
being wounded or arrested. Neither casualties nor material damage were
reported.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, the Israeli forces conducted at least 77 military
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  During these incursions, the Israeli forces
arrested at least 46 Palestinians, including 8 children.

 

In
the Gaza Strip, on 08 February 2013, the Israeli forces stationed along the
border fence, east of al-Maghazi, arrested 2 Palestinian children when they
attempted to cross the borders into Israel.

 

On
12 February 2013, the Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of
al-Bureij refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip, arrested 4 Palestinian
children when they attempted to cross the borders into Israel.

 

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 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.  The illegal closure has caused
not only a humanitarian crisis, but a crisis of human rights and human dignity
for the population 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, unable to care
for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the
rest of the world. 

 

The IOF 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, in violation of
international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.

 

On
07 February 2013, Israeli forces completely demolished an uninhabited house in
al-Khas village near Bethlehem.  The
house is located in area B, which falls under Palestinian jurisdiction under
the Oslo Accords, and he has a construction permit from the Ministry of Local
Government in Bethlehem.

 

On
the same day, the Israeli forces launched a wide scale bulldozing campaign in
lands belonging to Palestinian civilians in Kufor Sour and Kufor Jamal
villages, located near “Salit” settlement, which stands on
Palestinian lands, west of Kufor Sour village south of Tulkarm.  According to eyewitnesses’ testimonies to a
PCHR fieldworker, the Israeli forces started the bulldozing campaign for
expansion projects in “Salit” settlement.

 

On
07 February 2013, a group of settlers, protected by the Israeli forces and
military vehicles, raided al-Hadffira area, near ‘Arraba village southwest of
Jenin.  The settlers preformed religious
rituals near an archeological site and stayed there for a while.

 

On
08 February 2012, Israeli forces, accompanied by military vehicles and waste
water bumping vehicle in al-Tabban area, east of Yatta, south of Hebron,
attacked a group of Palestinians and international human rights activists after
they built three tents on a confiscated land in the area for the construction
of Kan’an village there.  The Israeli
soldiers cordoned the area, assaulted the participants, tried to arrest some of
them and demolished and confiscated the tents.

 

On
08 February 2013, dozens of settlers from “Kiryart Arba” settlement,
established on Palestinian civilians’ lands, southeast of Hebron, raided the
farmlands and water spring in Kannar area to the east of Doura, southwest of
Hebron.

 

On
09 February 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by a number of military vehicles
and bulldozers, demolished an 85-square-meter, under-construction house under
pretext of not obtaining a construction permit.

 

On
09 February 2013, Israeli forces banned Ali ‘Eid ‘Awad, 50, from working in his
land in Khelat al-Kutla area, adjacent to ‘Kermi Tsour” settlement,
established on the lands of Palestinian civilians south of Beit Ummar village,
north of Hebron and forced him to leave at gunpoint, after registering his name
and the time he entered his land.

 

On
the same day, 09 February 2013, a group of settlers raided the eastern parts of
‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  The
settlers threw rocks at a number of houses. 
The settlers withdrew later after the Israeli forces intervened.  Later on the same day, the settlers attacked
the aforementioned village again.  They
entered the village from the north in a number of busses.  Immediately afterwards, they attacked the
houses by the northern entrance of the village, screaming and throwing
rocks.   

 

On
11 February 2013, Israeli forces, demolished a caravan belonging to Mohammed
Badawi al-Tamizi (50).   It should be mentioned that the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had donated the caravan to the
aforementioned civilian after the Israeli forces demolished his house in
2012. 

 

On
the same day, the Israeli forces demolished a house of 70 square meters, a
water well and a barracks of 220 square metersin al-Sa’ida area, southwest of
‘Awwa village, southwest of Hebron.

 

On
the same day, the Israeli government decided to build 90 housing units in
“Beit Eil” settlement, northeast of Ramallah.  According to Channel (10)’s website, the
Israeli Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, signed permits for constructing 90 new
housing units in “Beit Eil” settlement, under the signed agreement
between the settlers and the government to evacuate “Albona”
settlement, which comes as part of the hundreds of settlement units that the
Israeli government committed to build for the settlers in order to evacuate the
aforementioned settlement.  In a related
context, the Israeli Ministry of Defense affirmed that the government had
requested designs for 346 new settlement units to be built in settlements in
the West Bank.  The ministry said in a
press release that it allowed the drafting of the designs for 200 settlement units
in “Tekoa” settlement and 146 in “Nacodam” settlement, in
the southern of the West Bank.

 

On
12 February 2013, Israeli forces demolished a grocery shop of 12 square meters
in ‘Arab al-Ramadeen village, south of Hebron.

 

 

 

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (07– 13 February 2013)

 

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

 

 

Thursday, 07 February 2013

 

At approximately 00:00, the Israeli forces moved into Shweika
suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time, raided a
house belonging to the family of Rashed Abdul Rahman Rashed Ikbariya, 30, and
questioned him on the spot.  The Israeli
forces withdrew later, but no arrests were reported.  It should be noted that Ikbariya is an
ex-prisoner who was released on 15 August 2012, as he served his 7-year
sentence in the Israeli prisons.

 

At approximately 01:00, the Israeli forces moved into Sourif
village, northwest of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a number of houses. They arrested
Anwar Ziad al-Froukh, 24; and Amin Anwar Amin al-Froukh, 23, and transported
them to an unknown destination.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Ein al-Sultan
refugee camp, west of Jericho.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:30, an Israeli infantry unit and an Israeli
Intelligence officer moved into al-Azza refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided
and searched houses belonging: Abdul Aziz Kamal Da’ajna, 23; Noah Ibrahim
Da’dara, 23; Hassan Khalil Ibrahim Qaraqe’, 65; and Mo’taz Ali Mohammed
Qaraqe’, 26. The Israeli Intelligence officer summoned Mo’taz, Noah and Abdul
Aziz and questioned them on the spot.  Mo’taz
said to a PCHR fieldworker that he was threatened of arrest in case he was
involved in any political activity.  It
is worth saying that Mo’taz had received a notice to refer to the Israeli
Intelligence Service last January.  The
Israeli forces withdrew later, but no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:00, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Oula
village, west of Hebron. They raided Beit Oula Municipality after breaking the
main gate of the building and the gates of the stores with special tools.  They entered the rooms, damaged the doors
inside and tampered with the official documents of the municipality.  The Israeli forces detained a member of the
village council who arrived upon receiving the news of raiding the
municipality.  At approximately 04:30,
they withdrew; no confiscation of documents or any other contents of the
municipality were reported. 

