Israeli
troops use force to disperse a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah

 

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

 

Two
Palestinian resistance activists were killed by IOF in Beit Hanoun, north of
the Gaza Strip.

Two
Palestinian resistance activists were wounded by IOF in the east of al-Boreij
refugee camp in central Gaza.

 

IOF
have continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

Many
Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation in the West Bank.

 

IOF
conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 3
limited ones into the Gaza Strip.  

IOF
arrested 37 Palestinians, including 4 children, in the West Bank.

IOF
arrested 2 Palestinians from al-Shoka village in the south of the Gaza Strip.

IOF
raided the house and office of Abu Warda, a journalist, in Nablus and
confiscated computers and a camera memory.

 

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

Israeli soldiers arrested 6
Palestinian civilians, including a child, at various checkpoints in the West
Bank.

 

Israel
has continued efforts to create a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.

IOF
demolished a Palestinian house in Shu’fat, bulldozed a warehouse and barracks
in Sur Baher.  

 

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

Israeli
settlers continued their attacks in Hebron and burnt out a car. 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (12 – 18 January 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF
killed 2 Palestinian resistance activists and wounded another two resistance
activist in the Gaza Strip.  In the West
Bank, many Palestinians suffered from tear gas inhalation in peaceful
demonstrations.  

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 18 January
2012, two Palestinian resistance activists were killed when IOF positioned at
the border in the southeast of Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip,
fired 8 consecutive artillery shells at two Palestinian resistance activists
while on mission near the border area. Israeli aircrafts also flew in the sky
and opened heavy fire at the two activists. IOF also fired two artillery shells
at PRCS ambulances while trying to evacuate the bodies.  IOF declared that they targeted a group of
Palestinians who were trying to plant explosives near the boarder.

 

On 12 January 2012, two Palestinian
resistance activists were wounded when IOF positioned at the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel, to the east of al-Boreij refugee camp, in the central
Gaza Strip, fired two artillery shells at them. 
The wounded were transferred to the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir
al-Balah and their wounds were described to be moderate.

 

In the West Bank, during the
reporting period, IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations
organized in protest to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the
annexation wall in the West Bank.  As a
result, many participants in the demonstrations suffered from tear gas
inhalation.   IOF also arrested 5
Palestinian civilians, including a woman. 

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 56 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 37 Palestinian
civilians, including 4 children and a university professor. 

 

During
the reporting period, IOF raided the house of Amin Abdul Aziz Abu Warda, 46, a
journalist and lecturer in the journalism department in An-Najah National
University, in the third floor in Abu Warda building in al-Quds Street, east of
Nablus.  They held the five member family
of Abu Warda and, his brother and his brother’s wife in a room in the house.
They withdrew one hour later and confiscated a laptop, a hard desk, papers from
Abu Warda’s work and mobile numbers’ including Abu Warda’s number.  IOF also destroyed the door of Abu Warda’s
office in the third floor in al-Takrouri building, in the western compound in
Nablus. They raided and searched the office. They confiscated a laptop, 2 hard
desks and a camera memory and then withdrew. 
It should be noted that on 28 December 2011, IOF arrested Abu Warda and
transferred him to an interrogation center in Petah Tikva. On 04 January 2012,
Abu Warda was presented before a judge in the Israeli Military Court in Salem
Camp, west of Jenin. The judge issued a decision to extend the detention of Abu
Warda for 12 days pending investigation.

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 limited incursions on 18 January 2008.  The first incursion was conducted at around
02:00 into al-Shoka village, in the southeast of Rafah, in the south of the
Gaza Strip, and arrested two Palestinians.

 

The
second incursion took place at around 11:55 after IOF killed two Palestinian
resistance activists in the southeast of Beit Hanoun in the north of the Gaza
Strip.  IOF conducted scanning works and
then withdrew over the border.

 

IOF
conducted the third incursion at around 12:30; they moved around 400 meters
into the north of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip, while conducting
intensive shooting at Palestinian farms located around 700 meters form the
borders, following which they conducted scanning works.  At around 14:00, IOF drove to the east along
the border and positioned themselves at the Bedouin Village.  They continued firing and conducting scanning
works.  Later, they drove to the site of
the ex-settlement of Nisanit, northwest of Beit Hanoun.  IOF withdrew at around 16:00 and neither
casualties nor damages to civilian property were reported.

 

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.

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three 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 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.

