Clashes between Palestinian
demonstrators and Israeli soldiers near Oufar Prison in Ramallah

Israeli Forces Continue
Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the occupied
Palestinian territory (oPt)

      

 

 

A Palestinian
civilian died of wounds he had sustained in the latest Israeli offensive on the
Gaza Strip.

 

5
Palestinian civilians were wounded in the Gaza Strip.

4 of
whom were wounded at the border area, while the fifth was wounded in the sea.

 

Three
Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded in the West Bank. 

 

The
Israeli Forces conducted 35 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West
Bank and a limited incursion into the Gaza Strip. 

At
least 33 Palestinian civilians were arrested in the West Bank.

4
children from the Gaza Strip were arrested while attempting to cross the border
into Israel.

 

The
Israeli Forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the sea.

 

The
Israeli Forces continued to use excessive force against peaceful protests in
the West Bank.

2
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in Bil’ein weekly protest,
west of Ramallah.

 

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

The Israeli
Forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.

At
least 4 Palestinian children were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

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

The
Israeli Forces issued more notices of house demolitions.

The
Israeli settlers continued to attack the Palestinian civilians.

 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt
continued during the reporting period (13 – 19 December 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, a
Palestinian civilian receiving medical treatment at an Egyptian hospital died
of wounds he had sustained in the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Forces also wounded 10 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children,
in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  

 

In the West Bank, on 13 December
2012, a Palestinian boy was wounded when the Israeli Forces moved into a number
of neighborhoods in Hebron. They opened fire some boys protesting against them.
The boy was seriously wounded while he was going back home from his work.

 

On 16 December 2012, a Palestinian
boy was wounded when the Israeli Forces opened fire at a number of boys who
gathered at the eastern entrance of Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, and
threw stones at the Israeli soldiers.

 

On 17 December 2012, a Palestinian
boy from Madama village, south of Nablus, was wounded in the left leg when the
Israeli Forces fired at him, when he hurried to rescue his brother, who was
grazing the sheep and was attacked by the settlers and in the presence of the
Israeli soldiers.

 

In the same context, the Israeli
Forces continued to systematically use excessive force against peaceful
protests organized by Palestinians and Israeli and international activists protesting
against the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a
result, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded: a 16-year-old boy who was wounded
in the right hand and an 18-year-old boy who was wounded in the back. In
addition, dozens of Palestinians suffered from tear gas inhalation or sustained
bruises.  They were all treated on the
spot.   

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 18 December
2012, medical sources in the Arab National Bank Hospital in Cairo – Egypt pronounced
Salem Ahmed Salem Bin Sa’id, 19, from al-Mussaddar village in the central Gaza
Strip, dead because of wounds he sustained on 17 November 2012 during the latest
Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip. The aforementioned person was wounded when
an Israeli warplane targeted a group of persons in a small room on a piece of
land near his father’s house. His father and another person were killed and 6
others sustained wounds; 2 of whom sustained serious wounds, including the
abovementioned person who was pronounced dead.  It should be noted that Bin Sa’id was a
civilian.

 

On 13 December 2012, 5 Palestinian
civilians were wounded in the Gaza Strip. A boy was seriously wounded when the
Israeli Forces stationed along the border fence, east of Deir al-Balah, opened
fire at him. The boy was collecting pieces of aluminum and iron from the
landfill in the east of Juhor al-Deek village.

 

On 14 December 2012, 2 Palestinian
civilians were wounded in two separate shooting incidents. The first one was
wounded when the Israeli Forces stationed along the border fence in the
southern Gaza Strip opened fire at a group of persons, who were about 200
meters to the west of the border fence. The second person was wounded when the
Israeli Forces stationed along the border fence in the east of Abu Safiya gate
in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a group of persons and farmers, who
were 150 meters far from the fence.

 

On 16 December 2012, a Palestinian
farmer was seriously wounded when the Israeli Forces stationed along the border
fence in the southern Gaza Strip opened fire at a group of Palestinians, who
were working on their lands in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis, near
the border fence.

 

On 17 December 2012, a Palestinian
fisherman was wounded when the Israeli gunboats stationed in the Gazan waters
opened fire at a fishing boat belonging to Mos’ad Baker, 38. Baker and his
nephew Mohammed Tareq Abdul Razeq Baker, 20, were on board the boat 7 nautical
miles off Wadi Gaza shore.  As a result,
Mos’ad was wounded by a bullet to the left thigh and transported to Barzilai
Medical Center in Ashkelon inside Israel. Moreover, his nephew Mohammed was
arrested and questioned and their boat no. 12935 was confiscated.

 

In the context of targeting
Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 15 December 2012, Israeli gunboats
positioned off al-Waha resort in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at
Palestinian fishermen who were sailing 6 nautical miles off the shore.

 

On 16 and 17 December 2012, the
Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishermen in the same area., but neither
casualties nor material damage were reported. 
   

  

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, the IOF conducted at least 35 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 
During these incursions, the IOF arrested at least 33 Palestinians.

 

During
the reporting period, on 18 December 2012, the Israeli Forces moved nearly 100
meters into the southern Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of land along the
border fence. At approximately 11:00, the Israeli Forces moved back to the
border.

 

On
17 December 2012, the Israeli Forces positioned along the border fence in the
central Gaza Strip arrested 4 Palestinian children, who attempted to cross the
borders between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

 

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

Israel
continued to impose a tightened closure of the oPt, imposing 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. 
Recently-declared measures to ease the closure are vague, purely
cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis; the root causes
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, as long as the closure is
allowed to continue, they will remain economically dependent, unable to care
for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the
rest of the world. 

