Israeli
soldiers attack Palestinian civilians who organized a peaceful demonstration in
Beit Ummar town near Hebron in protest to settlement activities

Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalate Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and
Property in the Gaza Strip

 

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

Two
Palestinian civilian were wounded.

 

Israeli
war planes launched a number of air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip.

A
greenhouse and a training site were bombarded.

 

The
Israeli Navy has continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli
naval troops arrested 14 Palestinian fishermen and confiscated a number of
fishing boats.

 

IOF
conducted 40 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two
limited ones into the Gaza Strip.   

IOF
arrested 5 Palestinians, including 3 children.

IOF raided
offices of a car rental company in Nablus and confiscated money and documents.

 

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

Israeli soldiers arrested 4
Palestinian civilians, including a child, at various checkpoints in the West
Bank.

Israeli soldiers arrested a
Palestinian patient at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

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

IOF
demolished 4 houses, 4 agricultural rooms, a mosque, 3 water wells and two
animal farms.

IOF
arrested two girls who protested the demolition of their home.

Israeli
settlers threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles travelining on Nablus
–Qalqilya road.

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (24 – 30 November 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

In the West Bank, during the
reporting period, IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations
organized in protest to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of
the annexation wall in the West Bank.  As
a result, a Palestinian civilian was wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas
inhalation. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 24 November
2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the
northern Gaza Strip fired at a number of members of Future Nights Association
who joined Palestinian farmers in Swailem area in the northern Gaza Strip.  No casualties were reported.

 

On 27 November 2011, Israeli
warplanes bombarded a training site of the Palestinian resistance in Nussairat
refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. 
The site and the fence of a nearby plot were damaged. 

 

On the same day, Israeli warplanes
bombarded a greenhouse in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis, damaging
it.

 

During the reporting period, Israeli
gunboats attacked Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.  They also arrested 14 fishermen and
confiscated two fishing boats.  Thirteen fishermen were released later.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 40 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 5 Palestinian
civilians, including 3 children.     

 

On
30 November 2011, IOF raided offices of a car rental company in Nablus and
confiscated some money and documents. 

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted two limited incursion into the northern and central
Gaza Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land.

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

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

Gaza
Strip

 

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

 

IOF have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip and practically
made Karm Abu Salem crossing as the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip
although it is not proper for commercial purposes in terms of its distance and
operational capacity.

 

IOF have continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the
strangulation of the commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing
total control over the flow of imports and exports.

 

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

 

These statistics which were made available to PCHR by the Border
and Crossings Department indicate a continued drop in the number of truckloads
of Gaza imports and exports.

 

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

 

The cooking gas crisis which has erupted last November has
continued to affect the Gaza Strip.  This
crisis was created when the Israeli occupation authorities totally closed, on
04 January 2010, Nahal Oz crossing, which used to be dedicated for the delivery
of fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza, and shifted fuel and cooking gas
supplies to Karm Abu Salem crossing which is not technically equipped to
receive Gaza’s needs of fuel.  Karm Abu Salem crossing, with its maximum
absorptive capacity, can receive only 200 tons of cooking gas per day.

 

Approximately 80% of Gaza civilians have continued to depend on
alimentary aid provided by UNRWA and other relief agencies, rates of families
who are living below poverty line have continued to be on the rise and
approximately 40% of Gaza’s manpower has continued to suffer from permanent unemployment
as a result of shutting down the majority of Gaza’s economic establishments.

 

IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the exportation of
Gaza’s products, especially industrial products, leading to undermining any
real chances to rerun economic establishments. 
The situation has been aggravated especially after making Karm Abu Salem
crossing as Gaza sole commercial crossing and the repeated closure of this
crossing which negatively affected the quantity of Gazan products which were
allowed to be exported during last April.

 

IOF have continued to prolong the implementation of their decision
to allow 60 cars into Gaza weekly although more than 11 months have passed
since they announced this decision after three years of ban imposed on the delivery
of cars to Gaza.  As a result, the prices
of cars in Gaza have been on the rise and local markets experience serious
shortage in spare parts.