 

These statistics which were made available to PCHR by the Border
and Crossings Department indicate a continued drop in the number of truckloads
of Gaza imports and exports.

 

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 continue to depend on elementary
aid provided by UNRWA and other relief agencies, rates of families who are
living below the poverty line continue 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 run local business.  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.

 

IOF have continued to prolong the implementation of their decision
to allow 60 cars into Gaza weekly although more than 11 months have passed
since they announced this decision after three years of ban imposed on the delivery
of cars to Gaza.  As a result, the prices
of cars in Gaza have been on the rise and local markets experience serious
shortage in spare parts.

 

For approximately four 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 international
diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza
Strip.

 

For approximately 55 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.

 

West
Bank

 

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.

 

IOF have established checkpoints in
and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city.
Civilians are frequently prevented from praying in the al-Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem.

 

There are approximately 585
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.

At least 65% of the main roads that
lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully
controlled by IOF.

 

There are approximately 500 kilometers of
restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of
the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to
Palestinians without permits issued by IOF. Such permits are extremely
difficult to obtain.

 

IOF continue to harass and assault
demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the
annexation wall.

 

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

 

Efforts to
Create a Jewish Majority in East Jerusalem

 

On 16
January 2012, IOF, supported by bulldozers and the Israeli municipality
officers moved into Shu’fat neighborhood, north of occupied Jerusalem.  They surrounded the house of Mohammed Ibrahim
Abu Khdeir and prevented its residents from getting out.  The municipality officers started cutting
metal poles.  Abu Khdeir said that he
established those poles 20 days ago to build a third floor made of aluminum,
wood and bricks.  The house is built on
an area of 278 meters.  He added that an
inspector from the municipality has come 4 times within 10 days and took photos
of the house.  On 9 January 2012, the
municipality officers sent us a notice stating that the poles had to be removed
within a week, otherwise, the municipality would do so and oblige him to pay
150,000 NIS as a fine.

On
the same day, IOF bulldozed a warehouse and barracks used to house sheep in
Sour Baher village, south of occupied Jerusalem.  The warehouse and barracks of 2,220 meters
belong to Mostafa Ali Mostafa Dabash.

 

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 13
January 2012, a group of settlers guarded by Israeli soldiers moved into the
center of Hebron under the pretext visiting the grave of a Rabbi there
according to agreements signed between the Palestinian Authority and
Israel.   The settlers chanted slogans
against the Palestinians.

 

On 15
January 2012, a number of settlers residing in Ramat Yishai settlement that, in
Tal al-Rmeida neighborhood in the center of Hebron, set fire to a civil vehicle
belonging to Hana’ Jameel Abu Haikal, 55, due to which the car was completely
burnt.  Abu Haikal said that her white
Hyundai Intra car was completely burnt, noting that this was the fifth time
that vehicles owned by her family had been burnt by the settlers to force them
to leave their house adjacent to the said settlement. 

 

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (12 – 18 January 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 12 January 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved
into Nablus.  They raided the house of
Amin Abdul Aziz Abu Warda, 46, a journalist and lecturer in the journalism
department in An-Najah National University, in the third floor of Abu Warda
building in al-Quds street, east of Nablus. 
They held the five member family of Abu Warda, his brother and his
brother’s wife in a room in the house. They withdrew one hour later and
confiscated a laptop, a hard desk, papers from Abu Warda’s work and mobile
numbers’ including Abu Warda’s number.

 

In the same time, another IOF force
destroyed the door of Abu Warda’s office in the third floor in al-Takrouri
building, in the western compound in Nablus. They raided and searched the
office. They confiscated a laptop, 2 hard desks and a camera memory and then
withdrew.

 

It should be noted that on 28
December 2011, IOF arrested Abu Warda and transferred him to an interrogation
center in Petah Tikva. On 04 January 2012, Abu Warda was presented before a
judge in the Israeli Military Court in Salem Camp, west of Jenin. The judge
issued a decision to extend the detention of Abu Warda for 12 days pending
investigation.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF
moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and then stationed in al-Mansheya neighborhood, east of
Nour Shams refugee camp.  They raided and
searched the house of Ayman Fouad Ghannam Knouh, 26.  They withdrew later after arresting
Knouh. 

