Destruction
incurred by Israeli forces to al-Kaabna Bedouin community in Beit Hanina
village near Jerusalem

 

Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians
and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

      

 

A civilian was killed and 3 others were wounded,
including 2 children, in an excessive use of lethal forces in Jenin refugee
camp.

2 civilians sustained bullet wounds during clashes in
the West Bank.

2 children were wounded when they were near the border
fence in Jabalia village in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force
against peaceful protesters in the West Bank.

 

Dozens of
protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises due to Israeli
soldiers’ attacks.

 

 

Israeli forces conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank.

 

At
least 31 Palestinian civilians, including 2
brothers and 3 children, were arrested.

 

Israeli forces arrested 3 Palestinian civilians while
swimming in the sea in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

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

Israeli
forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.

A Palestinian civilian was arrested at a checkpoint in
the West Bank.

 

Israel has continued its measures to create Jewish
majority in occupied East Jerusalem.

Palestinians were forced to demolish their own houses
in Sour Baher and the Old Town.

An image and a stereograph of a synagogue to be
established in al-Aqsa mosque was disclosed.

Al-Ka’bnah Bedouin community in Beit Hanina village
was demolished under the pretext of not obtaining construction license.

A room of a house, retaining walls and a metal gate in
Selwan village, al’Abasiya neighbourhood and Wadi neighbourhood were demolished.
    

 

 

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

10 fruitful olive trees (over 30 years old) in
al-Hamra area were cut by saws.

A civilian from Mekhmas village sustained serious
wounds in the head and fractures in the hand due to settler attack.

A house made of tin and wood, east of al-Jiftlek
village, north of Jericho, was demolished.     

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
(15 – 21 August 2013).

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a
Palestinian civilian and wounded 5 others, including 2 children, in 3 separate
incidents in the West Bank. Moreover, they wounded another 2 children in the
northern Gaza Strip while they were present near the border fence, east of
Jabalia.

 

In the West Bank, on 20 August 2013, in an excessive
use of lethal forces, Israeli forces killed Majd Mohammed Lahlouh (al-Shahla)
(21) and wounded 3 others, including 2 children, during clashes that erupted in
Jenin refugee camp, in the north of the West Bank.

 

A day before, Shalash Yasser Hamamrah (22) was wounded
by a bullet in the left leg during an Israeli incursion into Jaba’ village,
south of Jenin.

 

On 22 August 2013, a 21-year-old civilian was wounded
by a bullet to the left leg when Israeli forces moved into al-Dhaisha refugee
camp in Bethlehem and clashes erupted.

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces continued
the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by
Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of
the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  As a result, dozens suffered tear gas
inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 20 August 2013, Israeli forces
stationed along the border fence, east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip,
opened fire at a group of boys who were about 300 meters away from the fence in
between al-Shuhada’ cemetery and Abu Safiya area, east of Jabalia. As a result,
2 children from Jabalia refugee camp were wounded. It should be mentioned that
area is completely calm when fire was opened.

  

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 56 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 31 Palestinians, including 2
brothers and 3 children.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 17 August 2013, Israeli forces
arrested 3 civilian from al-Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza city, while
swimming off Beit Lahia shore, in the northern Gaza Strip. The three of them
has not been released yet.     

 

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 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 Israeli authorities impose measures to
undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip
population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 7
consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate
the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other
countries around the world. This resulted in a grave violation of the economic,
social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7
million people.  The Israeli authorities
has established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports
and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy that
has been aggravating for years due to the shortage of imports.  They also aim at imposing a complete ban on
the Gaza Strip’s exports. 

 

Israeli forces 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.

 

As part of using military checkpoints and border
crossings as traps to arrest Palestinian civilians under the pretext they are
wanted, Israeli forces arrested at least 6 civilians, including 3 children.

Efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East
Jerusalem

On 17 August 2013, Ziad Amira (49), from Sour Baher
village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, was forced to demolish his own house,
as the Israeli municipal court issued a decision to completely demolish the
house and present photos of the demolition in the coming hearing at the court.

 

In the same context, the family of Adnan al-Sharbati
removed tin plates protecting the house that is located in Aqabat al-Khaldiya
area in the old town of Jerusalem. This occurred in order to apply a court
decision in this regard and to avoid evacuating the place. Al-Sharbati family fixed
the plates over the 50-square-meter house to protect it from rain 20 years ago.

 

On Sunday, 18 August 2013, the Israeli
“Yishai” association disclosed an image and stereograph of a
synagogue to be established in al-Aqsa Mosque. The association pointed out that
the small project is a step towards the larger one which is the construction of
the claimed temple in place of al-Aqsa Mosque.

 

On 19 August 2013, Israeli forces demolished
al-Ka’abna Bedouin community in Beit Hanina, north of occupied East Jerusalem,
under the pretext of non-licensing.

 

On 20 August 2013, Israeli forces demolished a room of
a house, retaining walls and a metal gate in Selwan village, south of the old
town under the pretext of non-licensing as well.

 

They then moved into al-Abasiya neighbourhood and
demolished retaining walls belonging to Nidal Ramadan. It should be noted this
is the second time these walls were demolished. Moreover, in Wadi Helwa
neighbourhood, Israeli forces demolished a metal gate of a 3-storey building
belonging to al-Abassi family.         

Settlement activities:

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

 

On 15 August 2013, a group of settlers from
“Ma’oun” settlement that is established on lands of Yatta village,
south of Hebron, cut 10 fruitful olive trees (over 30 years old) with saws in
al-Hamra area to the east of al-Tawani village, east of the city.

 

On 18 August 2013, 6 masked settlers from
“Migron” settlement that is established on lands of Mekhmas village,
southeast of Ramallah, attacked Najeh Thalji Abu Ali (47) from Mekhmas. They
attacked him harshly while he was grazing the sheep in the area. As a result,
he sustained serious wounds in the head, fractures in the hand and bruises
throughout his body. Besides, 2 sheep were killed.

