Construction works ongoing in Beit El settlement in
Jerusalem
Israeli Forces
Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· Israeli
forces continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip.
– Seven
civilians, including two children and a journalist, were injured.
– Dozens
of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
– Israeli
forces arrested two solidarity activists.
· Israeli
forces continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in border areas of
the Gaza Strip and fishermen at sea.
– Two
children were injured, one of them at sea and the other while collecting raw
construction materials.
· Israeli
forces conducted twenty-one incursions into Palestinian communities in the West
Bank.
– Israeli
forces arrested twenty-three Palestinian civilians, including seven children.
· Israel
has continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority
in Jerusalem.
– Israeli
forces forced a Palestinian civilian to demolish his house.
· Israeli
forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli
settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
– Thirteen
tents and one inhabited hut were destroyed in the Northern Valley.
· Israel
has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Str4ip
from the outside world.
– Israeli
troops stationed at military checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank
arrested two Palestinian civilians.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and
humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (01 – 06 July
2010):
Shooting: During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded
nine civilians, including four children, in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces used
excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian
civilians in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement
activities. As a result, seven
civilians, including two children and a journalist, were wounded. Israeli forces also violently beat a number
of demonstrators.
On 02 July 2010, three Palestinian
civilians, including two children, sustained shrapnel wounds in a peaceful
demonstration in “Wadi Rahhal” village, south of Bethlehem. In the same demonstration, eight
demonstrators, including three international solidarity activists suffered from
tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten by the Israeli forces.
On 04 July 2010, four demonstrators,
including a child and a journalist, sustained wounds in the weekly peaceful
demonstration in Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem. A girl also suffered from tear gas inhalation
and a number of participants in the demonstration sustained bruises as they
were severely beaten by the Israeli forces.
In the Gaza Strip, on 05 July 2010, the
Israeli forces wounded two children and killed a horse in two separate incidents.
At approximately 10:30, Israeli gunboats
positioned at sea near the Gaza port, west of Gaza city, fired at Palestinian
fishing boats that were sailing approximately two miles off Gaza shore. ‘Allam Naser Fadel Bakr, 14, from al-Shati
refugee camp, was wounded as a result by two bullets in the abdomen. The boat on which ‘Allam and his father and
brother were onboard was struck by two bullets in its hull.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli forces
positioned on observation towers near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the
northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian workers who were collecting raw
construction materials. On of the
workers, Ahmed Nafez Khader Hamdan, 13, from Beit Hanoun, was wounded by a
bullet in the abdomen as a result. Ahmed
was approximately 700
meters far from the borders when he was wounded. In addition, the horse that transported Ahmed
to the area was killed.
In other firing and bombarding
incidents, on 01 July 2010, an Israeli F16 fighter fired a missile at Abu Jarad
site near Netsarim intersection in al-Zeitoon neighborhood, east of Gaza
city. The site was previously used by
the National Security and is currently used by al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas armed
wing). The attack caused damages to the
gate and the western wall of the site and no casualties were reported.
On 02 July 2010, an Israeli F16 fighter
fired a missile at Gaza International airport, southeast of Rafah. The missile hit the runway and no casualties
were reported.
Incursions: During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least twenty-one military incursions into Palestinian communities in the
West Bank, during which they arrested twenty-three Palestinian civilians,
including seven children.
During the reporting period, Israeli
forces arrested two international solidarity activists who were participating
in a peaceful demonstration in “Wadi Rahhal”, south of Bethlehem. The two activists suffered bruises throughout
the body after they were severely beaten by the Israeli forces. They were transported to “Kfar
Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem, where they were held for six hours
before being released.
Through PCHR documentation of violations
committed by the Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians and their
property in the West Bank, it is clear that the Israeli forces are deliberate in
their maltreatment of Palestinians, terrorizing them while raiding their houses
and causing damages to their houses.
On 01 July 2010, Israeli forces moved
into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, firing sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at Palestinian houses and at their surroundings. Three civilians, including a child who suffers
from leukemia, suffered from tear gas inhalation. Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, activist in the
Popular Committee against Settlement, told the PCHR fieldworker that the
Israeli forces deliberately fired a tear gas canister into a house belonging to
Ahmed Mohammed Abu Maria. Three people
in the house suffered from gas inhalation as a result and were taken to a
medical center for treatment. The child suffering
from leukemia was transferred later to a hospital in Hebron because his
conditions deteriorated.
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 approximately three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed
siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a
disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
· During
the reporting period, the Israeli authorities announced the alleviation of the
siege imposed on the
Gaza Strip. This siege constitutes a
form of collective punishment illegally imposed on the civilian
population. The Israeli policies must be
radically changed in order to terminate this crisis. PCHR emphasizes that the
announced steps do not constitute sufficient change and that the situation will
remain the same.