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF
moved into Thanaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and then stationed in the east area of Thanaba suburb.  They raided and searched the house of Ibrahim
Ahmed Ali Abu Zahra, 26.  They withdrew
later after arresting Abu Zahra who is the friend of Ayman Fouad Ghannam Knouh
who was arrested from Nour Shams refugee camp nearly in the same time.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into Madama village, south of Nablus. 
They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian
civilians:

 

1. Dmohammed Sadeq Qet, 22;

2. Ahmed Atef Zeyada, 21; and

3. Mahmoud Abdulla Qet, 23.

 

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF
moved into al-Farea refugee camp, south of Toubas.  They patrolled in the streets for some time.
They raided and searched a number of houses. They arrested 5 Palestinians and
withdrew at around 04:30:

 

1. Mohammed Shehada Saleh Subuh, 20;

2. Hazem Mahmoud Sabri Awad, 24;

3. Muath Mohammed Abdullah al-Ghoul, 23;

4. Ahmed Jaber Abu Seyam, 21; and

5. Ahmed Fayez Khalil Ghazlawi, 21, a student in al-Quds Open
University.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Anata village, northeast of Nablus. 
They raided and searched the house of Ammar Ahmed Abdul Latif al-Refa’I,
21.  They arrested al-Refa’I and they
withdrew.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved
into Dier Jarir 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 Fasayel village, north 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 Shaqba village, west 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 Baqa al-Sharqeya village, north of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some
time.  They withdrew later and neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.  

 

Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into ‘Atil village, north 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 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 15:15, IOF moved
into Zabbuba village, northwest of Jenin. 
As they were patrolling in the streets, a number of boys gathered and
threw stones and empty bottles at IOF who responded by firing sound bombs and
tear gas canisters at the boys.  IOF
withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.  

 

At approximately 19:00, IOF moved
into al-Jeftlik village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:15, IOF moved
into Ya’abad village, southwest of Jenin. 
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 Kafl Hares village, north of Salfit. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later at
approximately 20:30.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:40, IOF moved
into al-‘Oja village, northeast of Jericho. 
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 Bir Zeit illage, north 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
positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of
al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip fired two artillery shells at
a group of resistance activists, wounding two of them. The wounded were
transferred to the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah and their wounds
were described to be moderate.

 

Friday,
13 January 2012

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah.  They had sniffer
dogs and they raided and searched many houses. 
They also took positions on the tops of some houses including those
belonging to Helmi al-Tamimi and Faraj al-Tamimi. They withdrew later after
arresting 3 Palestinians, including a child:

 

1. Khaled
   Atallah al-Tamimi, 30, who was released at approximately 17:00 on the same
   day;
2. Mahdi
   Abdul Wahhab al-Tamimi, 21; and
3. Adnan
   Naji al-Tamimi, 17.

 

At approximately 08:40, IOF moved into Silwad village, northeast of
Ramallah.  They provocatively patrolled
in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta village,
west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-Jeftlik village, north of
Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.  No
arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Jalabon village, east
of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 14 January 2012 

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Jafna village, north of
Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.  No
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Sudan village, north
of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Jalabon village, east of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 13:00, IOF moved into ‘Arana village, north
of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Deir Ghazala village,
north of Jenin.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Rummana village, northwest
of Jenin.  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 Artah suburb, south of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:40, IOF moved into al-Bireh.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

Sunday, 15 January 2012

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Mazra’a al-Gharbeya
village, northwest of Ramallah.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Betello village, northwest
of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Abwin village, northwest of
Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.  No
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:20, IOF moved into Yasouf village, east of
Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and held a number of Palestinian civilians, placed them under
interrogation and released them later. 
They withdrew at approximately 13:00 and neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, south of
Jenin.  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-Arqa village, west of Jenin.  As
they were patrolling in the streets, a number of boys gathered and threw stones
and empty bottles at IOF who responded by firing sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at the boys.  IOF withdrew
later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 19:00, IOF moved
into Ya’abad village, southwest of Jenin. 
As they were patrolling in the streets, a number of boys gathered and
threw stones and empty bottles at IOF who responded by firing sound bombs and
tear gas canisters at the boys.  IOF
withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.   

 

Monday, 16 January 2012

 

At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Azzoun, east of
Qalqilya.  They kicked in the main doors
of a number of houses and raided them. As they were arresting some
Palestinians, they severely beat a number of Palestinian civilians:

IOF beat Mohammed Rashid Rodwan, 26, who was in Israeli jails and
who was released in the recent prisoner exchange deal.  Rodwan sustained fractures in his right hand
he was transferred to hospital.

