Israeli
settlers destroy 120 olive trees in Qaryout village, southeast of Nablus

 

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

 

A Palestinian
civilian from al-Ram village, north of occupied Jerusalem, died from earlier tear
gas inhalation.

 

A Palestinian
boy was seriously wounded in the west of Tulkarm.

 

The Israeli
forces continued to fire at Palestinian civilians in border area in the Gaza
Strip; no casualties were reported.

 

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

Dozens
of protestors suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

The Israeli forces
conducted 52 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

67
Palestinian civilians, including 41 children and a woman, were arrested.

 

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

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

A
Palestinian child was arrested at checkpoints.

 

Israel
continued its efforts to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.

45
dunums of land in Shu’fat village were confiscated in favor of settlement
expansion in Jerusalem.

 

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

Israeli
forces continued their arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians and
their property Area C under full Israeli control according to the Oslo Accords.

3
shepherds sustained fractures due to the Israeli settlers’ attack on them in
Yasouf village, east of Salfit.

5
dunums of agricultural land and an old house in Bethlehem were seized.

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt
continued during the reporting period 14 – 20 March 2013:

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, a
Palestinian civilian died from earlier tear gas inhalation and another one was
wounded in the West Bank.      

 

On 14 March 2013, a Palestinian boy
was seriously wounded by a bullet to the chest when the Israeli forces
stationed on watchtowers, west of Tulkram, opened fire at him while he was in Netanya
Street near the abovementioned area. 

 

On 15 March 2013, medical sources at
Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah pronounced Mo’yed Nazih Atwah Ghazawnah,
34, from al-Ram village, north of occupied Jerusalem, dead from inhaling tear
gas previously at the northern entrance of the village. 

 

During the reporting period, the
Israeli forces continued to systematically use excessive force against peaceful
protests organized by Palestinians and Israeli and international activists against
the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West
Bank.  As a result, dozens of protesters
suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.  In the same context, many Palestinian
civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation during peaceful protests in
solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 20 March 2013,
the Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened fire at the
Palestinian lands twice, but no casualties were reported.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, the Israeli forces conducted at least 52 military
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  During these incursions, the Israeli forces
arrested at least 67 Palestinians, including 41 children and a woman.  It should be noted that the Israeli forces
released 16 school students who were arrested from the center of Hebron
following hours from their arrest.

 

In
the Gaza Strip, on 17 March 2013, the Israeli forces stationed along the border
fence, east of al-Musaddar village, east of Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza
Strip, arrested Sabri Hassan Sabri al-Mussadar, 15.  

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

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

 

The illegal Israeli-imposed closure
of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a
disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza
Strip.  The illegal closure has caused
not only a humanitarian crisis, but a crisis of human rights and human dignity
for the population of the Gaza Strip. 
Recently-declared measures to ease the closure are vague, purely
cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis; the root causes
can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of the closure,
including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on
exports.  Palestinians in Gaza may no
longer suffer from the same shortage of goods but, as long as the closure is
allowed to continue, they will remain economically dependent, unable to care
for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the
rest of the world. 

 

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

Effort
to Create Jewish Majority in Occupied East Jerusalem

In
the context of settlement expansion projects in occupied East Jerusalem, on 15
March 2013, the Israeli Ministry of Interior re-approved the decision to
confiscate 45 dunums of land in Shu’fat village, north of occupied Jerusalem,
for the purpose of establishing street 21 to control the traffic crisis.

Settlement
Activities:

 

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

 

On 14 March 2013, dozens of Israeli settlers
from “Havat Maon” settlement, established on Palestinian civilians’
lands east of Yatta, south of Hebron, attacked farmers and shepherds in Um
Kharouba area, and banned them from working in their lands.

 

On the same day, an Israeli settler opened
fire from his machine gun at a number of Palestinian workers in al-Kassarat
area to the west of Sourif village, northwestern of Hebron.  The settler fired at the workers while on
their way back from Israel, where they work. 
No casualties were reported.

 

On 15 March 2013, Israeli forces
raided Maghayer al-‘Abeed area and placed removal notices near the solar energy
cells, which provide the area with electricity under the pretext that they are
located in area 918, according to Ministry of Defense’s decision, which is
designated for military trainings.

 

On the same day, a group of settlers
from “Eitamar” settlement, established on the northern side ‘Aqraba
village, southeastern of Nablus, attacked a Palestinian civilian while heading
to his work in the northern Jordan Valleys.

 

Also on the same day, a group of
armed and masked settlers coming from “Tafouh” settlement, south of
Nablus, raided al-Khella area near Yassouf village, north of Salfit.  The settlers fired randomly at Palestinian
shepherds who are accustomed to grazing their sheep there, which is the only
grazing land in the area.  The settlers
threw rocks directly at the civilians using a slingshot.  As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians
sustained fractures.

 

On 16 March 2013, Israeli forces
raided the agricultural lands surrounding “Atnaúal” settlement,
established on Palestinian lands south of Hebron.  The soldiers were deployed in the area and they
arrested a number of shepherds and ordered others to leave under the pretext
that these lands are confiscated.

 

On 16 March 2013, a group of
settlers from “Eliezer” settlement, established on the southern side
of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, seized control over 5 dunums of land
belonging to Moussa family in Khilat al-Qet area, adjacent to the
settlement.  The settlers planted
approximately 150 olive seedlings and put them in pottery jars, in preparation
to making it a site for performing religious rituals.

 

On the same day, a group of settlers
from “Atnaúal” settlement attacked a number of shepherds in Khelat
al-‘Addra area west of Yatta village, south of Hebron, banned them from
irrigating their lands and beat them.

 

Also on the same day, Israeli settlers
attacked shepherds in Yassouf village, north of Salfit, again.  As a result, a Palestinian civilian sustained
a fracture in his right leg.