· The
illegal siege of the Gaza Strip has created a humanitarian crisis as well as a
crisis of human rights and human dignity of Gaza civilians. The recent announcements about the
alleviation of the siege are vague and ambiguous, and the measures can not
terminate the crisis. To alleviate the
ongoing crisis, the siege—including the restrictions on the movement to and from
the Gaza Strip and the ban on the movement of exports—must be immediately and
totally lifted. PCHR is concerned that
the new Israeli policy aims at pushing the Gaza Strip towards a new stage of unjust
siege, which may be internationally accepted. Under this stage, Palestinians may not endure
the same suffering with regard to the shortage of goods; however, they will
continue to be economically dependent; they will continue to be unable to run
their own affairs, and they will remain socially, culturally and academically
isolated from the world.
· Increasing
the number of items allowed to enter Gaza does not legitimize this recently
announced policy, which is not consistent with Israel’s legal obligations as an
occupying power and with its other legal obligations under international human
rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights which was ratified by Israel. The
Quartet stated that the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip are not
acceptable and can not be solved through the provision of humanitarian aid. The International Committee of the Red Cross
stressed that the permanent solution requires total and immediate termination
of the siege.
· Facts
collected by PCHR from the field refute the Israeli allegations regarding
alleviation of the siege on the Gaza Strip and reduction of restrictions
imposed on the delivery of goods. No
significant change has been observed with regard to the movement at commercial
crossings. A total ban has continued to
be imposed on the export of products from Gaza while the Israeli forces have
continued to ban the delivery of the majority of basic goods necessary for the
civilian population. Major General Eitan
Dangot, Coordinator of the Israeli Government Activities in the Territories,
announced last week that 150 truckloads would be allowed to enter Gaza daily. He also announced that electrical appliances,
material required for house reparation and wood furniture would be allowed to
Gaza. However, the local market has not
witnessed any changes in this regard.
· The
Israeli announcement regarding the entry of new items (such as soft drinks,
juices, canned fruits, salads, biscuits, potato chips and mayonnaise) into Gaza
and the subsequent announcement regarding the Israeli intention to allow the
delivery of electrical appliances, material required for house reparation and
wood furniture are attempts to delude the international community. The items allowed to enter Gaza do not meet
the minimal basic needs of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
· The
Head of Goods Delivery Coordination Committee of the Palestinian Authority
announced that the items allowed by the Israeli authorities to enter Gaza do
not exceed 135 items, including 92 commercial items, 33 agricultural items and
10 types of grains. Before mid June
2007, approximately 9,000 items were allowed to enter Gaza. It should be noted that the local market in
Gaza does not need the items which were allowed to enter Gaza recently as these
items are brought in large quantities from Egypt through tunnels.
· Israeli
forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of construction
materials, especially cement, iron bars and aggregate, to the Gaza Strip in spite
of the pressing need to reconstruct thousands of houses and public facilities
which were destroyed during the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip. Construction works on housing units and in
al-Quds Hospital, which are overseen by UNRWA, continue to be suspended due to
the shortage in construction materials. The
Israeli authorities allowed the delivery of limited quantities of aggregate and
base course for UNRWA projects, totaling 1,380 tons and 1,140 tons
respectively. The Israeli authorities
allowed the delivery of 17% of the construction materials required for the
implementation of two housing projects. Gaza
needs 3,000 tons of cement, 2,500 tons of aggregate and 2,000 tons of iron bars
daily. The Ministry of Public Works and
Housing in Gaza announced that Gaza needs the immediate delivery of 1.1 million
tons of cement, 2.5 million tons of aggregate and 1,000 tons of iron bars in
order to reconstruct Gaza and the infrastructures of the housing sector.
· The
Israeli authorities have continued to impose a total ban on the export of
products from Gaza to the outside world, including the West Bank and Israel. This ban has inflicted heavy losses on all
sectors of the economy in the Gaza Strip, especially those who were dependent
on marketing their products in the West Bank and Israel. The majority of these establishments have been
forced to close as a result.
· Al-Mentar
“Karni” crossing which was dedicated for the export of products from
the Gaza Strip to Israel, the West Bank and aboard has been closed since 13
June 2008. It was operational for brief
periods to deliver limited quantities of grains and fodders to Gaza. Before the closure of the crossing, 80% of the
Palestinian external trade was with Israel, and 90% of exports from Gaza were
directed to Israel and the West Bank. Since
June 2007, the Israeli authorities allowed—only after an intervention from the
Israeli Supreme Court—the export of 20% of flowers produced in Gaza for export and
4% of strawberries. According to the
estimates of the Agricultural Cooperative of Strawberry, Vegetable and Flower
Farmers, Gaza produces approximately 60 million flowers and 1,500 tons of
strawberries for the external market annually. The continued economic and social
strangulation of more than 1.5 million civilians has increased poverty and
unemployment in Gaza to unprecedented levels.