 

The 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 14
December 2012, the Israeli Forces handed a notice to Mahmoud Shehada Makhamra,
63, from Ma’in area, south of Hebron, ordering the demolition his 2-storey
house. The house is built on 170-square-meter area of land and resided by 10 individuals.
 

 

On 17
December 2012, the Israeli Forces denied the Palestinian farmers from Hribet
al-Nabi village access to their lands and dismissed them from the lands under
the pretext that they are under the Israeli control, so the farmers have to
obtain the Israeli approval from the concerned authorities in advance.  

 

On 18
December 2012, the Israeli Forces submitted notices to 3 Palestinians from
Tarousa village, southwest of Hebron, ordering demolitions of 4 houses under
the pretext that the houses are located in areas under the Israeli security
control.

 

On 14
December 2012, a group of settlers from “Beitar Elite” and “Navi
Daniel” settlements, south of Bethlehem, uprooted 200 olive trees
belonging to Ahmed Hussein Salah, 70, from al-Khader village.

 

On
17 December 2012, a group of settlers from “Beit Hagai” settlement,
south of Hebron, attacked Palestinian lands in al-Raihiya village, south of
Hebron, in an attempt to seize these lands and cut the trees.

 

On
the same day, a security officer from an outpost at Emmanuel settlement
arrested Mahmoud Farid Mohammed Bashir, 34, while he was on his land. Bashir
was grazing sheep when he was arrested. The security officer held him for an
hour on the land near the settlement outpost. He was handcuffed under the
pretext that he approached the barbwire fence around the said settlement.  Bashir was released at approximately 11:30.

 

On
the same day, a group of settlers from “Kiryat Arab” settlement
attacked lands in Jales area, south of Hebron. They attempted to uproot and cut
off olive trees in the area near the security fence of the said settlement.   

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (13 – 19 December 2012)

 

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

 

 

Thursday,
13 December 2012

 

At
approximately 02:00, the Israeli Forces moved into several villages in Hebron.  They patrolled in the streets and raided and
searched some houses.  Israeli soldiers
kept the residents of the houses out in the cold weather for hours. They
arrested six Palestinians:

1. Anas
Sedqi al-Ju’ba, 23;

2. Ahmed
Yusri al-‘Ewiwi, 22;

3. Mo’the
Abdu Mohammed al-Haimouni, 21;

4. Majd
Yunis al-Atrash, 22;

5. Sedqi
Yunis al-Atrash, 20; and

6. Mo’taz
Salim al-Herbawi, 28.

 

At approximately
03:00, the Israeli Forces moved into Jenin refugee camp to the west and south
of Jenin town. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number
of houses.  The Israeli Forces arrested
three Palestinian officers and transported them to an unknown destination:

 

1. Wa’el Ahmed
Theeb Ghazawi, 43, is an officer in the Preventive Security Service (PSS);

2. Mohammed
Ibrahim Eid Naghnaghiya, 30; is an officer in the General Intelligence Service
(GIS); and

3. Ashraf Ahmed
Sadeq Jaradat, 30, is an officer in the Civil Police.

 

At the same
time, the Israeli Forces moved into She’aba area, east of Hebron.  They patrolled in the streets and raided and
searched a house belonging to journalist Lama Khater. They also obliged the
children to go out of the house for two hours.

 

In her
testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Lama Khater said that a large Israeli force
raided the house of her family and detained her with her husband in a room.
They also obliged the children to stay outdoors. An Israeli intelligence
officer questioned the couple on the spot concerning a protest organized by
Hamas in Hebron.  Before withdrawal, the
Israeli soldiers confiscated three PC appliances, two laptops, her mobile
phone, her husband’s mobile phone, and some papers and posters.

 

At approximately
04:00, the Israeli Forces moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They
patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Ahmed Yusef Salim Abu al-Haija, 29, and arrested him.

 

At approximately
12:30, the Israeli Forces along the border fence, east of Wadi Gaza (Juhor
al-Deek), opened fire at ‘Asef Rasmi Ibrahim al-Khaldi, 19, from al-Bureij
refugee camp. Al-Khaldi was collecting aluminum and metal pieces from the landfill,
which is 150 meters away from the border fence.  As a result of firing at him, al-Khaldi was seriously
wounded by a bullet to the right arm.

 

At approximately
14:20, the Israeli Forces moved into al-‘Araqa village, west of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for a while and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 14:30, dozens of angry boys and young men gathered at Bab
al-Zawiya area in the center of Hebron after the funeral of Mohammed
al-Salayma, 17, who was killed by the Israeli Forces the day before. The
Israeli Forces in response raided a number of houses and commercial stores in a
provocative way, topped them and stationed there. The Palestinian protesters
threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, and the Israeli
soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs.
 As a result, Nasser Wasfi Mohammed Jamal
al-Sharbati, 16, was seriously wounded by three bullets to the two hands and the
back, while he was going home back from work.

 

In
his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, al-Sharbati said:

 

“I work in a carton factory. While I was
going home at approximately 19:00, I took the new Wadi al-Tuffah road and did
not know what was happening there. I heard some persons talking about clashes
in Bab al-Zawiya area. I stopped in front of Zaheda meat shop and was surprised
to see three Israeli soldiers; one of whom who was from the Border Guard topped
a house in Bab al-Zawiya area. I was frightened and ran trying to cross the
street to flee.  I heard the sound of
firing and felt my two hands had become spastic. In addition, I felt that something
had entered into my body from the back. I ran for about four minutes until I
reached some persons in front of Hassouna gas station across the street and
asked them to help me as I was wounded. They carried me to Hebron Public Hospital
and as you see here I am; I cannot move.”

