Israeli
forces demolish a 3-storey house in Beit Hanina village near Jerusalem

 

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

      

 

A Palestinian child was wounded during an Israeli
incursion in Taqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem.

 

An Israeli warplane attacked Bader training site in
the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

 

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

 

3 Palestinian
civilians, including a photographer, were wounded during Bil’in and Kofur
Qaddoum weekly protests.

Dozens of
civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

 

Israeli forces conducted 61 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank and 2 limited ones in the Gaza Strip.

 

At
least 49 Palestinian civilians,
including 2 children, were arrested.

The detainees include 2 PLC members and a number of
active students affiliated to Hamas.

 

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 6 Palestinian civilians were arrested at
checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

Israeli navy forces have continued targeting
Palestinian fishermen in the sea.

Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing
boats, but neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

Israeli has continued to create Jewish majority in
occupied East Jerusalem.

Israeli forces demolished 2 residential buildings in
Beit Hanina village and 2 rooms in Jabal al-Mukaber neighbourhood, rendering 33
Palestinian civilians homeless.

 

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

Israeli forces issued notices to demolish houses and
civilian facilities in area (C)[1].

Settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian
civilians and their property.

121 olive and almond trees were uprooted and burnt in
Nablus and Bethlehem.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
(24 – 30 October 2013).

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 4 Palestinian
civilians, including a child in the West bank; 3 of whom were wounded during
peaceful protests against the construction of the annexation wall in the West
Bank, while the child was wounded during an Israeli incursion in Taqou’
village, southeast of Bethlehem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to
attack Palerstinian fishermen in the sea.  

 

In the West Bank, on 29 October 2013, Israeli forces wounded
a Palestinian child when they conducted an incursion in Taqou’ village,
southeast of Bethlehem. Israeli forces fired flash bombs overheads, in response
to which a number of boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who
fired rubber-coated metal bullets. As a result, the aforementioned child was
wounded by a bullet to the back. He was taken to al-‘Ahli hospital in Hebron.  

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces continued
the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by
Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of
the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 3
Palestinian civilians, including photographer of the Popular Committee against
the Annexation Wall and Settlement Activities in Bil’in, were wounded.  

 

In the context of targeting fishermen in the sea,
Israeli gunboats stationed in the sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats twice
on 24 and 27 October 2013.

 

On 28 October 2013, an Israeli warplane launched a
missile at Bader training site of Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing
of Hamas). The site that was attacked several times previously is located to
the west of al-Maqousi apartment buildings, north of Gaza City. No casualties
were reported.

 

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 61 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 49 Palestinians, including 2
children, 2 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC|) and a number
of active students.

 

On 23 October 2013, Israeli forces launched an arrest
campaign against leaders and members in Hamas movement. They arrested 2 PLC
members from Hebron and 20 active students and persons affiliated to Hamas in
different areas in the West Bank. Israeli forces used undercover units in this arrest
campaign 3 times. The first was in Deir Sharaf village, northwest of Nablus,
while the other two ones were in Beit Luqia, southwest of Ramallah.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 24 and 30 October 2013, Israeli
forces carried out a limited incursion into the northern and central Gaza Strip.
They levelled lands along the border fence and withdrew later. Neither
casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

Restrictions on movement:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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 6 civilians in the West Bank.

Efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East
Jerusalem

On 28 October 2013, the Israeli police and
“Border Guard” accompanied by officials from the Israeli municipality and a
huge bulldozer moved into Jabal al-Mukaber neighbourhood in the
south of East Jerusalem. They surrounded a house belonging to the family of
Mousa Shkeirat and started demolishing 2 rooms with an area of 100 square
meters. The rooms, which are made of bricks and tin plates, had sheltered the
5-member family since 2000. Israeli forces also demolished a shed belonging to
the above-mentioned person.

 

On 29 October 2013, the Israeli police and “Border
Guard” accompanied by officials from the Israeli municipality and a huge
bulldozer moved into al-Ashkariya quarter in Beit Hanina village, north of East
Jerusalem. They surrounded a residential building belonging to the family of
Amin Rushdi Shweiki and started demolishing the 4-storey building (4
apartments). The 180-square-meter building sheltered 20 members, the majority
of whom are women and children.

 

On 30 October 2013, Israeli forces demolished a
residential building in Beit Hanina village, north of East Jerusalem, belonging
to the family of Ayman Qarrash. The 3-storey house was comprised of 4
commercial stores and 3 apartments on the first floor, 2 under-construction
apartments on the second floor, while the third floor had been still
under-construction. Qarrash said that municipality officers came to the
building with no prior notice. He added the family started construction works
in the building a year ago and received no notices to demolish the building
from the Israeli authorities at all.

