Bethlehem – An Israeli soldier attempt
to prevent Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists from
moving forwards during a peaceful protest against the annexation wall in
al-Ma’sara village

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

 

 

The
Israeli forces continued to fire at the Palestinian civilians along the border
in the Gaza Strip.

4
civilians, including 2 children, were wounded in the northern and central Gaza
Strip.

 

A
Palestinian child sustained severe wounds in Ayda refugee camp, north of
Bethlehem.

 

The
Israeli forces conducted 50 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West
Bank. 

At
least 37 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, were arrested.

 

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

5
Palestinian civilians were wounded in al-Nabi Saleh and Kofur Qaddoum peaceful
protests in the center and north of the West Bank.

10 farmers,
including 3 women and a baby that was with her mother, were arrested in the
eastern Yatta protest, south of Hebron.

 

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

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

At
least 5 Palestinian civilians were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

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

Leveling
works continued in Shu’fat village to establish a settlement road in Jerusalem.

 

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

37
residential tents were damaged and confiscated in al-Maleh area in the northern
Jordan Valley, due to which 115 persons became homeless.

6
houses and a water well were demolished and new demolition notices were issued
in Hebron.

The
settlers uprooted 60 olive seedlings in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.

 

The
Israeli naval forces continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the sea.

Palestinian
fishing boats were subjected to the Israeli fire 6 times, but neither material
damage nor casualties were reported.

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt
continued during the reporting period (17– 22 January 2013):

 

Shooting:

 

The Israeli forces wounded 10
Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip. They were all wounded in an excessive use of force during peaceful
protests in the West Bank or shooting incidents near the border fence in the
Gaza Strip. Moreover, a 2-year girl was wounded while she was playing in front
of her family’s house in al-Salqa valley in the central Gaza Strip.   

 

In the West Bank, the Israeli forces
continued to use excessive force against peaceful protests organized by the
Palestinians civilians and international and Israeli activists in protest to
the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West
Bank.  As a result, 6 Palestinians,
including a child, were wounded; 3 of whom were wounded in al-Nabi Saleh weekly
protest, northwest of Ramallah and 2 others were wounded in Kofur Qaddoum weekly
protest, northeast of Qalqilia. The child was wounded at the northern entrance
of Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem.

 

On 19 January 2013, the Israeli
forces arrested 10 farmers and local activists, including 3 women and a baby who
was with her mother, during a peaceful protest organized by dozens of
Palestinian civilians, human rights defenders and residents of Qweiqes village,
south of Hebron, in protest to the policy of land seizure for the interest of
settlements.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 17 January
2013, 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded. The first one
was wounded when the Israeli forces positioned along the border fence, east of
Jabalya, opened fire at a group of civilians and farmers, who were 100 meters
to the west of the fence.  Five minutes
later, the second person was wounded when the Israeli forces positioned along
the border fence, north of Beit Lahia, opened fire at a group of civilians and
farmers a few meters to the west of the fence.  

 

On 19 January 2013, a 2-year girl
was wounded when the Israeli forces positioned along the border fence, east of Wadi
al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at the agricultural
lands. The girl was playing in front of her family’s house that was 1,000
meters away from the fence.

 

On 21 January 2013, a Palestinian
boy was wounded when the Israeli forces positioned on watchtowers, northwest of
Beit Lahia, opened fire at some workers who were collecting plastic, gravel and
firewood a few meters away from the fence.  The Israeli forces claimed that they fired at
a group of boys who attempted to damage the fence in the northern Gaza Strip. It
should be noted that the Israeli forces had fired at farmers and gravel
collectors in the vicinity of al-Shuhada’ cemetery, east of Jabalya, but no
casualties were reported.  

 

In the context of targeting
fishermen, the Israeli gunboats positioned off al-Waha resort, northwest of
Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats
6 times on 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 January 2013.  As a result, the fishermen were frightened and
fled back to the shore for fear of being wounded or arrested.  Neither material damage nor casualties were
reported.

  

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, the Israeli forces conducted at least 50 military
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  During these incursions, the Israeli forces
arrested at least 37 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children.

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Efforts
to create Jewish Majority in Occupied East Jerusalem:

 

In the context of efforts to create a Jewish Majority in
the Occupied East Jerusalem, the Israeli forces continued to confiscate lands,
demolish houses and built new settlement units. 
PCHR stresses that these measures come in the context of isolating East
Jerusalem and annexing it to Israeli according to the Israeli policy that is in
violation of the international humanitarian law.  PCHR calls upon the international community
to promptly take action and reiterates its call upon the High Contracting
parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article
1 of the Convention.

 

On 20 January 2013, the Israeli forces started leveling
Palestinian lands in Shu’fat village, northeast of Jerusalem.  Local sources stated that these works were
conducted for the benifit of road “21” that connects the center of
the city with the settlements established around the city.

Settlement
Activities:

 

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

 

On 17
January 2013, the Israeli forces used bulldozers to demolish tents that offered
shelter to 12 families of 115 members in al-Maleh area, east of Tubas, in the
northern Jordan Valley. Moreover, the Israeli forces demolished stockyards
belonging to the abovementioned families.

 

On
the same day, Ibrahim Ali al-‘Aridi, 55, a farmer from Housan village, west of
Bethlehem, headed to his farmland in the south of Bethlehem. He was surprised
that 40 olive seedlings were planted by him this year and last year were uprooted.
   