 

In the same
context, Dr. Sharaf al-Tarda said to a PCHR fieldworker that al-Sharbati was
transferred from Hebron Public Hospital to al-Mezan Hospital for the
seriousness of his injury, as he was wounded by three bullets. The first bullet
in the back entered the chest tissue and caused wounds and severe hemorrhage in
the left lung. The second and third bullets hit the upper part of his right arm
and the tendons of the left arm.

 

At approximately
17:30, the Israeli Forces moved into the area between al-Yamoun and Kofur Dan
villages, west of Jenin. They stationed in the area and detained Ayman Rajeh
Abed, 12, and his brother Ihsan, 10, while they were playing around. The
Israeli soldiers released the two children later and withdrew.

 

At approximately
18:30, the Israeli Forces moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They
patrolled in the streets for a while and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

 

Friday, 14 December
2012

 

At
approximately 01:00, the Israeli Forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp,
north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Rasmi Abdul
Rahman Jawabra, 29. The Israeli Forces submitted a notice to him to refer to
the Israeli Intelligence Service (Shabak) and withdrew later.

 

At proximately 11:30,
the Israeli Forces moved into Beit Leed, village, east of Tulkarm. They
patrolled in the streets for a while and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately
14:55, the Israeli Forces along the border fence in the east of Khan Yunis
opened fire at a group of Palestinians, who were east of al-Faraheen area, 200
meters to the west of the border fence.  As
a result, Mohammed Salah Qdeih, 22, was wounded by a bullet to the right hand.

 

At approximately
16:00, the Israeli Forces stationed along the border fence, east of Abu Safiya
gate in the east of Jabalya, opened fire at a group of Palestinians and
farmers, who were 150 meters away from the fence. As a result, Mo’men Mohammed
al-Abed Nawwarah, 19, from Jabalya refugee camp, was seriously wounded by a
bullet to the right leg.  In addition,
Rami Mohammed Abu Amira, 19 suffered from tear gas inhalation, but his health
condition is stable.

 

Saturday, 15
December 2012

 

At approximately 03:00, the Israeli Forces moved into Tulkarm. They
patrolled in the streets and positioned in the northern neighborhood near Belal
Bin Rabah Mosque near to Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided three neighboring
houses at once. The Israeli soldiers obliged the residents of the three houses
to gather in a yard of a house and started searching the houses with sniffer
dogs. They arrested Mas’oud Mostafa Mohammed Abu Zant, 20.

 

The Israeli Forces moved then to the western neighborhood of the town.
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Ezzat Abu
Dayya, 20, and arrested him. The Israeli Forces also raided a house belonging
to Daniel Jaber under the pretext that he is wanted. As the Israeli soldiers
did not find the wanted person, they arrested his son Nasser. Nasser was
transported to his grandfather’s house in the hospital street in the center of
the town. The Israeli soldiers raided the grandfather’s house, but did not find
the wanted person either. In the meanwhile, the Israeli soldiers noticed that a
taxi office (Hamam taxi office) had surveillance cameras that could show the
raided house. As a result, the Israeli soldiers raided the taxi office and
confiscated the PC appliance connected to the surveillance cameras. The Israeli
Forces withdrew after releasing Nasser, but transported the other two arrested persons
to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 06:00, the Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort in the
northern Gaza Strip opened fire heavily at the Palestinian fishermen, who were
sailing 6 nautical miles off the shore, for 10 minutes. As a result, the
fishermen were frightened and fled for fear of being arrested or wounded.
Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

At approximately 08:00, the Israeli Forces moved into Qabatya
village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for a while and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30, the Israeli Forces moved into Beir al-Basha
village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, the Israeli Forces moved into Um al-Tout
village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for a while and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli Forces moved into Jelqamous village,
southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for a while and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Sunday,
16 December 2012

 

 At approximately 06:30, Israeli
gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire
heavily at the Palestinian fishermen, who were sailing 6 nautical miles off the
shore, for about 15 minutes. As a result, the fishermen were frightened and
fled for fear of being arrested or wounded. Neither casualties nor material
damage were reported.

 

At
approximately 10:00, Israeli Forces moved into al-Sousa area, east of Beit
Fajjar in the south of Bethlehem. Ali Thawabta, Director of Beit Fajjar
Municipality said that an Israeli military jeep unnoticeably stationed near the
health center. At the same time, other five military vehicles moved into
al-Tarabee’ area near “Migdal Oz” settlement in the northwest of Beit
Fajjar. They raided and searched a house belonging to Diab Nayef Thawabta, 48,
but no more incidents were reported.   

 

At
approximately 13:30, the Israeli Forces stationed along the border fence to the
east of Khan Yunis opened fire at a group of Palestinians who were on their
lands near the border fence. As a result, Khaled Sulaiman Abdul Karim Mhanna,
25, was seriously wounded by a bullet to abdomen that exited the back. Mhanna
was working on his land that is located 500 meters away from the border fence.

 

At the same
time, the Israeli Forces and a group of settlers stationed at the entrance of Aida
refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. Some boys gathered and threw stones at them.
Immediately, the Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters at the boys.  As a result, Ya’qoub Hammad Hammad, 14, was
by a tear gas canister to the right leg.