 

On the same
day, a group of settlers from “Mitzpe Yair ” settlement that is
established on lands of Yatta, south of Hebron, closed with rocks and tyres a
dirt road leading to Beer al-‘Add to deny civilians access to their homes.

 

On 20 August
2013, Israeli forces demolished a house made of tin and wood belonging to
Mahmoud Ali Ka’abna (35) in al-Sanouba area, to the east of al-Jiftlek village,
north of Jericho.

 

Also on the
same day, settlers moved into Joseph Tomb area in Nablus in the northern West
Bank. They performed Talmudic rituals under the protection of Israeli forces
that fired tear gas canisters at the Palestinian young men protesting there
against the settler raids.  

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
(15 -21 August 2013)

 

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

Thursday, 15 August 2013

 

At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into
Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets and positioned themselves near the
governmental hospital in the centre of the city, where they were seen detaining
a group of young men and checking their ID cards. Israeli forces handed the
family of Baker Mohammed Kharyoush (22) a notice for him to refer to the
Israeli intelligence service in the Israeli Liaison office, southwest of
Tulkarm. Israeli forces withdrew later. No further incidents were
reported.   

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
Sanjer neighbourhood to the east of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled
the streets and deployed between the houses. They raided a house belonging to
the family of Hatem Naji Amr (45). They arrested the aforementioned person and
took him to an unknown destination. 

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into the
south of Hebron (al-Fahs). They patrolled the streets and raided 2 houses
belonging to al-Najjar family. Israeli forces arrested 3 civilians, including 2
brothers and a child:

1. Hosni Mohammed al-Najjar (24);

2. Hamza Mohammed al-Najjar (20); and

3. Ammar Amin al-Najjar (17).

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Yatta,
south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the
family of Tayseer Ibrahim Hreizat (18). They arrested the aforementioned person
and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Samou’ village, south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Suleiman Abu Saif. They withdrew
later and no arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 03:20, Israeli forces moved into
Za’tarah village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging
to the family of Hazem Hashem Abu Mahamid (32). They arrested the
aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.       

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village,
west of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Sofyan Mohammed Awad. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin refugee camp in Jenin. They patrolled the streets. They then raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Hassan Shabrawi (32), and
arrested him. They also raided a house belonging to the family of Fadi Kamal
Sabagh (31) and arrested him. Meanwhile, a number of young men gathered and
threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs in response. Eyewitnesses said to a PCHR fieldworker
they had clashes with Israeli forces in different places, including Haifa Street,
al-Jaberiyat area, the entrance of the refugee camp and around Martyr Khalil
Suleiman Governmental Hospital. As a result of the clashes, a number of
civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into
Mothallath al-Aqaba area, to the south of the city, southwest of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets and closed the road linking Doura with its western
villages for half an hour. Israeli forces withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into the
area between Kherbet al-Berka and Kherbet Khellet al-Mayyeh to the east of
Yatta, south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Ghaleb Salem Meghnem (53). They arrested the
aforementioned person and his son Lo’ay (21).

 

Friday, 16 August 2013

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Samou’ village, south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and deployed
between the houses. They raided a house belonging to the al-Mahariq family from
which they arrested 2 brothers: Mohammed Ahmed al-Mahariq (30) and his son Ayed
Ahmed al-Mahariq (27).

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Arrounb refugee camp, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some
time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Awwa village, southwest of Doura, south west of Hebron. They patrolled the
streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ayman Abdul
Hadi al-Sweiti (34). They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an
unknown destination.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Abu
Kteila neighbourhood, in the centre of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and
raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Slman Na’im al-Qawasmi
(33). They arrested the aforementioned person and withdrew later.

 

At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Tabaqa village, to the south of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled
the streets, where some boys gathered and threw stones at
the Israeli soldiers who fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs in response.
As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into
Qabatia village, south of Jenin. They patrolled the streets, where some boys
gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who fired tear gas canisters
and sound bombs in response. Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Mentar area, to the north of Azzoun village, east of Qalqilia. They combed
the area under the pretext that a vehicle with an Israeli registration plate
was stoned. Israeli forces withdrew. Neither casualties nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 21:30, Israeli forces moved into
Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Jarir village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:40, Israeli forces moved into
Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.   

 

Saturday, 17 August 2013

 

At approximately 01:40, Israeli forces moved into
al-Shawawrah village, east of Bethlehem. They raided a house belonging to the
family of Hesham Issa al-Dar’awi (26). They handed him a notice to refer to the
Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of
the city.

 

At
approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into Kherbatha al-Mesbah village,
west of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 18:00, Israeli gunboats stationed in the sea arrested 3 civilians
from al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, while they were swimming off
Beit Lahia shore in the northern Gaza Strip. The arrested are:

1. Mahmoud Ghazi Abu Halima (18);

2. Mahmoud Maher Kalloub (19); and

3. Abdul Karim Karem Kalloub (19).

 

A PCHR fieldworker reported that there was
no information at what distance the 3 civilians were arrested while swimming.
However, their families resorted to PCHR’s Legal Aid Unit to follow-up their
sons’ detention conditions and place.

 

At
approximately 21:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Our al-Tahta village,
southwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 18 August
2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces
moved into Beit Qadd village, east of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and
raided a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Omar Khalil (22). They handed
him a notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in Salem detention
facility, northwest of Jenin. Israeli forces withdrew later. 

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces
moved into Faqou’a village, northeast of Jenin. 
They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of
Kefah Hani Shaheen (20). They handed them a notice for their son Kefah to refer
to the Israeli intelligence service at Salem detention facility, northwest of
Jenin. Israeli forces withdrew later.   

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved
into Nablus and Balatah refugee camp in the city. They patrolled the streets, where
a number of young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles. Israeli
soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response to disperse them.
As a result, some civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. However, no arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 02:40, Israeli forces
moved into Beit Fajjar village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Kamel Thawabta (24). They
arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 03:10, Israeli forces
moved into Bethlehem. They patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses.
In al-Khader village, south of the city, Israeli forces raided a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Adeeb Mousa (30). In Ayda refugee camp,
north of the city, they raided a house belonging to the family of Ramzi Jouda
Masa’eed (38), while in al-Douha town, west of the city, they raided a house
belonging to the family of Morad Ibrahim al-Mahsiri (24). They handed all of
them notices to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh
Etzion” settlement south of the city.