· Beit
Hanoun (Erez) crossing has remained closed during the reporting period for
Palestinians. The Israeli authorities have
imposed severe restrictions on the movement of the limited categories of persons
allowed to travel via the crossing, which include: Palestinian patients seeking
medical treatment, international journalists and employees of international
organizations, all of whom are subjected to complicated security measures.
· Rafah
International Crossing Point remained exceptionally opened during the reporting
period. Thousands of Palestinian
civilians, mostly patients, students enrolled in international universities,
holders of work permits abroad and holders of foreign nationalities, were allowed
to leave Gaza via the crossing. According to the Palestinian Crossings and
Borders Commission, 9,900 civilians were allowed to leave Gaza and 8,800 others were allowed to enter Gaza via Rafah
crossing.
West Bank
Israel has 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.
· Israeli forces have established
checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to
the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem.
· There are approximately 630 permanent
roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition,
there are some 60 – 80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the
West Bank by Israeli forces every week.
· 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, further confiscating Palestinian land.
· At least 65% of the main roads that
lead to eighteen Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully
controlled by Israeli forces (47 out of 72 roads).
· There are around 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 a permit issued by Israeli forces; these permits are
extremely difficult to obtain.
· Israeli forces continue to harass and
assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of
the Annexation Wall.
· Palestinian civilians continue to be
harassed by Israeli forces in Jerusalem and across the West Bank, including
being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by Israeli forces.
Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic
Majority in Jerusalem: Israeli forces have continued to take measures at
creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem.
During the reporting period, the Israeli Municipality
of Jerusalem forced Nayef Hamdi Kastero to demolish his house in the old city
of Jerusalem, claiming it was built without license. Mr. Kastero who has a family of five members,
including three children, built his house in 2002. Previously, Mr. Kastero was forced by to pay a
35,000 NIS fine to the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem.
On Monday, 05 July 2010, and Tuesday, 06 July 2010,
the Israeli authorities launched a campaign to collect taxes in al-Mesrara
market in occupied East Jerusalem. Eyewitnesses
stated to the PCHR fieldworker that the Israeli police and income tax officers
raided many shops in al-Masasra market, seizing records an documents and
preventing the owners of the shops from moving.
Settlement Activities: Israel has continued its settlement activities in
the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law. Israeli settlers have
continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces moved
into al-Ras al-Ahmar, north of Tammoun village, and ‘Atouf, southeast of
Toubas. There they destroyed thirteen
tents and an inhabited hut. Earlier on
06 June 2010, the Israeli forces delivered notices to the residents in the two
areas demanding them to leave the areas. The notices claimed that the two areas are closed military zones. It should be noted that the destroyed tents
and hut are used by Palestinian farmers who come from distant areas.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting
Period (01 – 06 July 2010)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians
and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday,
01 July 2010
· At
approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia city, where they raided
and searched a number of houses and arrested eight Palestinian civilians:
1. Walid Sweilem, 23;
2. Ahmed Abdul Razeq Meskawi, 26;
3. Ashraf Abdul Razeq Meskawi, 24, from
Kafr Saba;
4. Nemr Mohammed Nemr Zeid, 32, from Zeid
al-Shamali neighborhood in Qalqilia;
5. Yousef Jamal Yousef Mohammed Dawoud,
20, from al-Ghayatha neighborhood;
6. Sa’id al-Asmar, 22;
7. Sa’id Abu Keshek, 23; and
8. Sanad Jaddou’, 27, who has an Israeli
ID card.
· At
approximately 01:00, an Israeli F16 fighter fired a missile at Abu Jarad site
near Netsarim intersection in al-Zeitoon neighborhood, east of Gaza city. The site was previously used by the National
Security and is currently used by al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas armed wing). The attack caused damages to the gate and the
western wall of the site and no casualties were reported.
· At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.