 

On 19
January 2013, a 200-member infantry unit moved into al-Maleh area for the
second time.  They damaged 37 tents that
were given to the same families in the area.  14 tents of them were provided to the families
by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

 

On
the same day, a group of settlers from “Sidi Boaz” settlement
outpost, south of Bethlehem, uprooted 20 olive seedlings in Ein Qessis area.
The olive seedlings belong to Mahmoud Ahmed Ghneim, 45.  

 

On 21
January 2013, the Israeli forces demolished an agricultural room inhabited by
Mosa Ibrahim Abu ‘Eram, in addition to a water well in She’eb al-Maghara area,
east of Yatta village, south of Hebron.

 

On
the same day, the Israeli forces demolished an under-construction house in
al-Rifa’iya area, east of Yatta village.  The house belongs to Hamad Mohammed Jaber
‘Emour, 57.  

 

On
the same day, 4 tin-made houses in al-Rahwa area, south of al-Daheriya village
in the south of Hebron, were demolished.  These houses belong to: Shehda Hamed Mohammed
al-Wreidat, 72; Ali Shehda Mohammed al-Wreidat, 33; Mahmoud Mohammed
al-Jabarin, 35; and Ibrahim Mahmoud Jabarin, 37.

 

In
the same context, on 20 January 2013, the Israeli forces submitted notices to 6
Palestinians in Wad al-Naqi area, west of Ethna village in the west of Hebron,
to suspend their work in 3 houses and 3 barracks under the pretext of not
obtaining construction license from the Israeli authorities.

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (17 – 22 January 2013)

 

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

 

 

Thursday,
17 January 2013

 

At
approximately 00:00, the Israeli forces moved into Deir Estia village,
northwest of Salfit.  They patrolled the
streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Montaser Kasim Nasser
Mansour, 22, with the company of sniffer dogs and an explosives’ expert. They
damaged the contents of the house. They arrested the abovementioned person, a
student in al-Najah National University, and transported him to an unknown
destination.

 

At
approximately 00:15, the Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets and clashes broke
out between them and a number of Palestinian young men, who gathered and threw
empty bottles and stones at the Israeli forces. 
Israeli forces then fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
stone throwers to disperse them.  These
clashes centered in Diab quarter, south of the city, and Yafa Street in the
centre.  Israeli forces later withdrew
and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 01:00, the Israeli forces moved into Karisa village west of Dora,
southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Yousif Musbah al-Rjoub, 37.  Israeli forces handed him a notice to appear
before the Israeli Intelligence Service (Shabak).

 

At the same
time, an Israeli undercover unit in civilian clothes moved into Kofur Ra’i
village, south of Jenin. They seized a small Mercedes truck carrying a
Palestinian registration plate and arrested Jalal Jamal Raja Melhem, 26, an
ex-prisoner and a member of the Islamic Jihad. 
The Israeli forces moved later into the village and surrounded and
raided a house belonging to Belal Nabil Sa’id Diab, 27, a member of the Islamic
Jihad. They damaged the contents of the house and arrested the aforementioned
person. The Israeli forces raided houses of Mahmoud Matar Mohammed Melhem, 26,
and Majdi Ma’moun Khalil Melhem, 26, members of the Islamic Jihad. They
arrested them and transported the 4 arrested persons to an unknown destination.
 It should be noted that this incursion
was conducted in the context of a large-scale arrest campaign against members
of the Islamic Jihad in Jenin and Tubas.  

 

At approximately
01:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arqa village, west of Jenin.  While they were patrolling the streets, they
fired flash bombs in the air.  They later
withdrew and no arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At the same
time, the Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aoja village, northwest of Jericho.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00, the Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort in the
northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at the Palestinian fishermen for 15 minutes at
a distance of 5 nautical miles off the shore. 
As a result, the fishermen were frightened and fled for fear of being
arrested or wounded. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

At
approximately 09:30, the Israeli forces moved into Marj Na’aja village, north
of Jericho.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later.  No
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 10:30, the Israeli forces moved into Kofur Ein village, northwest
of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for a while and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

At the same
time, the Israeli forces moved into Far’aon village, south of Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets, raided and
searched an auto parts shop.  They
withdrew later and neither arrests nor more incidents were reported.

 

At
approximately 11:30, the Israeli forces moved into Silwad village, east of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  No arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 12:00, the Israeli forces moved into Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta village,
southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
No arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 14:30, the Israeli forces moved into Deir Ghazalah village, north
of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 16:00, the Israeli forces moved into Jalboun village, east of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At the same
time, the Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad village, south of Jenin. They
arrested Mahmoud Ibrahim Hassan Hamdouni, 16, and his brother Hassan, 12, and
transported them to an unknown destination.  Local sources stated to a PCHR fieldworker
that the 2 boys were arrested while grazing the sheep on a farmland near the
village.

 

At
approximately 22:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arqa village, west of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and later withdrew.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported. 

 

At
approximately 23:45, the Israeli forces moved into Silet al-Daher village,
south of Jenin.  They patrolled the
streets, raided and searched several houses. 
They handed notices to 6 civilians to appear before the Israeli
Intelligence in its office in Salim camp, northwest of Jenin:

 

1. Saed
Adnan al-Akhras;

2. Abdullah
Ahmed Ghannam;

3. Mohammed
Hisham ‘Ateyah;

4. ‘Alam
Ma’azouz Kilani;

5. Fahd
Abdel ‘Aziz Za’rour; and

6. Forsan
Abdel ‘Aziz Za’rour.

 

Friday, 18 January
2013

 

At
approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south
of Bethlehem. They patrolled in the streets for a while and stationed in
al-Semmaqa and Wad al-Sousa villages in addition to the entrances of the
village. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 12 persons,
including a child:

 

1. Hassan Hesham Deiriya, 17, was released on the
same day evening;

2. Ahmed Majed Thawabta, 27;

3. Islam Mahmoud Thawabta, 26;

4. Ahmed Anwar Taqatqa, 25;

5. Ahmed Salem Taqatqa, 24;

6. Ali Hussein Rashed, 19;

7. Mahmoud Ali Thawabta, 24;

8. Mohammed Ahmed Thawabta, 28;

9. Iyad Abed Taqatqa, 30;

10. Ra’fat
Ali Taqatqa, 29;

11. Shakeeb
Abed Taqatqa, 24; and

12. Islam
Nafez Thawabta, 27.

 

It should be
noted that the last 2 persons were ex-prisoners.

