Jerusalem
– a Palestinian holds a notice left by the Israeli authority on his land and
nearby lands in Soura Baher village ordering confiscation of 70 dunums for the
purpose of establishing a new settlement

 

Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians
and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

      

 

 

Israeli forces launched 3 air strikes against civilian
targets and training sites in the Gaza Strip.

A girl sustained fractures as a closet door fell over her
leg while she was sleeping in her family’s house.

A restaurant was completely destroyed and 13 houses
sustained partial damage.

 

Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force
against peaceful protesters in the West Bank.

 

4 protesters were wounded during a peaceful protest in
Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia.

 

 

Israeli forces conducted 52 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank and a limited incursion in the Gaza Strip.

 

40 Palestinian civilians,
including 6 children, were arrested in the West Bank.

 

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

Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in
the West Bank.

10 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were
arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

Israeli forces violently beat a Palestinian young man
from Beit Ummar village and threw him at the entrance of Kofur Etzion, south of
Bethlehem.

Crossings between the Gaza Strip and Israel were closed
for two days.

 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
20 – 26 June 2013.

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 4
Palestinian civilians during peaceful protests against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces launched 3
air strikes on civilian targets and training sites.

 

In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued the
systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian,
Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation
wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  As a result, 4 civilians were wounded during a
peaceful protest in Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia. In addition,
2 photojournalists from Palestine TV were attacked and arrested.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 24 June 2013, Israeli forces launched
3 air strikes on training sites and civilian targets. At approximately 04:20,
Israeli warplanes attacked a training site of al-Quds Brigades, west of Rafah,
in the southern Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 03:45, Israeli warplanes attacked an olive
land in al-Zawayda village in the central Gaza Strip. As a result, 13 houses sustained
partial damage and a girl sustained a fracture in her left leg.

 

Around the same time, Israeli
warplanes fired a missile on an olive farm in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza
Strip.  As a result, a restaurant was
completely destroyed and many olive trees were damaged.

  

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 48 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 25 Palestinians, including 5
children.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 20 June 2013, Israeli forces
conducted a limited incursion in the east of al-Qarara village, northeast of
Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. 
They levelled lands along the border fence and withdrew later.

 

Restrictions on movement:

 

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

 

The illegal 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 Israeli authorities impose measures to
undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip
population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 7
consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate
the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other
countries around the world. This resulted in a grave violation of the economic,
social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7
million people.  The Israeli authorities
has established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports
and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy that
has been aggravating for years due to the shortage of imports.  They also aim at imposing a complete ban on
the Gaza Strip’s exports. 

 

Israeli forces 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, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers
have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

 

On Thursday, 20 June
2013, a group of settlers, under the protection of Israeli police and forces,
moved into Zawyat al-Ashraf and al-Budairy waqf, located at the entrance of the
Ibrahimi Mosque in the centre of Hebron. 
The settlers started digging and extending electricity networks, in an
attempt to seize both establishments.

 

On Sunday, 22 June
2013, Israeli forces moved into Um al-Rokba area and handed Mohammed Marzouq
Zawahra (35) a notice to halt construction work in a cement wall of and a water
well, under the pretext of not obtaining a license.  On another note, a number of settlers from
“Karmi Tsur” settlement moved into a farmland that includes a water
spring that is called “Ayn Teeba,” east of Halhoul.  No incidents of vandalism or attacks against
Palestinians were reported.

 

On Monday, 24 June
2013, a group of settlers from “Havat Gilad” settlement raided
Palestinian civilians’ land in Amateen village, northeast of Qalqilya and cut 6
olive trees.  Furthermore, a group of
settlers from “Carmiel” settlement attacked a group of farmers and
shepherds while they were in ‘Ayn al-Baidaa’ area.  This incident took place in the presence of Israeli
forces that declared the area a closed military area and arrested two Palestinian
civilians under the pretext of assaulting settlers.

 

On Wednesday, 26 June
2013, a group of settlers from “Ovijal” settlement attacked shepherds
with police dogs while they were grazing their sheep in al-‘Attarya area.  Additionally, 4 settlers raided pastoral
lands in the surroundings of Kherbat Qwaiwes area and told shepherds of
Abu-‘Arram family to leave the area, claiming that it is their property.  Israeli forces arrived at the scene and
ordered the shepherds to leave the area.

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
20– 26 June 2013

 

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

Thursday, 20 June 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging to the family of Abdul Rahman
Mohammed Qabaja (28) and arrested him.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron. 
They patrolled the streets and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.     

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud
Abdul Aziz Awad.  They arrested his son
Oday (24). Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to the family of
Montaser Akhlail (22) and arrested him. 
At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Tarabiqa area,
where they surrounded and raided a bakery belonging to Zaki Bahar.  They detained the workers there for half an
hour.  At approximately 04:00, Israeli
forces moved into Asida neighbourhood and raided a house belonging to the
family of Jehad Nasser Akhlail (17). 
They handed him a notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in
“Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Balata
refugee camp, east of Nablus.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses from which they arrested
Haytham Mohammed al-Tairawi (28), bodyguard of MP Jamal al-Tairawi.    

