An Israeli soldier gets ready to fire a tear gas canister at
Palestinian houses in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah

 

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

 

· A Palestinian
civilian from the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah died of his wounds.

 

· A Palestinian
civilian was wounded by Israeli settlers in the south of Nablus.

 

· IOF bombarded a
training site of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, and a nearby school and to
residential houses were damaged.

 

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

–IOF
opened fire at Palestinian farmers and fishermen in the northern Gaza Strip,
but no casualties were reported.

 

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

– Three Palestinian
civilians, including a child, were wounded in Ramallah. 

– IOF arrested 3 protesters,
including two international human rights defenders.

 

· IOF conducted 40
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  

– IOF arrested 12
Palestinian civilians, including 5 children.

– IOF raided
houses belonging to activists in the peaceful resistance against settlements
and ill-treated their families.

 

· Israel has
continued to impose a total siege on the Gaza Strip and tightened its siege on
the West Bank.

– IOF have
totally closed off the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for Passover.

 

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

– IOF issued further notices to destroy civilian establishments and
evacuate farms.

– Israeli settlers have continued their attacks against Palestinian
civilians in the northern and southern West Bank.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (14 – 20 April 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

A Palestinian civilian from the Gaza
Strip died of wounds that he sustained last week and three Palestinian
civilians, including a child, were wounded in peaceful protests in the West
Bank.  In addition, a Palestinian was
wounded in a new attack launched by Israeli settlers in the south of Nablus.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 14 April 2011, medical sources at Gaza
European Hospital in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, announced that
Mahdi Jumaa Abu Athreh, 22, from al-Shouka village in the southeast of Rafah,
died of his wounds. According to PCHR’s
investigations, at approximately 08:00 on Friday, 08 April 2011, IOF fired two
artillery shells at the vicinity of Gaza International Airport. Four Palestinian civilians, including a
child, were wounded as a result. Medical
sources at Abu Yousif al-Najjar hospital described the wounds of two of them,
including Abu Athreh, to be serious.

 

In the West Bank, during the reporting period, IOF used
excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to
Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall in
the West Bank. As a result, 3
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in Bil’ein weekly
protest in the west of Ramallah.

 

Other shooting
and bombardment incidents: On 16 April 2011, an IOF warplane fired a
missile at Tunis training site which is used by members of the Izziddin al-Qassam
Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and which is adjacent to Tunis Primary
School in the east of al-Zaytoon neighborhood, east OF Gaza city.  The windows of the school crashed as a result.
 Another IOF plane fired a missile at
Badr Site which is also used by members of the Izziddin Addin al-Qassam
Brigades in the northwest of al-Shati refugee camp.  Windows of apartments in nearby apartment
buildings crashed as a result.  No
casualties were reported as a result of these bombardments that targeted the
mentioned sites which had been previously targeted.

 

Also on 16 April 2011, IOF gunboats
positioned off al-Waha resort in the west of Beit Lahia town in the northern
Gaza Strip, fired shells and opened intensive fire at Palestinian fishing
boats.  Palestinian fishermen escaped as
a result in fear of being wounded or arrested.

 

On 17 April 2011, IOF positioned in
observation towers along the border in the east of Beit Hanoun town in the northern
Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were on their farms in the
east of Beit Hanoun. Palestinian farmers
escaped in fear for their lives.

 

On 17 April 2011, a Palestinian
civilian was wounded in a peaceful protest organized by dozens of Palestinians
and families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails on the occasion of the
Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. This
Palestinian civilian was wounded when IOF opened fire at the participants in
the protest who gathered near Ofer prison, southwest of Ramallah, and walked towards
the prison’s gate.

 

In addition, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international human rights defenders participating in peaceful
protests in the West Bank suffered from tear gas inhalation and bruises as they
were beaten by IOF.

 

On 19 April 2011, approximately 20
Israeli settlers from “Givat Arousa” settlement outpost which as an
extension of “Bracha” settlement, south of Nablus attacked Palestinian houses in Khelet al-Aqareb area in
the east of Bourin village. A number of
Palestinian civilians confronted with the Israeli settlers. The Israeli settlers and the Palestinian
civilians stoned one another. One of the settlers moved forward and stopped
between 10 and 15 meters far from Brucelee Eid, 36, and fired two bullets at
Eid who was wounded in the right elbow and the pelvis.  

