A
house that was destroyed when Israeli warplanes bombarded a nearby poultry farm
in Rafah

 

Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

 

IOF
killed 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, and two members of the
Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip.

 

52
Palestinian civilians, including 12 children and 6 women, were wounded by IOF in
the Gaza Strip.

 

IOF
launched a series of aerial and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip

A
number of civilian facilities were destroyed and a number of houses were
damaged.

 

The IOF used force
to disperse peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians in the West
Bank.

6
Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a woman, and an Italian human
rights defender were wounded.

Dozens
of protestors sustained bruising and suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

The
IOF conducted 42 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2
limited ones into the Gaza Strip. 

The
IOF arrested 16 Palestinians, including two children and two women.

 

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

The IOF
established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

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

IOF
destroyed a rainwater pool in Hebron and an auto repair workshop in Bethlehem.

Israeli
settlers launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians.

 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt
continued during the reporting period (08 – 13 November 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF
killed 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, and two members of the
Palestinian resistance, and wounded 53 civilians, including 12 children and 6
women, in the Gaza Strip.  They also
wounded 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a woman, and an
Italian human rights defender in the West Bank. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF escalated
attacks against the Gaza Strip, killing a number of Palestinian civilians and
members of the Palestinian resistance. 
They also destroyed a number of civilian facilities and damaged a number
of houses. 

 

On 08 November 2012, IOF killed a
Palestinian child during an incursion into ‘Abassan village, east of Kahn
Yunis. 

 

On 10 November 2012, IOF killed 4
Palestinian civilians, including two children, when they fired a number of
artillery shells at al-Shoja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.  Additionally, 38 Palestinians, including 9
children, were wounded, the wounds of 10 of them was described as serious.  On 13 November 2012, one of the wounded died
of his wounds.

 

On the same day, 11 Palestinian
civilians, including 5 women and two children, were wounded when IOF fired two
artillery shells at Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. 

 

Also on the same day, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at a number of members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed
wing of Islamic Jihad) in the northern Gaza Strip, killing one of them. 

 

On 11 November 2012, another member
of the Palestinian resistance was killed in a similar attack. 

 

On the same day, a Palestinian
civilian was wounded when IOF fired artillery shells at Gaza International
Airport, southeast of Rafah. 

 

During the reporting period, Israeli
warplanes launched a series of airstrikes against civilian facilities and a
number of training sites of the Palestinian resistance.  As a result, a number of civilian facilities
were destroyed and some houses were damaged. 
 

 

In the West Bank, the IOF have
continued the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human right defenders
against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in
the West Bank.  As a result, 6
Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a woman, were wounded, and dozens
of protestors sustained bruises and suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, the IOF conducted at least 42 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 
During these incursions, the IOF arrested at least 16 Palestinians,
including two children and two women. 

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted two limited incursions into the southern and
northern Gaza Strip, during which they killed a Palestinian child and leveled
areas of Palestinian land.

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

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

 

The illegal Israeli-imposed closure
of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a
disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  The illegal closure has caused not only a
humanitarian crisis, but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the
population of the Gaza Strip. 
Recently-declared measures to ease the closure are vague, purely
cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis; the root causes
can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of the closure,
including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on
exports.  Palestinians in Gaza may no
longer suffer from the same shortage of goods but, as long as the closure is
allowed to continue, they will remain economically dependent, unable to care
for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the rest
of the world. 

 

The IOF have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the
West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. 
Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

 

Settlement
Activities:

 

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

 

On 08
November 2012, IOF moved into ‘Ein Fares area in the southwest of Nahalin
village, west of Bethlehem, adjacent to “Bitar Elite” settlement. A number of
workers brought by IOF cut a number of olive and almond trees.  Eyewitnesses from the village said that 25
olive and almond trees were cut.

 

On
the same day, dozens of settlers from “Beit Hagai” settlement, which stands on
civilians’ lands in Hebron, stole olives from Palestinian lands in al-Reihiya
village, south of the town and adjacent to the security fence of the
aforementioned settlement. An eyewitness told a PCHR fieldworker that a group
of settlers attacked farmlands near the aforementioned settlement and stole
olives while a number of them broke some tree branches before leaving the land.

On
09 November 2012, a Palestinian civilian from Hebron sustained injuries in his
head as a result of stones thrown at him by settlers.  He was injured while he was in al-Shallalah
Street in the center of the town.

