Israeli occupation authorities transform
Shu’fat checkpoint, northeast of Jerusalem, into an international crossing

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

 

4
Palestinians (two resistance activists and a man and his child) were killed by
Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.

The
two activists were extra-judicially executed by IOF.

 

21
Palestinian civilians, including 8 children and 5 women, were wounded by IOF in
the Gaza Strip.

 

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

A
Palestinian civilian was killed and 5 others, including two children, were
wounded.

 

Israeli
warplanes launched a number of air strikes against the Gaza Strip.

4
houses were heavily damaged.

 

IOF
conducted 44 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a
limited one into the Gaza Strip.   

IOF
arrested 26 Palestinians, including 5 children.

The
detainees include Dr. Ayman Daraghma, Member of the Palestinian Legislative
Council.

 

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

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

 

Israeli
has continued efforts to create a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.

Jewish
extremists set fire to a mosque in West Jerusalem.

IOF
transformed Shu’fat checkpoint into an international crossing.

IOF
closed Bab al-Maghariba Bridge, but reopened it later.

IOF
demolished a house and a barbershop in Beit Hanina village.

 

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

IOF confiscated
150 dunums[1]
o agricultural land in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.

Israeli
settlers escalated attacks against Palestinian civilians in the northern West
Bank.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (08 – 14 December 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF
killed 5 Palestinians, including a child, and wounded 26 civilians, including
10 children and 5 women in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 4
Palestinians, including a child. 

 

On 08 December 2011, IOF
extra-judicially executed two Palestinian resistance activists in the center of
Gaza City.  An Israeli warplane fired a
missile at the car in which the two activists were traveling.  Additionally, 4 civilian bystanders,
including a woman, were wounded. 

 

On 09 December 2011, a Palestinian
civilian and his child were killed and 11 others were wounded, when Israeli
warplanes bombarded a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the
armed wing of Hamas) in the west of al-Nasser neighborhood in the north of Gaza
City.  As a result of the attack, two
neighboring houses were destroyed over their residents.  Five members of the victims’ family (3
children and two women) were among the wounded.

 

On 11 December 2011, 3 Palestinian
civilians, including two children, were wounded when Israeli warplanes
bombarded a house belonging to a Palestinian resistance activist in al-Zaytoun
neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.

 

On 13 December 2011, two Palestinian
civilians, including a child, were wounded by Israeli soldiers stationed at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel in the northern and central Gaza
Strip. 

 

On 14 December 2011, a Palestinian
civilian was wounded by Israeli soldiers stationed at the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza City.

 

On 09 and 10 December 2011, Israeli
warplanes bombarded space areas in the west of the southern Gaza Strip town of
Rafah, but no casualties were reported.

  

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, a Palestinian civilian was killed in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah, and 4 others, including two children, were wounded.  Dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

 

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 44 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 26 Palestinian
civilians, including 5 children.  The
detainees include Dr. Ayman Daraghma, Member of the Palestinian Legislative
Council from the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas, who was arrested
from his house in Ramallah on 14 December 2011.     

 

In
the Gaza Strip, on 13 December 2011, IOF conducted a limited incursion into
al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, during which they leveled
areas of Palestinian land.  

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

For approximately 54 months, IOF have continued to deny
approximately 700 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails
their visitation rights without providing any justification to this measure,
which violates the rules of the international humanitarian law.

 

West
Bank

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Efforts to
Create a Jewish Majority in East Jerusalem

 

During the reporting period, IOF
demolished 3 Palestinian houses in East Jerusalem, claiming that they were
built without licenses.  They also forced
two Palestinians to demolish their houses by themselves. 

 

On 12 December 2011, the Israeli occupation authorities completely
closed the wooden bridge to Bab al-Maghariba to civilian foot traffic. 
The bridge’s closure was ordered by the Israeli municipality’s chief engineer
in Jerusalem.  The engineer issued the order to close the bridge in a
letter sent to the so-called “Western Wall Foundation”, who holds
responsibility for the site.  He claimed that the bridge is in danger of
immediate collapse and was a fire hazard.  A statement made by the Israeli
municipality of Jerusalem indicated that “the bridge will remain open only
for security services when necessary.” 
The bridge was reopened due to reactions protesting its closure. 

 

On 11 December 2011, IOF closed Shu’fat checkpoint, northeast of
occupied Jerusalem, and forced vehicles traveling to and from Jerusalem to turn
to the tracks of a new crossing established between Shu’fat refugee camp and
the occupied city.  Later, hundreds of Palestinian civilians gathered to
protest the measure, and IOF closed the crossing temporarily.  The opening
of the new crossing came after IOF completed the construction of cement
sections of the annexation wall in Shu’fat refugee camp and its vicinity, in
implementation of Israeli plans to isolate the city.

 

On 12 December 2011, IOF demolished a house and a barbershop in
Beit Hanina village, north of occupied East Jerusalem.   