 

On 17 March 2013, a group of
settlers from “Sidi Boaz” settlement outpost, established on the
western side of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, confiscated an old house
in al-Ghaweet Valley area, adjacent to the aforementioned outpost.  The settlers installed chairs inside the
house and used it for gatherings and picnics. They also planted the surrounding
tract of land with various seedlings, including olives, figs and apricots.

 

On 18 March 2013, a group of
settlers from “Beit ‘Ein” settlement, established on Palestinian
civilians lands in the west of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, broke and
cut the branches of 27 fruitful olive trees aged between 30 and 40 years. 

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period 07– 13 March 2013

 

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

 

 

Thursday, 14 March 2013

 

At
approximately 02:15, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, southeast
of Bethlehem.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and then stationed in the western quarter.  They raided and searched a number of
houses.  They then arrested 12 civilians,
including 2 children:

1- Ahmed
Mahmoud Saber Deiriya, 25;

2- Saher
Nafez Mohammed Thawabtah, 20;

3- Ibrhaim
Samih Mohammed Taqatqa, 20;

4- Mohammed
Talib Mahmoud Thawabtah, 20;

5- Raa’fat
Ibrahim Mohammed Taqatqa, 19;

6- Jihad
Jamal Mahmoud Ali Thawabtah, 20;

7- Ibrahim
Samih Mohammed Thawabtah, 20;

8- Shaker
Mohammed Shaker Taqatqa, 20;

9- Yousif
Loa’y Basim Thawabtah, 16;

10- Ihab
Basim ‘Aayed Thawabtah, 16;

11- Yousif
Mohammed Younis Thawabtah, 22; and his twin brother, Younis.

 

At approximately
03:00, the Israeli forces moved into Qarawet Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Naser Mahmoud ‘Abdullah ‘Arrar. 
They then arrested the son of the aforementioned, Soud ‘Arrar, 21, and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

In
the evening, the Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers in the vicinity of “Gishory”
factories, which are built on the Palestinian lands, west of Tulkarm, opened
fire at Hamza Walid Mohammed Haloub, 18, while he we was on Netanya Street near
the aforementioned area.  As a result, he
was hit by a bullet to the chest and then was transported to Dr. Thabet Thabet
Governmental hospital in Tulkarm.  Due to
his serious injuries, he was transferred to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus to
receive treatment.   According to medical sources, Haloub’s
injuries are serious, but his condition is stable.

 

At
approximately 08:00, the Israeli forces moved into Fasayel village, northwest
of Jericho.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and later withdrew.  No
arrests were reported.

 

Friday, 15 March 2013

 

At
approximately 12:25, the Israeli forces moved into Hares village, northwest of Salfit.  They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 8 children claiming that they threw stones at the Israeli vehicles
on the main street ‘Aaber al-Samerah.  At
approximately 04:00, they withdrew and the children were taken to an unknown
destination:

1- Mohammed
Mahdi Salah Kalib, 17;

2- Mohammed
Jom’aa Kalib, 16;

3- Rabi’a
Talal Dawoud, 17;

4- Mahmoud
Hafez Faza’a, 17;

5- Ahmed
Fayeq Faris Qassem, 17;

6- Yehia
Mohammed Mustafa Salamah, 17;

7- Mohammed
Sadiq Younis Souf, 17;

8- Usama
Mousa ‘Abbed Salamah, 15.

 

 

At
approximately 00:30, the Israeli forces moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm,
and patrolled the streets.  A number of
boys gathered to throw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who in return fired
sound bombs and tear gas canisters to disperse them.  The Israeli forces then moved to the north
into Kafr Roman village and patrolled the streets.  They withdrew later and neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately
00:45, the Israeli forces moved into Silet Daher village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for some time in
the northern area of village and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces moved into Terqomia village, west of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and deployed between houses.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Maher Mousa ‘Othman Dababseh, 25, and arrested him.

 

At the
same time, the Israeli forces moved into Deir al-‘Asal village, southwest of
Dora village, southwest of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets for some time. They then raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Ashraf Shehdah Shawamreh, 26, and arrested him.

 

At the
same time, the Israeli forces moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
then stationed in the eastern neighborhood. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud
Hasan Mustafa Khaliliya, 33.  They then
repositioned in the village centre and raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Mahmoud ‘Abed ‘Awad ‘Alawnah, 33. 
They withdrew later and neither more incidents nor house raids were
reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces
moved into Ghuneim area, north of Dora, west of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and deployed
between houses.  They raided and searched
a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Abdel Majeed Abriyosh, 26, and
arrested him.

 

At the
same time, the Israeli forces moved into Abu al-‘Asja village, south of Dora,
southwest of Hebron.  They surrounded,
raided, and searched a house belonging to the family of Nidal Mohammed Ahmed
al-‘Aqeily, 22, and arrested him.

 

In
the early morning, Palestinian sources at Palestine medical complex in Ramallah
declared the death of Mua’yed Nazih ‘Atwah Ghazawneh, 34, from al-Ram village,
north of Jerusalem as a result of inhaling gas that the Israeli soldiers fired
near the northern entrance of the aforementioned village on 22 February 2013.

 

According
to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Friday afternoon, 22 February 2013,
dozens of boys and young men demonstrated at the northern entrance of al-Ram
village, north of Jerusalem in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in the
Israeli prisons.  The Israeli soldiers intensively
fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators.  At approximately 16:00, Moua’ayad Nazih
‘Atwah Ghazawneh, 34, was traveling in his Skoda car in the area; as a result, he
fainted due to gas inhalation.  His heart
stopped beating, before he was transported to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.  He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in
the complex, and he was in coma until they declared his death at approximately
03:00 on Friday, 15 March 2013.  It
should be mentioned that Ghazawneh went under coronary artery surgery, and he
is a father of 2 children and an expected third one.

