The place
where Najah Qudaih and her daughter were killed by Israeli artillery shelling
in the east of Khan Yunis

 

 

Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalated Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and
Property in the Gaza Strip

 

 

· 18 Palestinians,
including 9 civilians, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

– The victims include a women and her daughter and two children.

 

· IOF warplanes
launched a series or air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip.

– A number of training sites were destroyed and dozens of houses were
damaged.

 

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

– Two Palestinian
civilians, including a child, and an international human rights defender were
wounded. 

– IOF arrested 5
Palestinian civilians.

 

· IOF conducted 58
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  

– IOF arrested 37
Palestinian civilians, including 8 children and two women.

 

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

– IOF closed the
major commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip.

– IOF positioned
at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested at least 5 Palestinian
civilians.

– IOF attacked
Palestinian workers using dogs.

 

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

– IOF destroyed two road, two barracks and two rooms in al-‘Aqaba
village in the Jordan Valley.

– A Palestinian civilian was injured and a car was burnt by Israeli
settlers near Nablus.

 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (07 – 13 April 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

IOF escalated attacks against
Palestinian civilians and property in the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, 18 Palestinians,
including 9 civilians, were killed by IOF. The victims include a woman and her daughter and two children. Additionally, 38 civilians, including 14
children, a woman and two paramedics, and 4 resistance activists were
wounded. In the West Bank, IOF wounded
two Palestinian civilians and an international human rights defender. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, at approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 07
April 2011, IOF started to bombard several areas throughout the Gaza
Strip. The Israeli shelling continued
until Saturday morning, 09 April 2011, during which IOF killed 18 Palestinians,
including 9 civilians. The civilian
victims include a woman and her daughter and two children. IOF also wounded 38 civilians, including 14
children, a woman and two paramedics, and 4 resistance activists. 

 

The Israeli shelling also destroyed a number of training sites of
the Palestinian resistance and damaged dozens of houses. 

 

In the West Bank, 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, two
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded, and dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from
tear gas inhalation.  IOF also arrested 5
Palestinian civilians.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 58 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 37
Palestinian civilians, including 8 children and two women. 

 

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 totally closed al-Mentar “Karni”
crossing in the beginning of March 2011.
Al-Mentar crossing is located in the east of Gaza city. Since its establishment in 2005, the crossing
had served as Gaza’s major commercial crossing. It was Gaza’s largest border crossing in terms of its capacity to absorb
imports and exports. IOF’s decision to
totally close the crossing is the culmination of several previous decisions
taken by IOF in the context of a plan aimed at tightening the strangulation of the
Gaza Strip and making Karm Abu Salem crossing, which is not suitable for
commercial purposes, as Gaza’s major and sole commercial crossing.

 

· For approximately one month, imports allowed
into Gaza have decreased by less than 23.3% in comparison with daily number of
truckloads which used to be allowed into Gaza before mid June 2007 when
approximately 570 truckloads were daily allowed into Gaza via different border
crossings.

 

· The above numbers demonstrate that Karm Abu
Salrm crossing cannot meet Gaza’s needs which used to be delivered to Gaza via
four border crossings. Karm Abu Salem
crossing is also unsuitable to receive Gaza’s exports because it is not
technically equipped to transfer goods and its absorptive capacity is very
limited making the crossing unsuitable to receive the same numbers of
truckloads which used to be exported via al-Mentar crossing before tightening
the siege in June 2007.

 

· The closure of al-Mentar crossing and the
dependence on Karm Abu Salem crossing resulted in the aggravation of the
suffering of industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors in the Gaza Strip,
created more obstacles in the face of the movement of the limited goods allowed
into Gaza and resulted in the increase of the transportation costs which in
turn will result in the increase of prices of Gaza’s imports and in the
infliction of additional costs on Gaza exporters (who export agricultural crops
allowed by IOF).