 

On 14
December 2011, a
Jewish group set fire to Nabi Ukasha Mosque, which is controlled by some extremist
settlers, in West Jerusalem.  They also
wrote statement insulting Prophet Mohammed. 
Baroch Marzil, an extremist Jew, claimed responsibility for burning the
mosque, allegedly in response to incitement against settlers.  IOF have prevented Palestinians from praying
in the mosque, but have allowed settlers to establish a playground for their
children on its yard.

 

Settlement
Activities:  

 

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

 

On 08 December 2011, IOF notified
Palestinian civilians in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, of the
confiscation of 150 dunums agricultural land belonging to the families of Salah
and Handal, located near “Daniel” settlement. 
In the same context, IOF handed a notice ordering the demolition of an
agricultural barrack in al-‘Absiya area near “Eli’azer” settlement. 

 

On 11 December 2011, IOF moved into
Qarawat Bani Hassan village, west of Salfit. 
They handed notices ordering stoppage of reclamation of areas of
agricultural land belonging to Yousef Sa’id Mar’ei, ‘Azzam ‘Aziz ‘Aassi, Nader
Mustafa Mar’ei and Sameeh Ibrahim ‘Aassi. 

 

During the reporting period, the
Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, approved the establishment of a new
settlement neighborhood and a farm near “Efrat” settlement, south of
Bethlehem.  The Israeli daily Haaretz
reported on Monday, 12 December 2011, that the new settlement neighborhood and
the farm would be established outside the boundaries of the above settlement,
and their establishment would expand “Gush Etzion” settlement bloc.  It further reported that Barak approved the
establishment of the new neighborhood, which is called “Givar Hadagan,” which
would include 40 houses instead of mobile homes placed by settlers in the
area.  The newspaper added that the plan
of “Givat Hadagan” settlement neighborhood, which was approved in the 1990s,
includes the construction of 500 housing units.

 

On 12 December 2011, more than 100 Israeli settlers from
“Yizhar” settlement which is established on Palestinian lands in the
east of Southern Assira village, south of Nablus, attacked Palestinian houses
in Southern Assira village.  The majority of settlers were wearing black
clothes and a number of them were wearing green clothes. As they approached
Palestinian houses, which are approximately 350 meters from
“Yizhar” settlement, they threw stones and empty bottles at houses.
Palestinian residents, especially children and women, were in intimidated and
panicked as a result of the attack. There are 62 people, including 46 children
and 7 women, living in the targeted houses. As a result of the said attack, the
windows of seven of the targeted houses were smashed. Similarly, the windows of
a taxi that was parked in front of one of the targeted houses were smashed.
 Thirty minutes later, IOF military jeeps arrived at the scene and the
Israeli settlers withdrew.  IOF have not taken any measures against the settlers
who launched the attack.

 

On the same day, a group of Israeli
settlers also from “Yizhar” settlement threw Molotov cocktails at the
house of Jamal Abdullah Yousef Shehada in ‘Ourif village, southeast of Nablus.
 One of the windows in the southern walls of the house was set alight and
smashed as a result.  Seven individuals, including 5 children, live in
Shehada’s house, which is located approximately one kilometer from
“Yizhar” settlement.

 

On the same day, a number of Israeli
settlers attacked a car belonging to Mahmoud Majed Rayan, 28, from Qarawat Bani
Hassan village northwest of Salfit, when he was traveling on Qalqilya-Nablus
road near “Karni Shomron” settlement. 
Rayan was traveling in the car together with his wife, child and
father-in-law.  Israeli settlers threw
stones at the car near Kufor Laqef village. 
The front window of the car was broken and Rayan’s father-in-law was
injured.  His wife also fainted as she
was extremely afraid. 

 

On the same day, Israeli settlers
attacked a car belonging to ‘Ouda Suleiman al-Ramadin, 37, from al-Ramadin
village south of Qalqilya, when he was traveling on Qalqilya-Nablus road near
“Karni Shomron” settlement.  Al-Ramadi
was traveling in the car together with his friend, ‘Ouda Salman.  Israeli settlers threw stones at the car near
Kufor Laqef village.  Al-Ramadin was hit
by a stone to the left elbow, and the front window of the car was completely
broken.  

 

On 14 December 2011, a number of Israeli
settlers burnt a Palestinian civilian vehicle (Red Opel Ascona) that was parked
at Hares intersection, north of Salfit. 
The owner of the vehicle, Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Obaid, 28, who works in a
factory in “Burkan” settlement, northwest of Salfit, had always parked it in
this place.  According to ‘Obaid, the
settlers wrote on the wall near the vehicle: “You will pay the price.”  IOF have an observation tower nearly 200 meters away from the
place of the attack, which suggests that they witnessed the attack, but did not
stop it. 