Settlement activities

 

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

On 24 October 2013, Israeli forces delivered Barta’a
cooperative society a notice to halt construction works in a park belonging to
the society under the pretext it was not licensed.

 

On the same day, Israeli forces handed 2 civilians
notices to halt construction works in 2 under-construction houses in al-Shyoukh
village, east of Hebron.

 

On 25 October 2013, a group of settlers from “Yitzhar”
settlement cut 36 olive trees in al-Naqqar area, north of Hawarah village, south
of Nablus.

 

On the same day, a group of settlers from “Kiryat
Arba” settlement attacked the family of Mohammed al-Qaimari (50) while
going home in Wad al-Hsein area, south of Nablus.

 

On 26 October 2013, 10 settlers from “Adi
Ad” settlement outpost to the northwest of al-Mughair village, northeast
of Ramallah, attacked a number of Palestinian farmers while harvesting their
olives. As a result, Yassir Kamal Na’ssan (30) sustained serious wounds in the
head and right hand and bruises in the left hand. Moreover, his vehicle’s
windshield and the camera he used to film the attack were damaged.

 

On the same day, under the protection of Israeli
forces, a large number of settlers moved into markets of the Old Town in the
centre of Hebron. They cursed and provoked Palestinian civilians. In addition,
the Ibrahimi Mosque yards witnessed a large gathering of settlers to celebrate
the so-called “Shabbat Hayye Sarah.” In the meantime, Israeli forces
closed the Ibrahimi Mosque to the Palestinian worshippers.

 

On the same day also, a group of settlers from
“Afrat” settlement in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, set fire
to about 70 olive trees and uprooted and stole 15 other almond trees that were
planted on a 3-dunum area, south of the city.

 

On 28 October 2013, 3 settlers from “Maale
Labouna” settlement to the northwest of Senjal village, north of Ramallah,
attacked a number of Palestinian farmers while harvesting their olives. As a
result, Mohammed Ibrahim Foqaha (48) sustained minor bruises in the left eye.  

 

On 28 October 2013, Israeli forces delivered 3 notices
to residents of al-Deirat village, east of Yatta, south of Hebron, to halt
construction works in the village’s mosque, an under-construction house and an
agricultural caravan.

 

On the same day, Israeli forces delivered to Ethna
cooperative society for livestock development in Hebron 3 notices to halt
construction works in a barrack for sheep farming, a barrack used to store
fodders and a brick-made room. It should be noted the notified facilities are part
of a project implemented by the abovementioned society and many families
benefit from it. The project started 3 months ago.

 

On 29 October 2013, Israeli forces handed Mohammed
Ahmed Farajallah (67) 2 notices to halt construction works in 2 tin-made
barracks for poultry farming in Wad Aziz area in the west of Ethna village,
west of Hebron.       

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
(10 – 23 October 2013)

 

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

Thursday, 24 October 2013

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
Req’a area, north of Yatta, south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and
stationed in the centre of the area. They raided and searched a house belonging
to the family of Kamel Abdul Qader al-Jundi (33). They kept his family in a
room and arrested him.   

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
Jericho. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilia. They raided a number of houses from which
they arrested 3 civilians, including 2 brothers: Kazem Mofid Radwan (21), Naji
Mofid Radwan (21) and Amjad Nidal Hussein (18).  

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-‘Ebeidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They patrolled the streets and raided
and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Dawood Rabay’a (24).
They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
Qabatiya village, south of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Ahmed Nabil Zakarnah (24). They arrested him and his
twin brother Mohammed. Moreover, Israeli forces raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Zakariya Hamzah Saba’nah (19) and arrested him as
well. They also raided a third house belonging to the family of Basem Fawzi
‘Alawnah (24) and arrested him. Israeli forces withdrew later taking the 4 detainees
to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and stationed
in the centre of the camp. They deployed between the houses and withdrew later.
No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into
Sourif village, northwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and withdrew
later. No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 06:00, Israeli forces backed with 4
bulldozers and a military jeep moved about 200 meters into the east of
al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along
the border fence.  They withdrew at
09:00.

 

At approximately 13:30, Israeli forces moved into
‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and
arrested Nidal Yusef Salama (19).

 

At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. They patrolled the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 16:45, Israeli gunboats stationed of
al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened
fire around Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing within the limit of 4
nautical miles. As a result, fishermen were frightened and fled back fearing of
being wounded or arrested. Neither casualties nor material damage were
reported.