 

At approximately 09:30, Israeli forces
moved into Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets and
raided a number of houses, whose owners were handed notices to halt
construction for not obtaining construction licenses. The houses belong to:
Ouda Khaled Arman, Khaled Nasser Arman, Belal Adnan al-Seddah, Mohammed
Abdullah al-Seddah, Iyad Tayseer Yamin, Baha’ Mahmoud Abu Baker, Jamal Mahmoud
Abu Baker, Seddiq Ahmed Abu Baker, Hekmat Hassan Yamin and Tamer Tayseer Yamin.

 

At approximately 12:30, Israeli forces
moved into Deir Abu Da’if village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled the
streets, detained a number of passers-by and questioned them on the spot.
Israeli forces then raided and searched a commercial store. They withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces
moved into Beita village, east of Nablus. They patrolled the streets where a
number of young men threw stones and empty bottles. Israeli forces fired sound
bombs and tear gas canisters in response to disperse them. As a result, some
civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces withdrew and no arrests
were reported.     

 

Monday 19 August 2013

 

At
approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Asirah al-Shamaliya village,
north of Nablus. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.
No arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 00:45, Israeli forces moved into Silet
al-Harithiya village, north of Jenin. They patrolled the streets, where some
boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers who
fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. However, no arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and positioned themselves in the centre of the
village. They also raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Emad
Abdul Aziz al-Batran (40). Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests were
reported. It should be noted that al-Batran is on hunger strike in an Israeli
jail for about 90 days in protest to his administrative detention. He stopped
the strike this week due to the deterioration of his health conditions.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Jawabrah neighbourhood at the entrance
of al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. Dozens of boys gathered and threw
stones at the Israeli soldiers who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in
response. As a result, the family of Hafs Mahmoud Jawabrah (28) suffered tear
gas inhalation as a gas canister landed around the house. Israeli forces
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 01:11, Israeli forces moved into al-Abaidiya village, east of
Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed
Mahmoud al-Assa (21). They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to
an unknown destination. Israeli forces also raided a house belonging to the
family of Yehia Isma’il al-Assa (24). They handed him a notice to refer to the
Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of
the city.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Tabaqa village, to the south
of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Salamah Salamah al-Hreibat (70). They arrested his
son Aref (30). Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging
to the family of Yusef Salamah Abu Rass (40). They arrested the aforementioned
person and withdrew at approximately 03:30.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets and positioned themselves at the entrance of Erq
al-Latoun neighbourhood, north of the village. They deployed between the houses
and raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Mahmoud
Ikhmais. They arrested his son Anwar (22) and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets and raided and searched 6 houses belonging to:
Mohammed Jawdat Abu Oun (29); Hassan Ahmed Khalilia (57); Ahmed Shalash Hamour
“Hamamrah” (61); Farahat Khaled Fawakhriya (44); Lotfi Taher Malaysha
(24) and Faraj Hosni Malaysha (46). Israeli forces questioned the houses’
occupants on the spot. Meanwhile, a number of young men gathered and threw stones
and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers who fired sound bombs and tear gas
canisters in response. As a result, Shalash Yassir Shalash “Hamamrah”
(22) was wounded by a bullet to the left leg. Moreover, dozens of civilians
suffered tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces withdrew later.

 

At
approximately 02:35, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia. They patrolled the
streets and raided and searched a number of houses and commercial stores. They
arrested 3 civilians and took them to an unknown destination. The arrested
were:

1. Mo’tasem Mahmoud Shawer (30);

2. Murad Suleiman Abu Shehab (32); and

3. Abdul Rahman Bassam Abu Khadija (31).

  

At
approximately 02:40, Israeli forces moved into al-Aroub refugee camp, north of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and positioned themselves in the south of
the camp. they raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Banat family from
which they arrested Mo’amer Is’haq Banat (28) and Yasser Mohammed Banat (29).

 

At
approximately 02:50, Israeli forces moved into Kherbatha al-Mesbah village,
southwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Baha’ Samih Darraj (22). They arrested the
aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 14:45, Israeli forces moved into Ezbet al-Tabib village, east of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 15:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Hawooz al-Awal in the centre
of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched the Charitable
Society for Orphans. Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to Abu maria
family. They arrested Rebhi Falah Abu Maria (16) and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

At
approximately 15:35, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia. They patrolled the
streets and raided a blacksmith workshop. They detained its owner Omar Basem
Diab and released him later. Israeli forces withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 17:30, an Israeli undercover unit sneaked into Jenin using a
small Mercedes pickup and a Volkswagen vehicle. They raided a gas station on
Haifa Street, northwest of the city. They detained one of the workers namely
Ehab Jamil Salama (26) to open the room designated for surveillance cameras of
the station. However, he told them that owners of the station had the keys.
When Israeli unit members failed to open the room, they started beating and
kicking Salama and withdrew later.    

 

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into the southeast of Azzoun village,
east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets, combed the area using sniffer
dogs and withdrew later.   

 

Tuesday, 20 August 2013

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
Nablus. They patrolled the streets and positioned themselves in Ras al-Ein
area, west of the city. They raided a number of houses from which they arrested
3 civilians:

1. Mohammed Moyaser Ayyoub (20);

2. Naji Mostafa Tabouq (22); and

3. Emad Fat’hi al-Bustami (23).

In the meantime, some young me gathered and threw
stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers who fired tear gas canisters and
sound bombs in response. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas
inhalation.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Jenin.
They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Abdullah Ahmed Khamaisa (30). They arrested the aforementioned person
and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli force moved into Jenin
and Jenin refugee camp. They patrolled the streets firing sound bombs. They
then raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Yusef Emad Amer
“al-Shita” (21). They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Qufin,
north of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

In an excessive use of lethal force, on Tuesday
morning, Israeli occupation forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 3
others, including 2 children, in Jenin refugee camp in the northern West
Bank. 

