IOF
destroy a Palestinian house in Nablus

 

Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
(OPT)

      

 

IOF
killed a Palestinian worker and wounded 3 others at a checkpoint near Jerusalem.

 

IOF use
force to disperse peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in the
West Bank.

3
Palestinian civilians, including a child, and a Swedish human rights defender
were wounded.

 

IOF
conducted 33 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited
one into the Gaza Strip.   

IOF
arrested 10 Palestinians, including a child, in the West Bank. 

IOF blew
up a part of a house in Nablus.  

 

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

IOF
arrested a Palestinian woman in the old town of Hebron. 

 

Israeli
gunboats fired at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.

 

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

Israeli
settlers uprooted or burnt 30 olive trees in Nabi Saleh village near Ramallah.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (26 July – 01 August 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

On 30 July 2012, IOF killed a
Palestinian worker and wounded 3 others at al-Zaeem checkpoint, east of
occupied Jerusalem. 

 

During the reporting period, IOF
used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction
of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  As a
result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, and a Swedish human rights
defender, were wounded.  Dozens of
demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF continued to
fire at Palestinian fishing boats. 
During the reporting period, PCHR documented two attacks in this regard,
which did not cause casualties. 

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 33 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 
During these incursions, IOF arrested 10 Palestinians, including a child.
 

 

The
most violent house raid took place in Nablus, when IOF raided and searched a
house 4 times in order to arrest a Palestinian. 
When they finally found it, they blew up the part of the house where he
was hiding, apparently as a retaliatory act against the family for not telling
about the place where he was hiding.   

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted a limited incursion into al-Maghazi refugee camp,
during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land which they had already
razed.    

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

Israel had continued to impose a tightened
siege on the OPT and imposed 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.  Measures
declared recently to ease the blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to
deal with the root causes of the crisis, which 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 they will remain economically dependent
and unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically
isolated from the rest of the world.

 

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
29 July 2012, a number of Israeli settlers stormed the lands of Seilat al-Zaher
village, where the evacuated Israeli settlement of “Homesh” used to stand,
south of Jenin.  They gathered near
Jenin-Tulkarm road and threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles.  No injuries were reported.

 

On
31 July 2012, at least 10 Israeli settlers from “Halmish” settlement, northwest
of Ramallah, uprooted and set fire to dozens of olive trees in Wad Raya area in
the southeast of Nabi Saleh village. 
According to information available to PCHR, the settlers cut 25 olive
trees and burnt another 5 ones.   

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (26 July – 01 August 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 26 July 2012

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into Jericho.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into Marj Na’ja village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into Kharabtha al-Misbah village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved
into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 15:00, IOF
moved into Maithaloun village, southeast of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 15:00, IOF
moved into Sirris village, southeast of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 15:00, IOF
moved into Sanour village, southeast of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 18:30, IOF moved
into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets provocatively.  A number of Palestinian children gathered and
threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. 
Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear
gas canisters and sound bombs at the children. 
A number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF withdrew from the village later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:00, IOF moved
into al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 20:00, IOF
moved into al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.  

 

Friday,
27 July 2012

 

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved
into Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved
into Budros village, west of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 22:50, IOF moved
into Deir Dibwan village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 28 July 2012  

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into al-‘Araqa village, west of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Khillat al-‘Aamoud and Ras al-‘Ain neighborhoods in the southeast of
Nablus.  They raided houses to arrest 4
Palestinians.  According to eyewitnesses,
the most violent raid was against a house belonging to the al-Kharouf family,
as IOF searched the house 4 times and violently beat the family.  On the fourth search, IOF arrested ‘Abdullah
Helmi al-Kharouf, 24.  As a punishment
for the family for not informing about the place in the house where al-Kharouf
was hiding, IOF blew up a part of the kitchen where he hid.  While IOF were in the vicinity of the
al-Kharouf’s house, a number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at
them.  Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at the boys.  
During this military operation in Nablus, IOF arrested another 3
Palestinians:

 

1. Tha’er
Jamal Subeh, 23;

2.Hani
Jamal Subeh, 22;  and

3. Mohammed
Shadi Hannoun, 25.

 

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF
moved into al-Nuai’ema village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved
into Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood in the center for Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Ibrahim Rajab E’baidu, 18, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 06:30, IOF moved
into Jericho and the nearby ‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:00, Israeli
gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia seashore in the northern Gaza Strip
opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing in the sea.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail
back to the beach and no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into Qibya village, west of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:30, IOF moved
into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, and patrolled in its
streets.  A number of Palestinian
children gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
children.  A number of Palestinian
civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.  
IOF then raided a number of houses and arrested Majd Taha Tamimi, 17.

