Israeli
forces destroy agricultural facilities in Hebron

 

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

 

IOF use
force to disperse peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in the
West Bank.

A
Palestinian civilian was wounded. 

IOF
arrested 6 demonstrators, including two photojournalists and two Israeli human
rights defenders. 

Dozens
of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

IOF
conducted 81 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a
limited one into the central Gaza Strip. 
 

IOF
arrested 15 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and a woman.

 

IOF
continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

IOF
arrested two fishers, including a child, and confiscated their boat.

 

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

IOF
arrested 3 Palestinian civilians at various checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

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

IOF
razed areas of land in Qalandya village near Jerusalem for the purpose of the
construction of the annexation wall.

IOF
destroyed a barnyard and two water storage tanks in Hebron.

Israeli
settlers attacked a school near Nablus.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (19 – 25 April 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

In the West Bank, IOF wounded a
Palestinian civilian during the dispersion of peaceful demonstrations organized
in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities
in the West Bank.  Dozens of civilians
also suffered from tear gas inhalation.  
IOF also arrested 6 demonstrators, including two photojournalists and
two Israeli human rights defenders. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF opened fire
at Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials in
the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

 

On 24 April 2012, Israeli naval
troops arrested two Palestinian fishers, including a child, and confiscated
their boat in the northern Gaza Strip. 
The fishers were released later, but the boat remained in custody. 

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 81 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 
During these incursions, IOF arrested 15 Palestinian civilians,
including 4 children and a woman.  

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion into the northern Gaza
Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land which they had
already razed.

 

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.

 

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. 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.

 

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.

 

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
23 April 2012, IOF, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into Wad Qabboun area in Halhoul
town, north of Hebron.  They bulldozers
two water storage tanks that are used for agricultural purposes allegedly
because they were established in Area “C” which is under full Israeli control
according to the Oslo Accords.

  

On
the same day, IOF, accompanied by a number of bulldozers, moved into Qalandya
village, north of Jerusalem.  They razed
a one-dunum[1]
area of agricultural land.  It should be
noted that IOF had already declared to seize at least 400 dunums of land in the
village for the purpose of a section of the annexation wall.

 

On
the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, south of
Nablus, escorted by IOF, attacked ‘Ourif Secondary School in ‘Ourif
village.  They threw stones at the
school.  Palestinian civilians gathered
and threw stones at the settlers. 
Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters at these
civilians.  As a result, a number of
civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

On
24 April 2012, IOF, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into Um Rukba area in
al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. 
They bulldozed a 150-square-meter barnyard allegedly because it was
established without a license. 

 

On
the same day, dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, broke into the
eastern part of Nablus.  They performed
Jewish rituals at Joseph Tomb in Balata village. 

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (19 – 25 April 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 19 April 2012

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into Tubas.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Aysar ‘Izzat Maslamani, 22, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Jericho.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved
into Kifert village, southwest of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and photographed a number of
historical sites.  They withdrew from the
village later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 09:00, IOF
moved into Silwad village, northeast 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 Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:40, IOF moved
into Shaqba village, west of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved
into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin, and patrolled in the streets.  A number of Palestinian boys gathered and
threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. 
Immediately, Israeli soldiers detonated sound bombs near the boys.  IOF withdrew from the village later and no
arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 11:00, IOF
moved into al-‘Ouja village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved
into Jalboun village, east of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:40, IOF moved
into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved
into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. 
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 al-Fonduqawmiya village, south of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Friday,
20 April 2012

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved
into Bitin village, northeast of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 09:00, IOF
moved into Kufor Ne’ma village, west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved
into Shoufa village, southeast of Tulkarm. 
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 Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They raided a house belonging to ‘Adnan
‘Abdul Mahdi and transformed its roof into a military site.  They left the house and withdrew from the
village at approximately 14:00.  No
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:30, IOF moved
into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, 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.

 

Saturday, 21 April 2012  

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian
children:

 

1. ‘Izziddin ‘Abdul Hafiz, 15, who
was released in the evening; and

2. Bahaa’ Mohammed Tamimi, 16.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved
into Deir Abu Da’if village, east of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 10:45, IOF moved
into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, Israeli
soldiers stationed on observation towers near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in
the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers who were
collecting scraps of constructions materials from destroyed buildings in the
industrial zone.  The workers were forced
to leave the area and no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 12:30, IOF moved
into Bitillu village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved
into Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 15:30, IOF moved
into al-Zbaidat village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 18:20, Israeli
soldiers stationed on observation towers along the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel opened fire at an open area inside the destroyed industrial
zone to the west of Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.  No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 19:30, Israeli
soldiers stationed on observation towers along the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel fired two artillery shells at the destroyed industrial zone to
the west of Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. 
No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved
into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some
time and withdrew later.  Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 21:00, IOF
moved into Sinjel village, north of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Sunday, 22 April 2012

 

At approximately 00:20, IOF moved
into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. 
They raided a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Na’im ‘Enaya, 20,
and summoned him for interrogation.