 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. 
They raided a house belonging to the family of Hussein ‘Eid Abed Rabbu
(25) and arrested him.    

 

At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces moved about 200
metres into al-Qarara village, to the northeast of Khan Yunis, south of the
Gaza Strip.  They levelled lands along
the border fence and withdrew later.

 

At approximately 10:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit
‘Our al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 12:45, Israeli forces moved into
Bruqin village, west of Salfit.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No further incidents
were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces moved into Karza
village, to the east of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilia. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Friday, 21 June 2013

 

At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into
Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets,
raided a house belonging to the family of Feras Mohammed Abu Zaina (22) and
arrested him.  Meanwhile, Israeli forces moved
into the eastern neighbourhood of the city, where a number of young men
gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs in
return.  As a result, dozens of civilians
suffered from tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces withdrew later.  

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Samou’ village, south of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.  

 

At approximately 06:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Dabwan village, northeast of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Janiya area, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, Israeli infantry forces raided
the central market at the entrance of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.  They annoyed the civilians at the entrance of
the market, where some boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the
soldiers, who fired in response sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a
result, dozens suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

 

Saturday, 22 June 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Tabaqa village, to the south of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and stationed
themselves in al-Baid neighbourhood. 
They raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Salem Hreibat
(27) and handed him a notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in
“Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.  At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces raided
another house belonging to the family of Nasser Hamad Abu Atwan and handed his
son Mohammed (19) a similar notice.     

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Doura, southwest of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and
raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Hussein al-Sharawnah
(21).  They arrested the aforementioned
person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Aynoun village, east of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and raided
a house belonging to the family of Jehad al-Ja’bari.  Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests
were reported.

 

Sunday, 23 June
2013

 

At
approximately 01:20, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets and withdrew
later.  Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:10, Israeli forces moved into Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets and
raided a number of houses from which they arrested 4 children:

1. Mahdi Amin Majd (15);

2. Maher Samit Abu Haniya (16);

3. Abdul Karim Yasser Hussein (17); and

4. Monther Yasser Salamah (16).

 

At
approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anabta village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets and
raided a house belonging to the family of Zaid Yusef Abdul Dayem (21), and
arrested him.      

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Sheqba village, west of Ramallah. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into Kooper village, northwest of Ramallah.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

Monday, 24 June 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
Nablus.  They patrolled the streets and
raided a number of houses from which they arrested Fadi Nayef Abu Sharekh (28)
and Montaser Belal ‘Aqouba (22), from the Old Town of the city.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Salem village, southeast of Nablus.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses.  They arrested Qasem Ghassan Ishtaya (25) and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Luqia village, southwest of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets and raided 2 houses from which they arrested Mo’in Saber
Mafarjah (25) and Mos’ab Sabri Nassar (25).

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
Halhoul, north of Hebron.  They raided 2
houses from which they arrested Ahmed Abu al-Reesh (18) and Yusef Abu Maria
(17).

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin refugee camp. They patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging to the
family of Abdul Rahman Essam Shalabi (22) and arrested him.  They also raided a house belonging to the
family of Aziz Mohammed Taleb (38).  No
further arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets, deployed between the houses and raided a house belonging
to the family of Ahmed Rashid Sabarnah (19). 
They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown
destination. A number of boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at
the Israeli soldiers, who fired in response sound bombs and tear gas canisters.
As a result, a number of civilian suffered tear gas inhalation.  At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces
withdrew.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Yamoun village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and raided a
house belonging to the family of Taher Ahmed Nawahda (28).  They arrested the aforementioned person and
withdrew later.

 

At approximately 03:45, Israeli warplanes fired a
missile on a 4-dunum olive land belonging to Mohammed Abu Zayed (46) in
al-Zawayda village, in the central Gaza Strip. The explosion caused a big
crater and damaged a number of olive trees. 
Moreover, 13 houses belonging to the families of Abu Zayed, al-Ta’ban,
Abu Smaha, al-Masri, al-Deirawi and al-‘Amawi sustained partial damage, while
the electricity and telephone network was damaged as well.

Alaa’ Jihad
al-‘Amawi (19) sustained a fracture in the left leg as a door of a closet fell
over her when she was sleeping at home. 
She was taken to al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir al-Balah to receive
the necessary medical treatment.