In the Khelat Thahr al-Barahish area, in the south of Beit Ummar, they raided
and searched many houses. Israeli forces
fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters inside the houses and at their
surroundings. Three civilians, including
an eleven-year-old child who suffers from leukemia, suffered from tear gas
inhalation. The Israeli forces arrested four Palestinian civilians, including a
child:
1. Thaer Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, 21;
2. Isam Jamal Khalil Abu Maria, 21;
3. Khaled Sami Sabarna, 16; and
4. Tamer Ismail Awad, 23.
Those who
suffered from tear gas inhalation are:
1. Ahmed Mohammed Abu Maria, 45;
2. Suheir Mahmoud al-Ajjouri, 43;
3. Shadi Ahmed Mohammed Abu Maria, 11.
Ahmed Khalil
Abu Hashem, an activist in the Popular Committee against Settlement and father
of one of the civilians arrested, told the PCHR fieldworker that Israeli forces
raided many houses in the area, terrorized the residents and forced them at
gunpoint to leave their houses and to remain outdoors for between thirty and sixty
minutes. Abu Hashem reported that the
Israeli forces then arrested his son Thaer and a number of other persons. He stated that the Israeli forces deliberately
fired a tear gas canister into a house belonging to Ahmed Mohammed Abu Maria. Three people in the house suffered from gas
inhalation as a result and were taken to a medical center for treatment. Shadi Abu Maria, who is the son of Ahmed Abu
Maria and who suffered from gas inhalation in the incident, was transferred
later to a hospital in Hebron city for treatment as his conditions
deteriorated.
· At approximately 10:30, an Israeli infantry unit
of eight members raided Izbat Shofa, in southern Toulkarem. They raided a house, currently under
construction, belonging to Saher Ahmed Salim Tayeh (al-Shofani). Shortly thereafter, three Israeli military
jeeps, including two jeeps belonging to the Israeli intelligence service,
arrived at a farm belonging to Saher Ahmed Salim Tayeh. There they questioned Tayeh about five young
men. They claimed that the young men were
in Tayeh’s house and cursed Tayeh, after which they withdrew at approximately
11:45. No arrests were reported.
· At
approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Abween village, in northern
Ramallah, where they patrolled in the streets and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.
Friday, 02 July 2010
· At
approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into Hebron city. They surrounded and raided the building of the
Islamic Charitable Association near al-Hawooz al-Awal crossroads, southwest of
Hebron. They searched the Association
and later withdrew without reporting any confiscations of the Association’s
possessions or arrests among civilians.
· At
approximately 00:30, an Israeli F16 fighter fired a missile at Gaza
International airport, southeast of Rafah. The missile hit the runway and no casualties
were reported.
· At
approximately 21:30, Israeli forces moved into Beir Zeit village, north of
Ramallah, where they patrolled the streets. They withdrew later without reporting any arrests among civilians.
Saturday, 03 July 2010
· At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Ein al-Sultan refugee camp,
north of Jericho, where they patrolled the streets and raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Ahmed Ismail Safi, 26. Before withdrawing, they delivered a written
summons to Mr. Safi requiring him to appear before the Israeli intelligence.
· At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved
into Oqbet Jaber, south of Jericho, where they patrolled the streets and raided
and searched a house belonging to late Ayman al-Jahelin. They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.
· At
approximately 12:10, Israeli forces moved into Jayous village, north of
Qalqilia, where they patrolled in the streets and raided many houses. Before their withdrawal at approximately
13:30, they delivered summonses to Wajdi Khaled Taher Qadoumi and Jihad Abdul
Qater Taher Shahrouri requiring them to appear before the Israeli intelligence.
· At
approximately 16:00, Israeli forces moved into Marda village, north of Salfit,
where they patrolled in the streets and withdrew later. No arrests were reported among Palestinian
civilians.
Sunday, 04 July 2010
· At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir Nezam village, northwest of
Ramallah, where they patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house
belonging to Mahmoud Ahmed Nassar. Before
their withdrawal at approximately 03:30, they arrested Mohammed, 16, who is the
son of Nassar. They led Mohammed to the
interrogation center in “Ofer Camp,” south of Ramallah.
· At
approximately 12:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Leed village, east of
Toulkarem, where they patrolled the streets and later withdrew. No arrests were reported among Palestinian
civilians.
· At
approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into Kafr al-Labd village, east of
Toulkarem, where they patrolled the streets and later withdrew. No
arrests were reported among Palestinian civilians.
Monday, 05 July 2010
· At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anabta village, east of
Toulkarem, where they patrolled the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.
· At
approximately 09:50, Israeli forces moved into Toulkarem city, where they
patrolled the streets and then established their position for some time near Mega
Land Station in Shweika street. The
troops then drove to Ektaba area, where they later withdrew. No arrests were
reported among Palestinians.
· Also
at approximately 09:50, Israeli forces moved into Deir al-Ghsoun village, north
of Toulkarem, where they patrolled the streets and withdrew later. No arrests were reported among Palestinians.