 

At
approximately 14:00, the Israeli forces moved into Bab al-Zawyeh area in the
centre of Hebron.  They deployed between
stores, so a number of boys gathered to throw stones at them.  The Israeli soldiers in return fired sound
bombs and tear gas canisters and chased them in Beersheba Street.  They arrested 4 civilians, including 2
children, and transported them to an unknown destination: Moa’men ‘Aweidah
Abdel Karim Misk, 10; Majid Ibrahim al-Natsheh, 12; Waddah Shehadah, 18; and
Majid Shehadah, 19.

 

At the
same time, the Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and
then positioned in the center of the camp.  A number of boys gathered and threw stones at
the Israeli soldiers, who in return indiscriminately fired rubber-coated metal
bullets and gas canisters.  As a result,
some of the demonstrators suffered gas inhalation.  The Israeli forces withdrew later and neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately
09:30, the Israeli forces moved into Kherbtha al-Mesbah village, southwest of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At the
same time, the Israeli forces moved into Deir Jareer village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.    

 

At
approximately 15:00, a number of boys gathered to throw stones at the Israeli
soldiers at the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron.  The Israeli soldiers in return fired sound
bombs and tear gas canisters at the boys. 
As a result, some of the boys suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

At
approximately 15:30, the Israeli forces moved into Ya’abad, southwest of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets and
then positioned in “al-Maloul” quarter in the south of the village.  They raided an under-construction house
belonging to Amin Mas’aoud Mahmoud Abu Baker, 50, a lecturer at An-Najah
National University, and topped the roof to turn into a military point.  They withdrew later and neither more
incidents nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 16:00, the Israeli forces moved into Bab al-Zawyah area in the
centre of Hebron.  They patrolled the
streets.  A number of boys gathered and
threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who chased them between stores and alleys.  They arrested Ihab Abu al-Halawah, 16, and
took them to an unknown destination.

 

At
the same time, the Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aqabah area, south of Dora,
southwest of Hebron.  They deployed
between houses and patrolled the streets. 
A number of boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers that
came out of their vehicles, raided, and topped an under-construction
house.  They started firing tear gas
canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets at the boys; as a result, some of
them suffered gas inhalation.  The
Israeli soldiers detained ‘Oday Nimer al-Hrybat, 24, a volunteer photographer
in “B’Tselem”
centre, for a couple of hours before he was released.

 

At
approximately 20:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Litwanah village, east of
Yatta, south of Hebron.  They patrolled
the streets and raided and searched a number of houses.  They arrested 3 children and took them to an
unknown destination: Sami Hafiz al-Harini, 15; Malik Ghanim al-Harini, 15; and
Basel Soliman al-‘Adrah, 15.

 

At
the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Abu Roman Mountain in the
southeastern area of Hebron.  They raided
and searched a house belonging to the family of Nahil Talal Abu ‘Aeishah, 33,
and arrested him. 

 

At
approximately 21:00, the Israeli forces moved into Far’aon village, south of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets and
later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

Saturday, 16 March 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, the Israeli
forces moved into Jericho.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

                                                            

At approximately 23:00, the Israeli
forces moved into Tulkarm.  They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family
of ‘Amar Abdel Karim Yousif Besharah, 37, whom they arrested.  They then raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Montaser Mohammed Sa’aid al-Sarouji, 49, whom they
also arrested. 

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces
moved into al-‘Aoja village, northeast of Jericho.  They patrolled the streets for some time and later
withdrew.  No arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 17 March 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, the Israeli forces moved into Maythaloun
village, south of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Sirees village,
south of Jenin.  They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Sanour village, south
of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Ras Karkar village,
west of Ramallah.  They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew at approximately 01:30.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Zababda
village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into al-Tirah quarter,
west of Ramallah.  They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village,
north of Hebron.  They patrolled the
streets and deployed between houses resulting in fear among civilians.  They raided and searched a number of houses
and later withdrew.  They arrested 3 civilians,
including 2 children, and took them to an unknown destination: Ahmed Rashid
Sabarnah, 16; Jihad Naser Ikhlayel, 17; and Ali Sa’aid Sabarnah, 18.

 

At proximately 02:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee
camp, north of Hebron.  They patrolled
the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ali
Ahmed Hmeidat, 20, whom they arrested. 

 

At approximately 03:00, the Israeli forces moved into Haris
village, northwest of Salfit.  They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a number of houses.  They later arrested 3 children from the
village and took them to an unknown destination: ‘Ammar ‘Abed Nayef Souf, 17;
‘Ali Yasin ‘Ali ‘Aqel, 17; and Tamer ‘Ayyad ‘Abed Souf, 17.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun village,
northwest of Jenin.  They patrolled the
streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed
Soliman Salim Abdel Ghani, 17, to arrest him. 
They then raided and searched a house belonging to the familt of
Abdullah Ahmed Salim Abdel Ghani, 21. 
They arrested the aforementioned and his brother, Mohammed, 17.  They later withdrew transporting the 2
arrested persons to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 03:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-Dheisheh
refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Malik Mahdi
Abu Khalifah, 22, and arrested him. 

 

At approximately 10:00, the Israeli forces moved into Beit ‘Aor
al-Tahtah village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 13:00, the Israeli forces stationed along the
border fence, east of al-Mussadar village, east of Deir al-Balah, in the
central Gaza Strip, arrested Sabri Hassan Sabri al-Mussadar, 15.  According to testimony of his father, Sabri
was lost on the above-mentioned day. 
After his family had looked for him, the father went to the security
service to report on his son and he then headed to the ICRC in Gaza.  On Wednesday, 20 March 2013, the ICRC
informed the father that Sabri is detained in Hadarim prison in Beersheba in
Israel.

 

At approximately 20:00, the Israeli forces moved into Far’aon
village, south of Tulkarm.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Monday,
18 March 2013

 

At
approximately 01:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Koum village, west of Doura,
southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
No arrests were reported.   

