An Israeli
soldier detains a Palestinian boy during clashes with Israeli settlers, not
seen, on the outskirts of Borin village near Nablus.

 

 

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

 

 

· IOF
shot and killed a Palestinian worker in the northern West Bank.

 

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

– Four
international human rights defenders and one Palestinian photojournalist were injured.

– IOF
arrested twenty-one civilians, including twelve international human rights
defenders, one of whom is Luisa Morgantini.

 

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

– One
Palestinian civilian was seriously wounded in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

· IOF
bombarded tunnels and civilian property in the Gaza Strip.

– IOF
destroyed a plastic and iron pipe store in the central Gaza Strip.

 

· IOF
conducted twenty-five incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank
and five limited incursions into the Gaza Strip.

– IOF
arrested thirteen Palestinian civilians.

 

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

– Israeli
troops stationed at military checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank
arrested nine Palestinian civilians, including six children and one woman.

 

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

– The
Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem has continued to chase and confiscate goods
of Palestinian street vendors. 

 

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

– IOF
ordered the halt of construction works n six houses in Ethna village near
Hebron.

– Israeli
settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (22 – 28 July
2010):

 

Shooting: During the
reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian worker and wounded three
international human rights defenders, including one from Israel, and a
Palestinian photojournalist in the West Bank. They also seriously wounded a Palestinian civilian in the Gaza
Strip. 

 

In the West Bank, on 22 July 2010, IOF killed a Palestinian worker from
Qalqilya, near “Burkan” settlement, west of Salfit. Israeli military sources claimed that “a
military unit observed two Palestinians, one of whom was armed, when they
attempted to cross the settlement’s fence. When the two Palestinians did not obey orders to stop, the soldiers
fired at them, killing the unarmed one and wounding the armed one, who was able
to escape.” Investigations
conducted by PCHR refute this claim and confirm that none of the targeted
persons were armed and that the two men were looking for jobs.

 

During the reporting period, IOF used excessive force to disperse
peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the
construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities. As a result, three international human rights
defenders, including one from Israel, and a Palestinian photojournalist were
injured. IOF also violently beat a
number of demonstrators. IOF also arrested twelve Israeli and international
human rights defenders, including Luisa Morgantini, Former Deputy Speaker of
the European Parliament, four photojournalists and five Palestinian civilians,
including a woman.

 

In the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian civilian was shot and seriously wounded
by IOF while on a tract of land belonging to his grandfather.

 

On Monday morning, 26 July 2010, Israeli warplanes bombarded tunnels
along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. They also bombarded and destroyed a plastic and iron pipe store in the
central Gaza Strip. No casualties were
reported.

 

Incursions: During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least twenty-five military incursions
into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested thirteen
Palestinian civilians.

 

Restrictions
on Movement: Israel has continued to
impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,
including occupied East Jerusalem.

 

Gaza Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip
for approximately three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed siege of Gaza, which
has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the
humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  

 

· On
Friday, 01 January 2010, Israeli forces decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing
permanently and to divert the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, citing security reasons. 

· 1.5
million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of
movement and the right to appropriate living conditions, work, health and
education.

 

· The
principle concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain basic
necessities: food, medicine, water and electricity supplies.

 

· Israel
has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip for more than two and a half years.

 

· Israel
has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip since 10 December 2008,
excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.

 

· The
Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened on only a few days for a
number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return
home to the Gaza Strip.

 

· Israel
had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians
wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or
social visits.

 

· Israel
has imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats,
journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. Israel has prevented
representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from
entering the Gaza Strip.

 

· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated
as levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

 

· At
least 800 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails have been deprived
of family visitation for more than two and a half years. 

 

· Israeli
forces have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the
Gaza Strip.

 

West Bank

 

Israel has continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East
Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

 

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

 

· There
are approximately 630 permanent roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints
across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60 – 80 ‘flying’ or temporary
checkpoints erected across the West Bank by Israeli forces every week.

 

· When
complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around
the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the
Wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been
constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

 

· At
least 65% of the main roads that lead to eighteen Palestinian communities in
the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by Israeli forces (47 out of 72
roads).

 

· There
are around 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In
addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East
Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by Israeli
forces; these permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

 

· Israeli
forces continue to harass and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests
against the construction of the Annexation Wall.