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 40 military incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 12 Palestinian
civilians, including 5 children and two women.

 

During
the reporting period, IOF have continued to attempt to prevent international
human rights defenders from participating in peaceful assemblies against
settlement activities and construction of the annexation wall. As part of these attempts, IOF arrested three
participants in peaceful protests, including two international human rights
defenders and a Palestinian civilian.

 

IOF
also raided a house belonging to Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, 43, Secretary of the
National Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar town, north
of Hebron.  IOF held Abu Hashem and his
nine-member family in one room. They
ill-treated two of his sons, one of whom is a child. Abu Hashem told the PCHR fieldworker that an
IOF officer explicitly asked him to stop protests organized by the National
Committee Against the Wall and Settlements especially in the vicinity of “Karmi
Tsur” settlement, south of Beit Ummar. Abu Hashem also reported that this raid is the twenty second one
conducted by IOF within fifty days and that these raids are aimed at forcing
him to stop his peaceful activities against the wall and settlements.

 

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. 

 

· On 05 April 2011, IOF totally closed Karm Abu
Salem commercial crossing for alleged security reasons. Accordingly, necessary needs required for
more than 1.5 million civilians were not allowed into Gaza. The crossing was reopened on 13 April 2011
and was closed again on 19 April 2011 for Passover.

According to PCHR documentation, during the
closure of Karm Abu Salem crossing, which is Gaza sole commercial crossing, the
signs of a real crisis have been witnessed in the health sector due to the
severe shortage in medicines and medical supplies.  According to the
Ministry of Health in Gaza, more than 150 types of medications have run out,
and another 44 types of medications are expected to run out within the next
three months.  The medications that have run out are important to treat
patients.  The shortage of these medications may lead to serious results
and deaths.  Expired medications include medicines necessary for patients
suffering from Thalassemia and patients suffering from hepatitis, psychiatric
medications and other important types.  In the same context, 135 types of
disposables and medical supplies have run out while 41 other types are about to
run out and are barely enough for three months.  The types that have run
out include supplies required for diagnostic cardiac catheterization and
therapeutic cardiac catheterization, supplies required for chemotherapy,
surgical suture and other supplies. 

 

In addition, the cooking gas crisis has been
renewed due to the continued closure of Karm Abu Salem crossing.  Gaza’s
29 cooking gas distribution stations have continued to be shut down and
thousands of cooking gas cylinders have been accumulated in cooking gas
distribution stations.  According to the General Petroleum Corporation,
since the beginning of the current month, only 210 tons of cooking gas (20 tons
per day in average, representing 6.6% of Gaza daily needs of cooking Gaza) have
been supplied to Gaza.  Gaza needs 300 tons of cooking gas daily.  The
Association of the Owners of Petroleum Products Companies stressed that the
delivery of cooking gas to Gaza has been banned for 11 days and that cooking
gas distribution stations ran out of cooking gas one month ago.  It should
be noted that the cooking gas crisis has been affecting Gaza civilians since last
November.  This crisis was created when the Israeli occupation authorities
totally closed, on 04 January 2010, Nahal Oz crossing, which used to be
dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza, and
shifted fuel and cooking gas supplies to Karm Abu Salem crossing which is not
technically equipped to receive Gaza’s needs of fuel.  Karm Abu Salem
crossing, with its maximum absorptive capacity, can receive only 200 tons of
cooking gas per day.  In view of the current closure, the delivery of the
limited quantities of cooking gas allowed into Gaza has been banned.

 

It should be noted that the Israeli occupation
authorities have worked over the past three years to make Karm Abu Salem
crossing, which is not appropriate for commercial purposes, as Gaza’s major and
sole crossing.  For this purpose, on 02 March 2011, the Israeli occupation
authorities totally closed al-Mentar (“Karni”) crossing which is the
major and largest commercial crossing in the Gaza Strip in terms of its
absorptive capacity to receive Gaza imports and exports.  In the beginning
of 2010, the Israeli occupation authorities closed Nahal Oz crossing, east of
Gaza city, which was dedicated for the supplies of fuel and cooking gas to
Gaza, and shifted fuel supplies to Karm Abu Salem crossing.  Three years
ago, these authorities totally closed Sofa crossing, southeast of Khan Younis,
and shifted humanitarian aid and food items which were delivered via Sofa
crossing to Karm Abu Salem crossing. 

