Jerusalem
– Israeli Forces Demolish a House Belonging to Azzam Edris in Beit Hanina
village

 

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

      

 

Israeli forces continued to open fire at border areas
in the Gaza Strip.

 

A Palestinian civilian was killed in an excessive use
of force.

5 civilians were wounded in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

Israeli forces wilfully killed a Palestinian labourer
in the north of Ramallah.

 

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

7 Palestinian civilians, including a child
and a journalist, were wounded.

 

Israeli forces conducted 73 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank and 2 limited ones in the Gaza Strip.

At
least 42 Palestinians, including 6
children, were arrested.

 

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

Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in
the West Bank.

At least 10 Palestinian civilians, including 4
children, were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

Israeli navy forces  continued targeting Palestinian fishermen in
the sea.

Israeli naval forces opened fire twice at Palestinian
fishing boats and one fishing boat sustained damage.

 

Israel is continuing to create a Jewish majority in
occupied East Jerusalem.

5 houses were demolished and 24 persons, including 13
children, were made homeless.

 

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

Israeli forces uprooted 1,000 olive trees in Qana
valley, northwest of Salfit.

Settlers levelled lands in the south of Bethlehem.

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
(23
– 29 January 2014).

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 2
Palestinian civilians and wounded 12 others in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
PCHR also documented 5 shooting incidents along the border fence and 2 others
at Palestinian fishing boats.

                       

In the Gaza
Strip, in an excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian
civilian in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

On 24
January 2014, 5 civilians were wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the
border fence, east of Jabalia, opened fire at a group of young men, who were
present near the fence in an attempt to throw stones at Israeli soldiers.

 

In addition,
Israeli forces conducted 3 other shooting incidents along the border fence on
25, 26 and 27 January 2014, but no casualties were reported.

 

In the
context of targeting fishermen, on 24 and 26 January 2014, Israeli navy forces
opened fire twice at Palestinian fishing boats and damaged one, but no
casualties were reported.

 

In the West
Bank, on 29 January 2014, Israeli forces wilfully killed a Palestinian labourer
from a distance of around 50 meters.

 

Israeli forces
used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian
civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
As a result, 7 civilians, including a child and a journalist, were wounded.
PCHR keeps the names of the wounded.

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 73 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 42 Palestinians, including 6
children.

 

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted 2 limited
incursions into the north and south of the Gaza Strip on 27 and 28 January
2014.

 

Restrictions on movement:

 

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

 

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has
steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the
humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  The Israeli authorities impose measures to
undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip
population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 7
consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate
the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other
countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic,
social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7
million people.  The Israeli authorities
have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for
imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s
economy.  They also aim at imposing a
complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports.

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

 

As part of using military checkpoints and border
crossings as traps to arrest Palestinian civilians under the pretext they are
wanted, Israeli forces arrested at least 2 civilians in the West Bank.

 

Efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East
Jerusalem

 

On 27 January 2014, Israeli forces bulldozed two
houses; one of them inhabited and the other being under construction, in
al-Issawiyah village, northeast of Occupied Jerusalem.  They also bulldozed two other houses and a
housing barrack in Beit Hanina, north of the city under the pretext of no
construction permit.  As a result, 24
civilians, including 13 children, were displaced.

 

Settlement activities

 

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

 

Attacks carried out by Israeli forces

 

On 23 January
2014, Israeli forces uprooted in Qana Valley area 1,000 olive trees belonging
to the residents of Deiristayah village, north of Salfit.  Those trees levelled from Kafet al-‘Amoud in
Qana Vallet belong to ‘Abdel Karim Ahmed Hussein; Qasem Naser Mansour; and
‘Abdel qader Ref’at Abu Hajlah.

 

Attacks carried out by settlers

 

On 24 January 2014, settlers from “Kermayel”
settlement established on al-Hazaline lands in Kherbet Um al-Kheir, east of
Yatta, south of Hebron, moved into the lands of the aforementioned family.  Settlers insulted and threw stones at farmers
from al-Hazaline family.  They prevented
them from grazing their sheep and denied them access to the water wells in the
farmlands adjacent to al-Kherbah.

 

On 25 January
2014, settlers from “Beit ‘Ein” settlement, west of Beit Ummar village, north
of Hebron, attacked farmers in their lands in Abu al-Rish Valley area.  Settlers threw stones at them and insulted
them.  They threatened settlers in case
of returning to their lands.  As a result,
they fled from the area in fear for themselves and their sons.

 

On 26 January 2013, around 15 settlers from “Afrat” established
on the lands of southern Bethlehem, worked in 700-square-meter agricultural
lands belonging to civilians from Rahal Valley village.  Settlers dug with hand tools under the
protection of the Israeli soldiers and police, who detained journalists who
were covering the events in the area.