 

· The cooking gas crisis which renewed four
months ago has continued to exist as IOF closed Nahal Oz crossing, which used
to be dedicated for the delivery of fuel to Gaza and shifted fuel supplies to
Karm Abu Salem crossing which is not technically equipped to receive Gaza’s
needs of fuel.  IOF banned the delivery
of cooking gas to Gaza for 15 days and allowed the delivery of limited
quantities of cooking gas for 24 days only.  During the reporting period, IOF allowed the
delivery of approximately 4,530 tons of cooking gas to Gaza (less than 116 tons
per day in average). This average represents 39% of Gaza’s actual daily needs.  During winter, Gaza daily needs 300 tons of
cooking gas.

 

· 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.  Facts on the ground refute IOF’s allegation
that they daily allow the exportation of 10 truckloads of agricultural products.

 

· Recently, IOF allowed the exportation of very
limited quantities of Gaza’s agricultural products, including flowers and
tomatoes, to European markers.

 

· IOF allowed the weekly delivery of 20 small
cars to the Gaza Strip. In July 2010, IOF declared that they would allow the
delivery of 60 cars to Gaza every week.

 

· 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 to international organizations. As part of what IOF call
the easing of the siege which was declared in July 2010, IOF allowed the
delivery of approximately 70,000 tons of construction aggregate, 3,250 tons of
cement and 1,315 tons of iron bars for UNRWA, UNDP, ANERA and Coastal
Municipalities Water Utility.

 

· 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 45 months, IOF have continued to deny approximately 710
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, 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.

 

· 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 a permit issued by the 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 07 April 2011, IOF, accompanied
by 3 bulldozers, moved into al-‘Aqaba village, southeast of Tubas. They bulldozed al-Salam road at the eastern
entrance of the village. They also
bulldozed the road of al-Salam suburb and 10 electricity pillars. Later, IOF demolished two walls, a
140-square-meter barrack and a room belonging to Bassem Mohammed Sbaih, and an
80square-meter barrack and a room belonging to ‘Abdul Nasser Ahmed Sbaih. 

 

On 09 April 2011, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus,
attacked Palestinian houses in Southern ‘Assira village. When a number of Palestinian civilians
attempted to stop the attack, Israeli settlers threw stones at them. As a result, ‘Abdullah ‘Abdul Salem Ahmed,
44, was hit by a stone to the chest. 

 

On the same day, a number of Israeli
settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus, attacked 3
Palestinian workers at the northwestern entrance of ‘Ourif village. They threw stones at the works. One of the settlers then broke windows of the
car of one of the workers, and then burnt it completely. 

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (07 – 13 April 2011)

 

Escalated Israeli Attacks on the Gaza Strip

 

At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF started to
bombard several areas throughout the Gaza Strip. The Israeli shelling continued until Saturday
morning, 09 April 2011, during which IOF killed 18 Palestinians, including 9
civilians. The civilian victims include
a woman and her daughter and two children. IOF also wounded 38 civilians, including 14 children, a woman and two
paramedics, and 4 resistance activists. 

 

The Israeli shelling also destroyed a number of training sites of
the Palestinian resistance and damaged dozens of houses. 

 

Northern Gaza Strip

 

· At approximately 16:05 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF positioned
at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired 6 artillery shells at the
northern Gaza Strip. Four of these
shells landed in the vicinity of al-Shuhada Cemetery in the east of Jabalya
town. As a result, Ra’fat Tayseer Jnaid,
21, sustained bruises to the left hand. The remaining two sells hit Abu Safiya area in the northeast of Jabalya
town, but no casualties were reported. IOF also fired a surface-to-surface missile at an open area to the east
of al-Amal neighborhood in the northeast of Beit Hanoun town. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately the same time, IOF helicopter gunships opened fire
at open areas in the east of Jabalya town. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 16:45 on the same day, an IOF warplane fired a
missile at an evacuated security site near al-Twan intersection in the west of
Jabalya. As a result, 6 rooms in the
site were destroyed, and a civilian bystander, Mohammed Khalil al-Madhoun, 35,
was wounded by shrapnel to the forehead and the face, when he was near his
house, approximately 1,500 meters away from the targeted site. Dozens pf nearby houses were also damaged.