 

For approximately four consecutive years, IOF
have continued to ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza. During
the reporting period, IOF approved the delivery of limited quantities of
construction materials for a number of international organizations.

 

Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for
Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip. 
IOF only allow the movement of limited groups amidst severe
restrictions, including long hours of waiting in the majority of cases.  IOF have also continued to adopt a policy
aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via Beit
Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the
West Bank and Jerusalem.  IOF denied new
categories of Gazan patient permission to have access to hospitals via the
crossing.

 

Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international
diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza
Strip.

 

For approximately 53 months, IOF have continued to deny
approximately 700 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails
their visitation rights without providing any justification to this measure,
which violates the rules of the international humanitarian law.

 

West
Bank

 

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

 

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

 

There are approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and
unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.

 

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

 

At least 65% of the main roads that lead to 18 Palestinian
communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF.

 

There are approximately 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 permits issued by IOF. Such permits are extremely
difficult to obtain.

 

IOF continue to harass and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful
protests against the construction of the annexation wall.

 

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

 

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 24 November 2011, IOF,
accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into Wadi al-Bas area in Ethna village, west
of Hebron.  They demolished 3 water wells
and 3 agricultural rooms, claiming that they were established without
licenses.  The demolished facilities were
located 450-500 meters away from the annexation wall.  IOF then demolished a 70-square-meter,
under-construction house, nearly 700 meters away from the annexation wall. 

 

On the same day, IOF moved into
Khirbat al-Mafqara area to the southeast of Yatta village, south of
Hebron.  They surrounded a mosque in the
area and a subordinate room, which includes an electricity generator.  They took out the contents of the mosque and
demolished it.  They also destroyed the
electricity generator.  IOF then
demolished a house belonging to Mahmoud Hussein Hamamda, in which 21
individuals live, after vacating it. 
They also demolished a part of a nearby cave used by the family as a
store.  During the evacuation of the
house, the owner’s daughter protested the evacuation of the family’s furniture,
so an Israeli soldier beat her and another one sprayed gas on her face.  When her mother intervened to protect her,
Israeli soldiers pushed her down.  She
sustained a fracture to the left foot. 
IOF arrested two girls, claiming that “they obstructed the work of
security officers and threw stones at them.”

At the same time, IOF demolished a
house belonging to the widow of Maher Khalil Hamamda, in which she and her
three children live.  IOF demolished also
a 30-square-meter rabbit farm belonging to Hatem Mohammed Hamamda. 

 

IOF then moved to the nearby Khirbat
Sousia area and demolished a tent and an animal farm.   

 

On 26 November 2011, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Karni Shomron” settlement near Qalqilya-Nablus road
threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on the road.  As a result, a car was damaged. 

 

Also on 26 November 2011, IOF moved
into ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, southeast of Qaqlilya.  They demolished a room and a water tank
belonging to Fahima ‘Abdul Karim al-Sheikh, for the purpose of the construction
of a part of the annexation wall.

 

On 29 November 2011, IOF handed a
notice to a Palestinian civilians in Sourif village, north of Hebron, ordering
seizure of a 12-dunum area of agricultural land, located nearly 5 kilometers
away from the annexation wall.  IOF gave
the owners 45 days to destroy the water well and uproot the trees on the land;
otherwise, IOF would destroy the land themselves.

 

 

 
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (24 – 30
November 2011)

 

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

 

Thursday, 24 November 2011

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved
into Nablus allegedly to protect Israeli settlers who arrived at Joseph Tomb in
the east of the city to conduct religious rituals.  They raided a number of houses in the
area.  They withdrew later and no arrests
were reported.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF
moved nearly 300 meters into the north of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit
Lahia.  They opened fire and searched the
area.  No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 06:00, Israeli
gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats opposite to Beit Lahia beach
in the northern Gaza Strip.  Palestinian
fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and no casualties were
reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into Deir Abu Da’if village, east of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 10:50, Israeli
soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel near Beit
Hanoun (Erez) crossing opened fire at a number of volunteers from Future
Knights Association in Swailem area, nearly 500 meters away from the
border.  The volunteers decided on that
day to express solidarity with Palestinian farmers in the area.  As a result of shooting, the volunteers and
farmers were forced to leave the area.  

