Israeli soldiers fire incendiary bombs at
Palestinian farms in Bil’ein village during the dispersion of a peaceful
demonstration, 30 September 2011

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

 

3
Palestinians, including a child, were wounded by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

 

IOF launched
a number of air strikes against civilian facilities and training sites in the
Gaza Strip.

Two
houses and a warehouse of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company were
damaged.

 

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

A Palestinian
civilian was wounded.

 

IOF
conducted 35 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a
limited one into the Gaza Strip.  

IOF
arrested 3 Palestinians

 

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

 

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

IOF
uprooted 95 olive trees in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem, for the
purpose of the construction of the annexation wall.

IOF
razed 15 donums[1]
and destroyed some agricultural facilities in Beit Oula village, northwest of
Hebron.

IOF
ordered stopping the establishment of an agricultural road and demolished 7
agricultural rooms, 5 tents and two water wells in Kufor al-Dik village, west
of Salfit.

IOF
declared a plan to establish a new road for settlers on Palestinian
agricultural land in Beit Ummr town, north of Hebron.

Israeli
settlers uprooted 50 olive trees and took over 150 sheep south of Hebron.

Israeli
settlers burnt 50 olive trees in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.

 

 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (29 September – 05 October 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF wounded 4 Palestinians, including a child, in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 01 October
2011, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house in the northern Gaza Strip
town of Beit Hanoun. As a result, two
Palestinians were wounded by shrapnel. An old woman also sustained bruises. IOF claimed that they targeted a number of Palestinians who intended to
launch home-made rockets into Israeli towns.

 

On 03 October 2011, a Palestinian child
was wounded when IOF fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were
collecting iron and aluminum in Juhor al-Dik (Gaza Valley) village in the
central Gaza Strip. 

 

On 30 September 2011, an Israeli
warplane bombarded a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the
armed wing of Hamas) in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. 

 

On 05 October 2011, Israeli gunboats
opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.

 

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

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 35 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 3 Palestinians.   

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted a limited incursion into al-Qarara village,
northeast of Khan Yunis, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian
agricultural land.

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

Israel
had continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

 

 

 

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.

 

Settlement
Activities:  

 

Israel
has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of
international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property. 

 

On 29 September 2011, IOF declared a
plan to establish a new road for settlers on agricultural area in Beit Ummar
town, north of Hebron, allegedly to secure the movement of Israeli settlers on
bypass road #60 linking between Hebron and Bethlehem. The road will be 8 kilometers long, and will
affect at least 800 dunums of Palestinian agricultural land.

 

On the same day, IOF moved into
Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit. They ordered a number of workers to stop the establishment of an
agricultural road in Zaher Subeh area, claiming that the area is under Israeli
security control according to the Oslo Accords. According to the Mayor of Kufor al-Dik, Jamal al-Dik, the road was
expected to serve at least 70% of the agricultural areas in the village. 

 

On the same day, a number of
Palestinian farmers in al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron, discovered that
Israeli settlers from “Sham’a” settlement, southeast of the village, had
uprooted at least 50 olive trees at night. They also drew the David Star on rocks and the uprooted trees.

 

On 01 October 2011, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Sham’a” settlement to the southeast of al-Zahiriya
village, south of Hebron, took over at least 150 sheep while Palestinian
shepherds were grazing them in Deir al-Louz area in al-Shwaika village to the
east of al-Zahiriya village. The
settlers took the sheep into the settlement after threatening to kill the
shepherds.

 

On the same day, at least 10 Israeli
settlers from “Halmish” settlement, northwest of Ramallah, set fire to olive
trees in Wad Raya area in the south of Nabi Saleh village. At least 50 olive trees belonging had been
burnt before fire engines were able to extinguish fire. 

 

On 03 October 2011, IOF moved into
al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem. They razed at least 5 dunums of agricultural land and uprooted at least
95 olive and oak trees to establish a road near the annexation wall. 