 

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

 

At approximately 07:30, IOF moved
into Marj Na’ja village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into Koubar village, northwest 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 Jericho.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:45, IOF moved
into Habla village, south of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved
into Marka village, south of Jenin.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 12:30, IOF moved
into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets and stationed near a sit-in tent that had
been set up to express solidarity with Bilal Nabil Diab, 27, a Palestinian
detainee in Israeli jails who has been on hunger strike.  Israeli soldiers ordered Palestinian
civilians through megaphones to leave the area. 
They also photographed the tent. 
IOF withdrew later and no other incidents were reported.  It is worth noting that Diab has been placed
under administrative detention since May 2011, and an Israeli military court
rejected an appeal to release him. 

 

Also at approximately 12:30, IOF moved
into Fahma village, southwest of Jenin, and patrolled in the streets.  A number of Palestinian boys gathered and
threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. 
Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs
at them.  IOF withdrew from the village
later and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:20, 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 16:30, IOF moved
into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved
into al-‘Ouja village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:30, IOF moved
into Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved
into Seilat al-Harthiya village, northwest of Jenin.  A number of Palestinian boys gathered and
threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. 
Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs
at them.  IOF withdrew from the village
later and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:30, IOF moved
into Jericho.  A number of Palestinian
boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them.  IOF
withdrew from the village later and neither casualties nor arrests were
reported.

 

Monday, 23 April 2012

 

At approximately 02:00, 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.

 

At approximately 06:00, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into the east
of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. 
They leveled areas of Palestinian land which they had already razed
amidst sporadic shooting.

 

At approximately 07:00, IOF moved
into al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 08:45, IOF moved
into Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into Jafna village, north of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 09:30, IOF
moved into ‘Izbat Shoufa village, southeast of Tulkarm.  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 Bitounia town, west of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved
into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:35, IOF moved
into Kufor Thuluth village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved
into Dura al-Qare’ village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 17:00, IOF
moved into Toura al-Gharbiya village, southwest of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:30, IOF moved
into Khirbat Abu Falah village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved
into Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah, and patrolled in the
streets.  A number of Palestinian boys
gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them.  IOF
withdrew from the village later and neither casualties nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved
into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some
time and withdrew later.  Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:30, IOF moved
into Jericho.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:00, IOF moved
into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 22:00, IOF
moved into al-‘Ouja village, northeast of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into several areas in the center
of Hebron.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Fatima al-Zahraa’ Mohammed Seder, 24, and
arrested her.  It should be noted that
Seder’s fiancé and brother area detained by IOF. 

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north
of Hebron.  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 Yatta village, south of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Samer ‘Eissa Abu ‘Arram, 25, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Sirris village, southeast of
Jenin.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Hadi Yahia Nejem, 28, and arrested him.  They then raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Taher Fawzi Qtait, 27, and arrested him. 

 

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

 

At approximately 10:30, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit
Lahia seashore in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing
boats.  They then surrounded a fishing
boat.  Israeli naval troops arrested Nader
Yousef Abu Sam’an, 22, and his brother Hassan, 17, from Gaza City, who were on
board the boat. 

 

At approximately 10:40, IOF moved into Silwad village, northeast of
Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Marj Na’ja village, north of
Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into al-Mazra’a village, north of
Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 11:30, IOF moved into ‘Aaboud village,
northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Deir Abu Da’if village, east
of Jenin.  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 Fassayel village, northeast
of Jericho.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:45, IOF moved into ‘Izbat al-Tabib village,
east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into al-Mazra’a village, north of
Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:20, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village,
northeast of Qalqilya.  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 ‘Obwin village, northwest of
Ramallah.  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 al-Bireh.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Deir Abu Da’if village, east
of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor 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, 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, one demonstrator
was wounded, and dozens of others suffered from tear gas inhalation and other
sustained bruises.