 

At
approximately 19:00, the Israeli Forces moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and then positioned in front of a café in
the center of the village. The Israeli soldiers stepped out of their vehicles
and raided the café. They prevented anyone from getting in or out of the café.
An Israeli intelligence officer started questioning the Palestinians in the
café on the spot.  The Israeli Forces
withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 22:45, the Israeli Forces moved into al-‘Arqa village, west of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for a while and withdrew later.  

 

Monday,
17 December 2012

 

At
approximately 01:30, the Israeli Forces moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the
streets for a while and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 02:00, the Israeli Forces moved into Nablus and Balata refugee
camp, south of the city. They raided and searched a number of houses. They
arrested 3 Palestinians:

 

1. Farid Mohammed al-Masimi, 47, headmaster of Balata High School
for Boys and member of Balata Services’ Committee. He was arrested from his
house in Balata refugee camp;

2. His son-in-law, Mahdi Abdil Halim al-Shaf’I, 24, was arrested
from his house in al-Makhfiya neighborhood, west of Nablus; and

3. Baha’ Jamil Mahamid, 22, a member of the Palestinian National
Security Service. He was arrested from his house in Balata refugee camp.

The Israeli
Forces withdrew at approximately 04:30.

 

At
approximately 02:30, the Israeli Forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south
of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Adnan Mahmoud Taqatqa. They arrested his son
Mohammed Adnan Mahmoud Taqatqa, 20, and withdrew later.

 

At
approximately 03:30, the Israeli Forces moved into Qaryout village, southeast
of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of
houses. The Israeli Forces arrested:

 

1. Ghanem
Mahmoud Abdullah Mo’ammer, 20; and

2. Mohammed
Salah Eddin Mohammed Badawi, 18.

 

 

At
approximately 04:30, the Israeli Forces moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in
the streets for a while and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 06:30, the Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort in the
northern Gaza Strip opened fire heavily at the Palestinian fishermen, who were
sailing 6 nautical miles off the shore, for 10 minutes. As a result, the
fishermen were frightened and fled for fear of being arrested or wounded.
Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

At approximately
09:30, the Israeli gunboats stationed in the Gaza waters opened fire at a
fishing boat belonging to Mos’ad Abdul Razeq Baker, 38, while he and his nephew
Mohammed Tareq Abdul Razeq Baker, 20, were on board. They were sailing 7
nautical miles of Wadi Gaza shore. As a result, Mos’ad was wounded by a bullet
to the left thigh and transported to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, while
his nephew was arrested and questioned. Moreover, the Israeli Forces
confiscated their boat no. 12935.

 

At
approximately 10:30, the Israeli Forces moved into Safarin village, east of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for a while and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

During midday,
the Israeli Forces opened fire at Amir Amin Fayez Nassar, 26, from Madma
village, south of Nablus, and wounded him by a bullet to the left leg.

 

According
to investigation conducted by PCHR, at approximately 12:00, Amir Nassar
received a phone call from his brother Mohammed, 36, who was plowing their land
in Khelet al-Njasa area, south of Madma village in the south of Nablus, 500
meters away from their house. His brother told him that the Israeli settlers
from ” Yitzhar” settlement, which  is 1 kilometer away from the said area, caught
their brother Ma’moun, 39, who grazing the sheep in that area, and attacked
him.  Amir, his sisters and mother
hurried immediately to the area and told a number of Palestinian villagers
about that. When Amir reached the area, he saw a settler sitting on Ma’moun’s
abdomen. The settler was hitting Ma’moun with a gun butt while three soldiers
were watching. Amir held a stone and threw it at the settler.  The soldiers hurried towards Amir and hit him
with the gun butts on his head, right arm and shoulder to drive him away. The
Palestinian villagers started to gather and in response a large number of
settlers and soldiers arrived. Amir, his sisters and mother were screaming and
trying to take Ma’moun back from the Israeli soldiers and settlers, but could
not. Amir quarreled with the soldiers. A soldier talked to the officer in charge
in Hebrew and then fired at Amir from a range of 20 meters. Amir was directly
wounded in the right leg. Some persons carried him and ran to a civilian
vehicle from the neighboring Asira village. On their way, they found an
ambulance that transported the wounded person to Rafidiya Governmental Hospital
in Nablus. Soon after, violent clashes erupted in the village. As a result,
Hani Nasser Ziyada, 24, was hit a sound bomb that caused him burns in the left
leg. Moreover, Amir’s brother, Mohammed Amin Nassar, 36, sustained bruises in the
head and his brother Ma’moun, 39, was arrested in spite of his injury and
transported to an unknown destination.  

 

At
approximately 12:30, the Israeli Forces moved into Jaba’ village, south of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and then positioned in the vicinity of a
house belonging to Rami Ahmed Zaid Fashafsha. A number of boys gathered and
started throwing stones at the Israeli soldiers. In response, the Israeli
forces fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the boys. They withdrew
later and no more incidents were reported.

 

At
approximately 15:30, the Israeli Forces moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilia. They patrolled in the streets and arrested Hamid Salim Hamid Badwan,
33, a member of the National Security Service. Eyewitnesses said that the
Israeli Forces moved into the village when Badwan was going to a supermarket on
the main street. Badwan left the supermarket with his brother by their vehicle
through a dirt road. The Israeli soldiers surrounded the village and then
chased Badwan while he was heading to Ezbet alTabeeb village. He noticed that
he was being chased by the Israeli soldiers, so he jumped out of the vehicle
driven by his brother and hurried to an area near Ezbet al-Tabbeb village. The
Israeli soldiers surrounded him and an Israeli undercover unit arrested him
after chasing him between olive trees. Badwan was transported to an unknown
destination. It should be noted that he had been summoned by the Israeli
Intelligence Service and was told in the meeting that he could go home.