 

On 28 January 2014, settlers from the settlements
established to the south and west of Kisan village, east of Bethlehem, levelled
70-square-meter agricultural lands belonging to civilians from the village under
Israeli forces’ protection. 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
(23-29 January 2014)

 

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

Thursday, 23 January 2014

 

At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Atil
village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time and later
withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 00:20, Israeli forces moved into Zita
village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time and later
withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
‘Awwa village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron.  They stationed in the centre of the village
and raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Wejdan Rezeq ‘Abdel
‘Aziz al-Masalmah (18).  They arrested
him and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into several
neighbourhoods in the centre of Dura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into several
neighbourhoods in the centre of Yatta, south of Hebron. They patrolled the
streets for some time and later withdrew. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bani
Na’im village, east of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into several
neighbourhoods in the centre of Hebron. 
They patrolled the streets and then stationed in Abu Katilah
neighbourhood in the western area.  They
raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Amer Mohammed ‘Abdel
Khaliq al-‘Awei’ai (27).  They arrested
him and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Tabaqa
village, south of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Mahdi ‘Ali Mahmoud Abu ‘Atwan (55). They confiscated
a 412 Mercedes truck claiming that it is used for terrorist purposes.  They later withdrew taking the truck to an
unknown destination.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, Israeli forces moved into Far’on
village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets and later withdrew. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Shweikah suburb, north of
Tulkarm.  When they were patrolling the
streets, a group of young men gathered to throw stones at the Israeli
forces.  Israeli forces in response fired
sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the stone-throwers.  Israeli forces later withdrew, and neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Friday, 24 January 2014

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Sa’ir
village, east of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.  

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.
They stationed in the eastern neighbourhood of the refugee camp, and deployed
between the houses.  They later withdrew,
and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Luqia village, southwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family
of Asrar Ibrahim Assi (25). They handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli
intelligence service in Ofer detention facility, southwest of the city.

 

At
approximately 02:55, Israeli forces moved into al-Dheisha refugee camp,
southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to the
family of Assef Ibrahim Da’amsa (20) and Mo’tasem Mazen Abdul Qader (20). They
arrested the two aforementioned persons and withdrew later.

 

At
approximately 07:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of
Hebron. They stationed near al-Za’aqiq Gas Station in the centre of the
village, and deployed on the main road. 
The Israeli soldiers stopped Ahmed ‘Ali ‘Ayyad ‘Awad (22) while he was
on his way to the aforementioned gas station. 
They detained him for half an hour and then arrested him taking him to
an unknown destination.

 

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

 

At approximately
01:00, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of al-Suhadaa’
cemetery, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip opened its fire and fired metal
rubber-coated bullets at a group of young men, who were near the aforementioned
fence, in an attempt to throw stones at the Israeli soldiers.  The shooting continued sporadically till 16:50.  As a result, 5 of the young men sustained
injuries and were taken to Martyr Kamal ‘Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, where
their wounds were described between minor and moderate.

The
aforementioned wounded persons were identified as:

 

1. Mo’aaz Munir Salman Abu Ghabit (18), who lives in
al-Sheikh Zayed Housing Project, east of Beit Lahia, sustained a moderate
bullet injury to the right thigh;

2. ‘Abdullah Mohammed ‘Abdullah ‘Awad (22) from Jabalia
refugee camp sustained a moderate bullet injury to the right hand causing him a
fracture;

3. Salem Nafez Salem Abu ‘Aser (21) from a-Shija’iyah
neighbourhood in Gaza City sustained a minor bullet injury to the right foot

4. Mohammed Naser Hasounah Abu Qamar (18) from Jabalia
refugee camp sustained a minor bullet injury to the left arm; and

5. Yehia Mamdouh ‘Omer al-Jammal (20) from al-Shija’iyah
neighbourhood in Gaza City sustained a minor bullet injury to the back.

 

At
approximately 14:00, an Israeli gunboat intercepted a fishing boat belonging to
Adel Sa’id Mohammed Abu Riyala while it was sailing within 2 nautical miles off
al-Waha resort, in the northern Gaza Strip. There were 9 fishermen from the
same family on board of the boat. Israeli navy forces fired at them for hours.
As a result, the fishing nets and torches were damaged, but no casualties were
reported.

 

In excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed a
Palestinian civilian in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

According to investigations conducted by the PCHR, at approximately
15:40 on Friday, a group of young men gathered in Bouret Abu Samrah north of
Beit Lahia near the border with Israel and approached the border to throw
stones at the Israeli forces stationed there. 
Israeli forces then opened fire at them. 
As a result, Belal Samir Ahmed ‘Aweidah (20) from Beit Lahia was killed
immediately by a bullet to the chest.  A number of
young men carried him on their shoulders and took him on a motorbike to
al-Shaimaa’ area.  A civilian car took
him from the aforementioned area to Martyr Kamal ‘Adwan Hospital in Beit
Lahia.  He was admitted to the Intensive
Care Unit, where it was declared that he died the moment he got injured.

 

His cousin,
Akram Sha’aban Ahmed ‘Aweidah (20) said to a PCHR fieldworker that at
approximately 15:00 on Friday, 24 January 2014, he got out of his house with
Belal and their friend, Nour Mohammed Sa’id Qaza’er (19) on his motorbike for
promenade, north of Bouret Abu Samrah, and it took them 15 minutes to reach the
area.  They stopped 1,000 meters away
from the border and then took some photos for themselves in the green areas and
on sand dunes.  They again went on the
motorbike and stopped a few meters away from the aforementioned border to take
other photos.  The area was very calm, so
they sat on a sand dune.  At
approximately 15:00, they saw dozens of children and young men approaching the
border and throwing stones at the Israeli forces there.  Nour then went to the border, and Belal went
after him.  They were at the forefront of
all of them as they could touch the borderline. 
Belal called Nour to show him something hanging on the fence.  When they approached it, they heard the sound
of shooting.  Everyone then fled, and
Nour and Belal managed to get away approximately 100 meters from the
fence.  Belal started shouting that he
was wounded, but everyone thought he was kidding with us.  We came back to see him lying on his abdomen,
and his face was buried in the sand.  We
turned him to his back to find blood coming from his chest due to being injured
by a bullet to the middle of his chest.

