Destruction
incurred to a sewage plant belonging to the Municipality of al-Nussairat by an
Israeli air strike – 19 August 2011

Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalate Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and
Property in the Gaza Strip

 

 

IOF killed
17 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

5 of
the victims are civilians, including two children and a physician.

3
workers we missing when Israeli warplanes bombarded a tunnel in Rafah.

 

A
Palestinian resistance activist died of a previous wound in Gaza City.

 

14
Palestinians, including 5 children and two women, were wounded by IOF the Gaza
Strip.

 

Israeli
warplanes launched 41 air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip.

A
number of civilian buildings and 6 training sites of Palestinian resistance
groups were destroyed or damaged.  

 

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

A
Palestinian civilian was wounded and dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear
gas inhalation.

 

IOF
conducted 27 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  

Two
Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF in Hebron and Bethlehem.

IOF
arrested 77 Palestinians, including a member of the Palestinian Legislative
Council, two journalists, academics and social figures. .

 

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

IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on access of Palestinians to
Jerusalem during Ramadan Month.

 

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

Israeli
settlers set fire to two cars and bear two children near Ramallah.

Israeli
settlers uprooted 52 fruitful trees in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron.

 

 

 

Summary

 

During the reporting period, IOF launched a new military offensive
on the Gaza Strip, which continued for 3 days. They bombarded civilian facilities and training sites of Palestinian
resistance groups, and targeted a number of activists of resistance
groups. A number of Palestinian
civilians, including children and women, were killed were wounded, and a number
of civilian facilities were damaged.  This
offensive came a few hours following armed attacks in the southern Israeli city
of Eilat near the Egyptian border, which left 8 Israelis and 7 attackers
killed, and injured a number of other Israelis, according to Israeli media
reports. 

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (18 – 24 August 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF
killed 17 Palestinians, including 5 civilians (two children, a physician, a
worker and a farmers), in the Gaza Strip. They also wounded 20 Palestinians, including 6 children and two women in
the Gaza Strip, and 3 others in the West Bank. Additionally, an activist of the Palestinian resistance died of a
previous wound in the Gaza Strip.

 

In the Gaza Strip, a few hours
following the armed attack in Eilat, on Thursday evening, IOF extra-judicially
executed 5 members of the Popular Resistance Committees and the child of one of
them in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. 

 

On Friday, 19 August, IOF launched a
series of air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip. As a result of these attacks, 5 activists of
the Palestinian resistance, a physician and a child were killed and 5
Palestinians, including two children and two women, were wounded.

 

On Saturday, 20 August 2011, 7
Palestinians, including a woman and a child, were wounded by Israeli
attacks. 

 

On Sunday, 21 August 2011, a
Palestinian child was wounded and a number of civilians sustained bruises.

 

On Wednesday, 24 August 2011, IOF
extra-judicially executed a leader of the Quds Brigades (the armed wing of
Islamic Jihad) in Rafah. A passing child
was wounded. On the same day, IOF killed
a farmer in al-Boreij refugee camp. They
also killed a resistance activist in Gaza City. On the same day, a worker was killed and 4 others were wounded when IOF
bombarded a tunnel in Rafah. 

 

In the context of such escalation
against the Gaza Strip, IOF launched at least 41 air strikes against targets in
the Gaza Strip. They destroyed or
damaged a number of civilian buildings and 6 training sites of Palestinian
resistance groups.

 

Additionally, on 19 August 2011, a
resistance activist died from a previous wound he sustained by IOF in Gaza
City. 

 

In the West Bank, two Palestinian civilians
were wounded by IOF during incursions into Hebron and Bethlehem. 

 

During the reporting period, IOF
used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest
to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall in
the West Bank. As a result, a
Palestinian civilian was wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.  

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 27 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 77 Palestinian
civilians. Most of the detainees were
arrested in Hebron.  

 

In conjunction with the current escalation in the Gaza Strip, the
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched in the early morning of Sunday, 21
August 2011, a large-scale military campaign against many neighbors and streets
and dozens of houses in Hebron.  During this campaign, IOF arrested at
least 53 Palestinians, mostly members and activists of the Islamic Resistance
Movement (Hamas), including a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, two
journalists, some academics and members of charitable associations.

 

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 over three 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. 

 

IOF have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip and practically
made Karm Abu Salem crossing as the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip
although it is not proper for commercial purposes in terms of its distance and
operational capacity.