 

· At approximately 17:10 on the same day, IOF helicopter gunships
fired 5 missiles at a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the
armed wing of Hamas) in the northeast of Beit Lahia town, but no casualties
were reported. They also fired a 6^th
missile at al-Masri agricultural nursery , which is located near a house
belonging to Jameel Mohammed Abu Shadaq, in Tal al-Dahab area in Beit Lahia
town. The house and 3 neighboring ones
were damaged, but no casualties were reported. 

 

· At approximately 18:15 on the same day, an IOF drone fired a
missile at Muhannad Ahmed al-Jerjawi, 18, a farmer from al-Sidra area in
al-Daraj neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, once he left an agricultural
land belonging to the Abu Halima family, where he works. As a result, his left leg was cut and he was
seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body. 

· At approximately 05:00 on Friday, 08 April 2011, an IOF drone fired
a missile at a number of activists of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the
armed wing of Hamas) who had just fired hom-made rockets into Israeli town from
an agricultural land located to the west of al-Karama housing project in the
west of Jabalya town. As a result, one
of the activists, Ra’ed Mahmoud Mohammed Shihada, 25, from al-Shati refugee
camp west of Gaza City, was killed. Another activist, Ahmed Mohammed ‘Ali Ghirab, also from al-Shati refugee
camp, was seriously wounded. He was
pronounced dead at approximately 19:00.

 

· At approximately 16:35 on the same day, Israeli soldiers station on
observation towers along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the
north and northwest of Beit Lahia town opened fire at Palestinian farmers in
al-Sayafa area. The farmers fled from
the area and no casualties were reported.

 

· Approximately 21:30 on the same day, an IOF helicopter gunship
fired a missile to the west of al-Karama housing project, west of Jabalya. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 22:05 on the same day, an IOF drone fired a
missile on an open area to the north of ‘Assaliya area in Jabalya. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 22:35 on the same day, IOF fired an artillery
shell at an agricultural land belonging to Mohammed Mas’oud in Jabalya. A number of nearby houses were damaged, but
no casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 23:35 on the same day, an IOF warplane fired a
missile at a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing
of Hamas) in Jabalya. A number of nearby
houses were damaged, but no casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 02:35 on Saturday, 09 April 2011, an IOF drone
fired a missile at an agricultural land belonging to Sa’id Rabi’ Hamdiya in
Jabalya. Two Palestinian civilians
living in nearby houses were lightly injured by fragments of glass:

 

1. Mustafa Sa’id
Hamdiya, 37, injured in the head; and

2. ‘Alaa’ Saber
Abu ‘Aqel, 30, injured throughout the body.

 

· At approximately 06:00 on the same day, an IOF drone fired a
missile at a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing
of Hamas) in Jabalya. No casualties were
reported.

 

Gaza City

 

· At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF shelled
various areas in al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. An artillery shell hit a house belonging to
Mahmoud Mansour al-Manasra, 58, near al-Kourba intersection. As a result, his child, Fawaz, 15, was
wounded by shrapnel to the right hand. Soon after, IOF fired 3 shells at the same house, which is located
nearly 1,200 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel,
killing the owner. IOF continued to
shell the area sporadically. As a
result, Subhi ‘Abdul Rahman Abu Shanab, 60, was wounded by shrapnel to the
right foot.

 

· At approximately 00:30 on Friday, 08 April 2011, IOF fired an
artillery shell at a house belonging to Rami Jawad Hilles in al-Shuja’iya
neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, nearly 1,200 meters away from the border
between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The
house was heavily damaged, but no casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 16:15 on the same day, an IOF warplane fired a
missile at a person who was riding a motorcycle near al-Sawafiri intersection
in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The person survived the attack, by a nearby
company belonging to Hassan al-Wakeel  and
a number of nearby houses were damaged. 