 

At approximately 20:00, IOF moved
into al-‘Ouja village, northeast of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Sunday, 29 July 2012

 

At approximately 05:30, IOF moved
into Koubar village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 07:00, Israeli
gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia seashore in the northern Gaza Strip
opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing in the sea.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail
back to the beach and no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved
into Kufor ‘Ein village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 13:45, IOF moved
into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved
into al-Janya village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 23:30, IOF moved
into ‘Aanin village, northwest of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 30 July 2012

 

In the early morning, IOF killed a Palestinian worker and wounded 3
others at al-Zaeem checkpoint in the east of occupied Jerusalem

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and the testimony of
eyewitnesses, at approximately 00:30 on Monday, 30 July 2012, a group of 14
Palestinian workers from villages belonging to Ramallah and al-Bireh arrived at
al-Zaeem checkpoint in the east of occupied Jerusalem while on their way to
Jerusalem to look for jobs.  It seems that these workers did not have work
permits.  The workers, who are all civilians, traveled in a civilian Ford
vehicle with an Israeli plate.  When the vehicle was approximately 15
meters from the checkpoint, the driver got a phone call.  The caller told
the driver that there was an IOF force at the checkpoint.  The driver
tried to turn back, but the engine suddenly broke.  In the meantime, the
Israeli Border Guards arrived and surrounded the vehicle.  When a member
of the Israeli Border Guards tried to open the door, the driver switched the
car on and drove it in an attempt to escape; members of the Israeli Border
Guards, as well as soldiers who were positioned at the checkpoint, opened fire
at the vehicle.  As a result, Hassan Badi’ Bader (45), from the Bitello
village northwest of Ramallah, sustained a head wound from a bullet.
 Bader later died as he while being transferred by an Israeli ambulance to
an Israeli hospital.  In the same incident, another 3 Palestinian workers
were wounded and transported by Palestinian ambulances to the Palestine Medical
Compound in Ramallah.  According to eyewitnesses, the IOF could have used
less lethal force against the workers, especially as the vehicle that they were
using entered Jerusalem, it was easy to surround the vehicle, and it was easy to
arrest and questioned the passengers.  

 

The wounded are:

 

1. Khaled Imad Abdullah Dar Ziadah
(23), from the Bitello village, who was wounded by a bullet in his right leg;

2. Ashraf Abdullah Sabti (27), from
Deir Ammar, who was wounded by 2 bullets to his left leg and right shoulder;
and

3. Fathi Mohammed Ghithan (20), from
the Qebya village, who was wounded by shrapnel from a bullet to his right ear.

 

Israeli police spokeswoman, Luba Samri, claimed that “members of
the border guards opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle that refused to stop at
al-Zaeem checkpoint in the east of Jerusalem.”  The spokeswoman further
stated that the soldiers at the checkpoint ordered the vehicle to stop more
than once, but the vehicle continued to drive hastily and was a threat to the
soldiers’ lives, so the soldiers opened fire at it.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-Zababda village,
southeast of Jenin.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 31 July 2012

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF positioned at the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at agricultural and residential areas in
Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis.  The
Israeli gunfire continued sporadically for several hours, but no casualties
were reported.

