On the 63rd anniversary of the
Palestinian Nakba (the uprooting of the Palestinian people from their
lands in 1948), Israeli Occupation Forces attack a peaceful demonstration near
Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip and injure dozens
On
the 63rd Anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, the Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalate Their Attacks in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPT)
· Two Palestinian
children were killed in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
–The
child who was killed in the Gaza Strip was mentally disabled and was killed by
a shell fired by IOF.
–A
child in the West Bank sustained serious wounds by the explosion of a
suspicious object left by IOF.
· IOF used
excessive force against peaceful demonstrations commemorating the Palestinian Nakba.[1]
–144
civilians were wounded in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
–The
wounded include 47 children, 5 women and 4 journalists.
· IOF continued
to target Palestinian fishermen at Gaza sea.
–IOF
fired at Palestinian fishing boats, but no casualties were reported.
· IOF continued
to use force against peaceful protests against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
– Three demonstrators,
including a child and an international human rights defender, were
wounded.
– IOF arrested 10
demonstrators, including 2 Israeli solidarity activists.
· IOF conducted 20
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
– IOF arrested 15
Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.
· IOF continued
settlement activities and Israeli settlers continued their attacks in the West
Bank.
– Israeli settlers
continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and property.
– IOF raided the
Orphanage School in al-Thawri neighborhood of the occupied East Jerusalem and
terrorized the students in the school.
· Israel has
continued to impose a total siege on the Gaza Strip and tightened the siege on
the West Bank.
– IOF arrested at
least 4 Palestinians at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
– IOF imposed a total
closure on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the anniversary of the
Palestinian Nakba.
Summary
Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (12 – 18 May 2011):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF
killed two Palestinian children. One of
the children was willfully killed in Jerusalem while the other, who is mentally
diabled, was killed in the Gaza Strip due to the use of excessive lethal
force. IOF also wounded 148 civilians,
including 49 children and an international solidarity activist. Of the wounded,
144 ones were wounded when IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful
demonstrations commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the Palestinian
Nakba, 3 civilians were wounded in peaceful protests against settlement
activities and the construction of the annexation wall. A Palestinian child was also wounded by the
explosion of a suspicious object left by IOF.
In the West Bank, on 13 May
2011, IOF killed a Palestinian boy in cold blood in the Jerusalem neighborhood
of Silwan. The child was killed when a
bullet was shot at him from the direction of two houses which were occupied
earlier by Israeli settlers in the center of Silwan. They boy was walking on a dirt road and was between 10 and 15 meters
from the two houses when he was shot. It
should be noted that members of a private security agency and members of the
Israeli Border Guards provide protection to settlers who has seized two houses.
In the Gaza Strip, on 15 May 2011, IOF used excessive lethal
force to kill a mentally disabled Palestinian child near Nahal Oz border
crossing, east of Gaza City. The child
was killed by a shell fired at him by IOF. Medical crews found the child’s body nearly 300 meters to the west of
Nahal Oz crossing. The body was taken to
al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. According to statements given to a PCHR fieldworker by the forensic
medicine department, the boy was hit by shrapnel from a shell to the chest and
the head.
On 15 May 2011, IOF used excessive force to disperse participants
in peaceful demonstrations commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the
Palestinian Nakba in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. As a result, 144 Palestinian civilians,
including 47 children, 5 women and 4 children, were wounded. In the Gaza Strip, 105 people were wounded,
including 31 children, 3 women and 3 journalists. In the West Bank, 38 civilians were wounded,
including 16 children, 2 women and a journalist. PCHR strongly condemns
the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations in the OPT and calls
upon the international community to immediately take action to compel the
Israeli government to stop its systematic crimes against Palestinian civilians.
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, three demonstrators, including a
child and an international solidarity activist, were wounded. In addition, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international human rights defenders participating in peaceful protests in
the West Bank suffered from tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten
by IOF.
On 13 May 2011, a Palestinian child was
seriously wounded by the explosion of a suspicious object left by IOF in the
Jordan Valley in the northeast of the West Bank.
Incursions:
During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 20 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 15
Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.
IOF
have continued to attempt to crack down peaceful protests and to prevent
international human rights defenders from participating in peaceful assemblies
against settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall. As part of these attempts, IOF arrested 4
protesters, including 2 Israeli solidarity activists, and took them to
“Benjamin” police station in the southeast of Ramallah. The arrested persons were released latter. IOF also arrested 6 demonstrators in a
peaceful demonstration that Palestinians organized near Qalandya checkpoint to
commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.