IOF severely beat Yousef Ahmed Ibrahim Salim, 22, while arresting
his minor brother, Ghaleb, 16.  Yousef
told IOF soldiers that he recently underwent a surgery in his right leg but
they concentrated the beating on this leg. They also pushed Yousef’s mother to
the ground and severely beat Ghaleb before arresting him.

IOF severely beat Ayman Abdul Fattah Rodwan, 19, in from of his
parents’ eyes.  Before arresting him,
they did not allow him to wear clothes suitable for the current cold
weather.  They even did not allow him to
wear his shoes.

 

IOF confiscated the ID cards of Yusra Said Abu Haneya and Qassem
Ahmed Salim.

 

They withdrew at approximately 06:35 after arresting 14
Palestinians, including a child:

 

Mohammed Imad Khalil Rodwan, 19, who
was released at around 11:00 on the same day. Mohammed was severely beaten by
IOF;

Ali Khalil Rodwan, 26, who was also
released at around 11:00 on the same day. Ali was severely beaten by IOF;

Yousif Basim Shbeita, 18;

Mohammed Ali Rodwan, 19;

Ayman Abdul Fattah Rodwan, 19;

Ghaleb Ahmed Ibrahim Salim, 16;

Majdi Samer Suleiman, 19;

Jihad Ali Rodwan, 26;

Mohammed Imad Rodwan, 20;

Adnan Imad Rodwan, 19;

Mohammed Rashid Rodwan, 25;

Wisam Rashid Rodwan, 19;

Issam Rashid Rodwan, 22; and

Ahmed Fakher Ibrahim Howwari, 19.

 

Rashi Shaker Rodwan is the father of four of the arrested
Palestinians. He told the PCHR fieldworker the following:

 

“At approximately 01:30 on Monday, 16 January
2012, we were awoken by stones hitting the main door of our house. We lit the
house and opened the door to find Israeli occupation soldiers surrounding our
house. The officer ordered me to get all of my sons out. My sons, their wives
and children left the house and nobody remained inside. The immediately
handcuffed Wisam, 20, Mahmoud, 28, who was released in the recent prisoner
exchange deal, Issam, 22 and Mohammed, 26. They then started beating Mahmoud
and the officer asked him ‘you were released recently?’ and Mahmoud replied ‘Yes’.
The officer told him “I will drive you crazy’. The officer started to severely
beat Mahmoud in front of our eyes. His right hand was fractured as a result.
They then took my four sons with them and they beat them near our house. They
destroyed everything in the house and withdrew at around 05:00. Some hours
later, they released Mahmoud and Issam who told me that the soldiers maltreated
my son Wissam and severely beat him. They told me that they do not know what
happened to him”.

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Nablus and Ein Beit al-Maa
refugee camp in the west of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and they raided and searched a number of houses. They withdrew at around 04:30
after arresting 2 Palestinians from Ein Beit al-Maa refugee camp:

 

1. Mohammed Khaled
Mahmoud Ma’arouf, 19; and

2. Wasim Mohammed
Ramadan Shahin, 19.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and then positioned themselves in the eastern neighborhood in Jenin. They
raided the house of Jamal Mahdi Awwad Amr, 42. 
They questioned him about a Subaru Impreza with an Israeli registration
plate that was parked in the yard of his house. Amr told them that he bought
this car from a Palestinian from Um al-Fahem. IOF called the Command to examine
the car and they were told that this car was stolen from Israel. Amr’s son
reported that IOF asked his father to drive that car to al-Jalama crossing in
the north of Jenin. Amr drove the car behind IOF vehicles but he has not
returned home. According to Amr’s son, he was taken to Hadarim prison and then
to Beersheba prison.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Shweika suburb, north of
Tulkarm.  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 Jet village, northeast of
Qalqilya.   They patrolled in the streets
for some time.  They held a number of
Palestinians and placed them under interrogation and released them later.  IOF withdrew and neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Bala’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 13:30, IOF moved into Zita village, northeast of
Tulkarm.  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 Jinsafout village, east of
Qalqilya.   They patrolled in the streets
for some time and erected a checkpoint near the entrance of Jinsafout
village.  IOF withdrew later and neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Far’on village, south of
Tulakarm.   They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

 

Tuesday, 17 January 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jaba’a village, south of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and positioned themselves in the western neighborhood.  They raided and searched the house of Farid
Mohammed Abdul Rahman Alawna, 42, which is adjacent to Jenin Municipality.  They arrested Alawna and confiscated his
mobile and withdrew.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Thanaba suburb, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time.  Before withdrawing, they
stopped near groundwater wells. Persons in civilian clothes stepped down from
the military vehicles and examined these wells. 
No further incidents were reported.