 

· At approximately 17:00 on the same day, IOF positioned at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired an artillery shell at a house
belonging to Ahmed Mohammed al-‘Arqan in al-Mansoura Street in al-Shuja’iya
neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, nearly 2,500 meters away from the
border. Fourth floor of the house was
damaged, but no casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 19:00 on the same day, IOF fired an artillery
shell at al-Sourani Mount in al-Sha’af neighborhood in the east of Gaza
City. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 19:10 on the same day, IOF positioned at border
between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired two artillery shells at a gathering of
Palestinian civilians near the cemetery of al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in the
east of Gaza City. As a result, two
civilians, including a child, were killed:

 

1. Mahmoud Wa’el
al-Jaru, 10; and

2. Bilal Mohammed
al-‘Ar’ir,. 24. 

 

Another 10 civilians, including 4 children and a paramedic, were
wounded.

 

· At approximately 01:30 on Saturday, 09 April 2011, IOF positioned
at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a number of artillery
shells at open areas in al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza
City. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 01:40 on the same day, IOF gunboats opened fire at
the beach in Gaza City. No casualties
were reported.

 

· At approximately 07:50 on the same day, an IOF warplane fired a
missile at a motorcycle that was being ridden by two activists of the ‘Izziddin
al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in the east of al-Taffah
neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. One of the activists, Ahmed Nabeel ‘Olayan al-Zaytouniya, 22, was
killed, and the other one was seriously wounded.

 

· At approximately 18:30 on the same day, an IOF warplane fired a
missile at a number of activists of the Saladin Brigades (the armed wing of the
Popular Resistance Committees) when they were on an agricultural area in the
southeast of al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. An activist, Ra’ed Zuhair Ahmed al-Bur, 30,
was killed, and another two ones were wounded.

 

Central Gaza Strip

 

· At approximately 15:30 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF fired a
number of artillery shells at Juhor al-Dik area, southeast of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 15:40 on the same day, IOF fired 4 artillery
shells the east of al-Salqa Valley village, east of Deir al-Balah. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 16:00 on the same day, IOF warplanes fired two
missiles at an open area in Deir al-Balah. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 19:30 on Friday, 08 April 2011, an IOF drone fired
a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance activists in
the center of al-Mughraqa village in the central Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 20:30 on the same day, IOF gunboats opened flash
bombs at Palestinian fishermen in Nussairat refugee camp and al-Zahraa’
town. No casualties were reported.

 

Khan Yunis

 

· At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF tanks
positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis,
fired a number of shells at Palestinian houses and agricultural areas in
al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. As a result, Yousef Ahmed al-Smairi, 10, was wounded by shrapnel to the
hands.

 

· At approximately 16:30 on the same day, IOF warplanes bombarded an
agricultural room belonging to the Abu Shab family in al-Zanna area in Bani
Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. No
casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 17:00 on the same day, IOF shelled Palestinian
areas located along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan
Yunis. No casualties were reported. 

 

· At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF fired 3 artillery
shells at a house belonging to Ra’ed Ibrahim Qudaih in the east of Khuza’a
village, east of Khan Yunis. The house
which had been repeatedly shelled by IOF was damaged.

 

· At approximately 09:15 on Friday, 08 April 2011, an IOF drone
attacked a number of activists of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed
wing of Hamas) at the entrance of Khaza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. Two activists were killed by shrapnel
throughout their bodies:

 

1. ‘Abdullah
Mahmoud Mohammed al-Farra, 20, from Khuza’a village; and

2. Mo’taz Jamal
Mohammed Abu Jame’, 22, from Bani Suhaila village.

 

· At approximately 12:20 on the same day, an IOF drone fired a
missile at the yard of a house belonging to Ibrahim Hamdan Qudaih in ‘Abassan
village, east of Khan Yunis. As a
result, Qudaih’s wife and daughter were killed:

 

1. Najah Harb
Salem Qudaih, 41; and

2. Nidal Ibrahim
Hamdan Qudaih, 19. 

 

Qudaih’s two other daughters were also wounded:

 

1. Nidaa’, 18, in
a serious condition; and

2. Fidaa;, 15,
wounded by shrapnel to the feet.

 

· At approximately 12:30 on the same day, IOF drones fired two
missile at al-Manara neighborhood in the southeast of Khan Yunis. As a result, Talal Rabi’ ‘Eissa Abu Taha, 56,
was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body, and he died once
evacuated to the hospital. His cousin,
Hamada Salama ‘Eissa Abu Taha, 25, was wounded by shrapnel to the feet.

