Member
of the al-Shawama family surround their house which was demolished by Israeli
Occupation Forces in Abu al-Arqan village near Hebron

 

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

 

· Two
activists of the Palestinian resistance and eight civilians, including five
children and a woman, were wounded by shrapnel of flechette shells fired by IOF
in the Gaza Strip.

 

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

– Ten
Palestinian civilians, including two children and three journalists, were
injured West Bank.

– IOF
arrested a journalist and four international human rights defenders.

 

· IOF
continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in the border areas of the
Gaza Strip.

 

· IOF
conducted twenty-three incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank
and five limited incursions into the Gaza Strip.

– IOF
arrested twenty-seven Palestinian civilians, including seven children, three
women and a journalist, and four international human rights defenders in the
West Bank.

 

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

– Israeli
troops stationed at military checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank
arrested three Palestinian civilians.

 

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

-IOF demolished seventy-four Palestinian civilian
facilities in Area “C.”[1]

-One Palestinian civilian was injured by Israeli
settlers.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (15 – 21 July
2010):

 

Shooting: During the
reporting period, IOF killed two activists of the Palestinian resistance and
wounded eight civilians, including five children and a woman, in the Gaza
Strip. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 21 July 2010, IOF killed two activists of the Palestinian
resistance and wounded eight civilians, including five children and a woman,
when they fired flechette shells at the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. 

 

In the West Bank, IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful
demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the
construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities in the West
Bank. As a result, ten Palestinian civilians,
including two children and three journalists, were injured. IOF also violently beat a number of
demonstrators. 

 

Incursions: During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least twenty-three military incursions
into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested twenty-two
Palestinian civilians, including seven children and three women.

 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted five limited
incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they searched the areas.

 

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

 

Gaza Strip

 

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

 

· On
Friday, 01 January 2010, Israeli forces decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing
permanently and to divert the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, citing security reasons. 

 

· 1.5
million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of
movement and the right to appropriate living conditions, work, health and
education.

 

· The
principle concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain basic
necessities: food, medicine, water and electricity supplies.

 

· Israel
has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip for more than two and a half years.

 

· Israel
has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip since 10 December 2008,
excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.

 

· The
Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened on only a few days for a
number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return
home to the Gaza Strip.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

· At
least 800 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails have been deprived
of family visitation for more than two and a half years. 

 

· Israeli
forces have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the
Gaza Strip.

 

West Bank

 

Israel has 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.

 

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

 

· There are approximately 630 permanent
roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition,
there are some 60 – 80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the
West Bank by Israeli forces every week.

 

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

 

· At least 65% of the main roads that
lead to eighteen Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully
controlled by Israeli forces (47 out of 72 roads).

 

· There are around 500 kilometers of
restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of
the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to
Palestinians without a permit issued by Israeli forces; these permits are
extremely difficult to obtain.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

During the reporting period, IOF demolished two inhabited
houses, a mobile home, two houses currently under construction, sixty-four
barnyards, five shops and an agricultural pool in Area “C” in the
West Bank. It should be noted that the Israeli government
instructed the Israeli military and Civil Administration to intensify
demolitions of Palestinian houses and facilities in Area “C,”
claiming that they are unlicensed and “pose a security threat to
Israel.” According to the Israeli
daily “Haaretz,” such measures target six areas in the West
Bank. 

 

During the reporting period, one Palestinian civilian was injured when
Israeli settlers attacked him in Hebron. 

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during
the Reporting Period (15 – 21 July 2010)

 

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

 

Thursday, 15 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· Also
at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Fourik village, northeast of
Nablus. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested eight Palestinian civilians, including two women:

 

1. Laith Mofeed Abu Ghulma, 20;

2. Lanan Yousef Abu Ghulma, 30;

3. Taghreed Yousef Abu Ghulma, 27;

4. Ayman Mohammed Abu Ghulma, 20;

5. Sajed ‘Abdul Latif Mlaitat, 40;

6. Mos’ab ‘Abdul Latif Mlaitat, 24;

7. Hani ‘Aaref Hanani, 22; and

8. Mohammed Tayseer Hanani, 22. 

 

IOF also confiscated four computers and a number of mobile phones. 

