Israeli
forces fire tear gas canisters to disperse the weekly peaceful demonstration in
Nabi Saleh village near Ramallah

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

 

Two
Palestinian children were killed by the explosion of a suspicious object in
Hebron.

3
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the explosion.

 

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

A
Palestinian civilian was seriously wounded in Ramallah.

Dozens
of protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

IOF
conducted 71 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited
one into the Gaza Strip.   

IOF
arrested 40 Palestinians, including 13 children.

IOF
established a dirt road in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

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

Israeli soldiers arrested 4
Palestinian civilians at various checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

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

Israeli
settlers uprooted 35 olive trees in Far’ata village, northeast of Qalqilya.

Israeli
settlers threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicle south of Nablus.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (01 – 07 March 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, two
Palestinian children were killed and 3 civilians, including a child, were
wounded by the explosion of a suspicious object in Hebron.  Additionally, a Palestinian civilian was
seriously wounded by IOF north of Ramallah.

 

On Tuesday afternoon, 06 March 2012, two Palestinian children were
killed and three others were wounded when a suspicious object left by the
Israeli military exploded in Wad Al-Reem area to the east of Sa’ir village,
northeast of Hebron.  According to
medical reports and observations by a PCHR fieldworker, the two children who
were killed sustained serious injuries and burns throughout the body. Their
bodies were dismembered as the shrapnel penetrated the head, the chest and the
face.  Immediately following the
incident, the Palestinian police opened investigations into the incident.  The police announced that the explosion was
caused by a mortar shell which had been left by the Israeli military.  The shell exploded in a pile of wastes.  At approximately 15:20 on the same day,
Israeli occupation forces moved into the area to check the explosion and search
neighboring farms.

 

During the reporting period, IOF
used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest
to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall in
the West Bank.  As a result, a
Palestinian civilian was seriously wounded by a tear gas canister to the head
near ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. 
Dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders
suffered from tear gas inhalation.    

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 71 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 40 Palestinian
civilians, including 13 children.  

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion into the north and established
a dirt road. 

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

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

 

 

Gaza
Strip

 

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

 

IOF have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip and practically
made Karm Abu Salem crossing as the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip
although it is not proper for commercial purposes in terms of its distance and
operational capacity.

 

IOF have continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the
strangulation of the commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing
total control over the flow of imports and exports.

 

The total closure of al-Mentar “Karni” crossing on 02 March
2011 has created a bitter situation that has seriously affected the Gaza
Strip.  Following this closure, all the
economic and commercial establishments in Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off.  It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is
the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip in terms of its operational capacity to
absorb the flow of imports and exports. 
The decision of al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of
decisions to totally close Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip, in the beginning
of 2009, and Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which was dedicated for the
delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.

 

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

 

IOF have continued to impose total ban on the delivery of raw
materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities.  The limited quantities of raw materials
allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population in
the Gaza Strip.

 

The cooking gas crisis which has erupted last November has
continued to affect the Gaza Strip.  This
crisis was created when the Israeli occupation authorities totally closed, on
04 January 2010, Nahal Oz crossing, which used to be dedicated for the delivery
of fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza, and shifted fuel and cooking gas
supplies to Karm Abu Salem crossing which is not technically equipped to receive
Gaza’s needs of fuel.  Karm Abu Salem crossing, with its maximum
absorptive capacity, can receive only 200 tons of cooking gas per day.

 

Approximately 80% of Gaza civilians have continued to depend on
alimentary aid provided by UNRWA and other relief agencies, rates of families
who are living below poverty line have continued to be on the rise and
approximately 40% of Gaza’s manpower has continued to suffer from permanent
unemployment as a result of shutting down the majority of Gaza’s economic
establishments.

 

IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the exportation of
Gaza’s products, especially industrial products, leading to undermining any
real chances to rerun economic establishments. 
The situation has been aggravated especially after making Karm Abu Salem
crossing as Gaza sole commercial crossing and the repeated closure of this
crossing which negatively affected the quantity of Gazan products which were
allowed to be exported during last April.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

For approximately 57 months, IOF have continued to deny
approximately 700 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails
their visitation rights without providing any justification to this measure,
which violates the rules of the international humanitarian law.

 

West
Bank

 

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

 

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

 

There are approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and
unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.