 

At approximately 09:30, the Israeli forces moved into Fasayel
village, north of Jericho.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Our
al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, the Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad
village, southwest of Jenin.  They patrolled
the streets for some time; meanwhile, a number of young men gathered to throw
stones and empty bottles at the Israeli forces that fired in response sound
bombs and tear gas canisters at the stones throwers.  As a result, many persons suffered from tear
gas inhalation.  The Israeli forces withdrew
later.  No arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 11:45, the Israeli forces arrested Sameh Jamal
Awad Abu Hussein “al-Qet”, 22, from the eastern neighborhood in
Jenin.  Sameh was arrested when he went
to Salem military camp, northwest of Jenin, upon a summon notice that he
received previously to refer to the Israeli intelligence service.

 

At approximately 12:30, the Israeli forces moved into Jenin. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:30, the Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad
village, southwest of Jenin, for the second time within few hours. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 20:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Ouja
village, northeast of Jericho. They patrolled the streets for a while and
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, the Israeli forces moved into Ertah, south
of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for a while and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
  

 

Friday, 08 February 2013

 

At approximately 00:30, the 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 the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Fahma village,
southwest of Jenin.  They patrolled the
streets; meanwhile, a number of young men gathered to throw stones and empty
bottles at the Israeli forces that fired in response sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at the stones throwers. As a result, many persons suffered from tear
gas inhalation. The Israeli forces withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:00, the Israeli forces moved into Seida
village, northeast of Tulkarm.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 15:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Jalama
village, north of Jenin.  They patrolled
the streets for some; meanwhile, a number of young men gathered to throw stones
and empty bottles at the Israeli forces that fired in response sound bombs and
tear gas canisters at the stones throwers.  As a result, many persons suffered from tear
gas inhalation. The Israeli forces withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:30, the
Israeli forces positioned at the border fence, north of Beit Lahia in the
northern Gaza Strip, fired bullets and tear gas canisters at a group of
civilians, who were a few meters away from the west of the aforementioned
fence.  As a result, the civilians were frightened, but
neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

At approximately 15:40, the Israeli forces positioned at the border fence in the east of Abu
Safia village, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, fired bullets and tear gas canisters at a
group of civilians, who were a few meters away from the west of the
aforementioned fence.  As a result, the
civilians were frightened, but neither casualties nor material damage were
reported.

 

At approximately 16:00, the Israeli forces positioned along the
border fence, east of al-Maghazi, arrested 2 children when they attempted to
cross the border into Israel:

 

1. Mohammed Yusef
‘Ebeid al-Ne’ami, 16; and

2. Majdi Rashad
Abdul Karim al-Masalma, 18.

Both are from al-Maghazi area.

 

Yusef ‘Ebeid al-Ne’ami, 45, the father of one of the arrested boys,
said to a PCHR fieldworker that at approximately 22:50, he received a phone
call from a person who introduced himself as an officer from the Israeli forces
and told him that his son Mohammed and Majdi Rashad al-Masalma were arrested
due to their attempt to cross the borders into Israel. 

 

At approximately 16: 15, the Israeli forces moved into Far’oun
village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:30, the Israeli forces moved into Batin
village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, the Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, the Israeli forces moved into Ras Karkar
village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for a while and withdrew
later. No arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Saturday, 09 February 2013

 

At approximately
01:15, the 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.

 

At approximately 01:20, the Israeli forces moved into Kofur Thalelth
village, east of Qalqilia.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.  

 

At approximately 01:50, the Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia. They
patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces moved into Beitounia
village, west of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:00, the Israeli forces moved into Ethna village,
west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of
Abdul Halim Ahmed Nemer, 28, and arrested him.

 

At the same time, the 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 03:30, the Israeli forces moved into Deir Samet
village, west of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and deployed
between houses. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 03:50, the Israeli forces moved into Hares
village, northeast of Salfit.  They
raided 3 houses and arrested 3 persons, including 2 children:

1. Amjad Iyad
Abdul Rahim Hassan, 17;

2. Hendi Abdullah
Sultan, 17; and

3. Farid Atta
Farid Sultan, 18.

 

At approximately 10:15, the Israeli forces moved into Kofur Laqef
village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Ra’ed Mahmoud Amin Jaber, 26. They handed him
a notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence service and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Namous
area, west of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and deployed
between the houses.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Monir al-Hroub, 38.  The Israeli forces withdrew later, but no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:30, the Israeli forces moved into Kofur Malek
village, northeast of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets for a while and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Deir Dabwan village,
northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:30, the Israeli forces moved into Burin
village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:50, the Israeli forces moved into Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time amidst
firing flare bombs in the sky. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:00, the Israeli forces moved into Sanjal
village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 10 February 2013

 

 At approximately 01:00, the
Israeli forces moved into Tarqoumia village, northwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids no
arrests were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli force moved into Beit Kahel village,
northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Issam Ali
Hassan al-Zohour, 22, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-Tira neighborhood
in Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later.  No
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:10, the Israeli forces moved into Abu Njaim
village, south of Bethlehem.  They raided
a house belonging to Mohammed Ali al-Arouj, 22, and submitted him a notice to
refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in “Gosh Etzion” complex,
south of Bethlehem.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Ali family village,
south of Bethlehem. They raided a house belonging to the family of Sami Yusef
Shawriya, 23, and submitted him a notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence service
in “Gush Etzion” complex, south of Bethlehem.

 

At approximately 02:30, the Israeli forces moved into Silet
al-Daher village, south of Jenin.  They raided
a house belonging to the family of Wa’el Tahayna and submitted him a notice to
refer to the Israeli intelligence service at Salem detention camp, northwest of
Jenin. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 04:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun village,
northwest of Jenin.  They patrolled the
streets for some time, raided a number of houses and handed their owners
notices to refer to the Israeli intelligence service at Salem detention camp,
northwest of Jenin. They withdrew later; no arrests were reported. The summoned
persons were identified as:

 

1. Imad Sa’d Fayez
Abu al-Hassan, 49, a university teacher;

2. Othman Ali
Jamil Zayed, 28; and

3. Jehad Mohammed
Ali Nawahda, 51.

 

At approximately 06:00, the Israeli gunboats arrested 4 fishermen,
including 2 children, who were on board a fishing boat belonging to Mohammed
Abdul Razeq Sa’id Baker, 42. The boat was 3 nautical miles off al-Sudaniya
shore, north of Gaza City. The fishermen are:

 

1. Thabet
Mohammed Abdul Razeq Baker, 17;

2. Haitham
Tareq Baker, 25;

3. Amjad
Tareq Baker, 23; and

4. Awad
Tareq Baker, 16.

 

The Israeli naval forces arrested and transported them to Ashodo
seaport and then to Erez crossing to be questioned.  At approximately 17:00, the Israeli forces
released them, but the boat that carried a GPS, a mobile phone, fishing
equipment and 15 liters of benzene remained in custody.