 

On
the same day, a Palestinian civilian sustained injuries and bruises in the head
and the foot as a result of being thrown with stones by an Israeli settler in
Tal al-Rumidah area in the center of Hebron. 

 

Also
on the same day, a group of Israeli settlers from “Shilo” settlement, which
stands on Palestinian land in the southeast of Qaryout village, southeast of
Nablus, moved into the village and arrived to its center.  They were accompanied by the security officer
of the settlement.  A number of
Palestinian civilians gathered in the village and threw stones at the settlers,
who were forced to leave the village. 
Half an hour later, Palestinian civilians were surprised to find another
number of settlers in al-Sahlat area in the south of the village, so they went
to the area to expel the settlers.  A number
of settlers started shooting fire at them. 
Soon, IOF moved into the area and started firing sound bombs at the
civilians and chased them into the village. 
IOF arrested two young men from the village.

 

On
12 November 2012, IOF moved into the Beit ‘Aynon village, west of Hebron.  They prevented civilians from moving.  They destroyed a rainwater pool which is used
to irrigate crops. 

 

On
the same day, Israeli settlers wrote racist slogans on walls of houses in
al-Manshiya village, south of Bethlehem. 
They also attempted to set fire to a house, but Palestinian civilians
were able to stop them by stone throwing.

 

On
13 November 2012, IOF moved into an area adjacent to al-‘Arroub refugee camp,
north of Hebron, near Hebron-Bethlehem road. 
They razed a 200-square-meter paved yard that used as a car park.  The loss is estimated at 20,000
(approximately US$ 5,400). 

 

On
the same day, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem.  They demolished a garage and confiscated a
container of car parts. 

 

Also on the same day, IOF positioned
near the annexation wall in the west of Beit Oula village, west of Hebron,
dropped a notice on an agricultural plot ordering the evacuation of the plot in
45 days.

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (08 – 13 November 2012)

 

1-  Israeli Military Escalation in the Gaza Strip

 

Thursday,
08 November 2012

 

At
approximately 08:00, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into the east of al-Qarara
village, northeast of Khan Yunis.  They
leveled areas of Palestinian land amidst indiscriminate shooting.   A few hours later, they moved southwards to
‘Abassan village.  They opened fire
indiscriminately and leveled areas of Palestinian land.  An Israeli helicopter gunship also opened
fire at the area.  At approximately
16:30, as a result of the indiscriminate shooting by IOF military vehicles,
13-year-old Ahmed Younis Khader Abu Daqqa was seriously wounded by a bullet to
the abdomen.  At the time he was shot, Ahmed had been playing football
with his friends in front of his family’s house, located nearly 1,500 meters
away from the area where the IOF were present.  He was evacuated to the
European Gaza Hospital in Khan Yunis, but he was pronounced dead 15 minutes
later.  IOF remained in the area until 00:30 on the following day.  In his testimony to PCHR, Mohammed Tariq Abu
Daqqa, 14, stated:

 

“On Thursday
evening, 08 November 2012, my friend, Ahmed Abu Daqqa, invited me to play
football, which he liked so much.  We
began to play football in front of his house together with Khaled ‘Ali Abu
Daqqa, Shadi Akram Abu Daqqa and Fares Hassan Qudaih.  Ahmed was wearing sports clothes and he
played as a goalkeeper.  We knew that
there was an Israeli incursion in the area and we heard sporadic shooting.  We thought that we were safe because we were
relatively far from the affected area. 
However, at approximately 16:30, I saw a bullet hitting the door of
Ahmed’s house.  I soon saw Ahmed falling
onto the ground.  He then stood up
putting his hands on his abdomen and screaming. 
He moved into his house.  The
children who were playing with us escaped. 
I called Ahmed’s brother and told him that Ahmed was wounded.  Soon after, Ahmed’s brother carried him out
of the house and asked me to call an ambulance. 
I immediately went to a nearly grocery shop and asked its owner to call
an ambulance and he did.  Ahmed was then
transported by a civilian car to the hospital. 
I learnt later that he died. 
Before he was wounded, he had asked me to photograph him wearing the
uniform of Real Madrid, of which he was a fan.”

 

At
approximately 18:40, IOF moved nearly 200 meters into the east of the northern
Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia.  They
searched the area and opened fire sporadically. 
They moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at
approximately 22:50.