 

At
approximately 16:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Aroub refugee camp, north
of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets
and stationed in the center of the camp. 
Some boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli
soldiers, who fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal
bullets in return.  As a result, many
civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation. The Israeli forces withdrew
later.  Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 17:00, the Israeli forces stationed near the security fence
around “Karmei Tzur” settlement, southwest of Beit Ummar, north of
Hebron, fired a hail of gas canisters at the Palestinian houses in al-Daher
area near the said settlement.  As a
result, many civilians suffered from toxic gas inhalation.  Mohammed Awad said to a PCHR fieldworker that
the Israeli forces fired gas canisters at the Palestinian houses in a new crime
against the residents of the area by the security fence in order to evacuate
the area. 

    

Tuesday,
19 March 2012

 

At
approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into ‘Aroub refugee camp, north
of Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and detained some of their occupants.  They arrested 6 persons, including a child,
and transported them to an unknown destination:

1. Isma’il Deeb Banat, 22;

2. Rami Hashem al-Sharif, 18;

3. Mohammed Bassam Jawabra, 16;

4. Majdi Mohammed Banat, 22;

5. Mohammed Yusef Hajajra, 26; and

6. Mohammed Khaled al-Sabatin, 18.

 

At
approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces moved into Bani Na’im village, east of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and
raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Ali Salem
Ballout, 24.  They arrested him and transported
him to an unknown destination.

 

At
the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Barqa village, northwest of
Nablus.  They patrolled the streets and
raided and searched a number of houses. 
They arrested Sa’ed Ahmed Yusef Hajja, 24, and Ali Tayseer Mohamed
Salah, 22, and transported them to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 15:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south
of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets
and stationed near the UNRWA school.  A
number of boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli
vehicles.  The Israeli forces fired in
response sound bombs and tear gas canister and chased some boys between the
houses.  They arrested Jihad Ouda
al-Khatib, from al-Hejra villge, east of Doura, while he was working in his
land near the entrance of the refugee camp.

 

Wednesday,
20 March 2012

 

At approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces moved into Jenin.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Samer Tawfiq Suleiman Abu Mashayekh, 24, and arrested him.  They then raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Suhaib Adnan al-Ghoul, 28, and arrested him too.

 

 

At approximately 07:30, the Israeli forces surrounded dozens of
school students while going school in the Old Town of Hebron.  The Israeli forces claimed that these
students threw stones at them.  The
students were transported by a military bus to an investigation facility at
“Kiryat Arab” settlement, east of Hebron.

 

According to eyewitnesses, the Israeli forces deployed in the early
morning in the main streets leading to Tareq Ben Ziad school and in the
vicinity of the Ibrahim school, Khadija Bent Khowayled school and Hebron school
for boys, and at the entrance of al-Rajabi checkpoint.  They randomly arrested a number of boys and
kept them in custody at gunpoint under the pretext that the students threw
stones at the Israeli forces.  At
approximately 11:00, the students were released after the intervention of the
Palestinian military liaison office. 
However, the Israeli forces have kept some students in custody.  The students who were detained for few hours
are:

1. Mohammed Salem
al-Razem, 15;

2. Abdullah Samir
al-Rajabi, 17;

3. Belal Badi’ Abu
Yusef, 17;

4. Malek
al-Salaymah, 17;

5. Ramez Hamdi
Jaber, 13;

6. Ahmed Abdul
Ra’ouf Barqan, 15;

7. Malek Jaber,
17;

8. Mohammed Rawhi
al-Fakhouri, 14;

9. Malek Moustafa
al-Sarahnah, 14;

10. Ayman Salama Khalifa, 14;

11. Hussein Nafez al-Rajabi, 10;

12. Lo’ai Mo’tasem Jaber, 10;

13. Ezz Eddin Khaled al-Rajabi, 8;

14. Sa’eb Edris Da’na, 9;

15. Nour Najeh al-Zarou, 11; and

16. Ezz Eddin Abdul Wahab Abu Sharekh, 15.

 

At
approximately 09:00, the Israeli forces stationed in watchtowers along the
border fence, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at the Palestinian
lands in al-Fukhari area, southeast of Khan Tunis.  No casualties were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces stepped out of their military
jeeps along the border fence and opened fire at agricultural lands in Abassan
village, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.  No casualties were reported.

 

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

 

During the reporting period, Israeli
forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian
civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at
the construction of the wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  As a result, dozens of civilians suffocated
due to tear gas inhalation; others sustained bruises.

 

In a relative context, Palestinian
civilians organized peaceful demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinian
prisoners in Israeli jails, particularly those on hunger strike.  The Israeli forces used excessive force
against these demonstrations.  As a
result, dozens of civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation; others
sustained bruises.

 

Demonstrations
against the Construction of the Annexation Wall and Settlement Activity

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 15 March 2013, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a
peaceful demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the
construction of the annexation wall and in solidarity with the prisoners on
hunger strike inside Israeli jails.  The
demonstration was held in commemoration of Mohammed ‘Assfour, who had died of
his wounds, sustained on 22 January 2013 at the clashes between Palestinian
civilians and the Israeli forces at the eastern entrance of ‘Aboud village, on
07 March 2013.  The demonstrators marched
the streets of the village, chanting slogans calling for national unity.  The protesters aimed to stress the need to
adhere to national principles and the right of return, to resist the occupation
and to call for the release of all Palestinian prisoners.  The protesters raised Palestinian flags and
pictures of prisoners and made their way towards the lands adjacent to the
annexation wall.  The Israeli forces
closed all ways and entrances to the village since early morning hours, to
prevent Palestinians, journalists and international activists from joining the
protest.  The protesters raised
Palestinian flags and made their way towards the wall.  They called through megaphones for Israeli settlers
in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land.  Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators.  As a result, dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

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

 

At approximately 12:15 on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
the center of Kufor Kadoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the
continuous closure of the eastern entrance of the village since the outbreak of
al-Aqsa Intifada.  The demonstrators chanted
against the occupation and raised flags before the Israeli forces, who
unusually did not fire any sound bombs or tear gas canisters.  The demonstrators found a number of ambushes
set by the Israeli forces to arrest them, as a number of Israeli soldiers hid
behind bushes and between houses.  The
demonstration ended at approximately 14:00; no arrests were reported.