 

At approximately
06:30, the Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort in the northern Gaza
Strip, opened fire at the Palestinian fishermen for 20 minutes at a distance of
5 nautical miles off the shore.  As a
result, the fishermen were frightened and fled for fear of being arrested or
wounded. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

At approximately
13:30, the Israeli forces moved into Qofein village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled
the streets and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 15:40, the Israeli forces positioned at the border fence, north
of the Islamic Martyrs cemetery, east of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip,
fired bullets and tear gas canisters at a group of civilians and farmers, who
were 100 meters south of the aforementioned fence.  As a result, Yousif Soliman Hamdan Abu Odah,
21, from Jabalya, was injured with a gas canister in the head.  The injured was transported to Kamal Odwan
hospital in Beit Lahia to receive treatment, and his injuries were described as
minor.  It should be mentioned that
Palestinian farmers, following the truce signed between the armed groups and
Israel after the latest offensive on the Gaza Strip, went back to the buffer
zone, which is 300 meters along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and
Israel, imposed by the Israeli forces, in order to break the decision made by
the Israeli forces and to help farmers have access to their lands after being
denied the use of them.

 

At approximately
15:45, the Israeli forces, including soldiers who got off the vehicles, positioned
on the watchtowers spread along the border fence with Israel to the north of
Boret Abu Samrah in the north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, fired bullets
and tear gas canisters at a group of people and farmers, who were a few meters
away from the west of the border fence. 
As a result, Mohammed Samir Ahmed Sorour, 17, from al-Shaimaa’ in Beit
Lahia, was wounded by a bullet to his left foot.  Eyewitnesses stated that the aforementioned
child was wounded while being on a farmland belonging to Said Hamdonam which is
600 meters away from the border fence.

 

At approximately 18:00, the Israeli forces moved into Fasayel,
northwest of Jericho.  They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:30, the 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.

 

Saturday, 19 January
2013

 

· At
approximately 00:00, the Israeli forces moved into Jeet village, northeast of
Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets,
raided and searched around 12 houses. 
They also took some photos for the residents against their will and for
their ID cards.  The aforementioned
houses belong to the following people:

 

1. Jamil Sedqi Yamin, 31;

2. Mohammed Sedqi Yamin, 27;

3. Nizam Abdel Rahim al-Sedah, 52;

4. Mohammed Lutfi Yamin, 65; and

5. Mohammed Abdel Rahim al-Sedah, 52.

 

At approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces withdrew and no more
incidents were reported.

Jamil Sedqi Yamin said the following to a PCHR fieldworker:

 

“At approximately 00:00 on Saturday, 19 January 2013, 6 Israeli
soldiers raided our house.  One of them
entered and searched the rooms.  They
then forced all of us to leave the house and asked each of us to bring our ID
cards and to raise them up near our heads. 
They took photos of us, and for the females, their ID cards were only
photographed.  I recognized that one of
the soldiers was carrying a schedule and another was carrying a laptop.  After they finished taking photos of us with
our ID cards, they walked out of the house and moved to the neighboring houses
one by one.  According to our neighbors,
Israeli soldiers took photos of them while holding their ID cards.”

At approximately
02:00, the Israeli forces moved into Beitounia village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled
the streets and clashed with some boys, who threw stones at the Israeli
soldiers.  The Israeli forces withdrew
later and no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 06:45, the Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha
resort in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at the Palestinian fishermen for
15 minutes at a distance of 5 nautical miles off the shore.  As a result, the fishermen were frightened
and fled for fear of being arrested or wounded.  Neither casualties nor material damage were
reported.

 

At approximately 08:00, the Israeli forces positioned along the
border fence, east of Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip, opened
fire at houses and agricultural lands. As a result, Nahed Ahmed al-‘Edini, 2,
was wounded by a bullet to the left leg. 

 

At approximately 10:30, the Israeli forces moved into Koful Haris
village, north of Salfit. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:50, the Israeli forces moved into Haris
village, northwest of Salfit.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and at approximately 14:00, they withdrew. Neither
arrests nor house raids were reported.

 

At approximately 17:30, the Israeli forces moved into Al-‘Arqa
village, west of Jenin.  While they were
patrolling the streets, a number of boys gathered and threw stones at the
Israeli forces that fired in response sound bombs.  The Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 19:00, the Israeli forces moved into Deir Ghazalah
village, north of Jenin.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 21:00, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Luqia
village, southwest of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and positioned at the main entrance of the village.  They withdrew later and neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:00, the Israeli forces moved into ‘Anabta
village, east of Tulkarm.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, 20 January 2013

 

At approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces moved into Yatta village,
south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses. They
also handed notices to a number of persons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence
Service (Shabak).  Of those persons are:
Khalil Mosa Hassan al-Jbour, 37; Morad Mahmoud al-Jbour, 27; and Rateb
al-Jbour, 39.  