 

At the same time, Israeli settlers
set fire to a car belonging to Mohammed Ibrahim Musleh, 45, from Yassouf
village east of Salfit, which he parked near his house.  The car was partially burnt as Musleh was
able to extinguish fire.  Later, he found
a statement written in Hebrew on the wall of his house, which says: “You will
pay the price.”

 

At approximately 02:15 on the same
day, a number of Israeli settlers set fire to two cars belonging to ‘Abdul
Razzaq and Mohammed ‘Abdullah Dawabsha in al-Marj area in Douma village,
southeast of Nablus.  They wrote a
statement on a wall near one of the burnt car saying: “A present from
‘Yits’har’ settlement to Arabs.” An eyewitness, Ameen Dawabsha, saw the
settlers running away towards the nearby Allon Street.    

 

  

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (08 – 14 December 2011)

 

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

 

Thursday, 08 December 2011

 

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

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved
into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed
Shareef Jaradat, 23, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into Tarqoumia village, southwest of Hebron. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Wajdi ‘Eissa
al-Ja’afra, 23, and arrested him.

 

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF
moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed
Haitham Abu ‘Atwan, 25, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Hebron.  They raided and searched two
hosues and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

Mo’tassem Saleem al-Harbawi, 24; and

‘Abdullah Ahmed al-Zaghir, 25.

 

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

 

At approximately 19:00, IOF moved
into Toura al-Gharbiya village, southwest of Jenin.   They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Friday,
09 December 2011

 

At approximately 00:15, 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 02:00, IOF moved into Ematin village, northeast of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

In the early morning, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian and
his 10-year-old child and wounded 11 others, including the civilian’s three
children, his wife and his mother, were wounded.  IOF destroyed the
family’s house in the early morning.  

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 02:50 on Friday, 09 December 2011, Israeli warplanes fired 3
missiles at a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing
of Hamas) to the west of al-Maqqoussi buildings in the northwest of Gaza
City.  Two nearby houses were destroyed over their residents.  As a
result, Bahjat Ramadan Yousef al-Za’lan , 37, was killed, and his four
children, his wife and his mother were wounded.  At approximately 19:45,
one of the wounded children, 10-year-old Ramadan, was pronounced dead. 
The other members of the family who were wounded are:

 

1. Sa’da Na’im ‘Arrouq, 30, Bahajat’s al-Za’lan’s wife;

2. Halima Hassan al-Za’lan, 58, the mother;

3. Yousef Bahjat al-Za’lan, 8, his wound was described as
serious;

4. Iman Bahjat al-Za’lan, 5; and

5. Ahmed Bahjat al-Za’lan, 6 months.

 

Additionally, another 6 civilians, including two children,
were lightly wounded:

 

1. Marwan ‘Adnan al-‘Ashi, 57;

2. Tahreer Mohammed Dahlan, 22;

3. Halima Ahmed Abu al-‘Amrain, 40;

4. Adham Mohammed Abu Hamda, 8;

5. Fahed ‘Emad ‘Afana, 21; and

6. ‘Abdul Rahman Mohammed al-Khair, 5.

 

It should be noted that the two houses that were destroyed in
the attack belong to one of the victims, Bahjat al-Za’lan, and his brother
Tal’at.  The two houses, the area of which is 100 square meters,
were asbestos-roofed.  Seven individuals used to live in each house. 
The targeted training site, which was empty, is adjacent to the two
houses. 

 

At approximately 02:10, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a
space area in the west of the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.  No casualties were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time.  A number of Palestinian
boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters at the boys.  IOF withdrew
later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 10 December 2011

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp,
south of Bethlehem.  They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:.

 

1. Mohammed Fawzi al-Sajdi, 35;

2. ‘Alaa’ Mahmoud Muhaisen, 20;

3. Bassel Ussama al-‘Eissa, 20; and

4. Saber Faisal Ma’ali, 18.

 

IOF raided also a house belonging to the family of Anas ‘Aadel
Ramadan, 23, to arrests him.  As he was
not at home, they handed a notice to his family summoning him for an interview
with the Israeli intelligence service on 11 December 2011.  When he went to the interview, he was
arrested.

 

At approximately 02:10, Israeli warplanes fired at least one
missile at a space area in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of the southern
Gaza Strip town of Rafah.  The missile
landed near a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing
of Hamas), but no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Rafat village, west of
Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:30, IOF moved into Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:50, IOF moved into Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:55, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village,
northeast of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

At approximately 20:40, 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 Deir Estia village,
northwest of Salfit.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 11 December 2011

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Awarta village, southeast
of Nablus.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians: Muntasser and Murad
Khaled al-Qadhi, 23 and 20 respectively.