 

In the
evening, Israeli forces arrested al-Mo’atasem Belah ‘Abdullah Rashed Jaroushi
(26) from Tulkarm when he was in his office in the Israeli Military Liaison,
west of the city.  He had earlier
received a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence.

 

At
approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into the vicinity of the German
School for Girls, which is around 300 meters away from the entrance of Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron, as there is an observation point established by
the Israeli forces there.  Israeli forces
deployed in the vicinity of the school and patrolled the streets.  A group of young men gathered to throw stones
and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers. 
Israeli soldiers in response fired randomly sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at the stone-throwers and the houses. 
As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.  Israeli forces later withdrew and neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 20:30, Israeli forces moved into Beitin village, northeast of
Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 22:30, Israeli forces moved into Ya’abad village, southwest of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 25
January 2014

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit ‘Awwa village, southwest of
Dura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and raided and searched 3 houses.  They handed 3 civilians 3 summons to refer to
the Israeli Intelligence in “Ghosh ‘Etzyon” settlement, south of
Bethlehem.  The three civilians were identified
as: Mahmoud Ramadan al-‘Awawdah (21); Hassan ‘Ali al-Rojoub (20); and Mohammed
Maged Mohammed al-Sharawnah (22).  They
later withdrew, and no arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At
approximately 10:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir Abu Mesh’al village,
northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets in a provocative way, where
some boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli forces, who fired rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a
number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation, but neither casualties nor material
damage were reported.

 

At
approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Jaroushiya village, north of Tulkarm.
. They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Shyoukh village, east of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 15:00, Israeli forces stationed along the border with Israel,
east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at the agricultural
land to the west of the aforementioned border in al-Fokhari area to the
southeast of Khan Younis.  The shooting
sporadically continued for around an hour, and no injuries were reported.

 

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Zaytoun Suburb, south of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and
then stationed behind Hamdan Hospital. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Faraj Hussein
Ahdib (30).  They handed him a summons to
refer to the Israeli Intelligence in “Ghosh ‘Etzyon” settlement, south of
Bethlehem. They later withdrew, and no arrests were reported.

 

  Sunday, 26
January 2014

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into several neighbourhoods in the
centre of Hebron.  They stationed in the
centre of Abu Katilah neighbourhood, and raided and searched two houses, from
which they arrested Anas Joudi Abu Hadid (20); and Mo’ataz ‘Abdoh al-Haymouni
(24) and took them to where the vehicles were stationed.  At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces
patrolled towards al-Jeldah neighbourhood and stationed near a house belonging
to the family of ‘Abdel Hamid Nezam al-Deen ‘Eid Shahadah (21).  They raided and searched the house and then
arrested the aforementioned civilian. 
They later withdrew taking the three arrested persons to an unknown
destination.

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north
of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and stationed near the UNRWA
schools.  They later withdrew, and
neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Qabatia village, southeast of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets and raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Naser Mohammed Soliman Khuzeimiyah
(41), a military at the Palestinian National Security forces.  They questioned him on the spot.  They then raided and searched the house of
his brother (53), who works at the Palestinian General Investigation, and as
well questioned him.  They later
withdrew, and neither further incidents nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Handazah area, east of Bethlehem. They raided
and searched a house belonging to the family of Mo’azaz Khalil ‘Abyyat (25). They
handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence in “Ghosh ‘Etzyon”
settlement Compound, south of the city.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Samou’ village, south of
Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Odah
Mohammed al-Mahariq (30).  They arrested
him, and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Baq’aah village, east of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:15, Israeli forces moved into Salfit.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Farkah village, east of Salfit.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved Halhoul, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and then stationed
in Al-Nabi Younis neighbourhood, east of the city.  They raided and searched two houses belonging
to the family of al-Zama’arah, from which they arrested Hasan Ayman Hasan
al-Zama’arah (22) and Mahmoud Ibrahim al-Zama’arah (20) and took them to where
the vehicles were stationed.  At
approximately 03:00, they patrolled the streets towards Hasakah area, west of
the city, and raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed
Belal Yousif al-Baba (18).  They arrested
him and took the three arrested to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Tabaqa village, southwest of
Dura, southwest of Hebron.  They stationed
in al-Bayyed neighbourhood and raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Mohammed Salem al-Hreibat (60). 
They arrested the sons of the aforementioned civilian, Saddam (20) and
Ibrahim (19), and later withdrew taking them to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 06:00, Israeli forces gunboats stationed off al-Wahah Resort
shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip sporadically opened
fire for 15 minutes in the vicinity of the fishing boats, which were sailing 2
miles into the waters.  As a result,
fishermen fled for fear of being injured or arrested.  Neither injuries nor damages to the boats
were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Jaroushiyah village, north of Tulkarm.
They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ejah village, south of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 13:00, Israeli forces moved into Fara’ta village, northeast of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 13:45, Israeli forces stationed in the watchtowers, east of al-Ahmar
area, east of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at
farmers, shepherds, and bird hunters in the farmlands adjacent to the border
fence,  civilians were forced to leave
the area for fear of being injured. 
Neither causalities nor damages were reported.