 

When complete, the illegal annexation wall will stretch for 724 kilometers
around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of
the wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the wall has been
constructed inside the West Bank itself, confiscating more Palestinian land.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Settlement
Activities:  

 

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

 

On
03 March 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Hfat Gilad” settlement
uprooted at least 35 olive trees from the lands of Far’ata village, northeast
of Qalqilya.  The trees belong to Ibrahim
As’ad Tawil and Ameen Mahmoud Tawil. 
Shaher Tawil stated to a PCHR field worker that a number of members of
his family received threats from Israeli settlers to attack their lands,
claiming that a child from the family broke into the above settlement and set
fire to a house in it. 

 

On
04 March 2012, 3 Israeli settlers threw stones at a Palestinian taxi that was
traveling on Tulkarm-Ramallah road near “Titzhar” settlement, south of
Nablus.  The taxi was damaged, but no
injuries were reported.

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (01 – 07 March 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 01 March 2012

 

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

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. 
They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian
civilians:

 

1. Saleh Ameen Ekmayel, 38 (they
confiscated a computer from his house);

2. Ahmed ‘Adnan Ekmayel, 21; and

3. Tariq Yahia Abu al-Rub, 21.

 

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved
into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed
‘Azmi Mardawi, 30, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved
into Fassayel village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 09:40, IOF moved
into Kufor Laqif village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved
into Khirbat Um al-Namel village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved
into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 17:45, IOF moved
into Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 22:35, IOF moved
into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved
into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Friday,
02 March 2012

 

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

 

At approximately 09:15, IOF moved
into Tumos’iya village, north of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into ‘Assala village, south of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

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

 

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

 

At approximately 14:15, IOF moved
into Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 15:45, IOF moved
into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 21:30, IOF moved
into Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:40, IOF moved
into al-Zawia village, west of Salfit. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Saturday, 03 March 2012  

 

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

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF
moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into Burham village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

At approximately 18:35, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They raided a house belonging
to ‘Emad Shbaita and transformed it into a military observation point.  They withdrew at approximately 19:45 and no
arrests were reported.

 

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

 

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

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved
into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Sunday, 03 March 2012

 

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

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Sourif village, northwest of
Hebron.  They raided and searched two
houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. ‘Abdul Hassib ‘Aabed, 35; and

2. Bassam Mohammed Ghunaimat, 25.

 

At approximately 00:45, IOF moved
into Qalqilya.  They raided and searched
a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Rasheed Riad Walwil, 25; and

2. ‘Odai Bassam Abu ‘Olba, 21.

 

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

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Rihiya village,
south of Hebron.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to Judge Ahmed al-Tubasi, 45, and summoned him for
interrogation.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Fassayel village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved
into al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved
into Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 09:00, IOF
moved into al-‘Ouja village, northeast of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved
into Kufol Hares village, north of Salfit. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved
into Beit Qad village, northeast of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets.  A
number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military
vehicles.  Israeli soldiers responded by
firing tear gas canisters and sound bombs. 
IOF withdrew later and no casualties or arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved
into ‘Allar village, northeast of Tulkarm. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 23:30, IOF moved
into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 05 March 2012

 

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

 

1. Nihad ‘Abdul Nabi Ayoub, 24;

2. ‘Abbas Abu Raya, 22; and

3. Adham Mohammed ‘Adawi, 21.

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Sourif village, northwest of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Samer ‘Abdullah al-Hour, 27; and

2. Mos’ab Mohammed al-Hour, 20. 

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus.  They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested ‘Abdullah Naji Abu Samra, 36.

 

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Mughayar village,
northeast of Ramallah.  They raided and
searched a  number of houses and arrested
two Palestinian civilians:

 

1.Muntasser ‘Omar Abu ‘Alya, 20; and

2. Hadi ‘Atiya Na’san, 21.

 

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Misilya village,
southeast of Jenin.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:30, the Israeli police moved into Silwan
village to the south of the old town of Jerusalem.  They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 5 Palestinian children:

 

1. Shaddad al-‘Aa’war, 12;

2. Suhaib al-‘Aa’war, 13;

3. Elias al-‘Aa’war, 14;

4. Ahmed Salah, 14; and

5. Islam al-‘Aa’war, 17.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into ‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp,
west of Jericho.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of
Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into al-Jiftlek village, north of
Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, south of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:10, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:35, IOF moved into Hijja village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into ‘Anin village, northwest of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Jabal Jouhar neighborhood in
the south of Hebron.  They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including a
child:

 

1. Munjed Fawaz Barqan, 20;

2. Mohammed Hammad al-Rajabi, 22;

3. Rafiq Salman al-Zaru, 27;

4. Munjed Jihad al-Rajabi, 18;

5. Waheed Waleed Abu Qwaider, 17; and

6. Fareed Waleed Abu Qwaider, 19.

 