Restrictions
on Movement:
Israel
has continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and has 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 of the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened
since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic
situation 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.
It should be noted that the Israeli occupation
authorities have worked over the past three years to make Karm Abu Salem
crossing, which is not appropriate for commercial purposes, as Gaza’s major and
sole crossing.
In the beginning of 2010, the Israeli
occupation authorities closed Nahal Oz crossing which was dedicated for the
supplies of fuel and cooking gas to Gaza, and shifted fuel supplies to Karm Abu
Salem crossing. They also totally closed
Sofa crossing, southeast of Khan Yunis, and shifted humanitarian aid and food
items which used to be delivered via Sofa crossing to Karm Abu Salem
crossing. Lately, they exceptionally
opened Sofa crossing for four consecutive days in the end of March 2011 and on
17 April 2011 to allow the delivery of construction aggregate for UNRWA.
· Approximately 80% of Gaza civilians have
continued to depend on alimentary aid provided by UNRWA and other relief
agencies, rates of families who live below poverty line have continued to be on
the rise and approximately 40% of Gaza’s manpower has continued to suffer from
permanent unemployment as a result of shutting down the majority of Gaza’s
economic establishments.
· IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the
exportation of Gaza’s products, especially industrial products, leading to undermining
any real chances to rerun economic establishments. Facts on the ground refute IOF’s allegation
that they daily allow the export of 10 truckloads of agricultural products.
· Recently, IOF allowed the exportation of very
limited quantities of Gaza’s agricultural products, including flowers and
tomatoes, to European markers.
· 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 have 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 46 months, IOF have
continued to deny approximately 710 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in
Israeli jails their visitation rights without providing any justification to
this measure, which violates the rules of the international humanitarian law.
West
Bank
IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank,
including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.
· IOF have
established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting
Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying
in the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
· There are
approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints
across the West Bank.
· When complete,
the illegal annexation wall will stretch for 724 kilometers
around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of
the wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the wall has been
constructed inside the West Bank itself, 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.
Israeli
Settlers’ Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property:
Israeli
settlers living in the OPT in violation of the international humanitarian law
have continued to commit systematic crimes against Palestinian civilians and
Palestinian property with protection provided by IOF who ignore conducting
investigations into complaints submitted by Palestinian civilians against settlers.
On
14 May 2011, a number of settlers from “Gilad” settlement attacked
three Palestinian farmers from Jeet village, northeast of Qaqilya. The Palestinians were attacked while they
were going to their work. The attack
took place before the eyes of IOF.
On
15 May 2011, a group of Israeli settlers from “Kirat Arba”
settlement, southeast of Hebron, attacked a house belonging to the Abu Se’ifan
family in Wadi al-Hussain neighborhood which is adjacent to “Kriat
Arba” settlement. The settlers
tried to set the house alight and put the residents’ lives at risk. It should be noted that the attacked house
and other houses belonging to the Abu Se’ifan family are only few steps from
the high wall of “Kriat Arba” settlement. These houses and their residents have been
repeatedly attacked by settlers. Some of
the Abu Se’ifan family’s members were wounded as a result and damages were
inflicted on their property.
On
17 May 2011, a number of Israeli settlers raided the Orphanage School in
occupied East Jerusalem. The settlers
attacked the students in classrooms. Later, the Israeli police raided the school and arrested the headmaster,
Ibrahim Shawar, and the deputy headmaster, Isam al-Tawil, for investigations.
Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (12 – 18 May 2011)
1. Incursions into
Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip
Use of Excessive Force against Demonstrations
Commemorating the Palestinian Nakba
On Sunday, 15 May 2011, IOF used excessive lethal force to disperse
participants in peaceful demonstrations organized in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank on the 63rd anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.
As a result, 144 Palestinian civilians, including 47 children, 5 women and 4
children, were wounded. In the Gaza Strip, 105 people were wounded, including
31 children, 3 women and 3 journalists. In the West Bank 38 were wounded,
including 16 children, 2 women and a journalist. PCHR strongly condemns
the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations in the OPT and calls
upon the international community to immediately take action to compel the
Israeli government to stop its systematic crimes against Palestinian civilians.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, the incidents
occurred as follows:
The Gaza Strip:
· At approximately 10:30 on Sunday, 15 May 2011, dozens of
Palestinians began gathering approximately 1700 meters south of Beit Hanoun
(Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza
Strip. People had gathered to participate in activities commemorating the 63rd
anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba. At approximately 11:30,
dozens of Palestinians headed towards the border fence near Beit Hanoun (Erez)
crossing. Ten minutes later, Israeli forces stationed at the border fired
4 arterially shells in the area where the Palestinians were gathering.