In his
testimony to PCHR’s fieldworker, Ouda Suleiman Abu Zayed (73), from al-Zawayda,
whose house was damaged, said:

 

“At
approximately 03:45 on Monday, 24 June 2013, I was about to perform the dawn
prayer when I suddenly heard a heavy explosion rocking the house. I believed it
was my house that was hit.  We heard the
sound of a drone and a warplane hovering. Women and children were frightened
and shouting for about 20 minutes.  We
were waiting for a second attack.  A few
minutes later, I calmed down and started to look over the house whose windows
were smashed and 5 of its doors were damaged. 
Meanwhile, I looked out of the eastern balcony and saw dust about 20
meters to the northeast of my house.  It
was in a nearby farmland.  At 06:00, I
found out that my jeep’s (Toyota) windshield was broken and the solar power
glass was damaged as well.”

 

At approximately 04:20, Israeli warplanes fired a
number of missiles on a training site of al-Quds Brigades (the military wing of
the Islamic Jihad movement), to the west of Rafah in the southern Gaza
Strip.  No casualties were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli warplanes fired a missile on a 500-meter olive land, east of
Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, belonging to Yusef Ahmed al-Shantaf (39).  As a result of the attack, a
restaurant (room, kitchen and bathroom) were completely destroyed and many
olive trees were damaged.  However, no
casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 11:00, Israeli forces, accompanied by a number of military
vehicles, moved into Qufin village, north of Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets of the village and
a number of soldiers raided Usama Jawdat Fares Te’ma’s (29) house, and arrested
him after searching his house. 

 

At
approximately 12:30, Israeli forces, accompanied by a number of military
vehicles, moved into ‘Arana village, north of Jenin, and patrolled the streets
of the village.  They withdrew later; no
arrests or raids were reported.

  

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

 

At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces, accompanied by
military vehicles and infantry unit, moved into Salfit city.  The forces patrolled the streets while firing
tear gas canisters and sound bombs. 
Before their withdrawal from the area, Israeli forces raided two
civilian houses at approximately 02:00 and handed Mohammed Fatash ‘Asfour
Fatash (23) and Abdel-Rahim Taysir Shaheen (24) summons to refer to Israeli
intelligence.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces, accompanied by
military vehicles, moved into Nablus city. 
They patrolled the streets, raided and searched a number of civilian
houses.  Before withdrawing, they
arrested Jum’a Ahmed ‘Abdo Bouhy (21) from the old city of Nablus and took him
to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces, accompanied by
a number of military vehicles, moved into Qalqilya, patrolled the streets amid
firing tear gas canisters and flash bombs. 
As a result, Youssef Fathi Abu-Hamed (21) suffered from tear gas
inhalation.  The forces raided and searched
a shop for car spare parts and two residential buildings in Khelat Nofal
neighbourhood.  Before withdrawing at
approximately 05:45, they arrested ‘Alaa Kayed Badareen (21); ‘Arafat Moussa
Theyab (20); and Murad As’ad Theyab (21), and took them to an unknown
destination.

 

In the mean time, Israeli forces, accompanied by a
number of military vehicles, moved into Kufor Kaleel village, in the southeast
of Nablus.  They patrolled the streets,
and soldiers raided and searched a number of civilian houses.  Before withdrawing, the forces arrested 3
Palestinians, including two brothers, and took them to an unknown
destination.  The detainees are: Zahi
Farah Nasser Mansour (35) and his brother Nehad (37), and Thabet Jasem Farah
Mansour (21).

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces, accompanied by
a number of military vehicles, moved into Jenin and patrolled the streets.  They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Shuwaika
suburb, in the north of Tulkarm and patrolled the streets.  They withdrew later and no arrests or raids
were reported.

 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces, accompanied by
4 military vehicles, moved into al-Thaherya village, south of Hebron.  The forces stationed in Shwayky neighbourhood,
raided and searched Khaldon Elias al-Tal’s (22) family resdiance.  They arrested al-Tal before withdrawing and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into
Hossan village, west of Bethlehem.  The
forces patrolled the streets, established a checkpoint by the entrance of the
village and searched civilians’ vehicles and checked their IDs.  Furthermore, they raided a number of civilian
houses under the pretext of searching for stone throwers.  They withdrew later, no arrests were
reported.

 

Wednesday, 26 June 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. 
They patrolled the streets and then stationed in the centre.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Mohammed Khaled al-‘Issah (35), whom they arrested. 

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
Nablus.  They patrolled the streets and
raided and searched a number of houses. 
They arrested Ra’fat Samih ‘Eleiwi (21) and Faris Samir Mahloub (22),
from al-Marij and Freitekh streets in the northern mountain in the city.  They withdrew later taking him to an unknown
destination.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Far’aa refugee camp, southeast of Tubas. 
They patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses, from which
they arrested Selah Faris Sawalmeh (22) and Hakam Samir Daghish(20).  They withdrew later taking him to an unknown
destination.