 

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 bitter situation that has seriously affected the Gaza
Strip. Following this closure, all the
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 of al-Mentar crossing was the
culmination of a series of decisions to totally close Soafa crossing, east of
the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2009, and 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.

 

These statistics which were made available to PCHR by the Border
and Crossings Department indicate a continued drop in the number of truckloads
of Gaza imports and exports.

 

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

 

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

 

IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the exportation of
Gaza’s products, especially industrial products, leading to undermining any
real chances to rerun economic establishments. The situation has been aggravated especially after making Karm Abu Salem
crossing as Gaza sole commercial crossing and the repeated closure of this
crossing which negatively affected the quantity of Gazan products which were
allowed to be exported during last April.

 

IOF have continued to prolong the implementation of their decision
to allow 60 cars into Gaza weekly although more than 11 months have passed
since they announced this decision after three years of ban imposed on the
delivery of cars to Gaza. As a result,
the prices of cars in Gaza have been on the rise and local markets experience
serious shortage in spare parts.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

For approximately 48 months, IOF have continued to deny
approximately 700 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails
their visitation rights without providing any justification to this measure,
which violates the rules of the international humanitarian law.

 

West
Bank

 

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.

 

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

 

There are approximately 585
permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.

 

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, confiscating more Palestinian land.

 

At least 65% of the main roads that
lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully
controlled by IOF.

 

There are approximately 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 permits issued by IOF. Such permits are extremely difficult
to obtain.

 

IOF continue to harass and assault
demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the
annexation wall.

 

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

 

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 19 August 2011, many armed
Israeli settlers from “Beit Eil” settlement, north of Ramallah, stormed
al-Banabee’ area in Dawar Al-Qare’ village to the north of the settlement. They set fire to two cars belonging. Palestinian civilians were able to extinguish
fire in one of the cars, but the other one was completely burnt. 

 

On 20 August 2011, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Ramat Magron” settlement, which stands on the lands of
Mikhmas village, southeast of Ramallah, violently beat a Palestinian child,
while he was grazing animals with another child. He was injured in the head. 

 

On 23 August 2011, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Bat Ain” settlement in the north of Beit Ummar town,
north of Hebron, uprooted dozens of fruitful trees belonging to the Slaibi
family in Wadi Abu al-Reesh area. They
uprooted 5 olive trees, 25 grape trees and 22 plum trees.  

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (11 – 17 August 2011)

 

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

 

1) Israeli
Offensive on the Gaza Strip

 

On Thursday evening, 18 August 2011, IOF launched a new military
offensive on the Gaza Strip, which continued for 3 days. They bombarded civilian facilities and
training sites of Palestinian resistance groups, and targeted a number of
activists of resistance groups. A number
of Palestinian civilians, including children and women, were killed were
wounded, and a number of civilian facilities were damaged.  This offensive came a few hours following
armed attacks in the southern Israeli city of Eilat near the Egyptian border,
which left 8 Israelis and 7 attackers killed, and injured a number of other
Israelis, according to Israeli media reports. 

 

Thursday, 18 August 2011

 

At approximately 16:50, Israeli warplanes fired two missiles
targeting a number of leaders of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and
its armed wing, Nasser Saladin Brigades, who were in the garden of a house
belonging to Khaled Hamad Sha’at opposite to Ali Ben Abi Taleb Mosque in Block
J (al-Sho’ut) area in Rafah refugee camp. As a result of the attack, 5 PRC
leaders and a child of one of them were killed:

 

1- Kamal ‘Awadh Mohammed al-Nairab (Abu ‘Awadh), 43, PRC Secretary
General;

2- ‘Emad ‘Abdul Karim ‘Abdul Khaliq Hammad, 40, the leader of
Nasser Saladin Brigades;

3- ‘Emad al-Din Na’im Sayed Nasser, 46, a member of Nasser Saladin
Brigades;

4- Khaled Ibrahim Salman al-Masri, 26, a member of Nasser Saladin
Brigades;

5- Khaled Hamad Sha’at, 32, the leader of manufacturing unit of
Nasser Saladin Brigades; and

6- Malek Khaled Hamad Sha’at, 2.