 

At
the same time, the Israeli Forces positioned along the border fence, east of
al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, arrested 4 Palestinian
children while they attempted to cross the borders between Israel and the Gaza
Strip:

 

1. Yusef
Ali Ibrahim al-Nabahin, 17;

2. Feras
Khalil Ibrahim Weshah, 17;

3. A’ed
Nasser Abdullah Abu Zaid, 15; and

4. Sa’eb
Tahseen Hassan Faraj, 17.

 

They
are all from al-Bureij refugee camp.

 

At approximately 16:30, the Israeli Forces moved into Far’oun
village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli Forces moved into Tulkarm. They
patrolled in the streets in Ezbet al-Tayyah area, where some boys gathered and
threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers. The Israeli soldiers in
response fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the boys. As a result,
some of them suffered from tear gas inhalation. The Israeli Forces withdrew,
but neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday,
18 December 2012

 

At
approximately 02:00, the Israeli Forces moved into Halhoul town, north of
Hebron. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a house belonging
to Ala’ ‘Aref Hussein Abu ‘Asba, 23, and arrested him.

 

At the same
time, the Israeli Forces moved into Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron,
they raided and searched a house belonging to Hassan Salman ‘Atawnah, 24, and
arrested him.

 

At the same
time, the Israeli Forces moved into Wadi al-Heriya, the university neighborhood
and Abu Qteila area in the center of Hebron. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to
Ayman al-Hashlamoun, 25, and arrested him. 

 

At
approximately 02:15, the Israeli Forces moved into Salfit. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 4 civilians:

 

1. Mos’ab
Hassan Balasma, 23;

2. Haytham
Shawkat Khafash, 27;

3. Ma’rouf
Mahmoud al-Remal, 25; and

4. Mohammed
Fat’h Allah Dahdoul, 20.

 

They
were transported to an unknown destination. The Israeli Forces attacked Othman
Hassan Othman Balasma, 16, and then withdrew at 05:20.

 

In
his testimony to PCHR’s fieldworker, Mo’athe Hassan Balasma, 21, said:

 

“At approximately 02:30 on Tuesday, 18
December 2012, while we were sleeping, we were surprised that the Israeli
soldiers were at home. They opened the door with a tool, but we did not hear
them. They immediately took us outdoor in the cold weather and did not allow us
to get dressed well. They were pushing us out in a savage way. Even my mother
was pushed out. We were all subjected to Shabah and obliged to raise our hands
up and turn our faces against the wall. It was too cold. My brother Othman, 16,
a school student, told them that his leg was hurting him and could not lift it
up. As a result, the Israeli soldiers cursed him in Hebrew. They also beat him
by gun butts on his side. An hour and a half later, the Israeli Forces arrested
my brother Mos’ab, 23, and transported him to an unknown destination. We
transported my brother Othman in the morning to the health center to receive the
necessary medical treatment, where he was examined. It was found that he
sustained bruises in the side.”   

 

At
approximately 03:30, the Israeli Forces moved into al-Koum, southwest of Hebron.
They raided a house belonging to Mo’athe Awad al-Rjoub, 22, and submitted a
notice to him refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service (Shabak).  The Israeli Forces withdrew and no arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00, the Israeli Forces moved 100 meters into Khuza’a village
from Abu Rida gate in the east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. They
started leveling lands along the border fence amidst sporadic fire reaching
al-Faraheen area in Abassan. At approximately 11:00, the Israeli Forces moved
back to the border.

 

At
approximately 18:00, medical sources in the Arab National Bank Hospital in
Cairo – Egypt pronounced Salem Ahmed Salem Bin Sa’id, 19, from al-Mussaddar
village in the central Gaza Strip, dead because of wounds he sustained on 17
November 2012 during the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip. The
aforementioned person was wounded when an Israeli warplane targeted a group of
persons in a small room on a piece of land near his father’s house. His father,
Ahmed Salem Salama Bin Sa’id and another person, Hani Abdul Majid Salem
Brei’im, 31, were killed and 6 others sustained wounds; 2 of whom sustained
serious wounds, including the abovementioned person who was pronounced dead. It
should be noted that Salem was a civilian.

 

 Wednesday, 19 December 2012

 

At approximately 01:30, the Israeli Forces moved into Beit Ummar
village, north of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched
a number of houses. They raided a house belonging to the family of Safi
Mohammed Ali al-Salibi, 34, an officer in the Palestinian police. The Israeli
Forces also raided a house belonging to the family of Isa Mohammed Isa Awad,
24, and searched it. They arrested Awad, who was released in the latest
prisoners’ swap deal. Moreover, they raided a house belonging to Wasim Jamal
Abdul Majid Wahadin, 19, and arrested him. The Israeli Forces withdrew
transporting the two arrested persons to an unknown destination.

 

In his testimony to PCHR’s fieldworker, Mohammed Awad, a member of
the Popular Committee against Settlement Activities, said that the Israeli
Forces moved into the village and raided and searched a number of houses. They
violently raided the house of Safi al-Salibi and broke the house gate although
al-Salibi’s wife threw the keys to the Israeli soldiers from the window to
avoid breaking the gate.  In addition,
the Israeli Forces questioned the wife at home. 
Children were terrorized due to violence practiced by the Israeli
soldiers at the said home.   