 

At approximately 11:25, IOF moved
into Ras ‘Atiya village, southeast of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:00, IOF moved
into Deir Abu Da’if village, east of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 19:00, IOF
moved into Beit Qad village, east of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 19:00, IOF
moved into Um al-Tout village, east of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:50, IOF moved
into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 19:50, IOF
moved into ‘Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved
into al-Jalama village, north of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Friday,
25 November 2011

 

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

 

Also at approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north
of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, northwest
of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 26 November 2011

 

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 27 November 2011

 

At approximately 02:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a
training site of the Palestinian resistance in the west of Nussairat refugee
camp in the central Gaza Strip.  The site
and a fence of a nearby plot belonging to the Efranji family were damaged.

 

At approximately 02:25, Israeli warplanes fired 3 missiles at a
greenhouse in the northwest of Khan Yunis. 
The greenhouse was damaged, but no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 10:20, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:15, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
and raided a coffee shop.  They
questioned a number of customers claiming that their vehicles were stoned.  They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 15:40, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, west
of Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:55, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village,
west of Salfit.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 16:20, IOF moved into Brouqin village, west of
Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 28 November 2011

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ussarin village, southeast
of Nablus.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children:

 

1. Dr. Maher Fawzi ‘Adili, 48, chairman of the local council;

2. Diaa’ ‘Omar ‘Adili, 16;

3. ‘Omar ‘Ezzat ‘Adili, 15;

4. ‘Azzam Rasmi ‘Adili, 20; and

5. Rebhi Raslan ‘Adili, 17.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Burham village,
northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:50, IOF moved into al-Zawia village, west of
Salfit.  They raided and searched 3
houses and summoned 3 Palestinian civilians for interrogation: Khader Salem
Qadous; Sami Hassan Raddad; and Ibrahim Suleiman Qadous.

 

At approximately 08:00, an Israeli gunboat intercepted a
Palestinian fishing boat opposite top al-Sudaniya beach in the northern Gaza
Strip.  The fishing boat was nearly 3
nautical miles offshore.  Israeli
soldiers arrested Mahmoud Yasser al-Nahhal, 20, and Mohammed Khamis Kalloub,
18, both from Gaza City, who were on board of the boat.  They released al-Nahhal at approximately
23:30, but kept Kalloub in custody. Their boat was confiscated.

 

At approximately 09:10, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:15, IOF moved into Habla village, south of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Kharabtha al-Misbah village,
west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:30, IOF moved into the area located to the east
of Hares village, north of Salfit.  They
searched the area for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:45, IOF moved into Sniria village, southeast of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village,
southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported. 

 

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

 

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

 

At approximately 03:05, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border
between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Lahia town opened fire
at Palestinian agricultural areas.  The
shooting continued for 20 minutes, but no casualties were reported.  It followed two heavy explosions at the
border.

 

At approximately 10:00, an Israeli gunboat intercepted 3
Palestinian fishing boats opposite top Khan Yunis beach in the southern Gaza
Strip.  They arrested 12 fishermen and
confiscated two boats, while released one fisherman together with a boat.  The fishermen who were arrested are:

1. Khaled Khader Abu Shar, 19;

2. Ra’ed Yousef Abu ‘Ouda, 28;

3. Ussama Mohammed al-Hissi, 30;

4. Adham Khaled al-Habeel, 25;

5. Saleem Amin Abu al-Sadiq, 48;

6. ‘Azmi Saleem Abu al-Sadiq, 20;

7.Rami Bahjat Abu ‘Ouda, 30;

8. Nihad Rajab al-Hissi, 30;

9. Mohammed Rajab al-Hissi, 21;

10. Mohammed Jihad al-Hissi, 19; and

11. Jamal Jihad al-Hissi, 22.

12. Ahmad Majed al-Habeel, 25.

 

The two boats that were confiscated belong to Khaled al-Habil and
Rajab al-Hissi.  The boat that was
released belongs to Faraj Abu ‘Ouda, and it was released together with the
owner. 