 

At approximately 22:00, Israeli forces moved into
Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets and moved eastwards to Nour Shams
refugee camp. In the meantime, a number of young men gathered and threw stones
at Israeli forces that fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response.
Israeli forces withdrew later, and no arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Friday, 25 October 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
Beitounia village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
Silet al-Harithya village, north of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some
time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Awwa village, south of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and stationed in
‘Asida area. They deployed between the houses, where a number of boys threw
stones at them. Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in
response. As a result, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
Israeli forces withdrew later. No house raids were reported.

 

At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces and settlers
from “Na’oun” settlement moved into al-Tawani village, east of Yatta,
south of Hebron. They stationed in the centre of the village and settlers
deployed between the houses under the protection of Israeli soldiers. Israeli
forces and settlers withdrew later. No attacks were reported.

 

At approximately 21:30, Israeli forces moved into
Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and raided a
house belonging to the family of Khalil Mostafa Abu Baker (41). They topped the
house and turned it into a military surveillance site. Israeli forces withdrew
later, but moved into the village again at approximately 23:30. They withdrew
at approximately 01:30 on the following day. No further incidents were
reported.   

 

Saturday, 26 October 2013

 

At approximately 00:45, Israeli forces moved into
Kofur al-Deek village, west of Salfit. They raided a house belonging to the
family of Saber Rateb Hamdan al-Deek (52). They searched the house and damaged
its contents. Israeli forces arrested the aforementioned person and withdrew at
approximately 04:00.

His brother
Mohammed Rateb al-Deek (35) said to a PCHR fieldworker:

“At
approximately 00:30 on Saturday, 26 October 2013, Israeli forces raided my
brothers’ houses, as we, the 4 brothers, live next to one other. They raided a
house belonging to my brother Saber (52), who has 13 children and 2 wives.
Israeli forces damaged the content of the house and searched it. They arrested
my brother Saber and took him to an unknown destination.”   

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Ebeidiya village, east of Bethlehem.
They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of ‘Adnan
Mohammed Shanayta (25). They handed him a notice to refer to the Israeli
intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of the city.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Bani Na’im village, east of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and stationed in the centre of the village.
They also raided a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Walid Manasra (13).
They arrested Manasra and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 10:30: Israeli forces
moved into ‘Aboud village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces
moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and
stationed at the entrance of the village. They topped a house belonging to the
family of Rashid Abu Daya. A number of boys gathered and threw stones at
Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As
a result, the surrounding trees caught fire. However, no casualties were
reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved
into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and raided
an under-construction house belonging to the family of Nahedh Abu Baker. They
topped the house and turned it into a military surveillance site. Israeli
forces withdrew later and no incidents were reported.

 

At approximately 21:30, Israeli forces moved
into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets and combed
the area under the pretext that an Israeli vehicle was stoned. Israeli forces
withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, Israeli forces
moved into Sheqba village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces
moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled the streets,
where Israeli vehicles crashed 3 civilians car belonging to Palestinians in the
village. As a result, minor damage was caused to the vehicles. Israeli forces
withdrew later.

 

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

 

Sunday, 27 October
2013

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets, where clashes erupted between the
Palestinian young men and Israeli soldiers. The young men threw stones and
empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters
in response. Moreover, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to the family of
Jehad Nasser Abu Baker (20) and arrested him.

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Beitounya village, west of
Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.     

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Sourif village, northwest of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and stationed in the centre of the village.
They raided a house belonging to the family of Ziad al-‘Arja (48). They
arrested his 2 sons: Alaa’ (19) and Shaker (21).

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets and stationed in al-Therwa area. Moreover, they raided a
house belonging to the family of Rabee’ Khaled al-Zama’ra (23) and arrested
him.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Ras Karkar village, northwest of
Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed
Saleh Mohammed N’irat (26). They arrested the aforementioned person and took
him to an unknown destination.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Kofur Ni’mah village, west of Ramallah.
They patrolled the streets and raided 3 houses from which they arrested 3
civilians and took them to Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah.