 

At approximately 03:00, the Israeli forces moved into Sekka
village, west of Doura in the southwest of Hebron. They patrolled in the
streets for a while and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 04:10, the Israeli forces moved into ‘Abayat
village, east of Bethlehem.  They raided
and searched several houses.  They arrested
the following persons: Bader Khalil Abu Jalghif, 19; and Laith Soliman ‘Abyat,
19; and took them to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 08:30, the Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha
resort in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at the Palestinian fishermen for
15 minutes at a distance of 5 nautical miles off the shore.  As a result, the fishermen were frightened
and fled for fear of being arrested or wounded.  Neither casualties nor material damage were
reported.

 

At
approximately 09:00, the Israeli forces moved into Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for a while and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 17:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arqa village, west of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets where some boys gathered and threw stones
at the Israeli vehicles. The Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs in response and
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 18:30, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Luqia village, west of
Ramallah. They patrolled the streets and stationed at the entrance of the
village.  They withdrew later and neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.   

 

Monday,
21 January 2013

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Eqaba village, northwest of
Tubas. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a number of houses.  They arrested Suleiman Radi Suleiman
al-Sayyed, 59, and his son Feras, 30, from their house in the eastern
neighborhood. 

 

At the same
time, the Israeli forces moved into Rummana village, northwest of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets and raided and
searched a house belonging to Farid Ghazi Farid Mahajna, 27, a member of the
Palestinian National Security Service. They arrested and transported him to an
unknown destination.  It should be noted
that the Israeli forces had raided the said house on Thursday, 21 December 2012
and arrested Mahajna’s brother, They raided the house again on Thursday, 10
January 2013 and searched it.

 

At
approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-Arroub refugee camp,
north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a number of
houses.  They arrested 4 persons and
transported them to an unknown destination:

 

1. Hassan Abdul Karim al-Titi, 22;

2. Baha’ Jihad Alawi, 18;

3. Hesham Jaber al-Titi, 19;

4. Ali Abbas Abu Maria, 20; and

5. Anas Kamel Kawamla, 18.

 

At
approximately 02:00, the Israeli Forces moved into al-Koum village, west of
Doura in the southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to
Wasel Mohammed Abdul Hamid al-Rjoub, 22, and arrested him.

 

At
approximately 03:00, the Israeli forces moved into ‘Aroura village, northwest
of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later.  No
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Qabatia village, south of Jenin.
They raided and searched a house belonging to Jaser Amn Ibrahim al-Nazal, 38, a
member of the Palestinian National Security Service, and arrested him.

 

At
approximately 06:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta, southwest of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  No arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 06:30, the Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha
resort in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at the Palestinian fishermen for
20 minutes at a distance of 5 nautical miles off the shore.  As a result, the fishermen were frightened
and fled for fear of being arrested or wounded. Neither casualties nor material
damage were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30, the Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers,
east of al-Shuhada’ cemetery in the east of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip,
opened fire at the Palestinian farmers and gravel collectors in the vicinity of
the cemetery for about 10 minutes. As a result, they fled away and neither
casualties nor material damage were reported. 

 

At
approximately 09:40, the Israeli forces positioned on watchtowers to the north
of al-Ghoul land, north of the former location of “Eli Sinai” settlement,
northwest of Beit Lahiah in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a number of
workers who were collecting plastic, stones and wood, a few meters away from
the border fence.  As a result, Abdullah
Mohammed Sofian Mahmoud Ma’arouf, 18, from al-Qur’aa al-Khamsah area in Beit
Lahiah, was injured in the right leg that led to damaging it.  The aforementioned was transported to receive
treatment at Martyr Kamal Odwan hospital where he underwent surgery.  Platinum was fixed in his leg and his
injuries were described moderate.  The
Israeli forces also admitted that they fired at young men claiming that they
tried to destroy the fence in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

At
approximately 11:00, the Israeli forces moved into Budrus village, west of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets
where a number of boys gathered and threw stones at them.  The Israeli forces immediately started
shooting live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound
bombs at the stone throwers.  As a
result, a number of them suffered from tear gas inhalation.  The Israeli forces withdrew later and neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday,
22 January 2013

 

In the early
morning, the Israeli forces moved into ‘Aaba village, east of Jenin.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Salim Soliman Salim Hazhouzi, 19, and arrested him.

 

At
approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into several neighborhoods in
Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. 
They patrolled the streets and deployed between the houses.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Rabi’a Mohammed Mahmud Abu ‘Ayash, 12, and arrested him.

 

At
the same time, the Israeli forces moved into al-Boq’aa in the village
centre.  They raided and searched several
houses. They arrested Yazan Ashraf Badawi Ikhlayel, 15, and Ibrahim Mohammed
Abdel Hamid Ibraghith, 40.

 

At
approximately 02:30, the Israeli forces moved into Barqa village, northwest of
Nablus. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a number of houses.
They arrested Monjed Ragheb Mohammed Salah, 24, from his sister’s house at the
northwestern entrance of the village. They also arrested Feras Radi Maher As’ad
Mohammed Salah, 22, from his house in al-Saha area in the center of the
village. They were both transported to an unknown destination.   

