Fire breaks out in olive field near the
annexation wall in Bel’in village near Ramallah as Israeli forces fired at a
Palestinian peaceful protest, 11 May 2012

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

 

IOF use
force to disperse peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in the
West Bank.

16
Palestinian civilians, including 3 journalists, were wounded in peaceful
protests organized in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

30
Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded in peaceful
demonstration organized on the 64^th anniversary of the Palestinian
Nakba.  

Dozens
of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

IOF
arrested 5 demonstrators, including a Polish human rights defender.

 

IOF
conducted 41 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.   

IOF
arrested 13 Palestinian civilians, including two children.

 

IOF
continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

IOF
arrested two fishermen and confiscated their boat.

 

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

IOF
arrested two Palestinian civilians at various checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

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

Israeli
settlers uprooted 15 grape saplings and seized 6 dunums of agricultural land in
al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.

Israeli
settlers uprooted 14 trees in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron.

 

 

Summary

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (10 – 16 May 2012):

 

Shooting:

During the reporting period, IOF
wounded 46 Palestinian civilians, including 3 journalists and 4 children, during
the dispersion of peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank,
in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and on the 64^th
anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba – the uprooting of the Palestinian
people from their lands in 1948.  Dozens
of civilians also suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF also arrested 5 demonstrators, including a
Palestinian woman and a female Polish human rights defender.

In the Gaza Strip, on 10 May 2012, Israeli
naval troops arrested two Palestinian fishermen in the northern Gaza City, but
released them later.  IOF also
confiscated the fishing boat. 

 

Incursions:

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 41 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 
During these incursions, IOF arrested 13 Palestinian civilians,
including two children.  

 

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.

 

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. 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.

 

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.

 

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
11 May 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Eli’azer” settlement uprooted
150 grape saplings belonging in al-‘Absiya area in al-Khader village, south of
Bethlehem. 

 

On
12 May 2012, Israeli settlers stormed a plot of land belonging to Mohammed
Mustafah Ghunaim whose area is 6 dunums in ‘Ein al-Qissis area in al-Khader
village, south of Bethlehem.  When
Ghunaim went to his land to farm it, the settlers expelled him and informed him
that they confiscated it. 

 

On
13 May 2012, an Israeli settler from “Karmi Tsur” settlement to the south of
Bethlehem attacked a Palestinian farmer when he was on his land.  The settler ordered the farmer to leave his
land, and when he refused, the settlers threw stones at him and beat him.  The settler threw stones also at a bulldozer
that was working on the land.  Soon, IOF
arrived at the area and attacked the farmer.  They destroyed the windows of his car and of
the bulldozer. 

 

On
the same day, Israeli settlers from “Beit ‘Ain” settlement to the north of Beit
Ummar town, north of Hebron, uprooted 14 trees.   

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (10 – 16 May 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 10 May 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved
into Bourin village, south of Nablus.  They
raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Bashar Dakhil ‘Eid, 41;

2. Ibrahim Jaber al-Najjar, 40;

3. Hammam Raghdan al-Najjar, 26;

4. Hamdan Waleed ‘Eid, 21;

5. ‘Alaa’ Mohammed Qadous, 24;

6. Qussai Jamal Qadous, 19; and

7. Ashraf Suleiman Qadous, 20.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. 
They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian
civilians, including two children:

 

1. Aysar ‘Abdul Rahman Badawi, 18;

2. Mohammed Mahmoud al-Sabatin, 17;

3. Ahmed ‘Azmi al-Titi, 17; and

4. Mohammed Khalil ‘Adarba, 20.

 

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF
moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sufian
Ghassan al-Hassasna, 21, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved
into al-Bireh.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 05:30, an Israeli
gunboat stopped a fishing boat nearly 500 meter off Beit Lahia shore in the
northern Gaza Strip.  Jiahd and Zaher
Mohammed al-Sultan, 44 and 20 respectively, were on board the boat.  Israeli naval troops opened fire at the boat
and ordered the fishermen to take their clothes off, jump into the water and
swim towards an Israeli gunboat.  The
naval troops arrested the two fishermen and transported them to Ashdod Harbor
inside Israeli.  The two fishermen were
released at approximately 16:30 on the same day after having been interrogated
by IOF.  However, the fishing boat and
tools were confiscated.