The detainees are:

1. Nader Abdul Qader ‘Adi (29);

2. Tha’er Nabil Abdu (27); and

3. Maher Mohammed Abdu (27).

 

At
approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and stationed at the entrance of the village. The
deployed between the houses and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 20:00, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest
of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire around fishing boats
that were sailing in the limit of 3 nautical miles. The fishermen were
frightened and sailed back fearing of being wounded or arrested. Neither
casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

 

Monday 28 October 2013

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Senjar area, east of Doura,
southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and surrounded a house
belonging to the family of Nizar Abdul Aziz Ramadan (53), member at the
Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) from the Change and Reform Bloc of Hamas.
They raided and searched the house and kept his family outdoors. Israeli forces
searched the house for 4 hours and damaged its contents. They arrested Ramadan
and took him to an unknown destination.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They patrolled the streets and
raided a number of houses from which they arrested 9 civilians, the majority of
whom are students at an-Najah National University. The arrested were:

1. Amjad Hussein Bushkar (24), a student at the Faculty
of Education and representative of the Islamic Bloc;

2. Amir Mohammed Ishtaiya (24), a student at the Faculty
of Arts and member of the Students’ Union at an-Najah National University;

3. Abdul Rahman Nasouh Ishtaiya (29), a student at the
Faculty of Engineering at an-Najah National University;

4. Mo’athe Abu Baker (22), a student at the Faculty of
Science at an-Najah National University;

5. Abdul Rahman al-Bashtawi (23), a student at the
Faculty of Economics at an-Najah National University;

6. Kamal Hussam Qatalouni (25), a student at the Faculty
of Shari’a at an-Najah National University;

7. Amir al-Tambour (28);

8. Mas’oud al-Kouni (26); and

9. ‘Awni al-Shakhshir (23).

   

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces
moved into Tamoun village, southeast of Tubas. They patrolled the streets and
raided a number of houses from which they arrested Basem Rashid Mostafa Hamdan
(35) and Abdullah Bani ‘Ouda (23), a student at the Faculty of Information
Technology at an-Najah National University.

 

At approximately 01:40, Israeli forces
moved into ‘Awarta village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a
number of houses. They arrested Sami Saleh Mousa Abu Shu’aib (23) and took him
to an unknown destination.  

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces
moved into al-Zaitoun suburb, south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and
stationed near Hamdan hospital. They deployed between the houses and raided a
house belonging to ‘Adnan Yunis Abu Tabanah (43), a leader of Hamas. They kept
his family in a room and arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an
unknown destination.

His son, Mohammed Abu Tabanah said to a PCHR
fieldworker:

“At approximately 02:00, we heard Israeli
forces ordering us to open the door. My brother opened the door and a big
number of Israeli soldiers raided the house. They kept us in a room and started
searching and damaging contents of the house. An officer questioned my father
in front of the house and arrested him. They handcuffed him and confiscated his
laptop and mobile phone.”

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved
into Khellet al-Maghareba, west of Hebron. They raided a house belonging to the
family of Mohammed Maher Yusef Bader (55), a PLC member from the Change and
Reform Bloc of Hamas. They arrested Bader and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved
into the centre of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Mos’ab Nidal Mohammed al-Zgheer (21). They arrested
the aforementioned person and moved to ‘Essa neighbourhood, west of Hebron.
They raided a house belonging to the family of Mos’ab Khamis Abdul Khaleq
Qafisha (19) and arrested him as well.

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces
moved into Saida village, northeast of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets and
raided a house belonging to the family of Anas Mahmoud Dawood Radad (23).  They arrested the aforementioned person and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces
moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to
the family of Anas Manna’ Ibrahim Ghanem (22). They arrested the aforementioned
person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces
moved into al-Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets
and raided a number of commercial stores. They arrested Kazem Ibrahim Radwan
(22), from ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilia and withdrew later.

 

At approximately 09:30, an Israeli warplane
fired a missile at Bader military training site, which is used to train members
of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas). The site is
located to the west of al-Maqousi buildings, north of Gaza City.  No casualties were reported. It should be
noted the abovementioned site, which is an open area, was attacked several
times.

 

At approximately 10:30, Israeli military
undercover units sneaked into Deir Sharaf village, northwest of Nablus, by a
Volkswagen minibus with a Palestinian registration plate. The vehicle stopped
in front of al-Amani butchery at Nablus-Tulkarm-Jenin intersection. Israeli
soldiers stepped out of the vehicle and pointed their guns at 3 young men in
their twenties. The young men were sitting in the abovementioned butchery
having breakfast when Israeli undercover members kidnapped them and took them
to an unknown destination. PCHR’s fieldworker has not been able to identify
them so far. In the meantime, Israeli forces confiscated cameras established in
the butchery, Mousa supermarket and Wad al-Sha’ir butchery.