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 04:30 on Tuesday, 20 August 2013, Israeli forces in 12 military
vehicles moved into Jenin refugee camp.  They patrolled the streets and
surrounded a house belonging to the family of Bassm al-Sa’di, a leader of
Islamic Jihad.  They then raided and searched the house.  In the
meantime, a number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw
stones and empty bottles at the Israeli forces.  Immediately, Israeli
soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters
and sound bombs at the stone throwers.  As a result, Majd Mohammed Lahlouh
“al-Shahla”, 21, was seriously wounded by a live bullet to the
chest.  He was evacuated to Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin, but
medical efforts to save his life failed.  According to medical sources,
the bullet entered al-Shahla’s right armpit and settled in his heart. 
Additionally, another 3 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded:

 

1- ‘Alaa’ Jamal Abu Khalifa, 17, wounded by a live
bullet to the side;

2- Kareem Subhi Abu Sbaih, 17, wounded by a live
bullet to the side; and

3- Hadi Jamal Lahlouh, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated
metal bullet to the chest.

 

At approximately 18:45, Israeli forced stationed along
the border fence, east of Jabalia, opened fire at a group of boys who were
about 300 meters away from the fence in the area between al-Shuhada’ cemetery
and Abu Safiya area. East of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip. As a result,
2 children were wounded. It should be noted that it was completely calm when
fire was opened at the boys. The wounded were:

1. Lo’ay Tal’at al-Mabhouh (17), from Jabalia refugee
camp. He was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, another bullet to the right
thigh and shrapnel in the head. Medical sources described his wounds as
moderate; and

2. Hassan Soheil Abu Aita (16), from Jabalia refugee
camp. He was wounded by a bullet to the left leg. Medical sources described his
wound as moderate as well.

According to investigation conducted by PCHR and
statement of al-Mabhouh, on Tuesday afternoon, 20 August 2013, al-Mabhouh with
6 of his friends went to visit a friend whose family has a farmland in the east
of Jabalia. They then decided to walk towards the border fence. They were about
300 meters away from the fence. They did not notice anything strange, because
the area was open with no trees or plants around. Suddenly, they heard gunfire.
Al-Mabhouh was wounded by a bullet to the left leg and another bullet to the
right thigh. Besides, Hassan Abu Aita (16) was wounded by a bullet to the left
thigh. He could run with the help of his friends about 500 away from the fence.
They hid behind a small hill, when they heard Israeli soldiers ordering them to
stop. Israeli forces continued firing at them though. Al-Mabhouh highlighted
that he saw 5 Israeli soldiers by a military jeep near the border fence. One of
the boys called the ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. The
ambulance arrived and took the wounded to Martyr Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit
Lahia. Medical sources described their wounds as moderate.    

 

At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Marba’area, between Tal and Eraq Burin villages, south of Nablus. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 21 August 2013

 

At approximately 01:15, Israeli forces moved into Beer
al-Basha village, south of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 02:10, Israeli forces moved into
al-Dhaisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem. They patrolled the streets,
where some boys gathered and threw stones at them. Israeli soldiers fired
rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters in response and wounded
Karam Nasser Abed Rabbu (21) in his left leg. Karam was taken to Beit Jala
Hospital. His health condition was described as stable. Moreover, a number of
boys suffered tear gas inhalation and Israeli forces arrested Ahmed Mohammed
Abu Ghorfa “Zarouq” (17).

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Doha area, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Anas Adnan Malash (17). They arrested Malash and took him to an
unknown destination.

 

2. Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting
settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall

 

During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used
excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian
civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West
Bank.  As a result, dozens suffered tear
gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

 

Following the Friday Prayer, 16 August 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities,
marking Jerusalem International Day and supporting the Negev residents against
Brawer Plan. The demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag and made their way
towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the wall gate with barbwire
and when the demonstrators attempted to access the lands behind the barbwire,
they were stopped by Israeli soldiers. The demonstrators threw stones at the
Israeli soldiers who responded with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal
bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, and chased them across olive fields
as far as the outskirts of the village. As a result, dozens of demonstrators
suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Also, following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international
and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Ni’lin
village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation
wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators made their way towards the
annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the wall gate with barbwire and, when
the demonstrators attempted to access the lands behind the barbwire, they were
stopped by Israeli soldiers. The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli
soldiers who responded with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound
bombs, and tear gas canisters, and chased them across olive fields as far as
the outskirts of the village. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Around the same time on Friday, dozens of Palestinian
civilians, Israeli and international human rights activists gathered at
the Martyrs Square in al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to hold a
weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activities. The protesters walked towards Palestinian lands that
Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halmish” settlement are trying to
seize.  From the morning, Israeli forces
had closed all entrances to the village to prevent Palestinians, international
activists, and journalists from joining the demonstration.  Upon their arrival in the area, Israeli
soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs, and tear
gas canisters, chased the demonstrators into the village and sprayed them and
civilian houses with waste water. As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffered
tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday prayer, dozens of
Palestinian civilians from al-Ma’sarah village, south of Bethlehem, and a
number of international activists and popular resistance activists organized a
peaceful demonstration against the annexation wall and settlement activities.
They gathered in front of al-Shomou’ Cultural Centre in the centre of the
village and made their way through the village streets and closed the bypass
road linking “Afrat” settlement and Taqou’ village for half an hour.
Israeli forces dispersed the demonstration and attacked the protestors. They
also arrested activists Mohammed Alaa’ al-Din (28), Mo’athe Ahmed al-Lahham
(26) and other Italian activists. Moreover, they detained Abdul Rahman Yunis
(25), al-Quds.com cameraman, for an hour. Hassan Breijah, coordinator of the
popular resistance against settlement, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that clashes
erupted between the village residents and Israeli forces who chased them inside
the village in an attempt to arrest and attack them.

