Israeli settlers
set fire to Palestinian land in Madama village, southeast of Nablus

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.

8
demonstrators, including two children, were wounded.

 

A
Palestinian civilian was wounded by IOF in the central Gaza Strip.

 

IOF
conducted 50 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two
limited ones into the Gaza Strip.   

IOF
arrested 13 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children in the West Bank.

IOF
summoned 12 Palestinian civilians for interrogation.

Two
dunums[1]
of agricultural land in the central Gaza Strip were burnt by Israeli gunfire.

 

IOF
continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

IOF
arrested 5 Palestinian fishermen and confiscated two fishing boats.

 

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 civilians at a checkpoint in the West Bank.

 

IOF
have continued efforts to create a Jewish demographic majority in East
Jerusalem.

Funds
were allocated for a new Israeli tourist settlement project in Silwan village
in Jerusalem.

IOF
destroyed some civilian facilities in Hazma village, northeast of
Jerusalem. 

 

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

IOF
razed 30 dunums of agricultural land in al-Baq’a area, east of Hebron.

A Palestinian
civilian was seriously wounded by Israeli settlers.

Israeli
settlers set fire to cultivated areas in the south of Nablus.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (24 – 30 May 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, 8
Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded by IOF and a 9^th
one was wounded by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.  A 10^th civilian was also wounded
by IOF in the Gaza Strip.  Additionally,
a Palestinian civilian was stabbed by Israeli soldiers at Kfar Etzion
checkpoint near Bethlehem. 

 

During the reporting period, IOF wounded
8 demonstrators, including two children, during the dispersion of peaceful
demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the annexation wall
and settlement activities in the West Bank. 
Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

On 26 May 2012, Israeli settlers set
fire to Palestinian agricultural lands in al-Qisma and al-Marah areas in the
north of ‘Ourif village, south of Nablus. 
A number of Palestinian civilians rushed to the affected areas, where
they found Israeli settlers and IOF stationed there.  Clashes erupted between the two sides, during
which Israeli soldiers intensively fired tear gas canisters.  As a result, a number of civilians suffered
from tear gas inhalation and we forced to move back to the village.  Soon, they heard the sounds of shooting
coming from the mountain located between the village and “Yits’har”
settlement.  They went to the area to
check what happened.  When they arrived
at the area, they found Najeh As’ad al-Safadi, 21, handcuffed and bleeding.  They evacuated him to a hospital in
Nablus.  According to medical sources, he
was seriously wounded by a bullet to the abdomen.  This attack was the second of its kind in
less than one week.  On 19 May 2012,
Nember ‘Assaira, 24, from Southern ‘Assira village south of Nablus, was wounded
by a bullet to the right eye.  An Israeli
settler fired at ‘Assaira, while IOF were present in the area.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 29 May 2012, a
Palestinian civilian was wounded by the Israeli gunfire in the central Gaza
Strip. 

 

During the reporting period, Israeli
gunboats attacked opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern and
central Gaza Strip.  Israeli naval troop
arrested 5 Palestinian fishermen and confiscated two fishing boats. 

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 50 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 
During these incursions, IOF arrested 13 Palestinian civilians,
including 5 children.  They also summoned
12 civilians, including 5 brothers. 

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted two limited incursions into Palestinian areas,
during which they leveled areas of land which they had already razed.  During these incursion, IOF opened fire at
cultivated land and burned some areas.

 

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.

 

Efforts to
Create a Jewish Demographic Majority in East Jerusalem:

 

On
28 May 2012, IOF, accompanied by bulldozers, moved into Hazma village,
northeast of Jerusalem.  They demolished
some civilian facilities as follows. 

 

On
29 May 2012, the Israeli Haaretz daily reported on its website that the Israeli
Municipality of Jerusalem, in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Tourism,
would allocate 4 million ILS for a new settlement project in Silwan village to
the south of the old town of Jerusalem, allegedly to encourage tourism in
“David Town” settlement outpost in the context of the so-called “National Park
Project.” 

 

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
24 May 2012, IOF delivered a military order to the Palestinian liaison
according to which they would seize 29 dunums of Palestinian land in Deir Estia
village, northwest of Salfit, for security and military purposes and to combat
“terrorist attacks.”  According to the
order, the land would be seized until 31 December 2014.