Tuesday, 06 March 2012

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm town and refugee
camp.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Saida village, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east
of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Yatma village, south of
Nablus.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including two children:

 

1. Mohammed Taleb Snoubar, 22;

2. Ahmed Mohammed Snoubar, 22;

3. Khaled Saqer Najjar, 21;

4. Mohammed ‘Aaref Snoubar, 17; and

5. ‘Ouda ‘Ammar Snoubar, 17.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children:

 

1. Mo’taz Khaled ‘Awadh, 17;

2. ‘Aayesh Khaled ‘Awadh, 18;

3. Bassel Khaled Abu Hashem, 15;

4. Zain Hisham Abu Maria, 15;

5. Sami ‘Aamer Abu Jouda, 15; and

6. Sa’ed ‘Emad Slaibi, 16.

 

It should be noted that IOF have arrested at least 45 Palestinian
civilians, including 20 children, from the town since the beginning of 2012. 

 

Wednesday, 07 March 2012

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved
into Barta’a village, west of Jenin. 
They raided and a number of car maintenance workshop searching for cars
with Israeli plates.  According to
eyewitnesses, IOF confiscated at least 17 cars belonging to Palestinians living
in Israel.  They withdrew from the
village later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 06:00, IOF moved
nearly 450 meters into the Erez industrial zone in the northern Gaza
Strip.  They paved a dirt road in the
area, amidst sporadic shooting.  In the
meantime, IOF closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.  IOF withdrew from the area at approximately
09:30, and reopened the crossing.

 

At approximately 07:15, Israeli
soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east
of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian
areas located near the border.  No
casualties were reported.  

 

Two Palestinian Children Killed and Three
Others Wounded the Explosion of Suspicious Object

 

On Tuesday afternoon, 06 March 2012, two Palestinian children were
killed and three others were wounded when a suspicious object left by the
Israeli military exploded in Wad Al-Reem area to the east of Sa’ir village,
northeast of Hebron.

 

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for
Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 14:30 on Tuesday, 06 March 2012, a number
of children were in a yard close to their houses in al-Reem area and used for
placing wastes collected from the surrounding areas.  In the meanwhile, a suspicious object in the
yard exploded and caused a very loud sound. This explosion resulted in the
deaths of two children:

 

1. Hamza Mohammed Zayed Jaradat, 12; and

2. Zayed Jumaa Zayed Jaradat, 12.

 

In addition, another three Palestinians, including a child,
sustained shrapnel wounds ranging between serious and moderate.  The wounded were evacuated by ambulances from
the Palestinian Red Crescent Society to Hebron Public Hospital.  Later on the same day, two of the wounded
were referred to al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron for surgeries and medical
treatment. The wounded are:

 

1. Hesham Zayed Jaradat, 20, who sustained shrapnel wounds in the
back of the neck and the back of the right thigh.

2. Yasser Mohammed Zayed Jaradat, 18, (a brother of Hamza, who was
killed in the incident) who sustained shrapnel wounds in the left side of the
chest and in the legs.

3. Nazir Jumaa Zayed Jaradat, 16, (a brother of Zayed, who was
killed in the incident), who sustained shrapnel wounds in the back of the neck
and in the right thigh.

 

According to medical reports and observations by a PCHR
fieldworker, the two children who were killed sustained serious injuries and
burns throughout the body. Their bodies were dismembered as the shrapnel
penetrated the head, the chest and the face.

 

Immediately following the incident, the Palestinian police opened
investigations into the incident.  The
police announced that the explosion was caused by a mortar shell which had been
left by the Israeli military.  The shell
exploded in a pile of wastes.  At
approximately 15:20 on the same day, Israeli occupation forces moved into the
area to check the explosion and search neighboring farms.

 

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

 

During
the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the
West Bank, and in protest to the establishment of a buffer zone in the Gaza
Strip.  As a result, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 02 March 2012, in spite of the cold
weather, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human
rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of
Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and in
solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, especially Hanaa’
Shalabi who has been on hunger strike, and Watan Television and al-Quds
Educational Television who were stormed by IOF. 
They raised the Palestinian flag and called for ending political
division. They then moved towards areas of annexation wall.  They called through megaphones on 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, a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday prayer on 02 March 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli  and international human rights
defenders gathered in the center of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activities.  The protesters walked towards
the gate erected by IOF near the entrance of the village and leading to
Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halmish”
settlement are trying to seize.  Israeli soldiers who had been extensively
deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the
morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the
affected lands.  Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets,
sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters.  A result, a number
of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 11:45 on Tuesday, 06 March 2012, Israeli soldiers
stationed on observation towers near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the
northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians and
international solidarity activists who demonstrated near the crossing.  According to Saber al-Za’anin, Coordinator of
the Local Initiative in Beit Hanoun, who supervises the organization of
peaceful demonstrations against the establishment of a buffer zone along the
border between the Gaza Strip, at approximately 11:20, a peaceful demonstration
that included 40 demonstrators, including 6 international solidarity activists
and two journalists, was organized near the Agricultural School in Beit
Hanoun.  When the demonstrators get as
close as to 150 meters from the border, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the
demonstrators.  The gunfire continued for
about 30 minutes.  No casualties were
reported.  