 

This attack came a few hours following armed attacks in the
southern Israeli city of Eilat near the Egyptian border, which left 8 Israelis
and 7 attackers killed, and injured a number of other Israelis, according to
Israeli media reports. IOF admitted responsibility of the extra-judicial
execution; Avichai Adraee, IOF spokesman, stated the IOF targeted senior PRC
leaders “as a first step in response to the attack in Eilat.” The
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated in a press conference he
held to comment on Eilat attack that “the leaders of the organization
responsible for the attack are no longer alive.” He appreciated
Israeli military commanders and the Internal Security Services (ISS) who
“liquidated senior leaders of the organization responsible for the attack
in Eilat,” as he claimed. 

 

Friday,
19 August 2011

 

At approximately 01:00, an Israeli
warplane fired a missile at an 800-square-meter, 6-storey vacant governmental
building to the west of al-Katiba Yard in the west of Gaza City. As a
result, the western part of the building was destroyed and at least 23
Palestinians, including 7 children, 6 women and 3 police officers were lightly
injured. A number of nearby apartment buildings were also
damaged. Additionally, buildings of 4 governmental institutions were
damaged: Ministry of Justice; General Personnel Council; Police Command of Gaza
City; and the Governmental Media Office. Offices of seven civil
organizations were damaged as well: Coastal Municipalities Water Utility;
Jawaharlal Nehru Library of al-Azhar University; Future Palestine for Children;
Arts Village of the Municipality of Gaza; al-Dameer Association for Human
Rights; Palestinian Center for Human Communication; and Applied Future
Polytechnic. Moreover, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, 8 shops and Tarazi Fuel
Company were damaged.

 

At approximately 01:30, an Israeli
helicopter gunship fired two missiles at a training site of the ‘Izziddin
al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in the northeast of Beit Lahia
town in the northern Gaza Strip. Fire broke out in the site, but no
casualties were reported.

 

Also at approximately 01:30, Israeli
warplanes bombarded a space area in al-Najjar quarter in Khuza’a village, east
of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. The bombardment me a large
crater in the area and damaged two tin-made rooms belonging to the al-Najjar
family. Additionally, glass of a mosque and a number of houses was broken,
and a number of water tanks were damaged.

 

At approximately 02:05, Israeli
warplanes fired at least ones missile at a tunnel in al-Salam neighborhood at
the Palestinian-Egyptian border, south of Rafah. Nearly 10 minutes later,
they fired a missile at another tunnel in Yibna refugee camp in the south of
Rafah. No casualties were reported.

 

Also at approximately 02:05, Israeli
warplanes bombarded al-Qadisiya site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the
armed wing of Hamas) in the west of Khan Yunis. No casualties were
reported.

 

At approximately 07:00, an Israeli
drone fired two missiles at al-Zaytoun Clinic road in al-Zaytoun neighborhood
in the east of Gaza City. One of the missiles hit the southeastern fence
of the roof of a 250-square-meter, 5-storey house belonging to sons of the late
Hussein Nemes Sbaih. Thirty five individuals, including 25 children, live
in the house. As a result of the attack, the fence was partially destroyed
and Bilal Hassan Sbaih, 35; Anas Khaled Sbaih, 4; and Ramez Bilal Sbaih, 5,
were shocked. The other missile hit the roof of a 200-square-meter,
3-storey house belonging to Zuhair Khalil al-Ayoubi, 67, in which 25
individuals, including 10 children, live. Two water boilers, 3 water tanks
and the roof of the house were damaged.

 

At approximately 11:20, an Israeli
warplane fired two missiles at the sewage treatment plant of the Municipality
of al-Nussairat near Gaza Power Plant in the north of al-Nussairat refugee camp
in the central Gaza Strip.  The plant was destroyed, two civilian
bystanders, included a pregnant woman, were wounded and electricity supplies
were cut from al-Nasser Street, al-Mughraqa village and al-Nussairat refugee
camp. The wounded are:

 

1- Asmaa’ Waleed al-Tatar, 25, wounded by shrapnel to the right
foot; and

2- Tawfiq Khalil Farajallah, 41, wounded by shrapnel to the head
and the right foot.

 

At approximated 11:30, an Israeli
warplane fired a missile at a deserted house in the northeast of al-Zawaida
village in the central Gaza Strip. The house was destroyed and dozens of
nearby houses, but no casualties were reported.

 

Also at approximately 11:30, Israeli
warplanes bombarded a site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing
of Hamas) in Ermadia area in Bani Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. No
casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 12:35, an Israeli
helicopter gunship fired two missiles at a training site of the ‘Izziddin
al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), known as Bader site, in the
northwest of Gaza City. No casualties were reported. It fired a third
missile at the beach.  It then fired a fourth missile at a car in
al-Shamali area in al-Shati refugee camp in the west of Gaza City, but it went
astray and the passengers were able to flee out of the car. No casualties
were reported.