Simultaneously, Israeli soldiers on watchtowers opened fire at the
demonstrators. Israeli forces continued intermittently firing until
evening, while helicopters hovered over the area also firing heavily at the
area surrounding the demonstrators. Additionally, dozens of tear gas
canisters and bombs which released a smoke were fired, causing fainting and
neurological symptoms. As a result, 103 Palestinians were wounded and
dozens suffered from gas inhalation. Thirteen of them were transported to
al-Awdah Hospital in Jabalya, 6 ones were transported to Balsam Hospital in
Beit Hanoun, and 84 ones were transported to Martyr Kamal Odwan Hospital in
Beit Lahia. The wounded included 27 children, 3 women and 3 media people.
The media workers who were also wounded are:
Additionally, three members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s
(PRCS) medical staff suffered from suffocation and fainted: Ahmed Abu Foul, 30,
Director of PRCS’s volunteers; ‘Atiyah Morad, 25; and Ramadan Hoso, 28.
· At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces stationed at the border
fence, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire near dozens
of Palestinians participating in a peaceful demonstration in the eastern part
of ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. As a result, two Palestinians
were moderately wounded and were transported to the European Gaza Hospital in
Khan Yunis to receive medical treatment.
The West Bank:
· In Ramallah, at approximately 13:30 on Sunday, 15 May 2011, dozens
of Palestinian civilians gathered at the entrance of Qalandya refugee camp,
north of Jerusalem, and headed towards Qalandya checkpoint, which separates
Ramallah from Jerusalem. The demonstrators threw stones and empty bottles
towards Israeli soldiers, who had been heavily deployed near the checkpoint since
the early morning. Israeli forces immediately fired rubber-coated metal
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a
result, 26 civilians, including 11 children and a woman, were wounded and were
transported to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive necessary
medical treatment. Medical sources stated that the majority of injuries
were in the upper parts of the body. Israeli forces, using undercover
units, arrested 6 Palestinians; one of whom had been wounded in the head.
· Also at approximately 13:30, dozens of Palestinian students from
Bir Zeit University and dozens of Palestinians from surrounding villages
gathered in the center of Bir Zeit village to organize a peaceful demonstration
on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.
They walked in the streets, chanted national slogans and raised Palestinian
flags. Then they walked to Attara
checkpoint, north of Bir Zeit village, where IOF were hiding behind cement
cubes. IOF closed the checkpoint and demonstrators
stoned IOF that responded by firing bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear
gas canisters and sound bombs. Dozens of
demonstrators suffered from gas inhalation as a result and others sustained
bruises as they were beaten by IOF. They were all treated on the spot.
· In Hebron, Palestinian civilians organized peaceful demonstrations
in the center and south of town, at the northern entrance of the town, and at
the entrances of Beit Ummar, Bani N’eim, Zeef villages and the Fawwar refugee
camp. As a result of clashes with Israeli forces, 12 civilians, including
5 children and a woman, were wounded. In addition, a number of civilians
fainted from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises due to violent
beating.
Also in the same context, IOF were intentional obstructed the work
of many media workers, directly attacking some of them, preventing others from
performing their work and driving others out of the scenes of events, while
they were covering events. As a result, Najeh Diab al-Hashlamon, 48, a
cameraman of APA (an American news agency), was wounded by a bullet to the left
foot. Al-Hashlamon was transferred to Hebron Public Hospital for medical
treatment. In addition, the glass of the car of Samih Salem Shahin, 40, a
camera man of AFP, was crushed after IOF fired at the car.
Al-Hashlamon told a PCHR fieldworker that at approximately 15:00 on
Sunday, 15 May, he was in “Talaat al-Zahed” Street, north of the old
city of Hebron. He was close to the wall in the street and was filming a group
of soldiers while firing at Palestinian demonstrators to the east of
“Talaat al-Zahed” Street. In the meanwhile, he was shot by a bullet
to his left foot. Al-Hashlamon said that he was clearly seen to Israeli
soldiers who were just 8 meters far from him. It seems that the soldiers did
not like what al-Hashlamon was doing.
Shahin told the PCHR fieldworker that after he finished his work,
he headed to his Hyundai Avante car which he parked near al-Jazaer Preliminary
School to the east of the end of al-Zahed Street, but he found that the windows
of his car were crushed by bullets fired by IOF.
