A Palestinian woman checks an olive farm that
was destroyed by Israeli settlers in Qasra village near Nablus

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

 

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

Dozens
of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from
tear gas inhalation.

6
Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, sustained bruises in Hebron.

 

IOF
conducted 47 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  

IOF
arrested 12 Palestinians, including two children.

 

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

Israeli
soldiers arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, at various
checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

Israel
has continued measures aimed at creating a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.

The
Israeli government plans to establish a new settlement neighborhood between
Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and 950 dunums[1]
of Palestinian land will be confiscated for this purpose.

 

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 to the east of Salfit.

Israeli
settlers attacked Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron.

Israeli
settlers attacked Palestinian farmers while cropping olives in the West Bank.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (13 – 19 October 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

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, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from
tear gas inhalation. 

 

On 16 October 2011, IOF attacked
Palestinian civilians, including school children, who organized a peaceful
sit-in in protest to Israeli measures banning teachers and school children from
going to Cordoba School in Hebron. As a
result, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, sustained bruises.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 47 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 12 Palestinian
civilians, including two children.   

 

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 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.

 

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 Stri, 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.

 

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 52 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 Jerusalem:

 

The Israeli
daily Haaretz unveiled on Friday, 14 October 2011, an Israeli
governmental decision to establish a new Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem
and to build 2,610 housing units between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The Israeli government published an
advertisement in Israeli newspapers concerning the new neighborhood to enable
people to appeal against its establishment. The daily newspaper reported that the land on which the neighborhood would
be established is “a state land” and if no objections were presented against
the establishment of the neighborhood within 60 days, the Israeli government
would issue construction licenses for the neighborhood. According to Khalil al-Taufakji, a Palestinian
maps and settlement expert, the new settlement plan would lead to the
confiscation of at least 950 dunums of Palestinian land in the south of
Jerusalem and the north of Bethlehem. 

 

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 October 2011, IOF began to
expand a settlement outpost established on the lands of Eskaka village, east of
Salfit. According to eyewitnesses, IOF
razed at least 30 dunums of Palestinian agricultural land in the southeast of
the village, and annexed them to the settlement outpost. They also placed 4 mobile homes in the area. 

 

On the same day, Israeli settlers
gathered at the gates of al-Ibrahimiya and al-Faihaa’ schools to the southwest
of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. The
administrations of the two schools were forced to let schoolchildren go homes
in order to ensure their safety.

 

On the same day, Israeli settlers
attacked Cordoba Elementary School in the center of Hebron. They threw stones and empty bottles at the
school and attempted to break into it. When teachers intervened to prevent the settlers from breaking into the
school, the settlers violently beat them. IOF were present in the area, but did not intervene to stop the attack.

 

On 14 October 2011, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Gilad” settlement stormed Palestinian agricultural
areas. The settlers, escorted by 3
Israeli soldiers, threw stones at Palestinian farmers while they were cropping
olives. Later, other Israeli soldiers
came to the area and evacuated the family, claiming that they exceeded the time
allocated for cultivation of olives. 

 

On 19 October 2011, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Nevi Enhiniah” settlement, which stands on the lands of
Eskaka village, east of Salfit, attacked Palestinian farmers while cropping
olives in al-Bayada area. They stole
their agricultural tools and the cultivated olives. 

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (13 – 19 October 2011)

 

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

 

Thursday, 13 October 2011

 

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved
into al-Qadhi neighborhood in the south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Mohammed Maher Abu Rmaila, 21, and arrested him.

 

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

 

Soon after, 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 02:40, IOF moved into
Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They
raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1- Nassar ‘Aatef Jaradat, 17; and

2- Majed Mohammed Jaradat, 18. 

 

It should be noted that the second
detainee was wounded by two bullets to the pelvis and the hand, and was
expected to undergo a surgery in an Israeli hospital soon.

 

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved
into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian
civilians, including a child:

 

1- Yousef ‘Aayesh Ekhlil, 41;

2- Ahmed Mahmoud al-Slaibi, 17; and

3- Mohammed Yousef Bahar, 18.

 

At approximately 03:45, IOF moved
into Qabatya village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian
civilians:

 

1- Rami ‘Abdul Latif Zakarna, 23;

2- Shadi Talal Zakarna, 23; and

3- Tha’er Mohammed Zakarna, 23.

 

At
approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Also
at approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Also
at approximately 14:30, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also
at approximately 14:30, 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.

 

Also
at approximately 14:30, IOF moved into al-Jarba village, southwest of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also
at approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Also
at approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Sanour village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Also
at approximately 14:30, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, southwest of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Also
at approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Jalboun village, northeast of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also
at approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Beit Qad village, northeast of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Friday,
14 October 2011

 

At approximately 17:30, IOF moved
into Jalboun village, northeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 17:30, IOF
moved into Beit Qad village, northeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 15 October 2011

 

At approximately 00:45, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
amidst shooting into the air and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, 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.