 

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

· IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the
exportation of Gaza’s products, especially industrial products, leading to
undermining any real chances to rerun economic establishments.  Facts on the ground refute IOF’s allegation
that they daily allow the exportation of 10 truckloads of agricultural
products.

· Recently, IOF allowed the exportation of very
limited quantities of Gaza’s agricultural products, including flowers and
tomatoes, to European markers.

· For approximately four consecutive years, IOF
have continued to ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza. During
the reporting period, IOF approved the delivery of limited quantities of
construction materials for UNRWA, UNDP, ANERA and Coastal Municipalities Water
Utility.

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

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

·  For approximately 45 months, IOF have continued to deny approximately 710
Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails their visitation
rights without providing any justification to this measure, which violates the
rules of the International Humanitarian Law.

 

 

 

 

 

West
Bank

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

· When complete,
the illegal annexation wall will stretch for 724 kilometers
around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of
the wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the wall has been
constructed inside the West Bank itself, 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. Such
permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

 

· IOF continue to
harass and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the
construction of the Annexation Wall.

 

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

 

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. 

 

As a part of Israel’s ethnic
cleansing policy applied in the OPT, IOF delivered new notices to a number of
families in the south of Hebron to demolish agricultural establishments and to
valuate farms.

 

On 14 April 2011, IOF delivered a
military order to Yaser Salem Awawdeh from al-Bireh village in the southwest of
Hebron to demolish a shelter and a water well claiming that they were
constructed without obtaining a license. The shelter is established on an area of 200 m² and the
well’s capacity is 250 m³.  On
the same day, IOF delivered military orders requiring Palestinians to evacuate
at least 100 donums[1] of
agricultural lands in al-Rayha village, southern Hebron, caliming that they are
“lands belonging to the State to which people are not allowed to have
access.”

 

On 18 April, IOF forced many
Palestinian farmers from al-Rayha village, south of Hebron, to leave their
farms at gunpoint.

 

On 14 April, a number of Israeli
settlers from “Bracha” settlement which is established on parts of
Iraq Bourin village, southern Nablus, attacked farms and farmers in the east of
Iraq Bourin village.

 

On 18 April, settlers from a
settlement in the south of Yatta, southern Hebron, let their sheep, again, go
into farms belonging to Palestinians in Um al-Khous village in the south of
Yatta. IOF deployed on observation
points in the area did not intervene to stop settlers. Mohammed Yousif al-Nawajaa said that Israeli
settlers are intentional to let their sheep go into Palestinian farms
cultivated with winter crops. He said
that during the last couple of weeks, they attacked different areas in Yatta
including al-Msafer, Sousia, Janba, Mneizel, Bir al-Ad and al-Twamin. He
mentioned that by doing so, the settlers aim at destroy the crops in
preparation for seizing the attacked lands.

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (14 – 20 April 2011)

 

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

 

Thursday, 14 April 2011

 

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Bir al-Mahjar neighborhood
in the northwest of Hebron. They raided
and searched many houses and checked ID cards of locals. The raided houses include the houses of Salim
al-Shaarawi, Mohammed Jihad al-Oweidi, Azzam al-Oweidi and his brother Hatem,
and Suleiman Ateya Refa’i. IOF withdrew
at approximately 01:30 and no arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into al-Oja village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

· At approximately 09:25, IOF moved into Aroura village, north of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Ejoul village,north of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 10:00, medical sources at Gaza European Hospital
in Khan Younis, southern the Gaza Strip, announced that Mahdi Jumaa Abu Athreh,
22, from al-Shokeh village in the southeast of Rafah, died of his wounds. According to PCHR investigations, at
approximately 08:00 on Friday, 08 April 2011, IOF fired two artillery shells at
the vicinity of Gaza International Airport. Four Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded as a
result. Medical sources at Abu Yousif
al-Najjar hospital described the wounds of two of them, including Abu Athreh,
to be serious.