 

At approximately 09:45, the Israeli forces moved into Kofu Qoud
village, west of Jenin.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Bruqin village,
west of Jenin.  They patrolled the
streets and detained Hani Mohammed Ahmed Ghanem, 19.   Soon,, a number of young men gathered to
throw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli forces that fired in response
sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the stones throwers.  As a result, many persons suffered from tear
gas inhalation.  The Israeli forces
withdrew later.   Neither house raids no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:00, the Israeli forces moved into Deir Ammar village,
west of Ramallah.  They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:00, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Awwa
village, west of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets, raided
the village’s playing field and detained 3 children while they were playing
there. The 3 children, who were questioned on the spot for few hours and then
released, were identified as:

 

1. Abed Neel Hassan Masalma, 16;

2. Ashraf Hussein Yusef Masalma, 17; and

3. Monther Rezeq Hussein Masalma, 16.

 

The
Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, the Israeli forces moved into Ras al-Joura
area, north of Hebron.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
No arrests were reported.

 

Monday,
11 February 2013

 

At approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into Nablus.  They patrolled the streets, raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested Yazan Mahmoud Sawalha, 27, from his
house in al-‘Ameriya neighborhood, southwest of Nablus.    

 

At approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces moved into the Old Town
of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed
Talal Mohammed al-Rajabi, 22, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:30, the Israeli forces moved into the center of
Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mostafa
Jamal Yusef Abu Qweider, 37, and arrested him.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Silet al-Harethiya
village, north of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Basem
Suleiman Yusef Jaradat, 53. They questioned him and his son Adhma, 25, on the
spot.  The Israeli forces withdrew later
and no arrested were reported.

 

At approximately 04:00, the Israeli forces moved into Jenin.  They patrolled the streets and positioned in
the eastern neighborhood.  They raided
and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Jamal Awad Abu Hussein
“al-Qet”, 32, and arrested him.  It should be noted that the Israeli forces
arrested the aforementioned person’s brother, Sameh, on Thursday, 07 February
2013, when he was summoned to Salem camp, northwest of Jenin.

 

At approximately 05:00, the Israeli forces raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Mousa Awda in al-Bustan neighborhood in Selwan
village, south of the Old Town of the occupied Jerusalem. They arrested Mousa’a
son, Musallam, 13, and transported him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 10:00, the Israeli forces moved into the area
between Ya’bad and Zebda villages, southwest of Jenin.  They took position in the area for some time.
They withdrew later, but no arrests were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, the Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha
resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened heavy fire for
30 minutes at the Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing 2 nautical miles
off the shore. As a result, the Palestinian fishermen were terrified and fled
back to the shore for fear of being arrested or wounded. Neither casualties nor
material damage were reported.   

 

Tuesday,
12 February 2012

 

At
approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into Tal village, southwest of
Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 civilians:

1. Walid
Jamal Ahmed Asida, 21, a student at al-Najah National University in Nablus;

2. Osama
Khaled Mousa Yamin, 21, a student at the Arab American University in Jenin;

3. Mothanna
Jamil Isma’il Yamin, 21, coordinator of the Islamic bloc in Palestine Technical
University in Tulkarm; and

4. Mousa
Ahmed Mousa Yamin, 24.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. They
patrolled the streets and stationed at the western neighborhood of the town.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Abdullah Isma’il Abdullah Khalil, 21, and arrested him.  The Israeli forces then re-positioned at the
northern neighborhood, raided and searched a house belonging to the family of
Ammar Jehad Tawfiq ‘Emeir, 26, and arrested him.  The Israeli forces positioned near the new
mosque in the center of the city.  They raided
a house belonging to Ammar Taqwfiq “Ahmad Badawi” Ayyoub, 53, the town’s
Mufti. They broke the door of the house, started searching it and arrested his
son Qutada, 22. Meanwhile, the Israeli forces raided a house belonging to
Ra’fat Jamil Abdul Rahman Nasif, 47, a leader of Hamas movement, near
al-Omariya school in the southern neighborhood of the city.  They broke the main door of the house, started
searching using sniffer dogs and then arrested the aforementioned person. They
withdrew later transporting the arrested persons to an unknown destination. It
should be noted that Ra’fat Nasif was released on 11 November 2012 after he had
served his 44-month administrative detention period; his whole detention period
in the Israeli prisons mounted to 11 years.  This arrest campaign was carried out in the
context of the so-called “cutting the grass” Israeli campaign that
targeted Hamas’ members in the West Bank.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem. They
patrolled the streets and stationed at al-Saff Streets in the center of the town.
They raided and searched a house belonging Abed Mohammed Hejazi, 19, and
arrested him.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Ayda refugee camp,
north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of
Saleh Abu Akar, 23, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar
village, north of Hebron.  They raided
and searched a house belonging to Tareq Khalil Abu Maria, 19, and arrested him
from his bedroom without allowing him to get dressed.  They also attacked his father and confiscated
his ID card.

 

At approximately 02:30, the Israeli forces moved into Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilia. They raided 7 houses and arrested 5 Palestinian
civilians, including 4 children:

1. Ahmed Mhanna Mesh’al, 15;

2. Naji Najeh Abu Haniya, 16;

3. Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Odwan, 12;

4. Saleh Basim Ahmed Redwan, 14; and

5. Sabra Khader Mahmoud Sukkar, 21.

 

At approximately 03:30, the Israeli forces moved into Sa’ir
village, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Fadi Yusef Wadi, 23.  They arrested the aforementioned person and
transported him to an unknown destination.

 

At the same
time, the Israeli the Israeli forces moved into ‘Etil village, north of
Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mos’ab
Wasfi Abdul Qader al-Ashqar, 21, and arrested him.

 

At
approximately 07:30, the Israeli forces moved into Siris village, south of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30, the Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad
village, south of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and stationed at al-Maloul quarter,
south of the village. They raided a house belonging to the family of Amin
Mas’oud Mahmoud Abu Baker, 50, a lecturer at al-Najah National University.  The Israeli soldiers topped the roof of the
house and turned it into a military site.  Meanwhile, residents of the area gathered and
threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli forces, which fired sound bombs
and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, some persons suffered from
tear gas inhalation. The Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, the Israeli forces moved into Jabal Jawhar
area, south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets, deployed between the houses and
stopped the civilians and school students to check their ID cards. Some boys gathered
and threw stones at the Israeli forces, which fired sound bombs, tear gas
canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets in response. The Israeli forces
withdrew later and neither arrest nor casualties were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into ‘Attil village,
north of Tulkarm. They raided a house belonging to the family of Qutaiba Nihad
Sa’id al-Ajami, 24, and submitted him a notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence
service at the Israeli military liaison office, west of Tulkarm.  The Israeli forces withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:00, the Israeli forces moved into Ras al-Joura
area, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for a while and withdrew
later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, the Israeli forces stationed along the
border fence, east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip,
arrested 4 Palestinian children when they attempted to cross the borders into
Israel. The arrested are:

1. Mohammed Ibrahim Salem Abu Hazin, 17;

2. Salim Mosbah Salama Abu Ghoula, 15;

3. Mohammed Hakem Mohammed Abu Ghoula, 15, and

4. Ahmed Wa’el Hamdan Abu Ghoula, 17.

 

Ayman Hamdan Farhan Abu Ghoula, 29, the uncles of one of the
detainees, said to a PCHR fieldworker that he did not see his nephew in the
area, so he started looking for him.  Some
young men told the uncle that they saw the boy with 3 other boys heading to the
border fence. The uncle followed them to the border area, but a person living
near the border fence told him that he saw 4 children approaching the fence and
were arrested by the Israeli forces positioned there.