 

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

 

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

 

Also at approximately 10:30, IOF
moved into Kufor Ne’ma village, west 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 Budros village, west of Ramallah. 
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 Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They raided a house belonging to the family
of ‘Abdullah Mousa Barham, 22, and summoned him for interrogation. 

 

At approximately 15:10, IOF moved
into Marda village, north of Salfit. 
They raided a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Bassam Ebdah, 18,
and summoned him for interrogation.

 

At approximately 18:30, IOF moved
into al-‘Ouja village, north of Jericho. 
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 al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 19:50, IOF moved
into al-Zawia village, west of Salfit. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 22:40, IOF moved
into Jericho.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Friday,
11 May 2012

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved
into Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved
into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Najeeb
Mohammed Murshed, 19, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 08:00, IOF moved
into Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 09:45, IOF moved
into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

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

 

Saturday, 12 May 2012  

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved
into Beit Qad village, east of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 04:00, IOF moved
into Beer al-Basha village, south of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved
into Marj Ne’ma village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 14:30, IOF moved
into al-Teera village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved
into al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 17:00, IOF
moved into al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho. 
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 Bitounia town, west of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Sunday, 13 May 2012

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. 
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 al-Mazra’a al-Qibliya village, northwest of Ramallah.  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 ‘Aur al-Tahta village, west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 14 May 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved
into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. 
They raided two houses and summoned two Palestinian civilians for
interrogation: Mo’taz Nasser ‘Awadh, 20; and Yahia Adam Ekhlil, 23.

 

At approximately 22:20, 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.

 

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

 

At approximately 11:15, IOF moved into Janisafout village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:40, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:25, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of
Tulkarm.  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, and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who
have been on hunger strike.  As a result,
16 Palestinian civilians, including 3 journalists, were wounded, and dozens of others
suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 11 May 2012, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a
peaceful demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the
construction of the annexation wall and in solidarity with Palestinian
prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike.  The demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag
and portraits of a number of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails
and called for ending the political split.  They then moved towards areas of 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, dozens
of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 11 May 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities.  The demonstrators moved
towards areas of the annexation wall.  
Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday prayer on 11 May 2012, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in
the center of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly
peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who
have been on hunger strike.  The protesters walked towards the gate
erected by IOF near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian
lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halmish” settlement are
trying to seize.  Israeli soldiers who had been extensively deployed in
the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to
confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands.
 Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and
tear gas canisters at the protesters.  As
a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

At approximately 13:15, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued
closure of the eastern entrance of the village. 
The demonstrators moved towards the entrance.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them.  As a
result, 10 Palestinian civilians, including 3 journalists.  Additionally, some areas of agricultural land
were burnt by tear gas canisters, and IOF obstructed extinguishing fire by fire
engines.   The journalists who were
wounded are:

 

1. Ajwad Jaradat, 25, a reporter of Palestine Television, hit by a
tear gas canister to the right foot;

2. Ja’far Eshtayeh, 42, a cameraman of France Press, hit by a tear
gas canister to the abdomen; and

3. ‘Alaa’ Badarna, 42, a freelance journalist, hit by a tear gas
canister to the abdomen.  

 

On Saturday noon, 12 May 2012, IOF attacked dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders who organized a
peaceful demonstration in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and attempted to reach
the area located neat “Karmi Tsur,” protesting plans to expand the settlement.  They also violently beat a 3 Palestinian
journalists: Tha’er Faqqousa, a cameraman of Palestine Television; Ma’moun
Wazwaz, a cameraman of Reuters; and ‘Aamer ‘Aabdin, a photographer of Palmedia.

 

Other Peaceful Demonstrations

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 11 May 2012, dozens of Palestinian
civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in ‘Aaboud village, northwest of
Ramallah, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who had
been on hunger strike.  They moved
towards the eastern entrance of the village. 
Immediately, Israeli soldiers positioned in the area fired live and
rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
demonstration.  As a result, a
demonstrator was wounded by several rubber-coated metal bullets throughout the
body, and another one was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right
eye (PCHR keeps their names).  IOF also
arrested Ahmed Mohammed ‘Abdul Majid, 20, but released him at approximately
03:00 on the following day.

 

At the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians, including families
of Palestinians prisoners in Israeli jails demonstrated near Oufar Prison,
southwest of Ramallah, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli
jails who have been on hunger strike. 
Israeli soldiers fired at the demonstrators, wounding one of them with a
tear gas canister to the face (PCHR keeps his name). 