 

· At approximately 18:50, IOF moved into Kafr Qdoum village,
northeast of Qalqilia. They patrolled in
the streets. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into the south of Nabi Elias
village, east of Qalqilya. They
patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later
and no arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghsoun village,
north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Ematin village, northeast of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 23:40, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

 

Friday,
15 April 2011

 

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Orta village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched many houses. Before withdrawing at approximately 03:00,
they arrested Mohammed Hassan Awwad, 33.

 

· At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into Khrebtha al-Musbah village,
west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into Beit Or al-Tahta village,
west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

 

Saturday, 16 April 2011

 

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Dora city, south of Hebron. They raided and searched the house of Ibrahim
Mohammed Yousif al-Awawdeh, 27. They
arrested al-Awawdeh and took him to “Kfar Etzion” detention center in
the southwest of Bethlehem.

 

· At approximately 00:10, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
and raided and searched many houses. Before
withdrawing, they arrested Ahmed Salim Derar Radwan, 16, and Mahmoud Khaled
Sabri Badwan, 16.

 

· At approximately 01:10, an IOF warplane fired a missile at Tunis training
site which is used by members of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed
wing of Hamas, and which is adjacent to Tunis Primary School in the east of
al-Zaytoon neighborhood in the east of Gaza city. The windows of the school crashed as a
result. 

 

· Also at approximately 01:10, an IOF warplane fired a missile at Badr site which is used by members of
the Izzidin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in the northwest of
al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza city. Windows in apartments in nearby apartment buildings crashed as a
result. No casualties were reported as a
result of the bombardments that targeted Tunis training Site and Badr site
which were previously targeted.

 

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, west of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
and raided and searched the house of Khader Mahmoud Hamed Salim. Before withdrawing, they arrested Abdullah
Salim, 17, who is Salim’s son.

 

Khader Mahmoud told the PCHR fieldworker that:

 

“At approximately 02:00 on Saturday, 16 April 2011, we were
sleeping when the army of the Israeli occupation arrived at the area and
entered my son’s apartment on the first floor. When his wife felt that someone was in the house, she opened her eyes
and say the soldiers surrounding the bed. She cried loudly. My son asked
the soldier ‘what are you doing here? Who did you enter the house?’ The soldier
replied ‘it is my business how I entered here.’ My son said ‘you are not
allowed to enter here’. The army then led him to the upper floor and he knocked
on the door. I opened the door and I awoke
my family. The army entered and pointed
their guns at my little children who are six, four and two years old. The children were very panicked. They we went down at gunpoint and we were
held in one room. Some of the soldiers
remained in the upper floor. They then
led me to my apartment in the upper floor. I found the shirt which I was wearing on the earth I searched it and
found out that a sum of 270 NIS which was in my shirt was stolen. When I asked them about the money they said
that nothing was in the shirt. They
destroyed the doors of the closets and they also destroyed the beds. They destroyed the salon and made it a
mess. They took my son and when I asked
them ‘why are you taking him?’, they replied ‘if he is not convicted of
anything, we will return him to you’. They arrested my son and left the house
at approximately 04:00.”

 

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north
of Hebron. They raided the house of Ahmed
Khalil Abu Hashem, 43, Secretary of the National Committee Against the Wall and
Settlements in Beit Ummar town. IOF held
Abu Hashem and his nine-member family in one room. They ill-treated two of his sons.

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, after holding Abu
Hashem family in one room, IOF handcuffed and blindfolded Abu Hashem’s son;
Yousif, 18. They held Yousif alone for 50 minutes in the salon and they bet him
several times. In addition, IOF forced
Abu Hashem’s son; Mohammed, 15, to leave the house and stay outside. They handcuffed and blindfolded him and
forced him to sit on his knees on a pile of stones. They forced him to stay
outside for 35 minutes and bet him.

 

· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Meslieh village, south of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and
withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately 10:30, IOF moved into al-Jarba village, south
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Sanour village, south
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Sourif village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched the house of Mousa
Ahmed Mohammed al-Hih, 21, an employee at Hebron Governmental Hospital. Before withdrawing, they arrested al-Hih and
led him to “Kfar Etzion” detention center, southwest of Bethlehem.