 

At approximately 02:40, an Israeli warplane launched four missiles
on a vacant house belonging to a leader of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades,
the armed wing of Hamas, Imad ‘Aqel, 42.  The two-storey house is located
behind ‘Ein Jalout School in al-Zaytoon neighborhood in the east of Gaza
City.  The four missiles directly hit the roof of the house, damaging
it.  A neighboring 250-square-meter, two-storey house belonging to
Mohammed Mahmoud Badwan, 57,
in which 17 individuals live, was heavily damaged. 
Because of the shrapnel scattered in the house, Ashraf Mohammed Mahmoud Badwan,
35, received shrapnel wounds to the face, and two of his children were also
wounded in the incident: Sondos, 10, who was seriously wounded by shrapnel to
the head, and Mohammed, 8, who was wounded by shrapnel to the right leg. 
The two children were wounded while they were asleep on the asbestos
contaminated second floor.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Ras Teera 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 03:00, IOF moved into Rafat village, west of
Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:15, IOF moved into Brouqin village, west of
Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:40, 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.

 

At approximately 12:15, 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 13:00, IOF moved into 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 15:20, 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 16:10, IOF moved into Kufor Thuluth village, east
of Qalqilya.  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 ‘Anza village, south of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 12 December 2011

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem.  They raided two houses belonging to the
families of Samer Mohammed Hijazi, 35, and Hussam Ibrahim ‘Obaidallah, 37, and
summoned the two civilians for interrogation.

 

At approximately 01:25, 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 01:30, IOF moved into Tarqoumia village, southwest
of Hebron.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of ‘Odai Ibrahim Masalma, 17, and arrested him.

 

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Hebron.  They raided and searched two houses belonging
to the families of Waheed Abu Ermaila al-Tamimi, 27, and Haroun Radwan Abu
Turki, 24, and arrested the two civilians.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Kifah Sami Ghanem, 24,
in the northern part of the town and arrested him.  They also confiscated a computer set, a
laptop and a mobile phone from the house. 
They then moved to the eastern part of the town.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of ‘Alaa’ Ziad Hammad, 24, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 16:20, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets and arrested
two Palestinian children near the annexation wall:

 

1. ‘Abdullah Rasheed Daoud, 17; and

2. ‘Omar ‘Emad Bakr, 17.

 

At approximately 20:20, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets and arrested Yahia
‘Abdullah Noufal, 13, and Mousa Khaled Sabrio, 13, claiming that the two
children threw stones at military vehicles. 
They released the two children at midnight.

 

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Fajjar village, south
of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Yousef Nabeel Thawabta, 21, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Jabriyat area, south of
Jenin, which overlooks Jenin refugee camp. 
Dozens of Israeli soldiers then moved into the camp.  They raided a house belonging to Sheikh Jamal
‘Abdul Salam Abu al-Haija, a leader of Hamas, who is serving a sentence to life
imprisonment in Israeli jails.  They blew
up the door of the house and broke into it. 
They searched the house and arrested Abu Haija’s two sons: ‘Abdul Salam,
28; and Hamza, 19.  They then raided a
house belonging to the family of Mahmoud ‘Omar Matahen, 19.  They took him out and interrogated him.  They then released him. 

 

At approximately 06:30, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into the east
of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, under the cover of intense
shooting.  As a result, Mohye al-Din
Mas’oud Abu Jalal, 49, was lightly wounded by a bullet to the chest when he was
on his agricultural land, nearly 700 meters away.  IOF moved back to the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel at approximately 11:00, after having leveled areas of
Palestinian land.

 

At approximately 07:30, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation
towers near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire
at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction
materials in the industrial zone, northwest of Beit Hanoun.  As a result, Nidal Khalil Hamdan, 14, from
Beit Hanoun, was wounded by a bullet to the left shoulder.  The workers were nearly 500 meters away from the
crossing. 

 

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Massayef area in
Ramallah.  They raided a house belonging
to Dr. Ayman Daraghma, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) from
the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas, and arrested him.  Thus, the number of PLC Members who have been
detained by IOF has mounted to 24.  It
should be noted that Daraghma was arrested in March 2009, and he was placed
under administrative detention until 16 November 2010. 

 

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qarwat Bani Hassan
village, west of Salfit.  They patrolled
in the streets for some time and arrested Sa’id Hamad Mar’ei, 24.

 

At approximately 09:00, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border
between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza City fired at Mohammed
Mahmoud al-Biltaji, 20, from al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza
City, while he was hunting birds nearly one kilometer away from the
border.  He was wounded by a bullet to
the right foot.   

 

2. Extra-Judicial Execution

 

On
Thursday afternoon, 08 December 2011, IOF extra-judicially executed two
Palestinian resistance activists, and wounded 4 civilian bystanders, including
a woman.