 

Saturday, 10
November 2012

 

At approximately 15:30, Israeli military vehicles stationed at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired an artillery shell at a number
of Palestinian children who were playing football at al-Mentar Hill east of
al-Shoja’iya neighborhood, which is east of Gaza City and nearly 1,500 meters
away from the border.  As a result, 2 children were instantly

 

 killed:

 

1- Mohammed Ussama Hassan Harara, 16; and

2- Ahmed Mustafa Khaled Harara, 17.

 

Following this attack, a number of Palestinian civilians, who were
gathered to mourn a bereaved in the house of the Harara family, rushed to the
area, where the IOF immediately fired another 3 shells.  As a result, 2
Palestinian civilians were instantly killed:

 

1- Ahmed Kamel Al- Dirdissawi, 18; and

2- Matar ‘Emad ‘Abdul Rahman Abu al-‘Ata (19). 

 

Additionally, 38 civilians, including 8 children, were wounded; the
wounding of 10 of these civilians was described by medical crews as being
serious. 

 

At approximately
17:00, the IOF, positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel,
east of Khan Yunis, fired 2 artillery shells at the water tank of the Khuza’a
Municipality, nearly 800 meters away from the border.  Shrapnel from the
shells hit 11 Palestinian civilians, including 5 women and 2 children, while
they were inside their houses or in nearby streets:

 

1- Rasmiya
Khalil al-Najjar, 45, wounded by shrapnel to the left hand;

2- Ibtissam
Mohammed al-Najjar, 40, wounded by shrapnel to the left hand;

3- Eline Mahmoud
al-Najjar, 30, wounded by shrapnel to the left side;

4- Samar Khaled
al-Najjar, 19, wounded by shrapnel to the left hand;

5- Dalal Fu’ad
al-Najjar, 20, wounded by shrapnel to the hand;

6- Mo’tassem
Fawzi al-Najjar, 10, wounded by shrapnel to the face;

7- Ibrahim
Sameer al-Najjar, 17, wounded by shrapnel to the right hand;

8- Fathi ‘Abdul
Rahman al-Najjar, 50, wounded by shrapnel to the face;

9- Sameer
Mohammed al-Najjar, 50, wounded by shrapnel to the back;

10- Eyad Zaki
al-Najjar, 28, wounded by shrapnel to the chest; and

11- Ramez
Mohammed al-Najjar, 22, wounded by shrapnel to the chest.    

 

At
approximately 20:40, Israeli warplanes opened fire at Gaza International
Airport, southeast of Rafah.  No
casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 21:50, Israeli warplanes opened fire at open areas in the east of
Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip. 
No casualties were reported, but Palestinian civilians, especially women
and children, were extremely terrified. 

 

At the same
time, the IOF, positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel,
fired an artillery shell at the office of the Gaza Electricity Distribution
Company in al-Sha’af neighborhood east of Gaza City.  The office was
heavily damaged, but no casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 22:45, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of members of
the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) near al-Khuzondar fuel
station in the west of Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip.  No casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 23:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of the al-Quds
Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in the west of Jabalya town.  As a result, a member of the group, Mohammed
Sa’id Mohammed Eshkokani, 18, from the Beach camp west of Gaza City, was killed
by shrapnel throughout the body.

 

Sunday,
11 November 2012

 

 At approximately 00:00, an Israeli drone
attacked a group of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in
Riad al-Salehin area in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya.  As a result, a member of the group, Mohammed
Fu’ad ‘Obaid, 22, was killed by shrapnel throughout the body.  He body was found by medical crews at
approximately 06:00. 

 

Also At
approximately 00:00 on Sunday, 11 November 2012, Israeli warplanes fired 2
missiles at a metalwork workshop belonging to Radwan Younis Tafesh in the
northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya.  The workshop was completely
destroyed, and a neighboring house belonging to Sami Khair al-Najjar was
damaged.  Al-Najjar’s wife, Nihad Fahmi al-Najjar, 45, was injured by
glass fragments throughout her body, and their child, Mustafa 17, was injured
by glass fragments in his left foot. 
There women living in the area were evacuated to the hospital as they
were shocked.

 

At
approximately 00:20, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at an agricultural
store located near a house belonging to Mohammed Mustafa Jaber, 65.  The store was destroyed, and the house, where
20 individuals live, was damaged.  Two
neighboring houses belonging to the al-Ghandour family were also damaged.