 

At approximately 15:50, an Israeli
drone attacked two activists of Nasser Saladin Brigades (the armed wing of the
Popular Resistance Committee), who were traveling on a 3-wheel motorcycle near
Malaka intersection in the east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza
City. One of the activists, Mohammed Fayez Mahmoud ‘Enaya, 22, from Gaza
City, was killed by shrapnel throughout the body, while the other one was
seriously wounded. 

 

At approximately 17:30, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance
near al-Wafa Hospital in the east of Gaza City. As a result, two children
living in the area were seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout their bodies:
Ibrahim ‘Adnan al-Zaza, 14; and Mohammed ‘Aatef al- Zaza. 

 

Also at approximately 17:30, an
Israeli warplane fired a missile at a space area near Hassanain brick factory
in al-Sourani Mount area in al-Tuffah neighborhood in the east of Gaza
City. No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 18:00, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at an activist of the Palestinian resistance who was
riding a motorcycle in Quliabo Hill area to the east of Sheikh Zayed town in
the northern Gaza Strip. The activist was instantly killed by shrapnel
throughout the body. He was identified as Samed ‘Abdul Mo’ti ‘Aabed, 25,
from the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya.

 

At approximately 19:00, an Israeli
drone attacked a number of Palestinians near Dr. ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Rantissi
Hospital in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. No casualties
were reported.

 

At approximately 19:10, IOF
positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza
City fired an artillery shell at a number of Palestinians in al-Mansoura Street
in al-Shoja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. No casualties were
reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in
the east of ‘Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. No casualties were
reported.

 

At approximately 20:45, an Israeli
warplane fired two missiles at two activists of the Palestinian resistance who
were traveling on a motorcycle on the road linking between al-Boreij and
al-Maghazi refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip. The two activists were
instantly killed. They were identified as:

 

1- Anwar Hassan Saleem, 23; and

2- ‘Emad Fareed Abu ‘Aabda, 23, both from al-Boreij refugee camp.

 

At approximately 21:55, Israeli
tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan
Yunis, fired 4 shells at ‘Abassan village. The shells landed on
agricultural areas, but no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 22:45, an Israeli
warplane bombarded a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the
armed wing of Hamas) in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza
City. No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 22:50, an Israeli
drone attacked 3 Palestinians, including a child, who were traveling on a
motorcycle in Jamal Abdul Nasser Street in the west of Gaza City.  The
three Palestinians were killed: Munther Bassem Hamdan Quraiqe’, 32, a
physician; Mo’taz Bassem Quraiqe’, 29, a leader of al-Quds Brigades (the armed
wing of Islamic Jihad); and Islam, 2, the latter’s child.  The victims are
all from al-Shoja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.  They were on
their way back home when they were attacked.  Additionally, 5 bystanders,
including a woman, were wounded, and a car was damaged.   

 

At approximately 23:00, Israeli
warplanes bombarded a 150-square-meter barrack belonging to Najia Mohammed Abu
Zarifa at ‘Abassan road in the east of Khan Yunis. The barrack was
destroyed and a nearby carwash shop belonging to ‘Ammar ‘Ali Abu Daqqa and a
house were damaged.  

 

Saturday, 20 August 2011

 

At approximately 00:00, Hussein
Mahmoud al-Najjar received a phone call from the Israeli intelligence, in which
he was ordered to vacate his 130-square-meter, two-storey house in the east of
Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. Al-Najjar and his family immediately
vacated the house. Five minutes later, Israeli warplanes fired a missile
at the house. The missile hit the western part of the basement, but did
not explode. Ten minutes later, Israeli warplanes fired another missile,
which hit a nearby sheep farm belonging to Suleiman Mohammed Shnainu and
damaged a nearby house. It is worth noting that al-Najjar’s house was
attacked by an Israeli drone on 24 March 2011.

 

At approximately 00:20, an Israeli
warplane fired a missile at a space area in al-Shouka village, east of
Rafah. As a result, Anwas Younis al-Sheikh ‘Eid, 26, was wounded by
shrapnel throughout the body. 

 

At approximately 03:35, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in
al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. No casualties were
reported. 