 

At
approximately 14:45, Israeli forces moved into Deir Abu Da’ef village,
southeast of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 15:30, Israeli forces moved into Jayous village, northeast of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 17:00, Israeli forces moved into Faqou’a village, northeast of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 19:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir Nezam village, northwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time and detained Malek Hussein
Tamimi (22) and Mohammed Ziad Tamimi (21) for half an hour.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They
patrolled the streets where a number of young men gathered and threw stones at
Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response.
Israeli forces also arrested Mohammed Mojahed Mohammed Abu Baker (15), Mohanned
Ahmed Tawfiq Abu Baker (29) and Majd Mahmoud Sharif Abu Baker (24). They took
them to Salem detention facility, northwest of Jenin, questioned them and
released them later.

 

Monday, 27 January 2014

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into the centre of Yatta, south of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and deployed between the houses. They
withdrew later, but neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Nablus and Balatah refugee camp.  They patrolled the streets of the city and
refugee camp and raided and searched several houses, from which 4 civilians
were arrested and taken to an unknown destination.  The arrested were identified as: Mojahed
Samer al-Masri (23); Ayman Adham Sweidan (24), both from Khelet al-‘Amoud
neighbourhood, south of the city; Samer Mahmoud Hashim Jalil Hamed (23), from
An-Najah University Street; and ‘Emad Khaled Salim Walwil (36) from Balatah
refugee camp.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Moreq village, southwest of Doura,
southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Awarta village, southeast of
Nablus. They patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses from which
they arrested Amjad Talal Ghazi Awwad (17) and Abed Mohammed Marouh (17).

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 04:30, Israeli forces moved into Anabta village, east of Tulkarm.
They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Iyad Rafiq Hassan Nour (19). They arrested the aforementioned person
and withdrew later. 

 

At
approximately 07:25, Israeli forces stationed along the border with Israel,
east of Khan Younis, opened fire at the agricultural lands to the west of the
aforementioned borderline in al-Qararah area, northeast of Khan Younis.  The shooting sporadically continued for half an
hour, and no injuries were reported.

 

At
approximately 08:30, Israeli forces 150 meters into al-Qotbaniyah area,
southeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.  They combed the vacant areas adjacent to the
border amidst Israeli sporadic shooting. 
As a result, farmers in the agricultural lands in the vicinity of the
invaded area were forced to leave for fear of being injured.  Israeli forces withdrew at approximately
13:00 on the same day, and no injuries were reported.

 

At
approximately 10:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Zababda village, south of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets,
stopped a number of by-passers and questioned them on the spot. In the
meantime, clashes erupted between a number of young men and Israeli soldiers,
who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters. Israeli forces withdrew later and
no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 13:20, Israeli forces moved into Jayous village, northeast of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 22:00, Israeli forces moved into Ezbet al-Tabeeb village, east of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets and topped a house belonging to the family
of Taleb Mohammed Sa’id Tabeeb. They turned the house into a military site, but
withdrew on the following day at 01:30.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Kharas village, west of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

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

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

 

At
approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into Maythaloun village, south
of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Siris village, south of Jenin. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At
approximately 00:15, Israeli forces moved into al-Jadidah village, south of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Seer village, south of Jenin. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Awwa village, southwest of
Hebron. They raided and searched 3 houses from which they arrested 3 civilians:

 

1. Yusef Mohammed Masalma (27);

2. Samir Ibrahim Masalma (32); and

3. Hassan Nabil Masalma (18).

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalajel village, east of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Bani Na’im village, east of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family
of Mo’taz Mohammed al-Tarayra (16). They arrested the aforementioned person and
withdrew later.

 

At approximately
02:30, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Zaita village, north of Tulkarm.
They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Ahmed Mohammed Ali Abu Hamdi (19). They arrested the aforementioned
person and raided another house belonging to the family of Mohammed Ghaleb
Samarah (23). They arrested him as well and withdrew later.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They
raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Hosni Mohammed Hosni
Eweidat (29). They arrested Eweidat and raided another house belonging to the
family of Naji Yusef Naji Nazzal (27). They arrested Nazzal and took the 2
arrested to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 07:30, Israeli forces moved about 200 meters into the east of
al-Qarara village, east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.  They levelled lands along the border fence
and withdrew later.

 

At
approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and stationed in al-Touq area, west of the
village. They also closed the road leading to that area, where 200 persons
live.

 

 

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched
a number of houses from which they arrested Amjad al-Foula (22) and Nidal
al-Zarba (20), both from al-Ein neighbourhood.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Barqa village, northwest of Nablus. They
raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested:

 

1. Saddam Ragheb Mohammed Salah (18);

2. Abdullah Kheirullah Mohammed Salah (20);

3. Ibrahim Mousa Yassin Abu Asbah (17);

4. Ahmed Ayman Ahmed Hajja (17); and

5. Ahmed Jihad Abu Durra (30).

 

At
approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Shweika suburb, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family
of Nimer Ibrahim Nimer Nayfa (43). They arrested the aforementioned person and
withdrew later.

 

In the
morning, Israeli forces wilfully killed a Palestinian labourer when they opened
heavy fire at him from a distance less than 50 meters. Israeli forces claimed
that the person killed had opened fire at a military watchtower, but
eyewitnesses refuted the claim and confirmed that the labourer was wilfully
killed from close range.