 

Following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians from
Nabi Saleh and ‘Aboud villages, international and Israeli human rights gathered
in the center of ‘Aboud village, northwest of Ramallah, for a demonstration in
protest to the construction of the wall, settlement activity and in
commemoration of the death of Mohammed ‘Asfour and in solidarity with prisoners
on hunger strike inside Israeli jails. 
The demonstrators patrolled the streets of the village, raised the flag
of Palestine, pictures of prisoners and pictures of the late ‘Asfour, and
headed towards the western entrance of the village, approximate to the
annexation wall.  The demonstrators threw
stones and empty bottles at the Israeli forces, who were deployed at the
entrance of the village and across the adjacent settlers street.  In response, the forces fired live bullets,
rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
demonstrators, sprinkled them with waste water and chased them inside of the
village.  As a result, a number of them
suffocated due to tear gas inhalation; others sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian boys and
teenagers gathered near the annexation wall, established on the southern side
of Beit Loqia village, southwest of Ramallah. 
The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, stationed behind
the wall, who in response fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters
and sound bombs at them and chased them across the olive fields.  As a result, a number of Palestinian
civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation; others sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
the center of al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in protest at the ongoing
construction of the annexation wall.  As
the protestors moved towards the gate of the village, Israeli forces, backed by
units of the “Border Guards Forces,” and denied them access to the
area.  The forces also fired tear gas
canisters to disperse the demonstration and ban them from approaching the wall.

 

At approximately 14:00, dozens of Palestinian youths gathered by
the annexation wall, established on the lands of Budrus village, west of
Ramallah and al-Bireh, in protest to the confiscation of their lands, in
commemoration of the death of Samir Ahmed ‘Awad and in solidarity with the
Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike inside Israeli jails.  The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli
soldiers stationed behind the wall.  The
soldiers fired in response live bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at
them and chased the demonstrators into the village.  As a result, dozens of civilians suffocated
due to tear gas inhalation; others sustained bruises.

 

At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 19 March 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians, activists of the Youth Forum against Settlement Activity
and human rights activists gathered near Shuhada Street for a demonstration
calling for opening the street, which has been closed for 12 years.  They protested against the Israeli
discrimination policy and demanded that the Israeli occupation and settlement
activity be stopped and called for lifting the restrictions imposed on
Hebron.  The participants wore masks
representing the American President, Mr. Barack Obama and Martin Luther King
and invited Mr. Obama to visit Hebron to witness the suffering of the Palestinians
and the discrimination they are subjected to. 
The Israeli forces cordoned the demonstration and got into a hand-fight
with them.  They also arrested a number
of international solidarity activists and 3 of the Youth Forum against
Settlement Activity, and transported them to the Israeli police station in
“Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeastern of the city.  The arrested Palestinian activists were
identified as:  ‘Issa ‘Amro; Badee’
al-Dwaik; and Mohammed al-Zgheer.

 

Demonstrations in Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners and
Detainees in Israeli Jails

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 15 March 2013, dozens of Palestinian
civilians gathered in Um Rokba area, at the southwestern entrance of al-Khader
village, south of Bethlehem, for a demonstration in solidarity with the
prisoners inside Israeli prisons.  The
demonstrators set fire to rubber tires and threw rocks at the Israeli forces
stationed at the aforementioned entrance. 
Immediately, the Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs
at the demonstration and civilian houses; as a result, some fainted due to tear
gas inhalation.  In his testimony to a
PCHR fieldworker, Ahmed Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against
Settlement Activity, said that members of the Palestinian Civil Defense suffered
from tear gas inhalation while putting out a fire that broke-out in the
surrounding area of Solomon’s pools, located between al-Khader village and
Artas village, south of the city, after the Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at the wood in the area.  They Civil Defense officers were transported
to Beit Jala Public Hospital for treatment.

 

3- Continued
Closure of the oPt

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for nearly 5 years.  The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the
Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous
impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. 

 

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

 

The IOF
have continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the strangulation of
the commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing total control
over the flow of imports and exports. 

The
total closure of al-Mentar “Karni” crossing on 02 March 2011 has
created a terrible situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip.  Following this closure, all economic and
commercial establishments in Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off.  It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is
the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip, in terms of its operational capacity to
absorb the flow of imports and exports.  The
decision to close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of
decisions resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the
Gaza Strip in the beginning of 2009, and the Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza
City, which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza
Strip, in the beginning of 2010. 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Movement at
Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

13 –
19 March 2013

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem Kerem Shalom Crossing

12 –
18 March 2013

Imports:

 

 

 

 

Exports:

On Tuesday, 12 March 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the
exportation of 120,000 carnation flowers and 4 truckloads of plastics.

On Wednesday, 13 March 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the
exportation of 2 truckloads of plastics.

On Thursday, 14 March 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the
exportation of 5 truckloads of plastics and 85,000 carnation flowers.

On Sunday, 17 March 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of
6 truckloads of plastics, 90,000 carnation flowers and 22 tons of biscuits.

On Monday, 18 March 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of
7 truckloads of plastics and 22 tons of biscuits.

 Other Imports:

 

On Tuesday, 12 March 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the entry of
272 tons of cement, 100 tons of construction steel and 3,640 tons of
construction aggregates for UNRW; 770 tons of construction aggregates for the
private sector; and 128 tons of cement for the German Development Bank (GDB).