 

At approximately 17:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arqa
village, west of Jenin. They patrolled the streets, where some boys gathered
and threw stones and empty bottles at them.  Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs at the
stone throwers in response. The Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests
were reported.

     

 Wednesday, 13 February 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Daqqo
village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem. They raided a number of houses and
launched an arrest campaign in the village.  They arrested 10 Palestinian civilians and
transported them to an unknown destination:

1. Mousa Mohammed
Hassan, 20;

2. Shadi Suleiman
Abdul Mon’em, 28;

3. Bashir Marrar,
22;

4. Abdul Fattah
Darweesh, 25;

5. Hesham Khalil
Ali Hussein, 25;

6. Jalal KHalil
Ali Hussein, 19;

7. Hamad Issa Ali
Hussein, 22;

8. Ali Issa Ali
Hussein, 20;

9. Nadim Ahmed Ali
Hussein, 19 and

10. Mohammed Abdul Nasser Ali Hussein, 19.

 

At approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into Barqa
village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and
arrested Mohammed Fo’ad Hussein Hajja, 29.

 

At approximately 02:30, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Luqia
village, south of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Rebhi Baker Assi.  They
arrested Rebhi’s son, Ma’moun Assi, 29, and transported him to Ofer detention
facility, south of the town.

 

At approximately 02:55, the Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem.
They patrolled the streets and stationed at al-Saff streets in the center of
the town. They raided a house belonging to the family of Ala’ Mohammed Hmeid,
18, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 06:00, the Israeli forces moved into Rummana
village, north of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Farid Walid Farid Mahajnah, 24, an officer of the Palestinian
National Security Forces, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 12:00, the Israeli forces moved into Kherbatha al-Mesbah
village, southwest of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets and stationed behind Kherbatha al-Mesbah high school for
boys.  They arrested Mohammed Ali
Mohammed Harfoush, 13, under the pretext that he threw stones at road (443)
near the said village. They transported him to the Israeli military site in
Beit ‘Aor al-Fouqa village, southwest of the town.  The boy was released at approximately 17:00,
on the same day.  

 

2- Use of
Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting Settlement
Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall

 

During
the reporting period, Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations
organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights
defenders in protest at the construction of the wall and settlement activities
in the West Bank.  As a result, three
Palestinian civilians, including a journalist and a child, were wounded.

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 08 February 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in
protest to the construction of the annexation wall.  The demonstrators gathered in the streets of
the village, chanting slogans calling for national unity.  The protesters aimed to stress the need to
adhere to national principles and the right of return, to resist the occupation
and to call for the release of all Palestinian prisoners.  The protesters raised Palestinian flags and
made their way towards the lands adjacent to the annexation wall.  The Israeli forces closed all ways and
entrances to the village since early morning hours, to prevent Palestinians,
journalists and international activists from joining the protest.  The protesters raised Palestinian flags and
made their way towards the wall.  They
called through megaphones for Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to
leave Palestinian land.  Israeli soldiers
stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear
gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a
result,  dozens of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 08 February 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities.  The demonstrators moved
towards areas of the annexation wall.  Immediately,
Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound
bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Around the same time on Friday, 08 February 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders
gathered in 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, entitled: “Freedom for Our Heroes in Israeli
Jails.”  The protesters walked
towards the gate erected by Israeli forces near the entrance of the village,
which leads to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby
“Halmish” settlement are trying to seize.  Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters.  As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

At the same time on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international human rights defenders gathered in Budrus village, west of
Ramallah and al-Bireh, for a peaceful protest against the annexation wall and
settlement activity.  The demonstration
was entitled: “In memory of the Killing of Samir Amed Awad.”  The demonstrators walked through the village
streets and headed towards the wall.  The
Israeli forces closed the wall gates with barbered wires, and when the
demonstrators attempted to cross wall to the land behind it, the forces stopped
them and so the demonstrators threw rocks at them.  The Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters
and rubber-coated bullets.  As a result,
a 25 year-old demonstrator sustained three bullet wounds; two in his back and
one in the left thigh.  Also dozens of
demonstrators suffocated from tear gas inhalation. (PCHR kpees the name of
the wounded person).

 

At
approximately 12:00 on Friday too, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human
rights activists gathered in al-Haraiek area, southeast of Hebron, for a
peaceful demonstration calling for opening the route linking Hebron to it
southern villages.  Upon their arrival to
the steel gate while closes the road to bypass road (60), the Israeli forces
surrounded the place and declared it a closed military zone and ordered the
demonstrators to leave immediately.  The
soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstration.  A number of protesters passed out as a result
of tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following
the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human
rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of al-Ma’sara
village, south of Bethlehem, in protest at the ongoing construction of the
annexation wall.  As the protestors moved
towards the gate of the village, the Israeli forces closed it to prevent the
demonstration from gaining access to the confiscated land and attacked the
participants with shields, feet, hands and threw sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at them; as a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas
inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

At
approximately 12:15 on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the
center of Kufor Kadoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the
continuous closure of the eastern entrance of the village since the outbreak of
al-Aqsa Intifada.  The demonstrators
moved towards the entrance of the village. Immediately, Israeli forces,
stationed in the surroundings of the steel gate established at the entrance,
fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators.  As a result, Bashar Mahmoud Nazzal Saleh, 33,
a cameraman for Palestine Satellite Channel (PSC), was hit with a tear gas
canister to his left shoulder while videotaping the demonstration and Khaled
Murad Barham, 14, was hit with a tear gas canister in the right foot.

 

At
approximately 14:30 on Friday, 08 February 2013, a group of Palestinian
youngsters gathered near al-Jalama checkpoint, separating Jenin from Israel,
northeast of Jenin.  They started
throwing stones and empty bottles and burnt car tires at the soldiers who were
stationed at the checkpoint.  The
soldiers in response closed the checkpoint, chased the boys and fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them.  As a
result, some of them suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

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 nearly 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. 

 

The IOF
have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip, making Karm Abu Salem crossing the
sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for
commercial purposes, in terms of its distance and operational capacity. 