 

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

 

Israeli forces continuously tightens the
closure of the Gaza Strip and closes all commercial crossings , making the Karm
Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it
is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity
and distance from markets.

 

Israeli forces have continued to apply the
policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by
imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.

 

The total closure of al-Mentar
(“Karni”) crossing since 02 March 2011 has seriously affected the
economy of the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all economic and commercial
establishments in the 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 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.

 

Israeli forces 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 of the Gaza
Strip.

 

The cooking gas crisis has ranged between
the ebb and flow for 3 months due to the closure of Karm Abu Salem for security
reasons.  According to PCHR’s follow-up,
Israeli authorities only allow around 98 tonnes of cooking gas into Gaza per
day.  This limited quantity is less than
half of the daily needs, which is 200 tonnes per day, of the civilian
population in the Gaza Strip during the winter.

 

For almost 6
consecutive years, Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of
construction materials to the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, Israeli
forces approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials
for a number of international organisations in the Gaza Strip.  Israeli forces also continued to impose
almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and
industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers,
strawberries, and spices.

 

Israel has continued to
close the Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing for the majority of Palestinian
citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited
number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel
has 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 East Jerusalem. Israel
denied permission to access hospitals via the crossing for new categories of
patients from the Gaza Strip.

 

For around a year and a
half, Israeli forces have allowed Palestinian detainees’ families to visit
their sons in the Israeli jails according to special and unfair conditions
after more than 5 years of deprivation in violation of international
humanitarian law.

 

The Egyptian
authorities allow the population of the Gaza Strip to travel via Rafah
International crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip with the outside
world.  Only limited and specified
categories are allowed, including patients, students, persons that hold
residencies in Egypt or abroad, men over 40 years, females in all ages,
children under 18, persons who hold Arab and foreign nationalities, and members
of Arab and international humanitarian delegations.  It should be mentioned that the crossing
opens seven days a week.  Nowadays, the
crossing is overcrowded due to the prolonged procedures from the Egyptian side,
particularly after closing it for several days over the past weeks due to
Egypt’s security conditions, which has affected the travellers’ movement in
both directions.

 

Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing, in the north
of the Gaza Strip, is dedicated for the movement of individuals, and links the
Gaza Strip with the West Bank.

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing

 14-20 August
2013

 

 

 

 

 

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point 31 July- 13 August
2013

 

The Egyptian Authorities re-opened Rafah
International Crossing Pont, after closing it for 5 days, to the humanitarian
cases, patients, holders of foreign passports and holders of residency permits,
and the crossing was opened only for 4 hours daily.  It should be mentioned that the crossing was
closed in light of updates that Egypt witnessed and the intervention of the
Egyptian Army to oust President Mohammed Morsi following protests in the
Egyptian cities at the end June.

 

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

 14-20 August
2013

 

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing

From 14-20 August 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Exports:

 

On Sunday, 18 August 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 180 kilos of mint and 360 kilos of garlic leaves.

 

Other Imports:

 

 

On Wednesday, 14 August 2013, Israeli
forces allowed the entry of 980 tonnes of construction aggregates for the
private sector; 144 tonnes of cement, 50 tonnes of construction steel and 980
tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA. 
They also allowed the entry of 702 tonnes of fodders and 209 tonnes of
wheat.

On Thursday, 15 August 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 910 tonnes of construction aggregates for the private
sector; 1,680 tonnes of construction aggregates for the UNDP; and 560 tonnes of
construction aggregates, 40 tonnes of cement and 29 tonnes of construction
steel for the German Development Bank.

On Sunday, 18 August 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 980 tonnes of construction aggregates for the private
sector; 26 tonnes of construction steel for the UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 819 tonnes of
fodders and 975 tonnes of wheat.

On Monday, 19 August 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 184 tonnes of cement, 2,030 tonnes of construction
aggregates and 33 tonnes of steel for the UNRWA; 910 tonnes of construction
aggregate for the private sector; and 80 tonnes of construction aggregates for
the UNDP.  They also allowed the entry of
585 tonnes of fodders and 546 tonnes of wheat.

On Tuesday, 20 August 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 80 tonnes of cement and 2100 tonnes of construction
aggregates for the UNRWA.  They also
allowed the entry if 624 tonnes of fodders and 897 tonnes of wheat.

 

Empty Plastic
Containers Returned to Israel via Karm Abu Salem

 

 

 

On Wednesday, 14 August 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 4 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On Thursday, 14 August 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 4 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On Sunday, 18 August 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 5 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On Monday, 19 August 2013, Israeli forces allowed 3 truckloads of empty
plastic containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On Tuesday, 20 August 2013, Israeli forces allowed 4 truckloads of empty
plastic containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

 

 

Israel has
imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli
forces 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 09:30
on Friday, 16 August 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 10:30 on
Saturday, 17 August 2013, Israeli forces re-established at ‘Atara checkpoint at the northern
entrance of Bir Zeit, north of Ramallah, and prevented people from entering or
leaving through the checkpoint.  They
withdrew later, and no arrests were reported. It should be mentioned that the aforementioned
checkpoint links the north of the West Bank with the south and centre of
it.  Moreover, Israeli forces evacuated
the checkpoint of its soldiers, but they have not removed cement cubes and a
watch tower from the place.  They
re-establish from time to time at the aforementioned checkpoint.  At approximately 17:30, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta, southwest of
Ramallah.