 

· At approximately 23:15 on the same day, IOF tanks positioned at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, fired a number of shells at
al-Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis. Two shells hit the roof of a house belonging to ‘Amru Sa’id al-‘Omour,
damaging it.

 

· At approximately 21:05 on Saturday, 09 April 2011, an IOF warplane
fired a missile at an open land in al-Zanna rea in Bani Suhaila village, east
of Khan Yunis. No casualties were
reported.

 

Rafah

 

· At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF positioned
at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at least 10 artillery
shells and IOF helicopter gunships opened fire in the vicinity of Gaza
International Airport, southeast of Rafah. A number of shells landed near 3 Palestinian civilians, including a
child, who were in the airport. Two of
these civilians were killed and the third one died of his wound later:

 

1. Mohammed
‘Aayada al-Mahmoum, 25;

2. Khaled Isma’il
Hamdan al-Dbari, 17; and

3. Saleh Jermi
‘Atiya al-Tarabin, 38. 

 

When a number of civilians attempted to offer help to the wounded,
Mos’ab Mohammed ‘Obaid al-Soufi, 20, was killed and 14 others, including 5
children and a paramedic, were wounded. Later, Faten Subhi al-Liddawi, 44, was wounded when she was near her
house in al-Salam neighborhood, as IOF warplanes bombarded tunnels along the
Egyptian border.

 

· At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 08 April 2011, IOF fired two
artillery shells at the vicinity of Gaza International Airport. As a result, 4 Palestinian civilians,
including two children, were wounded, two of whom were in a serious condition.

 

· At approximately 14:00 on the same day, an IOF drone fired two
missiles at a tunnel near Yibna refugee camp near the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah. The tunnel was burnt and no
casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 00:50, an IOF drone fired two missile at 3
activists of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) who
were walking on al-Nuzha road in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of
Rafah. Two activists were instantly
killed:

 

1. Tayseer Sa’id
Abu Snaima, 27; and

2. Mohammed ‘Ali
‘Awaja, 28. 

 

The third activist was seriously wounded. 

 

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

 

Thursday, 07 April 2011

 

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Halhoul town, north of
Hebron. They raided and searched a house
belonging to Ahmed Hussein Janazra, 39, and arrested him.

 

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Awarta village, southeast
of Nablus. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested at least 70 women and men. They took them to Hawara military post and
took samples of blood and saliva from them and then released them.

 

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Housan village, west of
Bethlehem. They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Bahaa’ Mohammed Za’oul, 20, and arrested him.

 

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp,
south of Bethlehem. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a
child:

 

1. Hamza ‘Omar
Daoud, 21;

2. Tariq Isma’il
Shahin, 19;

3. Mahmoud Khaled
Abu Hadid, 19; and

4. Mohammed
Mahmoud al-Afandi, 18.

 

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee
camp, north of Hebron. They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Fa’eq Khader Noufal, 23, and
arrested him.

· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Awa village, southwest
of Hebron. They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Ahmed Yousef Mohammed al-Swaiti, 22, and
arrested him.

 

· At approximately 10:00, 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 10:00, IOF moved into Kufor Jammal village,
south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately 10:00, IOF arrested Ibrahim Khalil Dairiya,
43, from Beit Fajjar village south of Bethlehem, after summoning him for
interrogation in “Kfar Etzion” military post, southwest of Bethlehem.

 

· At approximately 10:40, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At approximately 12:30, IOF arrested Nader Mohammed Jubran, 34,
from Hindaza Mount neighborhood in the south of Bethkehem, after summoning him
for interrogation in “Kfar Etzion” military post, southwest of
Bethlehem.