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 12:50 on Thursday, 08 December 2011, an Israeli warplane fired a
missile at a car (grey Peugeot 406) that was traveling in Omar al-Mukhtar
Street near the Municipal Park in the center of Gaza City.  As a result of
the attack, ‘Essam Subhi Isma’il al-Batash, 43, a member of al-Aqsa
Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement), and his nephew, Subhi
‘Alaa’ Subhi al-Batash, 20, a
member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, who were traveling in the car, were
killed.  Additionally, 4 civilian bystanders, including a woman, were
wounded:

 

1. Na’el Jamaeel al-Qishawi, 37, from Jabalya town, wounded
by shrapnel to the neck and the left foot;

2. Waleed ‘Abdul Ra’ouf Hammouda, 28, from Jabalya, wounded
by shrapnel to the back;

3. Mo’tassem Darwish Abu al-Khair, 18, from Gaza City; and

4. Suhair ‘Awadh Haroun, 25, who was with her husband in the
Municipal Park in an attempt to ease the tragedy of her child’s death in a car
accident a few days ago.

 

It should be noted that the Municipal Park was crowded by
school trips.  Palestinian civilians, especially children and women, who
were in the vicinity of the attack, were extremely terrified. 

 

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

 

During
the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the
West Bank, and in protest to the establishment of a buffer zone in the Gaza
Strip.  As a result, a Palestinian
civilian was killed and 5 others, including two children, were wounded.  Additionally, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

       

Following the Friday prayer on 09 December 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli  and international human rights defenders
gathered in the center of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to
start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation
wall and settlement activities.  The protesters walked towards the gate
erected by IOF near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian
lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halamish” settlement are
trying to seize.  Israeli soldiers who had been extensively deployed in
the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to
confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands.
 Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at the protesters.  A result, Mustafa Abdul Razzaq al-Tamimi,
27, was hit by a tear gas canister to the right side of his face.
 Al-Tamimi fell down and he was evacuated in a Palestinian taxi which
drove towards Ramallah.  IOF stopped the taxi, took al-Tamimi, and
transferred him to a hospital in Israel.  At approximately 10:00 on
Saturday, 10 December 2011, medical sources at Israeli hospital pronounced
al-Tamimi dead.  Al-Tamimi’s body was transferred to Ramallah Public
Hospital at around 19:00 on Saturday, 10 December.  Eyewitnesses told a
PCHR fieldworker that the tear gas canister was fired at al-Tamimi from an
Israeli military jeep that was located approximately 10 meters from him.  Additionally, another 4 protesters, including
two children, were wounded:

 

1. Fadel Tamim al-Tamimi, 50, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet to the head;

2. Mohammed Abu Samra, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet
to the head;

3. Bissan Naji al-Tamimi, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet to the right hand; and

4. Wa’d Bassem al-Tamimi, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet to the left foot. 

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 09 December 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 and support for efforts to
achieve national reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah movements.  They raised the Palestinian flag and called
for ending political division. They then moved towards areas of Palestinian
land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian
owners.  Israeli soldiers stationed in
the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters
at the demonstrators.  They also targeted
the press car of Associated Press.  As a
result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 09 December 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 annexation wall.  Israeli soldiers 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 Friday, 09 December 2011,
dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village,
northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to continued closure of the eastern entrance
of the village.  They moved towards the
entrance, but IOF stopped them.  Israeli
soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators.  As a result, Ahmed Shaker Eshtaiwi, 21, was
hit by a tear gas canister to the right shoulder, and a number of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 11:05 on Tuesday, 13 December 2011, Israeli
soldiers stationed on observation towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the
northern Gaza Strip fired at a number of Palestinian civilians and
international solidarity activists who demonstrated in the east of Beit Hanoun
town. According to Saber al-Za’anin, Coordinator of the Local Initiative in
Beit Hanoun, at approximately 10:30 on Tuesday, about 30 demonstrators,
including a number of international solidarity activists, gathered in front of
the Agricultural School in Beit Hanoun. 
They moved towards the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to
protest to the establishment of a buffer zone by IOF along the border.  When the demonstrators got as close as to 100 meters from the
border, IOF fired them.  The
demonstrators left the area and no casualties were reported.

 

4. Continued Closure of the OPT

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

07 –
13 December 2011

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

07 –
13 December2011

Imports:

 

 

Exports:

 

On Thursday, 08 December 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 12.8
tons of strawberries.

On Sunday, 11 December 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 25 tons
of strawberries.

On Monday, 12 December 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 4.8
tons of strawberries.

 

Notes:

 

On Wednesday, 07 December 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 320 tons
of cement, 1,820 tons of construction aggregate and 80 tons of construction
steel for UNRWA; 420 tons of construction aggregate for UNDP; 120 tons of
cement, 910 tons of construction aggregate and 66 tons of construction steel
for the ICRC; and 350 tons of construction aggregate and 24 tons of
construction steel for US Agency for International Development.  They also allowed the entry of 1,560 tons of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 08 December 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 120 tons of
cement, 2,800 tons of construction aggregate and 150 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA; 160 tons of cement, 960 tons of construction aggregate and 36 tons
of construction steel for al-Quds Hospital; and 144 tons of cement and 350 tons
of construction aggregate for USAID.  IOF
also allowed the entry of 1,911 tons of fodders.

