Israeli
forces use water hoses against a Palestinian woman during the weekly peaceful
protest against the annexation wall in Nabi Saleh village near Ramallah

 

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

      

 

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

4 Palestinian
civilians were wounded.

IOF
arrested two Palestinian civilians and 3 human rights defenders.  

 

IOF
launched a number of air strikes and opened fire at areas in the Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian child was wounded.

 

IOF
conducted 63 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a
limited one into the Gaza Strip.   

IOF
arrested 26 Palestinians, including 7 children.

IOF
arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child, who attempted to cross
the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to search for jobs inside Israel.

 

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 patient at Beit
Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

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

Israeli
settlers seized a 5-dunum[1]
area of agricultural land in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.

Israeli
settlers uprooted and destroyed 120 olive trees in Yatma village, south of
Nablus. 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (05 – 11 July 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

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, 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were
wounded and dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF also arrested two Palestinian civilians
and 3 international human rights defenders. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian
child was wounded by IOF in the northern Gaza Strip when he was together with
other workers collecting scraps of construction materials. 

 

During the reporting period, Israeli
warplanes launched 3 air strikes at a training site of the Palestinian
resistance, an open area and agricultural lands in the Gaza Strip. 

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 63 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 
During these incursions, IOF arrested 26 Palestinians, including 7 children.
 

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion into Palestinian areas to
the east of Khan Yunis, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian
land. 

 

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
05 July 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Taffouh” settlement, south of
Nablus, cut and destroyed at least 120 olive trees in Yatma village.   

 

On
the same day, Israeli settlers seized a 5-dunum area of Palestinian
agricultural land in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.  They also placed a mobile home on the
land. 

 

On 09
July 2012, Israeli settlers who gathered in Nabi Younis area at the northern
entrance of Halhoul town, north of Hebron, attacked Palestinian civilian
vehicles traveling in the area, and destroyed windows of some vehicles.

 

On
the same day, dozens of Israeli settlers stormed a Jewish synagogue, which is
located in an area under the control of the Palestinian Authority according to
the Oslo Accords, to conducts religious rituals.  Soon, IOF moved into the area in an attempt
to control and evacuate the settlers.     

 

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (05 – 11 July 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 05 July 2012

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into al-Dyouk village, northwest of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved
into Bourqin village, west of Jenin. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to Ra’ed Nasser ‘Obaidi, but
no arrests were reported.  They then
raided a house belonging to the family of Sultan Ahmed Khlouf, 28, and arrested
him.

 

Also at approximately 03:30, IOF
moved into Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30, 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.

 

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

 

At approximately 11:30, Israeli
soldiers positioned on observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip
and Israel to the north of Beit Hanoun town opened fire at a number of workers
who were collecting steel and plastics in the north of the town to sell them to
traders for recycling.  As a result, one
of the workers, Mohammed Rushdi Kharawat, 21, was wounded by a bullet to the
right thigh, when he was nearly 200 meters away from the border. 

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved
into Fassayel village, northwest of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, 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.

 

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved
into Dura al-Qare’ village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 21:30, IOF moved
into Bitillu village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, 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.

 

Friday,
06 July 2012

 

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

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved
into Burqa village, northeast of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 09:00, IOF
moved into al-‘Ouja 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 09:00, IOF
moved into ‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp, west 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 Deir Qiddis village, west of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved
into Beit ‘Aur village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 11:30, IOF
moved into Fassayel village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported. 

 

Saturday, 7 July 2012  

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF stormed
and searched the open area located between al-Ras and Jibara villages, south of
Tulkarm.  They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into Deir Nizam village, northwest of Ramallah. 
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 al-Ram town, north of occupied Jerusalem. 
They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Fayez
Ka’abna, 26.

 

At approximately 06:30, IOF moved
into al-Mazra’a al-Qibliya village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:00, IOF moved
into al-‘Ouja village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF
positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Khan
Yunis opened fire at Palestinian houses and agricultural areas in al-Fukhari
village, east of Khan Yunis.  No
casualties were reported.

 

Also at approximately 09:00, IOF
moved into Deir Ebzee’ village, northwest of Ramallah.  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 Thinnaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30, 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.

 

At approximately 17:30, 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.

 

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved
into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 08 July 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, 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 02:00, IOF moved
into Fassayel village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved
into ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, southeast of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 11:15, IOF moved
into Jainsafout village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 15:05, IOF moved
into Qalqilya.  They raided 3 shops and
delivered notices to 3 Palestinian civilians summoning them for questioning:
Fareed Sa’id Sa’ad, 22; Shareef Ussama Houtari, 30; and Mohammed ‘Adnan Selmi,
25.

 

At approximately 16:00, IOF
positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israeli arrested two
Palestinian civilians, including a child, who attempted to cross the border to
search for jobs inside Israeli:  Mohammed
Ayman al-‘Awawda, 17, from Juhor al-Dik village; and Ahmed Kamel al-‘Awawda,
23, from al-Boreij refugee camp. 