On Sunday morning, 15 May, IOF raided many roofs of houses in
Hebron and Beit Ummar village and transformed them into military sites. Dozens
of snipers took positions on these roofs to target Palestinian civilians
participating in peaceful demonstrations. The recognized houses occupied by IOF
belong to Tayseer Zahdeh, Imad Abu Shamseyeh, Hashem al-Izzeh, Mohammed Ali
Abdul Haq al-Jaabari, Mohammed Abdul Muttaleb Abu Sneina, Mahmoud Saleh Abu
Ayash, Khaled Ismail Sadeq Sabarna, Mohammed Hamdi Abu Maria and Badr Hussein
Alqam.
· At approximately 16:45, a peaceful demonstration was organized in
Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, to commemorate the anniversary of the
Palestinian Nakba. The demonstrators walked towards the entrance of the
village where IOF where intensively deployed in the area over night. There were
10 military vehicles and many infantry soldiers. As the demonstrators arrived
at the entrance of the village, they clashed with IOF. Demonstrators stoned IOF
that responded by firing tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
demonstrators. At approximately 18:00, a
force from the Palestinian National Forces arrived at the scene and convinced
the demonstrators to leave the area. No casualties were reported.
(Note: PCHR keeps names of the wounded).
Thursday, 12 May 2011
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Kafr Addiq village, west of
Salfit. They patrolled in the streets
and took positions in different areas. They withdrew at approximately 14:00 and neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and raided and
searched a house belonging to Mohammed Ahmed Amin Hourani, 22. Before withdrawing, they arrested Hourani and
took him to Jalama prison. Hourani is a student of medicine at a university in
Yemen and he returned from Yemen because of the situation there.
· At approximately 10:45, IOF moved al-Fonduq village, east of Qalqilya.
They patrolled in the streets for some
time. They withdrew at approximately
11:00 and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Kafr Thulth village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets till 14:00. They withdrew later and neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
Friday,
13 May 2011
· At approximately 14:00, a suspicious object left by IOF exploded near
a Palestinian boy in the northern Jordan Valley in the northeast of the West
Bank. The boy sustained serious wounds as a result and lost consciousness for a
short time.
According to PCHR investigations, at approximately 14:00 on Friday,
13 May 2011, Hussein Ikab Hassan Daraghmeh, 13, from Tayasir village east of
Tubas, was walking with four of his friends in the Jordan Valley area. When the
children were approximately 4 km far from the east of Tayasir checkpoint, east of
Tayasir village, Daraghmeh saw an object with an egg-shaped front and a concave
back. The aluminum plated object was rusted. Daraghmeh picked the object and
then threw it to the earth. He then kicked the object with his right foot. The
object exploded and Daraghmeh lost his consciousness. He woke up in an
ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society which transferred him to Rafidya
Public Hospital in Nablus. Daraghmeh was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit
and doctors said that he sustained shrapnel wounds near the main artery in the
left leg, and in the chest as shrapnel penetrated the lung and in the neck.
Doctors said his condition was stable.
· In a new crime, IOF killed a Palestinian boy in the evening in the
Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.
PCHR conducted an investigation and took a statement from the
father of the deceased, Said Ali Issa Ayash, 57, who lives in Ras al-Amud where
he works as a translator and an editor. According to the statement, at
approximately 15:00 on Friday, 13 May 2011, Milad, 17, was walking on a dirt
road in the center of Silwan, which is located just south of the Old City in
Jerusalem. When he was approximately 10 to 15 meters away from two houses
occupied by Israeli settlers, he was shot. The shot came from the direction of
the houses occupied by the Israeli settlers. The bullet entered Milad’s abdomen
and exited from his back. Mr. Ayash said that the area where Milad was walking
was calm. At the time of the shooting there were clashes between Palestinian
boys and Israeli forces in the Beer Ayoub area of the al-Bustan area in Silwan,
which is approximately 1,500 meters from where Milad was walking.
It should be noted that members of a private security agency and
members of the Israeli Border Guards provide protection to the settlers in the
two houses.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
· At approximately 11:20, IOF moved into Hableh village, south of Qalqilya.
They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into Baqa al-Sharqeya village, north
of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and intermittently fired into the air. They withdrew later and neither arrests nor
further events were reported.