 

At approximately 17:30 on
Sunday, 18 August 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance
of Beit Loqaya village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They later withdrew, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 19:00, they established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of
al-Tibah, northeast of Ramallah.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 20:30, another checkpoint
was established at the entrance of Qabia village, west of Ramallah.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Jericho: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
11:00 on Sunday, 18 August 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on al-Mo’arajat
Road between Jericho and Ramallah.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 21:00, they established a
checkpoint near the southern entrance of Jericho.  They prevented Palestinians from leaving or
entering the aforementioned entrance. 
The checkpoint was removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

Hebron: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
18:00 on Thursday, 15 August 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at
the eastern entrance of Dura, southwest of Hebron.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:30 on Friday, 16 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee
camp, south of Hebron.  The checkpoint
was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 16:00, another checkpoint
was established on the area of ‘Aqba Triangle, which connects Dura with its
western villages, southwest of Hebron.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  Around the same time, they established a
similar checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:00 on Monday, 19 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee
camp, north of Hebron.  At approximately
10:00, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:30 on Wednesday, 21 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of
Hebron.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported. 

 

Nablus: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 18 August
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of the ‘Asir
al-Qabalia intersection, south of Nablus. 
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 11:30, another checkpoint
was established at the intersection of Bita village, southeast of Nablus.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 19 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Nablus, “the
main road between Nablus and its eastern villages known as “al-Bazan Road”,
east of Nablus.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 10:30, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Beit Forik village, east of Nablus.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 13:00, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Wazen village, west of Nablus “the
western entrance of Nablus”.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 16:00, another checkpoint
was established at the inetersection of Etsar, north of Nablus.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 00:30 on Tuesday, 20 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Asiret al-Qabalia
intersection, south of Nablus.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 13:00, they established a
similar checkpoint o the main road between Nablus and Qalqilya near the
intersection of Sorah village, southwest of Nablus.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported..  At approximately
13:30, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Beit Forik
village, east of Nablus.  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 16:40
on Monday, 19 August 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.  At approximately
16:55, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun
village near the entrance of al-Nabil Elyas village, east of Qalqilya.  At approximately 17:40, the checkpoint was
removed, and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 22:15, another checkpoint was established at the
entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya. 
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 17:30 on Friday, 16 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between the villages
of Beer al-Basha and al-Shuhadaa’, south of Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 17 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Jalboun village,
north east of Jenin.  The checkpoint was
later removed, and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 19:30, another checkpoint was established at the
western entrance of Zebdah, southwest of Jenin. 
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30 on Sunday, 18 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ya’abod, southwest
of Jenin.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 12:30, they established another checkpoint at the
intersection of Beit Qad village, northeast of Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:30 on Monday, 19 August 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint on the road between the villages of Zaboubah
and Te’anak, northwest of Jenin.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 20 August 2013,
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.

 

At approximately 01:15 on Wednesday, 21 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Jenin city and
Tulkarm and Nablus cities near the intersection of ‘Arrabah village, south of
Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported.

 

Tulkarm:  Israeli forces
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.  At approximately 20:00 on
Thursday, 15 August 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road
between the villages of ‘Ezbet Shofah and Shofah, southeast of Tulkarm, in
order to prevent the entry of Israeli cars into the village and return them
back to Tulkarm and then to the bypass road, which leads to Jbarah crossing
that separates Israeli from the 1967 occupied territories.

 

At approximately 00:10 on Friday, 16 August 2013,
Israeli forces tightened stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint, which is established on
the main road between Tulakrm and Nablus, tightened its arbitary measures
against Palestinians.  The tightening
later ended, and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 09:30, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of ‘Ezbet Shofah village, southeast of Tulkarm.  While a civilian car, in which there were 5
General Intelligence officers from Beit Leed village, east of Tulakrm, was
passing, Israeli forces detained them and the vehicle.  The five officers were identified as; Munir
Mahmoud ‘Abdel Rahman Zabadi (44), ‘Abdel Jalil Hasan Hamidi (37), Wadi’a Kamel
Mustafa Rashed (33), Thafer Mohammed ‘Abdullah ‘Atallah (37) and Diaa’ Nadi
Mohammed Zabadi (33).  They later allowed
the vehicle to pass, and the checkpoint was removed.  No arrests were reported.

 

Salfit: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 23:00
on Thursday, 15 August 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Borqeen village, west of Salfit.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 00:10 on Friday, 16 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Deir Balout
village, west of Salfit.  At
approximately 13:30, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:20 on Saturday, 17 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of
Salfit.  The checkpoint was later removed
and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 00:10 on Sunday, 18 August 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kafr al-Deek
village, west of Salfit.  At
approximately 12:30, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests at
military checkpoints

 

At approximately 14:30 on Tuesday, 20
August 2013, Israeli forces stationed at Hawarah checkpoint, which is
established at the southern entrance of Nablus, arrested ‘Arfat Sa’id ‘Abdul
Qader (23), from ‘Atil village, north of Tulkarm, and took him to an unknown
destination while he was passing through the aforementioned checkpoint.

 

 

5. Effort to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem

 

· On Saturday 17 August 2013, Ziad Mostafa Amira (49)
from Sour Baher village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, was forced to
demolish his own house, as a decision was issued by the Israeli municipal court
to make him demolish the house and present images of the demolition to the
court in the coming hearing.

 

Amira said to Wadi Helwa information centre that his 100-squre-meter
house consists of 3 rooms and shelters 9 members: his elderly mother (85), he
and his wife, and their 6 children (the eldest is 24 and the youngest is 15).
Amira said he had built the house 15 years ago. He could move in after 2 years
of building the house, as he was forced to sell his wife’s jewels to help him
finish the house. The first decision to demolish the house was issued 20 days
after we moved in there. Amira could delay the demolition for the whole past
years and paid large amounts of money to lawyers. Moreover, he paid over NIS
75,000 as building encroachments.

 

Amira added in May, the municipal court issued a
decision to demolish the house under the pretext of not obtaining a construction
licebse. They also threatened that the Israeli vehicles would do the demolition
and fine him NIS 73,000 as demolition fees. He added “I demolished the
house myself and rented a bulldozer. We demolished the house and a
70-square-meter terrace. To demolish the house, it cost me NIS 25,000.”

 

It should be noted Israeli forces adopt a policy of forcing
Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem to demolish their houses themselves.
Some of them are obliged to do this in order to avoid the expensive fines for construction
with no licenses, avoid the costs of the Israeli demolition vehicles that apply
the demolition decision and payments of workers who take the house contents
out.

