The Israeli
bulldozers demolished several
houses in the village of ِAl-Dakika within the governorate of Hebron.

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

 

 

· IOF killed a
Palestinian civilian and wounded 4 others in the Gaza Strip.

 

· A Palestinian
civilian was wounded by IOF near Nablus.

 

· IOF killed two
Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  

– Two Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

 

· IOF continued
to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the
Gaza Strip.

– IOF arrested 4 Palestinian fishermen,
including two children.

 

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

– 3 Palestinian
civilians, including a child, and an Israeli human rights defender and a Dutch
one were wounded.

 

· IOF conducted 54
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into
the Gaza Strip.  

– IOF arrested 27
Palestinian civilians, including 6 children.

 

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

– Israeli
soldiers positioned at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested two
Palestinian civilians.

 

· Israel has
continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in
Jerusalem.

– The
construction of 32 housing units in “Pisgat Ze’ev” settlement in
Jerusalem was approved.

 

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

– IOF ordered the demolition of more Palestinian
houses. 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (13 – 19 January 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF killed
a Palestinian civilians and wounded 6 others, including a child, and an Israeli
human rights defender and a Dutch one in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 

 

On 18 January 2011, IOF fired y
artillery shells at the northern Gaza Strip, killing a Palestinian civilian and
wounding two workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials. Another two workers were also wounded by
Israeli gunfire in two separate incidents on 16 and 19 January 2011. 

 

In the West Bank, on 13 January
2011, an old Palestinian civilian was wounded in Qasra village, south of
Nablus, when IOF intervened to protect Israeli settlers who attacked a
Palestinian farmer,

 

During the reporting period, IOF
used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest
to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation
wall. As a result, 3 Palestinian
civilians, including a child, and an Israeli human rights defender and a Dutch
one were wounded, and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human
rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation or sustained bruises. 

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 54 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 27 Palestinian
civilians, including 6 children.

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion, during which they leveled
areas of Palestinian land, which they had already razed.

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

· IOF have
imposed a ban on all exports from the Gaza Strip. 

 

· Israel had
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing
to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social
visits.

 

· Israel has
imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists
and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented
representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from
entering the Gaza Strip.

 

· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated;
levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

 

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
at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

· There are
approximately 500
kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In
addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East
Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF.
These 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.

 

Measures Aimed
at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem: 

 

IOF have continued to take measures
at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem.

 

On 17 January
2011, the local committee of organization and construction in the Israeli
municipality of Jerusalem approved the construction of 32 housing units in
“Pisgat Ze’ev” settlement neighborhood in Jerusalem. The Israeli official radio reported that
those units are part of a wider plan presented by private contractors to build
220 housing units. 

 

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 13 January
2011, a number of Israeli settlers, who re-established their presence in a
settlement outpost that had been evacuated by IOF on the previous day attacked
Fat’hi Fayez Hassan, who was farming his land in Baslata area to the south of
Qasra village, southeast of Nablus. Soon
after, Palestinian civilians called on residents of the village to stop the
settlers who were on their way to attack the village. Dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered and
moved towards the affected area. Immediately, IOF arrived at the area to protect the settlers. They fired rubber-coated metal bullets and
tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians and beat a number of them. As a result, an old man was seriously hit by
a tear gas canister to the right thigh. Another
two civilians were also injured.

 

On 17 January
2011, IOF moved into Nazlat ‘Eissa village, north of Tulkarm. They hande 7 notices ordering the demolition
or stopping the construction of a number of houses, a carpentry shop and a
barrack.

 

On 19 January
2011, IOF handed 5 notices to Palestinian civilians in Sousia area to the east
of Yatta village, south of Hebron, ordering the dismantlement of tents they
live in.

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (13 – 19 January 2011)

 

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

 

Thursday, 13 January 2011

 

· At
approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of ‘Abdul Qader Bilal al-Tabbal, 17, and arrested him.

 

· At
approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Beit Qad village, northeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and summoned a number of Palestinian civilians for interrogation. 

 

· At
approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm, and
patrolled in the streets. A number of
Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. IOF arrested Karam Ra’ed al-Naqouri, 16, but
released him 3 hours later.

 

· At approximately
13:20, IOF moved into Habla village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· Also at
approximately 13:20, IOF moved into Ras Teera village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· Also at
approximately 13:20, IOF moved into Magharat al-Dab’a village, south of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· Also at
approximately 13:20, IOF moved into Jal’oud village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· Also at
approximately 13:20, IOF moved into ‘Izbat Salman village, south of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 13:40, IOF moved into Ras ‘Atiya village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 18:20, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 18:30, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 19:30, IOF moved into al-Himya area between Kufor Ra’ei and Fahma
villages, southwest of Jenin. They searched
the area and for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Friday,
14 January 2011

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested Rami Sameeh Saleem, 15.