 

At approximately 19:20, IOF stormed
the area located between ‘Izbat al-Tabib and ‘Azzoun villages, east of
Qalqilya.  They arrested two Palestinian
civilians from the area:  ‘Emad Yasser
Hussein, 19; and Mohammed Sameer Abu Haniya, 20.  IOF claimed that the two Palestinians threw
stones at Israeli vehicles traveling on the main road located close to the
area.

 

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved
into Dura al-Qare’ village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:45, IOF moved
into ‘Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 22:00, IOF moved
into al-Teera neighborhood in the southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved
into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Monday, 09 July 2012

 

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

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved
into Kufor Malek village, northeast of Ramallah.  They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested two Palestinian children:

 

1. Ahmed Hassan Bu’airat, 17; and

2. Mohammed ‘Aadel Jama’at, 17.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into Janata village, southeast of Bethlehem. 
They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Mousa
al-Zeer, 24.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Bourqin village, southwest of Jenin. 
They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian
civilians:

 

1. Rami Mohammed Ghanem, 22;

2. Sami Mohammed Ghanem, 20; and

3. Waleed ‘Ali Murtada, 22.

 

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

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved
into al-Mazra’a al-Qibliya village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 16:00, IOF moved
into Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved
into Ematin village, northeast of Qalqilya. 
They razed an area of agricultural land belonging to the heirs of Jamal
‘Abdul Rahman Sawan at the entrance of the village.

 

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, 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 01:15, IOF moved into Kufor Laqef village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:40, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a
training site of al-Ansar Brigades (the armed wing of the Liberal Movement) in
the west of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis.  No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 01:45, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at an
open area in the northwest of the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.  No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

 

1. Ibrahim Yousef Sabarna, 19;

2. Muhab Ibrahim Bahar, 18; and

3. ‘Alaa’ Jihad Sabarna, 15.

 

At approximately 02:45, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli helicopter gunships opened fire at
agricultural areas in al-Qarara and ‘Abassan villages to the east of the
southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. 
No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 06:30, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 06:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghossoun
village, north of Tulkarm.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 08:00, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into al-Qarara
and ‘Abassan villages, east of Khan Yunis. 
They leveled areas of Palestinian land amidst indiscriminate
shooting. 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta village,
west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Kufor ‘Ain village,
northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Kharabtha Bani Hareth
village, west of Ramallah.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 21:30, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village,
southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in
the streets and provoked Palestinian civilians. 
A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli
military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli
soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs
at the boys, but no casualties were reported.

 

Wednesday, 11 July 2012

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into several areas in
Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Saif al-Islam Wa’el Taha, 20;

2. Farah al-Jamal, 50; and

3. Rashad Jaber, 50.

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They raided and searched
dozens of houses and arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children:

 

1. Sinan Ahmed Radwan, 16;

2. Muntasser Mujahed Radwan, 40;

3. Qussai Saleh Mash’al, 16;

4. Fadi Zahran Saleem, 28;

5. Hani ‘Abdul Karim Hamdallah, 17;

6. Hamdallah ‘Abdul Karim Abu Haniya, 26;

7. Lu’ai Sayel Hawari, 28; and

8. ‘Alaa’ Ghaleb Radwan, 16.

 

IOF also arrested ‘Adnan Khairi Shbaita, 40, but released him later
after confiscating his weapon. 

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested Jalal Qassem al-Ra’ei, 42.  Al-Ra’ei is a worker who sustained a fracture
to the right foot two weeks ago.  IOF
also fired a sound bomb at a nearby house belonging to Nemer ‘Olayan
Ekhlil.  As a result fire broke out in
trees and ols belongings near the house.

 

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, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded and dozens of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.  Additionally, IOF arrested two Palestinian
civilians and 3 international human rights defenders.    

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 06 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 raised the Palestinian flag and called
for ending political division. They then moved towards areas of 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
Palestinian civilian was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right foot.  Additionally, a number of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 06 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 06 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, some demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF also arrested 4 demonstrators, including
3 international human rights defenders. 
Two of the detainees were identified as: ‘Atallah Tamim Tamimi, 63, who
was released two hours later; and Rana Nazzal, 19, a Canadian Palestinian
citizen. 

 

At approximately 13:15 also on Friday, 06 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, 3 demonstrators, including a child, were hit by tear gas canisters.  Some demonstrators also suffered from tear
gas inhalation.  Additionally, fire broke
out in some agricultural area due to the use of tear gas canisters and sound
bombs by IOF, burning at least 20 olive trees belonging to Mahmoud ‘Eissa
‘Obaid.  IOF also arrested Majed ‘Abdul
Mo’men Jom’a, 40.    

 

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 60 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

04 –
10 July 2012

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem
(Kerem Shalom) Crossing

04 –
10 July 2012

Imports:

 

 

Notes:

 

On Wednesday, 04 July2012, IOF allowed the entry of 352 tons of
cement, 4,130 tons of construction aggregates and 42 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA; and 560 tons of construction aggregates from the French Cultural
Center.  They also allowed the entry of 507
tons of fodders and 312 tons of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 05 July 2012, IOF allowed the entry 577 tons of cement
and 2,310 tons of construction aggregates for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 663 tons of
fodders and 273 tons of wheat. 