 

· At approximately 14:10, IOF moved into Jeet village, northeast of
Qalqilya. They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Akram Mustafa ‘Arman, 17, and arrested him.

 

· Approximately 16:30, IOF moved into Habla village, south of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Jayous village, north of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 21:40, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, west of
Ramallah, and patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF
military vehicles. Immediately, IOF
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
children. A number of Palestinian
civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· At approximately 23:40, IOF moved into Far’oun village, south of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Friday,
08 April 2011

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Kharabtha al-Misbah village,
west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into al-‘Ouja village, northeast
of Jericho. They raided and searched a
house belonging to the Ma’ali family and arrested Tayseer and Nader ‘Abdul
‘Aziz Ma’ali, 33 and 30 respectively.

 

· At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, west of
Ramallah. A number of Palestinian
children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired rubber-coated metal
bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the children. A number of Palestinian civilians suffered
from tear gas inhalation.

 

Saturday, 09 April 2011

 

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

 

· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into 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 22:15, IOF moved into Beit Leed village, east of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 10 April 2011

 

· At approximately 02:00, 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 03:00, IOF moved into Housan village, west of
Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number
of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Mohammed Yasser
Za’oul, 19; and

2. Mansour Fayez
Sabatin, 20.

· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, northwest
of Jenin, and patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF
military vehicles. IOF immediately
stormed a cyber café and arrested 4 Palestinian children, but released them at
night after interrogating them: Mahmoud
Riadh Zaghal, 17; Mohammed Riadh Zaghal, 11; Ahmed Mohammed ‘Amara, 14; and
Ibrahim Khaled Jammal, 14.

 

· At approximately 10:00, 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 10:30, IOF moved into Beit Leed village, east of
Tulkarm. 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 Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 18:00, 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 19:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Our al-Tahta village,
west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

· Approximately 22:30, 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.

 

Monday, 11 April 2011

 

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghossoun 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 Deir al-Ghossoun
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 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 11:00, IOF moved into an open area near Kufor
al-Labad village, east of Tulkarm. They
searched the area and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Our al-Tahta village,
west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 16:00, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village,
southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 16:30, IOF moved into the agricultural area known
as Ras al-Masjed near al-Hafassi village, east of Tulkram. They arrested Mo’men Musleh Barhoush, 40, and
Muhannad Ahmed Rajab, 18, both from Kufor al-Labad village, while they were
reclaiming land. IOF confiscated their
equipment. IOF interrogated the two
farmers for an hour and then released them.

 

· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Beit Siera village, west of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 23:40, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya. They raided and searched a
house belonging to Ayman Khaled Abu Haniya, 42, but no arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 23:45, IOF moved into Um al-Sharayet neighborhood
in the west of al-Bireh. They raided and
searched a house and arrested Mahmoud Mohammed Saleh, 25.

 

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

 

· In the early morning, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including two children:

 

1. Sufian Fat’hi
‘Awadh, 21;

2. Hisham Khader
Sabarna, 17;

3. Ahmed ‘Abdullah
Abu ‘Ayash, 17;

4. Murshed Khader
Sabarna, 40; and

5. ‘Odai Mahmoud
‘Olayan, 21.

 

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

 

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

 

· At approximately 02:40, 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 02:50, IOF moved into Qira village, north of
Salfit. 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 ‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp,
north of Jericho. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 21:20, IOF moved into Jayous village, south of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately 21:20, IOF moved into Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 21:50, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, west of
Ramallah. 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 Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 23:35, 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.

 

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

 

· At approximately 06:40, IOF moved into Deir Estia village,
northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

During
the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the
West Bank. As a result, two Palestinian
civilians, including a child, and an international human rights defender were wounded. Dozens of Palestinian civilians and human
rights defenders also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained
bruises.  Additionally, IOF arrested 5
Palestinian civilians.    