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and arrested
‘Omar Mahmoud Abu Zaytoun, 16. They also
raided an internet café. They held and
photographed all those who were in the café. IOF withdrew later.

 

· At
approximately 13:10, IOF moved into Jeet village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 14:30, IOF moved into al-Hashimiya village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately
14:30, IOF moved into Kfairet village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· Also at
approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Kufor Qoud village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 16:00, IOF moved into the areas located between ‘Azzoun and
‘Izbat al-Tabib villages, east of Qalqilya. They searched the area for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 16:25, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Our al-Tahta village, west of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Wadi al-Qadhi area in Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Mohammed Majed Abu Ermaila, 28, and arrested him.

 

Saturday,15 January 2011

 

· At
approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Sha’aba area in the northeast of
Hebron. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Mahmoud al-Ja’bari, 34, and arrested him.

 

· At
approximately 11:20, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Kufor Laqef village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 12:50, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and detained
14-year-old Hamza Saleem Radwan for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 16 January 2011

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Marda village, north of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Nader ‘Ammar Abu Baker, 24, and summoned him for interrogation.

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses
in the east of the village and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Ra’fat
   Yousef Shalalda, 24;
2. Waheed
   Ma’rouf Shalalda, 28;
3. Taha
   Mohammed Shalalda, 24;
4. Fadi
   Jawdat Shalalda, 26;
5. Nassim
   Sa’di Shalalda, 27; and
6. Ussama
   ‘Abdul Mon’em Shalalda, 31.

 

· At approximately
07:00, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers at the border between
the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Lahia town fired at a number of
Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials from a
site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of “Elli Sinai” used to
stand. A worker, Adham Ramadan Subeh,
22, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 150 meters away
from the border.

 

· At
approximately 11:05, IOF moved into Jayous village, north of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and held Eyad Saleem Shamasna for two hours. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 18:10, IOF moved into al-‘Ouja village, northeast of
Jericho. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Turmos’iya village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At approximately
19:45, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 21:20, IOF moved into ‘Assala village, southeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Dura al-Qare’ village, northeast of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 17 January 2011

 

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into ‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp,
north of Jericho. They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Tariq Ziad al-Sheikh ‘Ali, 25, and
arrested him.

 

· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into Bedya village, west of
Salfit. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Bourqin village, west of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. No house
raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Habla village, south of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into al-Dab’a village, south of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 18:40, IOF moved into Hares village, northwest of
Salfit. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

 

· At
approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, southwest of
Hebron. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of As’ad ‘Abbas Shab’an, 27, and arrested him.

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bedya village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Adham Ibrahim Sarsour, 24, and arrested him.

 

· At
approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested two Palestinian children:

 

1. Mo’taz
   Khaled ‘Awadh, 17; and
2. Muhab
   Ibrahim Bahar, 17.

 

· At
approximately 08:00, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into the east of Jabalya town
in the northern Gaza Strip. They leveled
areas of Palestinian land, which they had already razed.

 

· At
approximately 10:15, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 10:15, IOF moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. No house
raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 14:00, IOF, which had moved into the east of Jabalya town in the
northern Gaza Strip since 08:00, fired 7 artillery shells at a number of
Palestinian workers, which were collecting scraps of construction materials in
the southeast of Beit Hanoun town, nearly 600 meters away from the border
between the Gaza Strip and Israel. As a
result, Amjad Sami Ahmed al-Za’anin, 18, who was in the area, was instantly
killed. Two workers were also wounded:

 

1. Sharaf Ra’fat
Shihada, 19, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and

2. Isma’il ‘Abdul
Qader al-Za’anin, 16, wounded by shrapnel to the abdomen and the feet.

 

A horse belonging to Sharaf Shihada was also killed, and another
one belonging to Samed al-Za’anin was injured.

 

· At
approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Hijja village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported. 

 

Wednesday, 19 January 2010

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Burqa village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 10 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Sanad
   Ragheb Salah, 28;
2. Mohammed
   Ragheb Salah, 25;
3. Maher
   Ussama Saif, 22;
4. Majed
   Ussama Saif, 20;
5. Mahmoud
   Khaled Far’ouniya, 22;
6. ‘Ali
   ‘Abdul Majid Daghlas, 21;
7. Qais
   ‘Abdul Jabbar Hijja, 21;
8. Maher
   Mohammed Hijja, 32;
9. Mohammed
   Tayseer Salah, 21; and
10. Lu’ai
    Mahmoud Saif, 20.

 

· At
approximately 14:00, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Martyrs Cemetery in the
northern Gaza Strip fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were
collecting scraps of construction materials. As a result, Ahmed Nemer al-‘Er, 22, from Jabalya town, was wounded by a
bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 300 meters away from the border.