 

At
approximately 00:50, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a
1,000-square-meter poultry farm in al-Hashash neighborhood northwest of
Rafah.  The farm was completely destroyed, and 10 sheep and some birds
were killed.  A number of nearby houses were damaged.

 

At
approximately 01:05, an Israeli warplane fired 3 missiles at a factory of
concrete in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah.  The factory was completely destroyed, but no
casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 01:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of the
Palestinian resistance near al-Khuzondar fuel station in the west of
Jabalya.  No casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 11:10, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and
Israel fired 6 artillery shells at the vicinity of Gaza International
Airport.  As a result, ‘Awadallah
Mohammed Abu ‘Edwan, 42, was moderately wounded, when he was riding a
motorcycle near house.  UNRWA suspended
the evening shift of al-Shouka elementary school, in which 600 children study.

 

At
approximately 12:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and
Israel fired an artillery shell at a factory of plastic products belonging to
Hussein Mohammed Sorour, 53, in the industrial zone to the southeast of Beit
Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip. 
The factory was damaged and two Palestinian civilians suffered from
suffocation because of the smoke that evaporated from burnt products: Ibrahim
Mohammed Sorour, 34, and Mohammed Hatem Sorour, 19. 

 

At
approximately 13:00, Israeli soldiers positioned on observation towers at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at a number of young men
who got close to the border and threw stones at them following the funeral
procession of Palestinians who were killed by previous Israeli attacks.  As a result, Mahmoud ‘Aayed Harara, 19, from
al-Shoja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, was wounded by a bullet to
the left leg.

 

At
approximately 16:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at an open area behind
the car market in the southeast of al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza
City.  No casualties were reported.

 

Monday,
12 November 2012

 

At
approximately 02:20, Israeli warplanes bombarded an open area in the west of
Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip. 
No casualties were reported, but Palestinian civilians, especially women
and children, were extremely terrified.

 

At
approximately 02:30, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at Abu Jarad site,
which belongs to Hamas, near al-Shuhada intersection, south of Gaza City.  No casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 03:20, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at an open area near
an UNRWA clinic in al-Nasser village, north of Rafah.  No casualties were reported.

 

Tuesday,
13 November 2012

 

At approximately
01:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at an open area near al-Khuzondar
fuel station in the west of Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip.  The missile made a large crater in the area,
but no casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 01:10, am Israeli warplane fired a missile at a training site of
the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) near al-Shuhada
intersection, south of Gaza City.  No
casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 08:00, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared
that Mohammed Ziad Qanou’, 22, a member of the ‘Izzddin al-Qassam Brigades (the
armed wing of Hamas) from al-Shoja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City,
died of wounds he had sustained on Saturday, 10 November 2012, when IOF fired a
number of artillery shells at Palestinian civilians near al-Mentra Hill in
al-Shoja’iya neighborhood (see above). 

 

2-  Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks
on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank 

 

Thursday, 08 November 2012

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Suleiman Salem Abu Rabee’, 34, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest
of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Sajed Jameel al-Balboul, 21, and arrested
him.  It should be noted that IOF had
summoned him for interrogation a week earlier.

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Shyoukh village, east of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee
camp, north of Hebron.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 05:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Sudan village, north
of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 08:00, IOF moved into ‘Izbat al-Tabib
village, east of Qalqilya.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, northwest
of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into al-Zababda village,
southeast of Jenin.  They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Sanour village, south
of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Misliya village, south
of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Also at approximately 11:30, IOF moved into al-Janya village,
northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:15, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village,
southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled
the streets provocatively.  A number of
Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired
rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at Palestinian
civilians.  As a result, a number of
civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Friday, 09 November 2012

 

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

 

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Saffa village, southwest of
Ramallah.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Ghassan Nabeel Mansour, 24, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Ruq’a area in the west of
Yatta village, south of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets provocatively.  A
number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli military
vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers
fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at Palestinian civilians.  As a result, a number of civilians suffered
from tear gas inhalation.