   

· Following the
Friday Prayer on 08 April 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction
of the annexation wall.  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 08 April 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the annexation
wall. They 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, a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

· Also following
the Friday Prayer on 08 April 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against
land confiscations 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. As a result, Aws ‘Omar ‘Assaf, 17, was
wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand; and Fadi Hamza
Qar’n, 23, was wounded by a number of rubber-coated metal bullets to the body. An international human rights defender, who
has not been identified, was also wounded. A number of demonstrators also
suffered from tear gas inhalation. Additionally,
IOF arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, but released 3 of them on the same day
evening and the other two ones on Sunday, 10 April 2011: ‘Esmat Wajeeh Tamimi, 20; Sfwat Wajeeh
Tamimi, 22; Sameeh Mohammed Tamimi, 45; Bashar Shihada ‘Abdullah, 23; and Hamza
Na’el ‘Obaid, 22. 

 

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.

 

· Expanding the
list of items allowed into Gaza does not change the illegality of this policy,
which is inconsistent with Israel’s legal obligations both as an Occupying
Power and under international human rights treaties to which it is party, such
as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

 

· Facts on the
ground refute Israeli claims with respect to the easing of the closure imposed
on the Gaza Strip and the reduction of restrictions imposed on the entry of
goods.

 

· Israeli
declaration of allowing new goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip constitutes
an attempt to delude the international community, as such goods do not meet the
minimal needs of the Gaza Strip. 

 

· IOF have
continued to ban the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip. 

 

· IOF have
imposed a ban on all exports from 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 access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists
and humanitarian workers seeking to enter 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.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

06 –
12 April 2011

 

Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing: The
crossing was closed during the reporting period.

 

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF completely
closed the crossing.

 

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

06 –
12 April 2011

 

 

The West Bank

 

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

 

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

 

· Ramallah: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian
civilians in Ramallah.  At approximately
09:00 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on
Silwad-al-Mazra’a road, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint
near the entrance of Deir Jareer village, northeast of the town. At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 08 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah. At approximately
16:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit
Siera village, west of Ramallah. At
approximately 21:30 on the same day, IOF re-established their presence at
‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. At approximately 22:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at
‘Oyoun al-Haramiya intersection on Ramallah-Nablus road. At approximately 19:30 on Saturday, 09 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Liqya village, west
of Ramallah. At approximately 07:00 on
Sunday, 10 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi
Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At
approximately 09:20 on the same day, IOF re-established their presence at
‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 11 April
2011, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of
Ramallah. At approximately 15:00 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint under ‘Ein Ybroud Bridge, northeast of
Ramallah. At approximately 22:00 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint near ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya intersection,
northeast of Ramallah. At approximately
07:00 on Tuesday, 12 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance
of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 09:30 on Wednesday, 13 April 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint at Beit ‘Our al-Fouqa intersection, west of Ramallah.

 

· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF established 3
checkpoints around the town. On Friday,
08 April 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town. On Saturday, 09 April, IOF established 3
checkpoints around the town.  At
approximately 10:45 on Sunday, 10 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
between ‘Azzoun and Kufor Thuluth villages, southeast of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilians vehicles. At approximately
14:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ematin village,
northeast of Qalqilya. On Monday, 11
April 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town.

 

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF established
two checkpoints around the town. On
Friday, 08 April 2011, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians through Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm. They also established 3 checkpoints around
the town. On Saturday, 09 April 2011,
IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town. On Sunday, 10 April 2011, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians through Ennab checkpoint, east of
Tulkarm. They also established a
checkpoint at Ramin intersection, east of the town.  At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 11 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablu road. At approximately 08:30 on the same day, IOF
positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

 

· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 14:00 on Saturday, 09 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at ‘Aanin intersection, northwest of
Jenin. At approximately 16:00, IOF
established a checkpoint near Jaba’ intersection, south of Jenin. At approximately 01:45 on Sunday, 10 April
2011, IOF positioned at Barta’a checkpoint at the annexation wall, southwest of
Jenin, obstructed the passage of a Palestinian fire engine for 25 minutes,
which was on its way to extinguish fire that broke in Barta’a village. Twelve Palestinian shops were burnt. At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 11 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kfairet village,
southwest of Jenin. At approximately
16:30 on the same day, they established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fahma
village, southwest of the town. 