 

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, 3 Palestinian
civilians, including a child, an Israeli human rights defender and a Dutch one were
wounded. Dozens of Palestinian civilians
and human rights defenders also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others
sustained bruises.     

   

· Following the
Friday Prayer on 14 January 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction
of the annexation wall.  Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators. As a result, a
Palestinian child, a Dutch human rights defenders and an Israeli one were
wounded:

 

1. ‘Odai Falah Abu
Rahma, 13, hit by a tear gas canister to the left leg;

2. Margret, 21, a
Dutch human rights defender, hit by a tear gas canister to the right foot; and

3. Noam, 36, an
Israeli human rights defender, hit by a tear gas canister to the right hand.

 

Additionally, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas
inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
 

 

· Also following
the Friday Prayer on 14 January 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the annexation
wall. They clashed with Israeli troops
positioned near the Wall. Israeli troops
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators. As a result, Ya’qoub
Mohammed ‘Amira, 20, was hit by a tear gas canister to the head. Additionally, a number of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 14 January 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah,
in commemoration of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, and in
protest against land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages
of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam. When the
demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near
“Halmish” settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a number of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation.  

 

· At approximately 12:30 on Saturday noon, 15 January 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and a number of international human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. They moved towards closed areas of
Palestinian land near “Karmi Tsur” settlement, south of the
town. Israeli soldiers attacked the
demonstrators and fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, Hassan Yousef ‘Alqam, 18, was
wounded by shrapnel from a sound bomb, and a number of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation. 

 

3. Continued
Closure of the OPT

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

· IOF have
imposed a ban on all exports from the Gaza Strip. 

 

· Israel had
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing
to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social
visits.

 

· Israel has
imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists
and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented
representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from
entering the Gaza Strip.

 

· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated;
levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

At
approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 01 June 2010, the Egyptian authorities decided
to open Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border in both
directions without specifying a date for its closure. The Egyptian decisions came following the
Israeli attack on the Gaza-aid flotilla in international water. On the following morning, the crossing point
was effectively opened and restricted categories of Palestinian civilians were
allowed to travel through it.

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

12 –
18 January 2011

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

 12 – 18 January 2011

 

 

Exports through Karm Abu Salem Crossing:

 

On Wednesday, 12 January 2011, IOF allowed the export of 41,500
flowers and 5.1 tons of strawberries. 

 

On Thursday, 13 January 2011, IOF allowed the export of 220,000
flowers and 9.5 tons of strawberries. 

 

On Sunday, 16 January 2011, IOF allowed the export of 240,000
flowers and 11 tons of strawberries.

 

On Monday, 17 January 2011, IOF allowed the export of 4 tons of
strawberries.

 

On Tuesday, 18 January 2011, IOF allowed the export of 200,000
flowers and 3.5 tons of strawberries. 

 

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: During the
reporting period, IOF partially opened the crossing on Wednesday, 12 January
2011, and allowed the entry of 9,030 tons of construction aggregate for Mas’oud
‘Ali Company. 

 

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

12 –
18 January 2011

 

 

The West Bank

 

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

 

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

 

· Ramallah: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian
civilians in Ramallah. IOF troops
positioned at the Jaba’ and Qalandiya checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have
imposed additional restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged checks of
Palestinian civilians. During the
reporting period, IOF established a number of temporary checkpoints, and
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 21:00 on Thursday, 13
January 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Beit Liqya
village, west of Ramallah. They stopped
and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 14 January 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, west of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. At approximately 19:00
on Friday, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint at the
northern entrance of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. At approximately
19:20, IOF established a checkpoint on Kharbtha Bani Hareth – Ne’lin road, west
of Ramallah. They stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles.  At
approximately 16:00 on Monday, 17 January 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
under ‘Ein Yabroud Bridge, east of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

 

· Hebron: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. On Friday, 14 January 2011,
IOF established a checkpoint at al-Doura intersection, north of Hebron. They established another one at Yatta
intersection, south of Hebron. Israeli
soldiers positioned at the two checkpoints stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 16 January
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Hassaka intersection, northwest of
Hebron. They established another one on
the bridge liking Hebron with Halhoul. They also established a third one at al-Jalajel intersection, southeast
of Hebron. Israeli soldiers positioned
at these checkpoints stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

 

· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday, 15 January 2011, IOF established
4 checkpoints around Qalqilya. On
Sunday, 16 January 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around Qalqilya.  On
Monday, 17 January 2011, IOF established 6 checkpoints around Qalqilya. On Tuesday, 17 January 2011, IOF established
6 checkpoints around Qalqilya. Israeli
soldiers stationed at these checkpoints stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles.  