 

· At
approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested Ahmed Sa’id Bisharat, 28.

 

· At
approximately 09:00, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into al-Qarara village, east
of Khan Yunis. There they leveled areas
of Palestinian land.

 

Friday, 16 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Zaid village, northwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.

 

· At
approximately 03:10, IOF moved into Tulkarm through its southern entrance. The moved towards al-Salam Square and then
northward, where they patrolled near the headquarter of the Palestinian
Military Intelligence Service. At
approximately 03:35. IOF moved into the town through the northern
entrance. They moved towards the center
of the town and patrolled in the area. At approximately 04:00, IOF stopped near the western gate of the
Palestinian security compound. Israeli
troops stepped out of military jeeps and photographed the compound. At approximately 04:15, IOF moved into the
town through its western entrance. They
moved towards the Palestinian security compound and photographed its eastern
gate. Later, IOF moved towards Tulkarm
refugee camp and photographed al-Salam Mosque. At approximately 05:20, IOF moved towards Thinnaba suburb, east of
Tulkram. They took a position atop of a
house belonging to Eyad Abu Jamoud Saif. IOF began to redeploy outside the town at approximately 05:50.  

 

Saturday, 17 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 21:30, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel to the east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya fired
three artillery shells at Abu Safiya area. No casualties were reported.

 

Sunday, 18 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 00:30, IOF escorted dozens of Israeli settlers into Kufol Hares
village, north of Salfit. The settlers
conducted religious rituals in the village for several hours.

 

· At
approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested Suleiman Mohammed al-Shalabi, 22.

 

· At
approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 13:00, IOF moved nearly 500 meters into al-Qarara village,
northeast of Khan Yunis, where they leveled areas of Palestinian land and fired
at Palestinians in the area. No
casualties were reported.

 

Monday, 19 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested Sofian Zaki Bahar, 34. It should
be noted that Mr. Bahar had been released from Israeli jails just forty days
earlier. 

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Mohammed Mousa Jabarin, 20, and arrested him.

 

· At
approximately 01:10, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a two-storey house belonging to the al-Sayed
family after breaking down several doors. They arrested Amjad Sabe’ al-Sayed, 26. At the same time, Israeli troops
raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Abdul Karim Saleh al-Sayed and
arrested his daughter Fathiya, 57, who hold a Jordanian nationality and was
visiting her family. According to her
sister, Israeli troops told her that she would be detained for two days to be
interrogated. 

 

· At
approximately 12:15, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into Bourat Abu Samra area in
the north of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia. They leveled areas of Palestinian land and
opened fire. They pulled back towards
the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at approximately 13:00 and no
casualties were reported. 

 

· At
approximately 18:30, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into al-Shouka village, east
of the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, where they leveled areas of
Palestinian land. They then moved
northward, where they leveled areas of previously-razed Palestinian land.

 

 

 

Tuesday, 20 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and later withdrew. No arrests were
reported. Afterwards they moved into the
nearby Bal’a village and patrolled in the streets for some time. No arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of ‘Ali Ahmed Bernat, 16, and arrested him. 

 

· At
approximately 09:45, IOF moved into Baqa al-Sharqiya village, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
and then moved towards Zeita village to the south. They stopped and questioned a number of
Palestinian civilians.  They withdrew
from the area an hour later and no arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 15:20, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. They stopped near the building of the
municipality, where they demanded a number of workers in the municipality to
warn residents of the village against throwing stones towards the Annexation Wall.

 

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm town and refugee camp. They patrolled in the streets and
photographed houses located near the Palestinian security compound. IOF withdrew at approximately 04:30 and no
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 05:30, IOF moved into Khirbat Qais village, south of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 09:40, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They stormed a workshop belonging to ‘Abdul Rahman Mansour, who was not
in the workshop, and arrested his son, 24-year-old Shams al-Din. They also informed owners of nearby shops
that Mr Mansour must turn himself into the Israeli authorities. 