 

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

At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into the areas located between
Sanour and Maithaloun villages, south of Jenin. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta village,
west of Ramallah.  They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 22:00, IOF moved into al-Zababda village,
southeast of Jenin.  They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 10 November 2012

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Ne’lin village, west of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 00:40, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled the streets for some
time and withdrew later.  Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They arrested two Palestinian
children from their houses: Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah Radwan, 15; and Ahmed
Mustafa Khirfan, 15.  They released
Radwan on the following day morning, but kept Khirfan in custody.

 

At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron.  They stormed the Islamic
Cemetery while Palestinian civilians were burying a dead man.  A number of boys threw stones at Israeli
soldiers, who immediately fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at
them.  As a result, a number of civilians
suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

Sunday, 11 November 2012

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, northwest
of Jenin.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Mohammed Rezeq Houshiya, 18, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 07:30, IOF moved into Taqqou’ village, southeast
of Bethlehem.  They took position on the
road linking Israeli settlements in Hebron and Bethlehem.  They fired rubber-coated metal bullets and
tear gas canisters at school children while going to school.  As a result, two children suffered from tear
gas inhalation: Bahaa’ ‘Aaref al-‘Omour, 16; and Mahmoud Mohammed Abu Meferh,
16.

 

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

 

At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Sinjel village, north of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 12 November 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Salam Street and ‘Ein
Sarah area in the center of Hebron.  They
raided and searched a number of shops belonging to the al-Natsha family.  They then summoned Ameen ‘Abdul Rahman
al-Natsha, 39, for interrogation.

 

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

 

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Kufor Malek village,
northeast of Ramallah.  They raided and
searched 4 houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

 

1- Saji Ahmed Shawkat, 20;

2- ‘Abdul Hameed Mohammed Shafiq, 25;

3- Mohammed Mustafa Salama, 23; and

4- ‘Alam ‘Eid Hamayel, 23.

 

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

 

At approximately 21:30, IOF moved into Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta village,
southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp,
north of Hebron.  They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

 

1- Ibrahim Ahmed al-‘Ajjouri, 18;

2- Mohammed Yousef Jawabra, 18; and

3- Anas Jamal Aa’rabi, 19.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest
of Jenin.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Mona Hussein Qe’dan, 40, and arrested
her.  It should be noted that Qe’dan had
been detained by IOF 4 times.  She was
released the last time on 18 December 2011 in the context of a prisoners swap
between Israel and Palestinian resistance groups.

 

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Sa’ir village,
northeast of Hebron.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Safwat Zaidan Jaradat, 21, and
arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Jibara village, which has
been isolated by the annexation wall, south of Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Ahmed Fu’ad ‘Awadh, who was killed by IOF inside his house in
20111, and arrested his widow, Nada ‘Aaref ‘Awadh, 55.  It should be noted that IOF had arrested her
son, Yahia, 18, on 04 November 2012.

 

At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem, Beit Jala and
Beit Sahour towns to search for an Israeli girl who lost her way.  They patrolled the streets and stopped and
searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 
They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

 

3-  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 at the construction of the wall and settlement activities in the
West Bank.  As a result, 6 Palestinian
civilians, including a woman and 3 children, and an Italian human rights
defender were wounded, and dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas
inhalation. 

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 09 November 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.  The demonstrators gathered in the streets of
the village, chanting slogans calling for national unity.  The protesters
aimed to stress the need to adhere to national principles and the right of
return, to resist the occupation and to call for the release of all Palestinian
prisoners.  The demonstration coincided with the 23^rd
anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 8^th anniversary
of the death of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.  The protesters raised Palestinian flags and
made their way towards the wall.  They called through megaphones for
Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land.  Israeli
soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs
and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. 
As a result, an Italian human rights defender, 50, was hit by a tear gas
canister to the right foot, and a number of demonstrators suffered from tear
gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 19 October 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The
demonstration coincided with the 23^rd anniversary of the fall of the
Berlin Wall and the 8^th anniversary of the death of the late
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.  The
demonstrators moved towards areas of the annexation wall.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in
the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters
at the demonstrators.  As a result, some
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained
bruises. 