 

At approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Shweika suburb, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Dora, southwest of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to al-Sharha family.  Before
withdrawing, they arrested Mohammed Ahmed Abdul Rahman al-Sharha, 35, and
transferred him to “Kfar Etzion” detention center in the southwest of
Bethlehem.  

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Orta village,
southeast of Nablus.  They raided the
house of Shadi Salim Said Shurrab, 33, in the center of Beit ‘Orta village,
near Beit ‘Orta Girls Secondary School. 
They knocked at the door of the house and asked about Shadi.  They took him outside the house and
questioned him.  Then they handcuffed him
and transferred him to “Hawara” detention center, southeast of Nablus.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of
Hebron.  They raided many houses in the
neighborhoods of al-Torbeiqa, Wadi al-Sheikh and Beit Zaata in the east and
south east of Beit Ummar. They forced the residents of the raided houses to go
out and they searched these houses.  They
beat and maltreated some of the residents. 
Before withdrawing, they arrested Firas Ibrahim Humeid Abu Maria, 21,
and Mamdouh Bassem Khader al-Allami, 19, and transferred them to “Kfar Etzion”
detention center, in the southwest of Bethlehem.

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, IOF raided the house
of Firas Ibrahim Humeid Abu Maria in al-Torbeiqa neighborhood.  They threw him to the ground in front of his
father’s eyes. They severely beat him throughout the body using gun butts,
their hands and their legs. Firas bled from his nose and mouth before the
soldier took him to one of their military jeeps.

 

In the same time, IOF threw sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
the house of Mamdouh Bassem Khader al-Allami. 
They used microphones to order the residents of the house to go out.
Mamdouh and his brother Khader were ordered to hold their hands up and they
were held in the outdoors.  They were
forced to take off all of their clothes and shoes.  They confiscated the ID card of Khader and
arrested Mamdouh.

 

Spokesman of the Popular Resistance Committee in Beit Ummar,
Mohammed Ayad Awad, told the PCHR fieldworker that IOF also raided the house of
Bassem Khader al-Allami, 44, who is Mamdouh’s father, in Beit Zaata
neighborhood.  They forced the residents
of the house to get out and they held them in the outdoors for some time. They
searched the house and then beat Bassem using gun butts. Khawla, 38, who is
Bassem’s wife, intervened as IOF soldiers were beating her husband but the soldiers
pushed her to the ground before her children’s eyes. Bassem sustained bruises
throughout the body as a result of the beating.

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved dozens of meters in al-Shoka
village, southeast of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.  Before withdrawing, they arrested Akram
Hussein Mohammed al-Sufi, 24, from the Bedouin village, in the north of the
Gaza Strip. The father of Akram al-Sufi stated that Akram is a member of the
al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, and that he may be
arrested while on mission.

 

 At approximately 02:15, IOF
moved into Tima village, southeast of Nablus. 
They raided two houses in the center of Tima village, near the old
mosque of Tima village.  Before
withdrawing, they arrested two children from the village and transferred them
to “Hawara” detention center, southeast of Nablus.  They two boys were placed under interrogation
and were accused of throwing stones at IOF military vehicles.  The two boys are:

 

1. Abdul
   Menem Mohammed Mohammed Abdul Menem Sonober, 17; and
2. Abdul
   Aziz Shaker Ateya al-Najjar, 17.

 

At approximately 11:05, IOF positioned at the border in the
southeast of Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip, fired 8 consecutive
artillery shells at two Palestinian resistance activists while on mission near
the border area. Israeli aircrafts also flew in the sky and opened heavy fire
at the two activists. One of them, Mohammed Shaker Ahmed Abu Oda, 22, from Beit
Hanoun, was killed immediately as he sustained shrapnel wounds in the lower
part of his body and in the abdomen and the chest.  The other activist, Ahmed Khaled Mohammed
al-Zaanin, 18, from Beit Hanoun, sustained wounds in the head and shrapnel
wounds throughout the body.  The firing
continued for around 45 minutes. At around 11:55, IOF moved into the targeted
area and conducting scanning works till 12:20.