 

· At
approximately 12:15, IOF moved nearly 200 meters into al-Amal quarter in the
northeast of the northern Gaza Strip of Beit Hanoun. They opened fire and leveled areas of previously-razed
Palestinian land. At approximately
15:45, they fired two flechette shells at a group of activists of the
Palestinian resistance. One activist was killed immediately and another was
seriously wounded and died of his wounds a few hours later. The two Palestinian
activist killed are as follows:

 

1. Mohammed
Hatem al-Kafarna, 23; and

2. Qassem
Mohammed Kamal al-Shanbari, 20. 

 

At the same time, IOF fired three flechette shells at various areas in
Beit Hanoun. As a result, eight Palestinian
civilians, including five children and a woman, were wounded:

 

1. Haitham
Tha’er Qassem, 4, wounded by shrapnel to the head;

2. Samah
‘Eid al-Masri, 9, seriously wounded by shrapnel to the chest and the head;

3. Ibrahim
Wissam al-Masri, 6, wounded by shrapnel to the back;

4. ‘Imad
Taha al-Kafarna, 35, wounded by shrapnel to the right hand and the back;

Mohammed
‘Azzam al-Masri, 9, sustained a fracture to the right hand when he fell down as
he  was attempting to escape;

5. Shadia
al-Kafarna, 35, wounded by shrapnel to the head;

6. Mohammed
al-Za’anin, 30, wounded by shrapnel to left knee; and

7. Baraa’
Rajab, 8, wounded in the head.

 

Five houses were also damaged.

 

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

 

During the reporting period, IOF used excessive
force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction
of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities.  As a result, ten Palestinian civilians,
including two children and three journalists, were injured. A number of demonstrators also suffered from
tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.  

 

· Following the Friday Prayer on 16 July
2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights
defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest against the
construction of the Annexation Wall in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah. When they marched towards the Annexation
Wall, Israeli troops stationed in the
area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
the demonstrators. As a result, two
demonstrators, including a child, were injured:

 

1. Majd Eyad Bernat, 12, hit by a tear gas
canister to the left foot; and

2. Mohammed Ahmed Hamad, 18, hit by a tear
gas canister to the right leg.

 

Additionally, IOF arrested two human rights defenders, who were not
identified. Dozens of demonstrators also
suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 16
July 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights
defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of
Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with IOF troops positioned near
the Wall. IOF troops fired rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, three demonstrators, including a
child, were wounded:

 

1. Sabti
Mahmoud al-Khawaja, 21, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left
leg;

2. Khamis
‘Abdullah, 28, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right shoulder;
and

3. ‘Abdullah
Nayef Mousa, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back.

 

Additionally, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation,
and others sustained bruises. 

 

· Also
following the Friday Prayer on 16 July 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against
land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh
and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators
attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near
“Halmish” settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear
gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. IOF also arrested an international human rights defender.   

 

· On
Saturday afternoon, 17 July 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in the center of
Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They moved towards the Zaher al-Brahish area, where IOF plan to
confiscate areas of Palestinian land to the north of the Israeli settlement of
“Karmi Tsur.” Israeli troops attacked the demonstrators and fired
tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, five Palestinian civilians, including three journalists, were
injured:

 

1. ‘Abdul
Rahim ‘Omar al-Qoussini, 42, a cameraman of Reuters, sustained burns to the
left shoulder and a hole in the left tympanum from shrapnel of a sound bomb;

2. Hazem
Bader, 46, a cameraman of France Press, sustained bruises to the chest and the
limbs;

3. ‘Abdul
Hafiz Diab al-Hashlamoun, 43, sustained bruises and shrapnel to the back;

4. Khalil
Ahmed Abu Hashem, 43, Secretary of the Committee against Settlement in Beit
Ummar village, sustained bruises and shrapnel to the back; and

5. Mohammed
‘Ayad ‘Awadh, 45, an activist of the Palestinian Solidarity Project and a
photographer of the Israeli B’Tselem, sustained bruises to the face. 