 

The IOF
have continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the strangulation of
the commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing total control
over the flow of imports and exports.  

The
total closure of al-Mentar “Karni” crossing on 02 March 2011 has
created a terrible situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip.  Following this closure, all economic and
commercial establishments in 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 operational 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. 

 

The IOF
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 in
the Gaza Strip. 

 

The
cooking gas crisis, which erupted last November, has continued to affect the
Gaza Strip.  This crisis was created on
04 January 2010, when Israeli occupation authorities totally closed the Nahal
Oz crossing, which used to be dedicated to the delivery of fuel and cooking gas
supplies to Gaza.  They shifted fuel and
cooking gas supplies to the Karm Abu Salem crossing, which is not equipped to
receive Gaza’s fuel needs.  The Karm Abu
Salem crossing, with its maximum absorptive capacity, can receive only 200 tons
of cooking gas per day. 

 

Approximately
80% of Gaza civilians 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, and approximately 40% of Gaza’s
manpower continues to suffer from permanent unemployment as a result of
shutting down the majority of Gaza’s economic establishments. 

 

The IOF
have continued to impose a total ban on the export of products from Gaza,
especially industrial products, undermining any real chance of reopening economic
establishments.  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 Gaza products which are allowed to be exported.  

 

For approximately 6 consecutive years, the IOF have continued to
ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza.  During the reporting period, the IOF approved
the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of
international organizations.

 

Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for
Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip. 
The IOF only allow the movement of limited groups amidst severe
restrictions, including long hours of waiting in the majority of cases.  The IOF have also 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 Jerusalem.  The IOF
denied new categories of Gazan patients permission to access hospitals via the
crossing.   

 

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

 

Movement at
Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

06– 12
February 2013

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

05– 11
February 2013

Imports:

 

 

Exports:

 

On Tuesday, 05 February 2013, the Israeli forces
allowed the exportation of 2.1 tons of cherry tomatoes, 1.2 tons of bell pepper
and 1.2 tons of peppers. They also allowed the exportation of 130,000 flowers
and 5 truckloads of plastics.

On Wednesday, 06 February 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the
exportation of 6 truckloads of plastics and 213,000 flowers.

On Thursday, 07 February 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the
exportation of 5 truckloads of plastics and 95,000 carnation flowers.

On Sunday, 10 February 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 6 truckloads of plastics, 68,260 carnation flowers and 600 kilograms of mints.

On Monday, 11 February 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
8 truckloads of plastics and 5 tons of cherry tomatoes.

 

 Other Imports:

 

On Tuesday, 05 February 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the entry
of 127 tons of cement, 69 tons of construction steel, and 5,110 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA; 980 tons of construction aggregate for the
private sector; and 120 tons of cement and 1,050 tons of construction aggregate
for the German Development Bank (GDB). 
They also allowed the entry of 936 tons of fodders and 273 tons of
wheat.

 

On Wednesday, 06 February 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the
entry of 320 tons of cement, 68 of construction steel, and 1,400 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA; 980 tons of construction aggregates for the private
sector; and 630 tons of construction aggregate for the GDB.  They also allowed the entry of 741 tons of fodders
and 507 tons of wheat.

 

On Sunday, 10 February 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the entry
of 480 tons of cement, 52 tons of construction steel, and 3,640 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA; and 840 tons of construction aggregate for
the private sector.  They also allowed
the entry of 741 tons of fodders and 234 tons of wheat.

 

On Monday, 11 February 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the entry
of 440 tons of cement, 124 tons of construction steel, and 3,500 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA; 980 tons of construction aggregate for the
private sector; 1,680 tons of construction aggregate for the Water Authority;
and 40 tons of cement, 36 tons of construction steel and 1,190 tons of
construction aggregate for the UNDP. 
They also allowed the entry of 273 tons of fodders and 507 tons of
wheat.

 

 

Imports
through Rafah International Crossing Point, South of the Gaza Strip:

05– 11
February 2013

Imports:

 

 

Note: Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing, north
of the Gaza Strip, links the Strip with the West Bank, and it is for the
movement of individuals.

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

30
January – 05 February 2013

 

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

06–
12 February 2013

 

 

 

Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank.  During the reporting period, IOF 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
03:00 on Thursday, 07 February 2013, the Israeli forces re-established their
presence at ‘Attar checkpoint, by the northern entrance of Birzeit village,
north of Ramallah.  At approximately
09:00, the Israeli forces established another checkpoint at the entrance of
Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. 
At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 08 February 2013, the Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 10:30,
another checkpoint was established by the entrance of Termes’aya village,
southwest of the city.  At approximately
11:00 on Saturday, 10 February 2013, the Israeli forces re-established their
presence at ‘Attar checkpoint, by the northern entrance of Birzeit village,
north of Ramallah.  At approximately
17:00, they reestablished the checkpoint in the aforementioned area.  At approximately 11:30 on Sunday, 10 February
2013, the Israeli forces re-established their presence at ‘Attar checkpoint, by
the northern entrance of Birzeit village, north of Ramallah.  At approximately 20:00, the Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of al-Tibah village, northeast
of the city.  At approximately 15:30 on
Monday, 11 February 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
intersection of Beit ‘Aor al-Foqa village, southwest of Ramallah.

 

Hebron:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 17:00 on Thursday, 07
February 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern
entrance of Hebron.  The checkpoint was
later removed and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 18:30, the Israeli forces established another
checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Kahil village, northwest of the city. At
approximately 16:00 on Friday, 08 February 2013, the Israeli forces established
a checkpoint on Tarousa road between Doura and its western villages.  At approximately 19:00 on Saturday, 09
February 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’air
village, northeast of Hebron.  At approximately
16:00 on Sunday, 10 February 2013, the Israeli forces established checkpoint on
al-Nabi Younis road between Halhoul and bypass road (60), north of Hebron.  At the meantime, the Israeli forces established
a similar checkpoint, east of Ezna village, west of the city.  At approximately 18:00, the Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of
Hebron.  The checkpoints were later
removed and no arrests were reported.

 

Qalqilya:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 17:00
on Saturday, 09 February 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint between
‘Azoun village and Ezbet al-Tabib, east of Qalqilya.  At approximately 20:50, another checkpoint
was established at the entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of the city.  At approximately 13:15 on Sunday, 10 February
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint between ‘Azoun village and
Ezbet al-Tabib, east of Qalqilya.  At
approximately 16:30, a similar checkpoint was established between Qalqilya and
al-Nabi Elias, east of Qalqilya.  At
approximately 18:00, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
intersection of Amateen village, northeast of Qalqilya.  All the checkpoints were later removed and no
arrests were reported.  At approximately 05:00
on Monday, 11 February 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
intersection of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya.  The checkpoint was later removed and no
arrests were reported.