 

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that at
approximately 11:20, two PRCS ambulances drove to the targeted area. The
ambulances arrived at the targeted area at around 11:40 and stopped around 150
meters far from the borders.  They two
resistance activists were only 50 meters from the two ambulances and one of the
ambulances tried to drive towards them but IOF fired two artillery shells at
the proximity of the ambulances. At around 12:25, PRCS managed to evacuate the
body of Abu Oda and al-Zaanin who was still alive and transferred them to Beit
Hanoun Public Hospital. Al-Zaanin was referred to al-Shifa Hospital at around
13:15 for treatment but he was pronounced dead at around 14:15.

 

None of the Palestinian resistance groups has announced its
responsibility for sending the two resistance activists.

 

IOF declared that they targeted a group of Palestinians who were
trying to plant explosive near the border.

 

At approximately 12:30, IOF moved around 400 meters into the north
of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Stripamid intensive firing at
Palestinian farms located around 700 meters form the border, IOF conducted scanning
works. Palestinian farmers were forced to flee the area in fear for sake of
their safety.  At around 14:00, IOF drove
to the east along the border and they stationed off the Bedouin Village.  They continued firing and their scanning
works.  Later, they drove to the site of
the ex-settlement  Nisanit, northwest of
Beit Hanoun.  IOF withdrew at around
16:00 and neither casualties nor damages to civilian property 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, and in protest to the establishment of a buffer zone in the Gaza
Strip.  As a result, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas
inhalation. 

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 13 January 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 support for efforts to achieve
national reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah movements.  They raised the Palestinian flag and called
for ending the political division. They then moved towards areas of Palestinian
land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian
owners.  Israeli soldiers stationed in
the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters
at the demonstrators.  As a result, dozens
of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday prayer on 13 January 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli  and international human rights
defenders gathered in the center of al-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,
dozens of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer, at approximately 12:30 on the
same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights
defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast
of Qalqilya, in protest against closing the eastern entrance of the
village.  The demonstrators headed
towards that entrance, while the Israeli soldiers topped the house of ‘Adnan
Abdul Mohdi and turned it into a military site after its residents had been
detained in a room.  Israeli soldiers
fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators.  As a result, a number of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation.   

 

At approximately 12:10 on Tuesday, 17 January 2012, IOF positioned
at the border fence, northeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, intermittently
fired at the Palestinian demonstrators and international activists. In his
testimony, the Beit Hanoun Local Initiative coordinator, Saber al-Za’aneen,
said that at approximately 11:00 on the same day, about 50 demonstrators,
including 3 international activists, headed towards the border fence
demonstrating against the Israeli-imposed buffer zone.  The demonstrators gathered near a fence that
was established by IOF in the Palestinian lands.  The fence is approximately 70 meters far from
the border fence.  At approximately 12:05,
an Israeli jeep arrived and 4 soldiers stepped out of it.  They started intermittently firing at the
demonstrators for about 20 minutes.  As a
result, the demonstrators were terrorized and fled; however, no injuries were
reported.   

 

  

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 over three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since
June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic
situation in the Gaza Strip. The 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. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply
shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become internationally
accepted and institutionalized. 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.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

11 –
17 January 2012

 

 

Note: it should be noted that the number of persons travelling abroad has
increased compared to the numbers before re-opening Rafah crossing, due to the improvements
done after January revolution in Egypt. 
Besides, the number of persons returned into Gaza has decreased.

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

11 –
17 January 2012

 

Imports:

 

 

 

 

Exports:

 

On Wednesday, 11 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 4
tons of bell peppers, and 7.9 tons of strawberries.

On Thursday, 12 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 7.4
tons of strawberries, and 69,500 flowers.

On Sunday, 15 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 93,500
flowers.

On Tuesday, 17 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 2.7
tons of strawberries, 87,000 flowers and 7 tons of tomatoes.

 

Notes:

 

On Wednesday, 11 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 2,800 tons
of construction aggregate and 120 tons of cement for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 280 tons of
construction aggregate for UNDP, 350 tons of construction aggregate for USAID
and 120 tons of cement for the French Consulate.  They allowed the entry of 234 tons of wheat
as well.

 

On Thursday, 12 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 2,800 tons
of construction aggregate and 112 tons of construction steel for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 1,680 tons of
construction aggregate for UNDP.  They
allowed the entry of 858 tons of fodders.