· At
approximately 10:30, Israeli gunboats positioned at sea near the Gaza port,
west of Gaza city, fired at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing
approximately two miles off Gaza shore. ‘Allam Naser Fadel Bakr, 14, from
al-Shati refugee camp, was wounded as a result by two bullets in the abdomen.
The boat, which belongs to Mahmoud Abu Hweidi, was struck by two bullets to its
hull. On board was Mr. Bakr, his father Naser, 49, and his brother Yaser, 18.
Mr. Bakr and
his father were transported by another boat to the shore. Mr. Bakr was then
transported to al-Shifa Hospital for medical treatment, where his wounds were
described as moderate.
Yaser Bakr, ‘Allam’s
brother, told the PCHR fieldworker that he boarded a fishing boat with his
father and his brother ‘Allam at approximately 06:00. They sailed from the Gaza
port and were anchored approximately two miles off the shore. They threw the
net into the water at approximately 06:30. At approximately 10:30, they were
surprised by firing coming from an Israeli gunboat which was approximately a
half of a mile to the north. They sustained fire from the Israeli ship for
approximately ten minutes. ‘Allam was wounded by two bullets in the abdomen as
a result and the boat was struck by two bullets in its hull Another Palestinian
fishing boat transported ‘Allam and his father to shore while Yaser remained on
the boat. The motor of the boat was broken and Yaser remained on the boat until
another Palestinian fishing boat came and pulled it to the shore.
· At
approximately 13:00, Israeli forces positioned on observation towers near Beit
Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian
workers who were collecting raw construction materials. On of the workers, Ahmed Nafez Khader Hamdan,
13, from Beit Hanoun, was wounded by a bullet in the abdomen as a result. Ahmed
was approximately 700
meters far from the border when he was shot. His brother
Hazem, 21, carried him to the Customs Checkpoints of the Palestinian Ministry
of Interior, which is located approximately 1,700 meters to the
south of Beit Hanoun crossing. Ahmed was then transported by an ambulance to
Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia.
Doctors in
Kamal Odwan Hospital reported that the bullet hit Ahmed’s colon and caused
blood to gather in the back. They also reported that the nerves of Ahmed’s back
may be affected as Ahmed was suffering from severe pains in the left foot. Doctors
at the hospital described Ahmed’s wounds as moderate. It should be noted that during
the firing the horse which Ahmed and his brother Hazem used to arrive at the sight
was killed.
· At
approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into Bedia village, northwest of
Salfit, where they patrolled the streets and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.
· At
approximately 15:00, Israeli forces moved into Kafr Lakef village, east of Qalqilia,
where they raided a house belonging to Sami ‘Issa Yousef ‘Assaf. They raided
the metal workshop in the house and required the workers to leave the workshop
after checking their ID cards. They arrested Mamdouh Bashir Husein Abu
al-Madaneya, 21. While withdrawing from the village, the Israeli forces also
arrested Medhat, 23, who is the brother of Mamdouh Bashir Husein Abu
al-Madaneya. The Israelis transported the two Palestinians to the nearby
settlement of ” Karni shamron,” where the police then transported
them to “Kadomim” and then to an interrogation center in al-Ramlah.
Several hours later, they were transported to Ni’lin checkpoint, west of
Ramallah, where they were released.
· In
the evening, Israeli forces moved into Eskaka village, northeast of Salfit,
where they raided and searched a house belonging to Husam Anis Yousef Harb, 50,
and arrested him.
Tuesday, 06 July 2010
· At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilia, where they raided and searched a number of houses and arrested six
Palestinian civilians, including four children:
1. Ahmed Muthanna Husein Abdul Halim Dar
Husein, 21;
2. Saleh Hassan Husein, 17;
3. Khazem Saher Qura’an, 16;
4. Ala’ Samir Salim, 17;
5. ‘Ali Rasem ‘Ali, 17;
6. Qusai Hamza Abdul Halim Dar Husein, 20;
In the
evening of the same day, Qusai Hamza Abdul Halim Dar Husein was released.
· At
approximately 20:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north
of Hebron, where they raided and searched a house belonging to Khalil
al-‘Ajarba. They arrested Derar, 15, the son of Khalil al-‘Ajarba.
2. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting
Settlement Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall
During the reporting
period, Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations
organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights
defenders in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement
activities. Eight Palestinian civilians
were injured, including two children and a journalist, others sustained bruises
and others suffered from tear gas inhalation.
During the reporting
period, Israeli Forces arrested two human rights defenders in “Wadi
Rahhal” village, south of Bethlehem, who sustained bruises during the
arrest. The human rights defenders were
taken to the Israeli police station at “Kfar Etzion” settlement,
south of the city. They were released
after six hours of detention.