 

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

 

Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem: IOF have
continued to take measures at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem. During the reporting period, officials of the
Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem, accompanied by officials of the Property Tax
Department, waged a wide-scale campaign against Palestinian stores in Shu’fat
village, northeast of Jerusalem. They
searched stores and verified their licenses and documents, creating significant
tension in the area. Also during the
reporting period, officials of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem waged a
campaign against Palestinian street vendors. Dozens of officials, accompanied by the Israeli police, were deployed in
the streets and they attacked streets vendors and confiscated their goods. It is worth noting that the Israeli
Municipality of Jerusalem wages repeated campaigns against streets vendors in
an attempt to exert economic pressure on Palestinian civilians in the
city. 

 

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 26 July 2010, IOF moved into Ethna
village, northwest of Hebron. They
handed written notices issued by the Higher Organization Council of the Israeli
Civil Administration to Palestinian civilians ordering a halt on construction
works for six houses and an agricultural barrack. 

 

On the same day, dozens of Israeli
settlers, escorted by IOF, moved into the east of Nablus. They conducted Jewish rituals in Joseph
Tomb. They left the area at
approximately 05:00.

 

Also on 26 July 2010, dozens of Israeli
settlers from “Brakha” settlement, south of Nablus, attacked
Palestinian houses in the northwest of Bourin village, south of the city. They threw stones at houses and set fire to
the area surrounding the homes. A group
of olive trees were burnt and windows of a number of houses were broken. 

 

Also on the same day, dozens of Israeli
settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus, attacked
Palestinian houses in the west of Hawara village, south of Nablus and threw
stones at the houses. No injuries were
reported.

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during
the Reporting Period (22 – 28 July 2010)

 

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

 

Thursday, 22 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya village, northwest
of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

· In
the early morning, IOF killed Bilal Ibrahim Abu Libda, 27, from Qalqilya, near
“Burkan” settlement, west of Salfit. Israeli military sources claimed that “a military unit observed two
Palestinians, one of whom was armed, when they attempted to cross the
settlement’s fence. When the two
Palestinians did not obey orders to stop, the soldiers fired at them, killing
the unarmed one, and wounding the armed one, who was able to escape.”

 

According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 04:00, Abu Libda, his cousin,
Mohammed ‘Izziddin Abu Libda, 27, and Ameen Anwar ‘Enaya, 27, attempted to
enter the industrial zone of “Burkan” settlement, west of Salfit,
without work permits. Israeli troops
guarding the settlement noticed them and opened fire at them. As a result, Bilal Abu Libda was killed when
he was struck by two bullets, while the other two persons fled. The victim was married two months ago and was
killed while looking for a job. IOF
refused to deliver his body to his family before identifying him, as he did not
possess an identity card. They
transferred the body to a forensic medical institute and requested the
Palestinian liaison department to send one of his relatives to identify
him. The other two persons who
accompanied Abu Libad testified before the Palestinian Preventive Security
Service. They were then summoned by the
Palestinian police and were detained for 24 hours for interrogation. When they were released, they refused to
provide a PCHR field worker with any information. IOF delivered the victim’s body to the
Palestinian side at 12:00 on Friday, 23 July 2010. According to Palestinian medical sources, the
victim was hit by an explosive bullet to the head and a bullet to the
chest. They estimated the range of
shooting at the victim at 30 meters. They attributed his death to the explosive bullet that struck his
head. 

 

· At
approximately 20:00, IOF moved into ‘Anata village, northeast of
Jerusalem. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 24 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of Qaqlilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of
Hebron. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Mamdouh Ibrahim Abu Rabee’, 20, and arrested him.

 

· At
approximately 15:10, IOF moved into ‘Allar and Baqa al-Sharqiya villages, north
of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported. 

· In
the evening, IOF moved into the town of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 25 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Ethna village, south of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bani Na’im village, northeast of
Hebron. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

· Also
at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nouba village, northwest of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Oula village, northwest of
Hebron. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.  

 

· In
the evening, IOF moved into the town of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 26 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Shawawra village, east of
Bethlehem. They raided and searched a
house belonging to Ahmed ‘Eissa Hamdan, 30, and summonsed him for
interrogation.