 

At approximately 12:00, Israeli military
undercover units sneaked into Beit Luqia village, southwest of Ramallah, by a Volkswagen
vehicle with an Israeli registration plate. They stopped in front of a grocery
belonging to the family of Mohammed Saleh Bader (24) at the main entrance of
the village. They then aided a house belonging to the abovementioned person.
They attacked and arrested him and confiscated his cell phone and laptop.

 

At approximately 15:30, for the second
time, Israeli military undercover units sneaked into Beit Luqia village,
southwest of Ramallah, by a Mercedes 412 vehicle. They raided Jamil Bader
supermarket in al-Mothallath area and attacked the civilians there at gunpoint.
Moreover, they arrested Islam Saleh Bader (20) and confiscated the surveillance
camera and a laptop belonging to the supermarket owner.

 

At approximately 22:00, Israeli forces
backed with 3 military vehicles moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets
and moved eastwards to Nour Shams refugee camp. In the meantime, a number of
young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli forces that fired sound bombs
and tear gas canisters in response. Israeli forces withdrew later, but no
arrests were reported.    

 

Tuesday, 29 October 2013

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled the
streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Basem Ali
al-Hamshari (28). They arrested the aforementioned person and withdrew later.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Qarawet Bani Hassan village,
northwest of Salfit. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to
the family of Othman Mahmoud Assi (28). They arrested the aforementioned person
and took him to an unknown destination. It should be noted that Assi is
physically disabled.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Yasouf village, east of Salfit. They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Ayoub
Hassan al-Bawwab. They arrested his son Osaid (16) and withdrew later.

 

At
approximately 06:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun village, northwest of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:30, Israeli forces moved into Silet al-Harithya village, north
of Jenin. They patrolled the streets while school students were going to
school. As a result, clashes erupted between the students and Israeli forces.
The boys threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas
canisters in response to disperse them. Israeli forces stationed then near the
Grand Mosque in the centre of the village for some time. Israeli soldiers stepped
out of their vehicles and took photos of the mosque. They withdrew later, and
no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 12:30, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad village, west of
Ramallah. 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 withdrew later and no arrests were reported. It
should be noted Israeli forces had been moving into the abovementioned village
for about 5 days and turning the house belonging to Atef Khalil Abu Baker (41)
into a permanent military position. These incidents took place after Israeli
claims that a settlers’ vehicle was hit by a Molotov cocktail on “Mvuduttan”
settlement road, south of Ya’bad.

 

At
approximately 18:30, Israeli forces and “Border Guard” moved into
Taqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. They stationed in the centre of the
village and fired flash bombs overheads and sound bombs. A number of young men
gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired rubber-coated metal
bullets in response. As a result, Ahmed Riyadh Sabbah (17) was wounded by a
bullet to the back. He was taken to the Arab society in Beit Jala and then to
the Ahli hospital in Hebron. Medical sources described his condition as stable.
Clashes continued for hours, during which, Israeli forces closed all entrances
to the village, excluding the southern one.

 

At
approximately 20:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Burj village, south of Doura,
southwest of Hebron. 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 al-Taiba village, west of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.  

 

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Battir village, west of Bethlehem. They raided a house belonging to the family
of Mazen Mahmoud Qasqas (21). They arrested the aforementioned person and took
him to an unknown destination.

 

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

 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into
‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets and moved
northwards to Kofur Rumman village. They also patrolled the streets and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces moved about 200
meters into the east of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip. They levelled
lands opening fire sporadically. As a result, farmers fled fearing of being
wounded. Israeli forces withdrew at approximately 09:00, but neither casualties
nor material damage were reported.

 

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.

 

(PCHR keeps the names of the Palestinian wounded
persons and apologizes for not publishing the names fearing for Israeli forces
would arrest them in the context of their policy to repress peaceful protests).

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

 

Following the Friday Prayer, 25 October 2013, 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 closed all the entrances
of the village since morning to prevent the 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 in olive fields. As a result, Muhammed Basman Yassin, 21, the
photographer of the popular committee against the wall and settlements in
Bil’in was injured by a rubber-coated steel bullet in the back. Moreover, many
others suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli
soldiers.

 

On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians
organised a peaceful demonstration in the middle 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 passing to the land behind it before they responded by
throwing stones. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and
bruises due to being 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 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 morning to prevent the 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.

 

At approximately 12:30 on the same dat, Palestinian
civilians and international activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the
centre of Kafr 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. Clashes
erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces that fired sound bombs and
tear gas canisters to prevent them from reaching the aforementioned gate. As a
result, a Palestinian civilian, 34, was hit by a tear gas canister in the right
leg, and another one, 54, was hit by three tear gas canisters in the back and
legs.