 

On
24 May 2012, IOF moved into Hijja village, east of Qalqilya.  They handed a notice to Halim Na’im Da’as
ordering the demolition of his two-storey, under-construction house.  They also ordered Maher ‘Abdul Rahim Khalifa
to stop the construction of his house. 
They claimed that the two civilians did not obtain licenses for
buildings.

 

On
the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, which
stands on the lands of Madama village, south of Nablus, set fire to some area
of land in the south of the village.  A
number of Palestinian civilians gathered and attempted to extinguish fire.  They and fire fighters were able to
extinguish fire.  In the meantime,
Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, attacked Palestinian civilians.  Israeli soldiers also arrested two
Palestinian civilians.

 

On
25 May 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Yits’har” settlement set fire
to wooden areas in the southeast of ‘Ourif village, south of Nablus.  Large wooden areas were burnt and fire
extended to cultivated lands.  Dozens of
Palestinian civilians arrived at the area and were able to extinguish fire.

 

On
29 May 2012, IOF moved into al-Baq’a area in the east of Hebron.  They razed at least 30 dunums of cultivated
land and destroyed their irrigation infrastructure, which belong to the
al-Rajabi and Jaber families.  It is
worth noting that there is a plan to expand the nearby “Kharsina” settlement as
500 new housing units will be built in the settlement.

 

On
the same day, an Israeli settler from “Kidoumim” settlement, northeast of
Qalqilya, violently beat Nihad Mofeed Yamin, 19, from Jeet village northeast of
the town.  As a result, Yamin was injured
in the right eye.

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (24 – 30 May 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 24 May 2012

 

At approximately 09:30, 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.

 

At approximately 09:45, 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 13:10, IOF moved
into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 16:45, IOF moved
into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately16:50, IOF moved
into ‘Assala village, south of Qalqilya. 
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 ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. 
They raided a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Haitham ‘Edwan, 17,
and arrested him.

 

At approximately 17:15, IOF moved
into Bidya village, northwest of Salfit. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 23:45, 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.

 

Friday,
25 May 2012

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved
into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:00, 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.

 

At approximately 23:45, IOF moved
into Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Saturday, 26 May 2012  

 

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp,
south of Bethlehem.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Sa’id Eyad ‘Olayan, 16, and
arrested him.

 

At approximately 22:55, IOF moved
into ‘Izbat Suleiman village, south of Qalqilya.  They raided a house belonging to the family
of Malek Nizar Quzmar, 18, and summoned him for interrogation. 

 

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

 

At approximately 23:10, IOF moved
into Jyous village, northeast of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 27 May 2012

At approximately 00:15, 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 01:30, IOF moved
into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm.  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 Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They stormed the secondary school in the
village and searched the classrooms. 
They fired tear gas canisters at the students to prevent them from
entering their classrooms.  Half an hour
later, a number of Israeli settlers attempted to enter the school, but the students
and villagers threw stones at them. 
Following these incidents, IOF and the settlers withdrew from the
village and no casualties were reported.

 

Also at approximately 07:00, IOF
moved into ‘Ein 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 08:30, IOF moved
into al-Lubban al-Gharbi village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 11:40, IOF moved
into al-Zbaidat village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 20:00, 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.

 

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

 

At approximately 23:30, an Israeli
gunboat got close to a fishing boat belonging to Mohammed Ahmed al-‘Aamoudi,
59, and Na’im Mahmoud Abu Hannoun, 65, both from Khan Yunis.  The two fishermen were on boar of the boat
which was sailing nearly two nautical miles off Rafah seashore in the southern
Gaza Strip.   Israeli troops forced
al-‘Aamoudi to swim towards the gunboat and arrested him.  They forced the other fisherman to sail back
to the beach.  Al-‘Aamoudi was released
on the following day at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

Monday, 28 May 2012

 

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

 

At approximately 00:15, 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 01:00, IOF moved into
al-Doha village, west of Bethlehem.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. 
They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned 3 Palestinian
civilians for interrogation:  ‘Abdul
Rahman Nizam Hamed, 30; Majd Khalaf ‘Ayad, 22; and Mohammed ‘Adnan Hamed, 20.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved
into ‘Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho.  They raided and searched a number of houses
and summoned 5 Palestinian brothers from the Ibrahim family for interrogation:
Sami, 36; Hussam, 23; Yasser, 24; Mahdi, 28; and ‘Arafat, 25.  Ibrahim.