 

IOF also detained Eyad Hamd, a cameraman of Associated Press, and broke
his camera. Additionally, dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

According to journalist Hazem Bader, the officer of the Israeli military
unit in the area acted violently against media crews. He declared the area a closed military zone
and, soon after, he instructed his soldiers to attack journalists by firing
tear gas at them. He himself hit Bader
using a stick on his nose. He then kicked Mr. Bader on the left leg and
detonated a sound bombs near his legs. He did not allow the evacuation of Mr. Bader for nearly thirty minutes. 

 

According to journalist Eyad Nember Hamad, 51, Israeli troops detained
him for an hour and a half, after he demanded them to stop attacking
Bader. His camera was also broken.

 

· At
approximately 16:20 on Saturday, 17 July 2010, the Youth Commission against
Settlement in Hebron organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to continued
closure of al-Shuhada Street in the center of the city. A number of international solidarity
activists participated in the demonstration, which stopped near the entrances
of “Beit Rumano” settlement outpost in the north of the old city. Israeli troops attacked the demonstrators and
arrested an international solidarity activist. They released him at approximately 18:00 and forced him to leave Hebron. It should be noted that IOF have closed
al-Shuhada Street for Palestinian vehicles since 1994, and they have closed the
street for Palestinians on foot  since
2000.  

 

3. Continued Siege on the OPT

 

Israel has continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and 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 approximately three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed siege of Gaza, which
has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the
humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  

 

· On
Friday, 01 January 2010, Israeli forces decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing
permanently and to divert the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, citing security reasons. 

 

· 1.5
million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of
movement and the right to appropriate living conditions, work, health and
education.

 

· The
principle concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain basic
necessities: food, medicine, water and electricity supplies.

 

· Israel
has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip for more than two and a half years.

 

· Israel
has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip since 10 December 2008,
excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.

 

· The
Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened on only a few days for a
number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return
home to the Gaza Strip.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

· At
least 800 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails have been deprived
of family visitation for more than two and a half years. 

 

· Israeli
forces have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the
Gaza Strip.

 

Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting
Period:

 

At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 01 June 2010, the
Egyptian authorities announced that Rafah International Crossing Point on the
Egyptian border would be open indefinitely for travelers from both
directions. The Egyptian announcement
came following the deadly Israeli attack on the Gaza-aid flotilla in
international water. On the following
morning, the crossing point was effectively opened and Palestinian civilians
were allowed to travel through it.

 

 

Movement at Rafah International
Crossing Point

14 – 20 July 2010

 

 

According to the
Palestinian Crossings and Borders Commission, between 02 June and 15 June 2010,
5,910 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 3,536 Palestinians were
allowed into the Gaza Strip. The number
of people who were denied traveling via the crossing during this period was
1,759.

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) Crossing

30 June – 13 July 2010

 

 

Al-Mentar
(Karni) Crossing: IOF partially
opened the crossing on Wednesday, 14 July 2010, and allowed the entry of 2,301
of wheat and 2,262 tons of fodders, as well as on Monday, 19 July 2010, and
allowed the entry of 1,989 tons of wheat and 2,490 tons of fodders. 

 

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

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez)
Crossing

14 – 20 July 2010

 

 

The West
Bank

 

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

 

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

 

· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on
the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. IOF troops positioned at the Jaba’ and
Qalandiya checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional
restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged security checks of Palestinian
civilians. During the reporting period,
IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles.  At
approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 15 July 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah, where they stopped and
searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 10:30 on 15 July 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Sinjel village, north of Ramallah. At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 16 July
2010, IOF established a checkpoint near Attara village, north of Ramallah. They
dismantled the checkpoint later and no arrests were reported. .  