 

On 04 October 2011, IOF moved into
Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit. They demolished 3 agricultural homes, an agricultural compartment, 5
tents and a number of water wells belonging to the ‘Ayash and Ahmed
families. 

 

On the same day, IOF moved into Beit
Oula village, northwest of Hebron. They
razed 15 dunums of agricultural land and destroyed some agricultural
facilities. They also confiscated two
mobile homes and two electricity generators. 

 

 Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (29 September
– 05 October 2011)

 

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

 

Thursday, 29 September 2011

 

At approximately 19:20, 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.

 

Friday,
30 September 2011

 

At approximately 00:00, Israeli
warplanes fired two missiles at a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam
Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in the northwest of al-Maghazi refugee camp
in the central Gaza Strip. The site was
heavily damaged and a nearby warehouse of the Palestinian Telecommunications
Company was slightly damaged.

 

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

 

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

 

Also at approximately 00:30, IOF
moved into Zabbouba village, northwest 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 Kufor Dan village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved
into al-Yamoun village, northwest 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 al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Soon after, 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.

 

Later, IOF moved into ‘Arbouna
village, north 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 Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, 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.

 

Saturday, 01 October 2011

 

At approximately 00:35, IOF moved
into Eskaka village, east of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 00:35, IOF
moved into Yassouf village, east of Salfit. 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 ‘Aboud village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved
into Khirbat Abu Falah village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:00, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at a number of Palestinians who were in the garden of a
house belonging to ‘Ata ‘Abdul ‘Aati al-Za’anin in al-Wadi Street in the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. As a result, two Palestinians who were in a visit to the owner’s son
were wounded:

 

1- Yousef Rafiq Shabat, 28, seriously wounded by shrapnel
throughout the body; and

2- ‘Abdullah Akram Abu Harbid, 22, wounded by shrapnel throughout
the body. 

 

Sa’diya Sa’id Nasser, 65, who was in the house, also sustained
bruises to the head. Additionally, the
house was damaged. It should be noted
that the two wounded persons are members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades
(the armed wing of Hamas), but they were in an ordinary visit when they were
attacked. The Israeli military claimed
that it targeted a number of Palestinians who intended to launch home-made
rockets into Israeli towns. 

 

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

 

At approximately 22:00, 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 22:00, IOF
moved into Beer al-Basha village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 23:15, IOF moved
into Jericho. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Sunday, 02 October 2011

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

At
approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian children and young
men gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, a number of Palestinian
civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Monday, 03 October 2011

 

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

 

At approximately 08:00, IOF moved
into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:10, IOF
positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza
Valley village fired at number of Palestinian workers who were collecting iron,
aluminum and plastics from a landfill in the northeast of the village. One of the workers, Mohammed Salman
al-Swarka, 17, was wounded by a bullet to the left thigh.

 

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

 

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

 

Tuesday, 04 October 2011

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Halhoul town, north of
Hebron. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

 

1- Hammouda
‘Ali al-Sa’di, 25;

2- Mohammed
Hassan al-Baw, 22; and

3- Wa’el Jameel
al-‘Arja, 23.

 

At approximately 06:15, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into al-Qarara
village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They
leveled areas of Palestinian agricultural land in al-Wad area. At approximately 10:30, Israeli helicopter
gunships opened fire at the area, but no casualties were reported. IOF moved back to the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel at approximately 15:00.

 

Wednesday, 05 October 2011

 

At approximately 08:00, Israel gunboats stationed opposite to Beit
Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing
boats. Palestinian fishermen were forced
to flee towards the beach and no casualties were reported.

 

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

 

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

   

Following the Friday Prayer on 30 September
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 chanted
slogans calling for ending the occupation and annexation wall and release of
all Palestinian prisoners. Moreover, the
demonstrators raised banners calling the world for the recognition of the State
of Palestine and carried the Libyan uprising flags and an American flag on
which (veto) was written. 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 30
September 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 30
September 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, Nariman Mahmoud
Tamimi, 30, was hit by a tear gas canister to the abdomen. A number of demonstrators also suffered from
tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises. 