 

At approximately 02:45, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Saqer Khalil al-Durra, 19, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, northwest
of Jenin.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Mohammed
Mahmoud ‘Amarna, 20;

2. Ahmed Fat’hi
‘Amarna, 19; and

3. Mohammed
Ibrahim Jaradat, 19.

 

Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village,
northwest of Jenin.  They raided a house
belonging to ‘Adnan Ahmed ‘Aabed, 44, and summoned him for interrogation on
Wednesday morning, 01 August 2012.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, northwest
of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 01 August 2012

 

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, south of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 04:00, IOF positioned at the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at agricultural and residential areas in
al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. 
The Israeli gunfire continued sporadically for a few hours, but no
casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 05:30, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into al-Serhi
area in the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.  They leveled areas of Palestinian land, and
an armed clash erupted between them and members of the Palestinian
resistance.  At approximately 12:00, IOF
moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel and no casualties
were reported.

 

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

 

During
the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  As a
result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, and an international human
rights defender were wounded, and dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear
gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. 
     

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 27 July 2012, 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 and settlement activities.  They moved towards areas of the annexation
wall.  They called through megaphones on
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, a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 27 July 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest to 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, some demonstrators suffered from
tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 27 July 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders
gathered in the center of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start
the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activities.  The protesters walked towards the gate erected by
IOF near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that
Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halmish” settlement are trying to
seize.  Israeli soldiers who had been extensively deployed in the area and
near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the
protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands.  Israeli
soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at the protesters.  As a
result, Mohammed Bassem al-Tamimi, 9, was hit by a tear gas canister to the
left hand, and some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

At approximately 13:15 also on Friday, 27 July 2012, Palestinian
civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to
the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village by IOF.  They moved towards the entrance.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them.  As a
result, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to
the right leg, another one was hit by a tear gas canister to the right leg and
a Swedish human rights defender was hit by a tear gas canister to the right
leg.   

 

3. Continued
Closure of the OPT

 

Israel has
continued to impose a tightened closure of the OPT and imposed 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.  

 

IOF
have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip and practically made Karm Abu
Salem crossing as the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip although it is
not proper for commercial purposes in terms of its distance and operational
capacity.

 

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 bitter situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip.  Following this closure, all the 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 of al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of
decisions to totally close Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip, in the
beginning of 2009, and 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.

 

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

 

Approximately
80% of Gaza civilians have continued to depend on alimentary aid provided by
UNRWA and other relief agencies, rates of families who are living below poverty
line have continued to be on the rise and approximately 40% of Gaza’s manpower
has continued to suffer from permanent unemployment as a result of shutting
down the majority of Gaza’s economic establishments.

 

IOF
have continued to impose a total ban on the exportation of Gaza’s products, especially industrial
products, leading to undermining any real chances to rerun economic
establishments.  The situation has been
aggravated especially after making Karm Abu Salem crossing as Gaza sole
commercial crossing and the repeated closure of this crossing which negatively
affected the quantity of Gazan products which were allowed to be exported
during last April.

 

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

 

Israel has
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian civilians from
the Gaza Strip.  IOF only allow the
movement of limited groups amidst severe restrictions, including long hours of
waiting in the majority of cases.  IOF
have also continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of
Palestinian patients allowed to move via Beit Hanoun crossing to receive
medical treatment in hospitals in Israel
or in the West Bank and Jerusalem.  IOF denied new categories of Gazan patient
permission to have access to hospitals via the crossing.

 

Israel has
imposed additional access restrictions on traders, international diplomats,
journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip.  On Wednesday evening, 14 March 2012, IOF
arrested Ahmed Subhi al-Kahlout, 40,
a trader from Gaza
City, when he was
traveling via Beit Hanoun crossing.

 

For approximately 61 months, IOF have continued to deny Palestinian
prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails their visitation rights without
providing any justification to this measure, which violates the rules of the
international humanitarian law.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

25 –
31 July 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem
(Kerem Shalom) Crossing

24 –
31 July 2012

 

Imports:

 

 

 

Notes:

 

On Tuesday, 24 July 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 64 tons of
cement and 2,030 tons of construction aggregates for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 1,170 tons of
fodders.

 

On Wednesday, 25 July2012, IOF allowed the entry of 200 tons of
cement and 1,820 tons of construction aggregates for UNRWA; and 40 tons of
cement for the French Cultural Center. 
They also allowed the entry of 780 tons of fodders.

 

On Monday, 30 July 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 240 tons of
cement, 38 tons of construction steel and 2,100 tons of construction aggregates
for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry
of 1,014 tons of fodders.

