Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt)
A Palestinian woman was wounded in the Gaza
Strip as a result of an incursion conducted by IOF
IOF used force to disperse peaceful protest
organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
A Palestinian baby and an Israeli human rights
activist were wounded during a demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum , northeast of
Qalqilya
A Palestinian was wounded while participating
in a demonstration in front of Ofer Prison, southwest of Ramallah.
Dozens of protesters suffered from tear gas
inhalation.
IOF conducted 48 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank and 2 limited ones into the Gaza Strip.
20 Palestinians, including a child, were
arrested in the West Bank and two others were arrested in the Gaza Strip.
Creating Jewish Majority in Occupied East
Jerusalem.
IOF closed Ras Khamis checkpoint, northeast of
Occupied East Jerusalem, to build a new part of the annexation wall in place of
the checkpoint
Plans to build a bridge connecting Selwan,
south of Old City, and al-Buraq Wall.
Israeli gunboats fired at Palestinian fishing
boats in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian fishing boats were fired at five
times, and three of them were damaged.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure
on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Dozens of checkpoints were established in the
West Bank
IOF arrested a Palestinian at a military checkpoint
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 confiscated dozens of cows in the northern
Jordan Valley and imposed fines on their owners as a condition to take them
back .
IOF also started to establish new settlement
units in the south of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.
Israeli settlers attacked 4 Palestinians in
Mekhmas village in Ramallah, and uprooted 400 olive trees.
Summary
Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (20 – 26 September 2012):
Shooting:
In the Gaza Strip, on 24 September
2012, a Palestinian woman was wounded when IOF moved into the east of
al-Maghazi refugee camp. In her
testimony to PCHR, the wounded woman said that she heard the sound of a gunfire
in the eastern area of her house at the border fence. She was wounded while she was hanging the
laundry on the roof of her two-storey house, east of al-Bureij refugee
camp. The house is 1200 meters far from
the border fence. The wounded woman was
transported by a civilian vehicle to al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir al-Balah
for medical treatment. Medical sources
described her wounds as moderate. Due to
the heavy fire, some residents in the area did not allow their children to go
to schools fearing for their children’s lives.
IOF continued to fire at Palestinian
fishing boats in the Gaza Strip. On 22
September 2012, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats
thrice. The first firing incident took
place at 09:00 off the Gaza Shore, when the Israeli soldiers opened heavy fire
on the Palestinian fishing boats, as a result, a fishing boat sustained
damage. At approximately 16:00, the
Israeli gunboats fired at 3 fishing boats and tried to sink them. As a result, the two boats were damaged. The
third attack took place at approximately 18:00, when the Israeli gunboats off
al-Waha resort opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats. However, no casualties or damages were
reported.
On 24 September 2012, the Israeli
gunboats off al-Waha Resort opened fire at Palestinian gunboats, but no
casualties or damages were reported. On 26 September 2012, the Israeli gunboats
opened fire again on the Palestinian fishermen in the same area. However, no casualties or damages were
reported.
During the reporting period, IOF
used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the
construction of the annexation wall, settlement activities and other Israeli
practices in the West Bank. As a result Yusam, an Israeli journalist, was
hit by a tear gas canister on the right hand. A Palestinian baby Renad Abdul
Halim Mahmoud Rayyan, 4 months, also suffered from tear gas inhalation as a gas
canister fell into her parents’ house during the demonstration of Kufor
Qaddoum, northeast of Qalqilya. A 19-year old Palestinian demonstrator was
wounded by two bullets during a demonstration organized by dozens of
Palestinians in front of Ofer Prison, southwest of Ramallah. Dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF
conducted at least 48 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the
West Bank. During these incursions, IOF
arrested at least 20 Palestinians, including a child. During house raids, IOF harassed Palestinian
civilians.
During the reporting period, IOF
positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel arrested 2
Palestinian civilians when they attempted to cross the border to find jobs in Israel: Ahmed Amin Rajab Mohsen, 20;
and Mahmoud Ra’ed Mohammed ‘Abbas, 18, from al-Nusairat refugee camp in the
middle of the Gaza Strip.
IOF conducted 2 limited incursions
in the Gaza Strip, the first of which was on 20 September 2012, when 5 tanks
and 3 bulldozers moved 250 meters into the northeast of Beit Hanoun, in the
northern Gaza Strip.
The second incursion was conducted
on 24 September 2012, as Israeli tanks, bulldozers and helicopters moved approximately
300 meters into the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp. IOF then moved to al-Bureij refugee camp and
continued opening fire and bulldozing land. As a result, a Palestinian woman
was wounded on her right hand.
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 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.
Efforts to Create Jewish Majority in
Occupied East Jerusalem
In the context of efforts to create
a Jewish Majority in the Occupied East Jerusalem, IOF closed Ras Khmeis
checkpoint, northeast of East Jerusalem and started to build a new part of the
Annexation wall in place of the checkpoint.
