Palestinian
children call for an end of the siege on the Gaza Strip in Gaza City on June
20, 2010.

 

Israel
Continues Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

 

· Israel
continues to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip.

– Three
civilians, including a child, were injured in Bal’ein village, west of
Ramallah.

– Dozens
of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation in the West.

– Israeli
forces attacked three journalists in Beit Jala.

– Israeli
forces arrested ten civilians, including 3 international human rights defenders,
a journalist and five medical volunteers.

 

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

– Four workers, including two children, were wounded.

 

· Israel
conducted sixteen incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and
three limited incursions into the Gaza Strip.

– Israeli
forces arrested 43 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children.

– 28
of these civilians were arrested in Deir Samer village near Hebron.

 

· 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 Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the Gaza Strip arrested a
Palestinian civilian.

 

· Israel
has continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority
in Jerusalem.

– Israeli
forces conducted bulldozing works to build 600 settlement units in the north of
Jerusalem.

– The
Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem ordered demolition of 22 houses in al-Bustan
neighborhood in Silwan village and forced a woman to demolish her house.

– The
Israeli Supreme Court upheld a deportation order from Jerusalem against a
member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. 

– Israeli
forces closed a charity in Jerusalem. 

 

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

-An Israeli
settler attacked a Palestinian child in Hebron.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (17 – 23 June
2010):

 

Shooting: During the
reporting period, Israeli forces wounded eight Palestinians, including three
children, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces used excessive force to
disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians to protest
the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities in the West
Bank and against the creation of a buffer zone along the border in the Gaza
Strip. As a result, three civilians,
including a child, were injured. Israeli
forces also violently beat three journalists. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces fired at Palestinian workers who were
collecting construction materials. As a
result, four workers, including two children, were wounded in four separate
incidents.  

 

On 17 June 2010, an activist of the Palestinian resistance was wounded
by Israeli forces in ‘Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis.

 

Incursions: During
the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least sixteen military
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they
arrested 43 Palestinian civilians, including five children. This figure includes 28 civilians who were
arrested in Deir Samet village near Hebron. Israeli forces also arrested ten civilians, including three
international human rights defenders, a journalist and 45 medical volunteers.

 

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted three
limited incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they conducted searches.

 

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, IOF 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. 

 

· IOF 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.

 

Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem: Israeli
forces have continued to take measures at creating a Jewish majority in
Jerusalem. 

 

On 20 June 2010, the Israeli
police closed Ilaf Association for Education Support on Haron al-Rashid
Street in Jerusalem on an order issued by Israeli Police General Inspector,
Dodi Kohen. The pretext given for the closure was that meetings for Hamas were
held in offices of the Association.  Ilaf Association for Education
Support in Jerusalem was established seven months ago. Since its
establishment, the Association has provided financial assistance in the form of
loans to be repaid after graduation to approximately 160 students in different
specializations. 

 

Also on 20
June 2010, the Israeli Supreme Court upheld an order issued by the Israeli
police to deport from Jerusalem Mohammed Abu Tir, a PLC member from the
Hamas-affiliated  Change and Reform Bloc, until next September when the
Court will consider his petition.

 

On 21 June 2010, Israeli forces implemented
large-scale bulldozing activities on Palestinian lands between “Pisgat
Ze’ev” and “Neve Ya’kov” settlements in the north of occupied
Jerusalem in preparation for the construction of 600 new settlement
units. The construction of these new settlement units was approved one
year ago in order to establish a link between the aforementioned settlements.

 

Also on 21 June 2010, the “District Committee of Organization and
Construction” in the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem approved a plan to
establish the “King David’s Garden” (a Biblical garden) on the former
location of houses in al-Bustan neighborhood in Salwan, according to a press
release issued by the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem. The Garden will
include restaurants and a public hotel. The demolitions will affect 22
houses in the northwestern part of al-Bustan neighborhood. It should be noted
that the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem revealed last year that there was a
plan to demolish 88 houses and displace 1,500 individuals. 

 

During the reporting period, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem
forced In’am Ibrahim Me’bed, 62, from the Housh al-Hilo area in the old city of
Jerusalem to demolish her 40-square-meter house, claiming that the house was
built without a license. Me’bed built
the house four years ago as a residence for her and her disabled daughter. The family had already paid a fine of 18,000
NIS. The Israeli Municipality of
Jerusalem also forced the family to demolish two structures in 2007.  