 

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 15
January 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablus
road, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At the same time,
IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qiffin village, north of
Tulkarm. They stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately
09:30 on Sunday, 16 January 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab
checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately
11:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint near Far’oun intersection,
south of Tulkarm. At approximately 19:00
on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint near Beit Leed intersection, east
of Tulkarm. Israeli soldiers positioned
at these checkpoint stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 18 January
2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road, south of Tulkarm.  At approximately 19:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir al-Ghossoun village, and another
one at the entrance of Baqa al-Sharqiya village, north of Tulkarm.   

 

· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday morning, 13 January 2011, IOF
positioned at a checkpoint at the entrance to Barat’a village, southwest of
Jenin, which has been isolated by the annexation wall, forced Palestinian women
to enter checking rooms to be checked by female Israeli soldiers. At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint near the entrance of Beer al-Basha village, south of
Jenin. They stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles. At
approximately 19:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at ‘Ejja
intersection, south of Jenin. They
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  

 

· Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have continued to close the northern
entrance of Salfit with cement blocks and sand barriers since 2000. They have also continued to close two roads
linking Marda village with agricultural land belonging to it.  At approximately 12:35 on Saturday, 15 January
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qarawat Bani Hassan
village, west of Salfit. They stopped
and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 16 January 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint at the western entrance of Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles.

 

· Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 13
January 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of ‘Ein al-Dyouk
village, north of Jericho. They stopped
and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.    

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

· At
approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 15 January 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned
at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah, arrested Samer Mofeed al-Khsaib, 26.

 

· At approximately
13:00 on Tuesday, 18 January 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab
checkpoint arrested Mohammed ‘Omar Jeetawi, 22.

 

4. Measures
Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem

 

Israel
has recently escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East
Jerusalem in order to force them to leave the city. PCHR has devoted this section in the Weekly
Report to highlighting violations of human rights perpetrated by IOF against
Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.

 

· On Monday, 17 January 2011, the local committee
of organization and construction in the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem
approved the construction of 32 housing units in “Pisgat Ze’ev”
settlement neighborhood in Jerusalem. The Israeli official radio reported that those units are part of a wider
plan presented by private contractors to build 220 housing units. Sources of the Israeli municipality of
Jerusalem claimed that no changes have been made to the construction policy for
40 years, and that the municipality has continued to encourage construction
works for both Jewish and Arab residents of the city in accordance with the
structural map of the city.

 

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

 

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

 

· At approximately 12:00 on Thursday, 13 January
2011, a number of Israeli settlers, who re-established their presence in a
settlement outpost that had been evacuated by IOF on the previous day attacked
Fat’hi Fayez Hassan, who was farming his land in Baslata area to the south of
Qasra village, southeast of Nablus. Soon
after, Palestinian civilians called on residents of the village to stop the
settlers who were on their way to attack the village. Dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered and
moved towards the affected area. Immediately, IOF arrived at the area to protect the settlers. They fired rubber-coated metal bullets and
tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians and beat a number of them. As a result, ‘Abdul Majid Tawfiq Hassan, 61,
was seriously hit by a tear gas canister to the right thigh. Tariq Hussein Abu Raida, 48, suffered from tear
gas inhalation and sustained a fracture to the right shoulder, and Fat’hi Fayez
Hassan, 66, was hit by a stone under the left eye.

 

· At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 17 January
2011, IOF moved into Nazlat ‘Eissa village, north of Tulkarm. They hande 7 notices ordering the demolition
or stopping the construction of a number of houses, a carpentry shop and a
barrack:

 

1. A
two-storey, under-construction house belonging to ‘Abdul Rahim Mohammed
Shawareb;

2. A
two-storey, under-construction house belonging to ‘Abdul Hakim Mohammed
Shawareb;

3. A
two-storey house belonging to Mohammed Ahmed ‘Alloush;

4. An
under-construction house belonging to Mahmoud ‘Izzat Hussein;

5. A
two-storey, under-construction house belonging to ‘Abdul Halim Mohammed
Shihada;

6. A
carpentry shop and a barrack belonging to Eyad ‘Abdul Latif As’ad.

7. A
house belonging to Fadel Mohammed ‘Alloush.

 

· On Wednesday morning, 19 January 2011, IOF
handed 5 notices to Palestinian civilians in Sousia area to the east of Yatta
village, south of Hebron, ordering the dismantlement of tents they live
in: ‘Eissa Hussein al-Jbour; Mohammed
Hussein al-Jbour; Mahmoud Ahmed al-Jbour; ‘Eissa Badawi al-Jbour; and ‘Omar
Badawi al-Jbour.

 

…………………………………………………………

 

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).