 

Around the same, Israeli forces moved into Talfit
village, southeast of Nablus.  They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched several houses, from which they
arrested ‘Abdullah Waleed Jaber Mosalam (21) from the old city in Hebron.  They later withdrew taking him to an unknown
destination.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces al-Tabqa
village, to the south of Dura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and then stationed
at al-Beid neighbourhood.  They raided
and searched a house belonging to the family of Bahaa’ Hakam ‘Abdullah al-Hreibat
(17), whom they arrested.  They withdrew later
taking him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 21:40, Israeli forces moved into
al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, and then stationed in the centre of the
old city near a sports stadium.  They
detained Ayman ‘Ali Salah (42) and Yousif Ahmed Sayel (25) for 2 hours while
passing in the area.  The aforementioned
were released and Israeli forces withdrew later.

 

2. Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting
settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall

 

During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used
excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian
civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West
Bank.  As a result, 4 Palestinians
sustained wounds in Kufor Kadoum village.

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

 

 

Following the Friday Prayer, 21 June 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activity.  The demonstrators marched through the streets
of the village, chanting slogans calling for national unity, raised Palestinian
flags and made their way towards the lands adjacent to the annexation
wall.  Israeli forces had closed all
entrances to the village since early morning to prevent Palestinians,
journalists, and international activists from joining the protest. The
demonstrators walked along the wall and attempted to breach it. Israeli forces
stationed behind the western side of the wall, and dozens of soldiers who were
deployed along the route of the wall, fired live ammunition, rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs, tear gas canisters, and waste water at the
demonstrators, and chased them across olive fields.  As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.

 

Also, following the Friday Prayer, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.
The demonstrators made their way towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces
closed the wall gate with barbed wire and, when the demonstrators attempted to
access the lands behind the barbed wire, they were stopped by Israeli soldiers.
The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who responded with live
ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters,
and chased them across fields of olive trees as far as the outskirts of the village.
As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others
sustained bruises.

 

Around the same time on Friday, dozens of Palestinian
civilians, Israeli and international human rights activists gathered at
the Martyrs Square in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to hold a
weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activities. The protesters walked towards Palestinian lands that
Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halmish” settlement are trying to
seize.  From the morning, Israeli forces
had closed all entrances to the village to prevent Palestinians, international
activists, and journalists from joining the demonstration.  Upon their arrival in the area, Israeli
soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs, and tear
gas canisters, chased the demonstrators into the village and sprayed them and
civilian houses with waste water. As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffered
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises, including the
photographer of the Popular Committee against the Construction of the Wall and
Settlement Activity in Nabi Saleh, Belal Abdel-Salam Tamimi (47), he is also a
volunteer photographer at B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center
for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories.

 

Following Friday Prayer, dozens of
inhabitants of al-Mas’ra village, south of Bethlehem, international and Israeli
human rights activists, and activists in the Popular Resistance Committees
gathered for the weekly peaceful demonstration against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity. 
The demonstration was also organized in protest to the construction of a
school for settlers in the south of Bethlehem. 
It started outside Shomou’ Cultural Centre in the centre of the village.  The participants carried Palestinian flags,
roamed the streets of the village.  Upon
their arrival to the wall, Israeli forces, backed-up by Israeli police and
border guards, fired tear gas canisters at them in order to disperse them.   Many
demonstrators suffered due to tear gas
inhalation.  Later that day, Palestinians
organized a car rally from the centre of the village to “Daniel” settlement,
which is established on al-Khader village’s lands, south of Bethlehem, and then
to the southern entrance of the village “al-Nashash” checkpoint, where they
organized a sit-in.

 

At approximately 13:25
on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights
defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kufor Kadoum
village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest at the continuous closure of the
eastern entrance of the village which has been ongoing since the outbreak of
al-Aqsa Intifada. Israeli soldiers denied them access to the gate and fired
sound bombs and tear gas canisters; as a result, 4 Palestinians sustained
wounds: a 22-year-old male; a finger in his left hand was smashed after
sustaining a metal bullet; a 20-year-old male, sustained two metal bullets in
the abdomen and left hand; a 21-year-old male, sustained a metal bullet to the
chest; and a 27-year-old male, sustained a metal bullet to the waist.  Furthermore, the Israeli soldiers beat media
workers of Palestine TV crew, and arrested Ahmed Abdel-Malek Othman Shawer
(26); and Bashar Mahmoud Saleh Nazzal (33). 
In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Nazzal said:

 

“While we were covering Kufor Kadoum’s weekly demonstration on 21
June 2013, Israeli soldiers yelled at us and told us to leave the area; thus,
we gathered our equipment in order to leave and while I was getting ready to
leave as there was only one piece of equipment left that I had to take with me,
Israeli soldiers attacked me and my colleague Ahmed Shawer with extreme
brutality, and started beating and kicking us with their hands, feet and
weapons, using profane language.  We had
the feeling that we were targeted, especially me, as I attend and cover this
demonstration every week.  After
assaulting us, we were blindfolded, handcuffed and taken, with our equipment,
in a military vehicle to “Kedumim” settlement where a group of
soldiers were there, mocking and photographing us.  Even though we were blindfolded, we knew what
was happening around us.  We were later
taken to several detention centres in Howara and Salem camps, then
“Ariel” settlement. We were released at approximately 22:00 on
Saturday, 22 June 2013, after they confiscated our IDs.”