· Following
the Friday Prayer on 2 July 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall in the
village of Bil’ein, west of Ramallah. They marched towards the Annexation Wall, whereupon Israeli troops stationed
in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters
at the demonstrators. As a result, shooting
broke out in some farms, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas
inhalation and others sustained bruises.
· Also
following the Friday Prayer on 2 July 2010, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in the village of Ne’lin, west of Ramallah, in protest against
the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with Israeli troops positioned
near the Wall. Israeli troops fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators. As a result, dozens
of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained
bruises.
· Also
following the Friday Prayer on 2 July 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in the village of Nabi Saleh, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against
land confiscations near “Halmish” settlement. When the demonstrators attempted to reach
areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near “Halmish” settlement, Israeli
troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
them. As a result, dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and
others sustained bruises.
· At
approximately 13:00, on 2 July 2010, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in “Wadi Rahhal”, south of Bethlehem, in
protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall. At approximately 13:25, when the
demonstrators approached a secondary school close to the Wall project area, Israeli forces fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them and
violently beat a number of demonstrators. As a result, three demonstrators, including two children, were injured
by shrapnel; in addition to eight demonstrators, including three international
activists, suffered from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises. Israeli Forces also arrested two human rights
defenders in “Wadi Rahhal” village, south of Bethlehem, who sustained
bruises. The human rights defenders were
taken to the Israeli police station at “Kfar Etzion” settlement,
south of the Bethlehem. They were
released after six hours of detention. The following persons were injured by
shrapnel:
1. Layth Othman ‘Isa Zeyada, 4, injured by
shrapnel of sound bomb in the face and neck;
2. Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Fawaghra, 10,
injured by shrapnel of sound bomb in the right leg; and
3. Shadi Mohammed Ibrahim Fawaghra, 23,
injured by shrapnel of sound bomb in the right leg and bruises in the back.
The following persons suffered from tear gas
inhalation and sustained bruises:
1. ‘Afif Khalil Zeyada, 37, suffered
from tear gas inhalation and fainted;
2. Basem Abdul Allah Zeyada, 27, injured
in the left hand and fainted;
3. Jamil Jaber Zeyada, 30, suffered from
tear gas inhalation and fainted;
4. Anas Mohammed Salman Zeyada, 21, suffered
from tear gas inhalation and fainted;
5. Tal Shabira, 25, sustained bruises and
injured in the right leg;
6. Jalal Raja’ Zeyada, 22, sustained
bruises before being arrested;
7. ‘Amir Sharir, 22, sustained bruises
before being arrested, and
8. Asaf Jakubosn, 26, sustained bruises
before being arresting.
It should be noted that during the past year, the Israeli
Forces have identified the path of the Annexation Wall, which will confiscate
dozens of donums. Israeli Forces have established the foundations of the Wall,
three kilometers long and 15
meters width, northwest of the Wadi Rahhal village. As a result, the secondary school in the
village will be about 10
meters away from the Annexation Wall.
· In
the afternoon of 2 July 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized their
weekly peaceful demonstration in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in
protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall. When they reached the road connecting
“Efrat” settlement, south of Bethlehem, with “Teqwa'”
settlement, southeast of the city, the Israeli Forces forcibly stopped the
demonstrators.
· On
Saturday afternoon, 3 July 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and human rights defenders gathered in Beit Ommar village, north
of Hebron. The demonstration, organized
by Palestine Solidarity Project and the National Committee to Resist the
Settlement, marched towards the lands confiscated by the Israeli Forces for
settlements in the “Dahr al-Barahish” area, north of the “Karmi
Tsur” settlement, south of the village. Israeli forces fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at the protesters. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas
inhalation, including the journalist Najeh Diab al-Hashlamon, a cameraman for
the “European” news agency.
· At
approximately 16:00 on 3 July 2010, the “Youth Against Settlement” group
organized their weekly peaceful demonstration in Hebron, in protest against
closing al-Shohada Street in the city for sixteen years. After the demonstrators moved from the Old City
Square, adjacent to the settlement site “Beit Romano,” to the Old City,
the Israeli Forces stopped the demonstration at the intersection of the al-Ghazazin
neighborhood’s and prevented them from reaching the area close to the
settlement site “Abraham Abino” in al-Hesba market, which is
closed. The Israeli Forces attacked some
of the demonstrators and prevented a group of Israeli peace activists from
reaching the Old City, detaining their bus, which was carrying fifteen
activists, at the entrance of the city.