 

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village,
southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 02:30, 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 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.

 

Also 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.

 

At approximately 12:45, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, west
of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into ‘Izbat al-Jarad village,
east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into 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 22:30, IOF moved into Sniria village, south of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 16 October 2011

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Jalqamous 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 00:30, IOF moved into al-Mughayar village,
southeast of Jenin. 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 Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beita village, southeast of
Nablus. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

Jihad Ahmed Dwaikat, 23; and

‘Odai Ibrahim al-Shinnar, 18. 

 

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

 

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

 

At approximately 07:30, IOF moved into ‘Allar village, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

During the daytime, IOF had continued to prevented Palestinian
school children and teachers from going to Cordoba Elementary School in Hebron,
claiming that they refuse to be subject to personal checking. According to the school principal, Ibtissam
al-Jundi, classes were held in the streets. At approximately 11:00, IOF used force to disperse a peaceful sit-in
organized by teachers and school children, together with a number of other
Palestinian civilians. IOF violently
beat the participants in the sit-in, and fired tear gas canisters. As a result, 6 participants, including 3
school children, suffered from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.

 

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into the area located between
Jayous and Kufor Jammal villages, south of Qalqilya. They conducted some military training in the
area and withdrew later.

 

At approximately 13:20, 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. 

 

Monday, 17 October 2011

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into the area located between
‘Azzoun and ‘Izbat al-Tabib villages, east of Qalqilya. They searched the area for some time and
withdrew later.

 

At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Bourqin village,
southwest 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 ‘Attil village, north of
Tulkarm. 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 Qiffin village, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
and established a checkpoint at the entrance of the village. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. They withdrew from
the village two hours later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Barta’a village, west of
Jenin, which is isolated by the annexation wall. They stormed car maintenance workshop
searching for cars with Israeli registration plates. According to eyewitnesses, IOF confiscated
dozens of cars for Arabs living in Israel. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 18 October 2011

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jabal al-Rahma area in
Hebron. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Hani Joudi Abu ‘Eisha, 25, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, north of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

 

 

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, dozens of Palestinian
civilians, including a photojournalist, and human rights defenders suffered
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. 

   

Following the Friday Prayer on 14 October 2011, 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. They raised the Palestinian flag and portraits
of Marwan al-Barghouthi and Ahmed Sa’adat, Members of the Palestinian
Legislative Council who have been detained by IOF. They then moved towards areas of Palestinian
land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian
owners. When they reached (Abu Lemon)
nature preserve, the demonstrators walked along the wall and released the
balloons and kites. The demonstrators
also used megaphones to call on Israeli settlers living in “Mitityaho Mizrach”
settlement to leave it. 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,
and fire broke out in a number of farms.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 14 October 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a
peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against
the construction of the annexation wall. They chanted slogans calling for Palestinian reconciliation, adherence
to the Palestinian inalienable rights and resistance of the occupation. Additionally, they chanted “194 is the
State of Palestine” and other slogans against the American President and
his speech at the United Nations that was defended the Israeli occupation.  They clashed with Israeli troops positioned
near the annexation wall. Israeli soldiers
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators. As a result, a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 14 October 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations and settlement activities. They raised the Palestinian flag, chanted
slogans against the USA, called for ending the occupation and chanted “194
is the State of Palestine”. When
the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers
near “Halmish” settlement, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, ‘Ola ‘Abdul Raziq Tamimi, 19, was
hit by a tear gas canister to the abdomen. A number of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation and other
sustained bruises. 

 

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

12 –
18 October 2011

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

12 –
18 October 2011

 

Imports:

 

 

Notes:

 

 

On Sunday, 16 October 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 400 tons of
cement and 2,030 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA, and 24 tons of tar
for UNDP. They also allowed the entry of
1,560 tons of wheat.

 

IOF closed the crossing on Wednesday and Thursday, 12 and 13
October 2011, for Jewish holidays. The
crossing has been closed since Monday, 17 October 2011, because of the prisoner
swap between Israel and Palestinian resistance groups.

 

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

05 –
11 October 2011

 

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

12 –
18 October 2011

 

 

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. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian
civilians often escalate on Fridays, preventing Muslim Palestinians from
praying at al-Aqsa Mosque. 

 

Qalqilya: IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 13 October 2011, IOF established
4 checkpoints around the town. On
Friday, 14 October 2011, IOF established 3 checkpoints around the town. On Saturday, 15 October 2011, IOF established
4 checkpoints around Qalqilya. On
Sunday, 16 October 2011, IOF established 5 checkpoints around Qalqilya. On Monday, 17 October 2011, IOF established 4
checkpoints around Qalqilya.        