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 20 April 2012, 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 and in commemoration of the 24^th
anniversary of the death of Khalil al-Wazeer, a prominent Palestinian leader.  The demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag
and portraits of a number of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails
and called for ending the political split.  They then moved towards areas of annexation
wall.  Israeli soldiers stationed in the
area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
the demonstrators.  Dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF also arrested 3 Palestinian civilians,
but released them an hour later: ‘Ali Hamdan Abu Rahma, 21, a photographer of
the Public Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Bil’ein village;
Mohammed ‘Abdul Karim al-Khatib, 38; and Haitham Jamal al-Khatib, 35.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 20 April 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities.  The demonstrators moved
towards areas of the annexation wall.  
Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday prayer on 20 April 2012, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in
the center of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly
peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities.  The protesters walked towards the gate erected by IOF near
the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers
from the nearby “Halmish” settlement are trying to seize.
 Israeli soldiers who had been extensively deployed in the area and near
all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the
protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands.  Israeli
soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at the protesters.  A result, a demonstrator was hit by a tear
gas canister to the abdomen (PCHR keeps his name) and other demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF
also arrested 3 demonstrators, including two Israeli human rights defenders:
Bilal ‘Abdul Salam Tamimi, 46, a photographer of the Public Committee against
the Wall and Settlement in Nabi Saleh village; Hirtzel,  55; and Khan, 35

 

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

 

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 Sofa 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.

 

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

 

The cooking gas crisis which 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.

 

For
approximately five 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 traders, international
diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza
Strip.  On Wednesday evening, 14 March
2012, IOF arrested Ahmed Subhi al-Kahlout, 40, a trader from Gaza City, when he
was traveling via Beit Hanoun crossing.

 

For approximately 58 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.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

18 –
24 April 2012

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

18 –
24 April 2012

Imports:

 

Notes:

 

On Wednesday, 18 April 2012, IOF allowed the entry of
344 tons of cement, 2,100 ton of construction aggregate and 93 tons of
construction steel for UNRWA; and 140 construction aggregates for UNDP.  They also allowed the entry of 858 tons of
fodders.

 

On Thursday, 19 April 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 120 tons of
cement, 3,290 tons of construction aggregates and 75 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA, and 560 tons of construction aggregates and 40 tons of cement for
UNDP.  They also allowed the entry of 741
tons of fodders and 273 tons of wheat.

 

On Sunday, 22 April 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 680 tons of
cement, 4,830 tons of construction aggregates and 72 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry
of 741 tons of fodders and 390 tons of wheat. 

 

On Monday, 23 April 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 762 tons of
cement and 4,830 tons of construction aggregates.  They also allowed the entry of 780 tons of
fodders and 390 tons of wheat.

 

Exports:

 

On Sunday, 22 April 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 11,000
flowers.

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

18 –
24 April 2012

 

 

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.

 

There are approximately hundreds of 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.

 

Many of the main roads that lead to Palestinian communities in the
West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF.

 

IOF have continued to restrict access of Palestinian civilians from
the West Bank to East Jerusalem, through a strict system of permits and a
network of checkpoints.

 

IOF have completed controlled access to the Jordan Valley through 4
permanent checkpoints established at its entrances.  Palestinians living outside the area are not
allowed to enter it without permits.

 

Settlement activities and expansion of settlements impose
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

 

IOF have continued to restrict access to gunfire areas and natural
reserves, which constitute about 26% of the total area of the West Bank.

 

Israeli military checkpoints restrict the movement of goods
throughout the West Bank.

 

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

 

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 young Muslim Palestinians from
praying at al-Aqsa Mosque

 

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 19 April 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 13:00, IOF re-established
their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At approximately 15:00, IOF established a
checkpoint under ‘Ein Yabroud Bridge, northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately 08:30 on Friday, 20 April
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately
13:40, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Mazra’a al-Sharqiya
village, northeast of Ramallah.  At
approximately 18:30, IOF established a checkpoint at ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya intersection,
northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately
11:30 on Saturday, 21 April 2012, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At
approximately 10:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kharabtha
Bani Hareth village, west of Ramallah. 
At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 22 April 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint between Kharabtha al-Misbah and Beit Siera villages, west of
Ramallah.  At approximately 16:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Khirbat Abu Falah village,
northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately
10:30 on Monday, 23 April 2012, IOF established a checkpoint under ‘Ein Yabroud
Bridge, northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately
11:00, IOF established a checkpoint between Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta and Bet ‘Aur
al-Fouqa villages, west of Ramallah.  At
approximately 16:30, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint,
north of Ramallah.  At approximately
09:30 on Tuesday, 24 April 2012, IOF established a checkpoint under Kharabtha
al-Misbah Bridge, west of Ramallah.  At
approximately 10:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Liqya
village, west of Ramallah.  At
approximately 16:20, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
al-Mughayar village, northeast of Ramallah. 
At approximately 17:30, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At
approximately 19:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh
village, northwest of Ramallah. 

