A peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians
in Beit Jala town against the construction of the annexation wall
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic
Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory (OPT)
· An
infant died from tear gas inhalation fired by IOF in Beit Ummar village, north
of Hebron.
· 3
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded by IOF gunfire in the
West Bank.
· IOF
continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
§ IOF
used a new type of tear gas against demonstrators.
· IOF
continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in border areas of the
Gaza Strip.
· IOF
conducted 16 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
§ IOF
arrested 38 civilians, including 13 children, a journalist and 4 human rights
defenders, in the West Bank.
· Israel
has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza
Strip from the outside world.
§ Israeli
troops stationed at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested two
Palestinian civilians.
· IOF
have imposed arbitrary measures against members of the Popular Committees
against the Annexation Wall and Settlements.
· Israel
has continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority
in Jerusalem.
· A
new Israeli settlement plan in East Jerusalem was released.
· Israel
began constructing new housing units for settlers in the Ras al-‘Aamoud
neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
· IOF
have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have
continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
· Israeli
settlers burnt a field of wheat in Qalqilya.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and
humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (06 – 12 May
2010):
Shooting: During
the reporting period, a Palestinian infant was killed and 3 civilians, including
a child, were wounded by IOF in the West Bank.
On 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and a
number of international human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in the center of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They moved towards the Zaher al-Barahish area
in the south of the village near “Kermi Tsur” settlement, protesting
against the closure and confiscation of Palestinian land for the purpose of
settlement activities. Israeli troops
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
demonstrators. As a result, 7-month-old
Hamza Samar Muhanna Abu Maria suffered severely from tear gas inhalation, of
which she died at Hebron Hospital 36 hours later. According to her mother, Israeli troops chased
the demonstrators into alleys and fired tear gas canisters at houses. They fired at least 4 tear gas canisters at
the balcony of Abu Maria’s house.
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. At least 13 civilians were wounded, and
others sustained bruises or suffered from tear gas inhalation.
On 11 May 2010, a Palestinian child was wounded in
clashes between IOF and a number of children who threw stones at military
vehicles.
In the Gaza Strip, on 09 May 2010, IOF fired at a
number of Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and construction
aggregate in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported. On the same day, Israeli warplanes bombed a
tunnel under the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. On 10 May 2010, Israeli warplanes bombed
another tunnel at the Egyptian border.
Incursions: During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 16 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 26
Palestinian civilians, including 12 children.
They also arrested 12 civilians, including 4 human rights defenders and
a child, during peaceful demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activities.
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 two and a half 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, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently,
and to allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing,
southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons.
· 1.5
million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of
movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and
education.
· The
main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs
of food, medicines, 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, excluding limited amounts of
cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, since 10 December 2008.
· The
Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for 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. They have prevented
representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from
entering the Gaza Strip.
· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated;
levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
· At
least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family
visitation for more than two and a half years.
· IOF
have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza
Strip.
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
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 IOF 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 18 Palestinian communities in the West
Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF (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 the IOF.
These 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.
Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic
Majority in Jerusalem: IOF have continued to take measures at
creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem.
On 11 May 2010, the Israeli
Municipality of Jerusalem issued orders to evacuate 4 tracts of land in Nablus
Street near the US Consulate-General central Jerusalem, claiming that the land
is owned by the State of Israel. A petrol station, a workshop and a car park
managed by Palestinians are located on the 3-donum plot of land. It is worth noting that the land has been
registered as an Islamic endowment for 400 years.
During the reporting
period, the Israeli organization Peace Now revealed in a recently published
report that Israeli occupation authorities have begun to build at least 14 new
housing units for settlers in the Ras al-‘Aamoud neighborhood south of al-Aqsa
Mosque. The housing units are being
built on a site that used to be an Israeli police station. According to the report, there are 119
structures belonging to Jewish parties in Palestinian neighborhoods in East
Jerusalem, where at least 1,900 Israeli settlers live.