 

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 13 October 2011, IOF imposed additional
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through Ennab checkpoint,
east of Tulkarm. At approximately 16:30,
IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Leed village, east of
Tulkarm. At approximately 15:30 on
Saturday, 15 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of
Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. At
approximately 20:30 on the same day, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians through Ennab checkpoint, east of
Tulkarm. At approximately 18:15 on
Sunday, 16 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of
Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm.  At
approximately 10:30 on Monday, 17 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at
Zeita intersection, north of Tulkarm. At
approximately 12:30 on the same day, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians through Ennab checkpoint, east of
Tulkarm. At approximately 10:30 on
Tuesday, 18 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint between ‘Attil and Deir
al-Ghossoun villages, north of Tulkarm.  

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 23:45 on Friday, 14 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. At approximately 10:30 on Monday, 17 October
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Sanour village, south of
Jenin. At approximately 21:30 on
Tuesday, 18 October 2011, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians passing through Movodutan checkpoint, north of
Jenin. At approximately 18:00 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Arrana village,
southwest of Jenin. They stopped and
searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.   

 

Hebron: IOF have continued to impose additional restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 15, 16 and 17
October 2011, IOF prevented Palestinians from entering the Ibrahimi Mosque to
allow Israeli settlers to celebrate a Jewish event. 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 16:30 on Saturday, 15 October 2011, IOF positioned
at the southern entrance of Hebron arrested Nader Daoud Abu Turki, 24, when he
was on his way back home on foot. They
claimed that he attempted to attack an Israeli soldier. 

 

At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 16 October 2011, Israeli soldiers
positioned at the northern entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of
Hebron, arrested Ibrahim ‘Ata ‘As’is, 17.

 

On Monday morning, 17 October 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at
Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Mohammed Mahmoud Kharboush, 23,
from Tulkarm.

 

4. Efforts
to Create a Jewish Majority in Jerusalem

 

IOF have
continued efforts to create a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem. In this context, the Israeli daily Haaretz
unveiled on Friday, 14 October 2011, an Israeli governmental decision to
establish a new Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem and to build 2,610
housing units between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The Israeli government published an advertisement in Israeli newspapers
concerning the new neighborhood to enable people to appeal against its
establishment. The daily newspaper
reported that the land on which the neighborhood would be established is “a state
land” and if no objections were presented against the establishment of the
neighborhood within 60 days, the Israeli government would issue construction
licenses for the neighborhood. According
to Khalil al-Taufakji, a Palestinian maps and settlement expert, the new
settlement plan would lead to the confiscation of at least 950 dunums of
Palestinian land in the south of Jerusalem and the north of Bethlehem. He added that this plan would connect “Har
Homa” (Jabal Abu Ghunaim) settlement with “Givat Hamatos” and “Gilo”
settlements. It would separate between
Bethlehem and villages located near 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 07:00 on Thursday, 13 October 2011, IOF began to expand a
settlement outpost established on the lands of Eskaka village, east of
Salfit. According to eyewitnesses, IOF
razed at least 30 dunums of Palestinian agricultural land in the southeast of
the village, and annexed them to the settlement outpost. They also placed 4 mobile homes in the area. 

 

At
approximately 10:00 also on Thursday, Israeli settlers gathered at the gates of
al-Ibrahimiya and al-Faihaa’ schools to the southwest of the Ibrahimi Mosque in
Hebron. The administrations of the two
schools were forced to let schoolchildren go homes in order to ensure their
safety.

 

On
Thursday noon, Israeli settlers attacked Cordoba Elementary School in the
center of Hebron. They threw stones and
empty bottles at the school and attempted to break into it. When teachers intervened to prevent the
settlers from breaking into the school, the settlers violently beat them. IOF were present in the area, but did not
intervene to stop the attack.

 

At
approximately 14:30 on Friday, 14 October 2011, a number of Israeli settlers
from “Gilad” settlement stormed Palestinian agricultural areas. The settlers, escorted by 3 Israeli soldiers,
threw stones at ‘Ali Hussein al-Sidda and his family while they were cropping
olives. Later, other Israeli soldiers
came to the area and evacuated the family, claiming that they exceeded the time
allocated for cultivation of olives. 

 

At
approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 19 October 2011, a number of Israeli settlers
from “Nevi Enhiniah” settlement, which stands on the lands of Eskaka village,
east of Salfit, attacked Palestinian farmers while cropping olives in al-Bayada
area. According to eyewitnesses, 3
settlers attacked farmers from the ‘Abdul Qader family. They stole their agricultural tools and the
cultivated olives. It should be noted
that IOF allowed the family to cultivate olives from the area.

 

 

………………………………………………………

 

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).