 

Wednesday, 13 March 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the entry of
230 tons of cement, 99 tons of construction steel, and 1820 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA; and 910 tons of construction aggregates for
the private sector.  They also allowed
the entry of 624 tons of fodders and 195 tons of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 14 March 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the entry of
120 tons of cement and 1,820 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA; and 1,330
tons of construction aggregate for the private sector.  They also allowed the entry of 702 tons of
fodders and 195 tons of wheat.

 

On Sunday, 17 March 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the entry of
32 tons of construction steel, and 1,820 tons of construction aggregate for
UNRWA; and 1,050 tons of construction aggregate for the private sector.  They also allowed the entry of 546 tons of fodders
and 78 tons of wheat.

 

On Monday, 18 March 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the entry of
120 tons of cement, 67 tons of construction steel and 1,610 tons of
construction aggregate for the UNRWA; and 630 tons of construction aggregate
for the private sector.  They also
allowed the entry of 390 tons of fodders and 312 tons of wheat. 

 

 

Imports
through Rafah International Crossing Point, South of the Gaza Strip:

12 –
18 February 2013

Imports:

 

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

 

Ramallah:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
08:30 on Thursday, 14 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint
near the entrance of Beit Loqiah, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 10:30, they reestablished at
‘Attara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Birzeit, north of the city.  The two checkpoints were later removed, and
no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 08:30 on Friday, 15 March 2013, the Israeli forces reestablished
at ‘Attara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Birzeit, north of the
city.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 09:30, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of al-Nabi saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 20:30, another checkpoint
was established under the bridge of Kherbtha al-Mesbah, southwest of the
city.  The checkpoints were later removed
and no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 17:30 on Saturday, 16 March 2013, the Israeli forces established
a checkpoint near the intersection of Beit ‘Aor al-Fawqa village, southwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 09:00,
another checkpoint was established near the entrance of al-Moghir village, east
of the city.  The two checkpoints were
later removed and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 10:30 on Sunday, 17 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Term’ayah
village, north of Ramallah.  At
approximately 16:30, another checkpoint was established under the bridge of
Kherbtha al-Mesbah, south west of the city. 
The two checkpoints were later removed and no arrests were reported.   At
approximately 08:30 on Monday, 18 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a
checkpoint under the bridge of Kherbtha al-Mesbah, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 11:30, another checkpoint
was established near the entrance of Beit Loqya village, southwest of the city.  At approximately 15:00, they established a
similar checkpoint near the intersection of Beit ‘Aor al-Fawqa, southwest of
the city.  At approximately 17:00, they
established another checkpoint at the eastern entrance of al-Teebah village,
northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately
10:30 on Tuesday, 19 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately 21:00, they established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Na’alin village, west of the city.

 

Hebron:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 18:00 on Thursday, 14 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Awa
village, south of Dora, southwest of the city. 
At approximately 15:00, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at
the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp, as this entrance connects bypass road
60, south of Hebron.  At approximately
16:00, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of
al-‘Arroub refugee camp which connects the aforementioned bypass, north of the
city.  At approximately 17:00, the
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the road of Fqeiqes village between Dora
and its southwestern villages, southeast of Dora, southwest of Hebron. All
checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 07:00 on Friday, 15 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint on road of Abu Rishah valley,
west of Ezna village, west of Hebron. 
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 16 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrances of the
entrance of beit Ummar, north of Hebron. 
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 07:00 on Sunday, 17 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’air
village, east of Hebron.  At
approximately 15:00, they established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawwar
refugee camp, south of Hebron.  The two
checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 15:00 on Monday 18 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit
Ummar, north of Hebron.  They kept a
number of cars in custody, of which a Mercedes car belonging to Ibrahim Faris
al-Doudah, 57, and took the yellow registration plate off although the vehicle
was legally registered and its owner showed the papers to the soldiers.  At approximately 16:00, another checkpoint
was established at the southern entrance of Halhoul, north of Hebron.  At approximately 18:00, they established the
same checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of the
city.  All checkpoints were later removed,
and no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, 19 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrances of Bani Na’aim village, east of Hebron.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Qalqilya:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
18:45 on Thursday, 14 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint
at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 11:10 on Friday, 15 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of
‘Azoun village, east of the city.  At
approximately 11:50, another checkpoint was established near Kafr Qadoum
village, northeast of Qalqilya.  At
approximately 13:20, they established a similar checkpoint near Jayous village,
northeast of Qaqilya.  All checkpoints
were later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 11:20 on Saturday, 16 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Aezbet
al-Tabib village, east of Qaqilya.  At
approximately 15:50 on Saturday, 16 March 2013, the Israeli forces established
a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya.  The two checkpoints were later removed, and
no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 10:45 on Monday, 18 March 2013, the Israeli forces closed and
leveled the main road between Qalqilya and Nablus claiming that unidentified
persons fired at a settler and got him injured near Kedumim settlement, northeast of Qalqilya.  At approximately 11:00, they established a
checkpoint at the intersection of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya.  At approximately 16:30, another checkpoint
was established at the eastern entrance of al-Fondoq village, east of the
city.  At approximately 16:40, they
established a similar checkpoint at the northern entrance of ‘Azoun village,
east of Qalqilya.  They arrested Khalid
Ismail Ishaq, 17, who was later released.