 

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. 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, detained three
international activists for one hour, and prevented the demonstrators from
reaching the annexation wall.

 

Other Demonstrations

 

At approximately 20:30 on Saturday, 26 October 2013,
dozens of Palestinian children and young men gathered at the main entrance of
Silwad town, in the north-western Ramallah, and threw stones at the fence of
the Israeli military camp adjacent to the town. Israeli soldiers fired live
bullets, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at
them. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and Israeli
forces arrested Jasser Adnan Jasser, 16, and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

3. Continued closure of the oPt

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The
cooking gas crisis has ranged between the ebb and flow for 3 months due to the
closure of Karm Abu Salem for security reasons. 
According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli authorities only allow around 98
tonnes of cooking gas into Gaza per day. 
This limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is 200
tonnes per day, of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during the winter.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

10 – 28 October 2013

 

Exports:

On
Thursday, 10 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 27 tonnes
of Biscuits

On
Monday, 21 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 228
kilograms of garlic leaves, 180 kilograms of basil and 180 kilograms of mints.

On
Monday, 28 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 110
kilograms of garlic leaves, 360 kilograms of basil and 90 kilograms of mints.

 

Other Imports:

 

On
Thursday, 10 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 1,890 tonnes of
construction aggregates, 164 tonnes of construction steel, 747 tonnes of cement
and 43 tonnes of white cement for the private sector; 320 tonnes of cement and
31 tonnes of construction steel for UNRWA; and 1,470 tonnes of construction
aggregates and 250 tonnes of cement for the Water Authority and 36 tonnes of
white cement for UNDP.  They also allowed
the entry of 1,248 tonnes of fodders and 741 of wheat.

On
Sunday, 20 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 546 tonnes of
fodders and 2,106 tonnes of wheat.

On
Monday, 21 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 663 tonnes of
fodders and 858 tonnes of wheat.

On
Tuesday, 22 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 663 tonnes of
fodders and 1,677 tonnes of wheat.

On
Wednesday, 23 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 390 tonnes of
fodders and 1,833 tonnes of wheat.

On
Thursday, 24 October 2013, Israel forces allowed the entry of 936 tonnes of
fodders and 1,365 tonnes of wheat.

On
Sunday, 27 October 2013, Israel forces allowed the entry of 858 tonnes of
fodders and 936 tonnes of wheat.

On
Monday, 28 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 780 tonnes of
fodders and 1,092 tonnes of wheat.

Empty Plastic
Containers Returned to Israel via Karm Abu Salem

 

On
Thursday, 10 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed 1 truckload of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Sunday, 20 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed 6 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Monday, 21 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed 6 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Tuesday, 22 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed 6 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Wednesday, 23 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed 3 truckloads of empty
plastic containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Thursday, 24 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed 4 truckloads of empty plastic
containers and 520 Oxygen cylinders to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Sunday, 27 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed a truckload of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Monday, 28 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed 5 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

23 – 29 September 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:

 

• Ramallah: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 05:30 on Thursday, 24
October 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road between the
villages of Beit Loqaya and Kharabtha al-Mesbah, southwest of Ramallah.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 09:30 on Friday, 25 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 17:30, they
established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Or al-Foqa, southwest
of the city. The two checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 06:00 on Sunday, 27 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah.  Around the same time, another checkpoint was
established at the entrance of Shaqba village, west of the city.  The two checkpoints were later removed, and
no arrests were reported.

 

• Hebron: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 24
October 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance
of Hebron.  At approximately 07:30, they
established another checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, south
of Hebron.  At approximately 18:00,
another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Ethna village, west of
Hebron.  All checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 08:00 on Friday, 25 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Yata, south of Hebron.  At approximately 17:00, they established a
similar checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.  The two checkpoints were later removed, and
no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 26 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Taramah, east of Dura, southwest of Hebron.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 20 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Ethna village, west of Hebron.  At approximately 17:00, they established two
checkpoints; the first one was at al-Fawar refugee camp, south of the city and
the second one was at the entrance of Kharsa village, south of Dura, southwest
of Hebron.  No arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 14:00 on Wednesday, 30 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aynoun village, northeast of Hebron, and no
arrests were reported.  Around the same
time, they closed the southern entrance of Hebron (al-Harayeq) by an iron gate.