 

At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 05 March 2012, dozens of students
from Prince Hassan School and dozens of Palestinian guys gathered near ‘Attara
checkpoint up north of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They were
commemorating the second anniversary of the deaths of 6 Palestinians from the
family of Bassam Abu ‘Awwad when an Israeli military jeep collided with a
Palestinian taxi between the Palestinian village of Silwad and “Ofra”
settlement, northeast of Ramallah. The demonstrators walked towards ‘Attara
checkpoint, where Israeli soldiers were stationed behind concrete’s blocks.
Israeli soldiers closed the checkpoint and clashes erupted between them and the
demonstrators. These latter threw stones at the soldiers who responded by
firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result,
Mohammed Tayseer Yousef Abu Awwad, 19, was directly hit by a tear gas canister
to the head and he lost consciousness. His cousin who was also participating in
the demonstration carried him and walked 50 meters to the back. Abu Awwad was
transported by a taxi to Bir Zeit village. There, he was taken into a
Palestinian ambulance to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah where he
immediately underwent a surgery. Dr. Ahmed al-Bitawi, Director of this
Compound, stated that Abu Awwad sustained fractures to the skull and hemorrhage
in the head as a result of the wounds he sustained by the tear gas canister.
His condition was described as critical. Eyewitnesses told a fieldworker of
PCHR that the tear gas canister was fired at Abu Awwad by a soldier who was
only 20 meters from him and that Abu Awwad was not imposing any threat to IOF.

  

3. Continued
Closure of the OPT

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since
June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic
situation in the Gaza Strip. The illegal closure has caused not only a
humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the
population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared recently to ease the
blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of
the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of
the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip
and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply
shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become
internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza may no
longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain
economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially,
culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

29
February – 06 March 2012

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

28
February – 06 March 2012

 

Imports:

 

 

Exports:

 

On Tuesday, 28 February 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 302,000
flowers.

On Thursday, 01 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 290,000
flowers.

On Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 120,000 flowers.

On Monday, 05 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 7 tons of tomatoes
and 28 tons of biscuits.

On Tuesday, 06 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 31 tons
of biscuits and 157,000 flowers.

 

Notes:

 

On Tuesday, 28 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 40tons of
cement, 3,500 tons of construction aggregate and 20 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA; and 560 tons of cement for the Palestinian Water Authority.  They also allowed the entry of 780 tons of fodders.

 

On Wednesday, 29 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 2,450 tons
of construction aggregate and 94 tons of construction steel for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 585 tons of fodders.

 

On Thursday, 01 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 2,030 tons of
construction aggregate and 38 tons of construction steel for UNRWA; 135 tons of
construction steel for the Palestinian Water Authority; and 2,590 tons of
construction aggregate for UNDP.  They also
allowed the entry of 390 tons of fodders.

 

On Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 1,820 tons of
construction aggregate and 440 tons of cement for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 468 tons of wheat.

 

On Monday, 05 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 624 tons of fodders.

 

On Tuesday, 06 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 404 tons of
cement for UNRWA; and 200 tons of cement and 38 tons of construction steel for
UNdp.  They also allowed the entry of 585
tons of fodders. 

 

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

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

29
February – 06 March 2012

 

 

The West Bank

 

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

 

Jerusalem: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have
established many checkpoints around and inside the city.  Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian
civilians often escalate on Fridays, preventing young Muslim Palestinians from
praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.  

 

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 09:00 on Friday, 02 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  At the same time, they established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah.  At approximately 10:30, they established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Kharabtha Bani Hares village, west of the
town.  At approximately 14:30, they
established a checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa intersection, southwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 15:30 on
Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint,
north of Ramallah.  They stopped and
searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 
At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 05 March 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, west of Ramallah.  At approximately 10:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Koubar village, northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 20:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya intersection, northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately 15:00 on Tuesday, 06 March
2012, 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.  On Thursday, 01 March 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at Jeet intersection, northeast of Qalqilya, and another one at the
northern entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of the town.  On Friday, 02 March 2012, IOF established 4
checkpoints around the town.  On Sunday,
04 March 2012, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town.  On Monday, 05 March 2012, IOF established 8
checkpoints around the town.