Settlement Activities: Israel has continued its settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international
humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 06 May 2010, one of the Israeli settlers who
seized a house belonging to the al-Ghawi family in East Jerusalem slapped Nabeel
al-Kurd, 12, when he was near his house in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The settler also boxed ‘Abdullah Nasser
al-Ghawi, 8, and then escaped.
On the same day, an Israeli settler attacked Jamalat
Hashima, 27, when she and her sister Eithar, 18 were on her way home in the
‘Aqabat al-Khaldia neighborhood of Jerusalem’s old city. The settler hit Jamalat and pushed the
Eithar. Palestinian civilians intervened
and protected the two women, while the settler ran away.
On the same day, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered
in the ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya area on the Ramallah-Nablus road, north of Ramallah,
and blocked the road. They set fire to
tires and prevented the movement of Palestinian civilian vehicles.
At the same time, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered
near the road that links the ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya area and Qalandya checkpoint,
north of Jerusalem.
On 07 May 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers from
“Qedumim” settlement threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles
traveling on the Nablus-Qalqilya road. A
number of vehicles were damaged.
On 08 May 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from
settlement outposts in the center of Hebron sprayed wastewater on Palestinian
civilians who organized a peaceful demonstration demanding the reopening of
al-Shuhada Street for the movement of civilians. Israeli troops were present in the area, but
did not intervene to stop the settlers.
On 10 May 2010, Israeli settlers burnt 3 donums of
land planted with wheat belonging to ‘Aadel Hassan Ymin, 54, in Qalqilya.
Israeli Violations
Documented during the Reporting Period (06 – 12 May 2010)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians
and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday,
06 May 2010
· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided a house belonging to the family
of ‘Ammar Naji Kmayel, 27, and arrested him.
· At
approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses,
but no arrests were reported.
· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Taqqou’ village, southeast of
Bethlehem. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. ‘Odai Khalil Hmaida, 17;
2. Ahmed ‘Ali Sabbah, 22; and
3. Moneer Jamal Sabbah, 22.
· Also
at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Ejza village, northwest of
Jerusalem. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinian civilians:
1. ‘Omar Faheem Abu Kafia, 24;
2. ‘Ammar Faheem Abu Kafia, 23;
3. Bilal Faheem Abu Kafia, 21;
4. ‘Abdul Hamid Hani Abu Kafia, 20;
5. Shaker ‘Abdullah Mar’ei, 21;
6. Suhaib Ziad Mar’ei, 20;
7. Mohammed Diab Mar’ei, 22;
8. Ahmed Diab Mar’ei, 20; and
9. Suleiman Sabri Gharib, 38.
· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a deserted house in
the center of the village and arrested Sa’id ‘Atallah ‘Amira, 24.
· At
approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Beit Reema village, northwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.
· At
approximately 19:40, IOF moved into Deir Ghassana village, northwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.
Friday, 07 May 2010
· At
approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Fasayel village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.
Saturday, 08 May 2010
· At
approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Jafna village, north of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported
Sunday, 09 May 2010
· At
approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Maza’a al-Sharqiya village, northeast of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.
· At
approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Bardala village, east of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses,
but no arrests were reported.
· At
approximately 10:35, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia opened
fire at a number of Palestinian farmers who were working on a tract of
agricultural land belonging to the Abu Halima clan, approximately 500 meters
from the border. The farmers were forced
to take shelter behind agricultural wells; no casualties were reported.
· At
approximately 23:25, Israeli warplanes fired at least one missile at al-Shouka
village near the Egyptian border, southeast of Rafah. The attack targeted a tunnel in the
area. No casualties were reported.
Monday, 10 May 2010
· At
approximately 00:35, Israeli warplanes fired at least one missile at al-Shouka
village near the Egyptian border, southeast of Rafah. The attack targeted a tunnel in the
area. No casualties were reported.
· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Doha village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to
Fu’ad ‘Obaid Da’amsa, 32, and summoned him for interrogation.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Wissam Khaled Hamamra, 20, and arrested him.