 

Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Jafna village, north of
Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of
Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Rafidya neighborhood in the
west of Nablus.  They raided offices of
Fattouh Car Rental Company in an-Najah University Street.  They destroyed the cameras and the alarm
system.  They then confiscated two hard
disks, a number of cheques, some money, car licenses and ownership documents
belonging to the owner, Wa’el ‘Ata Abu Shaqdam.

 

At approximately 06:30, IOF moved into al-Boreij refugee camp in
the central Gaza Strip.  Two hours later
moved southward to al-Maghazi refugee camp. 

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya
village, north of Ramallah.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of
Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 23:15, IOF moved into Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into ‘Aaboud village, northeast
of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

During
the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the
West Bank, and in protest to the establishment of a buffer zone in the Gaza
Strip.  As a result, two Palestinian
civilians were wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights
defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. 

       

Following the Friday Prayer on 25 November 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in
protest to the construction of the annexation wall.  They raised the Palestinian flag and called
for ending political division. They then moved towards areas of Palestinian
land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian
owners.  Israeli soldiers stationed in the
area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
the demonstrators.  As a result, a number
of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 25 November 2011, 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 chanted slogans calling for Palestinian reconciliation, adherence
to the Palestinian inalienable rights and resistance of the occupation.  Additionally, they chanted “194 is the
State of Palestine” and other slogans against the American President and
his speech at the United Nations that was defended the Israeli occupation.  They clashed with Israeli troops positioned
near the annexation wall.  Israeli soldiers
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators.  As a result, a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.  

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 25 November 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations and settlement activities.  They raised the Palestinian flag, chanted
slogans calling for ending the occupation.  
When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by
Israeli settlers near “Halmish” settlement, Israeli soldiers fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them.  As a result, two Palestinian civilians were
wounded:

 

1. Mohammed Moneer Tamimi, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet to the head; and

2. ‘Atallah Tamim Tamimi, 61, hit by a tear gas canister to the
right foot.

 

Additionally, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas
inhalation and other sustained bruises. 

 

Also following the Friday Prayer t approximately 12:20, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a
peaceful demonstration in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of
Qalqilya, in protest to continued closure of the eastern entrance of the
village.  They moved towards the
entrance, but IOF stopped them.  Israeli
soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators.  As a result, a number of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

3. Continued
Closure of the OPT

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since
June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic
situation in the Gaza Strip. The illegal closure has caused not only a
humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the
population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared recently to ease the
blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of
the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of
the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip
and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply
shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become
internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza may no
longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain
economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially,
culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.

 

 

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

23 –
29 November 2011

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

23 –
29 November 2011

 

Imports:

 

 

Exports:

 

On Thursday, 24 November 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 2.6
tons of strawberries.

On Tuesday, 29 November 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 2.9
tons of strawberries.

 

Notes:

 

On Wednesday, 23 November 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 480 tons
of cement, 3,850 tons of construction aggregate and 36 tons of construction
steel for UNRWA.  They also allowed the
entry of 1,560 tons of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 24 November 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 1,560 tons
of fodders.

 

On Sunday, 25 November 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 1,560 tons of
wheat.

On Monday, 28 November 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 555 tons of
cement, 244 tons of construction steel and 1,680 tons of construction aggregate
for UNRWA; and 1,420 tons of construction aggregate and 80 tons of cement for
UNDP.  They also allowed the entry of 1,599
tons of fodders.

 

On Tuesday, 29 November 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 2,100 tons
of construction aggregate and 272 tons of cement for UNDP; and 119 tons of
construction steel for the Palestinian Water Authority.  They also allowed the entry of 1,599 tons of
wheat. 