 

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 18 June 2010, an Israeli settler
attacked a Palestinian child with a heavy tool in Hebron. The child was seriously injured in the
head. 

 

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during
the Reporting Period (17 – 23 June 2010)

 

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

 

Thursday, 17 June 2010

 

· At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested Mazen Hassn al-Danbak, 34. It should be noted that al-Danbak had been released from Israeli jails
on 18 May 2010.

 

· At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Obwin village, northwest of
Ramallah. They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of ‘Abdul Qader Hamed Mzahem, 21, and arrested
him.

 

· At
approximately 06:40, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Lahia area fired at Palestinian workers
who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from a site where the
evacuated Israeli settlements of “Elli Sinai” and
“Nissanit” used to stand, nearly 500 meters away from the
border. No casualties were reported. 

 

· At
approximately 07:30, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel to the east of the southern Gaza Strip area of Khan Yunis
opened fire at agricultural land in Um al-Mahed area in the east of ‘Abassan
village. As a result, an activist of the
Palestinian resistance was wounded by a bullet to the leg.

 

· Also
at approximately 07:30, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian workers who
were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from the industrial zone. No casualties were reported.

 

· At
approximately 08:20, Israeli forces moved nearly 150 meters into Bourat Abu
Samra areas in the north of Beit Lahia area in the northern Gaza Strip, in an
attempt to prevent Palestinian workers from entering the area to collect raw
construction materials. Israeli forces pulled
back towards the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at approximately
17:30.

 

Friday, 18 June 2010

 

· At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of
Jenin. They raided and searched a number
of houses, but no arrested were reported.

 

· Also
at approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun village, west of
Jenin. They raided and searched a number
of houses, but no arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Silwad village, northeast of
Ramallah. They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Mohammed Hamed ‘Omar Hamed, 17, and arrested
him.

 

· At
approximately 07:00, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Lahia area fired at Palestinian workers
who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from a site where the
evacuated Israeli settlements of “Elli Sinai” and
“Nissanit” used to stand, nearly 500 meters away from the border. No casualties were reported.

 

· At
approximately 07:30, Israeli gunboats stationed off the coast of Beit Lahia
beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian boats, forcing them
to sail back to the beach. No casualties
were reported.  

 

Saturday, 19 June 2010

 

· At
approximately 07:30, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Lahia area fired at Palestinian workers
who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from a site where the
evacuated Israeli settlements of “Elli Sinai” and
“Nissanit” used to stand, nearly 400 meters away from the
border. No casualties were reported.

 

· At
approximately 07:45, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian workers who
were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from the industrial
zone. As a result, Khaled ‘Abdul Nasser
Abu Harbeed, 21, from Beit Hanoun, was wounded by shrapnel to the back. Other workers attempted to evacuate him on a
donkey cart, but Israeli troop moved into the area and opened fire, killing the
donkey. The Palestinian workers managed
to transported him on a motorcycle. Israeli troops continued to fire at the workers, wounding ‘Abdul Hadi Faraj
al-Kafarna, 18, with a bullet to the right foot.

 

Sunday, 20 June 2010

 

· At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested six Palestinian civilians, including three children:

 

1. Tariq Fat’hi Abu Ghoush, 17;

2. Nidal Ahmed al-Zagha, 18;

3. Ra’ed Sami Hamdan, 18;

4. ;Imad Mousa Marahil, 19;

5. Ziad Mohammed al-Basha, 17; and

6. ‘Imad al-Din Ahmed Halawa, 16.

 

According to families of the detainees, Israeli troops violently beat
their sons before their eyes. They also
harassed the families during this operation. 

 

Monday, 21 June 2010

 

· At
approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved nearly 350 meters into the northwest
of Beit Lahia area in the northern Gaza Strip after a heavy explosion had been
heard in the area. Israeli forces searched
the area and pulled back towards the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel
at approximately 04:40.

 

· At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Ymoun village, west of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.