· At
approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. A number of Palestinian children gathered and
threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.
Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 15-year-old Nour
Mohammed ‘Zaqiq with a gunshot to the right thigh.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses
and summoned Ashraf Ibrahim Abu Rahma, 28, for interrogation.
· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 11 Palestinian children aged 16-17:
1. Rabee’ ‘Ali Klaib;
2. Hani Sabri Souf;
3. Qussai Nasser Suleiman;
4. Ma’zouz ‘Abdul Rahman Klaib;
5. Mohammed Jihad Daoud;
6. Hassan Mohammed Salama;
7. Nadiz E’timad Souf;
8. Samer ‘Ayad Souf;
9. Bahaa’ Ramzi Sultan;
10. Mohammed Jawdat Daoud; and
11. Saqer Hussein Suleiman.
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. At least 13 Palestinian
civilians and international human rights defenders were injured and one infant
girl died after being exposed to tear gas fired by IOF in her home.
· At
approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 06 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in al-Walaja
village, northwest of Bethlehem. They
moved towards al-Natouf area in the northwest of the village, where IOF were
leveling areas of land. Soon, IOF
attacked the demonstration. They
forcibly pulled away international human rights defenders, and then fired tear
gas canisters and sound bombs at the other demonstrators. They also violently beat a number of
demonstrators. As a result, 11
demonstrators were injured. IOF also
arrested 3 Palestinian civilians and one international human rights defender,
but later released them on bail.
· Following
the Friday Prayer on 07 May 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
Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah. The
demonstrators moved towards the Wall and attempted to access annexed lands
behind it. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound
bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation, and some of them sustained bruises. Israeli troops further arrested 6
demonstrators, including 3 human rights defenders:
1. ‘Abdul Fattah Bernat, 53;
2. Haitham al-Khatib, 34, a photographer
of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Bil’ein;
3. Ashraf Abu Rahma, 28;
4. Stormy, 27, an American human rights
defender;
5. Dr. Roi Vakiner, 37, an Israeli human
rights defender; and
6. Uri Bightman, 27, an Israeli human
rights defender.
All detainees were released later, with the exception
of Bernat and al-Khatib, both of whom remained in custody.
· Also
following the Friday Prayer on 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the
Annexation Wall. They clashed with IOF
troops positioned near the Wall. IOF
troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.
· Also
following the Friday Prayer on 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Nabil Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against
land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh
and Deir Nizam. 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. Israeli troops also arrested two Palestinian
civilians, including a child: ‘Alaa’
Mohammed al-Tamimi, 19; and Bassel ‘Abdul Elah al-Tamimi, 12. The child was released later, but the young
man was kept in custody.
· On
Friday afternoon, 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and a number of
international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the
center of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.
They moved towards Zaher al-Barahish area in the south of the village
near “Kermi Tsur” settlement, protesting against the closure and
confiscation of Palestinian land for the purpose of settlement activities. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal
bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, 7-month-old Hamza Samar Muhanna
Abu Maria suffered from severe tear gas inhalation, of which she died at Hebron
Hospital 36 hours later. According to
her mother, Israeli troops chased the demonstrators into alleys and fired tear
gas canisters at houses. They fired at
least 4 tear gas canisters at the balcony of Abu Maria’s house. As a result, the infant seriously inhalted a
significant amount of tear gas. The baby
girl was evacuated to a hospital in Hebron, but died at approximately 02:00 on
Sunday, 09 May 2010.
· At
approximately 13:30 on Saturday, 08 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
the center of ‘Iraq Bourin village, south of Nablus. They moved towards the eastern part of the
village, were IOF plan to confiscate land near “Brakha”
settlement. Immediately, Israeli troops
fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators. As a result, Hihad Waleed
Qadous, 19, was hit by a tear gas canister to the left leg, which caused two
fractures.
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 more than two and a half 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, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently,
and to allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing,
southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons.
· 1.5
million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of
movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and
education.