 

At approximately 10:15, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at an activist of Saladin Brigades (the armed wing of the
Popular Resistance Committees) who was riding a motorcycle near Hammouda fuel
station to the east of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. The activist was moderately wounded by
shrapnel throughout the body, especially to the back.

 

At approximately 12:50, Israeli
gunboats stationed opposite to Gaza Harbor opened fire at Palestinian fishing
boats. Palestinian fishermen were forced
to flee and no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 13:30, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at a number of Palestinians who were on a space area in
al-Tawahin Street in the east of al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza
City. As a result, a woman, a child and
an activist of al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jiahd) were
wounded. The activist was in a serious
condition and was admitted into the intensive care unit at Shifa Hospital in
Gaza City. The woman and the child were
identified as:

 

1- Fatima Salem
Abu al-Ata, 50, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

2- Mo’ayad Rami
Jundiya, 7, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

 

At approximately 17:50, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at a Palestinian resistance activist who was riding a
motorcycle at the entrance of a fuel station in Yaffa Street in Gaza City. The activist and a worker in the station were
wounded. The worker was identified as
Adham ‘Abdul Hadi al-Hassanat, 21, who was wounded by shrapnel to the left
foot. Additionally, the fuel station was
damaged.

 

At approximately 20:30, Israeli
gunboats stationed opposite to the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya opened
fire at a number of Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian fishermen were forced to flee and no casualties were
reported.

 

Sunday, 21 August 2011

 

At approximately 04:30, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to the
northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya opened fire at a number of Palestinian
fishing boats. Palestinian fishermen
were forced to flee and no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 04:50, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border
between the Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishermen who were on their
lands in Zummu Street in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.  No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 05:00, IOF positioned at the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel fired 7 artillery shells at the vicinity of Gaza
International Airport, southeast of Rafah. No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 10:50, an Israeli drone attacked a number of
Palestinian resistance activists, who launched a home-made rocket into Israeli
towns, near al-Shaimaa’ School in the north of Beit Lahia town in the northern
Gaza Strip. As a result, Haitham Ahmed
Ma’rouf, 13, who was on his father’s land, was seriously wounded by shrapnel
throughout the body.

 

At approximately 14:35, Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at a
Palestinian police station near al-Twan intersection to the west of the
northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya. As
a result, the building of the riot control police was destroyed. Three police officers sustained bruises
throughout their bodies:

 

1- ‘Alaa’ Yasser al-Herbawi, 37;

2- Hassan Waleed al-‘Arini, 23; and

3- Mahmoud Sami Zaqqout, 22.

 

Additionally, 8 civilian bystanders, including 4 children, also
sustained bruises:

 

1- Mohammed Shawqi Salem, 31;

2- Hadi Mohammed Nabhan, 14;

3- ‘Emad Mustafa Sahwil, 30;

4- Hamdallah Saber Khalil, 10;

5- ‘Emad Bassam Nabhan, 12;

6- ‘Ola Bassam Sheikh Khalil, 6;

7- Mohammed Ziad al-Swaissi, 20; and

8- Ibrahim Yasser al-Sultan, 21.

 

Dozens of nearby houses, a number of shops and a company were
damaged. 

 

At approximately 14:50, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a
training site of the Saladin Brigades (the armed wing of the Popular Resistance
Committees) on the west of Khan Yunis. The site was damaged, but no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 15:20, an Israeli drone fired a missile at 4
activists of the Palestinian resistance who were on an olive field in the west
of al-Nussairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The activists survived the attack, while a
number of olive trees were damaged.

 

At approximately 21:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a
number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were on an olive field in
the west of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, but the missile
did not explode.

 

Monday, 22 August 2011

 

At approximately 04:20, IOF positioned at the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel fired two artillery shells at a space area in the
southeast of Juhor al-Dik village, southeast of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

 

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

 

At approximately 00:30, an Israeli
drone fired two missiles at Isma’il Zudhi Isma’il al-Asmar, 37, a leader of the
al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), when he was driving a car
in Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Street in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of
Rafah. Al-Asmar was instantly
killed. A passing child, Salama Radwan ‘Awadallah,
14, was moderately wounded.

 

At approximately 04:50, an Israeli drone
fired two missiles at two activists of the Palestinian resistance who were
traveling on a motorcycle in the south of Deir al-Balah. The two activists were
wounded, the motorcycle was destroyed and electricity wires in the area were
cut.