 

At approximately 13:30, following
the Friday Prayer on 30 September 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of
Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They moved towards the eastern entrance of the village, in protest
against the permanent closure of the entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada. Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and tear
gas canisters at demonstrators. As a
result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

3. Continued
Closure of the OPT

 

Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure of the OPT and
imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the
Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

 

Gaza
Strip

 

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

28 September
– 04 October 2011

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

28 September
– 04 October 2011

 

Imports:

 

 

Notes:

 

On Sunday, 02 October 2011, IOF
allowed the entry of 640 tons of cement, 1,960 tons of construction aggregate
and 62 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,170 tons of fodders.

 

On Monday, 03 October 2011, IOF
allowed the entry of 320 tons of cement, 2,520 tons of construction aggregate and
142 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 702 tons of wheat.

 

On Tuesday, 04 October 2011, IOF
allowed the entry of 240 tons of cement, 560 tons of construction aggregate and
40 tons of construction steel for UNRWA; 240 tons of cement for the Palestinian
Water Authority; 14 tons of tar for the Cooperative Housing Foundation; and 11
tons of cement for Mercy Corps. They
also allowed the entry of 234 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

28 September
– 04 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. 

 

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 01 October 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint on Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta – Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa road, southwest of
Ramalahh. At approximately 17:00 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge,
southwest of Ramallah. At approximately 11:30
on Sunday, 02 October 2011, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, north of Ramallah. At
approximately 19:30, IOF established a checkpoint on the road linking between
Silwad and al-Mazra’a al-Sharqiya villages, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 03 October
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah. At approximately
10:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit
Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah. At
approximately 14:00, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa
intersection, southwest of Ramallah. Also at approximately 14:00, IOF established a checkpoint under ‘Ein
Yabroud Bridge, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 19:45, IOF established a checkpoint near ‘Oyoun
al-Haramiya intersection on Ramallah-Nablus road.   

 

Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. 

 

Qalqilya: IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Saturday, 01 October 2011, IOF established
6 checkpoints around Qalqilya. On Sunday,
02 October 2011, IOF established 6 checkpoints around the town. They stopped
and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday, 03 October 2011, IOF established 3 checkpoints around
Qalqilya.      

 

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 29 September 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint at Ramin intersection, northeast of Tulkarm. At approximately 21:00 on the same day, IOF
imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians
through Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm. At approximately 06:00 on Friday, 30 September 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint at ‘Allar intersection, north of Tulkarm. At approximately 11:00 on the dame day, IOF
imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians
through Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm. At approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 01 October 2011, IOF imposed
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through Ennab
checkpoint, east of Tulkarm. At
approximately 19:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint near Far’oun
intersection, south of Tulkarm.  At
approximately 19:00 on Sunday, 02 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at
Bazaria intersection, east of Tulkarm. At approximately 19:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint
near Jibara Gate on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road, south of Tulkarm.   

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 29 September 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint at Ya’bad intersection, southwest of Jenin. At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 30
September 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Kufor Dan intersection,
northwest of Jenin. At approximately
22:00 on Saturday, 01 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of ‘Arrana village, north of Jenin. At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 03 October 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Jalboun village, east of Jenin. 

 

Salfit: IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 01
October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Estia
village, north of Salfit. At approximately
17:15 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Eskaka
village, east of the town. At
approximately 09:10 on Sunday, 02 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Eskaka village, east of Salfit. At approximately 20:15 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Hares village, north of the town. At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 03 October
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kufol Hares village,
north of Salfit. At approximately 18:00
on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the western entrance of Hares
village, west of Salfit.  

 

Jericho: IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 01
October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Fassayel village,
north of Jericho. At approximately 15:00
on Monday, 03 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein
al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho.    

 

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

 

Israel
has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of
international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.