 

At
approximately 03:00, the Israeli forces moved into Jenin. They patrolled the
streets and stationed at al-Marah neighborhood in the south of the town.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
Abdul Jabbar Mohammed Ahmed Jarrar, 47, a leader in Hamas, who was released 3
days earlier after having served 15 months of administrative detention. The
Israeli forces handed him a notice for his son Huzaifa, 25, to refer to the
Israeli Intelligence service in Salim military camp, northwest of Jenin. The
Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

At the same
time, the Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun village, northwest of Jenin. They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Abdul Ghani
Salim Abu al-Haija, 55, who was arrested on Thursday, 10 January 2013. They
searched the house looking for his son Samed, 24, under the pretext that he was
wanted by the Israeli forces. The Israeli forces had raided the abovementioned
house on Monday, 14 January 2013 and arrested another son of the house’s owner,
Mojahed, 22.

At
approximately 11:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets in a provocative way.  Some boys gathered and threw stones at the
Israeli soldiers, and the Israeli forces responded by firing at them.  As a result, many persons suffered from tear
gas inhalation.  The Israeli forces
withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 06:30, the Israeli forces moved into Beitellou village, northwest
of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for a while and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

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

 

During
the reporting period, Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations
organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights
defenders in protest at the construction of the wall and settlement activities
in the West Bank.  As a result, 6
Palestinians sustained injuries, including a child whose injury was described as
critical.  Dozens of demonstrators ALSO suffered
from tear gas inhalation and some sustained bruises.  PCHR keeps the names of the victims in
fear of subjecting them to arrest by the Israeli forces.

 

On
19 January 2013, Israeli forces arrested 10 Palestinian farmers and activists,
including three women and an infant who was with her mother, and transported
them to Susyia Military Camp, southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron.  This took place during a peaceful protest
organized by Palestinian civilians, Israeli and international human rights
activists and civilians against the Israeli land confiscating policy for
settlement expansion. 

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 18 January 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in
protest to the construction of the annexation wall.  The demonstrators gathered in the streets of
the village, chanting slogans calling for national unity.  The protesters aimed to stress the need to
adhere to national principles and the right of return, to resist the occupation
and to call for the release of all Palestinian prisoners.  The protesters raised Palestinian flags and
made their way towards the lands adjacent to the annexation wall.  The Israeli forces had closed all ways and
entrances to the village since early morning hours, to prevent Palestinians,
journalists and international activists from joining the protest.  Upon their arrival to Abu-Lemon reserve, they
attempted to cross the separating fence, adjacent to the wall.  The Israeli forces positioned behind the new
wall on the western side fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and
tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. 
As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation
and others sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 18 January 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities.  The demonstrators moved
towards areas of the annexation wall.  Immediately,
Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound
bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Around the same time on Friday, 18 January 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders
gathered in the Martyrs Square in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to
hold a weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall
and settlement activities, entitled: “On the Anniversary of the killing of
Samir Ahmed Awad.”  The protesters
walked towards the gate erected by Israeli forces near the entrance of the
village, which leads to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby
“Halmish” settlement are trying to seize.  Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters.  As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

At the same time on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international human rights defenders gathered in Budrus village, west of
Ramallah and al-Bireh, for a peaceful protest against the annexation wall and
settlement activity.  The demonstration
was entitled: “On the Anniversary of the Killing of Samir Amed
Awad.”  The demonstrators walked
through the village streets and headed towards the wall.  The Israeli forces closed the wall gates with
barbwires, and when the demonstrators attempted to cross the wall to the lands
behind it, the Israeli forces stopped them, so the demonstrators threw rocks at
them.  The Israeli soldiers fired tear
gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets. 
As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians sustained bullet wounds; the first
(50) sustained a bullet wound to the left leg; the second (25) sustained a
bullet wound to the right thigh and the third (20) was hit in the head by a
tear gas canister.  Also, dozens of
demonstrators suffocated from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
the center of al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in protest at the ongoing
construction of the annexation wall.  As
the protestors moved towards the gate of the village, the Israeli forces closed
it to prevent the demonstration from gaining access to the confiscated land and
attacked the participants; as a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear
gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

At approximately 12:15 on the same Friday, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in the center of Kuffor Kadoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in
protest to the continuous closure of the eastern entrance of the village since
the outbreak of al-Aqsa Intifada.  The
demonstrators moved towards the entrance of the village. Immediately, Israeli
forces, stationed in the surroundings of the steel gate established at the
entrance, fired tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets.  As a result, two Palestinian civilians
sustained bullet wounds; the first (36) sustained a bullet wound to the right
thigh and the second (44) sustained a bullet wound to the back. Dozens of
demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation. It should be mentioned
that the number of tear gas canisters and sound bombs fired by the Israeli
forces exceeded a few hundreds.

 

At approximately 14:30 on the same Friday, dozens of children and
teenagers gathered at the eastern entrance of ‘Ayda Refugee Camp, north of
Bethlehem.  They threw stones at the
Israeli soldiers stationed on the watchtower in the vicinity of Bilal Bin Rabah
Mosque (Rachel’s tomb), north of the city. 
Following that, the Israeli forces stationed at the main entrance of the
camp and fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters, and then
opened fire at them.  As a result, Saleh
Ahmed al-‘Amaryn (15) sustained a bullet wound to the head.  He was transported to Beit Jala Public
Hospital for treatment; however, he was transported later to Hadassah Medical
Center where his condition was described as critical.