Furtermore, there are new schemes to build a bridge between “David
City” at the entrance of Selwan village, south of the Old City, and the
tunnel of al-Buraq Wall. PCHR stresses
that these measures come in the context of isolating East Jerusalem and
annexing it to Israeli according to the Israeli policy that is in violation of
the international humanitarian law. PCHR
calls upon the international community to promptly take action and reiterates
its call upon the High Contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
fulfill their obligations stated in article 1 of the Convention.
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 September 2012, two Israeli military jeeps and a jeep
belonging to the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Wadi al-Maleh and
Bedouin areas in the northern Jordan Jordan Valley, north of Tubas city. A number of Israeli soldiers stepped down and
started to surround 100 cows that were grazing in Ein al-Helwa- an area that is
located in Wadi al-Maleh area. The
Israeli soldiers put the cows in big vehicles and transported them to an
Israeli camp. In his testimony to PCHR’s
fieldworker, ‘Aref Daraghma, Head of the Wadi al-Maleh Village Council, said
that this is the second time in which IOF confiscated cows from Wadi al-Maleh
area. IOF confiscated 100 cows a month
ago, but they were released after paying a NIS 15.000 fine. Daraghma said that this area is open for the
movement of Palestinian civilians and is not a closed military area.
On 24 September 2012, IOF started
building new settlement units in Um al-Muhamedin area, south of al-Khader
village in the south of Bethlehem.
Building these settlement units is part of an Israeli political decision
to transfer 40 camps in the West Bank to settlements, including the mentioned
area that included a military watchtower overlooking parts of Bethlehem.
On 25 September 2012, IOF submitted
3 notices to halt construction in the houses of three Palestinians in al-Deirat
and Um Lasfa villages, east of Yatta town in the south of Hebron. These notices were issued under the pretext
of not obtaining construction permits.
IOF set the date of convening (the subcommittee for inspection) on 23
October 2012 in Beit Eil settlement, in order to consider the legitimacy of
building the houses without obtaining permits from the concerned Israeli
authorities.
On the same day, 25 Israeli settlers
from Migron settlement outpost in Mekhmas village, southwest of Ramallah,
attacked 4 Palestinian farmers, who were working in their farmlands near the
said settlement. As a result, 2 of the 4
farmers were wounded:
1- Abdul Karim M’eiqel Ibrahim Abu
Ali, 57, sustained fractures in the head and body in addition to a
cross-cutting in the right ear; and
2- Hani Mosa Abu Ali, 40, sustained
bruises throughout his body.
The Israeli settlers smashed the
back window of a car belonging to Sharif Mahmoud Siyam, 56, who was with the
farmers. The attack also resulted in uprooting approximately 400 olive
trees.
Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (20 – 26 September 2012)
1- Incursions into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip
Thursday, 20 September 2012
At approximately 00:30, IOF moved
into Pher’oun village, south of Tulkarm.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Jenin, south of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved
into Kufor Malek village, northeast of Ramallah and al-Bireh. They raided and searched a house belonging to
Shafiq Abdul Rahman Hamayel. Before withdrawal,
IOF arrested the son of Hamayel, Mohammed, 21, and transported him to an
unknown destination.
Also, at approximately 03:00, IOF
moved into Shweika suburb, north of Tulkarm.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 06:30, IOF moved
into ‘Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:30, IOF
supported by military vehicles moved approximately 250 meters into al-Bourah
area, northeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. They opened fire sporadically. At approximately 16:00, IOF withdrew. Neither
casualties nor damages to property were reported.
At approximately 15:00, IOF moved
into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew at 16:30.
No house raids were reported.
At approximately 19:00, IOF moved
into Arraba village, southwest of Jenin.
They patrolled in the streets for some time. The Israeli soldiers
stopped some Palestinians, questioned them on the spot and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 19:45, 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 22:30, IOF moved into Kufor Sour village, south of Tulkarm. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
Friday, 21 September 2012
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved
into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved
into Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time. A number of boys gathered and clashed with
the Israeli soldiers. Immediately, IOF
fired sound bombs, but no casualties were reported. IOF then positioned near
“Karajat Pher’oun” and raided a house belonging to Mahmoud Hamza
Mubarak. IOF withdrew with no arrests
reported.
At
approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Kuber village, northwest of Qalqilya. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.
At approximately 10:00 , IOF moved
into al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron.
They raided the house belonging to Bassam al-Najjar, 40, looking for his
son Abdul Rahman, 16. They withdrew
later and could not arrest the child, because he was not home.
At approximately 11:20, IOF moved
into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled the streets for some time and
attempted to raid Omar Ben al-Khattab Mosque. However, worshippers confronted
them. In the meanwhile, IOF raided the
house of two brothers: Majd, 22, and Abdul Latif Farouq Ishtiwi, 25, arrested
and transported them to an unknown destination.