 

On
Thursday, 29 September 2011, IOF declared a plan to establish a new road for
settlers on agricultural area in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, allegedly to
secure the movement of Israeli settlers on bypass road #60 linking between
Hebron and Bethlehem. The road will be 8
kilometers long, and will affect at least 800 dunums of Palestinian
agricultural land.

 

At
approximately 08:30 on Thursday, 29 September 2011, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik
village, west of Salfit. They ordered a
number of workers to stop the establishment of an agricultural road in Zaher
Subeh area, claiming that the area is under Israeli security control according
to the Oslo Accords. According to the
Mayor of Kufor al-Dik, Jamal al-Dik, the road was expected to serve at least
70% of the agricultural areas in the village. 

 

Also
on Thursday morning, a number of Palestinian farmers in al-Zahiriya village,
south of Hebron, discovered that Israeli settlers from “Sham’a” settlement,
southeast of the village, had uprooted at least 50 olive trees at night. They also drew the David Star on rocks and
the uprooted trees.

 

Also
on Thursday, Palestinian civilians from ‘Izbat Shoufa village, east of Tulkarm,
found notices issued by IOF ordering the demolition of a number of
under-construction houses in the center of the village within 7 days on the
expenses of owners. It should be noted
that on 05 July 2011, IOF had ordered stopping the construction of those
houses.

 

On
Saturday morning, 01 October 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Sham’a”
settlement to the southeast of al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron, took over
at least 150 sheep while Palestinian shepherds were grazing them in Deir
al-Louz area in al-Shwaika village to the east of al-Zahiriya village. The settlers took the sheep, which belong to
Fares Hassan al-Samamra, into the settlement after threatening to kill the
shepherds.

 

At
approximately 21:00 also on Saturday, at least 10 Israeli settlers from
“Halmish” settlement, northwest of Ramallah, set fire to olive trees in Wad
Raya area in the south of Nabi Saleh village. At least 50 olive trees belonging to Ayoub Saleh Ayoub had been burnt
before fire engines were able to extinguish fire. 

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Monday morning, 03 October 2011, IOF moved into
al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem. They razed at least 5 dunums of agricultural land and uprooted at least
95 olive and oak trees to establish a road near the annexation wall. 

 

At
approximately 15:00 also on Monday, IOF moved into Hares village, north of
Salfit. They handed notices to
Palestinian civilians ordering stopping the construction of 6 houses allegedly
for the lack of licenses. Those houses
belong to:

 

1- Tayseer ‘Ali
Shamlawi;

2- Yousef
Hassan Jaber;

3- Marwan Sami
Souf;

4- Mahmoud
Hassan Jaber;

5- Mahmoud
Husni Shamlawi; and

6- Waleed Sa’id
Souf.

 

At
approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 04 October 2011, IOF, accompanied by
bulldozers, stormed ‘Attous area in the west and northwest of Beit Oula
village, northwest of Hebron. They moved
into an area belonging to the al-Okal family. They razed 15 dunums of agricultural land planted with okras and beans; uprooted
at least 600 trees; destroyed irrigation networks and two water tanks;
demolished an agricultural room and walls; and confiscated two mobile rooms and
two electricity generators. They then
moved towards Khillat ‘Alqam area. They
destroyed a water well belonging to the Islamic Charitable Association, and an
agricultural room, a water tank and a rent belonging to Yousef Mohammed
al-Atrash. IOF withdrew from these areas
at approximately 13:00 leaving extensive damage. According to eyewitnesses, IOF used force to
drive Palestinian farmers away from the area. They also confiscated the uprooted trees. The targeted areas are located near the
annexation wall.

 

Also
at approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 04 October 2011, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik
village, west of Salfit. They demolished
3 agricultural homes, an agricultural compartment, 5 tents and a number of
water wells belonging to the ‘Ayash and Ahmed families.

 

 

………………………………………………………

 

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
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282 4776 – 282 5893).