· The
main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs
of food, medicines, 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, excluding limited amounts of
cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, since 10 December 2008.
· The
Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for 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. They have prevented
representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from
entering the Gaza Strip.
· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated;
levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
· At
least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family
visitation for more than two and a half years.
· IOF
have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza
Strip.
Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting
Period:
Movement at Rafah International
Crossing Point
05 – 11 May 2010
Date |
Details |
05 May 2010 |
44 Palestinians were allowed to travel |
06 May 2010 |
14 Palestinians were allowed to travel |
07 May 2010 |
Closed. |
08 May 2010 |
Two Palestinians were allowed to travel |
09 May 2010 |
Closed. |
10 May 2010 |
Closed. |
11 May 2010 |
One Palestinian was allowed to travel to |
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) Crossing
05 – 11 May 2010
Date |
Imports |
||
Category |
Amount |
||
Tons |
Liters |
||
05 May 2010 |
Foodstuffs |
169 |
|
Agricultural |
591 |
|
|
Various |
1,109 |
|
|
Cooking |
198 |
|
|
Industrial |
|
251,000 |
|
Humanitarian |
303 |
|
|
06 May 2010 |
Foodstuffs |
695 |
|
Agricultural |
256 |
|
|
Various |
534 |
|
|
Cooking |
175 |
|
|
Industrial |
|
173,000 |
|
Humanitarian |
261 |
|
|
09 May 2010 |
Foodstuffs |
575 |
|
Agricultural |
269 |
|
|
Various |
494 |
|
|
Cooking |
199 |
|
|
Industrial |
|
169,000 |
|
Humanitarian |
349 |
|
|
10 May 2010 |
Foodstuffs |
506 |
|
Agricultural |
171 |
|
|
Various |
357 |
|
|
Cooking |
194 |
|
|
Industrial |
|
109,000 |
|
Humanitarian |
233 |
|
|
11 May 2010 |
Foodstuffs |
462 |
|
Agricultural |
174 |
|
|
Various |
320 |
|
|
Cooking |
155 |
|
|
Industrial |
|
159,000 |
|
Humanitarian |
340 |
|
Al-Mentar
(Karni) Crossing: IOF partially
opened the crossing on Wednesday, 05 May 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,989
tons of wheat and 1,404 tons of fodders.
They opened it again on Tuesday, 11 May 2010, and permitted the entry of
1,755 tons of wheat and 2,535 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
05 – 11 May 2010
Date |
Patients |
Companions |
Arabs from Israel |
Diplomats |
International |
International Workers |
Travelers abroad |
Traders |
|
05 May 2010 |
33 |
29 |
16 |
3 |
7 |
39 |
3 |
9 |
|
07 May 2010 |
8 |
7 |
3 |
Nil |
5 |
24 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
08 May 2010 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
09 May 2010 |
38 |
35 |
29 |
3 |
2 |
18 |
Nil |
6 |
|
10 May 2010 |
63 |
63 |
12 |
2 |
2 |
51 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
11 May 2010 |
31 |
30 |
4 |
Nil |
1 |
32 |
4 |
7 |
The
West Bank
Israel
has imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. During the reporting period,
IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
· Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian
civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the
city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city.
Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on
Fridays, preventing Muslim Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.
· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on
the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. IOF troops positioned at the Jaba’ and
Qalandiya checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional
restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged checks of Palestinian
civilians. During the reporting period,
IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles. At noon on Tuesday, 11 May 2010, IOF established
two checkpoints at the entrance of Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, to
prevent local and international human rights defenders from entering the
village to participate in peaceful protests against the construction of the annexation
wall.
· Nablus: IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. On Saturday morning, 08 May
2010, Israeli troops stationed at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 09 May 2010, Israeli
troops stationed at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians.
At noon on Thursday, 06 May 2010, IOF closed the Hebron – al-Zahiriya
road with sand barriers and rocks.
During this process, the main water network of al-Zahiriya village was
damaged. It is worth noting that IOF
claimed some months ago that they would open the road for the movement of
Palestinian civilians.