 

Tulkarm:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately
01:00 on Friday, 08 February 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint
at the entrance if ‘Alar village, north of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later removed and no
arrests were reported.  At approximately
15:30, they established a similar checkpoint on the main street between Tulkarm
and Nablus near the intersection of Beit Leed village in an area known as “Abu
Martein”, east of Tulkarm.  At
approximately 07:00 on Saturday, 09 February 2014, the Israeli forces
positioned at ‘Anab checkpoint, which is established on the main road between
Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, imposed restrictions on the Palestinians
who pass through the checkpoint.  The
restrictions later ended and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 07:30, they established a
similar checkpoint on the area which the checkpoint was removed from, on the
main road between Tulkarm and Qalqilya, by the gate of Jubarah village, which
is isolated from its surroundings due to the annexation wall, south of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later removed and no
arrests were reported.  At approximately
18:00, the Israeli forces positioned at ‘Anab checkpoint imposed restrictions
on the Palestinians who pass through the checkpoint.  At approximately 16:45 on Sunday, 10 February
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between
Tulkarm and Nablus by the intersection of Beit Leed village, east of
Tulkarm.  At the same time, the Israeli
forces positioned on ‘Anab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, tightened restrictions
on the Palestinians who pass through it. 
At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 12 February 2013, Israeli forces,
stationed at’Anab checkpoint increased its restrictions on Palestinian
civilians passing through it.  At the
same time, another checkpoint was established by the entrance of Quffin
village, north of Tulkarm.  All
checkpoints were later removed; no arrests were reported.

 

Jenin:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
13:00 on Thursday, 07 February 2013, the Israeli forces established a
checkpoint on the road linking Ya’bod and Zibda villages, southwest of
Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed
and no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 15:30 on Saturday, 09 February 2013, the Israeli forces
established a checkpoint on the road linking al-Tibah and ‘Aanin villages,
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 20:00 on Thursday, 09 February 2013, the Israeli forces
established a checkpoint on al-Mo’arjat road between Jericho and Ramallah.  The checkpoint was later removed and no
arrests were reported.  At approximately 07:00
on Friday, 08 February 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint by the
entrance of Marj Ne’aja, north of Jericho. At approximately 20:00, they
established a similar checkpoint by the southern entrance of the city.  The two checkpoints were later removed and no
arrests were reported.  At approximately
09:00 on Sunday, 10 February 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint by
the entrance of Fasayel village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces
established another checkpoint by the southern entrance of Jericho.  At approximately 19:30, another checkpoint was
established by the entrance of al-Jaftlak village, north of the city.  At the same time, a similar checkpoint was
established by the entrance of al-‘Aoja village, northeast of the city.  All the checkpoints were later removed and no
arrests were reported.

 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 07 February 2013, the Israeli
forces positioned near lands belonging to Palestinians, east of Yatta, south of
Hebron, arrested Anas Hasan Hreizat, 17, when he was grazing his sheep in the
area and then was taken to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 19:30 on Friday, 08 February 2013, the Israeli
forces positioned at the western entrance of Beit Fajjar village, south of
Bethlehem, arrested 3 civilians, including 2 children, and took them to an
unknown destination.  The Israeli forces
claimed that they found knives with them. 
The detainees were identified as: Ali Ja’afar Taqatqa, 18; Ihab Nemir
Taqatqa, 15; and Fayez Mohammed Taqatqa, 16. 

 

At approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 09 February 2013, the Israeli
forces stationed at Hawwarah checkpoint at the southern entrance of Nablus
arrested Alaa’ Mohammed Qassem Abu Zaitoun, 21, from North ‘Asirah village,
north of the city.  Eyewitnesses said that
the Israeli forces forced Abu Zaitoun to get out of the car which she was
driving, arrested, and took her to an unknown destination.  It is worth mentioning that the
aforementioned woman is a student at al-Quds Open University.

 

At approximately 17:30 on the aforementioned day, the Israeli
forces arrested Khalil Harb Ma’rouf Rayyan, 25, from Qarawet Bani Hassan
village, northwest of Salfit, claiming that he had a hunting rifle in a land
called (Abbas Valley), which is located between the villages of Qarawet Bani
Hassan and Deir Estayya, near “Rafafa” settlement.  Rayyan’s father said that at approximately
20:00 on the aforementioned Saturday, he received a phone call from the police
of “Ariel” settlement and was told that his son, Khalil, was arrested at
approximately 17:30 and will be transferred to the detention centre in Hawwarah
camp, south of Nablus.

 

At approximately 13:45 also on Saturday, while the Israeli forces
were patrolling the main street called no. (55), as this street links Qalqilya
and Nablus, they arrested 3 children from ‘Azoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  The children were arrested
when they were in the western area of the village near the main street where
they were searching for steel and aluminum to sell them.  They then were transported to an unknown
destination.  The children were
identified as: Diaa’ Qaher Abdel ‘Aziz Abu Haniya, 15; Zaid Ali Radi Odwan, 15;
and Mohammed Samir Hasan Abu Haniya, 15.

 

At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 11 February 2013, Israeli forces
arrested Fadi Ishac Hamed Jaradat (28) from Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron,
while passing through one of the checkpoints at the entrances of Za’tara
village, east of Bethlehem.  He was
transported to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 16:40 on Monday, 28 January 2013, the family of Nabil
Mahmoud Mohammed Abdullah, 36, from ‘Asaliya area in Jabalia in the northern
Gaza Strip, was informed that their son, who applied for a trader’s permit, was
arrested by the Israeli forces on Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing  in the northern Gaza Strip.  According to the testimony of the father, his
son, Nabil, was informed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs that he has an
interview with the Israeli intelligence at Beit Hanoun crossing (Eirez) in the
northern Gaza Strip after he had applied for a trader’s permit.  His father is a trader of paints and normally
leaves the Gaza Strip through Beit Hanoun crossing (Eirez).  At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 28 January
2013, he went there and never came back. 
At approximately 16:40 on the same day, his father was informed on his
cell phone by someone said he is from the Israeli intelligence service that his
son, Nabil, is arrested and detained in Ashkelon prison.

 

At approximately 13:30 on Tuesday, 12 February 2013, the Israeli
forces positioned at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip
arrested Mohammed Samir Mahmoud Abu Daqqa, 26, when he was on his way back with
his injured mother, Najwah ‘Awad Abu Daqqa, 49, through the aforementioned
crossing.  The aforementioned woman was in
al-Maqased hospital in Jerusalem where she was receiving medical treatment for
her injuries she sustained on 18 November 2012 due to an Israeli attack on the
courtyard of her house in ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern
Gaza Strip.  It should be mentioned that Abu
Daqqa left the Gaza Strip with his mother 3 weeks ago.