At approximately 11:30, IOF moved
into Kufor Ein village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 15:35, IOF moved
into Jisafout village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled the streets for some
time, questioned some Palestinians on the spot and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Faqou’ah village, northeast of Jenin. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.
Saturday, 22 September 2012
At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into
Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Wad
al-Heriya and Abu Rumman mountain in the middle of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 03:30, IOF moved into
al-Dhahriya village, south of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and raided the house of Mohammed Abdul Fattah
Shanan, 39, and searched it. They
withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Haram
al-Jam’a area in the middle of Hebron.
They raided some houses and searched them. Before they withdrew, IOF arrested: Khaled
Walid Ahmed al-Qawasmi, 18; Mo’men Ayoub Ahmed al-Qawasmi, 18; and Dawood Ahmed
al-Qawasmi, 43, and transported them to an unknown destination.
Also at approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Wad
al-Kroum – Eisa area, southeast of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and
raided the house of Nidal Mahmoud al-Ashqar, 24. Before they withdrew, IOF
arrested al-Ashqar and transported him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into
al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and raided the house of Adam Salah Ibrahim
al-Titi, 25, and searched it. They
withdrew after arresting al-Titi and transporting him to an unknown
destination.
At approximately 09:00, the Israeli gunboats off
Gaza City shore opened fire on the Palestinian fishing boats. As a result, a fishing boats belong to Nasser
Mohammed Mahmoud Abu ‘Amira, 45, from al-Shati refugee camp, sustained damage. The boat was attacked in the 3-nautical miles
allowed for fishing by IOF.
In his testimony to PCHR, Abu ‘Amira said that
he leaves his fishing boat in the area allowed for fishing, thinking that IOF
will not attack it. Everyday, he sails
towards his boat by another fishing boat to start fishing. As he was heading to his boat in the sea at
approximately 17:00, on 22 September 2012, he saw water inside the boat and it
was about to sink. The boat was attacked
by the Israeli gunboats and sustained damages.
It should be noted that the Israeli gunboats attacked the Palestinian
fishing boats on the same day. Abu
‘Amira pulled his boat to the shore later.
At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Deir
Samit village, west of Dora in the southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the
streets and raided a tent that was established to support the Palestinian
prisoner Ayman al-Sharawna, who went on a hunger strike in the Israeli
prisons. IOF obliged the Palestinians to
leave the tent. Before they withdrew,
IOF took pictures of the tent and the prisoner’s photo, but no arrests were
reported.
At approximately 16:00, the Israeli gunboats
attacked two Palestinian fishing boats off Gaza Seaport, west of Gaza
City. The boats belong to Hosam Mohammed
Bakr, 41, from al-Remal neighborhood, and Mohammed Wajih Abu Riyala, 23, from
al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City.
As a result of the attack, the boats sustained major damage.
At approximately 18:00, the Israeli gunboats
heavily fired at the Palestinian fishing boats off al-Waha resort, northwest of
Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. They
opened fire for 5 minutes and as a result, fishermen were frightened and
escaped for fear of arrest. Neither
casualties nor damage were reported.
Sunday, 23 September 2012
At approximately 00:30, IOF moved
into Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled the streets and raided some
houses. Before IOF withdrew, they arrested
4 Palestinians and transported them to an unknown destination:
1. Lo’ai Jihad Mahmoud Rayyan, 22;
2. Samir Jihad Mahmoud Rayyan, 24;
3. Mjahed Sobhi Darweesh Borhom, 22; and
4. Lo’ai Mostafa Yusef Ishtiwi, 24.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Marj Na’ja village, north of Jericho.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 08:00, IOF moved
into western Toura, southwest of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 09:00, IOF
stationed at the border fence between Gaza and Israel, east of Gaza Valley
(Johr al-Deek) in the central Gaza Strip, arrested two Palestinians, who
attempted to sneak across the borders: Ahmed Amin Rajab Mohsen, 20, and Mahmoud
Ra’ed Mohammed ‘Abbas, 18, both from al-Nusairat refugee camp. In his testimony, Amin Rajab Mohsen, 46, said
that his son Wa’el, 22, received a phone call from the Israeli police informing
him that his brother Amin was arrested alongside another Palestinian named
Mahmoud Abbas. Wa’el was also informed
that both of them were attempting to sneak across the borders and would be
brought before the court.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into
Ramoun village, east of Ramallah. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.
At approximately 18:15, IOF moved
into Hebla village, south of Qalqilya.
They raided the house of Ra’fat Hosni Shahwan, 24, and served him a
notice to report to the Israeli Intelligent Service. They withdrew later with no arrests reported.
At approximately 19:55, IOF moved
into Jinsafout village, east of Qalqilya.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 20:00, IOF moved
into Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. 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 Bedya village, northwest of Salfit.
They patrolled the streets and withdrew at 01:30, on 24 September
2012. Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.