 

At approximately 04:00, the Israeli Forces moved into Bethlehem.  They patrolled in the streets and headed to
al-Mawaleh Mountain area in the center of the city. They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Mosa Awwad Awwad, 20, and arrested him.

 

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

 

During
the reporting period, Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations
organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights
defenders in protest at the construction of the wall and settlement activities
in the West Bank.  As a result, 4
Palestinian civilians, a 16 year-old boy sustained a gunshot to the right hand
and an 18 year-old boy sustained a gunshot to his back in Bil’ein village; and Hamza
Ahmed Abu-Hashem, 14, sustained bruises after being pushed by an Israeli
soldier off a high wall; and Ahmed Abu-Hashem, 46 in Beit Ummar. A number of
demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained
bruises.

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 14 December 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, titled: “Against the
Israeli willful killing policy; and Israeli leaders’ orders to fire live
bullets at demonstrators.” Administrative Detention and In Solidarity with
Prisoners on Hunger Strike.”  The
demonstrators gathered in the streets of the village, chanting slogans calling
for national unity.  The protesters aimed
to stress the need to adhere to national principles and the right of return, to
resist the occupation and to call for the release of all Palestinian prisoners.  The protesters raised Palestinian flags and
made their way towards the wall.  They
called through megaphones for Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to
leave Palestinian land.  Israeli soldiers
stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear
gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a
result, two civilians sustained gunshot wounds, a 16-year-old boy sustained a
gunshot to the right hand and an 18-year-old boy sustained a gunshot to his
back.  Also dozens of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 14 December 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 at 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, some demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.   

 

Around the same time on Friday, 14 December 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders
gathered in the Martyrs Square in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to
hold a weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall
and settlement activities, titled: “Commemoration of Our Martyrs and the
Commencement of Popular Resistance in Nabi Saleh.”  The protesters walked towards the gate
erected by Israeli forces near the entrance of the village, which leads to
Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halmish”
settlement are trying to seize.  Israeli
soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at the protesters.   As a
result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others
sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
the center of al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in protest at the ongoing
construction of the annexation wall, titled: “In Solidarity with the
Prisoners on Hunger Strike.”  As the
protestors moved towards the gate of the village, the Israeli forces closed it
to prevent the demonstration from gaining access to the confiscated land and
attacked the participants; as a result, Mahmoud Zawahra (25), coordinator of
the Popular Resistance against the Wall and the Settlement Activity, sustained
bruises.

 

At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 15 December 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians, farmers and international activists gathered in Sho’ab
al-Batama area, east of Yatta, in protest to the Israeli forces’ policy of
confiscating farmlands, denying civilians’ access to their lands and the destruction
policy. The Israeli soldiers raided the area, and declared it a closed military
zone to keep the demonstrators away.

 

At approximately 11:00 Saturday, 15 December 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders,
gathered in the Center of Bait Ummar village, north of Hebron, for the weekly
peaceful demonstration organized against the settlement expansion policy, the
wall and the arrest of children. The demonstrators headed towards Thaher Jalis
area near “Kermi Tsour” settlement north of the village. A group of
Israeli soldiers surrounded the demonstrators and started a hand fight with
them, bruising a number of them. They were identified as: Hamza Ahmed
Abu-Hashem, 14, who sustained bruises after being pushed by an Israeli
soldier off a high wall; and Ahmed Abu-Hashem, 46.

 

3. Continued
Closure of the oPt

 

Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure on the oPt,
imposing 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. 

 

The IOF
have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip, making Karm Abu Salem crossing the
sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for
commercial purposes, in terms of its distance and operational capacity. 

 

The 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 terrible situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip.  Following this closure, all 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 to close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of
decisions resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the
Gaza Strip in the beginning of 2009, and the 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. 

 

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

 

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

 

The IOF
have continued to impose a total ban on the export of products from Gaza,
especially industrial products, undermining any real chance of reopening economic
establishments.  The situation has been
aggravated since the Karm Abu Salem crossing was designated as Gaza’s sole
commercial crossing; the repeated closure of this crossing negatively affects
the quantity of Gaza products which are allowed to be exported.  

 

For approximately 6 consecutive years, the IOF have continued to
ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza.  During the reporting period, the IOF approved
the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of
international organizations.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movement at
Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

12
to 18 December 2012

 

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

11
to 17 December 2012

Imports:

 

 

Exports:

 

On Tuesday, 11 December 2012, Israeli forces allowed the
exportation of 47 truckloads of plastic and a truckload of oxygen cylinders.

On Wednesday, 12 December 2012, Israeli forces allowed the
exportation of 7.3 tons of strawberry and 5 truckloads of plastic. They also
allowed the exportation of 300 kilograms of garlic leaves and 200 kilograms of
basil.

On Thursday, 13 December 2012, Israeli forces allowed the
exportation of 7.9 tons of strawberry, a truckload of 100,000 carnation flowers
and 3 truckloads of plastic.

On Sunday, 16 December 2012, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 10.5 tons of cherry tomato, 1 truckload carrying 470 kilograms of garlic
leaves and 120 kilograms of basil. They also allowed the exportation of 3
truckloads of plastic, 140,000 carnation flowers and 13 tons of strawberry.

On Monday, 17 December 2012, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 4 truckloads of plastic and 6.8 tons of strawberry.