 

Around the same time on Friday, 19 October 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders
gathered in the Martyrs Square in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to
hold a weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall
and settlement activities.  The
demonstration coincided with the 8^th anniversary of the death of the
late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. 
The protesters walked towards the gate erected by IOF near the entrance
of the village, which leads 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, 6 Palestinian
civilians, including a woman and 3 children, were wounded, and some
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 09 November
2012, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized
a peaceful demonstration in the center of al-Ma’sara village, south of
Bethlehem, in protest at the ongoing construction of the annexation wall.  As the protestors moved towards the gate of
the village, IOF closed it to prevent the demonstration from gaining access to
the confiscated lands.  Israeli soldiers
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
protesters.  They also violently bear
‘Abada ‘Ali Braijiya, 12, and attempted to arrest him.   

 

At approximately 12:30 on Friday, 09 November
2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a sit-in in front of “Gush
Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem, demanding closing the road leading to
Etzion detention center, stopping attacks by Israeli settlers and boycotting
Rami Livi Mall.  IOF fired tear gas
canisters at the participants and beat Younis ‘Arar, 35.

 

4- Continued
Closure of the oPt

 

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

 

 

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has
continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for nearly 5 years.  The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the
Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous
impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. 

 

The IOF have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip, making Karm
Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it
is not suitable for commercial purposes, in terms of its distance and
operational capacity. 

 

The 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 terrible situation that has seriously affected the
Gaza Strip.  Following this closure, all
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 to close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of
decisions resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the
Gaza Strip in the beginning of 2009, and the 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. 

 

The IOF have continued to impose a 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 erupted last November, has continued
to affect the Gaza Strip.  This crisis
was created on 04 January 2010, when Israeli occupation authorities totally
closed the Nahal Oz crossing, which used to be dedicated to the delivery of
fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza. 
They shifted fuel and cooking gas supplies to the Karm Abu Salem
crossing, which is not equipped to receive Gaza’s fuel needs.  The 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 humanitarian
aid provided by UNRWA and other relief agencies, the number of families who are
living below the poverty line has continued to increase, and approximately 40%
of Gaza’s manpower continues to suffer from permanent unemployment as a result
of shutting down the majority of Gaza’s economic establishments. 

 

The IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the export of
products from Gaza, especially industrial products, undermining any real chance
of reopening economic establishments.  The situation has been aggravated since the
Karm Abu Salem crossing was designated as Gaza’s sole commercial crossing; the
repeated closure of this crossing negatively affects the quantity of Gaza
products which are allowed to be exported.  

 

For approximately 6 consecutive years, the IOF
have continued to ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza.  During the reporting period, the IOF approved
the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of
international organizations.

 

Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for
Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip. 
The IOF only allow the movement of limited groups amidst severe
restrictions, including long hours of waiting in the majority of cases.  The IOF have also continued to adopt a policy
aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the
Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in
the West Bank and Jerusalem.  The IOF
denied new categories of Gazan patients permission to access hospitals via the
crossing.   

 

Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on traders,
international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter
the Gaza Strip. 

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

07 –
12 November 2012

 

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

06 –
12 November 2012

Imports:

 

 

Exports:

 

On Tuesday, 06 November 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 5 truckloads
of empty plastic cans returned previously.

On Wednesday, 07 November 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 7
truckloads of empty plastic cans previously returned, 100 cartons of basils and
624 cartons of onions and a truckload of basil. 

On Thursday, 08 November 2012, IOF allowed the export of 4
truckloads of empty plastic cans previously returned, 360 cartons of basils and
170 cartons of onions.

 

 

Other Imports:

 

On Tuesday, 06 November 2012, OF allowed the entry of 40 tons of
cement, 20 tons of construction steel and 3,500 tons of construction aggregate
for UNRWA; and 2,100 tons of construction aggregate for the Palestinian Water
Authority.  They also allowed the entry
of 780 tons of fodders and 117 tons of wheat.

 

On Wednesday, 07 November 2012, the IOF allowed the entry of 80
tons of cement, 3,500 tons of construction aggregate and 2,030 tons of base
course; 280 tons of cement, 36 tons of construction steel and 2,100 tons of
construction aggregate for the Palestinian Water Authority; and 350 tons of
construction aggregate for UNDP.  They
also allowed the entry of 429 tons of fodders and 156 tons of wheat. 

 

On Thursday, 08 November 2012, the IOF allowed the entry of 56 tons
of cement, 4,130 tons of construction aggregate and 1,330 tons of base course
for UNRWA; and 2,590 tons of construction aggregate for the Palestinian Water
Authority.  They also allowed the entry
of 390 tons of fodders and 156 tons of wheat.