· At approximately 15:45, IOF moved into al-Nabi Elias village, east
of Qaqilya. They patrolled in the
streets. In the meanwhile, they approached a number of boys who were sitting on
the sidewalk. An IOF officer asked Ahmed Imad Salem Shbeita, 18, to walk to
him. They then took Shbeita to a nearby shop and asked the shop’s owner to
translate from Hebrew into Arabic because the boy did not understand what they
were saying. After they finished the dialogue, they arrested Shbeita. Boys who
were with Shbeita said that IOF claimed that Shbeita threw stones at the main
street. Shbeita was taken to Hawara detention camp, south of Nablus.
· In another attack using excessive force, IOF killed a mentally
disabled child near Nahal Oz crossing at the borders with Israel, east of Gaza
City, by an artillery shell.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately
16:30, Shifa Hospital received the body of Khamis Salah Mesleh Habeeb, 17, from
al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. In a statement to a PCHR
field worker, Adham Abu Selmiyah, Spokesperson of the Emergency Department,
said that they had received a phone call from residents of Nahal Oz area, who
stated there was a body near the border fence. Coordination was made through
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and an ambulance headed to
the area where the medical crew recovered the body of Habeeb at a distance of
300 meters to the west of Nahal Oz crossing. The body was transported to Shifa
Hospital in Gaza City. According to forensic sources at Shifa Hospital, Habeeb was
wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the head from an artillery shell fired at
him. He was killed immediately as a result of these wounds. It should be noted
that Habeeb suffered from a mental disability.
· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-Arroub refugee camp,
north of Hebron. They raided and
searched many houses. Before
withdrawing, they arrested 3 civilians, including a child:
Monday, 16 May 2011
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of
Hebron. They raided and searched many
houses in the northeast of the village. Before withdrawing, they arrested two civilians:
1. Mousa Ahmed Abu
Maria, 26; and
2. Ahmed Mohammed
Yousef Badi’, 22.
· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Karawat Bani Hassan
village, west of Salfit. They patrolled
in the streets. They raided two houses
and delivered notices to two Palestinians; Arqam Mustafa Mari, 19; and Said
Hamad Jbara Mari, 22, requesting them to appear before the Israeli Intelligence
Service. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Sheikh neighborhood in
the center of Hebron. They raided and
searched many houses. Before
withdrawing, they arrested 4 civilians, including 2 children and 2 brothers:
1. Amjad Majdi
Hussein al-Haddad, 18;
2. Ahmed Majdi
Hussein al-Haddad, 17;
3. Ali Basem Husni
al-Haddad, 16; and
4. Yaser Tayseer
Hussein al-Haddad, 19.
· At approximately 02:00, an IOF undercover unit stealthily moved
into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm, using a Mercedes truck. They surrounded a building in al-Mahjar
neighborhood. The building is owned by
the family of Deyaa Ahmed Mohammed Abu Qseido, 22. They raided the building using ladders to get
onto the roof. They searched the house
of Abu Qseido and maltreated his family and him. They then arrested him.
Deyaa’ brother told the PCHR fieldworker that:
“At approximately 02:00 on 16 May 2011, I was sleeping with my
family. In the meanwhile, an undercover
unit of the Israeli army used a Mercedes lorry to move into al-Mahjar
neighborhood. They surrounded our
3-storey house which is located in al-Mahjar neighborhood. They used ladders to get onto the roof. They raided the house and destroyed the
internal door. They deployed in the
house while shouting at us and they awoke us. When I woke up, I saw nearly seven soldiers in military uniform. They were masked. One of them was beating my brother Deyaa
using his foot and asking his to get up. Another soldier was beating my brother Ibrahim and asking him to get
up. They forced us to stand against the
wall and they thoroughly searched the house. Nearly half an hour later, they
led us separately to a bedroom where an officer, who introduced himself as Roni
(Abu Rami), was sitting. He questioned
us and told us that he wanted to arrest my brother Deyaa. He asked him to see us off and to change his
clothes. They then took him to an
unknown destination.”
· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Anabta village, east of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into “Shaaba”
neighborhood in the northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched many houses in the northeast of the
neighborhood. Before withdrawing, they arrested two Palestinians:
1. Ramzi Foud
al-Tabakhi; and
2. Mohammed Ali
Abdul Haq al-Jaabari, 40.
· At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Faroun village, south of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time. In the meanwhile, a
number of boys gathered and stoned IOF who responded by firing sound bombs and
tear gas canisters. IOF withdrew later
and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Jeet village, northeast of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
· At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Faroun village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some
time. Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.
Wednesday, 04 May 2011
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some
time. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Sarraa Munir Radad, 20. Before withdrawing, they arrested Radad.