 

· Tulkarm: IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians in Tulkarm. At approximately
20:00 on Sunday, 18 July 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit Leed
intersection on Tulkarm-Nablus road, where they stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

 

· Qalqilya:  IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians in Qalqilya. On Friday
morning, 16 July 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilya, where they stopped and searched Palestinian civilian
vehicles. Also on 16 July 2010, at approximately
19:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Hijja village, east of
Qalqilya as well as another checkpoint at the entrance of Ematin village. There they stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. At approximately
17:00 on Saturday, 17 July 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at Jeet intersection
on Qalqilya-Nablus road and, later that evening, IOF established another
checkpoint on Nablus-Qalqilya road, near the entrance of Izbat al-Tabib
village. There they stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

 

· Salfit: IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians in Salfit. At approximately
08:30 on Monday, 19 July 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern
entrance of Salfit, where they stopped and searched Palestinian civilian
vehicles.  

 

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians in Hebron. On Tuesday afternoon, 20 July 2010, IOF
established three checkpoints at Bani Na’im intersection, the northern entrance
of al-Sammou’ village, and Tarqoumia intersections: southeast, south and west
of Hebron, respectively. There they
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and summoned a number of
civilians for interrogation. On
Wednesday, 21 July 2010, IOF closed the main entrance of Bani Na’im village,
east of Hebron, from 08:00 to 12:00. In
the afternoon, IOF established a number of checkpoints inside Hebron, where they
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

 

· Bethlehem: IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians in Bethlehem. On Sunday
morning and noon, 18 July 2010, and on Wednesday morning, 21 July 2010, Israeli
troops positioned at the 300 crossing prevented Palestinian civilians who have
permits to enter Jerusalem from passing through the crossing. On Tuesday evening, 20 July 2010, IOF
established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Beit Sahour town, east of
Bethlehem, where they stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  

 

· Jericho:  IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians in Jericho. At approximately
14:30 on Thursday, 15 July 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance
of ‘Ein al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho, where they stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles.  

 

Arrests at Military
Checkpoints

 

· On
Monday, 19 July 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Hawara checkpoint, south of
Hebron, arrested Qaussai Mohammed Zaidan and Wassef Majd Qishta, both from
Qabalan village south of the city.

 

· At
approximately 13:15 on Wednesday, 21 July 2010, Israeli troops stationed on the
Nablus-Qalqilya road near Jainsafout village, east of Qalqilya, arrested Tha’er
Jamal Bilya, 34, from al-Fundoq village east of Qalqilya.

 

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

 

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

 

· At
approximately 09:50 on Thursday, 15 July 2010, IOF moved into Abu al-‘Arqan
village, southwest of Hebron. They raided
two houses belonging to Mustafa Ibrahim Shawamra and Fat’hi Mahmoud
Shawamra. They ordered the families to
vacate their belongings in thirty minutes and they then demolished the two
houses. The area of the first house, in
which six individuals were living, was 130 square meters, and the area of the
second house, in which seven individuals were living, was 170 square
meters. IOF also informed Rawhi Khalil
Shawamra that his 80-square-meter house would be demolished. These houses are located in Area
“B” (under Palestinian civil control and Israeli security control
according to the Oslo Accords). They are
located 160 meters away from Area “C” (under full Israeli control
according to the Oslo Accords). According
to ‘Abdul Hadi Hantash, an activist in defending land in Hebron, such measures seek
to restrict Palestinian natural growth towards Area “C.”

 

· At
approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 15 July 2010, IOF moved into the Lasiefer area
in the south of Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided a tin mobile home belonging to Mohammed Khalil Abu Qbaita,
in which twelve individuals live, and confiscated the home. They also ordered Ibrahim Khalil Abu Qbaita
to remove his mobile home from the area. 

 

· On
Saturday morning, 17 July 2010, a Palestinian civilian was injured when he was
attacked by Israeli settlers in Hebron. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:30,
while Mohammed ‘Abdul Ra’ouf al-Muhtasseb, 19, was on his way home near the
Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, at least ten Israeli settlers intercepted him. One of the settlers hit him on the left
shoulder and punched him in the left eye. When Mr. al-Muhtasseb attempted to cover his face to protect himself,
another Israeli settler intervened and tied Mr. al-Muhtasseb’s hands behind his
back, while the other settler continued to hit him. When Mr. al-Muhtasseb attempted to escape, a
third Israeli settler threatened to shoot him if escaped or hurt any of his
colleagues. Israeli troops were present
in the area, but did not intervene to stop the attack. Mr. Al-Muhtassen started to scream and his
family and other civilians intervened to save him. Israeli troops then intervened to protect the
settlers. Mr. Al-Muhtassen was injured in the left eye and sustained bruises to
the face, the abdomen and the left leg. 