 

At approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 19 January 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians, Israeli and international human rights activists and
civilians from Qwaiqis village, east of Yatta, south of Hebron, gathered for
the organization of a peaceful protest against the Israeli land confiscation
policy for settlement expansion.  The
demonstrators marched in the streets of the village, chanting for national unity.  They later headed to the farmlands threatened
by confiscation in Um al-Arayes area, east of Yatta.  Upon their arrival at the area, the Israeli
forces attacked the peaceful demonstration, under the pretext that the area was
a closed military zone.  The Israeli
soldiers severely beat the demonstrators and arrested 10 of the farmers and
human rights activists, including 3 women and a baby who was with her
mother.  The arrested demonstrators were
transported to Susiya military camp, on the southeastern area of the city.  They were identified as: Isma’il ‘Elian ‘Awad
(55); Sa’id ‘Elian ‘Awad (32); and Jamil Ahmed ‘Elian ‘Awad (48); Yousri
Mohammed al-Jabarin (22); Shorouq Mohammed ‘Elian (23); Bassam Yousif Jabrain
(45); Khalil ‘Awwad Zaina (65); Rima Isma’il ‘Elian ‘Awad (35) and her
1-year-old daughter Qammar; and Yousif Mohammed ‘Awad al-Zain (35).

 

3. Continued
Closure of the oPt

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Movement at
Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

16 –
21 January 2013

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

16 –
22 January 2013

Imports:

 

 

Exports:

 

On Wednesday, 16 January 2013, Israeli forces allowed the
exportation 7 truckloads of empty plastic boxes.

On Thursday, 17 January 2013, Israeli forces allowed the
exportation of 4.2 tons of strawberries and 50,000 carnation flowers.

On Sunday, 20 January 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the
exportation of 4.1 tons of strawberries, 57,000 carnation flowers, 170
kilograms of garlic leaves and 150 kilograms of mint.

On Monday, 21 January 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 8 tons of cherry tomatoes, 1 ton of peppers and 8 truckloads of empty
plastic boxes.

 

Other Imports:

 

On Wednesday, 16 January 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 160
tons of cement and 40 tons of construction steel and 3,220 tons of construction
aggregate for UNRWA; and 840 tons of construction aggregate for the private
sector.  They also allowed the entry of 273
tons of fodders and 507 tons of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 17 January 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the entry
of 195 tons of fodders and 585 tons of wheat.

 

On Sunday, 20 January 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the entry of
380 tons of cement, 150 tons of construction steel, 3,500 tons of construction
aggregate for UNRWA; 80 tons of cement, 70 tons of construction steel and 2,800
tons of construction aggregate for the German Development Bank (GDB); and 700
tons of construction aggregate for the private sector.  They also allowed the entry of 780 tons of
fodders and 507 tons of wheat.

 

On Monday, 21 January 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 540
tons of cement, 76 tons of construction steel and 3,080 tons of construction
aggregate for UNRWA; and 120 tons of cement and 1,400 tons of construction
aggregates for the private sector.  They
also allowed the entry of 585 tons of fodders and 546 tons of wheat.

 

Note: The Israeli forces closed Karm Abu Salem crossing on Tuesday,
22 January 2013 due to the Israeli elections.

 

Imports
through Rafah Crossing, south of the Gaza Strip:

16 –
21 January 2013

Imports:

 

 

Note: Beit Hanoun Crossing “Erez”, north of the Gaza
Strip, links the Strip with the West Bank, and it is for the movement of
individuals.

 

Movement
at the Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

16 –
21 January 2013

 

Note: The Israeli forces allowed 24 relatives of prisoners to visit their
relatives in Israeli Jails on Monday, 21 January 2013.

 

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

 

Ramallah:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately
11:00 on Thursday, 17 January 2013, the Israeli forces redeployed at ‘Atarah
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Birzeit, north of Ramallah, and prevented
people from entering or leaving through the aforementioned checkpoint.  At approximately 18:00, they established a
checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Tiba village, northeast of Ramallah.  The two checkpoints then were removed and no
arrests were reported.  At approximately
09:30 on Friday, 18 January 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint
at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At the same
time, they established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of Budrus village,
west of the city.  The two checkpoints
were removed and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 09:30 on Saturday, 19 January 2013, the Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Loqaya village, southwest of
Ramallah. At approximately 18:00, they reestablished the checkpoint in the
aforementioned are.

 

QalqilyaHebron:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 07:30, on Thursday, 17 January 2013, the
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at Bani Na’aim village, south of
Hebron.  At approximately 15:00, they
established another checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, south
of Hebron.  At approximately 18:00, they
established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of Izna village, south of the
city.  The checkpoints were removed and
no arrests were reported.

 

Jericho:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
18:00 on Thursday, 18 January 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint
on al-Mo’arjat road between Jericho and Ramallah.  The checkpoint was removed and no arrests
were reported.  At approximately 09:30 on
Friday, 18 January 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the
southern entrance of the city, and the checkpoint was then was removed. At
approximately 10:00, they established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of
Zbeidat village, north of the city. At the same time, they established another
checkpoint near the entrance of Fasayel village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 10:30, another checkpoint
was established by the entrance of al-‘Aoja village, northwest of the city.

 

Jenin:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, 17
January 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Faqou’aa village, northeast of Jenin.  At
approximately 15:00, they established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of
‘Arbouna village, north of the city.  The
checkpoints were later removed and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 15:50 on Friday, 18 January 2013,
the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Ya’abod
village, southwest of Jenin.  The
checkpoint was later removed and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 11:15 on Sunday, 20 January
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Abu
Da’aif, east 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 08:00
on Thursday, 17 January 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint on
the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, and imposed
restrictions.  After 2 hours, the
restrictions ended and no arrests were reported. At the same time, they
established a similar checkpoint on the main street between Tulkarm and
Qalqilya near the gate of Jubarah village, which is isolated from its
surroundings due to the annexation wall, south of Tulkarm.  At approximately 18:00, they established a
checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Alar village, north of Tulkarm. At approximately
21:30, they established a similar checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm
and its northern villages, known as “al-Sha’arawiya” near the entrance of
al-Jaroushyah, north of the city.  At
approximately 19:00 on Saturday, 19 January 2013, the Israeli forces positioned
at ‘Anab checkpoint, which is established on the main road between Tulkarm and
Nablus, east of Tulkarm, imposed restrictions on the Palestinians who pass
through the checkpoint.  At approximately
09:00 on Sunday, 20 January 2013, the Israeli forces positioned at ‘Anab
checkpoint, which is established on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus,
tightened the restrictions against Palestinians who pass through the
checkpoint.