At approximately 23:40, IOF moved
into Masha village, northwest of Salfit.
They patrolled the streets and withdrew at approximately 01:40, on 24
September 2012. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 23:40, IOF
moved into Sarta village, northwest of Salfit.
They patrolled the streets and withdrew at approximately 02:00, on 24
September 2012. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.
Monday, 24 September 2012
At approximately 00:05, IOF moved into
Qalqilya. They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Aroub
refugee camp, north of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets and raided two houses belonging to Abu Hashem
family. IOF arrested two of their sons:
Tareq Jamal Khalil Abu Hashem, 18, and Mohammed Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, 17,
and transported them to an unknown destination.
Palestinian boys clashed with the Israeli soldiers and as a result, some
of them suffered from tear gas inhalation.
In his testimony, Mohammed Awad, a member of
the Popular Committee Against Settlement Activities and the Wall in Beit Ummar
village, said that IOF moved into al-Bayada area, north of Hebron and raided
the house of Ramzi Khader al-‘Alami, 39.
Before they withdrew, IOF serve him a notice for his son Hussein, 15, to
appear before the Israeli General Security Service (Shabak). IOF withdrew at approximately 04:30.
Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into
Deir Samit village, west of Dora in the southwest of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into
al-Dhahirya village, south of Hebron.
They patrolled in the streets and raided some houses, including the
houses of: Iyad Basem al-Jabareen, 24, Shafiq al-Shalam, 29, and Shehda
Suleiman Mez’el al-Jabareen, 40. No
arrests were reported.
At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Msafer
Yatta area, southeast of Yatta in the south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided some
houses, including the houses of: Mohammed al-Najjar, 35, Mohammed Ragheb Abed
Rabbu, 36, and Omar al-Saree’, 37. The house residents were made to stand
outside for 2 hours under the pretext of security search, as a result, they
were terrified. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 05:00, the Israeli gunboats stationed
off al-Waha Resort, northwest of Bait Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened
heavy fire on the Palestinian fishing boats.
As a result, fishermen were terrified and escaped. Neither casualties nor damages were reported.
At approximately 05:30, IOF moved 300 meters
into al-Maghazi refugee camp in the middle of the Gaza Strip. They then moved to the north to al-Bureij
refugee camp and bulldozed the lands. At
approximately 08:10, on the same day, IOF withdrew under the cover of tanks and
helicopters. As a result, Turkiya
Mohammed Faleh al-Hassanat, 49, was wounded by a bullet to the right hand.
In her testimony to PCHR, al-Hassanat said that
she heard the sound of gunfire in the
eastern area of her house at the border fence.
She was wounded while she was hanging the laundry on the roof of her
two-storey house, east of al-Bureij refugee camp. The house was 1200 meters far from the border
fence. The wounded woman was transported
by a civilian vehicle to al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir al-Balah for medical
treatment. Medical sources described her
wounds as moderate. Due to the heavy
fire, some residents in the area did not allow their children to go to schools
fearing for their children’s lives.
At approximately 17:00, IOF moved
into al-Tiba village, west of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
At approximately 01:45, IOF moved
into Qalqilya. They raided and searched
a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Majed Salim al-Qur’an, 25, and
arrested him. He was transported to an
unknown destination.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved
into al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and raided the house of Ali Mahmoud Abu
Warda, 50, and arrested him. Abu Wards was transported to an unknown
destination.
At approximately 03:30, IOF moved
into Deir Samit village, west of Dora in the southwest of Hebron. They raided some houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:
Majdi Rajeh Oda al-Hroub, 28, Iyad Mahmoud Mohammed al-Hroub, 31, and Mosa Ali
Hosni al-Adam, 33.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved
into Abu Ktila area, in the middle of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and raided the house of Msallam Ayoub
al-Qawasmi, 21, and arrested him. It
should be noted that al-Qawasmi had been released 3 days before from the
Palestinian Security Service’s prisons.
Also at approximately 04:00, IOF
moved into al-Shallala Street in the middle of the Old City in Hebron. They raided and searched commercial stores
belonging to the families of al-‘Ewiwi and al-Qawasmi. It should be noted that IOF closed the mentioned
street from the beginning of the second Intifada and it was only recently
re-opened. IOF have continued to
practice all forms of harassment against the Palestinians and owners of
commercial stores in the street.