 

Tulkarm:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 18:00
on Thursday, 14 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the
main road between Tulkarm and Nablus the intersection of Bazaria, east of
Tulkarm. The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 22:00, another checkpoint
was established on the main road between Tulkarm and Qalqilya near the gate of
Jubarah village, which isolated from its surroundings due to the annexation
wall, south of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint
was later removed, no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 22:30 on Saturday, 16 March 2013, the Israeli forces
stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east
of Tulkarm, tightened the restrictions on movement of the Palestinian civilian
through it.  The tightening later ended and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 21:00, another checkpoint
was established on the road between the villages of ‘Azbet Shofah and Shofah,
southeast of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was
later removed, and no arrests were reported. 
It should be mentioned that this road connects “Afyini Hetsef”
settlement, which was built on the Palestinian lands in 1987, with the bypass
road, which connects the aforementioned settlement with “’Inab” settlement in
Israel.  In 2001, with the beginning of
al-Aqsa Intifada, the Israeli forces also closed the aforementioned road for 10
years resulting in isolating Shofah village from ‘Aezbet Shofah village, so
people of Shofah are forced to turn to the road between Tulkarm and Nablus and
then to pass through “Inab” checkpoint in order to get to their village which
is more than 27 kilometers.  The
situation stayed the same till August 2010 as the Israeli forces reopened the
road and one year after they reclosed it. 
On 28 March 2012, they reopened the road, but from time to time they
establish a checkpoint to impede the movement of Palestinians.  At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 17 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between
Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of Beit Leed village, in an area known
as “Abu Martein”, east of Tulakrm.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Jenin: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
07:30 on Thursday, 14 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint
on the road between the villages of Qabatya and Marakah south of Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were removed.  At approximately
18:30 on Saturday, 16 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Ya’abod village, southwest of Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed and no
arrests were reported.

 

Jericho:  the Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 16 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the southern entrance of
Jericho.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 16 March 2013, the Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zbeidat, north of Jericho.  The checkpoint was later removed, no arrests
were reported.

 

Salfit: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.  At approximately 10:15 on
Thursday, 14 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the
main road near Rafafa settlement, which is built on the lands of Deir Estaya
village, northwest of Salfit.  At
approximately 15:00, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Deir
Balut village, west of Salfit, and prevented the participants in cycling in
solidarity with prisoners on hunger strike from entering to Deir Balut village
with their bikes.  The participants were
from Salfit, Kafr al-Deek, Rafat, al-Zawyah, Deir Balut, Iskaka, and
Yasouf.  However, after arguing for 1
hour with the participants, the Israeli forces allowed the entry of 35 out of
100 bikes as they prevented participants from the eastern area Salfit, Iskaka,
Yasouf, and Borqeen from entering. 
Therefore, they were not able to complete the race.  At approximately 10:10 on Monday, 18 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road that leads to
Salfit near Arayel settlement.  At approximately
11:25, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 10:30, another checkpoint
was established between the villages of Kafl Haris and Haris, north of Salfit.

 

Detention at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 23:00 on Saturday, 16 March 2013, the Israeli forces,
established a checkpoint on the main road linking Jenin, Tulkarm and Nablus
near the intersection of Jaba’a village, south of Jenin.  They then stopped a vehicle travelled by Amir
Ra’ed Hussein ‘Alawnah, 16, from Jaba’a village.  They arrested him and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

4. Efforts to
Create a Jewish Majority in Occupied East Jerusalem

 

Under the
framework of new settlement expansion projects in occupied East Jerusalem, the
Israeli Ministry of Interior reapproved on Friday, 15 March 2013, its decision
to confiscate of 45 dunums of the lands of Shu’fat village, northern of
Jerusalem, for the construction of 21^st Street.  This decision aims at expanding “Regis
Shuafat” and “Ramat Shlomo” settlements and linking them to
“Ramot” settlement.  The
Ministry claimed that it approved the project, presented by the Israeli
Municipality in Jerusalem, because the aforementioned settlements have one
street only and that opening 21^st Street will ease the traffic.  According to Ahmed Sab-Labban, a scholar in
settlements affairs in Jerusalem, this plan has been on the table since the
1990s with structural plans.  Following
the construction of “Ramat Shlomo” settlement, the Israeli forces
changed the structural plans as fits for the settlement.  He also pointed out that the opening of the
street will be followed by the construction 1500 new settlement units in
“Ramat Shlomo” settlement, as it is a project presented by the
district committee, yet the Ministry of Interior requested that 21^st
Street be constructed in order to approve it. 
Mr. Sab-Lbban added that then confiscation of the 45 dunums will besiege
another 158 dunums of Shu’fat lands.

 

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

 

At approximately 09:00 on Thursday,
14 March 2013, dozens of settlers from “Havat Maon” settlement,
established on Palestinian civilians’ lands east of Yatta, southern of Hebron,
farmers and shepherds in Um Kharouba area, east of the aforementioned city, and
banned them from working in their lands. 
In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Rateb al-Jabour, coordinator of
the Popular Committee against Settlement Activity, said that the settlers
forces the farmers to leave their lands under threat.  He also mentioned that the settlers had
corrupted the crops.

 

At approximately 16:00 on Thursday,
a settler fired from a machinegun at a number of Palestinian workers in
al-Kassarat area, west of Sourif village, northwestern of Hebron.  The settler fired at the workers while on
their way back from Israel, where they work. 
No injuries were reported.

 

At approximately 07:00 on Friday, 15
March 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by a number of military vehicles and a
vehicle of the Building and Planning department of the Israeli Civil
Administration, raided Maghayer al-‘Abeed area, east of Yatta, southern of
Hebron.  the Israeli forces were deployed
in the area, and an employee of the Building and Planning department placed
removal notices near the solar energy cells, which provides the area with
electricity which were given as aid from international organizations, ordering
them to remove the solar energy plates, under the pretext that they are located
in area 918, according to Ministry of Defense’s decision, which is designated
for military trainings.  In his testimony
to a PCHR fieldworker, Rateb al-Jabour, coordinator of the Popular Committee
against Settlement Activity in Yatta, said that the Israeli forces is stifling
the civilians of the 8 villages, threatened with confiscation, Mussafer Yatta
area, under the difficult situations and the lack of basic services in an
attempt to control these lands.