 

3. Continued closure of the oPt

 

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

 

Gaza Strip

 

 

Israeli forces continuously tightens the
closure of the Gaza Strip and closes all commercial crossings , making the Karm
Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it
is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity
and distance from markets.

 

Israeli forces have continued to apply the
policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by
imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.

 

The total closure of al-Mentar
(“Karni”) crossing since 02 March 2011 has seriously affected the
economy of the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all economic and commercial
establishments in the 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 capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision to close
al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions resulting in
the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip in the
beginning of 2009, and the Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which was
dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the
beginning of 2010.

 

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

 

The cooking gas crisis, which erupted last
November, has continued to affect the Gaza Strip due to the closure of Karm Abu
Salem for long periods per month and also due to limited quantities recently
allowed by the Israeli authorities. 
According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli authorities only allow around 98
tonnes of cooking gas into Gaza per day. 
This limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is 200
tonnes per day, of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during the winter.

 

 

For almost 6
consecutive years, Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of
construction materials to the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, Israeli
forces approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials
for a number of international organisations in the Gaza Strip.  Israeli forces also continued to impose
almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and
industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers,
strawberries, and spices.

 

Israel has continued to
close the Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing for the majority of Palestinian
citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited
number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel
has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian
patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical
treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel
denied permission to access hospitals via the crossing for new categories of
patients from the Gaza Strip.

 

For around a year,
Israeli forces have allowed Palestinian detainees’ families to visit their sons
in the Israeli jails according to special and unfair conditions after more than
5 years of deprivation in violation of international humanitarian law.

 

The Egyptian
authorities allow the population of the Gaza Strip to travel via Rafah
International crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip with the outside
world.  Only limited and specified
categories are allowed, including patients, students, persons that hold
residencies in Egypt or abroad, men over 40 years, females in all ages,
children under 18, persons who hold Arab and foreign nationalities, and members
of Arab and international humanitarian delegations.  It should be mentioned that the crossing
opens seven days a week.

 

Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing, in the north
of the Gaza Strip, is dedicated for the movement of individuals, and links the
Gaza Strip with the West Bank.

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing

19 – 24 June 2013

 

 

Note: On Monday, 24 June 2013, Israeli authorities
stationed at Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing informed the Palestinian Coordination
and Liaison Office “55” the Palestinian Ministry of Civil Affairs, which is located
800 metres away from the crossing gate to the south, that they closed the
crossing to all categories leaving from the Gaza Strip except for humanitarian
aids, patients and foreigners.  They
claimed that Palestinian armed groups launched home-made rockets into Israel as
this is considered a violation of the truce reached between Palestinian armed
groups and Israel under Egyptian auspices on 21 November 2012.  The crossing is so far still closed.

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

19 – 25 June 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Imports via Rafah International Crossing (Qatar
projects)

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing

 

 

Other
Imports:

 

On Wednesday, 19 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 380 tonnes of cement, 30 tonnes of construction steel and
2,660 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; 840 tonnes of construction
aggregates for the private sector; and 910 tonnes of construction aggregates,
240 tonnes of cement for the German Development Bank (GDB).  They also allowed the entry of 546 tonnes of
fodders and 2,520 tonnes of wheat.

On Thursday, 20 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 424 tonnes of cement, 30 tonnes of construction steel and
2,520 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; 1,260 tonnes of construction
aggregates for the private sector; and 770 tonnes of construction aggregates
for the GDB.  They also allowed the entry
of 663 tonnes of fodders and 429 tonnes of wheat.

On Sunday, 23 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 540 tonnes of cement, 31 tonnes of construction steel and
2,660 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; and 980 tonnes of
construction aggregates for the private sector. 
They also allowed the entry of 624 tonnes of fodders and 312 tonnes of
wheat.

 

Empty Plastic
Containers Returned to Israel via Karm Abu Salem

 

On Wednesday, 19 June 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 2 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On Thursday, 20 June 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 1 truckload of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On Sunday, 23 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed 2 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm Abu
Salem.

It should be mentioned that Israeli forces closed Karm Abu Salem crossing on
Monday, 24 June 2013, and on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 due to rockets launched into
Israel.