 

· In the same context, the family of Adnan al-Sharbati
removed tin plates protecting the house that is located in Aqabat al-Khaldiya
area in the old town. This occurred in order to apply a court decision in this
regard and to avoid evacuating the place. Al-Sharbati family fixed the plates
over the 50-square-meter house to protect it from rain 20 years ago.

 

Kayed al-Sharbati said that “Ateret Cohanim”
association keeps pursuing his family, because it claimed the family had built
a bathroom inside the house although the bathroom (1.5 x 1.5 meters) was
originally built when the house was built. He added: “We paid NIS 35,000
for the association, NIS 15,000 for the lawyer to prove the bathroom was
originally part of the house, and NIS 20,000 for years to obtain an aerial
image of the bathroom.” The house seizes Adnan al-Sharbati, his wife, 5
children and grandchildren for years.     

 

· On Monday early morning, 19 August 2013, Israeli
forces bulldozed Madareb Bado al-Ka’abneh in Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem
under the pretext of no license for construction.

 

Mohammed Ka’abneh, who lives in the area,
said that at approximately 06:00, Israeli forces, accompanied with police
forces and a number of the Israeli Municipality bulldozers, moved into Madareb
‘Arab al-Ka’abneh.  They evacuated 11
tents and completely bulldozed them.  As
a result, 53 persons living in them were displaced.  He also added that that the destruction
decision was issued y the Israeli authorities 3 months ago in order to be
implemented in any moment.  He also
pointed out that all residents of the tents, including him, are brothers and
belong to one family living in their tents, which are established on
Palestinian lands in Beit Hanina before 1967 with an agreement with the
expatriate owners in the United States. 
He also added that these authorities claim that they own those lands
according to “Absentee Property Law” and they announced their intention to
establish a military base on the mountain, on which the tents are
established.  Members of the tribe have
the West Bank ID card and live in 10-dunum lands in the boundaries of the
“Israeli Municipality”.  They are also
prevented from moving in the city with travel permits and in the same time it
is difficult for them to enter the West Bank through the checkpoints
established at the Jerusalem entrances. 
The annexation wall construction in the area isolated them from al-Ram
and Beir Nabala villages, Ramallah and al-Bireh.

 

It should be mentioned that ‘Atarote
Industrial settlement (Qalandia) is located in front of Bado al-Qa’abna, and
the annexation wall is to the left.  It
is also noteworthy that Israeli authorities work on chasing Bedouins all over
Jerusalem to gather them in an area, which is relatively away from their tents
in order to seize the lands, which the Bedouins live in, to use them for military
and settlement proposes.

 

· On Tuesday morning, 20 August 2013, Israeli forces
bulldozed a room of a house, retaining walls and an iron gate in Salwan
village, south of the old city in Jerusalem under the pretext of no
construction license.

According to information obtained by PCHR
from Helwah Valley Information Centre in Salwan village, at approximately 06:00
on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces, accompanied with special police
units, horse-riders, police dogs, Israeli Municipality officers, and Nature
Authority, moved into Salwan village. 
They deployed in all its streets and stationed in the area, where the
destruction works will be implemented. 
The Municipality bulldozers bulldozed a residential room belonging to
the family of Khaled al-Zir , who was surprised to find that Israeli forces,
accompanied with bulldozers, raided his land and room.  They forced him to vacate it immediately to
destroy it.  The 60-meter-square room was
established 7 years ago on the family land and is constructed from wood and
tin.  He lives with his family, including
the husband, wife and 5 children aged between 9 years old and 4 months.  They also uprooted a number of citrus and
olive trees planted in the land.

 

It should be mentioned that al-Zir had
received a decision from the Israeli Municipality to evacuate the land several
months ago, and he was able to postpone the implementation.  He was surprised on the aforementioned day
that Israeli forces came without a prior warning.  It should be also mentioned that the Nature
Authority claim that there are remnants buried in the lands that prove
existence of Jews in the area years ago depending on different pictures.
However, al-Zir denied the claims of the Antiquities Authority.

 

Following that, Israeli bulldozers went to
al-‘Abasiya neighbourhood and bulldozed the retaining walls, which was
established years ago, belonging to Nedal Ramadan.  It is noteworthy that it is the second
destruction of the walls.  In Helwa
Valley neighbourhood, Israeli bulldozers destroyed an iron gate of a 3-storey
building belonging to al-‘Abasi family.

 

Mahmoud Qara’ain, who works at Helwa Valley
Information centre, said that the “Nature Authority” has referred to “the Land
Clean-up Act” for the last two years in order to destroy rooms and bulldoze
vast areas as well as areas adjacent to its own lands to seize them.  They also do not give people enough time to
object the decision.  He also added that
the Nature Authority relied on “the Land Clean-up Act” to destroy the Cultural
café in Helwah Valley and to destroy a room and a house in al-Rababah Valley
neighbourhood as well as the bulldozing and destruction in the beginning o f
this year in al-‘Issawiyah.

 

· On Sunday, 18 August 2013, the Israeli
“Yishai” association disclosed an image and stereograph of a
synagogue to be established in al-Aqsa Mosque. The association pointed out the
project is making slight progress, but when they obtain consensus from all
those believing in the establishment of the Temple, the process will rapidly
improve. They also added this small project is a step towards the big one which
is the construction of the claimed temple in place of al-Aqsa mosque.

 

The association was recently registered in the
“Israeli Associations Register”. It encourages settlers and Jewish
school students in Israel to raid al-Aqsa Mosque on daily basis in order to
have a permanent connection with that place. The association considered,
according to Arab 48 website, the place of the claimed synagogue “is very
important and would be a connector between what is historic on and underneath
the ground.”