 

At approximately 05:00, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at an agricultural plot belonging to Eyad al-Khaldi in
the northeast of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, nearly 1,500
meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. As a result, Isma’il Nemer Ammoum, 62, a
farmer working on the plot, was instantly killed. Palestinian medical crews were able to find
his body at approximately 15:00 on the same day.

 

At approximately 19:30, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at a number of activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the
armed wing of Islamic Jihad), who were launching home-made rockets into Israeli
towns from an agricultural plot in the south of al-Nafaq Street in Gaza
City. As a result, one of the activists,
‘Atiya Mahmoud ‘Atiya Maqat, 20, was killed, and another activist was seriously
wounded.

 

At approximately 21:15, an Israeli
drone fired a missile at a number of
activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), who were
launching home-made rockets into Israeli towns from an agricultural plot in
al-Sha’af neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. An activist was wounded.

 

At approximately 23:30, Israeli
warplanes fired at least one missile at a tunnel on the Egyptian border near
al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah. As a result, Hisham ‘Adnan Abu Harab, 20, a worker in the tunnel, was
killed, and another 3 workers were missing. Additionally, 4 Palestinians, including a child, were wounded:

 

1- Khalil Ibrahim ‘Aabed, 24, a member of the Palestinian National
Security Forces;

2- ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Riadh Abu Shbaika, 17, a worker;

3- ‘Abdullah Khaled Tafesh, 21, a worker; and

4- ‘Ali Jaber al-Gharra, 22, a worker.

 

Palestinian Resistance Activist Dies
of Previous Wound

 

At approximately 12:30 of Friday, 19 August 2011, medical sources
at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Ashraf Isma’il Diab ‘Azzam, 30,
from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, died of wound he had
sustained on Tuesday morning, 16 August 2011. ‘Azzam was a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing
of Hamas). He was wounded when an
Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of resistance activists, who were
preparing to launch a home-made rocket into Israeli towns, near al-Istijaba
Mosque in al-Zaytoun neighborhood. Another activist, Mousa Younis Mousa Eshtaiwi, 30, died of his wounds a
few hours following the attack.

 

2) Incursions
into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the
West Bank

 

Thursday, 18 August 2011

 

At approximately 18:10, IOF moved
into Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved
into Jericho. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:30, IOF moved
into Brouqin village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Friday,
19 August 2011

 

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Kharabtha al-Misbah village,
southwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Kharabtha al-Misbah village,
southwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 20 August 2011

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into Msaliya village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 13:00, IOF moved
into al-Jabriyat area in the northern of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:50, IOF moved
into Jainsafout village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:30, IOF moved
into Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved
into Fassayel village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Sunday, 21 August 2011

 

In conjunction with the current
escalation in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched in
the early morning of Sunday, 21 August 2011, a large-scale military campaign
against many neighbors and streets and dozens of houses in Hebron.  During
this campaign, IOF arrested at least 53 Palestinians, mostly members and
activists of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), including a member of the
Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), a journalist, some academics and members
of charitable associations.

 

According to investigations
conducted by PCHR, at approximately 00:30 on Sunday, a large Israeli military
force, backed by at least 100 military vehicles, 2 armored personnel carriers,
trucks and 2 ambulances stormed into Hebron through many of its main entrances.
 They closed all the entrances leading to Hebron and divided themselves
into separate units.  They drove in the streets and stormed the areas of
Ras al-Jora, Ber al-Mahjar, al-Jame’a, Abu Ktaila, al-Salam Street, Ein Sara,
al-Mahawer, al-Sheikh, Nemra, al-Hawouz al-Thani, Wad al-Hariyah and Um
al-Dalia in the north, northwest, center and southwest of Hebron.  They
raided dozens of houses amidst intensive firing of sound bombs and bullets in
the air.  They evacuated these houses and forced residents to stay in the
open air.  They searched the evacuated houses. They checked the ID cards
of residents and checked some of them at gunpoint.  Some relatives of
Palestinians who were arrested reported that IOF used sniffer dogs.  The
detainees and their families were subjected to degrading and humiliating
treatment.

 

This military operation had been the
widest in Hebron since 2004.

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved
into Sourif village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian
civilians:

 

1- Majdi Mohammed Abu Fara, 21;

2- ‘Ali Ahmed al-Hour, 19;

3- Ma’ath Sameh ‘Ar’ar, 31;
and

4- Mohammed ‘Abdul Ghani ‘Ar’ar, 24.