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Zawia village, west of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to
Sa’id Mohammed Fares, 48, and arrested him.

 

· At
approximately 03:40, Israeli warplanes dropped a bomb on tunnels along the
Egyptian border near al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah. Five minutes later, they dropped another bomb
on the area. No casualties were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 04:20, Israeli warplanes dropped a bomb on tunnels along the
Egyptian border near al-Sho’ut area in the south of Rafah. No casualties were reported. An Israeli military spokesman claimed that
the Israeli Air Force targeted two tunnels along the Egyptian border in
response to a projectile fired at an Israeli community near Gaza during the
weekend.

 

· At
approximately 05:00, Israeli warplanes dropped a bomb on a 200-square-meter
plastic and iron pipe store belonging to ‘Othman Ibrahim al-Hattab, to the
northeast of Nussairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The store was completely destroyed and
electricity was cut off in al-Zahraa’ town and al-Zayoun neighborhood in the
south of Gaza City. No casualties were
reported. 

 

· At
approximately 09:45, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported. They then moved into the
nearby Kufor al-Labad village and patrolled in the streets for some time and
withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

Tuesday, 27 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided a four-storey building belonging to the al-Tanib
family. They searched the first floor of
the building, which serves as an office for al-Tanib Bus Company. They then went upstairs to the third floor
and arrested Ussama Fakhri al-Tanib, 49.  

 

· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a two-storey house belonging to Ma’rouf Mohammed
Zahran, Undersecretary of the Palestinian Ministry of Civil Affairs, when he
and his wife were on a vacation in Turkey. After searching and damaging the contents of the first floor, they held
Zahran’s sister and his daughter, 19-year-old Hadeel, in a room on the first
floor. They then accompanied Zahran’s
son, 18-year-old Adam, to the second floor, where they searched and damaged its
contents. Two female Israeli soldiers
conducted personal searches of Zahran’s sister and his daughter. Israeli troops then searched the house again
and finally arrested Adam.

 

· At
approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They raided an apartment building belonging
to the Na’alwa family and arrested Ra’ed and Fadi Raslan Na’alwa, 34 and 26,
respectively.  

 

Wednesday, 28 July 2010

 

· At
approximately 00:40, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported..

 

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

 

1. Eyad Jameel Houshiya, 40;

2. Khalil Jameel Houshiya, 25;

3. Mohammed ‘Eissa al-Jundi, 20;

4. Wasfi Nasser Nassar, 20;

5. Ahmed Saleem Esrai’, 20;

6. Murad Ahmed al-Jbour, 27; and

7. Lu’ai Ahmed ‘Awad, 21.

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jalboun village, northeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Deir Abu Da’if village, northeast of Jenin.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 06:30, Israeli troops stationed at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in
the northern Gaza Strip fired at Akram Tayseer Sa’ada, 19, from Beit Hanoun,
when he was on a tract of land belonging to his grandfather, nearly 150 meters
away from the crossing. He was seriously
wounded by a bullet to the chest. 

 

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

 

During the reporting period, IOF used excessive
force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction
of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities.  As a result, three international human rights
defenders, including one from Israel, and one Palestinian journalist were
injured. A number of demonstrators also
suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. IOF also arrested twelve Israeli and international
human rights defenders, four Palestinian photojournalists and five Palestinian
civilians, including a woman.   

 

· Following
the Friday Prayer on 23 July 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders, including Ms. Luisa
Morgantini, Former Deputy Speaker of the European Parliament, organized a
peaceful demonstration in protest against the construction of the Annexation
Wall in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the Annexation Wall. Israeli troops stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets,
sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, Enat Gotman, 30, and Israeli
human rights defender, was hit by a tear gas canister to the head. Additionally, IOF arrested Ms. Morgantinti
and Copi Zants, 34, an Israeli human rights defender, but released them later. Dozens
of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained
bruises as they were beaten by Israeli troops.  

 

· Also
following the Friday Prayer on 23 July 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration
in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the
Annexation Wall. They clashed with IOF
troops positioned near the Wall. IOF
troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators. As a result, dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises. Israeli troops also prevented two
photojournalists, Mousa al-Sha’er and Lu’ai Sababa, from photographing the
demonstration.  