 

Note: IOF closed the crossing on Sunday and
Monday, 11 and 12 November 2012, in the context of the military escalation
against the Gaza Strip. 

 

Movement
at the Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

07 –
12 November 2012

 

 

Note: IOF did not allow family visitation to Palestinian prisoners
detained in Israeli jails, in the context of the military escalation against
the Gaza Strip.

 

Israel has
imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. 
During the reporting period, the IOF imposed additional restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians:

 

Ramallah
and al-Bireh: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 08 November 2012, the IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Liqya, west of Ramallah.  At approximately 14:00, IOF established a
checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 19:30, IOF re-established
their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 09 November
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately
16:00, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa intersection.  At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 10
November 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Silwad village,
northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately
14:30, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of
Ramallah.

 

Qalqilya: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.  At approximately 13:50 on
Thursday, 08 November 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Jainsafout village, east of Qalqilya.  At
approximately 09:10 on Friday, 09 November 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
near the fuel station in Hijja village, east of Qalqilya.  At approximately 12:15, IOF established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  At approximately 16:50 on Sunday, 11 November
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya.  At approximately 18:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, east of Qalqilya.  At approximately 17:00 on Tuesday, 13
November 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of ‘Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilya.

 

Jenin:  IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 19:00 on Thursday, 08
November 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Ya’bad
village, southwest of Jenin.  At
approximately 20:00, IOF established a checkpoint at ‘Arraba intersection,
south of Jenin.

 

Tulkarm:  IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 22:30 on Thursday, 08
November 2012, IOF established a checkpoint on al-Sha’rawiya road near
al-Jaroushiya village, north of Tulkarm. 
At approximately 06:00 on Saturday, 10 November 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at Bazaria intersection, east of Tulkarm. 

 

Hebron:  IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 10
November 2012, IOF established a checkpoint on Wad Abu Risha road, west of
Hebron.  At approximately 18:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at Kharsa intersection, southwest of Hebron.  At approximately 07:30 on Tuesday, 13
November 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at al-‘Aqaba Triangle intersection,
southwest of Hebron.  At approximately
15:00, IOF established a checkpoint on Wad Abu Risha road, west of hebron. 

 

Jericho:  IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 08
November 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of
Jericho.  At approximately 10:30 on
Saturday, 10 November 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. 

 

Salfit:  IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 
At approximately 19:00 on Thursday, 08 November 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Brouqin village, west of Salfit.  At approximately 08:10 on Friday, 09 November
2012, IOF established a checkpoint between Hares and Kufol Hares villages,
north of Salfit.  At approximately 09:40
on Saturday, 10 November 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern
entrance of Brouqin village, north of Salfit. 
At approximately 13:55, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern
entrance of Kufor Hares village, north of Salfit. 

Detention at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 09 November 2012, Israeli
soldiers positioned at the main entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, south of
Hebron, detained Nemer and Mohammed Nabeel Dousin, 12 and 8 respectively, for
several hours.  The Palestinian Liaison
intervened later and the two children were released.

 

5-
Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and
Property

 

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

 

At
approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 08 November 2012, IOF moved into ‘Ein Fares
area in the southwest of Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem, adjacent to “Bitar
Elite” settlement. A number of workers brought by IOF cut a number of olive and
almond trees.  Eyewitnesses from the
village said that 25 olive and almond trees belonging to Mousa Abdel Hamid, 80,
were cut.

 

Jamal
Salem Najajrah, Chairman of the Local Council of Nahalin, stated that IOF
declared Ein Fares area a closed military zone, expelled the farmers who were
harvesting olives and established a checkpoint which denied civilians’ access
to their lands.  Consequently, clashes erupted
between IOF and civilians, but no injuries were reported.  ‘Ein Fares area is a part of Area “C” (under
full Israeli control according to the Oslo Accords), and IOF claim that notices
were sent to the land owners.  It should
be noted that no civilian received any notice in this regard.

 

At
approximately 06:00 on the same day, dozens of settlers from “Beit Hagai”
settlement, which stands on civilians’ lands in Hebron, stole olives from Palestinian
lands in al-Reihiya village, south of the town and adjacent to the security fence
of the aforementioned settlement. An eyewitness told a PCHR fieldworker that a
group of settlers attacked farmlands near the aforementioned settlement and
stole olives while a number of them broke some tree branches before leaving the
land.