 

On Sunday, 06 July 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 80
tons of cement, 2,800 tons of construction aggregates and 59 tons of
construction steel for UNRWA; 120 tons of cement for UNDP; and 1,890 tons of
construction aggregates for the French Cultural Center.  They also allowed the entry of 546 tons of
fodders and 195 tons of wheat.

 

On Monday, 07 July 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 240 tons of
cement, 2,660 tons of construction aggregates and 80 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA; and 420 tons of construction aggregates for UNDP.  They also allowed the entry of 300 tons of
fodders and 195 tons of wheat.

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

04 –
10 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:

 

Jerusalem: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to
the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the
city.  Restrictions of the movement of
Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays, preventing young Muslim
Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.

 

Ramallah:  IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 07:30 on Thursday, 05 July 2012,
IOF established a checkpoint under ‘Ein Yabroud Bridge, northeast of
Ramallah.  At approximately 08:30, IOF
established a checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, southwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 11:30, IOF
re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At approximately 13:30, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Siera village, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 06 July
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately
11:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Taybeh village,
northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately
17:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa,
southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately
08:00 on Saturday, 07 July 2012, IOF established at the entrance of Deir Qiddis
village, west of Ramallah.  At
approximately 10:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aur
al-Fouqa village, southwest of Ramallah. 
At approximately 18:00, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At
approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 08 July 2012, IOF re-established their presence
at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. 
At approximately 17:30, IOF established a checkpoint under ‘Ein Yabroud
Bridge, northeast of Ramallah.  At
approximately 08:40 on Monday, 09 July 2012, IOF established a checkpoint under
Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 19:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa village, southwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 20:30, IOF
established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of al-Taybeh village,
northeast of Ramallah.       

 

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 05 July 2012, IOF established 5
checkpoints around Qalqilya.  At
approximately 16:40 on Friday, 06 July 2012, IOF established a checkpoint on
Qalqilya-Nablus road near Nabi Elias village. 
On Saturday, 07 July 2012, IOF established 6 checkpoints around
Qalqilya.  On Monday, 09 July 2012, IOF
established 4 checkpoints around Qalqilya. 
             

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 08:30 on Thursday, 05 July 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin.  At approximately 15:15, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.  At approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 07 July 2012,
IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Yamoun village, northwest of
Jenin.  At approximately 17:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Rummana village, northwest of
Jenin. 

 

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 01:30 on Saturday, 07 July 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of al-Jaroushiya village, north of Tulkarm.  At approximately 12:30 on Monday, 09 July
2012, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 06:45 on Tuesday, 10 July
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Attil village, north of
Tulkarm.    

 

Jericho: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.  At approximately 10:00 on
Thursday, 05 July 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance
of Jericho.  At approximately 15:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Ouja village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 19:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 06:30 on Friday, 06 July
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zbaidat village, north
of Jericho.  At approximately 19:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.  At approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 07 July
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein al-Dyouk village,
north of Jericho.  At approximately
11:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.  At approximately 20:30, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Fassayel village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 19:00 on Sunday, 08 July
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at al-Nua’iema village, north of
Jericho.  At approximately 20:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.  At approximately 06:30 on Tuesday, 10 July
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Fassayel village, north
of Jericho.  At approximately 08:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.        

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints:

 

At approximately 23:00 on Sunday, 08 July 2012, the family of Wa’el
Kamel al-Tawil, 40, from al-Jalaa’ Street in Gaza City, was informed that he
had been arrested by IOF at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza
Strip.  According to investigations
conducted by PCHR, al-Tawil who suffers from herniated disk intended to travel
to al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem to undergo a surgery on 19 July 2012.  He was summoned by the Israeli security
services for an interview on Thursday, 05 July 2012.  He went to the crossing on that date at
approximately 08:00, and he was detained until 20:00.  He was released and ordered to refer to the
crossing again on Sunday, 08 July 2012, and he went at 08:00.  IOF arrested him and transferred him to
Ashkelon Prison inside Israel.     

 

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.

 

On
Thursday morning, 05 July 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Taffouh”
settlement, south of Nablus, cut and destroyed at least 120 olive trees
belonging to Badee’ Nassar in Yatma village. 
  

 

Also
on Thursday morning, Israeli settlers seized a 5-dunum area of Palestinian
agricultural land belonging to ‘Ali Khader ‘Eissa, 67, in ‘Ein Qissis area in
al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. 
They also placed a mobile home on the land. 

 

On
Monday evening, 09 July 2012, Israeli settlers who gathered in Nabi Younis area
at the northern entrance of Halhoul town, north of Hebron, attacked Palestinian
civilian vehicles traveling in the area, and destroyed windows of some
vehicles.

 

At
approximately 20:00 also on Monday, dozens of Israeli settlers stormed a Jewish
synagogue, which is located in an area under the control of the Palestinian Authority
according to the Oslo Accords, to conducts religious rituals.  Soon, IOF moved into the area in an attempt
to control and evacuate the settlers.      

 

…………………………………………………

 

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).