 

• Tulkarm: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 25
October 2013, 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 09:00 on Tuesday, 29 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of
Beit Leed known as “Abu Martein” area, east of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

• Jenin: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 20:00 on Thursday, 24
October 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the intersection of
Zabouba village, northwest of Jenin.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported. 

 

At
approximately 20:30 on Sunday, 27 October 2013, Israeli forces stationed at
“Mvuduttan” checkpoint, which is established on the main bypass road
between Jenin and the northern villages of Tulkarm, southwest of Jenin, closed
the checkpoint and obstructed Palestinians’ movement.  The tightening later ended, and no arrests
were reported.  It should be mentioned
that the checkpoint was closed under the pretext of a settler’s car being hit
with stones.

 

At
approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 29 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Arrabah, south 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 15:00 on Friday, 25 October
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun
village, south of Qalqilya, and prevented movement in both directions.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.  Around the same
time, they established another checkpoint at the entrance of Hejah village,
east of the city.   The checkpoint was
later removed, and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 17:30, a similar checkpoint was established at the
entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of the city, for the second time and prevented
movement after closing the entrance with cement cubes.  They fired teargas canisters at Palestinians
under the pretext of throwing stones at them. 
Around the same time, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of ‘Ezbet al-Tabib, east of the city. 
No arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 21:30 on Saturday, 26 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Amateen village, northeast of Qalqilya.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

• Jericho: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 11:00 on Friday, 24 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint on al-Mo’arajat Road between Jericho and Ramallah.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 09:00 on Friday, 25 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint near the entrance of al-Zbeidat village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 18:30, another checkpoint
was established at the entrance of Marj Na’jah, north of the city.  The two checkpoints were later removed, and
no arrests were reported.

 

· Salfit: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 20:30 on Saturday, 26 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Haris village, northeast of Safit.  At approximately 21:00, the checkpoint was
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests and Attacks at military
checkpoints

 

At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 24 October
2013, Israeli forces stationed at al-Karameh Crossing, which separates the West
Bank and Jordan, arrested Mos’ab Ghazi Ghneimat (25) from Sorif village,
northwest of Hebron, when he was on his way back home.  He was then taken to an unknown destination.

 

On Thursday afternoon, Israeli forces
established at the gate of the annexation wall, which is west of ‘Atil village,
north of Tulkarm, arrested Salim Salah Tholthein from Kafr al-Lubad village,
east of Tulkarm, when he was on his way back from work in Israel.  He was taken to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 16:30 on Tuesday, 29 October
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road that links
Tulkarm and Nablus with Jenin near the intersection of ‘Arrabah village, south
of Jenin.  When a taxi, in which there
were Jihad Monir Khaled Abu Baker (25) and his cousin Ahmed Ghaleb Khaled Abu
Baker (20) from Yaa’bod village, southwest of Jenin, was passing through the
checkpoint coming back from an-Najah National University in Nablus, where they
study, they were forced to get out of the car. 
Israeli forces arrested them and took them to an unknown destination.

 

At the afternoon, Israeli soldiers stationed at
Za’tarah checkpoint, south of Nablus, stopped a Palestinian car driven by Walid
Hussein Ahmed Fayed (43), a national security officer, from Jenin refugee camp
adjacent to Jenin, and arrested him.  An
eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker that he saw the Israeli soldiers
stationed at Za’tarah checkpoint and forced a Palestinian to kneel while
sniffer dogs were searching him.  He was
then taken to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 20:00 on Monday, 28 October
2013, Israeli forces arrested Firas Mohammed Talab Abu Sharekh (38) from
al-Kassarah area, south of Hebron, while he was passing through a checkpoint in
the vicinity of Nablus.  He was taken to
an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 15:30 on Friday, 25 October
2013, Israeli forces stationed at the checkpoint which leads to the Ibrahimi
Mosque yards in the old town of Hebron attacked Farahat Nader Mohammed Nabil
al-Rajbi (10) after detaining him at the checkpoint when he was on his way to
buy stuff from a shop.  It should be
mentioned that on 21 October 2013 the aforementioned child was attacked by settlers
as he was hit by a stone thrown at him by a settler at his face.