According to
investigations conducted by PCHR and statements of eyewitnesses, at
approximately 10:30 on the abovementioned day, Mohammed Mahmoud Abdul Aziz
Mubarak (20), from al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, works in
al-Tarifi General Contracting Company. Mubarak was regulating the traffic near
the crossroads leading to Oyoun al-Haramiya, north of the city. Israeli
soldiers stationed in a watchtower ordered him to step forward the tower. He
listened to them and walked about 40 meters. They ordered him to turn around
take off his orange vest and throw it away. A minute later, they opened fire at
him. As a result, he sustained 3 bullet wounds to the left leg, left thigh and
left side and died immediately. Eyewitnesses said that Israeli forces hindered
the ambulance for 2 hours before taking the corpse to Ramallah medical
compound.

 

An
eyewitness said to PCHR’s fieldworker:

 

“I am a contractor in Ein Sinya housing project
of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, which is opposite to
Ramallah – Nablus road. At approximately 10:30 on Wednesday, 29 January 2014, I
heard heavy gunfire outside. I immediately looked out of the second floor
window and saw Mohammed Mubarak, whom I know. Mohammed used to regulate traffic
in a contracting company that rehabilitates the said road. He was standing at
the northern entrance leading to Oyoun al-Haramiya village. I saw him
approaching the watchtower that was about 40 meters away from him. He took his
orange vest off and threw it away. A minute later, Israeli soldiers in the
watchtower intentionally opened fire at him. I saw Mohammed had held his leg
then fell to the ground. I realized he was wounded. I immediately called the
Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), hurried to the bulldozer driver and told
him what had happened. Other workers and I headed towards the crossroads, where
Mohammed was. We were 10 meters away from him, but Israeli soldiers prevented
us from getting closer. 5 minutes later, an ambulance arrived, but paramedics
were prevented from taking the corpse and the ambulance was kept away for 2
hours. In the meantime, a number of young men and residents of al-Jalazoun
refugee camp, including the victim’s father, approached, but were denied access
to the corpse. Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters to
disperse them. At approximately 12:40, Israeli forces allowed paramedics to
take the corpse and transport it to Ramallah medical compound in
Ramallah.”

  

At
approximately 16:00, following the funeral of Mohammed Mubarak (20), dozens of
young men gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north
of Ramallah, about 300 meters away from “Beit Eil” settlement. They
threw stones and empty bottles towards the settlement’s fence. As a result,
Israeli forces closed the road leading to Ramallah. Moreover, Israeli soldiers
deployed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear
gas canisters. As a result, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

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

 

During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used
excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian
civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
As a result, 7 protestors, including a child and a journalist, were wounded.
Two civilians were wounded during Bil’in weekly protest while the 5 others were
wounded during Kofur Qaddoum protest.    

 

(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded).

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

 

Following the Friday Prayer, 24 January 2014, dozens
of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at
the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Demonstrators
took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated
territories near the annexation wall. Israeli forces had closed all the
entrances of the village since the morning in order to prevent Palestinian and
international activists and journalists from participating in the
demonstration. Demonstrators marched adjacent to the cement wall and tried to
cross the fence before Israeli forces that are stationed behind the wall, in
the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it, fired live
bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk
water at them and chased them into the olive fields. As a result, 2 protestors
were wounded. Moreover, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation,
and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers. A 19-year-old
civilian sustained a bullet wound to the left foot; and a 38-year-old civilian
sustained a bullet wound to the right hand.

 

On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians
organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of
Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities. Demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation wall.
Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbwires and prevented the
demonstrators from crossing to the land behind it before they responded by
throwing stones. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and
bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.

 

Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised a peaceful
demonstration, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activities, in Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah.
Demonstrators took to the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting
slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity
resistance, and then they headed to the lands that the settlers are trying to
rob by force near “Halamish” settlement. Israeli forces closed all the
entrances of the village since the morning to prevent Palestinian and
international activists and journalists from participating in the
demonstration. When they arrived at the land, demonstrators were met by live
bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk
water and were chased into the village. As a result, many civilians suffered
tear gas inhalation and bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.

 

Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a
peaceful demonstration in Ma’assara village, in protest at the construction of
the annexation wall and settlement activities and in solidarity with al-Yarmouk
refugee camp. The demonstration started in front of the Candles Cultural Centre
in the centre of the village. Demonstrators moved in the streets raising the
Palestinian flag. When they arrived at the area where the annexation wall is
established, Israeli forces started firing tear gas canisters in attempt to
disperse them and prevented them reaching the annexation wall. Israeli forces
detained activist Iyad Ali Zawahra (33) for 2 hours and released him later. 

 

At approximately 12:30 on the same day, Palestinian
civilians and international activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the
centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilia, and headed towards the
eastern entrance of the village, in protest at the continued closure of the
entrance with an iron gate, since the beginning of the Aqsa Intifada (2000).
Clashes erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces that fired sound
bombs and tear gas canisters to prevent them from reaching the aforementioned
gate. The Popular Committee against Settlements in the village said to a PCHR
fieldworker that Israeli forces used for the first time new tear gas, which is
distinguished with its speed, the force of collision, size, and the gas density
emitted. As a result, 5 civilians, including a child and a journalist, were
wounded.  A tear gas canister fell on a
house belonging to the family of Murad Mahmoud Ishteiwi.  As a result, his 2-month baby girl, Bisan
Ishteiwi suffered tear gas inhalation and the curtains were burnt after the
canister entered the house and smashed the window. Of those wounded persons was
Ja’afar Ishtayyah (45), a cameraman at the French News Agency, as he was hit by
a gas canister to the back.  A
44-year-old civilian sustained a bullet injury to the back; a 14-year-old child
sustained a bullet injury to the right foot; a 21-year-old was hit by a
canister to the abdomen; and a 35-year-old civilian was hit by a canister to
the back.