· On
Sunday, 5 July 2010, the Israeli Forces used excessive force to disperse a
peaceful demonstration organized in Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem. As a result, four demonstrators were injured,
including a child and a journalist, and a girl fainted and others sustained
bruises.
According to field investigations conducted by PCHR,
including the testimony of ‘Imad Amin Abu Nassar, coordinator of the National Committee
against the Wall and Settlement in Beit Jala, the Israeli Froces used excessive
force to disperse the demonstrators who moved from new “Cremisan”
Street towards the lands razed by the Israeli Forces for the construction of
the Annexation Wall along road #60, west of Beit Jala. Abu Nasser added that Israeli forces fired rubber
bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators as well as deliberately
firing bombs at the houses and shops after chasing the demonstrators to the
area of the Orthodox Club, under PNA control. As a result, four demonstrators, including a journalist, were injured
and the two houses belonging to Mahmoud Amin Abu Nassar and Khadr Shehda Buji
were struck by gas bombs.
The injured are as follows:
1. The journalist Mahmoud ‘Elayan, 35,
working for “al-Quds Newspaper”, struck by a gas bomb the head;
2. Sohaib ‘Omar Maslat, 16, injured by a
bullet in the right leg;
3. Fadi Ahmed Masalma, 18, injured by a
bullet in the right leg; and
4. Saliba Sawi, 18, injured by a bullet in
the right thigh.
3. Continued Siege on the OPT
Israel has 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 approximately three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed siege of Gaza, which
has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the
humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
· On
Friday, 01 January 2010, Israeli forces decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing
permanently and to divert the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, citing security reasons.
· 1.5
million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of
movement and the right to appropriate living conditions, work, health and
education.
· The
principle concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain basic
necessities: food, medicine, water and electricity supplies.
· Israel
has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip for more than two and a half years.
· Israel
has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip since 10 December 2008,
excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.
· The
Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened on only a few days for a
number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return
home to the Gaza Strip.
· Israel
had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians
wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or
social visits.
· Israel
has imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats,
journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. Israel has prevented
representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from
entering the Gaza Strip.
· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated
as levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
· At
least 800 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails have been deprived
of family visitation for more than two and a half years.
· Israeli
forces have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the
Gaza Strip.
Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting
Period:
NOTE: the movement at border crossings will be displayed
in the following weekly report for “technical reasons”
The
West Bank
Israel
has imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. During the reporting period,
Israeli Forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.
· Jerusalem: Israeli Forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city of
Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip have been denied access to the city. Israeli Forces 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: Israeli Forces have continued to impose severe restrictions
on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. Israeli troops positioned at the Jaba’ and
Qalandiya checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional
restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged security checks of Palestinian
civilians. During the
reporting period, Israeli Forces erected a number of temporary checkpoints and stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 22:00 on Friday, 2 July
2010, Israeli Forces established a checkpoint near ‘Attara village, north of
Ramallah, in order to stop and search Palestinian civilians vehicles. At approximately 19:30 on Saturday, 3 July
2010, Israeli Forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Leqya village,
west of Ramallah, where they stopped and searched Palestinian civilian
vehicles.
· Nablus: Israeli
Forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in Nablus. On
Friday, 2 July 2010, Israeli troops established a checkpoint at the southern
entrance of the northern ‘Assira village, north of Nablus, where they stopped
and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. Establishing this checkpoint coincided with closing three checkpoints
surrounding Nablus; Beit Forik checkpoint east of the city, Hawwara checkpoint
and ‘Awarta commercial checkpoints south of the city. Eyewitnesses said that these checkpoints
remained closed for hours. On Sunday
morning, 4 July 2010, the Israeli Forces stationed at Hawwara checkpoint, south
of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on movement of Palestinian civilians. PCHR’s researcher said that the Israeli
Forces stationed at the checkpoint stopped and searched Palestinian civilian
vehicles. He added that the process of
selecting the vehicles to be searched was random and that the Israeli Forces
forced him to stop to be thoroughly searched.
· Qalqilya: Israeli
Forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in Qalqilya. On Monday
morning, 5 July 2010, Israeli Forces erected some temporary checkpoint in
Qalqilya. PCHR’s researcher said that
the Israeli Forces established a temporary checkpoint at the intersection of
Amatin village, east of the city and started searching the Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 5 July 2010, the Israeli
Forces established a temporary checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azzon village,
east of Qalqilya, and a third checkpoint at the main street connecting Qalqilya
with Nabuls, near al-Fonduq village. Some hours later, the checkpoints were
removed. On Monday evening, 5 July 2010,
the Israeli Forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Jinsafout
village, east of the city. They also
established another checkpoint at the entrance of the neighboring Hajja
village. After a few hours, these
checkpoints were removed.