 

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 diseases 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 is only able to do so under severe restrictions that
include prolonged checking. 

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

23 –
29 November 2011

 

 

The West Bank

 

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

 

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

 

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 11:00 on Monday, 28 November 2011, IOF re-established their
presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At approximately 11:40 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at al-Taybeh intersection, northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately 15:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint near the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 08:30 on
Tuesday, 29 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa
intersection, west of Ramallah.  At the
same time, they established a checkpoint under ‘Ein Yabroud Bridge, northeast
of Ramallahj.  At approximately 11:00 on
the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Liqya
village, west of Ramallah.  At approximately
09:00 on Wednesday, 30 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint under
Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, southwest of Ramallah.  At the same time, they established a
checkpoint near Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa intersection, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 10:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint near the entrance of Koubar village, north of
Ramallah.    

 

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 24 November 2011, IOF established
6 checkpoints around the town.  On
Friday, 25 November 2011, IOF established 3 checkpoints around the town.  On Saturday, 26 November 2011, IOF
established 5 checkpoints around Qalqilya. 
                             

 

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 17:00 on Thursday, 24 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
at Beit Leed intersection, east of Tulkarm. 
At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 26 November 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm.  At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 27 November
2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Kour village, southeast
of Tulkarm.  At approximately 23:00 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of ‘Attil village,
north of Tulkarm.  At approximately 11:30
on Monday, 28 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near Jibara Gate at
Tulkarm-Qalqilya road, south of Tulkarm. 
     

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 24 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
near Haddad tourist village, southeast of Jenin.  At approximately 20:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qabatya village, south of Jenin.  At approximately 11:30 on Friday, 25 November
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Kfiret intersection, southwest of
Jenin.  At approximately 12:00 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint at Beer al-Basha intersection, south of
Jenin.  At approximately 16:00 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village,
northwest of Jenin.   At approximately
19:30 on Saturday, 26 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Faqqou’a village, northeast of Jenin.  At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 27 November
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village,
northwest of Jenin.  At approximately
16:30 on Monday, 28 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance
of Ta’nak village, northwest of Jenin.      

 

Salfit:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 20:00 on Thursday, 24 November
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kufol Hares village,
north of Salfit.  At approximately 11 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint on Deir Estia – Kufol Hares road, north
of Salfit.  At approximately 17:00 on
Friday, 25 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Hares – Kufol Hares
road, north of Salfit.  At approximately
18:40 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at Hares intersection,
north of Salfit.  At approximately 11:00
on Saturday, 26 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Brouqin village, west of Salfit.  At
approximately 14:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint on Hares –
Kufol Hares road.  At approximately 12:40
on Sunday, 27 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the western
entrance of Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit.  At approximately 20:20 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the western entrance of Hares village, north of
Salfit. 

 

Jericho: IOF have continued to impose additional restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 17:00 on Monday, 28 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of al-Zbaidat village, north of Jericho. At approximately 14:00
on Tuesday, 29 November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho.   

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 20:00 on Thursday, 24 November 2011, the family of
Eyad Sha’ban Dawas, 39, from al-‘Alami area in Jabalya refugee camp in the northern
Gaza Strip, received a phone call from IOF which informed them that their son
was detained in Ashkilon Prison inside Israel. 
Dawas had traveled to Jerusalem on 26 October 2011 to received medical
treatment.  When he was on his way back
to the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing arrested
him.

At approximately 04:00 on Saturday, 26 November 2011, Israeli
soldiers patrolled at bypass road #60 near the western entrance of Bani Na’im
village, southeast of Hebron, arrested Hamza Shaher al-Fakhouri, 22, from
Hebron, when he was driving his car back home. 
They claimed that they found a knife in his possession. 

 

At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 26 November 2011, Israeli
soldiers positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint, southeast of Tubas, arrested ‘Amid
‘Emad al-Din Dwaikat, 18, from Balata village east of Nablus. 