 

On Friday afternoon, 24 January 2014, dozens of
Palestinian young men gathered at the western entrance of Selwad village,
northeast of Ramallah on the road between Selwad village and Yabrod village
near Street (60) threw stones at the aforementioned street.  As a result, Israeli soldiers stationed in
the area fired live ammunition, metal rubber-coated bullets, tear gas canisters
and sound bombs at them and chased them to the village.  Moreover, some civilians suffered tear gas
inhalation.

 

 

3. Continued closure of the oPt

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The
cooking gas crisis has fluctuated for 9 months due to the closure of Karm Abu
Salem for security claims.  According to
PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli authorities only allow an average of 98 tonnes of
cooking gas into Gaza per day.  This
limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is 200 tonnes per
day, of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during winter.  The crisis has unprecedentedly aggravated for
around six weeks due to cold weather and overconsumption in addition to the
power outage and using gas as an alternative in many instances of
electricity.  The lack of diesel and benzine
led to the aggravation of the crisis as a result of using the gas cylinder for
cars or as an alternative for benzine to run generators.  As a result, the demand for gas  further increased.

 

For almost 6 consecutive years,
Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of construction materials
to the Gaza Strip. Two years ago, Israeli forces approved the delivery of
limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations
in the Gaza Strip.  On 17 September 2013,
they allowed the entry of limited quantities of construction materials for the
private sector.  However, on 13 October
2013, they re-banned it claiming that these materials are used for constructing
tunnels.  Last week, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of construction materials only for UNRWA and UNDP
projects.  As a result, construction
works have completely stopped impacting all sectors related to construction and
an increase in unemployment levels.

 

Israeli forces also continued to
impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural
and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers,
strawberries, and spices.

 

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

 

The Egyptian authorities allow the
population of the Gaza Strip to travel via Rafah International crossing, which
connects the Gaza Strip with the outside world. 
Only limited and specified categories are allowed, including patients,
students, persons that hold residencies in Egypt or abroad, men over 40 years,
females in all ages, children under 18, persons who hold Arab and foreign nationalities,
and members of Arab and international humanitarian delegations.  It should be mentioned that the crossing
opens seven days a week.  Nowadays, the
crossing is overcrowded due to the prolonged procedures from the Egyptian side,
particularly after closing it for several days over the past weeks due to
Egypt’s security conditions, which has affected the travellers’ movement in
both directions.

 

 

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) crossing

22 – 27 January 2014

 

 

Exports:

 

On
Wednesday, 22 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 1.3
tonnes of strawberries, 103,000 flowers, 9.36 tonnes of cherry tomatoes and 2
tonnes of paprika.

On
Thursday, 23 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 6.2 tonnes
of cherry tomatoes and 2.5 tonnes of strawberries.

On
Sunday, 26 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 89,000
flowers.

On
Monday, 27 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 240
kilograms of garlic leaves and 180 kilograms of mint.

 

Other Imports:

 

 

 

On
Wednesday, 22 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 40 tonnes of
cement and 1,330 tonnes of construction aggregate for the UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 819 tonnes of
fodders and 78 tonnes of wheat.

On
Thursday, 23 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 897 tonnes of
fodders and 234 tonnes of wheat.

On
Sunday, 26 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 780 tonnes of
fodders.

On
Monday, 27 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 310 tonnes of
cement and 490 tonnes of construction aggregate for the UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 1,053 tonnes
of fodders and 663 tonnes of wheat.

 

Empty Plastic
Containers Returned to Israel via Karm Abu Salem

 

 

 

On
Wednesday, 22 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed 10 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Thursday, 23 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed 10 truckloads of empty
plastic containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Sunday, 26 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed 8 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Monday, 27 January 2014, Israeli forces allowed 9 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

 

 

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

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”)
crossing

22 – 26 January 2013

 

 

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

 

Hebron: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 23
January 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance
of Yatta, south of Hebron.  At
approximately 15:00, they established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of
Kharsa village, south of Dura.  At
approximately 16:00, another checkpoint was established at the northern
entrance of Hebron, as this entrance is connected with Bypass Road (60).  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 08:00 on Friday, 24 January 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.  Around the same time, another checkpoint was
established at the entrance of Ezna village, west of Hebron.  The two checkpoints were later removed, and
no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 25 January 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’ir village, east of Hebron.  Around the same time, they established
another checkpoint at the southern entrance of Halhoul, north of Hebron.  The two checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.  At approximately
16:00, Israeli forces closed the road between Beit ‘Awaa village and Dura,
southwest of the city, and prevented the movement of civilians.  As a result, civilians took a bypass road to
reach their houses.