 

Other Imports:

 

On Tuesday, 11 December 2012, Israeli forces allowed the entry of
80 tons of cement, 186 tons of construction steel and 2,380 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA; 1,680 tons of construction aggregate for the
Palestinian Water Authority; and 1,400 tons of construction aggregate and 40
tons of construction steel for the German Development Bank (GDB); 980 tons of
construction aggregate and 40 tons of cement for UNDP. They also allowed the
entry of 546 tons of fodders and 546 tons of wheat.

 

On Wednesday, 12 December 2012, the Israeli forces allowed the
entry of 80 tons of cement, 34 tons of construction steel and 3,430 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA; 2,940 tons of construction aggregate and 18
tons of construction steel for the Palestinian Water Authority; and 1,540 tons
of construction aggregate and 60 tons cement for GDB. They also allowed the
entry of 390 tons of fodders and 507 tons of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 13 December 2012, the Israeli forces allowed the entry
of 80 tons of cement, 100 tons of construction steel, 3,710 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA; 1,400 tons of construction aggregate for the
Palestinian Water Authority; and 2,170 tons of construction aggregate and 77
tons of construction steel for GDB. They also allowed the entry of 546 tons of
fodders and 360 tons of wheat.

 

On Sunday, 16 December 2012, the Israeli forces allowed the entry
of 280 tons of cement, 70 tons of construction steel, 6,720 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA; and 1,470 tons of construction aggregate for
the Palestinian Water Authority.  They
also allowed the entry of 507 tons of fodders and 468 tons of wheat.

 

On Monday, 17 December 2012, Israeli forces allowed the entry of
160 tons of cement, 70 tons of construction steel and 5,320 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA; 2,520 tons of construction aggregates for the
Palestinian Water Authority.  They also
allowed the entry of 702 tons of fodders and 468 tons of wheat.

 

 

Movement
at the Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

12 –
18 December 2012

 

 

Note: The Israeli forces allowed 55 relatives of prisoners to visit 34
prisoners in Israeli jails.

 

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

 

Qalqilya:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 13 December 2012, Israeli forces
established 5 checkpoints throughout the city. 
The first checkpoint was established at approximately 11:40 by the
entrance of Jinasafout village; the second was established at approximately
14:00 by the entrance of Kuffor Kadoum village; and the third checkpoint was
established at approximately 17:00 at the intersection of Amatyn village; the
checkpoint was re-established at approximately 19:30 on the same day. All
mentioned checkpoints were established on the Nablus – Qalqilya road, and they
were removed later. No arrests were reported. at approximately 19:20, Israeli
forces established another checkpoint between Jaious and Kuffor Jamal villages,
northeast of Qalqilya. At approximately 18:30 on Saturday, 15 December 2012,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint between ‘Azzoun and Izzbat al-Tabib
villages, east of the city. The same checkpoint was re-established on Sunday,
16 December 2012, at approximately 18:00.  On Monday, 17 December 2012, Israeli forces
established 3 checkpoints throughout Qalqilya. The first checkpoint was
established at approximately 14:30 between ‘Azzoun and Izzbat al-Tabib
villages; the second one was established at approximately 14:35 at the northern
entrance of ‘Azzoun village; while the third checkpoint was established at
approximately 15:20 at the northern entrance of Qalqilya.  These checkpoints were established on Nablus
– Qalqilya road. All checkpoints were removed later; no arrests were reported.

 

Jenin:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 21:00 on Friday, 14 December
2012, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Abu-Da’if
village, southeast of Jenin. The checkpoint was removed later; no arrests were
reported.  At approximately 08:00 on
Sunday, 16 December 2012, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Faqou’a village, northeast of Jenin. At approximately 10:30 on
Monday, 17 December, Israeli forces established a checkpoint by the entrance of
Kaffrit village, southwest of the city. At 14:00, another checkpoint was
established at the southern entrance of Jenin, on Jenin – Tulkarm road. All
checkpoints were removed later; no arrests were reported.

 

Tulkarm:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 19:00 on Thursday, 13
December 2012, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the western street
(Natania), which leads to the Israeli industrial area, established on
Palestinian lands, west of Tulkarm. It should be mentioned that the checkpoint
was established in Section (A) which falls under Palestinian jurisdiction
according to the Oslo Accords.  At
approximately 21:00 on Friday, 14 December 2012, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint in the location checkpoint that used to stand on Tulkarm-Qalqilya
road, near the entrance of Jabbara village. The village is isolated from its
surroundings due to the construction of the annexation wall, south of Tulkarm. At
approximately 16:30 on Monday, 17 December 2012, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint on Tulkarm – Nablus road, near the intersection Beit Leid village.
All checkpoints were removed later; no arrests were reported.

 

Hebron:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 14 December
2012, Israeli foreces established a checkpoint at Abu Reisha Valley, west of
Ethna village, west of Hebron.  At
approximately 18:00, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of the
central market of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, which leads to the western
villages of the city.  At approximately
18:00 on Tuesday, 18 December 2012, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at
the entrance of al-Jalajel village, northeast of Hebron.  At approximately 06:30 on Wednesday, 19
December 2012, Israeli forces established a checkpoint by the entrance of
al-Fawwar Refugee Camp, south of Hebron. At approximately 07:00, a similar
checkpoint was established by the eastern entrance of Sa’ir village. All
checkpoints were later removed; no arrests were reported.

 

Salfit:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:50 on Thursday, 13 December 2012,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kuffor al-Deik
village, west of Salfit. And at approximately 21:00, anther checkpoint was
established by the entrance of Deir Balout village, west of the town. At
approximately 16:35 on Friday, 14 December 2012, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint between Bourqin and Kuffor al-Deik villages, west of Salfit.  All checkpoints were later removed; no
arrests were reported.