 

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 19 April 2012, IOF established 3
checkpoints around the town.  At
approximately 11:30 on Friday, 20 April 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the western entrance of Kufor Qaddoum village, east of Qalqilya.  T approximately 18:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalilya.  On Saturday, 21 April 2012, IOF established 5
checkpoints around Qalqilya.  On Sunday, 22
April 2012, IOF established 3 checkpoints around the town.  On Monday, 23 April 2012, IOF established 3
checkpoints around the town. 

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 19 April 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Kfiret village, southwest of Jenin, and another one at the
entrance of Kufor Qoud village, west of the town.  At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 21 April 2012,
IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ta’nak village, northwest of
Jenin.  At approximately 18:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at al-Mansoura intersection, south of the town.  At approximately 15:30 on Sunday, 22 April
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Fahma village, southwest
of Jenin.  At approximately 20:30, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ta’nak village, northwest of the
town.  At approximately 11:45 on Monday,
23 April 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at al-Shuhada intersection, south
of Jenin.  At approximately 15:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at ‘Arraba intersection, south of the town.    

 

Tulkarm:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 21 April
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Far’oun village, south of
Tulkarm.  At approximately 08:30 on
Tuesday, 24 April 2012, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint on
Tulkarm-Nablus, east of Tulkarm, impose additional restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. 

 

Jericho:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 19 April
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein al-Dyouk village,
northwest of Jericho.  At approximately 15:00,
they established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.  At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 20 April
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.  At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 21 April
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the western entrance of al-‘Ouja village,
north of Jericho.  At approximately 14:00,
IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Fassayel village, north of
Jericho.  At approximately 18:30, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zabaidat village, north of the
town.  On Monday, 23 April 2012, IOF
established 4 checkpoints around Jericho. 
On Tuesday, 24 April 2012, IOF established 3 checkpoints around
Jericho. 

 

Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 10:15 on Thursday, 19 April 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
under Eskaka Bridge, east of Salfit.  At
approximately 21:15, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of
Kufol Hares village, north of Salfit.  At
approximately 12:15 on Friday, 20 April 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit. 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints:

 

On Thursday evening, 19 April 2012, Israeli soldier positioned at
the Container checkpoint, east of Bethlehem, arrested Sami Braham, 29, a
security officer from Kufor Qaddoum village northeast of Qalqilya.

 

On Tuesday morning, 24 April 2012, Israeli soldiers positioned at
Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Ahmed Hassan al-Najjar, 35, from
Yatma village south of Nablus.

 

On Wednesday morning, 25 April 2012, IOF arrested Nabil al-‘Allami,
21, from Beit Ummar town north of Hebron when he was on Hebron-Bethlehem. 

 

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.

 

On
Monday morning, 23 April 2012, IOF, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into Wad
Qabboun area in Halhoul town, north of Hebron. 
They bulldozers two water storage tanks that are used for agricultural
purposes belonging to ‘Ali Hamdan al-Atrash and Bassam Hijazi Jahshan,
allegedly because they were established in Area “C” which is under full Israeli
control according to the Oslo Accords.

  

Also
on Monday morning, IOF, accompanied by a number of bulldozers, moved into Qalandya
village, north of Jerusalem.  They razed
a one-dunum area of agricultural land belonging to Sharif ‘Awadallah and his
brothers.  It should be noted that IOF
had already declared to seize at least 400 dunums of land in the village for
the purpose of a section of the annexation wall.

 

At
approximately 09:00 also on Monday, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus, escorted by IOF, attacked ‘Ourif
Secondary School in ‘Ourif village.  They
threw stones at the school.  Palestinian
civilians gathered and threw stones at the settlers.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters at these civilians.  As a
result, a number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

On
Tuesday morning, 24 April 2012, IOF, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into Um
Rukba area in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.  They bulldozed a 150-square-meter barnyard belonging
to Mahmoud Mustafa Salah, allegedly because it was established without a
license.  

 

Also
on Tuesday morning, 24 April 2012, dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF,
broke into the eastern part of Nablus. 
They performed Jewish rituals at Joseph Tomb in Balata village. 

 

 

……………………………………………………

 

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).