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 11:00 on Friday, 02 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of al-‘Araqa village, west of Jenin.  At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at Ya’bad intersection, southwest of Jenin.  At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 04 March
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village,
northwest of Jenin.   

 

Tulkarm:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 18:30 on Thursday, 01 March
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Attil village, north of
Tulkarm.  At approximately 16:00 on
Friday, 02 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalailya road
near Jibara Gate, south of Tulkarm.  At
approximately 17:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm.  At approximately 12:30 on Saturday, 03 March
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at Baqa al-Sharqiya intersection, north of
Tulkarm.  At approximately 16:00 on
Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit Leed intersection,
east of Tulkarm.  At approximately 20:00,
Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 19:00 on Monday, 05 March
2012, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalailya road near Jibara Gate,
south of Tulkarm.  At approximately 15:30
on Tuesday, 06 March 2012, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint,
east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.  At approximately 18:30, IOF
established a checkpoint at Beit Leed intersection, east of Tulkarm.   

 

Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 01 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the southern entrance of Jericho.  At
approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 05 March
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein Fassayel village,
north of Jericho. 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 02 March 2012, IOF positioned in
the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old town of Hebron arrested ‘Omar
Ahmed al-Atrash, 24, from Dura village, south of the town, claiming that he was
carrying a knife.

 

At approximately 22:30 on Saturday, 03 March 2012, IOF positioned
in the streets of the east and south of Hebron arrested Sa’ed Hassan al-Swaiti,
21, from Beit ‘Awa village southwest of the town, claiming that he was carrying
a knife.

 

At approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 04 March 2012, Israeli soldiers
positioned at a checkpoint near Tarqoumia and Ethna villages, northwest of
Hebron, arrested Mohammed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Batran, 42, from Ethna village.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF established a checkpoint at Jaba’
intersection, south of Jenin.  They
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested ‘Arafat Nizar
Ahmed, 22, from ‘Arraba village.    

 

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

 

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

 

On
Saturday, 03 March 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Hfat Gilad” settlement
uprooted at least 35 olive trees from the lands of Far’ata village, northeast
of Qalqilya.  The trees belong to Ibrahim
As’ad Tawil and Ameen Mahmoud Tawil.  Shaher
Tawil stated to a PCHR field worker that a number of members of his family
received threats from Israeli settlers to attack their lands, claiming that a
child from the family broke into the above settlement and set fire to a house
in it. 

 

In
his statement to PCHR, Shaher Tawil said:

 

“On
Saturday morning, 03 March 2012, my cousins, Ibrahim As’ad Tawil and Ameen
Mahmoud Tawil went to their land.  They
found that 35 olive trees had been cut. 
This attack followed clashes with Israeli settlers.  At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 28
February 2012, I received a phone call from my son who was working on an
agricultural plot near the settlement. 
He told me that Israeli settlers got out of ‘Gilad’ settlement and moved
to a house belonging to our relative, ‘Awad ‘Abdul Khaliq Tawil.  I immediately went to the area.  There were at least 70 Israeli settlers and
at least 20 Israeli military vehicles in the area.  People began to gather. An Israeli officer
wanted someone to talk to.  I asked him:
‘What do you want?’  He said to me that
the settlers saw a 16-year-old child moving into the settlement and setting
fire to a house.  We told them it is
impossible as no one dares to enter the settlement.  The settlers were armed and they wanted to
attack us.  They threw stones at our
relative’s house.  The child accused of
entering the settlement came and the settlers attacked him.  Israeli soldiers then arrested the child, me
and two of our relative: Tawfiq ‘Abdul Khaliq Tawil, 22; and Fadi ‘Abdul Khaliq
Tawil, 24.  They took us to ‘Qidoumim’
settlement and interrogated us.  They
released the child and me on the same day, but kept our two relatives in
custody.  On Saturday, 03 March 2012,
when Palestinian farmers went to their lands, they found 4 Israeli settlers and
a military jeep in the vicinity.”

 

At
approximately 12:30 on Sunday, 04 March 2012, 3 Israeli settlers threw stones
at a Palestinian taxi that was traveling on Tulkarm-Ramallah road near
“Titzhar” settlement, south of Nablus. 
The taxi was damaged, but no injuries were reported.

 

………………………………………………………

 

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).