 

Demonstration Marking the 64^th
Anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba

 

IOF used force to disperse demonstrators, who participated in
peaceful demonstrations in the West Bank on the 64^th anniversary of Nakba
– the uprooting the Palestinian people from the land in 1948 – on Tuesday,
15 May 2011. As a result, 30 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children,
were wounded.  IOF also arrested 3
demonstrators, including a woman and a Polish human rights defender.  The woman and the human rights defender were
released later.

 

At approximately 09:30 on Tuesday, 15 May 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a
peaceful demonstration near Ne’lin checkpoint, west of Ramallah on the 64^th
anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba. 
IOF closed the checkpoint and attacked the demonstrators.  They arrested 3 demonstrators, including a
woman and a female Polish human rights defender.  They released the two women, but kept the
third demonstrator, Naji Mohammed Tamimi, 50, in custody. 

 

At approximately 11:30 also on Tuesday, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration near Qalandya refugee camp, south of Ramallah.  They moved towards Qalandya checkpoint at the
northern entrance of Jerusalem.  They set
fire to car tires and threw stones at IOF. 
Immediately, IOF fired at them. 
Four demonstrators, including a child, were wounded (PCHR keeps their
names).  Additionally, some demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

On Tuesday noon, dozens of Palestinian civilians, including students
from Bir Zeit University, organized a peaceful demonstration near Oufar Prison,
southwest of Ramallah.  They moved
towards the gate of the prison.  Immediately,
IOF closed the gate and fired at the demonstrators.  As a result, 26 demonstrators, including 3
children, were wounded (PCHR keeps their names).

  

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 nearly 5 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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

For approximately five 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 traders, international
diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza
Strip.  On Wednesday evening, 14 March
2012, IOF arrested Ahmed Subhi al-Kahlout, 40, a trader from Gaza City, when he
was traveling via Beit Hanoun crossing.

 

For approximately 59 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.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

09 –
15 May 2012

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

09 –
15 May 2012

 

PCHR apologizes for not reporting details of the movement at the
crossing this week because of technical problems out of its control.  These details will be published next week.

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

09 –
16 May 2012

 

 

The West Bank

 

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

 

There are approximately hundreds of 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.

 

Many of the main roads that lead to Palestinian communities in the
West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF.

 

IOF have continued to restrict access of Palestinian civilians from
the West Bank to East Jerusalem, through a strict system of permits and a
network of checkpoints.

 

IOF have completed controlled access to the Jordan Valley through 4
permanent checkpoints established at its entrances.  Palestinians living outside the area are not
allowed to enter it without permits.

 

Settlement activities and expansion of settlements impose
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

 

IOF have continued to restrict access to gunfire areas and natural
reserves, which constitute about 26% of the total area of the West Bank.

 

Israeli military checkpoints restrict the movement of goods
throughout the West Bank.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 09:40 on Thursday, 10 May 2012, IOF re-established their presence
at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. 
At approximately 11:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. 
At approximately 20:20, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Ras Karkar village, northwest of Ramallah. 
At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 11 May 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 11:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa intersection, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 14:30, IOF re-established
their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At approximately 17:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Jarir village, northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 12 May
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Budros village, west of
Ramallah, and another one between Beit Reema and Deir Ghassana villages,
northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 10:40,
IOF established a checkpoint on the road linking Beit Liqya village and
Kharbtha al-Misbah village, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 22:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Kufor Malek village, northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately 10:30 on Sunday, 13 May
2012, IOF established a checkpoint under Khrabtha al-Maisbah Bridge, west of
Ramallah.  At approximately 14:40, IOF
established a checkpoint a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Dibwan village,
northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately
15:30, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa intersection,
southwest of Ramallah.      

 

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 10 May 2012, IOF established 6
checkpoints around the town.  On Friday, 11
May 2012, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town.  At approximately 07:15 on Sunday, 13 May 2012,
IOF established a checkpoint at Kufor Laqef intersection, east of
Qalqilya.  At approximately 09:15, IOF established
a checkpoint at Jeet intersection, northeast of Qalqilya.  At approximately 22:55 on Monday, 14 May
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at Jeet intersection, northeast of Qaqlilya. 

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 10 May 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.  At approximately 07:30 on Friday, 11 May
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kufor Dan village, north
of Jenin.  At approximately 09:00 on
Saturday, 12 May 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba
village, northwest of Jenin.  At
approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 12 May 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
Deir Abu Da’if intersection, southeast of Jenin.  At approximately 11:30 on Sunday, 13 May
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit Qad intersection, northeast of
Jenin.    