 

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved
into Jalboun village, east of Jenin. 
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 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.

 

Also at approximately 10:00, IOF
moved into Shaqba 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, IOF
stationed at the annexation wall near ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, southeast of
Qalqilya, fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at a number of Palestinian
workers who attempted to enter Israel without permits to search for jobs.  As a result, fire broke out onto Palestinian
agricultural areas and at least 20 olive trees belonging to the heirs of ‘Abdul
Karim ‘Ali Abu Hajla were destroyed. 

 

At approximately 16:00, 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 20:30, 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 21:30, 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 21:45, IOF moved
into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They raided and a cyber café and arrested
Mohye Mohammed Eshtaiwi, 33, but released him at approximately 04:00 on the
following day. 

 

At approximately 23:20, IOF moved into
al-Zawia village, west of Salfit.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 23:20, IOF
moved into Rafat village, west of Salfit. 
 They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village,
west of Salfit.  They raided and searched
houses belonging to ‘Omran and ‘Ekrima ‘Aziz Mar’ei, 28 and 31 respectively,
and arrested the two brothers.  They also
confiscated two computers, 5 mobile phones and some documents. 

 

Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Kufor Ra’ei village,
southwest of Jenin.  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 Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including two children:

 

1. ‘Eissa Khaled ‘Awadh, 14;

2. Rabei’ Jawad ‘Awadh, 16;

3. Yousef ‘Aamer Abu Jouda, 18;

4. Muntasser Wajeeh Abu ‘Ayash, 20; and

5. ‘Ali Ibrahim ‘Aadi, 20.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Sirris village, south
of Jenin.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Ra’ed Sa’ad Taher, 36, and arrested him. 

 

At approximately 01:10, IOF moved into Jainsafout village, east of
Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and summoned two Palestinian civilians for interrogation:
‘Omran Khader Abu ‘Eid, 19; and ‘Abdul Hadi Nassar ‘Abdul Hadi, 25.

 

At approximately 02:40, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child:

 

1. Mahmoud Yousef Sabri, 17; and

2. Saher Jawdat Radwan, 25.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kufor al-Labad 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 03:00, 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.

 

At approximately 07:00, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into al-Qarara village,
northeast of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.  They leveled areas of Palestinian land.  At approximately 14:00, an Israeli helicopter
gunship opened fire at Palestinian agricultural areas in the village.  As a result, fire broke out onto some
agricultural areas, but no casualties were reported.  IOF moved back to the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel at approximately 15:00.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Deir Abu Da’if 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 10:00, IOF moved into Kfiret village,
southwest of Jenin.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, an Israeli helicopter gunship opened fire
the southeast of Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip to cover the
withdrawal of Israeli heavy military vehicles that had moved into the area
since the morning.  As a result, fire
broke out onto a 30-dunum area of Palestinian cultivated land belonging to
Salama Suleiman Abu Sawawin, 52 planted with wheat. 

 

At approximately 19:00, IOF positioned at the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel to the southeast of Wadi al-Salqa village in the central
Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian areas. 
As a result, Shadi Ahmed Abu Jraiban, 29, was wounded by a bullet to the
right knee when he was nearly one kilometer away from the border.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm, and patrolled in
the streets.  A number of Palestinian
boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at the boys. 
IOF then moved towards Tulkarm refugee camp to the east of the
town.  They withdrew later and no arrests
were reported.   