 

On Sunday, 11 December 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 340 tons of
cement, 2,870 tons of construction aggregate and 280 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA; and 160 tons of cement, 980 tons of construction aggregate and 74
tons of construction steel for al-Quds Hospital.  They also allowed the entry of 1,092 tons of wheat.

 

On Monday, 12 December 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 80 tons of
cement, 2,800 tons of construction aggregate and 188 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA; and 164 tons of cement, 1,120 tons of construction aggregate and 36
tons of construction steel for al-Quds Hospital.  They also allowed the entry of 1,950 tons of wheat.

 

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

07 –
13 December2011

 

 

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. 

 

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 08 December 2011, IOF established
4 checkpoints around the town.  On
Friday, 09 December 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around Qalqilya.  On Saturday, 10 December 2011, IOF established
3 checkpoints around Qalqilya.  At
approximately 11:05 on Sunday, 11 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at
the eastern entrance of Qalqilya.  At
approximately 14:00 on the same day, they established a checkpoint at Jeet
intersection, northeast of Qalqilya.                                  

 

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
10:30 on Thursday, 08 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of ‘Allar village, north of Tulkarm. 
At approximately 12:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at
Bal’a intersection, east of Tulkarm.  At
approximately 13:00 on the same day, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab
checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 14:00, IOF established a checkpoint
near Jabira gate, south of Tulkarm.  At
approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 11 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm.  At approximately 12:30 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint near Jibara gate, and another checkpoint near the
entrance of Kufor Sour village, south of Tulkarm.  At the same time, they established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Fa’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm, and
imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians
through Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm. 
At approximately 13:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of ‘Attil village, northeast of Tulkarm.  At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 12 December
2011, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians through Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm.          

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 17:30 on Thursday, 08 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of ‘Arrana village, north of Jenin.  At approximately 07:00 on Friday, 09 December
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village,
northwest of Jenin.  At approximately
07:00 on Saturday, 10 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.   At approximately 08:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Sanour village, south of
Jenin.  At approximately 09:00 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Jarba village,
south of Jenin.  At approximately 09:00
on Sunday, 11 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.  At
approximately 11:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin.  At approximately 12:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint on Qabatya-Misliya road, south of Jenin.  At approximately 12:30 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at Jaba’ intersection, south of Jenin.  At approximately 16:30 on Monday, 12 December
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village,
northwest of Jenin.          

 

Salfit:  IOF have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 13:10 on Saturday, 10
December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the western entrance of Kufor
al-Dik village, west of Salfit.  At
approximately 21:15 on the same day, IOOF established a checkpoint between
Kufol Hares and Hares villages, north of Salfit.  At approximately 12:15 on Sunday, 11 December
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the western entrance of Kufor Hares
village, north of Salfit.  At
approximately 23:20 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit.    

 

 

 

 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 08 December 2011, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qiffin village, north of
Tulkarm.  They stopped and searched
Palestinian civilians vehicles and arrested ‘Aayed Mahmoud Khalil, 46, who was
released in the context of the latest swap of prisoners between Israel and Palestinian
resistance groups, together with his brothers, Ahmed and ‘Adel, 54 and 31
respectively.  The two brothers were
released at approximately 17:00 at Barta’a checkpoint, west of Jenin, while
‘Aayed was transferred to a prison inside Israel.  He was released on Tuesday, 13 December 2011,
after an amount of US$50,000 which was in his possession was confiscated.  He told PCHR that the money was the price of
selling gold belonging to him in Tulkarm.

 

On Sunday evening, 11 December 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at
Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Hassan Eshtayeh, 45, from Salem
village east of Nablus.  Eshtayeh is an
activist of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.  He was released from Israeli jails two years
ago after having served 7 years of imprisonment.

 

5. Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in East Jerusalem

 

Israeli
occupation authorities have continued to make persistent efforts to create a
Jewish majority in East Jerusalem and expel Palestinian civilians in the city.

 

On Monday, 12 December 2011, the Israeli occupation authorities
completely closed the wooden bridge to Bab al-Maghariba to civilian foot
traffic.  The bridge’s closure was ordered by the Israeli municipality’s
chief engineer in Jerusalem.  The engineer, Shlomo Eshkol, issued the
order to close the bridge in a letter sent to the so-called “Western Wall
Foundation”, who holds responsibility for the site.  Eshkol claimed
that the bridge is in danger of immediate collapse and was a fire hazard. 
A statement made by the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem indicated that
“the bridge will remain open only for security services when
necessary.”