 

On Tuesday, 31 July 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 160 tons of
cement and 1,820 tons of construction aggregates for UNRWA, and 48 tons of
construction steel for the Palestinian Water Authority.  They also allowed the entry of 1,287 tons of
fodders and 156 tons of wheat.   

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

25 –
31 July 2012

 

 

The West Bank

 

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

 

There are approximately hundreds of permanent roadblocks, and
manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.

 

When complete, the illegal annexation wall will stretch for 724 kilometers
around the West Bank, further isolating the
entire population. 350
kilometers of the wall have already been constructed.
Approximately 99% of the wall has been constructed inside the West
Bank itself, confiscating more Palestinian land.

 

Many of the main roads that lead to Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF.

 

IOF have continued to restrict access of Palestinian civilians from
the West Bank to East Jerusalem, through a
strict system of permits and a network of checkpoints.

 

IOF have completed controlled access to the Jordan Valley
through 4 permanent checkpoints established at its entrances.  Palestinians living outside the area are not
allowed to enter it without permits.

 

Settlement activities and expansion of settlements impose
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

 

IOF have continued to restrict access to gunfire areas and natural
reserves, which constitute about 26% of the total area of the West
Bank.

 

Israeli military checkpoints restrict the movement of goods
throughout the West Bank.

 

Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank,
including being regularly stopped, searched and even arrested in the streets by
IOF.

 

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 and al-Bireh: 
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
08:40 on Thursday, 26 July 2012, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At
approximately 09:30 on Friday, 27 July 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 19:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa intersection, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 20:30, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa village, southwest of
Ramallah.      

  

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 26 July
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kufor Laqif village and
another one at the entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  On Friday, 27 July 2012, IOF established 4
checkpoints around Qalqilya.  On Sunday,
29 July 2012, IOF established 4 checkpoints around Qalqilya.    

 

Jenin:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 15:15 on Friday, 27 July
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village,
northwest of Jenin.  IOF established a
checkpoint in the same are at approximately 15:30 on the following day.    

 

Tulkarm:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 12:30 on Friday, 27 July
2012, Israeli soldiers positioned t Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 10:45, on Saturday, 28 July
2012, Israeli soldiers positioned t Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 30 July
2012, Israeli soldiers positioned t Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 31 July
2012, IOF established a checkpoint near Jibara Gate, south of Tulkarm.

 

Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 05:00 on Thursday, 26 July 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the southern entrance of Jericho.  At
approximately 20:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nuai’ema
village, north of Jericho.  At
approximately 06:30 on Friday, 27 July 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of al-Zbaidat village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 17:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Ouja village, north of Jericho.   At
approximately 20:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of
Jericho.  At approximately 10:30 on
Saturday, 28 July 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein
al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho.  At
approximately 17:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of
Jericho. 

 

Salfit:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Monday, 30 July 2012, IOF closed two
agricultural roads in Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit, with sand
barriers.  At approximately 10:00 on
Tuesday, 31 July 2012, IOF closed a third agricultural road in the west of Deir
Estia village, northwest of Salfit.     

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 17:00 on Thursday, 26 July
2012, IOF positioned in the vicinity of al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the old town of
Hebron arrested Hadeel Talal Abu Turki, 24, claiming that she sprayed tear gas
onto the face of a female Israeli soldier. 

 

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

 

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.

 

At
approximately 11:30 on Sunday, 29 July 2012, a number of Israeli settlers
stormed the lands of Seilat al-Zaher village, where the evacuated Israeli
settlement of “Homesh” used to stand, south of Jenin.  They gathered near Jenin-Tulkarm road and
threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles. 
No injuries were reported.

 

At
approximately 20:00 on Tuesday evening, 31 July 2012, at least 10 Israeli
settlers from “Halmish” settlement, northwest of Ramallah, uprooted and set
fire to dozens of olive trees in Wad Raya area in the southeast of Nabi Saleh
village.  According to information
available to PCHR, the settlers cut 25 olive trees and burnt another 5 ones
belonging to Sheikh Ayoub Saleh Tamimi.   

 

…………………………………………………

 

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).