At approximately 08:00, the Israeli
gunboats station off al-Waha Reosrt, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza
Strip, opened heavy fire at the Palestinian fishing boats. As a result,
fishermen were terrified and forced to escape for fear of arrest or being
wounded. Neither casualties nor damages 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, and against the
demonstrations organized in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli
jails. As a result, Yossam, the Israeli journalist’s right hand was directly
injured by a tear gas canister and a baby, Rinad Abdul-Halim Mahmoud Rayyan, 4
months, suffered from suffocation due to inhaling tear gas after a canister
dropped at her parents’ house, in a demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village,
north-east of Qalqilya. In addition, a 19-year-old demonstrator was wounded
with two bullets in a demonstration organized by dozens of Palestinians in
front of Ofer prison, south-west of Ramallah, in solidarity with the
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. Dozens of demonstrators suffered tear
gas inhalation, or were bruised after being beaten by the Israeli soldiers
during their participation in the peaceful demonstrations organized in Bil’Ein,
Ni’lin and Nabi Saleh in the Ramallah province, Kufor Qaddoum village in
Qalqilya, Al-Ma’sara in Beit Lahim and Al-Mosafer north-east Yatta, South of
Hebron.
Following the Friday Prayer on 21 September
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 of the construction of the annexation wall. The demonstrators roamed the streets of the
village, with the participation of a British parliamentary delegation, chanting
slogans calling for national unity which stressed on the need to stick to the
national principles and the right of return, to resist the occupation and to
release all Palestinian prisoners, raising the Palestinian flags and then
headed towards the Wall. They called through megaphones on Israeli settlers in
“Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators. As a result, a number of
demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and the wounded were treated in the
field.
Following the Friday Prayer on 21 September
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, some demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation, others sustained bruises and the wounded were treated
in the field.
Following the Friday Prayer on 21 September
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. As a result, some demonstrators suffered from
tear gas inhalation, others sustained bruises . The IOF also detained Bilal
Abdel-Salam Tamimi, the photographer for the Popular Movement Against the Wall
and Settlement Activities, for two hours, as well as detaining 3 Israeli
activists under pretext of entering a closed military zone and were taken to
“Benjamin,” an Israeli police department, southeast of Ramallah.
At approximately 10:00 Friday morning, 21
September 2012, Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights
defenders and the villagers whose lands are threatened by confiscation
(Al-Hamra, Al-Twani and Tuba), northeast of Yatta, south of Hebron, gathered to
start the weekly peaceful protest against the IOF’s policy of confiscating the
villager’s lands in order to expand its
the settlements built on the territory of these villages. As a result,
dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. In addition, a large number of settlers
coming from “Haffa Ma’aon” settlement started throwing rocks and
bottles on the protesters. IOF soldiers were present in the area but did not
intervene.
Also on
Friday afternoon, Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human
rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Kufor
Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of
the eastern entrance of the village since the beginning of the al-Aqsa
Intifada. Once they moved towards the
entrance, IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound
bombs at them. As a result, Yossam, the Israeli journalist’s right hand was
directly injured by a tear gas canister and an infant, Rinad Abdul-Halim
Mahmoud Rayyan, 4 months, suffered from suffocation due to inhaling tear gas
after a canister was dropped at her parents’ house and a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Later that Friday afternoon, Palestinian
civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in the center of al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in
protest to the construction of the annexation wall. They moved towards the entrance of the
village. Immediately, IOF fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear
gas inhalation.
At approximately 16:00 Thursday, 20 September 2012, dozens of Palestinian
civilians gathered in the vicinity of Ofer prison, southwest of Ramallah, in a
demonstration organized in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on an open
hunger strike. Immediately, IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them. As a
result, a 19-year-old demonstrated was wounded by two bullets, one in the left
thigh and the other in the right knee. He was transferred to Palestine Medical
Complex in Ramallah, where his wounds were described as average. Dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
(The Center reserves the name of the injured)
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 Karem 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 six 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.
Movement at Border Crossings during
the Reporting Period:
Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point
19 – 25
September 2012
|
Day |
Date |
Traveling abroad |
Coming into Gaza |
Returned into Gaza |
|
Wednesday |
19 September 2012 |
694 |
587 |
73 |
|
Thursday |
20 September 2012 |
981 |
1026 |
64 |
|
Friday |
21 September 2012 |
— |
14 |
– |
|
Saturday |
22 September 2012 |
898 |
865 |
58 |
|
Sunday |
23 September 2012 |
764 |
783 |
94 |
|
Monday |
24 September 2012 |
684 |
595 and a corpse |
54 |
|
Tuesday |
25 September 2012 |
749 |
491 and a corpse |
51 |
Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
19 – 25
September 2012
Imports:
|
Date |
|
Imports |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Category |
|
Amount |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tons |
Number |
|
Liters |
|
|
19 September 2012 |
|
Foodstuffs |
|
934 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agricultural materials
|
|
1518
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Various goods Cartons of clothes Refrigerators Cars |
|
1081 |
2230 230 30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Humanitarian aid |
|
6447 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cooking gas |
|
176.980 |
|
|
|
|
|
20 September 2012 |
|
Foodstuffs |
|
834 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agricultural materials Cows |
|
1782
|
|
317 |
|
|
|
|
|
Various goods Refrigerators Cartons of shoes Cars Water tanks Car tires |
|
1006
|
|
260 1603 30
2433 |
30
|
|
|
|
|
Humanitarian aid |
|
7225 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cooking gas |
|
65.120 |
|
|
|
|
|
23 September 2012 |
|
Foodstuffs |
|
990 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agricultural materials Cows |
|
2149
|
|
192 |
|
|
|
|
|
Various goods Refrigerators Cartons of clothes Elevator spare parts Cars |
|
690 |
|
190 1430 74 30 |
|
|
|
|
|
Humanitarian aid |
|
8271 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cooking gas |
|
181.800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24 September 2012 |
|
Foodstuffs |
|
770 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agricultural materials Cows |
|
2002
|
|
441 |
|
|
|
|
|
Various goods Refrigerators Cartons of cloths Cars Glass boards Washing machines AC units Carpentry machines Biscuit machines |
|
1559
|
|
197 1455 30 1060 160 70 20 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Humanitarian aid |
|
7832 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industrial Fuel |
|
|
|
|
590.646 |
|
|
|
|
Cooking gas |
|
178.880 |
|
|
|
|
Notes:
On Wednesday, 19 September 2012, IOF allowed
the entry of 540 tons of cement, 5,320 tons of construction aggregates and 35
tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 702 tons
of fodders and 312 tons of wheat.