 

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Kafr Addik village, west of
Salfit. They patrolled in the streets
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Ein al-Matwi area, west of
Salfit. They patrolled in the streets
and withdrew later. No other incidents
were reported.

 

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Saida village, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into al-Nazla al-Sharqia village,
north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets and withdrew later. No house
raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 13:00, IOF deployed and positioned in the center
and south of Hebron moved into al-Shallalla Old street which is adjacent to
“Beit Hadassa” settlement in the center of Hebron. They raided a house belonging to the family
of Mutaz Mohammed Shaker Abdul Hamid al-Muhtaseb, 15. They beat Mutaz, arrested him and transferred
him to the Israeli occupation police station in the southeast of Hebron and
then to “Kfar Etzion” detention center in the southwest of
Bethlehem. Mutaz was placed under
investigation about the alleged “stoning at an Israeli patrol as testified
by a member of this patrol.” Mutaz
denied this charge.

 

According to PCHR’s investigations, IOF beat and arrested Mutaz
just ten minutes after Israeli settlers living next to Mutaz’s house stoned his
house. On Sunday, 17 April, Mutaz was
released on bail. He will be asked to
appear before the Israeli military court later.  

 

·  At approximately 15:00, IOF
moved into al-Nazla al-Sharqia village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and withdrew
later. No house raids or arrests were
reported.

 

· At approximately 20:00, IOF gunboats positioned off al-Waha resort
in the west of Beit Lahia, northern the Gaza Strip, fired shells and opened
intensive fire at Palestinian fishing boats. They also fired flash bombs. Palestinian
fishermen escaped as a result in fear of being wounded or arrested. No
casualties or damages in Palestinian fishing boats were reported.

 

· At approximately 20:40, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
and established a checkpoint near the entrance of the village. They closed the iron gate established at
Azzoun’s northern entrance to prevent cars of local Palestinians from entering
or leaving the village. At approximately
23:40, IOF withdrew and no arrests were reported. 

 

Sunday, 17 April 2011

 

· At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Zabouba village, northwest
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 09:40, IOF positioned on observation towers along
the border in the east of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, opened
fire at Palestinian farmers who were in their farms in the east of al-Qurman
street, al-Naayma street and al-Masreyen street in the east of Beit
Hanoun. Palestinian farmers escaped in
fear for their lives and no casualties or damages were reported.

 

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They raided the northern entrance of the
village which is known as “Abu Martin.” They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later and established a checkpoint near the village’s entrance. They withdrew at approximately 14:40 and no
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 18:50, IOF moved into Jayous village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
and raided two houses belonging to Yousif Mahmoud Ahmed Qadoumi and his brother
Hazzaa. They threatened the two brothers
of expelling their families from their houses if they continue to throw stones
at the annexation wall. At approximately
19:40, IOF withdrew  and no arrests were
reported.

 

· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Balaa village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 18 April 2011

 

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Orta village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched many houses. Before withdrawing at approximately 03:30,
they arrested Tawfiq Hendawi Mahmoud Qwariq, 16.

 

· At approximately 02:350, IOF moved into Aroura village, north of
Ramallah. They raided and searched many
houses. They arrested four Palestinians
and led them to al-“Maskoubeyeh” interrogation center in occupied
Jerusalem. The arrested Palestinians
are:

 

1. Mohammed
   Suleiman Mohammed Suleiman, 26;
2. Basel
   Nazmi Ahmed Yousif al-Arouri, 27;
3. Umar
   Mustafa Saleh al-Khasib, 25; and
4. Mohammed
   Mustafa Saleh al-Khasib, 23.

 

 

Tuesday, 19 April 2011

 

· At approximately 21:10, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 21:20, IOF moved into Asala village, southeast of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

 

· At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghsoun village, north
of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately 17:30, IOF moved into al-Jarousheyeh village,
north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

 

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

 

During
the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the
West Bank. As a result, three
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded. Dozens of Palestinian civilians and human
rights defenders also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained
bruises.  Additionally, IOF arrested two
international human rights defenders and a Palestinian civilian.    