 

The association added the place was carefully studied;
it is the entrance of the Marwani Oratory, southeast of al-Aqsa Mosque. As a
result, Jewish control will expand over six thirds of the mosque. Beneath the
Marwani Oratory, there are 3 closed doors in the southern wall of the mosque.
In front of these doors, an entrance is being established to allow Jews enter
al-Aqsa Mosque. According to the association, there are thousands of
applications from Jews to pray in al-Aqsa Mosque and to establish a synagogue
inside, as the synagogue constitutes a foundation for a “bigger”
construction that would speed up the construction of the claimed Temple.   

 

6. Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian
civilians and property

 

 

· On Thursday, 15 August 2013, a group of Israeli
settlers from “Ma’oun” settlement that is established on lands of
Yatta village, south of Hebron, cut 10 fruitful olive trees (over 30 years old)
with saws in al-Hamra area, east of al-Tawani village, east of the city. The
trees belong to Nasser Mohammed Rab’i.  It
should be noted that in 2013, 3 settler attacks, including damaging and cutting
trees belonging to Rab’i family in al-Hamra area, took place in order to expand
“Ma’oun” settlement.

 

· At approximately 06:00 on Sunday, 18 August 2013, 6
masked settlers from “Migron” settlement that is established on lands
of Mekhmas village, southeast of Ramallah, attacked Najeh Thalji Abu Ali (47)
from Mekhmas. They attacked him harshly with pipes and sharp tools while he was
grazing the sheep in al-Helwa area, west of his village.  As a result, he sustained serious wounds in
the head, fractures in the hand and bruises throughout his body. Abu Ali was
taken by a private vehicle to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive
the necessary medical treatment. 
Besides, 2 sheep were killed as a result of the attack. He said in his
testimony to PCHR’s fieldworker:

 

“At approximately
06:00 on Sunday, 18 August 2013, I entered into a sewage line beneath street
(60) adjacent to “Migron” settlement that is established on the
landsof Mekhmas village. I was going to al-Helwa agricultural area to graze 150
sheep when 6 masked settlers surprised me on the other end of the sewage line.
They were holding pipes and sharp tools. I tried to escape backwards, but a
settler hit me by a sharp tool on my head. I directly failed to the ground and
they started attacking me. They also hit me with the pipes and sharp tools on
my head and throughout me body. I started crying for help and was bleeding,
during which I got fainted. I woke up while being carried by some persons to a
private vehicle. I was then taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. I
sustained a serious wound in the head, fractures in the hands and bruises
throughout my body. I learnt later from my sons that settlers slaughtered 2
sheep whereas abother 2 ones disappeared.” 
 

 

· On the same day, a group of settlers from “Mitzpe
Yair ” settlement that is established on lands of Yatta, south of Hebron,
closed with rocks and tyres a dirt road leading to Kherbet Beer al-‘Add to deny
civilians access to their homes. This Kherbe is located within area (918),
which is declared as military training area according to the Israeli Ministry
of Defence.  

 

It should be noted that
Israeli forces evacuated this area until 2009, when a decision was issued by
the Israeli Ministry of Defence to allow them return to their lands after they
resorted the Israeli courts. The decision states: “Residents of this
Kherbet Beer al-Add can return on condition that they do not build anything, or
reside in caves and tents or live in the old tents. Civilians are prevented
from making any changes to the dirt road connecting the area with the
settlement road adjacent to “Mitzpe Yair” settlement. Besides, they
are not allowed to go beyond an area of 20 dunums out of 20,000 dunums when
establishing their tents.” 

 

· At approximately 23:30 on Tuesday, 20 August 2013,
settlers moved into Joseph Tomb area in Nablus, in the northern West Bank. They
performed Talmudic rituals under the protection of Israeli forces. A number of
young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers, who
fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs in response to disperse them. As a
result, some of the young men suffered tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces
withdrew later and no arrests were reported. 

 

· At approximately 07:30 on Tuesday, 20 August 2013,
Israeli forces demolished a house made of tin and wood in al-Sanouba area, to
the east of al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho.

 

According to information collected by PCHR from the
local council, at approximately 07:30, Israeli forces accompanied by a
bulldozer and an officer from the Civil Administration moved into al-Sanouba
area, to the east of al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. They declared it as
a closed military area and denied journalists and civilians access to it. At
approximately 07:40, the bulldozer started demolishing the abovementioned
house. It should be noted that Israeli forces demolished 2 brick-made houses, 3
tents and 3 stockyards in the area 3 months ago. Moreover, they distributed
notices for the residents to evacuate the area under the pretext of building
facilities in area (C) that is under the Israeli control according to Oslo Accords
of 1994. The 90-square-meter house that was demolished belongs to Mahmoud Ali
Ka’abna (35) and shelters 7 family members. Israeli forces withdrew at
approximately 08:00.

 

 

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 

 

PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position
that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is still
under the Israeli occupation, in spite of the Israeli military redeployment
outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli force have
continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which
have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which
Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR
stresses that there is an international recognition of Israel’s obligation to
respect international human rights instruments and the international
humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the
Laws and Customs of War on Land and the
Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law
and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way
that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.

 

In light of continued arbitrary measures, land
confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the continued
aggression against civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially the latest offensive
that lasted for 8 days in November, PCHR calls upon the international
community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural
obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act
according to the following recommendations:

 

1. PCHR calls upon the international community and the
United Nations to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to
enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the
Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast
majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end
the occupation of the State of Palestine;

2. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international
protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence of
aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the
Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;

4. PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human
rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to
comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the
human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned
committees;

5. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the
Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to
prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the
perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected
Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;

6. PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of
universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal
jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war
criminals;

7. PCHR calls upon the international community to act in
order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through
imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;

8. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer
the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the
International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome
Statute;

9. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that
holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to
achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on
the expense of human rights and victims;

10. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human
Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza
and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the
two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel
it to remove them;

11. PCHR calls upon the international community, in light
of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at
least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of
hostilities launched by Israel which directed targeted the civilian
infrastructure;

12. PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European
Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the
international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the
annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;

13. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article
2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must
respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU
states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violation and crimes
against Palestinian civilians;

14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and
accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva
Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the United
Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to international human
rights law and humanitarian law instruments.

 

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

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.