On Thursday, 20 September 2012, IOF allowed the
entry of 360 tons of cement, 110 tons of construction steel and 5390 tons of
construction aggregates for UNRWA; 200 tons of cement for the Palestinian Water
Authority, and 350 tons of construction aggregates for UNDB. They also allowed the entry of 975 tons of
fodders and 273 tons of wheat.
On Sunday, 23 September 2012, IOF allowed the
entry of 326 tons of cement, 3500 tons of construction aggregates and 106 tons
of construction steel for UNRWA; 240 tons of cement and 3430 tons of
construction aggregates for the Palestinian Water Authority. They also allowed the entry of 1248 tons of
fodders, 390 tons of wheat.
On Monday, 24 September 2012, IOF allowed the
entry of 198 tons of cement, 2800 tons of construction aggregates and 52 tons
of construction steel for UNRWA; 120 tons of cement, 30 tons of construction
steel and 420 tons of construction aggregates for USAD; 3500 tons of
construction aggregates for the Palestinian Water Authority. They also allowed the entry of 1248 tons of
fodders, 351 tons of wheat.
IOF
closed the crossing on 25 and 26 September 2012 because of Jewish holidays.
Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing
19– 25
September 2012
|
Date |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
|
Patients |
34 |
22 |
Nil |
Nil |
44 |
38 |
Nil |
|
Companions |
36 |
24 |
Nil |
Nil |
42 |
39 |
Nil |
|
Personal needs |
28 |
28 |
7 |
Nil |
32 |
59 |
Nil |
|
Arabs from Israel |
33 |
5 |
11 |
Nil |
18 |
3 |
Nil |
|
Diplomats |
3 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
11 |
Nil |
|
International Journalists |
Nil |
Nil |
2 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
International Workers |
33 |
21 |
7 |
Nil |
10 |
34 |
Nil |
|
UN Workers |
12 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
4 |
8 |
Nil |
|
Travelers abroad |
Nil |
2 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Business People |
120 |
102 |
Nil |
Nil |
98 |
106 |
Nil |
|
Economic Meetings |
7 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
27 |
2 |
Nil |
|
Security Interviews |
2 |
1 |
Nil |
Nil |
1 |
1 |
Nil |
|
VIP’s |
1 |
1 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Ambulances to Israel |
5 |
1 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
3 |
1 |
|
Ambulances from Israel |
3 |
3 |
Nil |
Nil |
2 |
2 |
1 |
On Tuesday September 25,2012, IOF
only allowed the entry of serious humanitarian cases until the afternoon of the
same day, under the pretext of the Jewish Forgiveness Holiday.
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:
Ramallah and al-Bireh: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 05:00 on
Thursday, 20 September 2012, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, north of Ramallah. At
approximately 09:30 on Friday, 21 September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 22
September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aur
al-Fouqa village, southwest of Ramallah.
At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 23 September 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of the Eastern Mazr’aa village, northeast of
Ramallah.
Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:30 on Thursday, 6
September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint. At approximately 10:30 on
Saturday, 22 September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Jeftlek village, north of Jericho. At approximately 15:30, IOF established a
checkpoint at Mo’arajat Road linking Ramallah and Jericho. At approximately
17:00 on Sunday, 23 September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance
of al-‘Ouja village, north of Jericho.
At approximately 18:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern
entrance of Jericho.
Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:30 on Friday, 22
September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the road linking Al Tibah and
Romanah Villages, southwest of Jenin. At
approximately 13:30 on Monday, 24 September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Zobouba village, northwest of Jenin.
Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 21
September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the western entrance of Safarin
village, southeast of Tulkarm. At
approximately 13:30 on Friday, 22 September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Far’aon village, south of Tulkarm. At approximately 11:40on Saturday, 22
September 2012, IOF, positioned on ‘Aenab checkpoint, tightened arbitrary
measures against the Palestinian civilians. The tightening has been repeated at
the mentioned checkpoint at approximately 10:00 on Sunday 23 September
2012. At approximately 06:45 on Monday,
24 September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit Leed intersection, east
of Tulkarm. At approximately 09:00, IOF,
positioned at ‘Aenab checkpoint, tightened arbitrary measures against the
Palestinian civilians.
Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, 26
September 2012, IOF, positioned at the entrance of Beit Amer village, north of
Hebron, established a checkpoint on the main road of Beit Amer village. At approximately 05:00, the checkpoint was
removed. At approximately 06:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the main
entrance of Sa’air village, northeast of Hebron. At approximately 10:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the northen entrance of Hebron.
Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 16:00
on Saturday, 22 September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern
entrance of Yasouf village, east of Salfit. At approximately 16:45 the
checkpoint was removed. At approximately 23:00, IOF established a checkpoint
between Zawyah and Rafat villages, west of Salfit. At approximately 12:50 on
Sunday, 23 September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint between Brokin and Kafr
Al-Dik villages, west of Salfit.
Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 11:45
on Thursday, 20 September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the
intersection of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. At approximately
23:50, IOF established a checkpoint at the intersection of Jeet village,
northeast of the city. At approximately 10:20 on Friday, 21 September 2012, IOF
established a checkpoint in Jeensafoot village, east of Qalqilya. At
approximately15:30 IOF established a checkpoint at the intersection of Qana
valley, connecting Qalqilya and Salfit. At approximately 23:50, IOF established
a checkpoint between ‘Azoun and Kufor Tholth villages, east of the city.
Arrests
at Military Checkpoints
At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday,
26 September 2012, IOF, positioned at Hamrah checkpoint in The Jordan Valley,
arrested Mohamammed S’aid Amr,24, from Dora village, southwest of Hebron. IOF
questioned him on the spot for 2 hours, and then he was taken by military vehicles
to an unknown destination. It is noted that Amr was released days ago from the
Palestinian Preventive Security Prison in Hebron.
4- Efforts to Create Jewish Majority in
Occupied East Jerusalem
On Thursday morning, 20 September 2012, started
building a new section of the annexation wall in Ras Khamis, northeast of the
occupied Jerusalem. According to information collected by PCHR, on Wednesday
afternoon, 19 September 2012, the IOF closed Ras Khamis checkpoint and began to
build a new segment of the wall in its place. This is meant to isolate Ras
Khamis quarter from the occupied city and to re-channel its 10 thousand
Jerusalemites’ traffic to Sho’fat crossing, which was opened as an
international crossing on 11/12/2012. As a result to the removal of the checkpoint,
Ras Khamis’ residents will have to walk the distance of 2km to reach Sho’fat
crossing, which was established to separate Sho’fat camp, Ras Khamis and
Al-Salam suburb from the city. It should be noted that the number of the
Jerusalemites living in the three areas mentioned is estimated by nearly 50
thousand Jerusalemites. The Center fears that the IOF would withdraw their
Israeli ID cards, and replace them with Palestinian IDs.
In the same context, “Jerusalem
Development Company – Moreea” is building a bridge for pedestrians and
cars linking “David City,” by the entrance of Silwan, south of the
old town of East Jerusalem, to Al-buraq quarter’s tunnel, passing by Hilwa
vally “Givati parking lot.”
Hilwa Valley Information Center in Silwan,
mentioned that a pamphlet was distributed to the residents of the area about
changes in traffic, indicating that the construction work to turn the main road
in use currently into a bridge linking the settlement outpost to the Al-Buraq
wall, will continue for several months (from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am), and that the
Israeli police will be closing the road to traffic. The construction work will
be done in cooperation between “Moreea,” the Israeli municipality,
the Israeli police and the “Antiquities Authority.”
Hilwa Valley Information Center noted that the
Israeli Supreme Court issued a decision almost a year ago, not to make any
changes in the main street of Hilwa valley, after its residents submitted
complaints to the court, yet the IOF did not submit to the court’s orders,
where the municipality declared its intention to make changes to the street
(traffic and landscape).