 

At approximately
16:00 on Sunday, 26 January 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Kharsa village, south of Dura, southwest of Hebron.  At approximately 07:00, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of Ezna village, west of the city.  At approximately 07:30, a similar checkpoint was
established at the northern entrance of Yatta, as this entrance is connected
with by Bypass Road 60.  All checkpoints
were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 19:00 on Monday, 27 January 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Hebron. 
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 29 January 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.  At approximately 08:00, they established a
similar checkpoint at the northern entrance of Halhoul “al-Hawawer
intersection”, north of the city.  At
approximately 16:30, another checkpoint was established on Tarousa Road between
Dura and its western villages, south of the city.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Jenin: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 23 January
2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main Road between Jenin,
Nablus, and Tulkarm near the intersection of ‘Arrabah village, south of Jenin.
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately
17:00 on Tuesday, 28 January 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at
the intersection of ‘Anzah village, southwest of Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Qalqilya: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 23 January 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya.  At approximately 23:00, they established a
similar checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Elias village, east of the
city.  The two checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:45 on Sunday, 26
January 2014, Israeli forces established
a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ezbet al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya.  They re-established the checkpoint at
approximately 21:30.  The two checkpoints
were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 20:00 on Monday, 27 January 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya.  At approximately 20:20, another checkpoint
was established at the entrance of ‘Ezbet al-Tabib village, east of
Qalqilya.  At approximately 23:20,
another checkpoint was established between ‘Azoun and ‘Ezbet al-Tabib villages,
east of the city.  All checkpoints were
later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Tulkarm: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 17:30 on Saturday, 25
January 2014, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab Checkpoint, which is
established on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm,
tightened its restrictions against Palestinian civilians and obstructed their
movement to the checkpoint.  The
tightening later ended, and no arrests were reported. At approximately 21:30,
they established another checkpoint at the entrance of Shofah village, east of
Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 26 January 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of
Beit Lid, east of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later removed, and
no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:30 on Monday, 27 January 2014,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and
Nablus near the intersection of Beit Lid village, east of Tulkarm.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

Salfit: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 19:25 on Saturday, 25 January 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zawiyah village, west of Salfit.  At approximately 18:35, another checkpoint
was established at the entrance of Deir Ballout village, west of the city.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Arrests and Maltreatment at military
checkpoints

 

At approximately 15:30
on Thursday, 23 January 2014, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kufor Qadoum village,
northeast of Qalqilya.  They arrested
Mohammed Shaker Mahmoud Ishteiwi (23) from Kufor Qadoum village and took him to
an unknown destination.  They later
removed the checkpoint.

 

At approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 25 January
2013, Israeli forces stationed at al-Container Checkpoint, northeast of
Bethlehem, arrested Mohammed Khalil Abu ‘Aqeil (22) from al-Samou’a village,
south of Hebron and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately
22:15 on Saturday, 25 January 2014, Israeli forces stationed at “Etzyon”
intersection, south of Bethlehem, detained Ibrahim Mustafa Taqatqah (24) from
Beit Fojjar village, southeast of the city. 
The aforementioned civilian said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli
soldiers detained him for two hours at the intersection and then released
him.  They gave him a summons to refer to
the Israeli intelligence in “Ghosh ‘Etzyon” settlement complex, south of the
city.

 

At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 26 January
2014, Israeli forces deployed in the Old City neighborhoods in the centre of
Hebron arrested 4 children under the pretext of throwing stones at the
soldiers. The four children were taken to “Ja’abrah” police station near
al-Ibrahimi Mosque.  The arrested
children were identified as:

 

1. ‘Alaa’ al-Ragbi (12);

2. ‘Ali al-Ragbi (9);

3. Mohammed ‘Amer Borqan (12); and

4. ‘Abdel Rahman ‘Amer Borqan (13).

 

At approximately
12:45 on the same day, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern
entrance of Qalqilya.  They arrested
Sanad ‘Abdel Hadi ‘Aweisi (25) and took him to an unknown destination.  They later removed the checkpoint.

 

At approximately
16:00 on the same day, an undercover Israeli unit arrested Sakher Hisham Abu
Mariah (21) at the entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron near a
checkpoint established by Israeli forces at the entrance of the aforementioned
village.  Mohammed ‘Awad, Member of the
Popular Committee against settlements in Beit Ummar, said to a PCHR
fieldworker  that a white car with an
Israeli yellow registration plate stopped near Sakher Abu Mariah, who was near
a Citroen car at the entrance of the village. 
Three persons masked and dressed in civilian clothes got out of the car
holding guns and then attacked Abu Mariah taking him to an unknown destination.
A number of civilians then gathered in the area in attempt to prevent the
Israeli police, who arrived at the area, from confiscating the aforementioned
civilian’s car.  The Israeli soldiers
then detained some of the civilians and later released them.

 

At approximately
18:50 on the same day, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern
entrance of Qalqilya.  They detained
Rezeq Rafiq Nazzal and ‘Alaa’ Sa’id Nazzal from the aforementioned city and
released them at approximately 23:00.

 

At approximately
16:30 on Monday, 27 January 2014, Israeli forces stationed at al-Za’im
checkpoint, east of Jerusalem, arrested two civilians from Beit Ummar village
when they were on their way back from their work in Jerusalem.  They were identified as Ashraf ‘Azzam
al-Za’aqiq (26) and Mohammed Hussein al-Za’aqiq (22) and were then taken to an
unknown destination.

 

5. Efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East
Jerusalem

 

On 27 January 2014,
Israeli forces bulldozed three houses and a barrack in al-Issawiyah village and
Beit Hanina in Eastern Jerusalem under the pretext of no construction permit.