 

 

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

 

Ramallah: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 04:00 on Thursday, 20 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road between Beit Loqaya and
Beit Sirah villages, southwest of
Ramallah.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30 on Friday, 21 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of al-Tibah
village, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 09:30, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah.  All checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:30 on Sunday, 23 June 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta village,
southwest of Ramallah.  The checkpoint
was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Hebron: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 07:30 on Friday, 20 June 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ezna village, west of
Hebron.  At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces
established another checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Hebron, south of the
city, as this entrance is connected with Bypass Road (60).  The two checkpoints were later removed, and
no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 21 June 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint in al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of
Hebron.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:00 on Monday, 24 June 2013,
Israeli forces stationed at Tarqoumya crossing, west of Hebron, prevented the
entry of 10 truckloads of plum loaded from Beit Ummar and Halhoul, north of
Heron, through the Gaza Strip crossing under the pretext of closing crossings
due to security reasons.  Mohammed ‘Awad,
a vegetable merchant, said to a PCHR fieldworker that on 23 June 2013 that he
loaded around 100 tonnes of plums from the central market in Beit Ummar and
Halhoul into 10 trucks.  At approximately
06:00, truckloads headed to Tarqoumya crossing, west of Hebron, in order to enter
to the Gaza Strip.  When the
aforementioned truckloads arrived, Israeli forces told the truck drivers that Gaza
crossings are closed due to security reasons. 
The truckloads waited there for two hours for perhaps they would be
allowed to enter.  Trucks came back to
the Beeit Ummar market that estimated his loss with around 250,000 NIS, which
represents 75% of the price of the goods.

 

At approximately 07:30 on Monday, 24 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Yatta, as
this entrance is connected with Bypass Road (60), south of Hebron.  At approximately 16:30, another checkpoint
was established at the southern entrance of Halhoul, north of the city.  At approximately 17:00, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of
Hebron.  All checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 25 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Hebron; as
this entrance is connected with Bypass Road (60).  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

 

Tulkarm: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
11:00 on Friday, 21 June 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Shofah village, southeast of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.  At approximately
18:00, they established another checkpoint on the road between Tulkarm and
Nablus villages near the intersection of Beit Leed in an area known as “Abu
Martein”, east of Tulkarm.  At approximately
18:30, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint on the main road between
Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened the restrictions on movement of
the Palestinian civilians through it. 
The tightening later ended and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 22 June 2013,
Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm
and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened the restrictions on movement of the
Palestinian civilians through it.  The
tightening later ended and no arrests were reported. At approximately 20:30,
they re-tightened restrictions on movement of the Palestinian civilians.  Around the same time, they established on the
main road between Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of Beit Leed in an
area known as “Abu Martein”, east of Tulkarm.   
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30 on Sunday, 23 June 2013,
Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm
and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened the restrictions on movement of the
Palestinian civilians through it.  The
tightening later ended and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:30 on Monday, 24 June 2013,
Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm
and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened the restrictions on movement of the
Palestinian civilians through it.  The
tightening later ended and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30 on Tuesday, 25 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between the villages
of ‘Ezbet Shofah and Shofah, southeast of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.  The checkpoint
was later removed, and no arrests were reported. 

 

Jenin: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 17:00 on Thursday, 20 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Jenin and
Tulakrm and Nablus near the intersection of ‘Arrabah village, south of
Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 13:30 on Saturday, 22 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Jalmah village,
north of Jenin.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 23 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at Deir Abu Da’aif, southeast of
Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:00 on Tuesday, 25 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road that connects Jenin
with Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of al-Shuhadaa’ village, south of
Jenin.  Around the same time, they
established a similar checkpoint on the main road that connects Jenin with
Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of Jannat Park at the southern
entrance of Jenin.  Around the same time,
they established 3 checkpoints in the city; the first one was near Haddad
tourist village, southeast of Jenin, the second was at the entrance of Kafr
Qoud village, west of the city, and the third was at the entrance of Kafr Dan
village, Jenin.  At approximately 21:00,
Israeli forces establisheda checkpoint on the main road that connects Jenin
with Tulkarm and Nablus near the entrance of Qabatia village, south of
Jenin.  At approximately 22:30, they
established another checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Aranah village, north of
Jenin.

 

Jericho: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 20 June
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on al-Mo’arajat Road between
Jericho and Ramallah.  The checkpoint was
later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 21 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zbeidat village,
north of Jericho.  At approximately
17:00, they established another checkpoint near the southern entrance of
Jericho.  At approximately 19:30, another
checkpoint was established at the entrance of Marj Na’ajah village, north of
Jericho.  All checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 23 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on al-Fasayel village, north of
Jericho.  At approximately 15:30, they
established a similar checkpoint at the southern entrance of the city.  The two checkpoints were later removed and no
arrests were reported.

 

Salfit: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 08:45 on Thursday, 20 June
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Balout,
west of Salfit.  Around the same time,
another checkpoint was established at the southern entrance of Borqin, west of
the city.  The two checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:30 on Sunday, 23 June 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Balout village, west of
Salfit.  At approximately 13:10, they
established another checkpoint at the northern entrance of al-Zawya village,
west of the city.  At approximately 10:20,
another checkpoint was established at the northern entrance of Borqin village,
west of Salfit.  All checkpoints were
later removed, and no arrests were reported.