5- Settlement Activities and Attacks by
Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israel has continued its settlement activities
in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers
have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
● At approximately 16:30 on Tuesday,
25 September 2012, approximately 25 settlers, from Migron Settlement outpost,
attacked 4 Palestinian farmers in their property in Helwa area, near the
mentioned settlement.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR
and testimonies of eyewitnesses, at approximately 16:30 in the mentioned day, a
group of settlers from Migron settlement outpost attacked 4 farmers heading to
Helwa area, northwest of Mekhmas village, southeast of Ramallah, in order to
visit their lands after learning that the settlers uprooted about 400 fruitful
olive trees, which were planted since 1985 along street No. 60. Upon their
arrival to their lands, they were surprised with a group of approximately 25
settlers, aged between 20-25 years, swimming in a rainwater pool in a land
belonging to the family of Youssef Abdel Hamid. Immediately, the settlers, who
were carrying clubs and sharp tools, attacked the 4 civilians and threw stones
at them. The farmers tried to escape toward the mentioned street after watching
another group of settlers coming. They were severely beaten by the settlers. As
a result, 2 farmers were wounded: Abdel Karim M’aeikel Ibrahim Abu Ali, 57, as
he suffered from fractures in the head and body and his ear was exposed to
cross-cutting, and Hani Mousa Abu Ali, 40, who suffered from bruises throughout
the body. The settlers smashed the rear window of a car belonging to Sharif
Mahmoud Seyam, 56, who was among the farmers. Later on, a force from the
Israeli army and police and an ambulance belonging to the Red Star Of David
arrived to the mentioned street. After a lot of pressure from the farmers and
families who arrived to the spot, the ambulance of the Red Star of David
transported Abdel Karim and took him to Hezma checkpoint, north of Jerusalem,
in order to get him to Hadasa Hospital, but the IOF positioned at the mentioned
checkpoint refused to let him saying he had no permission to do so. And after
45 minute stop at the checkpoint, an ambulance belonging to the Palestinian Red
Crescent Society arrived and took him to the Palestine Medical Complex in
Ramallah. The attack also included the chop and crush of around 400 fruitful
olive trees with automatic cut saws.
The property of the destroyed olive
trees belongs to:
1- The family of Abdel Karim
M’aeikel Ibrahim Abu Ali, the uprooting of 150 olive trees.
2- The family of Mohamed Falhoud,
the uprooting of 100 olive trees.
3- The family of Khaled Mousa, the
uprooting of 150 olive trees.
At approximately 07:00 on Sunday, 23
September 2012, two Israeli military jeeps in addition to a jeep belonging to
the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Wadi al-Maleh and Bedouin areas in
the northern Jordan Jordan Valley, north of Tubas city. A number of Israeli soldiers stepped down and
started to surround 100 cows that were grazing in Ein al-Helwa area that is
located in Wadi al-Maleh area. The Israeli
soldiers put the cows in big vehicles and transported them to an Israeli
camp. While putting the cows in the big
vehicles, some of them escaped. The cows
belong to Jamal Mostafa Daraghma and his brother Ayed. In his testimony to
PCHR’s fieldworker, ‘Aref Daraghma, Head of the Wadi al-Maleh Village Council,
said that this is the second time in which IOF confiscated cows from Wadi
al-Maleh area. IOF confiscated 100 cows
a month ago, but they were released after paying a NIS 15.000 fine. Daraghma said that this area is open for the
movement of Palestinian civilians and is not a closed military area.
In the early morning on Monday, 24 September
2012, IOF started to establish new settlement outposts in the settlement
established on Um al-Mohammedin area, south of al-Khader village in the south
of Bethlehem.
In his testimony, Ahmed Salah, Coordinator of
the Popular Committee Against Settlement Activities and the Wall in al-Khader
village, said that the establishment of a settlement on the said lands comes in
the context of an Israeli political decision to transfer 40 camps in the West
Bank to settlements, including Um al-Mohammedin area, which included a military
watchtower overlooking Bethlehem. Salah stressed that the establishment of the
settlement threatens the urban expansion of al-Khader village and Um al-Rokba
area. Besides, this means there will be
a geographic connection between the settlements “Ariel”, Etzion”
and “Afrat”, which are established on Bethlehem lands.
It should be mentioned that the
confiscation of the territories of “Um Mohammedin” started in 2000,
and it was decided to turn it into a camp for the Israeli army and a huge
watch-tower was installed to watch several areas of Bethlehem.
At approximately 10:30 on Tuesday, 25 September
2012, the IOF stormed Al-Dirat and Um Lasfa villages, east of Yatta; South of
Hebron. Three Palestinian citizens were submitted notices to stop construction
work at their houses, under the pretext of not obtaining permits from the
Israeli concerned authorities, these houses belong to:
1- Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Adra, 40, a two-story
house on an area of 160 meters.
2- Ali Sabri Mohammad Al-Amour, 32, a house in
the final stages of construction work, built on an area of 120 meters.
3- Hamad Mohammad Jaber Al-Amour, 33, a house
in the final stages of construction work, built on an area of 140 meters.
The IOF had set a date on, 23
October 2012, for the (subcommittee for inspection) in Beit Eil Settlement, to
see into the legitimacy of the construction work, since it is built without a
permit from the Israeli authorities in section C (areas under the Israeli
sovereignty according to the Oslo accords), according to Rateb Al-Jabour, a
member of the Popular Movement for the resistance of the Occupation. It should be
mentioned that the IOF had marked the houses and took pictures of them.
…………………………………………………
Recommendations
to the International Community
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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).