According to
information obtained by PCHR from sources in Eastern Jerusalem, on Monday
morning, 27 January 2014, Israeli border guards and police accompanied by
bulldozers from the Israeli municipality moved into al-Issawiyah village, east
of Jerusalem.  They surrounded an
under-construction house belonging to ‘Abdel Hay Ahmed Dari and bulldozed it
immediately.  The house is comprised of 2
floors and measured around 400 square meters.

 

Israeli forces then
went to a house belonging to the family of Hussein ‘Ali Naser in the
aforementioned village and bulldozed it as well.  This house, where 5 family members including
3 children live in, is comprised of one floor and measured around 70 square
meters.

 

On the same day,
Israeli border guards and police, accompanied by bulldozers from the Israeli
municipality, moved into al-Ashqariyah neighborhood in Beit Hanina, north of
Occupied Jerusalem.  They surrounded a
house belonging to the family of ‘Azzam Idris in al-Ashqariyah neighborhood in
Beit Hanina village, north of Jerusalem, and bulldozed it.  The house, where 7 family members live in, is
comprised of one floor and is around 125 square meters.  Around the same time, Israeli forces
bulldozed the house of Bahaa’ al-Dab’I, his son-in-law.  The house, where 4 family members live in, is
comprised of one floor and is around 125 square meters.

 

Israeli forces then
surrounded a housing barrack belonging to the family of Ahmed al-Wahhab
al-Kaswani under the pretext of no construction permit.  The barrack, where 7 family members including
6 children live in is comprised of 2 floors and is around 45 square
meters.  Al-Keswani built the barrack
after his house was demolished in February 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Attacks carried out by Israeli forces

 

At approximately 04:00
on Monday, 20 January 2014, bulldozed in Qana Valley area 1,000 olive trees
belonging to the residents of Deir Istayyah village, north of Salfit.  When shepherds in ‘Ezbet al-Wadi informed the
village residents, civilians were appealed via loudspeakers in mosques.  The village residents immediately went there,
but they were surprised with the security cordon around the valley and the
tight closure imposed by the Israeli forces on the area.  Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and
sound bombs at them.  As a result, many
of them suffered tear gas inhalation. 
When they were denied access to the area, civilians, who are worried
about their lands, took the main road near the settlements surrounding Qana
Valley.  A group of settlers then
attacked them, and when they managed to enter their lands, Israeli soldiers had
uprooted 1,000 olive trees and stole them all, but two.  These trees bulldozed from Kafet al-‘Amoud
area in Qana Valley belong to: ‘Abdel Karim Ahmed Hussein Mansour (800 trees);
Qasem Naser Mansour (100 trees); and Ref’at Abu Hajlah (100 trees).

 

Attacks carried out by settlers

 

At approximately
08:00 on Friday, 24 January 2014, settlers from “Kermayel” settlement
established on al-Hazaline lands in Kherbet Um al-Kheir, east of Yatta, south
of Hebron, moved into the lands of the aforementioned family.  Settlers insulted and threw stones at farmers
from al-Hazaline family.  They prevented
them from grazing their sheep and denied them access to the water wells in the
farmlands adjacent to al-Kherbah.  Around
half an hour later, Israeli soldiers arrived at the area and declared it a
closed military zone.  They prevented
civilians from being in it without deterring settlers.

 

At approximately
16:00 on Saturday, 25 January 2014, settlers from “Beit ‘Ein” settlement, west
of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, attacked farmers in their lands in Abu
al-Rish Valley area.  Settlers threw
stones at them and insulted them.  They
threatened settlers in case of returning to their lands.  As a result, they fled from the area in fear
for themselves and their sons. 
Meanwhile, soldiers deployed in the area without stopping settlers.  Abu al-Rish area has been always subjected to
settlers’ violations as settlers uprooted olive and almond trees during the
past year.

 

At approximately
09:00, Israeli forces closed a number of markets in the old city in the center
of Hebron in order to protect settlers who provocatively roamed the streets
under intensive protection of the Israeli forces.

 

At approximately 12:30
on Monday, 26 January 2013, around 15 settlers from “Afrat” established on the
lands of the southern Bethlehem, worked in 700-square-meter agricultural lands
belonging to civilians from Rahal Valley village.  Settlers dug with hand tools under the
protection of the Israeli soldiers and police, who detained journalists who
were covering the events in the area. 
Ahmed Taym Mozher (37), a cameraman at WAFA agency said to a PCHR
fieldworker that Israeli soldiers detained him and his colleague, ‘Abdel Hafiz
al-Hashlamone (48) who works at the Associated Agency, for two hours.  They kept the journalists’ car and took the
cameras in an attempt to delete the photos. 
The Israeli police also arrested Hasan ‘Abdel Karim Breijiyah (41),
coordinator of the Popular Committee against Settlements in Bethlehem, and
released him in the evening.

 

 

At approximately 11:15
on Tuesday, 28 January 2014, settlers from the settlements established to the
south and west of Kisan village, east of Bethlehem, leveled 70-square-meter
agricultural lands belonging to civilians from the village under Israeli
forces’ protection.  ‘Issa ‘Abdullah ‘Ali
Ghazal, Head of the village council, said to a PCHR fieldworker that at
approximately 11:00 on the same day, settlers from settlements established to
the south and west of the village and accompanied with a bulldozer moved into
the lands of civilians and leveled them. 
They then set up caravans in the area.

 

 

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

Public Document

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