 

Also on Tuesday at approximately 14:30, the Israeli forces, stationed
at ‘Atsyon intersection, south of Bethlehem, arrested Adib Abu Akram, 35, from
Beit Fajjar south of the town.

 

At approximately 20:15 on the above-mentioned Tuesday, the Israeli
forces stationed at the western intersection of Beit Fajjar village, southeast
of Bethlehem, arrested 5 children from the aforementioned village, and took
them to an unknown destination.  The
arrested are:

1. Mohammed Faris
Taqatqa, 15;

2. ‘Aayed Mohammed
Taqatqa, 16;

3. Eyad Ahmed
Taqatqa, 13;

4. Rami Ali
Taqatqa, 14; and

5. Ahmed Khalid
Taqatqa, 15.

 

It
should be noted that Beit Fajjar village witnesses a campaign of mass arrests
as the number of arrested persons has mounted to 55 since the beginning of this
year.

 

4- Settlement
Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

 

Bulldozing of
Houses, Lands and Other Civilian Facilities

 

At
approximately 05:30 on Thursday, 07 February 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied
by a number of military SUVs, two bulldozers and a digger, raided al-Khas
village, east of Bethlehem.  The
bulldozers completely demolished an uninhabited house belonging to Ahmed
Mustafa Isma’il Sbatin’s, 55, which was not inhabited.  In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Ahmed
Sbatin, said that following the dawn prayer on Thursday, he was shocked to see
a large unit of the Israeli forces raiding the surroundings of his house and
bulldozing it, in spite of the fact that he has papers documenting a ruling
from the Beit El Military Court against the demolition order, which he showed
the soldiers; however, they went ahead with the demolition of the 150-square-meter
house.  He added that the house is
located in area B, which falls under Palestinian jurisdiction under the Oslo
Accords, and he has a construction permit from the Ministry of Local Government
in Bethlehem.  The Israeli forces had previously
submitted Mr. Sbatin a demolition notice for his house on September 2012; thus,
he went to Beit El Military Court, north of Ramallah, to obtain a court order
to halt the demolition.

 

At
approximately 10:00 on Thursday, the Israeli forces launched a wide scale
bulldozing campaign in lands belonging to Palestinian civilians in Kufor Sour
and Kufor Jamal villages, located near “Salit” settlement, which is
established on Palestinian lands, west of Kufor Sour village, south of Tulkarm.  According to eyewitnesses’ testimonies to a
PCHR fieldworker, the Israeli forces started the bulldozing campaign for
expansion projects in “Salit” settlement.  It should be mentioned that the
aforementioned settlement was established in 1979 on an area of 1,475 dunums of
Palestinian lands. “Salit” means rock, which is taken from the
village’s Palestinian name, Kufor Sour, as Sour means rock in the Aramaic
language.

 

At
approximately 05:30 on Friday, 08 February 2012, Israeli forces, accompanied by
military vehicles and waste water bumping vehicle in al-Tabban area, east of
Yatta, south of Hebron, attacked a group of Palestinians and international
human rights activists after they built three tents on a confiscated land in
the area for the construction of Canaan village there.  The Israeli soldiers cordoned the area,
assaulted the participants, tried to arrest some of them and demolished and
confiscated the tents.  At approximately
07:30, dozens of Palestinian civilians, Israeli and international human rights
activists gathered in front of the Municipality of Yatta, organized a peaceful
demonstration and headed towards the confiscated lands in Howara area, east of
Yatta.  Upon their arrival at Howara
area, they reset up a number of tents on the confiscated lands in the
area.  Large units of the Israeli forces
and the Israeli police cordoned the scene and attacked the demonstrators,
punching and kicking them.  They also
fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and opened waste water at them.  As a result, a group of the demonstrators
sustained bruises and suffered from tear gas inhalation; of them the following
were identified: Khawla ‘Issa Abu Marir, 46; Suliman Abu ‘Aram, 70; Younis
‘Arar, 37; and Youssif Abu-Maria, 42.  The
Israeli forces detained a number of journalists; of them the following were
identified: Abdel-Hafiz al-Hashlamon, a cameraman for the European news agency;
Hussam Abu ‘Alan, a cameraman for Waffa news agency; and Abdel-Ghani al-Natsha,
a cameraman for Pal-media.  Three
Palestinians were arrested and transported to an unknown destination: Mohammed
Hijazi al-Zain, 28; Hadi Fayez Makhamra, 25; and Mujahad Hamad Ibrahim Makhamra,
28.  In her testimony to a PCHR
fieldworker, Khawla Abu-Marir said that the Israeli forces and the Israeli
police attacked the demonstrators brutally. 
They knocked her to the ground, started punching her and attempted to
arrest her.  She also fainted due to tear
gas inhalation and the smell of the waste water which was shot at her directly.

 

At
approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 10 February 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied
by a number of military vehicles and bulldozers, raided Abul-‘Assja village,
east of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  The
Israeli forces were deployed between the civilian houses and prohibited the
civilians from moving in the whereabouts of the area.  The bulldozers demolished an 85-square-meter,
under-construction house under pretext of not obtaining a construction
permit.  The house belongs to Bassam
Hamad Moussa al-Zeir (50).

 

At
approximately 09:30 on Monday, 11 February 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by
a number of military vehicles, a bulldozer and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil
Administration, raided Sho’ab al-Battam area, south of Ethna village, west of
Hebron.  The soldiers raided a caravan
belonging to Mohammed Badawi al-Tamizi, 50, and forced his family to evacuate,
while employees of the Civil Administration evacuated the contents of the
caravan and the bulldozer demolished it. 
It should be mentioned that the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had donated the caravan to the aforementioned
civilian after the Israeli forces had demolished his house in 2012.

 

At
approximately 10:00 on Monday, Israeli forces, accompanied by five military vehicles,
two armored troop carriers, a bulldozer, a digger and a vehicle of the Israeli
Civil Administration, raided al-Sa’ida area, southwest of ‘Awwa village, south
of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  The
Israeli soldiers were deployed in the area and imposed a curfew on the
Palestinian civilians while the Israeli bulldozers demolished a house of 70
square meters, a water well and a barracks of 220 square meters, belonging to
Rasem Mustafa al-Sowayty, under pretext of not obtaining a permit.  Following the bulldozing, the Israeli forces
attacked the civilians who were present at the scene; firing tear gas
canisters, sound bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets at these civilians.  As a result, ‘Amer Mohammed ‘Abdin, 32, a
journalist, was hit by a tear gas canister in the right foot and a number of
them fainted due to tear gas inhalation.

 

At
approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 12 February 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied
by a number of military vehicles, a bulldozer and a vehicle of the Israeli
Civil Administration, near ‘Arab al-Ramadeen village, south of Hebron.  They cordoned a grocery shop of 12 square
meters, belonging to Nawaf Hamed al-Daghadmeh, 56.  The soldiers detained al-Daghadmeh and a
number of the civilians present at the shop and demolished it later.  Before retreating, the Israeli forces
confiscated pieces of steel and some vegetables, a tractor and arrested al-Daghadmeh’s
son, Maher (20).