 

On Sunday, 15 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 278 tons of
cement, 2,800 tons of construction aggregate and 40 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry
of 897 tons of wheat.

 

On Monday, 16 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 326 tons of
cement, 1,680 tons of construction aggregate and 38 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry
of 585 tons of wheat.

 

On Tuesday, 17 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 624 tons of
cement, 2,590 tons of construction aggregate and 60 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA.  They allowed the entry of 80
tons of cement and 140 tons of construction aggregate for the French Consulate.  They also allowed the entry of 1,599 tons of
fodders. 

 

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel
has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of
Palestinian civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, a number of
international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited
number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the
crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting
their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients
permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe
restrictions that include prolonged checking. 

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

11 –
17 January 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.

 

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.

 

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 14 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 09:00, IOF established a
checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 11:00 on the same day, IOF
re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.

At approximately 22:00 on Sunday, 15 January 2012, IOF established
a checkpoint at the intersection of Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa, southwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 11:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Abu Mash’al village, northwest
of Ramallah.

At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 16 January 2012, IOF established
a checkpoint at the entrance of on Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta – Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa
road, west of Ramallah.  At approximately
10:10, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Liqya village, west
of Ramallah.  At approximately 17:00, on
the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kafr Malik,
northeast of Ramallah.

 

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 12 January 2012, IOF established
4 checkpoints around Qalqilya.                                                                                                                                             At
approximately 09:45 on Sunday, 15 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the intersection of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya.  At approximately 21:15 on the same day, IOF
established a similar checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya.

At approximately 12:30 on Monday, 16 January 2012, IOF established
a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azzoun ‘Etma, southeast of Qalqilya.  At approximately 12:50 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the intersection of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya.

Besides, the same checkpoint was re-established at 18:40.                                 

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 03:30 on Thursday, 12 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.                                             At
approximately 07:00 on Saturday, 14 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.  The same checkpoint was re-established at
approximately 16:00 on the same day.  At
approximately 17:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin.

At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 15 January 2012, IOF established
a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.

At approximately 08:30 on Monday, 16 January 2012, IOF established
a checkpoint at at the entrance of Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin.  At approximately 10:00, on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the intersection of Deir Abu Da’eef village, east
of Jenin.

At approximately 16:00 on Tuesday, 17 January 2012, IOF at the
entrance of Jalaboun village, east of Jenin.

At approximately 07:30 on Wednesday, 18 January 2012, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin.

 

Tulkarm:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 06:30 on Saturday, 14
January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Allar village,
northeast of Tulkarm.  At approximately
10:00 on the same day, IOF stationed at ‘Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm,
imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinians.  At approximately 14:30, on Tuesday, 17
January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the intersection of al-Jaroushiya
village, north of Tulkarm.  At
approximately 20:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the
intersection of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm.

 

Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 14 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of al-Zbaidat village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 10:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.  At approximately 14:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein al-Dyouk village, north of
Jericho.

At approximately 10:30 on Sunday, 15 January 2012, IOF established
a checkpoint at the entrance of Fassayel village, north of Jericho.

At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 16 January 2012, IOF established
a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zbaidat village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 16:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint on Jericho-Ramallah road.  

 

Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 12 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Iskaka village, east of Salfit.   At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Estia village, northeast of
Salfit.

At approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 17 January 2012, IOF established
a checkpoint between Salfit and Bruqin village.

 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

On Thursday, 15 January 2012, IOF stationed at Nabi Yunis
intersection, north of Hebron, arrested Anas Ibrahim Halayqa, 21, from
al-Shyoukh village, east of Hebron. 
Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli soldiers stopped a public vehicle
coming back from al-Quds University in Abu Dis village, southeast of Jerusalem,
to Hebron.  Halayqa, who is a student in
the said university, was arrested and transported to an unknown destination.

 

On Monday, 16 January 2012, Israeli soldiers stationed at Salem
checkpoint, west of Jenin, arrested Khalil Kayed Hashash, 18, and Montaser
Zeyad Khaled, 18, from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, while they were
passing through the checkpoint.  It
should be noted that IOF arrested 4 Palestinian children from Balata refugee
camp at the said checkpoint under the pretext that they were carrying home-made
grenades and knives.