 

· Also
at approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village,
west of Jenin. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 22 June 2010

 

· At
approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir Samet village, southwest of
Hebron. They attacked a number of houses
and detonated sound bombs near them, especially those belonging to the extended
family of ‘Ali Hassan al-‘Adam. According to al-‘Adam and his son, 21-year-old Hamza, at approximately
03:30, Israeli forces moved into Ghannam quarter in the east of the
village. They attacked al-‘Adams’
two-storey house, blowing up the door of the first floor and firing at the
house and the roof while some members of the family were sleeping there. Soon after, Israeli troops broke into the
house and violently beat three of al-‘Adam’s sons: Mousa, 30; Bahaa’ al-Din,
25; and Hamza, 21. They also arrested
the first two sons and damaged the house. Additionally, Israeli forces raided and searched a number of houses in
the village and arrested 25 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Eyad Mahmoud al-Hroub;

2. Mousa ‘Ali al-‘Adam;

3. Mohammed Mahmoud al-Hroub;

4. Khalil Mohammed al-Hroub;

5. ‘Ali Younis al-Hroub;

6. Mohammed Jasser al-Hroub;

7. Amjad Jasser al-Hroub;

8. Bahaa’ ‘Ali al-Hroub;

9. Mousa ‘Ali al-Hroub;

10. Saber Mohammed al-Hroub;

11. Ahmed Mohammed al-Hroub;

12. Tawfiq ‘Abdul Fattah al-Hroub;

13. ‘Eissa Ahmed al-Hroub;

14. Mahmoud Hussein al-Hroub;

15. Isma’il Hussein al-Hroub;

16. Mohammed Isma’il al-Hroub;

17. Mahmoud Isma’il al-Hroub;

18. ‘Abdullah Isma’il al-Hroub;

19. Ra’ed ‘Eissa al-Hroub;

20. Hani ‘Eissa al-Hroub;

21. Mohammed ‘Eissa al-Hroub;

22. Jihad ‘Eissa al-Hroub;

23. Bilal ‘Eissa al-Hroub;

24. Shihda Mohammed al-Masalma; and

25. Mohammed Mohammed Masalma. 

 

· At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Zabbouba village, northwest of
Jenin. They raided and searched a number
of houses and delivered summons to 7 Palestinian civilians.

 

· At
approximately 06:45, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia area fired at Palestinian
workers who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from a site where
the evacuated Israeli settlements of “Elli Sinai” and
“Nissanit” used to stand, nearly 500 meters away from the
border. As a result, fifteen-year-old
‘Abdullah Mohammed Sofian was wounded by a bullet to the right foot.  

 

Wednesday, 23 June 2010

 

· At
approximately 06:40, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian workers who
were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from the industrial
zone. As a result, Mohammed Mohammed
Maqat, 16, from Gaza City, was wounded by a bullet to the abdomen.

 

· At
approximately 07:45, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and later withdrew. No
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 09:20, Israeli forces moved into Bedya village, northwest of
Salfit. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and later withdrew. 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 to
the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities. Four Palestinian civilians were injured, four
journalists sustained bruises  and others
suffered from tear gas inhalation.  

 

· Following the Friday Prayer on 18 June
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. They moved towards the annexation wall. Israeli troops stationed in the area fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators. They also chased the
demonstrators into fields and fire broke out in some areas. Three Palestinian civilians, including a
child, were hit by tear gas canisters:

 

1. Mohammed Maher Yassin, 14, hit by a
tear gas canister to the face;

2. Jasser Maher Yassin, 21, hit by a tear
gas canister to the left leg; and

3. Yassin Mohammed Yassin, 21, hit by a
tear gas canister to the left leg.

 

Israeli
troops also arrested 3 human rights defenders: Tal Sapira, 25; Gal Lucassi, 22;
and one unidentified.

 

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 18
June 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 Israeli troops positioned
near the Wall. Israeli troops fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators. As a result, dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained
bruises. Israeli troops also arrested
five volunteers of Palestine Red Crescent Society and the photographer of the
Public Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Ne’lin village:

 

1. Hammouda Sa’id ‘Amira, 30, photographer
of the Public Committee against the Wall and Settlement;

2. Murad Khalil ‘Amira, 35;

3. ‘Alaa’ Ali Khawaja, 21;

4. Mohammed Hassan Mosleh, 16;

5. Mohammed Mousa Habazi; 23; and

6. Jihad Mousa Habbazi. 

 

-Four of the detainees were released in the evening and
the remaining two were released two days later.

 

· Also
following the Friday Prayer on 18 June 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. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.  Israeli troops also arrested Khaled ‘Atallah
al-Tamimi, 23; they released him two hours later.