· Also at approximately 02:00,
IOF moved into Allar village, north of Tulkarm. They drove in the streets and
raided and searched several houses. They
delivered notices to five Palestinians requesting them to appear before the
Israeli Intelligence Service in the District Coordination Office (DCO) which is
established on Palestinian lands in the southwest of Tulkarm. The Palestinians who received notices are:
2. Use of
Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting Settlement
Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall
During
the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the
West Bank. As a result, three
demonstrators, including a child and an international activist, were
wounded. Dozens of Palestinian civilians
and human rights defenders also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others
sustained bruises. Additionally, IOF
arrested four demonstrators, including two Israeli activists, and transported
them to “Benjamin” police station, southeast of Ramallah. They were released at approximately
22:00.
· Following the
Friday Prayer on 13 May 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. This demonstration
coincided with the 63rd anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba. The demonstrators were raising the portraits
of martyrs Jawaher and Basem Abu Rahma and carrying a big key with number 63 on
it pointing to the years of Nakba. Besides, there was a cart carrying old people and children, who were
wearing the Palestinian traditional clothes, showing that they were returning
to their homeland. The demonstrators
then walked towards the annexation wall. IOF made a barrier of barbwire approximately 100 meters far from the wall. Before the demonstrators’ arrival at the
barrier, IOF closed the barrier and fired bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets,
sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. IOF also sprayed wastewater at the
demonstrators and chased them in olive fields. As a result, 2 Palestinians, including a child, were wounded, while
dozens suffered from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises. The wounded:
1. Ashraf Ibrahim Ahmed Abu Rahma, 30, hit by a tear gas canister
in the right leg; and
2. Ahmed Rebhi Abu Rahma, 16, hit by a tear gas canister in the
right hand.
· Also following
the Friday Prayer on 13 May 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the
construction of the annexation wall. They then walked towards the wall. IOF closed the gate established on the wall with barbwire. When the demonstrators tried to cross the
wall to the land located behind it, IOF prevented them. The demonstrators responded by stoning IOF that
responded by firing bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear
gas canisters at demonstrators. IOF also
chased demonstrators in olive fields. Many demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation as a result.
· Also following
the Friday Prayer on the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against
the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The
demonstrators walked in the streets of the village and chanted national
slogans, expressing their refusal to the occupation and its arbitrary
actions. They also raised the Palestinian
flags. They then walked towards the
lands that settlers from “Halmish” settlement try to seize. IOF closed off the southern entrance of the
village to prevent Palestinian and international demonstrators from having
access to the mentioned lands. As the
demonstrators attempted to access the land, IOF prevented them. IOF fired bullets, rubber-coated metal
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. IOF also sprayed wastewater at the
demonstrators and chased them. As a result,
the American activist, Christian, 23, was hit by a tear gas canister in the
head, due to which he was transported to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah
for medical treatment. Besides, many
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises in this
incident, including Hala Ayoub al-Tamimi, 45, who sustained bruises in the
back, and Helmi al-Tamimi, 29, a cameraman of the Public Committee against the
Wall. In addition, IOF arrested 4
demonstrators, including 2 Israeli solidarity activists, and transported them
to “Benjamin” police station, southeast of Ramallah. They were released on 22:00. The arrested demonstrators:
1. Nida’ Abdul ‘Elah Tamimi, 22;
2. Iqbal Mahmoud Tamimi, 40;
3. The Israeli activist, Eyal, 22; and
4. The Israeli activist, Eyal, 24.
3. Continued
Closure of the OPT
Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure of the OPT and
imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the
Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza
Strip
Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since
June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic
situation in the Gaza Strip.
· The illegal
closure has caused not only a humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights
and human dignity for the population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared
recently to ease the blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with
the root causes of the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and
complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out
of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new
Israeli policy is simply shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one
that may become internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in
Gaza may no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain
economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially,
culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.
· Facts on the
ground refute Israeli claims with respect to the easing of the closure imposed
on the Gaza Strip and the reduction of restrictions imposed on the entry of
goods.
· Israeli
declaration of allowing new goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip constitutes
an attempt to delude the international community, as such goods do not meet the
minimal needs of the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have
continued to ban the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip.
· IOF have
imposed a ban on all exports from the Gaza Strip.
· Israel had
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing
to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social
visits.
· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated;
levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:
Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point
11-17
May 2011
|
Date |
Details |
|
11 May 2011 |
398 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt, 339 others were |
|
12 May 2011 |
364 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt, 563 others were |
|
13 May 2011 |
A Palestinian was allowed into the Gaza Strip |
|
14 May 2011 |
Closed |
|
15 May 2011 |
368 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt, 177 others were |
|
16 May 2011 |
398 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt, 414 others were |
|
17 May 2011 |
396 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt, 244 others were |
Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
11-17
May 2011
|
Date |
Imports |
||
|
Category |
Amount |
||
|
Tons |
Liters |
||
|
11 May 2011 |
Foodstuffs |
1,122 |
|
|
Agricultural materials |
1,918 |
|
|
|
Various goods |
1,307 |
|
|
|
Humanitarian aids |
1,535 |
|
|
|
Cooking gas |
158.280 |
|
|
|
12 May 2011 |
Foodstuffs |
1,352 |
|
|
Agricultural materials |
2,123 |
|
|
|
Various goods |
1,126 |
|
|
|
Humanitarian aids |
797 |
|
|
|
Cooking gas |
207.140 |
|
|
|
Benzene |
|
38.000 for UNRWA |
|
|
Diesel |
|
118.000 for UNRWA |
|
|
15 May 2011 |
Foodstuffs |
1,197 |
|
|
Agricultural materials |
1,846 |
|
|
|
Various goods |
795 |
|
|
|
Humanitarian aids |
1,835 |
|
|
|
Cooking gas |
206.760 |
|
|
|
16 May 2011 |
Foodstuffs |
998 |
|
|
Agricultural materials |
1,784 |
|
|
|
Various goods |
1,342 |
|
|
|
Humanitarian aids |
3,060 |
|
|
|
Cooking gas |
185.800 |
|
|
Notes:
· On Wednesday, 11 May 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 240 tons of
cement, 118 tons of iron and 980 tons of aggregate for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,755 tons of
fodders.
· On Thursday, 12 May 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 40 tons of
aggregate for UNRWA and 120 tons of cement for UNDP. Besides, they allowed the entry of 1,911 tons
of fodders.
· On Sunday, 15 May 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 180 tons of
cement, 85 tons of iron and 840 tons of aggregate for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 20 tons of
cement and 9 tons of iron for ANERA. 1,677 tons of wheat was allowed into the
Gaza Strip.
· On Monday, 16 May 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 320 tons of
cement, 7 tons of iron and 1,960 tons of aggregate for UNRWA. 224 tons of cement was allowed for Coastal
Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU). In
addition, 1,677 tons of wheat and 15 tons of fodders were allowed into the Gaza
Strip
Exports
· On Thursday, 12 May 2011, 58,000 flowers were exported.
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
11-17
April 2011
|
Date |
11 May |
12 May |
13 May |
14 May |
15 May |
16 May |
18 May |
|
Patients |
44 |
34 |
3 |
Nil |
34 |
49 |
52 |
|
Companions |
39 |
34 |
4 |
Nil |
32 |
46 |
55 |
|
Arabs from Israel |
5 |
4 |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
14 |
Nil |
|
Diplomats |
15 |
10 |
1 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
3 |
|
International Journalists |
3 |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
1 |
1 |
Nil |
|
International Workers |
41 |
63 |
29 |
Nil |
4 |
22 |
22 |
|
Travelers abroad |
1 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Business People |
64 |
63 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
55 |
|
Economic Meetings |
4 |
6 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Security Interviews |
Nil |
3 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
VIP’s |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Ambulances to Israel |
Nil |
5 |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
4 |
|
Ambulances from Israel |
Nil |
3 |
1 |
Nil |
Nil |
4 |
2 |
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.
On
Friday morning, 13 May 2011, IOF imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinians in Jerusalem, particularly in the center of the city and in the
Old Town. Eyewitnesses said that the
Israeli measures included deployment of police officers, special units and the
Border Guard members in the streets and intersections, especially at the main
street adjacent to the walls of the Old Town. IOF also established checkpoints in different streets, while the police
checkpoints established at al-Aqsa mosque gates hindered the movement of
Palestinians, so a large number of them were returned and others’ IDs were held
until they finished praying.
On
Sunday morning, 15 May 2011, IOF imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinians in Jerusalem at the entrances of neighborhoods in the city and
hindered the movement of students. Police officers, special units and the Border Guard members were
deployed in the streets and inside the walls of the Old Town.
· Nablus: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 11:00 on
Thursday, 12 May 2011, IOF completely closed Hawara checkpoint, south of
Nablus, after some Israeli settlers had carried out harassments at the said
checkpoint.
· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 12 May 2011, IOF established 8
checkpoints around the town. On Friday,
13 May 2011, IOF established 2 checkpoints around the town. On Saturday, 14 May 2011, IOF established 7
checkpoints around the town. On Saturday, 14 May 2011, IOF established 7
checkpoints around the town, while on Monday, 16, May 2011, IOF established 5
checkpoints around the town.
· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 14 May
2011, IOF stationed at ‘Ennab checkpoint on Tulkarm – Nablus road, east of
Tulkarm, imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They called for the so-called Border Guard’s
support and started spreading “iron barriers.” They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. When a civilian
vehicle crossed the iron barrier, its wheels were damaged. As a result, the way to Tulkarm was
completely closed. At approximately
20:30 on the same day, IOF carried out the same measures, however, no arrests
were reported.
At
the same time, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm – Qalqilya road
approximately 500 meters far from the gate of Jbarah checkpoint in al-Kafriyat
area, south of Tulkarm.
·
At
approximately 08:30 on Sunday, 15 May 2011, IOF stationed at ‘Ennab checkpoint
imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 15:00, IOF completely closed
that checkpoint claiming that some Palestinians threw stones and empty bottles
at the soldiers on the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.
At
approximately 09:20, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of
Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm.
At
approximately 14:30 on Monday, 16 May 2011, IOF stationed at ‘Ennab checkpoint,
east of Tulkarm, completely closed the checkpoint. Eyewitnesses said to a PCHR field worker that
a number of the Border Guard members had been deployed at the checkpoint and
prevented Palestinian civilian vehicles from passing for a while. The
checkpoint was reopened later, however, no arrest were reported.
At
approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, IOF stationed at ‘Ennab
checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed severe restrictions at the movement of
Palestinian civilians. They stopped and
searched the civilian vehicles, but no arrests were reported.
· Hebron: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. IOF extended the period of
closure imposed on the West Bank to another 24 hours since Monday 16 May 2011
upon a decision of the military leadership. They continued to close many major and secondary entrances in the center
and southeast of Hebron, the Old Town, east of Bani N’eim and Beit Ommar, the
northern entrances of al-‘Arroub and al-Fawwar villages, intersections of
Tarqoumya and al-Samou’, and Qaboun valley – Halhoul – road #35. In addition, IOF have imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians at permanent checkpoints.
Arrests at Checkpoints
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.
1. Morad Mofeed Hussein Yamin, 19;
2. Firas Sayel Mohammed Yamin, 25; and
3. His brother Ayoub Yamin, 19.
In his testimony to PCHR field worker, Ayoub
Yamin said:
“At approximately 16:00 on
Saturday, 14 May 2011, my brother Firas, my cousin Morad and I went to our land
named “Khelet al-Shaqfan” located in the west of the village, to cut
the thyme saplings. Once we arrived, we
were shocked when seeing 3 Israeli soldiers standing on the highest area of the
land. They took our IDs and told us that
it was so difficult to work that day without obtaining coordination although we
go there every day without any coordination. While we were talking to them, 3 Israeli settlers attacked us and said
that we don’t have any land there. When
they asked us if this land is ours or not, we replied saying yes. As a result, they took our tools and started
cutting an almond tree near us. They
then chased us using stones until we got out of the land. We did not return there and decided not go
there anymore.”
According to investigations conducted by PCHR,
at approximately 18:00, while some children of the family of Hosni Abdul Hai
Matariya (Abu S’ifan) were playing in the yard of their house, in which 11 individuals
live, a group of Israeli settlers living in the said settlement threw 4 fire
bottles towards the house. One of the
bottles hit the roof, the second fell a meter away from the house, while the
third and fourth ones fell into the yard. As a result, the children were terrified and ran into the house. Besides, some rugs in the yard were burnt.
When the house’s residents noticed the fire,
they extinguished it with the help of their neighbors and called a patrol of
the Observer Mission of the “Temporary International Presence in Hebron,”
which arrived 40 minutes later.
Abu S’ifan stressed that 4-5 Israeli settlers
were on the wall adjacent to his house directly. They carried out their attack, which could
have caused a disaster. He pointed that
although two observers of the Temporary International Presence came to his
house to know what had happened and prepare a report about it, 15 minutes
later, the same settlers attacked the house again by stones and empty bottles.
All of this happened despite the presence of military observation points
adjacent to and surrounding the settlement.
It should be noted that the said house and
other houses belonging to many families of (Abu S’ifan) are few steps away from
the settlement’s wall. Besides, the
houses had been attacked by settlers several times throughout the past years,
as a result, many members of the family were wounded and damages were caused to
the houses.
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).