 

Qalqilya:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 08:35 on Thursday, 17
January 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of
‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya. At approximately 14:40, they established a
checkpoint on the eastern entrance of the city. 
The checkpoint was later removed and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 08:50 on Sunday, 20 January
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun
‘Aetmah village, southeast of Qalqilya, and they reestablished the checkpoint
at approximately 18:30.  The checkpoint
was removed and no arrests were reported. At approximately 18:00, they
established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qaliqilya.  The checkpoint was later removed and no arrests
were reported.

 

Detention at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 11:30 on Friday, 18 January 2013, the Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at al-Mokhanaq agricultural area, northeast of
Ramallah.  They arrested 2 civilians from
the aforementioned village; one of them belongs to a Palestinian security officer
under the pretext of finding a gun with him. 
The detainees are: Khairallah Ratib Na’asan, (35); and Montaser Jamil
Na’asan, (32).

 

At
approximately 09:30 on Monday, 21 January 2013, the Israeli forces established
a checkpoint on the main road between Dora and its southern villages, southwest
of Hebron.  At approximately 14:00, the
Israeli soldiers attacked one of the stopped cars at the aforementioned
checkpoint, forced its passengers to get out and detained them.  The Israeli soldiers smashed the car from the
inside and tore its brush while searching it. 
Less than half an hour later, backups of Israeli forces arrived at the
spot and started shooting in the air to keep people away from the
checkpoint.  Two female soldiers held
Nahidah Ibrahim Ahmed Abu Hashim, (34), in one of the nearby stores and she was
forced to strip naked on the pretext of inspection.  The Israeli forces arrested Dawoud Moharib
Abu Hisham, (43); and Eyad Mohammed Abu Hisham, (34), confiscated their Opel Corsa
car, and took them to an unknown destination. 
They then removed the checkpoint.

 

At approximately 14:00 also on Monday, the Israeli forces established
a checkpoint at one of the internal intersections in Beit Ummar, north of
Hebron.  A number of boys gathered and
threw stones at the Israeli forces positioned at the checkpoint who fired in
response tear gas canisters and bullets at the stone throwers.  As a result, some of the boys suffered from tear
gas inhalation.  The Israeli forces
arrested Sharif Fathi Abu ‘Ayash, (20), while being near the checkpoint.

 

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

 

In the early morning hours on Sunday 20 January 2013, the Israeli
forces started bulldozing lands of Palestinian civilians in Sho’fat village in
the northeastern side of occupied Jerusalem. 
According to local sources, the bulldozing is for the construction of 21^st
street, which links the center of the city with the settlements built in
it.  According to PCHR’s investigations,
at early morning hours that Sunday, Israeli bulldozers and employees of Israel
Antiquities Authority, bulldozed 80 dunums of land belonging to Palestinian
civilians from Sho’fat village, for the purpose of constructing canals and
excavation work for 21^st street which would serve “Ramat Shlomo”
settlement, established in the village, and link it to the downtown of the city;
it would also serve the surrounding settlements and link them together.  It should be mentioned that the Israeli
Municipality in Jerusalem started its 21^st street project after its
decision to confiscate 117 dunums of Palestinian lands from Beit Hanina and
Sho’fat villages last year, in order to link “Pisgat Ze’ev” and
“Ramat Shlomo” settlements, which would serve to link the surrounding
settlements together at the expense of Palestinian lands in both villages.

 

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.

 

In
the early morning hours on Thursday, 17 January 2013, Palestinian farmer
Ibrahim Ali al-‘Arydey (55), from Hosan village, west of Bethlehem, went to his
farmland, located between his village and al-Khader village, south of the town.  Upon his arrival, he was shocked to find 40
olive seedlings, which he had planted between 2012 and early 2013, had been
uprooted.  In his testimony to a PCHR
fieldworker, Mr. al-‘Arydey said that a settler called “Hanania,” who
lives in an area between Hosan and al-Khader villages, was the one responsible
for the attack.

 

At
approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 17 January 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied
by military vehicles and three bulldozers, raided al-Maleh area, east of
Tubas.  Immediately, the bulldozers
started destroying housing tents belonging to 12 Palestinian families.  They also demolished a number of barns for
these families’ cattle and leveled them to the ground.  The demolished property belongs to: Qassem
Hussain Daraghma; Suliman Qassem Daraghma; Ali Salama al-Faqir; Salama Ali
al-Faqir; Fatima Moussa al-Faqir; Ahmed Ali Moussa Najada; Abed Ali Moussa;
Nasra Nassar Ka’abna; Eid Ahmed al-Faqir; Ghanem Eid al-Faqir; Mohammed Eid
al-Faqir; and Salman Erhaiel Najada.

 

At
approximately 06:30 on Saturday, 19 January 2013, an Israeli infantry unit, of
approximately 200 soldiers, raided al Maleh area again.  The soldiers uprooted 37 tents which were
given to the above-mentioned civilians by the Municipality of Tubas and the
International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), and confiscated them.