 

Spokesperson for the Israeli municipality, Stephen Miller,
confirmed the closure of the bridge, stating that “the police and Western
Wall Foundation decided to close the temporary bridge of Bab al-Maghariba
following a letter sent by the municipality, which set a deadline of seven days
to file a petition against the engineer’s order” to demolish the bridge.

 

On 23 October 2011, the Israeli municipality requested the demolition
of Bab al-Maghariba’s bridge.  At that time, the municipality’s engineer
claimed that “this temporary bridge will be demolished in accordance with
the law, and it will then be rebuilt using non-flammable materials under
standards and criteria set by engineers.”  In late November 2011, the
Israeli government decided to delay the demolition of the bridge to avoid
protests in the Arab and Islamic Worlds.

 

This wooden bridge was temporarily established in 2004 following
the collapse of the main bridge used by non-Muslims and Israeli security
services to reach al-Aqsa Mosque.

 

On Sunday evening, 11 December 2011, IOF closed Shu’fat checkpoint,
northeast of occupied Jerusalem, and forced vehicles traveling to and from
Jerusalem to turn to the tracks of a new crossing established between Shu’fat
refugee camp and the occupied city.  Later, hundreds of Palestinian
civilians gathered to protest the measure, and IOF closed the crossing
temporarily.  The opening of the new crossing came after IOF completed the
construction of cement sections of the annexation wall in Shu’fat refugee camp
and its vicinity, in implementation of Israeli plans to isolate the city.

 

According to local sources in Shu’fat refugee camp, due to the
completion of the annexation wall in the area and the opening of the new
crossing, more than 50,000 Palestinians living in Shu’fat refugee camp; in the
suburbs of Ras Shihada, Ras Khamis and al-Salam, and a part of ‘Anata village,
who hold Jerusalemite identity cards, will be completely isolated from occupied
Jerusalem.  IOF had started to build the crossing at the entrances of
Shu’fat refugee camp in 2009,
in anticipation of the completion of the annexation wall
around Jerusalem.

 

PCHR stresses that the establishment of this crossing is designed
to impose a total closure on occupied Jerusalem from the other major centers of
Palestinian life in the West Bank, and expel as many of its Palestinian
population as possible, with the ultimate aim of creating a strong Jewish
majority in the city.

 

On
Monday, 12 December 2011, IOF demolished a house in Beit Hanina village, north
of occupied East Jerusalem.  According to
information collected by PCHR, in the early morning, IOF, accompanied by officials
of Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem, surrounded a 74-square-meter house
belonging to Caesar ‘Adnan ‘Aqel in Beit Hanina village, north of occupied
Jerusalem.  They forced ‘Aqel’s wife out
of the house, vacated the furniture and demolished the house.

 

Soon
after, they demolished a 30-square-meter barbershop belonging to Muyassar
Najib, which in rented by Sufian Hadia over its contents, whose value is
estimated at 60,000 ILS.   

 

On Wednesday
morning, 14 December 2011, a
Jewish group set fire to Nabi Ukasha Mosque, which is controlled by some
extremist settlers, in West Jerusalem. 
They also wrote statement insulting Prophet Mohammed.  Baroch Marzil, an extremist Jew, claimed
responsibility for burning the mosque, allegedly in response to incitement
against settlers.  IOF have prevented
Palestinians from praying in the mosque, but have allowed settlers to establish
a playground for their children on its yard.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

On Thursday, 08 December 2011, IOF
notified Palestinian civilians in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, of the
confiscation of agricultural lands belonging to the families of Salah and
Handal.  According to Mr. Mahmoud
Abdullah, member of the local council of the village, the notice, which was
placed on the advertisement board in the headquarters of the Israeli “civil administration”
in “Gush Etzion” settlement bloc, southwest of Bethlehem, confiscates 150
dunums of agricultural land in Ras Salah area near “Daniel” settlement.  In the same context, IOF handed a notice
ordering the demolition of an agricultural barrack belonging to Mohammed ‘Ouda
Salah in al-‘Absiya area near “Eli’azer” settlement. 

 

At approximately 20:00 on Sunday, 11
December 2011, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village, west of Salfit.  They handed notices ordering stoppage of
reclamation of areas of agricultural land belonging to Yousef Sa’id Mar’ei,
‘Azzam ‘Aziz ‘Aassi, Nader Mustafa Mar’ei and Sameeh Ibrahim ‘Aassi. 

 

During the reporting period, the
Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, approved the establishment of a new
settlement neighborhood and a farm near “Efrat” settlement, south of
Bethlehem.  The Israeli daily Haaretz
reported on Monday, 12 December 2011, that the new settlement neighborhood and
the farm would be established outside the boundaries of the above settlement,
and their establishment would expand “Gush Etzion” settlement bloc.  It further reported that Barak approved the
establishment of the new neighborhood, which is called “Givar Hadagan,” which
would include 40 houses instead of mobile homes placed by settlers in the area.  The newspaper added that the plan of “Givat
Hadagan” settlement neighborhood, which was approved in the 1990s, includes the
construction of 500 housing units.