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Yatta town, south of
Hebron. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1- Zaid Isma’il Abu Fanar, 26; and

2- ‘Azzam Ahmed Abu ‘Arram, 32.

 

At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Bidya village, northwest of
Salfit. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Oula village, north of
Hebron. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

 

1- Mohammed
Na’im Daoud, 33;

2- Mahmoud
‘Eissa Abu al-Ghalassi, 51;

3- Anwar ‘Abdul
Rahim Hroub, 50; and

4- Mousa Taha
‘Awawda, 44.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Dura town, southwest of
Hebron. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

 

1- Nabeel Hussein Dar Mohammed, 41;

2- ‘Ali Mahmoud al-‘Amaira, 36;

3- Mofeed Mohammed al-‘Amaira, 39;

4- Ibrahim Yousef Talahma, 43; and

5- Hassan Ibrahim ‘Amru, 47.

 

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Awa village,
southwest of Heborn. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1- Isma’il Ahmed al-Swaiti, 51; and

2- Ibrahim Mohammed Swaiti, 33.

 

At approximately 02:20, IOF moved
into Ethna village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Mutlaq Abu
Juhaisha, 57, PLC Member from the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas,
and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:50, IOF moved
into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They violently raided a house belonging to
Sheikh ‘Abdul Majid ‘Ata al-‘Amarna, the Mufti of Bethlehem, and a neighboring
house belonging to his son, Usaid, 26, a journalist working for the Gaza-based
al-Aqsa Television. They held the families
and fired indiscriminately inside the house. As a result, Bak Is’haq Badarin, 25, Usaid’s brother-in-law, was
seriously wounded by a bullet to the right thigh, when an Israeli soldier fired
at him from a very close range. They
left him bleeding for some time without allowing anyone to offer him help. IOF then arrested Usaid. They also took Badarin with them, and told
the family that they would transport him to Hadassa Hospital in Jerusalem.

 

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved
into ‘Anza village, south of Jenin. They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 10:30, IOF
moved into Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:30, IOF moved
into Hebron. They blocked the entrance
to Abu Ktaila neighborhood in the northwest of the twon. The besieged at least 15 houses. They then raided a house belonging to Hussam
‘Ali al-Qawasmi, 39, who has been detained by IOF, and was brought handcuffed
to the house. They searched the house
and prevented medical crews from offering medical aid to al-Qawasmi’s mother,
59, who fainted. Israeli soldiers then
blew up what they claimed to be a suspicious object in the garden of the
house. As a result, the house was
damaged. Israeli soldiers also harassed
members of the family. In the meantime,
Palestinian civilians gathered in the streets in protest to Israeli
practices. Israeli soldiers fired tear
gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, Ahmed Hassan Abu Shkhaidem, 22, was injured by shrapnel
from a sound bomb to the head. A number
of other civilians also suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 21:30, IOF moved
into ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, southeast of Qalqilya. The chased a number of Palestinian workers
who attempted to cross the annexation wall to go into Israel to search for
jobs.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved
into Jalboun village, east of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

Tuesday, 23 August 2011

 

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and established a checkpoint. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

 

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

 

1- ‘Alaa’ Mujahed, 24;

2- Yousef Ahmed al-Qawasmi, 25;

3- Bashir Ahmed al-Qawasmi, 28;

4- Mohammed Rajab Abu Shkhaidem, 26; and

5- ‘Abdul ‘Azim Mohammed al-Natsha, 30.

 

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

 

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

   

Following the Friday Prayer on 19
August 2011, 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. They moved towards areas of Palestinian land,
which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian
owners. The placed chairs to make it a
park for Palestinians. The demonstrators
also used megaphones to call on Israeli settlers living in “Mitityaho Mizrach”
settlement to leave it. Israeli
soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs
and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, ‘Abdul Basset Mohammed Abu Rahma, 20, was wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg. Additionally, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas
inhalation and fire broke out in some agricultural plots.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 19
August 2011, 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 annexation wall. Israeli soldiers
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators. As a result, a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 19
August 2011, 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. As a result, a number
of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on
19 August 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful
demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to
Israeli settlement activities the continued closure of the entrance of the
village by IOF. Israeli soldiers prevented
the demonstrators from getting close to the entrance and fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them. As a
result, a number of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.  Because of the tear gas canisters and sound
bombs, 750 birds in a bird farm belonging to Mohammed Nemer Eshtaiwi near the
entrance of the village were killed. 