   

· Following the
Friday Prayer on 15 April 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians, international
and Israeli human rights defenders and a number of Palestinian politicians organized
a peaceful demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the
construction of the annexation wall.  This
demonstration coincided with the ninth anniversary of the arrest of PLC member
Marwan al-Barghouthi. The demonstration
started from the center of Bil’ein village and demonstrators walked in the
streets of the village and chanted national slogan. They raised Palestinian flags and yellow
flags carrying the portrait of Vitorio Arrigoni, the Italian solidarity
activist who was murdered in Gaza. The
demonstrators then walked towards the annexation wall. IOF made a barrier of barbwire approximately
100 meters far from the wall. Before
demonstrators’ arrival at the barrier, IOF closed the barrier and fired
bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators. IOF also sprayed wastewater
at the demonstrators and chased them in olive fields.  Two Palestinian civilians, including a child,
were wounded and many others suffered from tear gas inhalation. The wounded are:

1. Samir
   Suleiman Burnat, 35, who was wounded by a bullet in the shoulder; and
2. Fadi
   Fadel al-Khati, who was wounded by a tear gas canister in the left hand.

 

· Also following
the Friday Prayer on 15 April 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration
in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the
annexation wall. This demonstration
coincided with the anniversary of the death of Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad) and
the eve of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. The demonstrators walked in the streets of the village and chanted
national slogans. They raised
Palestinian flags and portraits of Nael and Fakhri al-Barghouthi who are held
in Israeli jails. They then walked towards
the wall. IOF closed the gate established
on the wall with barbed wire. When the
demonstrators tried to cross the wall to the land located behind it, IOF
prevented them. The demonstrators
responded by stoning IOF who responded by firing bullets, rubber-coated metal
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. IOF also chased demonstrators into olive
field. Many demonstrators suffered from
tear gas inhalation as a result. 

 

 

· Also following
the Friday Prayer on 15 April 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against the
wall and settlement activities. This demonstration coincided with the ninth
anniversary of the arrest of PLC member Marwan al-Barghouthi, the anniversary
of the martyrdom of Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad) and the eve of the Palestinian
Prisoners’ Day. The demonstrators walked in the streets of the village and
chanted national slogans, expressing their refusal to the occupation and its
arbitrary actions. They held Palestinian
flags and portraits of some prisoners. They then walked to the lands that settlers from “Halmish”
settlement try to seize. In the morning
of the same day, IOF closed off the entrances of the village to prevent
Palestinian and international demonstrators from having access to the mentioned
lands. As the demonstrators attempted
to access the land, IOF prevented them. IOF fired bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at demonstrators. IOF also
sprayed wastewater at the demonstrators and chased them. Many demonstrators suffered from tear gas
inhalation. In addition, IOF arrested
two international solidarity activists whose identities have not been known so
far. They also transformed the roof of a
house belonging to Helmi al-Tamimi into military barracks. They withdrew from the village at
approximately 16:50.

 

· At
approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 17 April 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails organized a peaceful
demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on the occasion of
the Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. The
demonstrators gathered near Oder prison, southwest of Ramallah. They chanted national slogans calling for
national unity. They raised Palestinian
flags and portraits of Palestinian prisoners. They then walked to the gate of Ofer prison. IOF closed the gate and before demonstrators’
arrival, IOF fired bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear
gas canisters at demonstrators. The
demonstrators responded by stoning IOF. Ayman Ahmed al-Barghouthi, 20, was wounded by a sound bomb in the neck
while other demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation or bruises because
there were beaten by IOF. In addition,
IOF arrested Fares Farouq Badr, 21, and led him to Ofer prison.

3. Continued
Closure of the OPT

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

13-19
April 2011

 

 

Note: The
majority of Palestinians allowed to travel to Egypt on Sunday, Monday and
Tuesday were heading to Saudi Arabia to perform the small pilgrimage.

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

13-19
April 2011

 

 

Notes:

 

· On Wednesday, 13 April 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 1,443 tons of
fodders.

· On Thursday, 14 April 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 240 tons of
cement, 39 tons of iron for UNRWA, 120 tons of cement for ANERA and 1,560 tons
of fodders.