 

At approximately 12:00 on Monday, 28 November 2011, Israeli
soldiers positioned at the Container checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem,
arrested Hamza Mohammed Taraira, 23, from Bani Na’im village east of
Hebron.  Taraira had been released from
Israeli jails in 2009 due to his bad health conditions.

 

On Tuesday morning, 29 November 2011, IOF arrested Marwan Ahmed
Sakharna, from Hata village northwest of Hebron, while he was working on his
land near the annexation wall.  They also
confiscated his tractor.  

 

4. Settlement
Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

 

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

 

At approximately 06:30 on Thursday, 24
November 2011, IOF, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into Wadi al-Bas area in
Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They
demolished 3 water wells and 3 agricultural rooms belonging to Ahmed Mohammed
Farajallah, ‘Abdul Rahman Mohammed Farajallah and ‘Abdul Hafez ‘Abdul Fattah
‘Awawda, claiming that they were established without licenses.  The demolished facilities were located
450-500 meters away from the annexation wall. 
IOF then demolished a 70-square-meter, under-construction house
belonging to Ahmed Jamal Al-Jiawi.  The
house was located nearly 700 meters away from the annexation wall. 

 

At approximately 09:00 on the same
day, IOF moved into Khirbat al-Mafqara area to the southeast of Yatta village,
south of Hebron.  They surrounded a
mosque in the area and a subordinate room, which includes an electricity
generator.  They took out the contents of
the mosque and demolished it.  They also
destroyed the electricity generator.  IOF
then demolished a house belonging to Mahmoud Hussein Hamamda, in which 21
individuals live, after vacating it. 
They also demolished a part of a nearby cave used by the family as a
store.  During the evacuation of the
house, the owner’s daughter, Sawsawn Hamamda, protested the evacuation of the
family’s furniture, so an Israeli soldier beat her and another one sprayed gas
on her face.  When her mother, Halima
Shihada Hamamda, 45, intervened to protect her, Israeli soldiers pushed her
down.  She sustained a fracture to the
left foot.  IOF arrested two girls,
claiming that “they obstructed the work of security officers and threw stones
at them”: Sawsan Mahmoud Hamamda, 21; and Amal Jamal Hamamda, 17.

 

At the same time, IOF demolished a
house belonging to the widow of Maher Khalil Hamamda, in which she and her
three children live.  IOF demolished also
a 30-square-meter rabbit farm belonging to Hatem Mohammed Hamamda. 

 

At approximately 10:40, IOF moved to
the nearby Khirbat Sousia area.  They
demolished a tent and an animal farm belonging to Mohammed Mousa Mighnem.    

 

At approximately 15:00 on Sunday, 26
November 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Karni Shomron” settlement
near Qalqilya-Nablus road threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles
traveling on the road.  As a result, a
car belonging to ‘Abdul Khaliq Na’im Simha, 30, from Jayous village northeast
of Qalqilya, was damaged.  When he
stopped his car to check the damage, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area
forced him to drive his car away from the area. 

 

At approximately 16:10 on Sunday, 26
November 2011, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, southeast of
Qaqlilya.  They demolished a room and a
water tank belonging to Fahima ‘Abdul Karim al-Sheikh, for the purpose of the
construction of a part of the annexation wall.

 

On Tuesday noon, 29 November 2011,
IOF handed a notice to a Palestinian civilians in Sourif village, north of
Hebron, ordering seizure of a 12-dunum area of agricultural land belonging to
Jamal Mohammed al-Qadhi and Ibrahim ‘Abdul Hadi Hmaidat, located nearly 5
kilometers away from the annexation wall. 
IOF gave the owners 45 days to destroy the water well and uproot the trees
on the land; otherwise, IOF would destroy the land themselves.

 

………………………………………………………

 

Recommendations to the International
Community

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

 

Public Document

For further information please visit
our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact
PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email ([email protected]) or telephone (+972 (0)8
282 4776 – 282 5893).