 

At
approximately 10:20 on Saturday, 19 January 2013, a group of settlers, coming
from “Sidi Bo’aaz” settlement, established on the southern side of
al-Khader village, uprooted 20 olive seedlings from Ain Qesis area.  These seedlings belong to Mahmoud Ahmed
Ghonaim (45). According to Ahmed Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committees
against Settlement Activity in al-Khader village, the aforementioned civilian’s
land was razed by the settlers a while ago in order to confiscate it.

 

In
the early morning hours on Sunday, 20 January 2013, a group of settlers from
“Eliezer” settlement outpost, established on the southern side of
al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, opened a road across 35 dunums of land
in Khelat al-Fahem area, between “Eliezer” and “Gosh
Atsion” settlements; and uprooted 50 recently planted grape seedlings,
belonging to Mr. Khaled Saleh Abdel-Salam Salah (40).  In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Ahmed
Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against Settlement Activity in
al-Khader village, said that Nadia Mattar, head of the settler Women in Green Association,
is behind the confiscation, bulldozing and uprooting of trees in the area.  He also mentioned that she had set a pergola
for settlers’ parties on the land of a Palestinian civilian, Mr. Khaled
Salah.  She also planted 20 olive trees,
more than 20 years old, and raised the Israeli flags on them.

 

At
approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 20 January 2013, an Israeli force, accompanied
by a number of military vehicles and officers from the Israeli Civil
Administration, raided al-Naqi valley area, west of Ethna, west of Hebron.  The officers submitted notices to a number of
Palestinian civilians to stop all construction works in some houses and
facilities, under the pretext that they are building in Area (C), which falls
under Israeli jurisdiction according to the Oslo Accords.  The notices were submitted to the following;

 

 

1. A tin barracks of 300 square meters, belonging to Mr. Bilal
Abdel-Hafiz Abu-Zantta (27).

2. A house of 135 square meters, occupied by a family of 4, belonging
to Mr. Bilal Abdel-Hafiz Abu-Zantta (27).

3. A house under construction of 120 square meters, belonging to Mr.
Ma’moun Hassan Faraj Allah (27).

4. A house of 120 square meters, belonging to Mr. Abdallah Isma’il
Faraj-Allah (35).

5. A tin barracks of 200 square meters, belonging to Mr. Nader
Mohammed Mahmoud Faraj-Allah.

 

At
approximately 07:30 on Monday, 21 January 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by
military vehicles; a bulldozer and officers of the Israeli Administration and
Planning department, raided Sho’ab al-Maghara area, in the surroundings of
al-Deirat village, east of Yatta, south of Hebron.  The soldiers raided an agricultural room of
55 square meters, occupied by Mr. Moussa Ibrahim Abu ‘Aram’s family.  The soldiers evacuated the room and the
bulldozer demolished it together with a water well of 100 square meters, under the
pretext of not obtaining a license.

 

At
approximately 08:30 on Monday, a large Israeli force, accompanied by military
vehicles; a bulldozer and officers of the Israeli Administration and Planning
department, raided al-Rifa’ya area, east of Yatta south of Hebron.  The bulldozer destroyed an
under-construction, one-storey house, established on an area of 120 square
meters, under pretext of not obtaining a license.  The house belongs to Mr. Hamad Mohammed Jaber
Ammour.

 

At
approximately 10:00 also on Monday, Israeli forces, accompanied by officers
from the Israeli Civil Administration, raided al-Rahwa area, south of
al-Thaherya village, west of Hebron.  The
soldiers surrounded the civilians’ houses and the officers of the Civil
Administration barged into a number of the houses, forcefully evacuated them
while the bulldozers demolished a number of houses, tents and sheep barns of
wood and tin.  The bulldozed property was
as follows:

 

1. A house of tin, wood and cloth, of an area of 60 square meters,
belonging to Mr. Shihda Hamed Mohammed al-Waridat (72), occupied by a family of
6.

2. A house of tin, wood and cloth, of an area of 70 square meters,
belonging to Mr. Ali Shihda Mohammed al-Waridat (33), occupied by a family of
8.

3. A house of tin, wood and cloth, of an area of 30 sqaure meters, a
cement-bathroom of 2 square meters and a sheep barn of 80 square meters
belonging to Mahmoud Mohammed al-Jabarin (35).

4. A house of tin, wood and cloth, of 30 square meters, and a
cement-bathroom of 2 square meters, belonging to Ibrahim Mahmoud al-Jabarin
(37).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recommendations to the International
Community

 

 

1. PCHR calls upon
the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their
legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory.  PCHR believes that the
conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged
Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to
violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

 

2. PCHR calls upon
the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a
conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention
in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

 

3. PCHR calls upon
the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with
their legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for
and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

 

4. PCHR calls for
the immediate implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the
International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the
Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

 

5. PCHR recommends
that international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of
exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and urge their
governments to bring the perpetrators to justice. 

 

6. PCHR calls upon
the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association
Agreement, which provides that Israel
must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between
the EU states and Israel.  PCHR further
calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal
Israeli settlements in the OPT. 

 

7. PCHR calls on
the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was
implemented in September 2005, for what it is – not an end to occupation but a
compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. 

 

8. In recognition
of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the
ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation
of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

 

9. PCHR
appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights
organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue
their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human
rights in the OPT and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian
civilians.

 

 

10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel
to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its
occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.

 

11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on
international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful
and just solution of the Palestinian question. 
Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and
instability in the region.  Any peace
process or agreement must be based on respect for international law, including
international human rights and humanitarian law.

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

Public Document

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