Arrests at military
checkpoints

At approximately 01:00 on Thursday, 20 June
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the entrance of Ya’abod
village, southwest of Jenin.  They
stopped and searched a travelling car on the road and arrested its occupants
under the pretext of possession of a hunting rifle.  The arrested were identified as: Mahmoud
Bassam Sharif Qobaha (26); Khalil Haidar ‘Amarnah (54); and his son, Ahmed,
(22).

 

At approximately 10:00 on the
aforementioned Thursday, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of “Ghosh
‘Asyon” settlement, south of Bethlehem, arrested Ahmed Ibrahim Ali Akhlil (18),
and Mohammed Safi al-Salibi (27), when they were on their way to an interview
with the Israeli Intelligence.  It should
be mentioned that they had been summoned to refer to the Israeli intelligence
on Wednesday, 19 June 2013.

 

At approximately 16:00 on the same day, Israeli
forces stationed near a watchtower established at the entrance of Beit Ummar
village, north of Hebron, arrested ‘Abdel Hamid Anwar al-‘Allami (18) when he
was on his way back from work outside the village.

 

At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 21 June
2013, Israeli forces deployed along the security fence between Palestinian
lands and “Ghosh Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem, arrested Mohammed
Khalil Abu Dayyah (24) from Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.  The aforementioned person was arrested while
he was walking in his land near the aforementioned settlement.  He was then transferred to an unknown
destination.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 22 June
2013, Israeli forces deployed between neighbourhoods in the centre of the old town
in the center of Hebron arrested Farid al-‘Aweiwi (11) and Amir Saleh Shahin
(11) and transferred to the police station of “Karayt Arba’a” settlement, east
of the city.

 

At approximately 20:00
on Sunday, 23 June 2013, Israeli forces stationed at al-Container checkpoint,
northeast of Bethlehem, arrested Yousif Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem (22) from Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron, when he was on his way back from Ramallah.  They took him to “Kfar ‘Asyon” detention
centre, south of Bethlehem.  Israeli
soldiers severely beat the aforementioned person while transferring him by a
military vehicle to the centre.  As a
result, he sustained wounds.  At
approximately 22:00, he was released to walk on the street and then a cap
stopped to drive him to the entrance of Beit Ummar village.  He then called his brother, who transferred
him home, but Ahmed’s health condition was very serious.  Therefore, his father called an ambulance
which later arrived and transferred him to Hebron governmental hospital.  Medical sources said that he suffered rapture
in the nose and sustained bruises.  He
received necessary medical treatment.

 

4. Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian
civilians and property

 

Attacks carried out by Israeli forces

 

At approximately 17:15 on Sunday, 22 June 2013,
Israeli forces, accompanied by officers of the Israeli Civil Administration in
“Gosh Etzion” settlement complex, moved into Um al-Rokba area, in the
south of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. 
The Civil Administration officers handed Mohammed Marzouq Zawahra (35) a
notice to halt construction work in a cement wall of 149 metres in lenghth and
a water well, under the pretext of not obtaining a permit.  The Civil Administration gave Zawahra a month
to challenge the decision before “Beit El” court, in the north of
Ramallah.

 

Attacks
carried out by settlers

 

At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 20 June 2013, a
group of settlers, under the protection of Israeli police and forces, moved
into Zawyat al-Ashraf and al-Budairy waqf, located at the entrance of the
Ibrahim Mosque, in the centre of the old city of Hebron, in the centre of
Hebron.  The settlers started digging and
extending electricity networks, in an attempt to seize both
establishments.  It should be mentioned
that both establishments were closed by Israeli forces following the massacre
of the Ibrahim Mosque, which was committed by Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli settler, in 1994.  The forces closed a number of establishments
that are located near the Mosque, at the recommendation of the Shamgar
Commission, which was formed following the massacre in order to investigate
into it.

 

At approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 22 June 2013, a
number of settlers from “Karmi Tsur” settlement, which is established
on Palestinian civilians’ lands in the north of Hebron, moved into a farmland
that includes a water spring that is called “Ayn Teeba,” east of
Halhoul, north of Hebron.  The settlers
patrolled the area, and withdrew at approximately 09:30.  No incidents of vandalism or attacks against
Palestinians were reported.