 

· On
Sunday noon, 20 June 2010, Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful
demonstration in Beit Lahia area, west of Bethlehem, in protest to the
construction of the Annexation Wall. They moved towards a site where a section of the wall is being
constructed, to the west of the area. Israeli
troops fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them and violently beat
three journalists:

 

1. Yousef ‘Eissa Shaheen, 25, from Hebron,
a cameraman of Palmedia;

2. ‘Abdul Hafiz Diab al-Hashlamoun, 45,
from Hebron, a cameraman of the European News Agency; and

3. Najeh Diab al-Hashlamoun, 47, from
Hebron, a cameraman of NDP.

 

3. Continued Siege on the OPT

 

Israel has 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 more than two and a half 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, Israel decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently
and to allow 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 decided to open Rafah International Crossing Point on the
Egyptian border for both directions without specifying a date for its
closure. The Egyptian decisions came
following the Israeli attack on the Gaza-aid flotilla in international water n
31 May 2010. On the morning of 02 June
2010, the crossing point was effectively opened and Palestinian civilians were
allowed to travel through it.

 

Movement at Rafah International
Crossing Point

16 – 22 June 2010

 

 

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

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) Crossing

16 – 22 June 2010

 

 

Al-Mentar
(Karni) Crossing: Israeli forces
partially opened the crossing on Thursday, 17 June 2001, and allowed the entry
of 1,443 tons of wheat and 3,198 tons fodders. They also opened it on Monday, 21 June 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,794
tons of wheat and 2,925 tons of fodders. 

 

Beit
Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel has
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian
civilians. Israeli forces have allowed only diplomats, a number of
international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited
number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass 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 via the crossing is able to do so only under severe
restrictions that include prolonged “security procedures.”

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez)
Crossing

16 – 22 June 2010

 

 

The West
Bank

 

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

 

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

 

· Ramallah: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. Israeli forces 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, Israeli
forces erected a number of temporary checkpoints and stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles.  On
Sunday, 20 June 2010, Israeli forces re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint,
north of Ramallah, where they stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian
civilians vehicles.  

 

· Nablus: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in Nablus. On
Thursday noon, 17 June 2010, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
western entrance of Northern ‘Assira village, north of Nablus, where they
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Friday morning, 18 June 2010, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Northern ‘Assira village,
north of Nablus.       

 

· Tulkarm: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in Tulkarm. At
approximately 05:00 on Sunday, 20 June 2010, al-Taybeh crossing, west of
Tulkarm, was closed for two hours. Israeli
forces claimed that the closure was decided to the failure of computers. It should be noted that Palestinian civilians
passing through the crossing are subjected to prolonged security checks and,
often, humiliation.  At approximately
10:30 on Tuesday, 22 June 2010, Israeli forces prevented members of the relief
committee of Jaffa-Nazareth Municipality from entering Tulkarm through Jibara
checkpoint, claiming that the materials they were transporting were commercial and
must be entered through “Sha’ar Ephraim” crossing.  

 

· Qalqilya:  Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in Qalqilya.

 

· Hebron: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Hebron. On Monday morning, 14 June 2010, following an
armed attack on an Israeli police vehicle near “Beit Hajai”
settlement, southwest of Hebron, Israeli forces waged a wide scale campaign
against villages near Hebron, especially Dura village. They erected a number of checkpoints and
stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. Israeli forces also arrested Hassan Abu ‘Arqoub, 24, in Kharsa area,
south of Dura village.  

 

· Jenin: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Jenin. At approximately 06:00 on Friday, 18 June
2010, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at ‘Arraba intersection, south of
Jenin, and another one at al-Jarba intersection, southeast of the area where they
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

 

4. Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem

 

Israel has recently escalated arbitrary measures
against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem in order to force them to leave
the city. PCHR has devoted this section
in the Weekly Report to highlighting violations of human rights perpetrated by
IOF against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.

 