 

Restrictions on
the Palestinian Farmers’ Freedom of Movement

 

At
approximately 08:00 on Friday, 08 February 2013, Israeli forces, stationed in
the eastern part of Yatta, south of Hebron, denied the Palestinian farmers
access to their farmlands and declared it a closed military zone.  In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Rateb
al-Jabour, coordinator of the Popular Committee against Settlement Activity in
Yatta, said that the Israeli forces deliberately declare farmlands as closed
military zones, in order to push the farmers away while the settlers are
allowed in, in the context of a new policy for the confiscation of these lands.

 

At
approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 09 February 2013, Israeli forces banned Ali
‘Eid ‘Awad, 50, from working on his land in Khelat al-Kutla area, adjacent to
‘Kermi Tsour” settlement, established on the lands of Palestinian
civilians south of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, and forced him to leave
at gunpoint, after registering his name and the time he entered his land.  According to Mohamemd ‘Awad, coordinator of
the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Settlement Activity, the
lands near to “Kermi Tsour” settlement are subject to constant
assaults, such as spraying poisonous substances on the trees, uprooting and
burning them by the settlers and the Israeli forces, in an attempt to
confiscate the lands and add them to the aforementioned settlement.

 

Settlement
Projects

 

The Israeli
government decided to build 90 housing units in “Beit Eil”
settlement, northeast of Ramallah. 
According to Channel (10)’s website, on Monday, 11 February 2013, the
Israeli Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, signed permits for constructing 90 new
housing units in “Beit El” settlement, under the signed agreement
between the settlers and the government to evacuate “Albona”
settlement, which comes as part of the hundreds of settlement units that the
Israeli government committed to build for the settlers in order to evacuate the
aforementioned settlement.  According to
the website as well, the Israeli government had already promised to build 300
new settlement units in “Beit Eil” after the Supreme Court ruled that
settlement units which were built on privately owned Palestinian lands must be
evacuated; thus, “Albona” settlement would be evacuated in return
these units will be evacuated.  The
Israeli government’s decision comes as a beginning of the application of the
signed agreement, which will be enforced within the coming weeks.  For its part, Peace Now organization said
that since the construction plans had been published in an Israeli newspaper,
it means that the construction will begin within days.

 

In a related
context, the Israeli Ministry of Defense affirmed that the government had
requested designs for 346 new settlement units to be built in settlements in
the West Bank.  The ministry said in a
press release that it allowed the drafting of the designs for 200 settlement
units in “Tekoa” settlement and 146 in “Nacodam” settlement
in the south of the West Bank.  It should
be mentioned that the Israeli Ministry of Housing had offered tenders for the
construction of approximately 200 housing units in January 2013; 114 of them in
“Gosh Atzion” settlement, which is a large settlement complex in
Bethlehem that includes both “Tekoa” and “Nacodam”
settlements.

 

Settlers
Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property

 

At
approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 07 February 2013, a group of settlers,
protected by the Israeli forces and military vehicles, raided al-Hadffira area
near ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. 
The settlers preformed religious rituals near an archeological site and
stayed there for a while.  They retreated
later; no other incidents were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 08 February 2013, dozens of settlers from
“Kiryart Arba” settlement, established on Palestinian civilians’
lands, southeast of Hebron, raided the farmlands and water spring in Kannar
area, east of Doura southwest of Hebron. 
The settlers acted provocatively, photographed the area and retreated
later; no other incidents were reported.

 

At approximately
08:00 on Saturday, 09 February 2013, a group of settlers raided the eastern
parts of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. 
The settlers threw rocks at a number of houses belonging to the
following civilians: Mustafa Kharfan Rodwan; Adam Ahmed Badwan; Lou’ai
Abdel-Rahim ‘Ouda; Ghassan Abdel-Latif ‘Oudwan. 
The settlers withdrew later after the Israeli forces intervened.  At approximately 21:40, the settlers attacked
the aforementioned village again.  They
entered the village from the north in a number of busses.  Immediately afterwards, they attacked the
houses by the northern entrance of the village, screaming and throwing
rocks.  The Palestinian civilians tried
to stop them but the Israeli forces intervened, firing rubber-coated metal bullets,
tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the Palestinians.  As a result, dozens of them suffered from
tear gas inhalation and ‘Amro Mahmoud Abu Hanya, 23, was transported to ‘Azzoun
Specialist Hospital for a severe reaction to tear gas inhalation.  Moreover, three Palestinian civilians,
including a child, sustained bullet wounds, and they are:

 

1. Mo’ath
Belal Swidan, 20, sustained a bullet wound to the head.

2. Mohammed
‘Alaa Zammary, 17, sustained a bullet wound to the back.

3. Abdel-Karim
Faris Shbayta, 24, sustained a bullet wound to the left leg.

 

In his
testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Wafi ‘Othman Mustafa al-Shilo (36) said:

 

“At
approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 09 February 2013, a group of settlers attacked
Azzoun village from the eastern side; the civilians ran to help the victims of
the attack and resisted it, and the settlers retreated.  At approximately 21:30, I received a number
of phone calls telling me that the settlers were attacking my house as it is
the closest to the northern entrance of the village.  Immediately, I went to my house and found the
settlers there, throwing rocks and hitting the windows with sticks.  I managed to reach the house and I found that
the settlers broke all the windows and found rocks in the bedrooms and living
room.  Later, the Israeli forces and the
Palestinian civilians clashed.”

 

 

Recommendations to the International
Community

 

 

1. PCHR calls upon
the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their
legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure
Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence
practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it
is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human
rights and humanitarian law.

 

2. PCHR calls upon
the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a
conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention
in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

 

3. PCHR calls upon
the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with
their legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for
and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

 

4. PCHR calls for
the immediate implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the
International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the
Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

 

5. PCHR recommends
that international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of
exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and urge their
governments to bring the perpetrators to justice. 

 

6. PCHR calls upon
the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association
Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a
precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel.  PCHR further calls upon the EU states to
prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT. 

 

7. PCHR calls on
the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was
implemented in September 2005, for what it is – not an end to occupation but a
compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. 

 

8. In recognition
of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the
ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the
facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

 

9. PCHR appreciates
the efforts of international civil society, including human rights
organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue
their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human
rights in the OPT and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian
civilians.

 

 

10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to
lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its
occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.

 

11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on
international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful
and just solution of the Palestinian question. 
Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and
instability in the region.  Any peace
process or agreement must be based on respect for international law, including
international human rights and humanitarian law.

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

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 (0)8
282 4776 – 282 5893).