Arrests
at Military Checkpoints
· On
Thursday evening, 06 May 2010, Israeli troops stationed at al-Hamra checkpoint,
southwest of Tubas, arrested ‘Ali Hassan Tayeh, 23, from al-Fara’a refugee camp
south of Tubas.
· On
Saturday evening, 08 May 2010, Israeli troops stationed at the entrance of
Battir village, west of Bethlehem, arrested Shadi ‘Eissa Ma’ali, 34, from
al-Duhaisha refugee camp south of Bethlehem.
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 IOF against Palestinian civilians in
East Jerusalem.
· On 11 May 2010, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem issued orders to
evacuate 4 tracts of land in Nablus Street near the US Consulate-General
central Jerusalem, claiming that the land is owned by the State of Israel. A
petrol station, a workshop and a car park managed by Palestinians are located
on the 3-donum plot of land. It is worth
noting that the land has been registered as an Islamic endowment for 400
years.
· During the reporting period, the Israeli organization Peace Now revealed
in a recently published report that Israeli occupation authorities have begun
to build at least 14 new housing units for settlers in the Ras al-‘Aamoud
neighborhood south of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The housing units are being built on a site that used to be an Israeli
police station. According to the report,
there are 119 structures belonging to Jewish parties in Palestinian neighborhoods
in East Jerusalem, where at least 1,900 Israeli settlers live.
5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian
Civilians and Property
Israel has continued its
settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian
law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and
property.
· At
approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 06 May 2010, one of the Israeli settlers who
seized a house belonging to the al-Ghawi family in East Jerusalem slapped
Nabeel al-Kurd, 12, when he was near his house in the Sheikh Jarrah
neighborhood. The settler also boxed
‘Abdullah Nasser al-Ghawi, 8, and then escaped.
A few minutes later, IOF arrived in the area to protect Israeli
settlers. When Palestinian civilians
complained about these attacks, IOF attempted to arrest Nasser al-Ghawi, the
father of the second child. They also
asked that the civilians go to an Israeli police station to submit a complaint. They did as instructed, but had to wait for
an hour and half. They then were
informed that there was no need to file a complaint as the police allegedly
found the perpetrators. However, the
police did not take any legal action against the perpetrator.
· At
approximately 16:30 also on Thursday, an Israeli settler attacked Jamalat
Hashima, 27, when she was on her way home with her sister Eithar, 18, in the
‘Aqabat al-Khaldia neighborhood of Jerusalem’s old city. He hit Jamalat and pushed Eithar. Palestinian civilians intervened and
protected the two women, while the settler ran away.
· On
Thursday evening, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered in the ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya
area on the Ramallah-Nablus road, north of Ramallah, and blocked the road. They set fire to tires and prevented the
movement of Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· At
the same time, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered near the road that links the
‘Oyoun al-Haramiya area and Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem.
· On
Friday, 07 May 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers from “Qedumim”
settlement threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on the
Nablus-Qalqilya road. A number of
vehicles were damaged.
· On
Saturday evening, 08 May 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from settlement
outposts in the center of Hebron sprayed wastewater on Palestinian civilians
who organized a peaceful demonstration demanding the reopening of al-Shuhada
Street for the movement of civilians.
Israeli troops were present in the area, but did not intervene to stop
the settlers.
· At
approximately 17:00 on Monday, 10 May 2010, ‘Aadel Hassan Ymin, 54, from Jeet
village east of Qalqilya, learned that a large blaze had broken out in his
land. He immediately went to his land
and found that the fire, which had been extinguished by Palestinian civilians,
had destroyed at least 3 donums of the land.
He saw an Israeli military jeep and police vehicle in the area. Another Israeli military jeep arrived at the
area. An Israeli solider stepped out of
the vehicle and stated that he saw a person wearing a white shirt in the area
who then entered the nearby “Givat Gilad” settlement immediately
before the fire broke out. The Israeli
police transported Yamin to Hawara military post, where he submitted a
complaint.
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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.
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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).