 

Bethlehem:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 16:10 on Saturday, 15 December 2012,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint by the entrance of Beit Fajjar village,
south of Bethlehem. The same checkpoint was established at approximately 18:00
on Tuesday, 18 December 2012.

 

 

Detention at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 18:30 on Thursday, 13 December 2012, Israeli
forces, stationed at the northern entrance of Bethlehem, near Bilal Bin Rabah
Mosque (Rachel’s Tomb), arrested two children; Mo’tasem Hisham al-Ameer, 15,
from al-‘Izza Refugee Camp, north of Bethlehem; and Helmi Basem al-Qaisey, 16,
from ‘Ayda Refugee Camp, north of the town too. The forces transported the
children to an unknown destination and proclaimed they threw rocks at the
soldiers.

 

At approximately 11:10 on Friday, 14 December 2012, Israeli forces,
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kuffor Qadoum village, northeast of
Qalqilya, arrested two children; Mohammed Khaled Amine Basalat, 17; and ‘Awwad
Hamed Nofal, 17, both from Hajja village. They were both transported to an
unknown destination.

 

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

 

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

 

At early
morning hours on Friday, 14 December 2012, a group of settlers coming from
“Betar Illit” settlement, established on lands of al-‘Arqoub villages
(Housan; al-Khader; Fouqin Valley and Nahalin) and from ” Navi
Daniel” settlement, established on the lands of al-Khader village, south
of Bethlehem, uprooted 200 olive trees, between 2 and 4 years old, in Shu’ab
al-‘Ejl area, southwest of al-Khader village, located between “Ein
Kesis” settlement outpost and “Beitar Elite” settlement,
belonging to Ahmed Hussain Salah (70), from al-Khader village.

 

In
his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Ahmed Salah, coordinator of the Popular
Movement against Settlement Activity, that the trees were cut using an electric
chainsaw and they were piled on the ground. He added that the settlers have
escalated their attacks against the civilians, especially the uprooting of the
olive trees, after Nadia Mattar, a leader among the settlers, posted invites on
her Facebook page, urging the settlers to cut the olive trees in al-Khader
village. Famer Ahmed Hussain Salah also stated that the last time he was at his
farm was a week ago, and that he was surprised to see the olive trees cut when
he went there on Friday.

 

At
approximately 09:00 on Friday, 14 December 2012, Israeli forces, accompanied
with a number of military vehicles and officers of the Israeli Planning and
Construction Department, raided Ma’in area, near al-Karmel village, east of
Yatta, south of Hebron. Mahmoud Ibrahim Shahada Makhamra, 63, was submitted a
destruction notice of his two-storey house of 170 square meters, which is
occupied by a 10-member family.

 

At
approximately 08:00 on Monday, 17 December 2012, a group of settlers from
“Beit Hagai” settlement, established on Palestinian civilians’ lands
in Hebron, attacked the Palestinian lands in al-Reyhya village, south of
Hebron, in an attempt to confiscate it and cut the trees. The farmers stood to
the settlers’ attack; then an Israeli forces unit raided the area, forced the
Palestinian civilians to leave and declared the area a closed military zone.
Before withdrawing, the Israeli forces arrested Ibrahim Abdallah al-Toubasi,
60, and transported him to an unknown destination.

 

Also
on Monday, at approximately 09:00, the Israeli forces denied Palestinian
farmers, from Haribat al-Nabi village, south of Yatta, access to their lands,
under pretext that it is under Israeli jurisdiction; therefore, they need to
obtain permits from the concerned Israeli authorities. According to Nasser
Humaid’s testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, for years now, the settlers have
released their cattle in the 100 dunums land after planting it, in order to
destroy the crops. For a whole year, the farmers did not attempt to plant the
area. However, following that year, they went to plow it and then an Israeli
police patrol arrived and stayed for a few minutes before leaving. Less than an
hour later, Israeli forces raided the area and ordered the farmers to leave
immediately. The farmers were told that they needed to review the Israeli court
before entering this land, under pretext that it falls under section (C);
therefore, under Israeli full control. Hummaid also pointed out that the
Israeli forces are trying to cease control over the 100 dunums land in order to
expand “Susyia” settlement, as has happened with farmlands located by
the settlement’s security fence.

 

At
approximately 10:40 on Monday, “Emmanuel” settlement’s security
service arrested Mahmoud Faried Mohammed Basheir, 34, while he was herding his
sheep in his land, known as al-Hariega. He was detained for an hour, with his
hands tied with a plastic bond, under pretext that he neared the settlement’s
security fence.

 

At
approximately 17:00 on Monday, a group of settlers from “Kiryat Arba”
settlement, established on Palestinian lands, southeast of Hebron, attacked
civilian lands in Jales area, south of the city, tried to cut and uproot olive
trees in the area near the settlement’s security fence.

 

At
approximately 07:30 on Tuesday, 18 December 2012, Israeli forces, accompanied
with officers from the Israeli Civilian Administration, raided Tarrousa
village, west of Doura, southwest of Hebron, and submitted three civilians
destruction notices for 4 houses, under pretext that it is in section (C);
therefore, under Israeli full control. The houses belong to:

 

1. Ali
Mahmoud Moussa Masalma, a two-storey house of 180 square meters, occupied by 17
persons.

2. Hussain
Moussa al-Haroub (54), a one-storey house of 150 square meters, still under
construction.

3. Salama
Hassan Abu-Zanid al-Sharha, two houses of 180 square meters, two-storey each.

 

 

 

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).