 

Tulkarm:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 15:20 on Friday, 11 May
2012, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablus, east
of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.  At approximately 18:00 on
Saturday, 12 May 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Anabta
village, east of Tulkarm.  At
approximately 17:10, IOF established a checkpoint at ‘Attil-Deir al-Ghoussoun
intersection, north of Tulkarm.  At
approximately 23:30, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit Leed intersection,
east of the town.  At approximately 23:00
on Monday, 14 May 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Shoufa
village, southeast of Tulkarm.  At
approximately 00:30 on Tuesday, 15 May 2012, IOF established a checkpoint on
al-Jaroushiya – Deir al-Ghossoun road, north of Tulkarm.   

 

Jericho:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 08:30 on Thursday, 10 May
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Ouja village,
northeast of Jericho.  At approximately 10:30,
IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.  At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 11 May
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein al-Dyouk village,
west of Jericho.  At approximately 19:00,
IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.  At approximately 11:30 on Sunday, 13 May
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zbaidat village, north
of Jericho.  At approximately 16:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Fassayel village, north of
Jericho.  At approximately 17:30, IOF
established a checkpoint on Jericho – Ramallah road.

 

Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 09:15 on Sunday, 13 May 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
between al-Zawia and Rafat villages, west of Salfit.  At approximately 22:30, IOF established a
checkpoint at the western entrance of Hares village, north of Salfit. 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints:

 

On Tuesday evening, 15 May 2012, IOF positioned at Taffouh
checkpoint near Hebron, arrested two Palestinians, claiming that they were
carrying weapons. 

 

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

 

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

 

On
Friday morning, 11 May 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Eli’azer” settlement
uprooted 150 grape saplings belonging to ‘Ali Ahmed Salah in al-‘Absiya area in
al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. 

 

On
Saturday morning, 12 May 2012, Israeli settlers stormed a plot of land
belonging to Mohammed Mustafah Ghunaim whose area is 6 dunums in ‘Ein al-Qissis
area in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. 
When Ghunaim went to his land to farm it, the settlers expelled him and informed
him that they confiscated it. 

 

On
Sunday morning, 13 May 2012, an Israeli settler from “Karmi Tsur” settlement to
the south of Bethlehem attacked a Palestinian farmer, Waleed Mohammed Sabarna,
30, when he was on his land.  The settler
ordered Sabarna to leave his land, and when he refused, the settlers threw
stones at him and beat him.  The settler
threw stones also at a bulldozer that was working on the land.  Soon, IOF arrived at the area and attacked
Sabarna.  They destroyed the windows of
his car and of the bulldozer. 

 

Also
on Sunday, Israeli settlers from “Beit ‘Ain” settlement to the north of Beit
Ummar town, north of Hebron, uprooted 14 trees belonging to Hammad ‘Abdul Hamid
al-Sulaibi.    

 

 

…………………………………………………

 

Recommendations to the International
Community

 

 

1. PCHR calls upon the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and
moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel’s respect
for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence
practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it
is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human
rights and humanitarian law.

 

2. PCHR calls upon the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to
take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention in the OPT
and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

 

3. PCHR calls upon the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with their legal
obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and
prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

 

4. PCHR calls for the immediate
implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of
Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the
West Bank illegal.

 

5. PCHR recommends that
international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of
exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and urge their
governments to bring the perpetrators to justice.

 

6. PCHR calls upon the European
Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which
provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic
cooperation between the EU states and Israel. 
PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods
produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

 

7. PCHR calls on the international
community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in
September 2005, for what it is – not an end to occupation but a compounding of
the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.  

 

8. In recognition of ICRC as the
guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase
its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family
visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

 

9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of
international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar
associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in
pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human rights in the
OPT and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

 

10. PCHR calls upon the
international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions
imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for
international organizations to the OPT.

 

11. PCHR reiterates that any
political settlement not based on international human rights law and
humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian
question.  Rather, such an arrangement
can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region.  Any peace process or agreement must be based
on respect for international law, including international human rights and
humanitarian law.

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

 

Public Document

For further information please visit
our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact
PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email ([email protected]) or telephone (+972 (0)8
282 4776 – 282 5893).