 

3. Continued Closure of the OPT

 

Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure of 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 over three 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 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. Measures declared recently to ease the
blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of
the crisis, which 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. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply
shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become
internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza may no
longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain
economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially,
culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

17 –
23 August 2011

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

17 –
23 August 2011

 

Imports:

 

 

Notes:

 

On Wednesday, 17 August 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 4,200 tons
of construction aggregate and 142 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 80 tons of
wheat, 490 tons of straws and 585 tons of fodders.

 

On Thursday, 18 August 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 3,080 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA. They
also allowed the entry of 1,131 tons of wheat and 120 tons of fodders. 

 

On Sunday, 21 August 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 80 tons of
cement and 840 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 936 tons of
fodders.

 

On Monday, 22 August 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 819 tons of
fodders. 

 

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

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

17 –
23 August 2011

 

 

The West Bank

 

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

 

Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have
been denied access to the city. IOF 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. On the eve of the third Friday of the Holy Ramadan, IOF imposed severe
restrictions on access to the city. They
only allowed male Palestinians aged over 50 and female ones aged over 30 from
the West Bank to pray in the al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday.  

 

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 18 August 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint on under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, west of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. At approximately 11:00
on the same day, they established a checkpoint near Rantis village, west of
Ramallah. At approximately 19:30, IOF
re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 19 August
2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah. At approximately
17:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit
‘Aur al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah. At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 20 August 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint on Bitounia – Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa road, west of Ramallah. At approximately 11:30 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Jania village, north of
Ramallah.  

 

Qalqilya: IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Friday, 19 August 2011, IOF established 5
checkpoints around Qalqilya. They
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 21 August 2011, IOF established 3
checkpoints around Qalqilya. At
approximately 15:30 on Monday, 22 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
near ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, southeast of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles.   

 

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 18 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
in Tulkarm-Qalqilya road. At
approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 20 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
in the same area. At approximately 10:30
on Sunday, 21 August 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east
of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 21:30 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Bazaria village,
northeast of Tulkarm. At approximately
08:30 on Tuesday, 23 August 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab
checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 20:45 on the same day, IOF established
a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of
Tulkarm. At approximately 01:00 on
Wednesday, 24 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalqilya
road. They stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles.

 

Jericho: IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 19:50 on Thursday, 18 August
2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fassayel village, north
of Jericho. At approximately 21:30 on
Saturday, 20 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near Nabi Mousa
intersection on Jericho-Jerusalem road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  

 

Salfit: IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:50 on Friday, 19 August
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qarawat Bani Hassan
village, northwest of Salfit. They
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 16:30 on Saturday, 20 August
2011, IOF established a checkpoint between Deir Ballout and Rafat settlements,
west of Salfit. They stopped and
searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  At
approximately 14:35 on Sunday, 21 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Deir Ballout village, west of Salfit. At approximately 18:30 on Monday, 22 August
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qarawat Bani Hassan
village, northwest of Salfit. They
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 22:10 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint between Kufor al-Dik and Deir Ballout villages, west
of Salfit.

  

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

 

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

 

At
approximately 01:45 on Friday, 19 August 2011, many armed Israeli settlers from
“Beit Eil” settlement, north of Ramallah, stormed al-Banabee’ area in Dawar
Al-Qare’ village to the north of the settlement. They set fire to two cars belonging to ‘Abdul
Ghani ‘Abdullah Yassin. Palestinian
civilians were able to extinguish fire in one of the cars, but the other one
was completely burnt.  

 

At approximately
13:00 on Saturday, 20 August 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Ramat
Magron” settlement, which stands on the lands of Mikhmas village, southeast of
Ramallah, violently beat Bassam Daoud al-Hathalin, 12, while he was grazing
animals with another child. He was
injured in the head. The two children
fled towards the main street near the settlement, and the guard of the
settlement offered al-Hathalin first medical aid. Ten minutes later, a Palestinian ambulance
was evacuated to Ramallah Hospital. In
the evening, the child was taken to an Israeli police station north of
Ramallah, where he was requested to identify the settlers who attacked
him. He was able to identify 3 of
them. 

 

On Tuesday
noon, 23 August 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Bat Ain” settlement in
the north of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, uprooted dozens of fruitful
trees belonging to the Slaibi family in Wadi Abu al-Reesh area. They uprooted 5 olive trees, 25 grape trees
and 22 plum trees.   

 

…………………………………………………………

 

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 (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8
282 4776 – 282 5893).