 

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

 

At approximately 06:30, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian
fishing boats sailing opposite to Beit Lahia seashore in the northern Gaza
Strip.  They then surrounded two fishing
boats and arrested the four fishermen who were on board:

 

1. Nouri Ramadan al-Sultan, 49;

2. Hassan Ramadan al-Sultan, 39;

3. Mohammed ‘Ali al-Sultan, 43; and

4. Zaher Mohammed al-Sultan, 20.

 

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, 8 demonstrators,
including two children, were wounded, and dozens of others suffered from tear
gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 25 May 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. 
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 number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 25 May 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 suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 25 May 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders
gathered in the center of Nouba village, southwest of Ramallah.  They organized a peaceful demonstration in
protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities.  They moved towards the
annexation wall.  Israeli soldiers
positioned in the area immediately fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them.  As a
result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 13:15 also on Friday, 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. 
Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
demonstrators.  As a result, 5
demonstrators were hit by tear gas canisters (PCHR keeps their names) and a
number of others suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

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 five 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 59 months, IOF have continued to deny
approximately 700 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

23 –
29 May 2012

 

 

Note: The crossing point was closed on 23 and 24 May 2012 because
of the Egyptian presidential election.

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

23 –
29 May 2012

 

Imports:

 

 

Exports:

 

On Tuesday, 22 May 2012, Wednesday, 23 May 2012, and Monday, 28 May
2012, IOF allowed the exportation of a total of 48 tons of tomatoes. 

 

Notes:

 

On Wednesday, 23May 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 86 tons of
cement and 3,290 tons of construction aggregates for UNRWA; and 840 tons of
construction aggregates for UNDP.  They
also allowed the entry of 546 tons of fodders and 195 tons of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 24 May 2012, IOF allowed the entry 120 tons of cement,
2,940 tons of construction aggregates and 70 tons of construction steel for
UNRWA; 40 tons of construction steel for UNDP; and 140 tons of construction aggregates
for the Palestinian Water Authority.  They
also allowed the entry of 858 tons of fodders and 390 tons of wheat. 

 

On Monday, 28 May 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 220
tons of cement, 2,240 tons of construction aggregates and 40 tons of construction
steel for UNRWA; and 388 tons of cement for the Palestinian Water Authority.  They also allowed the entry of 858 tons of
fodders and 351 tons of wheat.

 

On Tuesday, 29 May 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 560 tons of cement
and 2,590 tons of construction aggregates for UNRWA; and 560 tons of
construction aggregates for the Palestinian Water Authority.  They also allowed the entry of 390 tons of
fodders and 390 tons of wheat.

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

23 –
29 May 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.

 

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Saturday, 26 May 2012, IOF established 3
checkpoints at the around Qalqilya.    

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 15:30 on Thursday, 24 May 2012, IOF established a checkpoint on
Qabatya-Marka road, south of Jenin.      

 

Tulkarm:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 24 May
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qiffin village, north of
Tulkarm.  At approximately 10:30, established
a checkpoint at Beit Leed intersection, east of Tulkarm.  At approximately 17:00, IOF established a
checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road, south of Tulkarm.  At approximately 22:00, Israeli soldiers
positioned at Ennab intersection, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 26 May
2012, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints:

 

At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 24 May 2012, IOF moved into
Hijja village, east of Qalqilya.  They
patrolled in the streets and established a checkpoint at the entrance of the
village.  They arrested Mohammed Ghaleb
Masalha, 27.

 

4. Efforts to Create a Jewish Demographic Majority in East
Jerusalem

 

Israeli
occupation authorities have continued efforts aimed at creating a Jewish
demographic majority in East Jerusalem.

 

· At approximately 23:00 on Monday, 28 May 2012,
IOF, accompanied by bulldozers, moved into Hazma village, northeast of
Jerusalem.  They demolished some civilian
facilities as follows:

 

1. They
demolished a 300-square-meter fuel station and a car wash belonging to Mustafa
‘Awad al-Khatib.  They also confiscated
10,000 liters of benzene, 10,000 liters of diesel, 7 fuel pumps and a car wash
pump.  Al-Khatib estimated his loss at
approximately 0.5 million ILS.

2. They
demolished a 50-square-meter car maintenance workshop belonging to Marwan Sa’id
‘Aabdin.

3. They
demolished a 50-square-meter car maintenance workshop belonging to Ameer Sa’eb
al-Khatib.

4. They
demolished an 80-square-meter cafeteria belonging to Mohammed ‘Abdul Karim
al-Khatib.

5. They
demolished a cafeteria and confiscated a container and all equipment of the
cafeteria belonging to Munther Ershid.