 

On Monday evening, 24 June 2013, a group of settlers
from “Havat Gilad“ settlement raided Palestinian
civilians’ land in Amateen village, northeast of Qalqilya.  The settlers cut 6 olive trees that are the
property of Ziad Abdel-Hafiz Sowan.  This
attack followed another one committed by settlers few days ago when they set
fire to the entire area.  In his
testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Zahy Sowan, member of Amateen village council,
said:

 

“At
approximately 08:30 on Tuesday, 25 June 2013, Ziad Sowan went to his tract of
land, which is located next to the burnt area. 
This area was burnt by settlers about a week ago, but the fire did not
reach the trees in the neighbouring plot. 
Upon Sowan’s arrival at his land, which he visits every day, he found
that 6 olive trees were cut with a chainsaw. 
He called a number of bodies, including Yesh Din – Volunteers for Human
Rights.  Members of Yesh Din arrived at
the scene; however, a group of settlers attacked them, broke their car windows
with sticks and metal bars, confiscated the car keys and left the area to
bring, as it seemed, something to continue their attack on the vehicle.  Luckily, the driver had a spare key and left
the scene immediately; we were there during the attack.”

 

At approximately 15:00 on Monday, a group of settlers
from “Carmiel” settlement, which is established on Palestinians’
lands east of Yatta, south of Hebron, attacked a group of farmers and shepherds
while they were in ‘Ayn al-Baidaa’ area. 
The settlers engaged in a hand fight with the Palestinians in an attempt
to force them out of their land.  This
incident took place before the Israeli forces, who moved into the area and announced
it a closed military area.  Furthermore,
the forces arrested two Palestinian civilians under the pretext of assaulting
settlers.  The detained Palestinians are:
18-year-old Ahmed Mohammed Abu-Ehmaid and 17-year-old Nassar Ali Ehmaid.

 

At approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, 26 June 2013, a
group of settlers from “Ovijal” settlement, which is established on
Palestinians’ lands in the southeast of Yatta, in the south of Hebron, attacked
shepherds with police dogs while they were grazing their sheep in al-‘Attarya
area.  In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker,
Rateb Jabour said that 7 armed settlers raided the pastoral lands in
al-‘Attarya area, which is located between “Ovijal” and “Mitzpe
Yair” settlements, and unleashed their dogs at a group of shepherds.  This comes under settlers’ attempts to force
Palestinians out of their lands in order to confiscate them.

 

In the mean time, 4 settlers raided pastoral lands in
the surroundings of Kherbat Qwaiwes area, in the southeast of Yatta, and told
shepherds of Abu-‘Arram family to leave the area, claiming that it is their
property.  A skirmish started between the
Palestinian civilians and settlers, who engaged in a hand fight with the
shepherds, before the Israeli forces interfered and requested the shepherds to
leave the area.  In his testimony to a
PCHR fieldworker, Mohammed Abu-‘Arram said:

 

“We
have lived in Kherbat Qwaiwes for a long time, and we use these lands, which
are estimated at 2000 dunums and are the property of Housheya family, for
grazing our sheep and farming.  Five
years ago, a group of settlers cut a number of grapevines and confiscated large
tracts of it.  Approximately 2 years ago,
the Housheya family obtained a court order invalidating the settlers’ ownership
of the land and returned it to its lawful owners.  Since then, the Israeli Civil
Administration’s patrols stayed in the area so that we would not be attacked by
settlers.  At approximately 08:00 on
Wednesday, 26 June 2013, we were surprised to find 4 settlers on our land,
asked us to leave and we started quarrelling, and a settler tried to assault
one of the shepherds.  A few minutes
later, a patrol of Israeli forces arrived at the scene and asked us to leave
the area, even though we have a court ruling that allows us to stay in
it.”

 

 

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 

 

PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position
that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is still
under the Israeli occupation, in spite of the Israeli military redeployment
outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli force have
continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which
have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which
Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR
stresses that there is an international recognition of Israel’s obligation to
respect international human rights instruments and the international
humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the
Laws and Customs of War on Land and the
Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law
and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way
that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.

 

In light of continued arbitrary measures, land
confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the continued
aggression against civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially the latest offensive
that lasted for 8 days in November, PCHR calls upon the international community,
especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva
Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural obligation
to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act according
to the following recommendations:

 

1. PCHR calls upon the international community and the
United Nations to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to
enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the
Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast
majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end
the occupation of the State of Palestine;

2. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide
international protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the
non-recurrence of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the
Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;

4. PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human
rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to
comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the
human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned
committees;

5. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the
Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to
prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the
perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected
Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;

6. PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of
universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal
jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals;

7. PCHR calls upon the international community to act in
order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through
imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;

8. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer
the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the
International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome
Statute;

9. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that
holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to
achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on
the expense of human rights and victims;

10. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human
Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza
and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the
two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel
it to remove them;

11. PCHR calls upon the international community, in light
of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at
least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of
hostilities launched by Israel which directed targeted the civilian
infrastructure;

12. PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European
Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the
international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the
annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;

13. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article
2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must
respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU
states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violation and crimes
against Palestinian civilians;

14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and
accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva
Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the United
Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to international human
rights law and humanitarian law instruments.

 

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

Public Document

For further information please visit our website www.pchrgaza.org or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by
email [email protected] or telephone +972 08 282 4776 – 282 5893.