 

· Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 23:15 on Friday, 08 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Yassouf village, east of
Salfit. They stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles.  At
approximately 14:45 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit.  At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 11 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qarawt Bani Hassan
village, northwest of Salfit. They
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.   

 

· Jericho: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 19:00 on
Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
al-Zbaidat village, north of Jericho. At
approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 10 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of ‘Ein al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. At approximately 16:00
on Monday, 12 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of
‘Ein al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.    

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

· At approximately 23:30 on Saturday, 09 April 2011, IOF positioned
in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron arrested ‘Abdul Razzaq Hussein
al-Shrouf, 23, claiming that he attacked a soldier. 

 

· At approximately 14:45 on Monday, 11 April 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint on Ta’nak-‘Aanin road, northwest of Jenin. They stopped and checked Palestinian
civilians, and arrested ‘Odwan Ahmed al-Muhor, 45, from Ta’nak village. They also confiscated his motorcycle.  

 

· At approximately 16:00 on the same day, IOF arrested ‘Abdul Jabbar
Mahmoud al-Sadda, 22, from Jeet village northeast of Qalqilya, when he was on
his way back home from his family’s land near Qalqilya-Nablus road. 

 

· At approximately 16:30 on the same day, IOF positioned at a
checkpoint in the south of Hebron arrested ‘Alaa’ al-Qasrawi, 16. 

 

Harassment at Military Checkpoints

 

· At approximately 06:30 on Saturday, 09 April 2011, IOF set an
ambush in al-Kharrouba area near the annexation wall, southwest of Hebron. They detained two Palestinian workers: Yousef
Hussein al-Zagharna, 20; and Mohammed Majed Abu Qa’oud, 20.  They unleashed a dog that attacked and bit Abu
Qa’oud, while they handcuffed al-Zagharna. Abu Qa’oud was injured in the right forearm. IOF then handcuffed him and took him together
with al-Zagharna to an unknown destination. When Abu Qa’oud’s health condition deteriorated, they handed him to a
Palestinian ambulance at Tarqoumia crossing, northwest of Hebron. According to medical sources, he suffers from
a shock. 

 

· On Sunday morning, 10 April 2011, IOF set an ambush in the same
area. They unleashed dogs at Palestinian
workers wishing to cross the annexation wall towards their work places inside
Israel. A dog violently attacked ‘Alaa’
‘Aadel Hawarin, 23, from al-Zahiriya village. He was bitten in the right buttock and the left hand. He could barely escape and travel with other
workers leaving the area.  

 

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.

 

· At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF, accompanied
by 3 bulldozers, moved into al-‘Aqaba village, southeast of Tubas. They bulldozed al-Salam road at the eastern
entrance of the village. They also
bulldozed the road of al-Salam suburb and 10 electricity pillars. Later, IOF demolished two walls, a
140-square-meter barrack and a room belonging to Bassem Mohammed Sbaih, and an
80square-meter barrack and a room belonging to ‘Abdul Nasser Ahmed Sbaih. 

 

· At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 09 April 2011, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus,
attacked Palestinian houses in Southern ‘Assira village. When a number of Palestinian civilians
attempted to stop the attack, Israeli settlers threw stones at them. As a result, ‘Abdullah ‘Abdul Salem Ahmed,
44, was hit by a stone to the chest. 

 

· At approximately 09:30 on the same day, a number of Israeli
settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus, attacked 3
Palestinian workers at the northwestern entrance of ‘Ourif village. They threw stones at the works. One of the settlers then broke windows of the
car of one of the workers, ‘Ali ‘Eissa Makhlouf, and then burnt it
completely.  

 

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 (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8
282 4776 – 282 5893).