6. They
confiscated 5 motorcycles belonging to Noah al-Khatib. 

7. They
confiscated 4 fuel pumps, 4 fire extinguishers, 8,000 liters of benzene and
3,000 liters of diesel from a fuel station belonging to Fazza’ Saladin. 

 

On
Tuesday, 29 May 2012, the Israeli Haaretz daily reported on its website that
the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem, in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry
of Tourism, would allocate 4 million ILS for a new settlement project in Silwan
village to the south of the old town of Jerusalem, allegedly to encourage
tourism in “David Town” settlement outpost in the context of the so-called
“National Park Project.”  The newspaper
indicated that the financial committee of the municipality approved last week
the transfer 1.1 million ILS in addition to 900,000 ILS that was transferred
last year, and the Ministry of Tourism would transfer two million ILS.  The deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Pepe Alalu,
from Meretz Party, who voted against the project, stated that “the municipality
and the ministry again make maneuvers to transfer funds to an association that
attempts to control Silwan village.”  He
pointed out that the decision affects cultural associations in Jerusalem.

 

5. 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 09:00 on Thursday, 24 May 2012, IOF delivered a military order to
the Palestinian liaison according to which they would seize 29 dunums of
Palestinian land in Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit, for security and
military purposes and to combat “terrorist attacks.”  According to the order, the land would be
seized until 31 December 2014.

 

At
approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 24 May 2012, IOF moved into Hijja village,
east of Qalqilya.  They handed a notice
to Halim Na’im Da’as ordering the demolition of his two-storey,
under-construction house.  They also
ordered Maher ‘Abdul Rahim Khalifa to stop the construction of his house.  They claimed that the two civilians did not
obtain licenses for buildings.

 

At
approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 24 May 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Yits’har” settlement, which stands on the lands of Madama village, south of
Nablus, set fire to some area of land in the south of the village.  A number of Palestinian civilians gathered
and attempted to extinguish fire.  They
and fire fighters were able to extinguish fire. 
In the meantime, Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, attacked Palestinian
civilians.  Israeli soldiers also
arrested Ahmed and Mohammed Bassam Nassar, 20 and 23 respectively.

 

At
approximately 13:00 on Saturday, 25 May 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Yits’har” settlement set fire to wooden areas in the southeast of ‘Ourif
village, south of Nablus.  Large wooden
areas were burnt and fire extended to cultivated lands.  Dozens of Palestinian civilians arrived at
the area and were able to extinguish fire.

 

At
approximately 15:30 on the same day, Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian
agricultural lands in al-Qisma and al-Marah areas in the north of ‘Ourif
village, south of Nablus.  A number of
Palestinian civilians rushed to the affected areas, where they found Israeli
settlers and IOF stationed there.  Clashes
erupted between the two sides, during which Israeli soldiers intensively fired
tear gas canisters.  As a result, a
number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation and we forced to move
back to the village.  Soon, they heard
the sounds of shooting coming from the mountain located between the village and
“Yits’har” settlement.  They went to the
area to check what happened.  When they
arrived at the area, they found Najeh As’ad al-Safadi, 21, handcuffed and
bleeding.  They evacuated him to a
hospital in Nablus.  According to medical
sources, he was seriously wounded by a bullet to the abdomen.  This attack was the second of its kind in
less than one week.  On 19 May 2012,
Nember ‘Assaira, 24, from Southern ‘Assira village south of Nablus, was wounded
by a bullet to the right eye.  An Israeli
settler fired at ‘Assaira, while IOF were present in the area.  

 

On
Tuesday morning, 29 May 2012, IOF moved into al-Baq’a area in the east of
Hebron.  They razed at least 30 dunums of
cultivated land and destroyed their irrigation infrastructure, which belong to
the al-Rajabi and Jaber families.  It is
worth noting that there is a plan to expand the nearby “Kharsina” settlement as
500 new housing units will be built in the settlement.

 

At
approximately 16:30 also on Tuesday, 29 May 2012, an Israeli settler from
“Kidoumim” settlement, northeast of Qalqilya, violently beat Nihad Mofeed
Yamin, 19, from Jeet village northeast of the town.  As a result, Yamin was injured in the right
eye.   

 

…………………………………………………

 

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).