 

Approximately 00:15 on Monday, 12 December 2011, more than 100
Israeli settlers from “Yizhar” settlement which is established on
Palestinian lands in the east of Southern Assira village, south of Nablus,
attacked Palestinian houses in Southern Assira village.  The majority of
settlers were wearing black clothes and a number of them were wearing green
clothes. As they approached Palestinian houses, which are approximately 350 meters from
“Yizhar” settlement, they threw stones and empty bottles at houses.
Palestinian residents, especially children and women, were in intimidated and
panicked as a result of the attack. There are 62 people, including 46 children
and 7 women, living in the targeted houses. As a result of the said attack, the
windows of seven of the targeted houses were smashed. Similarly, the windows of
a taxi that was parked in front of one of the targeted houses were smashed.
 Thirty minutes later, IOF military jeeps arrived at the scene and the
Israeli settlers withdrew.  IOF have not taken any measures against the
settlers who launched the attack.

 The attacked houses belong to:

 

1. Abdul Rahman Mohammed Abdul Rahman Ahmed.  Twelve
individuals, including 8 children, live in the house.  Israeli settlers
also destroyed the windows of a taxi owned by Ahmed.

2. Basem Mohammed Hassan Saleh Hammad.  Nine individuals,
including 7 children, live in the house.

3. Jamil Abdullah Hamdan Saleh.  Five individuals, including 3
children, live in the house.

4. Khalil Mohammed Mahmoud Saleh.  Nine individuals, including
7 children, live in the house.

5. Ibrahim Mohammed Suleiman Makhlouf.  Eight individuals,
including 6 children, live in the house.

6. Rasem Abdul Fattah Mohammed Abdul Rahman. Eleven individuals,
including 9 children, live in the house.

7. Abdul Baset Mohammed Abdul Rahman Ahmed.  Eight
individuals, including 6 children, live in the house.

 

At
approximately 01:15 also on Monday, a group of Israeli settlers also from
“Yizhar” settlement threw Molotov cocktails at the house of Jamal
Abdullah Yousef Shehada in ‘Ourif village, southeast of Nablus.  One of
the windows in the southern walls of the house was set alight and smashed as a
result.  Seven individuals, including 5 children, live in Shehada’s house,
which is located approximately one kilometer from “Yizhar”
settlement.

 

At
approximately 21:00 also on Monday, a number of Israeli settlers attacked a car
belonging to Mahmoud Majed Rayan, 28, from Qarawat Bani Hassan village
northwest of Salfit, when he was traveling on Qalqilya-Nablus road near “Karni
Shomron” settlement.  Rayan was traveling
in the car together with his wife, child and father-in-law.  Israeli settlers threw stones at the car near
Kufor Laqef village.  The front window of
the car was broken and Rayan’s father-in-law was injured.  His wife also fainted as she was extremely
afraid. 

 

At
approximately 21:40 also on Monday, Israeli settlers attacked a car belonging
to ‘Ouda Suleiman al-Ramadin, 37, from al-Ramadin village south of Qalqilya,
when he was traveling on Qalqilya-Nablus road near “Karni Shomron”
settlement.  Al-Ramadi was traveling in
the car together with his friend, ‘Ouda Salman. 
Israeli settlers threw stones at the car near Kufor Laqef village.  Al-Ramadin was hit by a stone to the left
elbow, and the front window of the car was completely broken.  

 

At
approximately 00:30 on Wednesday, 14 December 2011, a number of Israeli
settlers burnt a Palestinian civilian vehicle (Red Opel Ascona) that was parked
at Hares intersection, north of Salfit. 
The owner of the vehicle, Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Obaid, 28, who works in a
factory in “Burkan” settlement, northwest of Salfit, had always parked it in
this place.  According to ‘Obaid, the
settlers wrote on the wall near the vehicle: “You will pay the price.”  IOF have an observation tower nearly 200 meters away from the
place of the attack, which suggests that they witnessed the attack, but did not
stop it. 

 

At
the same time, Israeli settlers set fire to a car belonging to Mohammed Ibrahim
Musleh, 45, from Yassouf village east of Salfit, which he parked near his
house.  The car was partially burnt as
Musleh was able to extinguish fire. 
Later, he found a statement written in Hebrew on the wall of his house,
which says: “You will pay the price.”

 

At
approximately 02:15 on the same day, a number of Israeli settlers set fire to
two cars belonging to ‘Abdul Razzaq and Mohammed ‘Abdullah Dawabsha in al-Marj
area in Douma village, southeast of Nablus. 
They wrote a statement on a wall near one of the burnt car saying: “A
present from ‘Yits’har’ settlement to Arabs.” An eyewitness, Ameen Dawabsha,
saw the settlers running away towards the nearby Allon Street.     

 

………………………………………………………

 

 

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).