 

· On
Friday afternoon, 23 July 2010, after Israeli settlers set up a tent on a hill
in al-Bwaira area in the east of Hebron, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international human rights defenders demonstrated in the area in protest to
this action. Israeli troops attacked the
demonstrators, injuring two of them. Israeli troops arrested four demonstrators, including a woman, but
released them later:

 

1. Um Jameel Shukri Sultan, 50;

2. Said Shukri Sultan, 25;

3. ‘Abdul Ra’ouf Sultan, 32; and

4. Younis Sultan, 25.

 

They also detained two photojournalists and prevented them from carrying
out their work: Yusri Mahmoud al-Jamal, 32, working for Reuters; and Hazem
Jameel Bader, 42, working for France Press Agency. 

 

· On
Saturday afternoon, 24 July 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in the center of
Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They moved towards Zaher al-Brahish area, where IOF plan to confiscate
areas of Palestinian land to the north of the Israeli settlement of “Karmi
Tsur.” Israeli troops attacked the demonstrators and fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them. As a
result, four civilians (an old man, two international human rights defenders
and a photojournalist) were injured:

 

1. Khader
Zaidan Sabarna, 65, suffered from tear gas inhalation when a tear gas canister
landed on his house;

2. Harry,
21, a British human rights defender, injured by shrapnel from a sound bomb and
a tear gas canister to the head and the back;

3. Sherrill
Larwald, 39, a French human rights defender, sustained burns to the left foot;
and

4. Najeh
Diab al-Hashlamoun, 40, a cameraman of Reuters, fainted as a tear gas canister
hit him on the back.

 

· At
approximately 16:20 on the same day, the Youth Commission against Settlement in
Hebron organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to continued closure of
al-Shuhada Street in the center of the town. A number of international solidarity activists participated in the
demonstration, which stopped near the entrances of “Beit Rumano”
settlement outpost in the north of the old city. Israeli troops attacked the demonstrators and
arrested ten international solidarity activists, releasing them later. A number of demonstrators sustained bruises
during the arrests. At approximately
18:00, Israeli troops arrested ‘Eissa Isma’il ‘Amru, 30, a member of the Youth
Commission against Settlement, when he was on his way back home in the old city
of Hebron after the demonstration.  

 

3. Continued Siege on the OPT

 

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

 

Gaza Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip
for approximately three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed siege of Gaza, which
has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the
humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  

 

· On
Friday, 01 January 2010, Israeli forces decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing
permanently and to divert the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, citing security reasons. 

 

· 1.5
million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of
movement and the right to appropriate living conditions, work, health and
education.

 

· The
principle concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain basic
necessities: food, medicine, water and electricity supplies.

 

· Israel
has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip for more than two and a half years.

 

· Israel
has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip since 10 December 2008,
excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.

 

· The
Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened on only a few days for a
number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return
home to the Gaza Strip.

 

· Israel
had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians
wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or
social visits.

 

· Israel
has imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats,
journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. Israel has prevented
representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from
entering the Gaza Strip.

 

· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated
as levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

 

· At
least 800 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails have been deprived
of family visitation for more than two and a half years. 

 

· Israeli
forces have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the
Gaza Strip.

 

Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting
Period:

 

At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 01 June 2010, the
Egyptian authorities announced that Rafah International Crossing Point on the
Egyptian border would be open indefinitely for travelers from both
directions. The Egyptian announcement
came following the deadly Israeli attack on the Gaza-aid flotilla in
international water. On the following
morning, the crossing point was effectively opened and Palestinian civilians
were allowed to travel through the crossing.

 

Movement at Rafah International
Crossing Point

21 – 27 July 2010

 

 

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) Crossing

21 – 27 July 2010

 

 

Al-Mentar
(Karni) Crossing: IOF partially
opened Karni crossing on Wednesday, 21 July 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,482
of wheat and 2,301 tons of fodders. They
also opened it on Tuesday, 27 July 2010, and allowed the entry of 897 tons of
wheat and 2,769 tons of fodders. 

 

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

Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez)
Crossing

21 – 27 July 2010

 

 

The West
Bank

 

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

 

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

 

· Nablus: IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians in Nablus. On Sunday morning,
25 July 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus,
imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 07:00 on Monday, 26 July
2010, IOF closed Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, as dozens of Israeli
settlers from “Yits’har” settlement gathered near the checkpoint and
threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles. The checkpoint was reopened at 10:00.