 

At
approximately 09:00 on Friday, 09 November 2012, Samer Abdel Wahhab Jaber, 20,
from Hebron, sustained injuries in his head as a result of stones thrown at him
by settlers.  He was injured while he was
in al-Shallalah Street in the center of the town and was taken by an ambulance to
the Hebron Public Hospital to receive treatment.  It should be noted that IOF closed areas in
the vicinity of the old town to allow Jewish religious rituals, and IOF and
settlers were intensively present.

 

At
approximately 16:00 on the same day, ‘Emad Nazmi al-Atrash, 18, sustained injuries
and bruises in the head and the foot as a result of being thrown with stones by
an Israeli settler in Tal al-Rumidah area in the center of Hebron.  He was thrown with stones while he was heading
to an educational center in the area and was taken by a Palestinian ambulance
to the Hebron Public Hospital to receive treatment.

 

‘Emad al-Atrash
said the following to a PCHR fieldworker: “While I was heading to an
educational center in Tal al-Rumidah area, an Israeli settler insulted me with
bad words.  I went to talk to one of the
soldiers who were in the spot to move the settler off my way. It was only moments
when the settler started throwing stones at me causing injuries in my head and
foot. I fell on the ground and was taken by an ambulance to the Hebron Public Hospital.”

 

At the
same time, a group of Israeli settlers from “Shilo” settlement, which stands on
Palestinian land in the southeast of Qaryout village, southeast of Nablus,
moved into the village and arrived to its center.  They were accompanied by the security officer
of the settlement.  A number of Palestinian
civilians gathered in the village and threw stones at the settlers, who were
forced to leave the village.  Half an
hour later, Palestinian civilians were surprised to find another number of
settlers in al-Sahlat area in the south of the village, so they went to the
area to expel the settlers.  A number of
settlers started shooting fire at them. 
Soon, IOF moved into the area and started firing sound bombs at the
civilians and chased them into the village.  IOF then raided the sports stadium, where a
group of young people were exercising.  They arrested two young men from the field and
took them to ‘Oufar detention center: Qutayba Radi Farahat Issa, 25; and Samed
Mahmoud Taher Maradawi, 23.

 

At
approximately 02:00 on Monday, 12 November 2012, IOF, accompanied by a
bulldozer, and a vehicle belonging to Planning and Construction Department in the
Civil Administration, moved into the Beit ‘Aynon village, west of Hebron.  They prevented civilians from moving.  In the meanwhile, a bulldozer was leveling a
rainwater pool belonging to Sa’id Zalloum, 43, which is used to irrigate crops.  Zalloum stated to a PCHR fieldworker that IOF
moved into the area and bulldozed the rainwater pool without handing him any
notice to suspend working in the pool.

 

It
should be noted that IOF took serious measures farmers in north of Hebron. The
latest of such measures was demolishing a water well and confiscating an
irrigation network in Wad al-Ghrouz and al-Baq’aa areas, northeast of Hebron.

 

At
approximately 02:30 on Monday, 12 November 2012, Israeli settlers wrote racist
slogans on walls of houses in al-Manshiya village, south of Bethlehem.  They also attempted to set fire to a house
belonging to Ahmed Younis Abu Daya, but Palestinian civilians were able to stop
them by stone throwing.

 

At
approximately 04:30 on Tuesday, 13 November 2012, IOF moved into an area
adjacent to al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, near Hebron-Bethlehem
road.  They razed a 200-square-meter
paved yard that used as a car park belonging to Saqer ‘Aqqab Abu ‘Ayash.  The loss is estimated at 20,000
(approximately US$ 5,400).  IOF claimed
that the yard is close to the main road and to “Gush Etzion” settlement.

 

At
approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem.  They demolished a garage and confiscated a
container of car parts belonging to Ayman Mahmoud Sbatin.  They also handed a notice to Sabatin to refer
to the Israeli Civil Administration in “Beit Eil” settlement, north of
Ramallah. 

 

At approximately 07:30 on Tuesday,
13 November 2012, IOF positioned near the annexation wall in the west of Beit
Oula village, west of Hebron, dropped a notice on an agricultural plot belonging
to Ahmed Mahmoud al-‘Adam, ordering the evacuation of the plot in 45 days.

 

 

 

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 ([email protected]) or telephone (+972 (0)8
282 4776 – 282 5893).