· Jenin: Israeli Forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Jenin.
Arrests
at Military Checkpoints
· At
approximately 15:00 on Friday, 2 July 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Barat’a
checkpoint, southwest of Jenin, arrested Ahmed Basem Mohammed Abu ‘Erra, 20,
from ‘Aqaba village, southeast of the city, as he was crossing into the West
Bank from the Green Line.
· On
Monday morning, 5 July 2010, the Israeli troops stationed at the Annexation
Wall’s gate in Jayous village, north of Qalqilya, arrested Sami Yasser Abdul
Allah Khreisha, 26, from Jayous village, as he was traveling to his land on the
other side of the Wall. Later, the Israeli
Troops confiscated the permits of his two brothers.
4. Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem
Israel has recently escalated arbitrary
measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem in order to force them
to leave the city. PCHR has devoted this
section in the Weekly Report to highlighting violations of human rights
perpetrated by Israeli Forces against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.
· On
Sunday afternoon, 4 July 2010, the Israeli Municipality forced Nayef Hamdi
Kastero to demolish his house in the Old City in Jerusalem, claiming that the
house was built without obtaining building permit from the municipality. Mr. Kastero’s family consists of five members,
including three children/ Mr. Kastero had built the house in 2002. The Israeli Municipality demanded Mr. Kastero
and his family to pay a 35,000 NIS fine and then required them to demolish the
house. As Mr. Kastero stated to PCHR’s
researcher:
“In 2002, I built a wall in the western side of
the house to support an unstable wall between our house and the Qwaiders’ house
and Abu Baker mosque. I built the
southern wall, installed iron bars on the walls and covered them with
bricks. This offered me a room and a
kitchen of forty-nine square meters. The
settlers from “‘Attirat Kohnim” Society tried more than three times
to sneak into our room through an adjacent building in Housh al-Shawish to settle it. They filed complaints against me to the Israeli police and I am sure
that these settlers are behind the decision of the municipality to demolish my
house. I authorized a lawyer and an
engineer to plan for issuing a license for the additional room in 2004. The municipality did not look into the
issue. On 13 April 2010, the court ruled
for the demolition of the children’s room and for us to pay a fine of 8,000
NIS, in addition to the fine of 45,000 NIS that I began to pay in 2004. On Sunday afternoon, 4 July 2010, I
demolished my children’s room.”
· On
Monday, 5 July 2010, and Tuesday, 6 July 2010, the Israeli Forces launched tax
campaign in al-Mesrara market, in East Jerusalem. Eyewitnesses stated to PCHR’s researcher that
the Israeli police and Income Tax officers broke into many shops in al-Mesrara
market and seized records and papers of the markets. “Al-Salayma” shopkeeper said that
the Israeli Forces and the tax officers broke into al-Mesrara market;
particularly a grocery, al-Mesrara bakery and al-Mesrara supermarket. They seized the shop’s truck. After the shop’s owners had paid 50,000 NIS, the
truck was returned. Tax Authority
claimed that there a lot of debts that should be paid to the Income Tax by
these shopkeepers, so they should go to the Tax Authority, schedule the debts
and pay them.
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. Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and
property.
1. At
approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 1 July 2010, Israeli Forces, supported by
military vehicles and bulldozers, broke into al-Ra’s al-Ahmar area, north of
Tamoun village, and ‘Ataouf, southeast of Tubas. There Israeli Forces destroyed thirteen tents
and an inhabited “hut”. In 6
June 2010, Israeli Forces had distributed notices to the areas’ inhabitants informing
them to evacuate the areas. The Israeli
Forces claimed that the two areas are closed military areas and should be evacuated. It should be noted that the tents and huts
are used as shelters by the Palestinian farmers, who are coming from other
areas. The tents and huts belong to:
1. Mohammed
and Jom’a Khadr Fayyad Bani ‘Oda;
2. Mostafa
Abdul Razeq Bani ‘Oda;
3. Iyad
Mostafa Abdul Razeq;
4. Jamal
Khadr Hamed Bani ‘Oda;
5. ‘Ezzat
Yusuf Bani ‘Oda;
6. Ali
‘Ezzat Yusuf Bani ‘Oda;
7. Ali
Fayyad Bani ‘Oda;
8. Fayyad
Khadr Fayyad Bani ‘Oda;
9. Abdullah
Hussein Abdullah Bsharat;
10. Salah Abdullah Hussein Bsharat;
11. Ayman ‘Ezzat Bani ‘Oda; and
12. Hassan Abdullah Bani ‘Oda.
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 its 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 international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of
exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their
governments to bring these people 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 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 agreement or process 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).