· On Sunday, 20 June 2010, the Israeli police closed
Ilaf Association for Education Support on Haron al-Rashid Street in
Jerusalem on an order issued by Israeli Police General Inspector, Dodi Kohen.
The pretext given for the closure was that meetings for Hamas were held in
offices of the Association. The closure order stated: “In accordance
with the powers granted to me and in accordance with Law no. 6a on the
Prevention of Terrorism for the Year 1948, I hereby order the closure of
Jerusalem Association for Education Support which is known as Ilaf Association,
19, ground floor, Haron al-Rashid street, until 01 July 2010, because it
belongs to a terrorist organization and is being used by Hamas. Having
reviewed reliable confidential documents proving that the Association is
employed by Hamas, we inform you that we are considering the issuance of an
additional order to close the Association for one year. Any one who thinks
that he/she may be hurt by this order can submit a written appeal to me within
15 days from the publication of this order.” Mustafa Abu Zahra, Chairman
of the Association’s Board of Directors, denied the Israeli allegations, stating
that they are false, fabricated and unfounded. Ilaf Association for Education
Support in Jerusalem was established seven months ago. Since its
establishment, the Association has provided financial assistance in the form of
loans to be repaid after graduation to approximately 160 students in different
specializations. The value of loans given to students enrolled in
medicine, pharmacy and engineering faculties is 400 Jordanian Dinars, and the
value of loans given to students enrolled in other faculties is 200 Jordanian
Dinars. 

 

· Also
on Sunday, 20 June 2010, the Israeli Supreme Court upheld an order issued by the
Israeli police to deport from Jerusalem Mohammed Abu Tir, a PLC member from the
Hamas-affiliated  Change and Reform Bloc, until next September when the
Court will consider his petition. In its decision, the Court held that this
deportation order is valid until the consideration of the petition filed on his
behalf in the Court, explaining that if the decision on the petition is in the
interest of the deportee, then he will be able to return home.  It should
be noted that there are another two deportation orders against PLC Members,
Ahmed Atwan and Mohammed Totah, and a third one against Eng. Khaled Abu Arafa,
former Palestinian Jerusalem Affairs Minister.

 

· On Monday morning, 21 June 2010, Israeli forces implemented
large-scale bulldozing activities on Palestinian lands between “Pisgat
Ze’ev” and “Neve Ya’kov” settlements in the north of occupied
Jerusalem in preparation for the construction of 600 new settlement
units. The construction of these new settlement units was approved one
year ago in order to establish a link between the aforementioned settlements.

 

· Also
on Monday, 21 June 2010, the “District Committee of Organization and
Construction” in the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem approved a plan to
establish the “King David’s Garden” (a Biblical garden) on the former
location of houses in al-Bustan neighborhood in Salwan, according to a press
release issued by the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem. The Garden will
include restaurants and a public hotel. The demolitions will affect 22
houses in the northwestern part of al-Bustan neighborhood. It should be noted
that the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem revealed last year that there was a
plan to demolish 88 houses and displace 1,500 individuals. Last February, the Israeli Municipality of
Jerusalem ordered 88 Palestinian civilians living in al-Bustan neighborhood to
evacuate their houses, which would be demolished for allegedly being built
without licenses. At least 130
Palestinian families, counting at least 1,500 individuals live in these
houses. Some of these house had been
built before 1948.

 

· During
the reporting period, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem forced In’am
Ibrahim Me’bed, 62, from Housh al-Hilo area in the old city of Jerusalem, to
demolish her 40-square-meter house, claiming that the house was built without a
license. Me’bed built the house four
years ago as a residence for her and her disabled daughter. The family had already paid a fine of 18,000
NIS. The Israeli Municipality of
Jerusalem also forced the family to demolish two structures in 2007.   

 

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

 

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

 

· On
Friday evening, 18 June 2010, Mohammed Maher al-Masalma, 15, from Beit ‘Awa
village southwest of Hebron, survived an attack by an Israeli settlers with a
heavy tool. According to the child, at
approximately 20:00 on Friday he arrived at Beit ‘Awa intersection on his way
home on foot from Sikka village, to the south. According to the testimony, an Israeli settler stopped his car approximately
10 meters away from the boy. The settler
stepped out of the car carrying a heavy tool, which might be an iron tube and
attacked the child, striking him on the head with his weapon. The boy fell down, bleeding, and lost
consciousness. A passing Palestinian
civilian evacuated him in his car to the hospital, where he was treated for a severe
injury to the head. According to his
uncle, the child continues to suffer from severe pain is still in shock.

 

· At
approximately 11:00 on Wednesday, 23 June 2010, Israeli forces moved into Kufor
al-Dik village, west of Salfit, and handed notices to six Palestinian civilians,
ordering them to stop construction work on structures belonging to them,
alleging lack of licenses. These
civilians are: Radi Farahat Taha; Khaled Tahseen ‘Ali Ahmed; Zayed Taher ‘Ali
Ahmed; Nawal ‘Ali al-Shinnar; Samer ‘Othman Naji; and Jamal ‘Ali Ahmed.  

 

…………………………………………………………

 

 

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).