 

At approximately 05:00 on Friday, 15
March 2013, a group of settlers from “Eitamar” settlement,
established on the northern side ‘Okrabba village, southeastern of Nablus,
attacked Mohammed Hashem Mustafa Bani-Jaber 40 from ‘Okrabba, while heading to
his work in the northern Jordan Valleys. 
In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Bani-Jaber said:

 

“At approximately 05:00 on
Friday, 15 March 2013, I left my house, located in al-Kroum area, northern of
my village, ‘Okrabba, as usual to work, in Fassayel area, northwestern of
Jericho.  While on my way, approximately
100 meters from my house, I was surprised when someone put his hand on my mouth
from behind.  I punched him with my left
hand and we both fell to the ground and then I realized that it was a settler,
and could be from the nearby “Eitamar” settlement.  I fought him for a little time and then another
three settlers joined him and beat me.  I
tried to resist them then took out my cell phone and tried to call any number I
could in my contacts but I could not. One of them took the phone and broke it,
and another one had an electric stunner that looked like a cell phone and
shocked me in the chest.  Afterwards, I
could not breathe; however, I pulled myself together and managed to get away
from them.  I ran for approximately 100
meters until I reached the house of Radad Faeq Nasser and through myself on his
car.  I managed to press the car’s horn
until he woke up.  I was exhausted and
managed to explain to him what had happened. 
He took me to the village’s clinic, from where I was transported to
Rifidia Surgical Hospital where I received treatment.  I sustained bruises in my upper body
part.  It was also found out that I
suffered from tachycardia.  I was
transferred to the National Hospital for treatment where I received the
necessary medical treatment.”

 

At approximately 16:35 on Friday, a
group of armed and masked settlers coming from “Tafouh” settlement,
southern of Nablus, raided al-Khilla area, near yassouf village, northern of
Salfit.  The settlers fired their guns
randomly at Palestinian shepherds who are accustomed to grazing their sheep
there, which is the only graze land in the area.  The settlers threw rocks directly at the
civilians using a slingshot.  As a
result, two Palestinian civilians sustained fractures; they were identified as:
Majd Ahmed ‘Obaid 24, sustained a fracture in the left arm and right leg as a
result of a direct attack with rocks; Hussam Rajeh Mahmoud ‘Attayany 27,
sustained a fracture in the left leg resulted from falling off a wall when
settlers aimed rocks at him while videotaping the attack.  The injured were transported to Martyr Yasser
‘Arafat Hospital in Salfit.  Later on,
Israeli forces raided the area and fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian
civilians who attempted to stop the settlers’ attack against them.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Saturday,
16 March 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by military vehicles, raided the
agricultural lands surrounding “Atnaúal” settlement, established on
Palestinian civilians’ lands southern of Hebron.  The soldiers were deployed in the area and
arrested a number of shepherds, of them Anwar Mahmoud al-Halis, 39, was
identified.  Later, the Israeli forces
released the aforementioned civilian and ordered the shepherds to leave under
pretext that these lands are confiscated. 
These lands belong to al-Halis and Abu-Sabha families.

 

At early morning hours on Saturday,
16 March 2013, a group of settlers from “Eliezer” settlement,
established on the southern side of al-Khader village, southern of Bethlehem,
seized control over 5 dunums of land belonging to Moussa family in Khlat al-Qet
area, adjacent to the settlement.  The
settlers planted approximately 150 olive seedlings and put them in pottery
jars, in preparation to making it a site for performing religious rituals.  In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Ahmed
Salah, coordinator of the Popular Movement against Settlement Activity, said
that the settlers had confiscated another 5 dunums in the same area few months
ago.  The settlers planted olives in
these lands and established a 2-kilometer-long irrigation system.

 

At approximately 10:00 on Saturday,
a group of settlers from “Atnaúal” settlement attacked a number of
shepherds in Khelat al-‘Addra area, west of Yatta, southern Hebron, banned them
from irrigating their lands and beat them. 
As a result, Ahmed Mahmoud Shawahin, 38, sustained bruises.  it should be mentioned that this attack
occurred at the presence of the Israeli forces who did nothing to stop it.

 

At approximately 16:00 on Saturday,
settlers attacked shepherds in Yassouf village, northern of Salfit, again.  According to eyewitnesses’ testimonies to a
PCHR fieldworker, the settlers were masked and threw rocks the same way, using
a slingshot, at the shepherds.  As a
result, Sari Nimer Mahmoud Abdel-Razeq 22 sustained a fracture in his right
leg.  He was transported to Martyr Yassir
‘Arafat Hospital in Salfit.

 

At evening hours on Sunday, 17 March
2013, a group of settlers from “Sidi Boaz” settlement outpost,
established on the western side of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem,
confiscated an old house in al-Ghaweet Valley area, adjacent to the
aforementioned outpost.  The house
belongs to Sa’id Khader Sobaih 70.  The
settlers installed chairs inside the house and used it for gatherings and
picnics.  They also planted the
surrounding tract of land with various seedlings, including olives, figs and
apricots.  According to Ahmed Salah’s,
coordinator of the Popular Committee against Settlement Activity, testimony to
a PCHR fieldworker, the settlers confiscated the house gradually, one day a
time, under the protection of the Israeli forces, in order to add it to the
expanding outpost.

 

At early morning hours on Monday, 18
March 2013, a group of settlers from “Beit ‘Ein” settlement,
established on Palestinian civilians lands western of Beit Ummar village, north
of Hebron, broke and cut the branches of 27 fruitful olive trees aged between
30 and 40 years.  The attacked occurred
in a tract of land in Abul-Reish Valley area, west of the aforementioned
village, approximately 1 kilometer from the settlement.  The attacked trees belong to Hammad
Abdel-Hamid Jaber al-Salyey 87.  In his
testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Hammad al-Salyey said: “At approximately
07:30 on Monday, 18 March 2013, I headed towards my land, located in Abul-Reish
valley area, approximately 1 kilometer from “Beit ‘Ein”
settlement.  I was shocked to find that
the branches of 27 olive trees between 35 to 40 years old were cut and broken
using chainsaws and hands.  Approximately
half an hour later, a number of settlers attacked me and started throwing rocks
at me; therefore, I left the area.”

 

 

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 08 282
4776 – 282 5893.