· On Friday, 15 April 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 858 tons of
fodders.

· On Sunday, 17 April 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 136 tons of
cement for UNRWA and 1,209 tons of wheat.

It should be noted that IOF closed the crossing on Monday,
18 April 2011, and Tuesday, 19 April 2011, because of the Jewish holidays.

  

Exports  

· On Wednesday, 13 April 2011, 128,300 flowers were exported.

· On Sunday, 17 April 2011, 43,000 flowers were exported. 

 

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel
has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of
Palestinian civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, a number of
international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited
number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the
crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting
their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients
permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe
restrictions that include prolonged checking. 

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

13-19
April 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, particularly, “Jaba’ – Qalandia” checkpoint
that was established in the southeast of Ramallah. At approximately 11:00 on
Thursday, 14 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Nabi
Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. At approximately
16:00 on Friday, 15 April 2011, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, the northern entrance of Birzeit, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. At approximately
19:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the intersection of Beit Our al-Fouqa
village, west of Ramallah. At
approximately 19:30 on Saturday, 16 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
under the bridge of Kharbatha al-Mesbah, west of Ramalla. At approximately
20:45 on Sunday, 17 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles; no arrests were reported.

 

· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 14 April 2011, IOF established 3
checkpoints around the town. On Saturday,
02 April 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town. On Saturday, 16 April 2011, IOF established 6
checkpoints around the town. On Sunday,
17 April 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town. On Tuesday, 19 April 2011, IOF established 3
checkpoints around the town. No arrests were reported 

 

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 06:00 on Thursday, 14 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Tulkarm – Qalailia road, near al-Ras
village, south of Tulkarm. They stopped
and searched Palestinian civilians vehicles. At approximately 12:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. At approximately
21:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at Tulkarm – Qalqilia road
in “Mothallath Jbarah” area, south of Tulkarm. At approximately 08:00
on Saturday, 16 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Tulkarm – Qalqilia
road, 500 meters away from Jbarah checkpoint in “Mothallath Jbarah”
area, south of Tulkarm. At approximately
11:00 on Sunday, 17 April 2011, IOF imposed severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians at Ennab checkpoint established at Tulkarm – Nablus
road. However, no arrests were
reported. At approximately 19:30, IOF
established a checkpoint on Tulkarm – Qalqilia road, near the entrance of
Phar’oun village, south of Tulkarm. At
approximately 12:00 on Monday, 18 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on
Deir al-Ghsoun – ‘Eteil road, north of Tulkarm. At approximately 18:00, IOF established a checkpoint on ‘Anabta –
Bazarya road, east of Tulkarm. They
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 13:00 on
Tuesday, 19 April 2011, IOF establidhed a checkpoint at the northern entrance
of Beit Leed, east of Tulkarm. At
approximately 19:30, IOF established a
checkpoint at Tulkarm – Qalqilia road in Mothalath Jbarah. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles.

 

· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 14 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the intersection of Sanour village,
south of Jenin. They stopped and
searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At
approximately 18:30 on Sunday, 17 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near
the intersection of Zabouba village, northwest of Jenin. At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 19 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the intersection of Zabouba village,
northwest of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian
vehicles. At approximately 03:00 in
Wednesday, 20 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the road leading to
the Arab American University, southeast of Jenin.

 

 

· Jericho: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 14:00 on
Friday, 15 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Fasayel
village, north of Jericho. They stopped
and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

 

· Salfit: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 08:20 on
Monday, 18 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Eskaka
village, east of Salfit. At
approximately 09:50, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kufr
al-Deek village, west of Salfit. However, the chekpoin was removed at 10:40; no arrests were reported. At approximately 18:10, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Bruqeen village, west of Salfit. The checkpoint was removed at 19:00; no
arrests were reported. At approximately
12:40 on Tuesday, 19 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern
entrance of Kefel Hares village, north of Salfit.

 

· At
approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 20 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
at the intersection of Bedia and Masha, northwest of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles.