 

At approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, 17 January 2012, IOF positioned
and patrolled in the southern area of Hebron arrested ‘Ala’ Ghassan Hamza
Shaheen, 18, after he had detained by an Israeli patrol near the Ibrahimi
mosque.  Shaheen was arrested under the
pretext that he did not listen to the Israeli soldiers’ orders and was carrying
a knife.  He was transported to Kiryat
Arba settlement, southeast of Hebron.  He
had been charged of “trying to stab an Israeli soldier” before he was
transferred to Kfar Etzion detention center, southwest of Bethlehem.

At approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, 18 January 2011, IOF positioned
and patrolled in the southern area of Hebron arrested the two brothers: Rabee’,
22; and Wa’el Mohammed al-Rajabi, 17. 
IOF detained them at Tareq Bin Ziyad street claiming that they did not
listen to the soldiers’ orders.  The two
brothers were transported to the Israeli police station near Kiryat Arba
settlement, southeast of Hebron.  They
have remained in detention until now.       

 

4. Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in East Jerusalem

 

Israeli
occupation authorities have continued to make persistent efforts to create a
Jewish majority in East Jerusalem and expel Palestinian civilians in the city.

 

On
Monday morning, 16 January 2012, IOF supported by bulldozers and Israeli municipality
officers moved into Shu’fat neighborhood, north of occupied Jerusalem.  They surrounded the house of Mohammed Ibrahim
Abu Khdeir, 32, and prevented its residents from getting out.  The municipality officers started cutting
metal poles that were established by the house owner to build another floor
made of aluminum, wood and bricks.  Abu
Khdeir said that he established those poles 20 days earlier to build a third
floor.  The house is built on an area of
278 meters.  He added that an inspector
from the municipality had come 4 times within 10 days and had taken photos of the
house.  On 9 January 2012, the
municipality officers sent him a notice stating that the poles have to be
removed in one week; otherwise the municipality would do so and oblige him to
pay 150,000 NIS as a fine.  On Monday
morning, 16 January 2012, Abu Khdeir went to bring construction workers in
order to remove the poles.  In the
meanwhile, he received a phone call from his family informing him that the
Israeli municipality came and started to cut the poles.

 

On
the same day, IOF supported by bulldozers and Israeli municipality officers
moved into Sour Baher village, south of occupied Jerusalem.  They started bulldozing a warehouse and Barracks
belonging to Mostafa Ali Mostafa Dabash, used to house sheep.  The area of the warehouse and barracks
reaches 2,220 meters.      

 

 

2. 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 Friday, 13
January 2012, a group of settlers guarded by Israeli soldiers moved into the
center of Hebron under the pretext of visiting the grave of a Rabbi there
according to agreements signed between the Palestinian Authority and
Israel.   The settlers chanted slogans
against the Palestinians.

According
to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 04:30 on Friday, 13
January 2012, over 250 settlers residing in Hebron settlements moved into Beer
Sheba street and part of the Rahma Mountain neighborhood in the center of
Hebron.  The settlers were under the
protection of the Israeli forces that declared the two areas as security
areas.  The settlers visited the grave of
Rabbi ‘Etna’eel Bin Kuter and performed their biblical rituals in the first
floor of a dwelled house, 200 meters to the northwest of Bab al-Zawiya
square.  They chanted slogans against
Palestinians, while the Israeli soldiers were positioned on top of many houses
and imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinians.  They also closed part of Beer Sheba street
and Bab al-Zawiya intersection and fired sound bombs on the Palestinian by
passers-by.

 

On
Sunday morning, 15 January 2012, a number of settlers residing in Ramat Yishai
settlement that is established on Tal al-Rmeida neighborhood in the center of
Hebron set fire to a civil vehicle belonging to Hana’ Jameel Abu Haikal, 55, as
a result of which the car was completely burnt out.

According
to investigation conducted by PCHR and testimony of Abu Haikal, who lives with
her family in the said neighborhood, at approximately 00:30, the settlers moved
onto a square near the neighborhood that is used as a temporary car park.  They smashed the vehicle’s windows and set
fire to it before they fled.  As a result,
the vehicle was burnt and many houses in the neighborhood were stoned by the
settler at the same.

Abu
Haikal said that her white Hyundai Intra car was completely burnt, noting that
this was the fifth time that vehicles owned by her family had been burnt by the
settlers, to force them to leave their house adjacent to the said
settlement. 

 

 

………………………………………………………

 

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 policy 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).