 

· At
approximately 07:00 on Monday, 19 July 2010, IOF moved into al-Farsiya area,
southeast of Tubas. They demolished
sixty huts and tents and a 200-square-meter barrack. These facilities belong to Hassan Yousef Abu
al-‘Aaida, Mohammed Ahmed Makhamra, Hamad Ahmed Makhamra, Fa’eq Mustafa Yousef,
‘Adnan Sa’ed ‘Aamer, Saleh Sa’ed ‘Awadh, Ziad Mohammed, Yassin Jameel Dababat,
‘Aadel Abu ‘Olayan and Mohammed Mustafa ‘Awadh. They also damaged an amount of fodder. 

 

· At
approximately 09:00 also on Monday, IOF moved into al-Baq’a area near bypass
road #60, northeast of Hebron. They
destroyed an agricultural pool belonging to Ziad Hammouda Jaber, and they
further damaged some farms and irrigation networks belonging to the Jaber
family. Israeli troops attacked
Palestinian civilians who attempted to protect their property. As a result, three civilians, including a
woman and a child, were injured:

 

1. Rudaina
Bader Jaber, 50, sustained bruises and suffered from tear gas inhalation;

2. Talal
Bassam Jaber, 5, suffered from tear gas inhalation; and

3. ‘Abdul
Jawad Joudi Jaber, 22, sustained cuts and bruises to the legs.

 

Al-Baq’a area is located near
the “Kiryat Arba” and “Kharsina” settlements. They have been subjected to repeated Israeli
attacks over the past years, which aim to force dozens of Palestinian families
living in the area into leaving the area.   

 

· At
approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 21 July 2010, IOF moved into al-Lubban
al-Gharbi village, northwest of Ramallah. They demolished two houses currently under constructin and five civilian
facilities, claiming that they were built without licenses:

 

1. A
170-square-meter, two-storey house belonging to Ahmed Ya’qoub Salem;

2. A
150-square-meter house belonging to ‘Atallah Hussein Abu Salem;

3. A
20-square-meter barnyard belonging to Mohammed ‘Abed Abu Salem;

4. A
150-square-meter barnyard belonging to Saleem ‘Aassi;

5. A
30-square-mter shop belonging to Eyad Mohammed Hussein;

6. A
25-square-meter shop belonging to Ayman ‘Abdul Mo’ti Radi; and

7. A
100-square-meter workshop belonging to Sadiq Wadi. 

 

Israeli
troops also attacked Palestinian civilians who attempted to protect their property. As a result, four civilians, including a
child, sustained bruises: Isma’il
Ya’qoub, 40; Marwan Zaidan Radwan, 17; Mahmoud Hussein Isma’il, 18; and Hamza
Rateb Zaytoun, 30. Additionally, Israeli
troops arrested Ayman ‘Abdul Mo’ti Radi, 25.

 

· At
approximately 09:30 also on Wednesday, IOF moved into Sanout area near Bani
Na’im village, east of Hebron. They
demolished a 250-square-meters, house currently under construction and a
barnyard belonging to Nizam ‘Arafat al-Rajabi, claiming that they were built
without licenses. 

 

It should be noted that the
Israeli government instructed the Israeli military and Civil Administration to
intensify demolitions of Palestinian houses and facilities in Area “C,”
claiming that they are unlicensed and “pose a security threat to
Israel.” According to the Israeli
daily “Haaretz,” such measures target six areas in the West
Bank. 

 

…………………………………………………………

 

 

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 its 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 international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of
exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their
governments to bring these people 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 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 agreement or process must be based
on respect for international law, including international human rights and
humanitarian law.

 

…………………………………………………………

 

Public Document

For further information please visit our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office
in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email ([email protected])
or telephone (+972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).