 

· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on
the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. IOF troops positioned at the Jaba’ and
Qalandiya checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional
restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged security checks of Palestinian
civilians. During the reporting period,
IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints, using them to stop and search
Palestinian civilian vehicles.  At
approximately 21:00 on Thursday, 22 July 2010, IOF re-established their
presence at ‘Attara checkpoint the northern entrance of Bir Zeit village, north
of Ramallah. At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 23 July 2010, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah. At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Janya village, north of
Ramallah. At approximately 07:00 on Saturday, 24 July 2010, IOF established a
checkpoint in ‘Ein Ayoub area near Deir ‘Ammar village, northwest of
Ramallah. IOF dismantled the checkpoints
later and no arrests were reported. .  

 

· Tulkarm: IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians in Tulkarm. At approximately
09:00 on Friday, 23 July 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit Leed
intersection on Tulkarm-Nablus road, where they stopped and search Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 16:00 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of
Tulkarm. At approximately 20:30 on
Saturday, 24 July 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit Leed intersection
on Tulkarm-Nablus road. At approximately 14:30, IOF established a checkpoint on
al-Kafriyat road, south of Tulkarm.  

 

· Qalqilya:  IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians in Qalqilya. On Friday
evening, 23 July 2010, IOF established a checkpoint on Nablus-Qalqilya road,
where they stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 09:30 on Saturday, 24 July
2010, IOF established a checkpoint on Nablus-Qalqilya road near ‘Izbat al-Tbib
village, east of Qalqilya. At
approximately 09:45 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at Jeet
intersection on Qalqilya-Nablus road. At approximately 10:30 on Sunday, 25 July
2010, IOF established a checkpoint on Nablus-Qalqilya road near Nabi Elias
village, east of Qalqilya. At the same
time, IOF established a checkpoint on the road linking between ‘Izbat al-Tabib
and ‘Asala village, east of Qalqilya. At
approximately 16:30 on the same day, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance
of Jeet village, east of Qalqilya. At approximately 18:45, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. At approximately 21:20 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Izbat al-Tabib village, east of
Qalqilya. 

 

· Jericho:  IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 14:30 on
Thursday, 15 July 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein
al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho, where they stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles.  

 

Arrests at Military
Checkpoints

 

· On
Friday evening, 23 July 2010, Israeli troops stationed at a checkpoint in
al-Fraidis area, southwest of Bethlehem, arrested Kazem ‘Abed al-Wahsh, 16,
from the town of Halhoul north of Hebron. 

 

· On
Saturday noon, 24 July 2010, Israeli troops stationed at al-Karama
International Crossing Point arrested Mohammed Ahmed ‘Eissa, 50, from Tulkarm
refugee camp, as he was on his way back to the West Bank.

 

· At
approximately 20:00 on Sunday, 25 July 2010, Israeli troops arrested five
Palestinian children who were in Najmat Salem area near a bypass road leading
to “Allon Moreh” settlement, northeast of Nablus:

 

1. Jihad Hamdi Khatatba, 17;

2. Hamdi ‘Ali Khatatba, 17;

3. ‘Omar Mohammed ‘Arrab, 15;

4. Mohammed Najeh Seinawi, 15; and

5. Yamin Husni Khatatba, 17.

 

According to Hamdi ‘Abdul Jalil Khatatba, IOF released the last three
children at approximately 23:00 on the same day and handed them over to the
Palestinian Preventive Security Service (PSS), which kept Yamin in
custody. 

 

· On
Monday evening, Israeli troops arrested Fat’hiya ‘Eissa al-Razem, 28. According to investigations conducted by
PCHR, at approximately 20:00, al-Razem and three of her children, whose ages
are between four and ten, were on her way back home from her brother’s house
near “Kiryat Arab” settlement, southeast of Hebron. Six Israeli settlers intercepted and provoked
her. She swore at them and cried. An Israeli military vehicle arrived at the
area and the settlers complained to the officer about the woman. Immediately, Israeli troops arrested her and
ordered the children to leave the area. They was interrogated and detained until 10:00 on the following day.