 

 

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

 

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

 

· On Thursday, 14
April 2011, IOF sent Yasser Salem ‘Awawda, from al-Bireh village in the
southwest of Hebron a one-week notice on the demolition of a “barrack”
and a well established 4 and 10 years ago respectively, claiming that they were
established without obtaining a ” license” from IOF. In case ‘Awawda did not respond, he has to
demolish them himself at his own expense. The barrack is 200 square meters, while the well’s capacity is 250 cubic
meters.

 

· In the
afternoon, on the same day, IOF sent 8 other notices on evacuating
approximately 100 donums of farms in “al-Raihiya” village, south of
Hebron, claiming those “lands are closed and prohibited from entry”.

 

· On Monday, 18
April 2011, Israeli patrols obliged a number of farmers from
“al-Raihiy” village, south of Hebron, to leave their farms while they
were working. The Israeli patrols chased
the farmers and kept them away at gunpoint. Local council member, Mohammed Salman al-Tobasi stressed that IOF broke
into “Khelet al-Ma’aser” area, north of the said village in the
southwest of “Hagai” settlement. They chased and detained a number of civilians for over an hour,
including an engineer who was there to conduct a land survey. They were released after informing them that
they are prevented from approaching or working in these land, except by
“permits” obtained from IOF. These measures came after 4 days from issuing 8 notices on evacuating
dozens of donums.

 

· At
approximately 12:30, on Thursday, 14 April 2011, a number of Israeli settlers
from “Bracha” Settlement established on the lands of Iraq Burin
village, south of Nablus, attacked farms and farmers in the eastern side of the
village. A number of Palestinians confronted
and stoned them. Moments later, Israeli
troops came to support the settlers and fired gas canisters at the Palestinian
civilians to disperse them. No injuries
were reported. 

 

· On Monday, 18
April 2011, settlers from a settlement outpost in southern Yata, south of
Hebron, loosened sheep in farms belonging to a number of Palestinians in
“Um al-Khous” village in the south of Yata. IOF did not prevent such behavior.  

 

According to information collected by PCHR and
testimony of Mohammed Yusef al-Nawaj’a, a settler named “Yaqoub
Talia” and two other settlers, from “Yaakov Dalia” settlement
outpost established on confiscated lands in “Um al-Khous” village,
loosened a large number of cattle belonging to the farm into farms of an area
of 200 donums, aiming at damaging their contents. The wheat and barley farms belong to
al-Nawaj’a and ‘Awad families and are considered as the main source of
livelihood. Al-Nawaj’a pointed out that settlers intentionally loosened
hundreds of sheep into the farms during the past weeks in different areas in
Yatta, including al-Msafer, Sosya, Janaba, Mneizel, Bir al-‘Ad and al-Tawamin,
in order to destroy farms, paving the way for confiscating them. Some farms belong to: Mohammed Ibrahim
Msallam al-Nawaj’a, Mohammed Yusef al-Nawaj’a and Jihad Mohammed Ahmed
al-Nawaj’a.

 

· At approximately
17:45 on Tuesday, 19 April 2011, 20 settlers from “Givat Arousa”
settlement outpost, which is an extension of “Bracha” settlement,
south of Nablus, attacked Palestinian houses in Khelet al-‘Aqareb area in the
eastern side of Bourin village. A number
of Palestinians confronted and stoned them. A settlers dressed in black fired at Brucelee Dakheel Abdul Aziz ‘Eid,
36, from a distance of 10 to 15 meters. ‘Eid was wounded by two bullets to the right elbow and the pelvis. Later, Israeli troops arrived, opened fire
and fired sound and gas canisters at the Palestinians, due o which, Belal Abdul
Qader Dhamiri, 28, and Mos’ab ‘Atallah Abdul Rahman Sawwan, 21, suffered from
tear gas inhalation. They also attacked
journalist Majdi Shtayya with gun butts on his face. As a result, he sustained bruises in the face
and hemorrhage in the nose. Additionally, they pushed journalist Nasser Shtayya to the ground. Both journalists work for AP news
agency. IOF attacked Zeid Mohammed
Mostafa Omran, 46, as a result, he sustained a fracture to the left leg and
bruises to the back and chest. He also
lost US $900 after IOF confiscated his ID card.

 

 

 

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).