 

· On
Wednesday morning, 28 July 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Tayaseer
checkpoint, east of Tubas, arrested Zakaria Khaled Bani ‘Ouda, from Tammoun
village. 

 

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

 

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

 

· At
approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 25 July 2010, officials of the Israeli
Municipality of Jerusalem, accompanied by officials of the Property Tax
Department, waged a wide-scale campaign against Palestinian stores in Shu’fat
village, northeast of Jerusalem. They
searched Palestinian stores and verified their licenses and documents, creating
significant tension in the area.

 

· At
approximately 08:30 on Tuesday, 27 July 2010, officials of the Israeli
Municipality of Jerusalem waged a campaign against Palestinian street vendors. Dozens of officials, accompanied by the
Israeli police, were deployed in the streets and they attacked streets vendors
and confiscated their goods. It should be noted that the Israeli Municipality
of Jerusalem wages repeated campaigns against streets vendors and traders in an
attempt to exert economic pressure on Palestinian civilians in the city. Similary, at approximately 12:30 on Tuesday,
the Israeli police imposed a fine of 1,000 NIS (approximately US$270) on a
Palestinian civilian from the Abu Gharbiya family, claiming that he placed his
goods on the street without permission.  

 

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 01:00 on Monday, 26 July 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers,
escorted by IOF, moved into the east of Nablus. They conducted Jewish rituals in Joseph Tomb and left the area at
approximately 05:00.

 

· At
approximately 06:00 on Monday. 26 July 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers from
“Brakha” settlement, south of Nablus, attacked Palestinian homes in
the northwest of Bourin village, south of the Nablus. They threw stones at houses and set fire to
the area around them. A number of olive
trees were burnt and windows of a number of homes were broken. A number of Palestinian civilians confronted
the settlers by throwing stones at them. A Palestinian civilian, Ibrahim ‘Aadel ‘Abed, was injured in the head when
his house was attacked by stones.

 

· Also
at approximately 06:00 on Monday, 26 July 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers from
“Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus, attacked and threw stones at Palestinian
houses in the west of Hawara village, south of Nablus. No injuries were reported.

· At
approximately 11:30 on Monday, 26 July 2010, IOF moved into Ethna village,
northwest of Hebron. They handed written
notices issued by the Higher Organization Council of the Israeli Civil
Administration to Palestinian civilians ordering a halt on construction works
for six houses and an agricultural barrack. These buildings include:

 

1. A
185-square-meter, two-storey house belonging to Nayef Mohammed al-Tumaizi, in
which three families, including nineteen individuals, live;

2. A
125-square-meter house belonging to Daoud Nayef al-Tumaizi, in which five
individuals live;

3. A
130-square-meter, house currently under construction belonging to ‘Abbas Nayef
al-Tumaizi;

4. A
150-square-meter, two-storey house currently under construction belonging to
‘Arafat Nayef al-Tumaizi;

5. A
110-square-meter house belonging to Sabri Mohammed al-Tumaizi, in which five
individuals live;

6. A
130-square-meter, house currently under construction belonging to Mohammed Sami
al-Tumaizi; and

7. A
300-square-meter barrack belonging to Nayef Mohammed al-Tumaizi.

 

It should be
noted that IOF have continued their campaign against Palestinian construction
in Area “C’ (under full Israeli control according to the Oslo
Accords). According to Jamal ‘Ali
Tumaizi, Mayor of Ethna, the targeted houses are located near the Annexation Wall.
 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 

 

1. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to
ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. PCHR believes that the
conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged
Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to
violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

 

2. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the
Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian
civilians.

 

3. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to
search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war
crimes.

 

4. PCHR
calls for the immediate implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the
International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the
Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

 

5. PCHR
recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of
exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their
governments to bring these people to justice.

 

6. PCHR
calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel
Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as
a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to
prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

 

7. PCHR
calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan,
which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is—not an end to
occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in
the Gaza Strip. 

 

8. In
recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls
upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the
facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

 

9. PCHR
appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights
organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue
their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human
rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

 

10. PCHR calls upon the international
community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the
Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international
organizations to the OPT.

 

11. PCHR reiterates that any political
settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law
cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to
further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based
on respect for international law, including international human rights and
humanitarian law.

 

 

…………………………………………………………

 

Public Document

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or telephone (+972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).