 

The
aforementioned child said to a PCHR fieldworker that:

“I
live with my father and 5 siblings in al-Salaymah neighborhood near the Ibrahimi
Mosque in the centre of the old town. 
Our house is next to the Ibrahimi Mosque Police Station, as the house is
separated by a fence that separates the street from the Palestinian
neighborhood.  I am a fourth grade
student at al-Ibrahimiyah School, and my father uses a donkey to carry things
and till the soil.  At approximately
15:30 on Friday, 25 October 2013, I was on my way to the shop to buy a can of
coke and when I arrived at the checkpoint, I hit the checkpoint gate
established at the entrance of the Mosque with a stick.  A female officer of the border guards then
pushed me to the wall and started kicking me several times.  Therefore, I started crying, but she kicked
me again to shut me up.  She strongly
grabbed me by the neck until an officer arrived and took me to the Ibrahimi Mosque
police station.  My father then arrived
and I told the officer about what happened. 
An hour later, I was released.”

 

At approximately 13:30 on Saturday, 26 October
2013, a group of Israeli soldiers deployed in the vicinity of al-Waljah
village, northwest of Bethlehem, ‘attacked Emad Mohammed Ibrahim al-Jundi (35)
from Zeif village, east of Yata, south of Hebron, while he was trying to
infiltrate through the security fence into Israel in order to work there.

 

Al-Jundi
said to a PCHR fieldworker:

“I have been working in construction in
Israel for 12 years, and I support a 7-member family; the eldest of which is
Mohammed (17) and the youngest is Lamis (4). 
I go to work in Israel through holes in the annexation wall as it costs
2000 NIS per month to obtain a work permit to Israel.  In light of the unstable conditions of work
and at approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 26 October 2013, I arrived with a group
of workers at the woodland of al-Waljah village, northwest of Bethlehem, where
we waited till 13:30 when we were sure that there were no Israeli patrols in
the area.  We headed 500 meters to the
north of the woodland till we arrived at an abandoned old house, where we were
surprised by 5 soldiers who were only about 15 meters away and asked us to
stop.  At that moment, we turned around
and ran in different directions to move away from the place as much as
possible.  I then fell at the distance of
100 meters in the woodland because of the rugged land and when I tried to stand
up, 2 soldiers grabbed me from the back and I fell onto the ground.  They started non-stop beating me with the
rifle butts on the upper part of my back. 
Minutes later, the three other soldiers arrived, and they all started
kicking me with their feet, gun butts and clubs all over my body.  I put my hands on my head to avoid any hit on
it, but in vain.  One of the soldiers hit
me on my head with a club he was carrying. 
I lost consciousness and could not control myself, so I fell to the
ground.  Minutes later, I tried to stand
up and walk without knowing what happened to me and if the soldiers left.  I attempted to crawl then stand up to walk on
my feet, but I felt severe pain in my head, right foot and back.  I crossed a distance of 300 meters until I
got to a car I found in the woodland that transports workers.  The driver helped me get into the car, and I
told him to drive me home.  He then asked
me about my family number, and I talked to my brother, ‘Ayed (32).  I told him that I would be at the northern
entrance of Hebron “al-Nabi Younis.” 
Shortly after the phone call, the driver took me there, and I waited for
minutes when my brother came and took me with a civilian car to the Hebron
Governmental Hospital, where I received first aid and was taken for an
x-ray.  They found out that there is an
injury in my right thigh, swelling in the head and clear bruises in the
back.  I stayed at hospital for two days,
and till this moment I still suffer difficulty when standing and moving.  I also feel dizzy and pains in the right foot
due to the injury in my right thigh”

 

At approximately 11:00 on Wednesday,
30 October 2013, Israeli forces deployed in the old city neighorhoods detained
Mahmoud ‘Abbad Na’im al-Rajabi (13), and Nour Ahmed Shehdah al-Zarou (12) under
the pretext of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers.  A couple of hours later, they were handed to
the Palestinian Military Liaison at Checkpoint “56” established at
the entrance of al-Shuhada Street.

 

5. Effort to Create Jewish Majority in occupied East
Jerusalem

On Monday morning, 28 October 2013, Israeli border
guards and police, accompanied by municipal employees and a huge bulldozer
moved into Ashqariya neighbourhood, in Beit Hanina town north of occupied
Jerusalem. They surrounded a residential building belonging to Amin Rushdi
Shweiki and the bulldozer started demolishing the building.
The residential building consists of 4 floors (4 apartments of about 180 square
meters). 20 persons, including children and women, live in the building that
was established 10 years ago. The family tried vainly to get building permit,
because of the deterrent conditions the Israeli municipality imposes, in
addition to the notices they received many times. Israeli forces claimed that
Shweiki’s house is established illegally under the pretext of not getting a
permit.

 

On Wednesday, 30 October 2013, Israeli border guards
and police, accompanied by municipal employees and a huge bulldozer moved into
Beit Hanina town, in the northern occupied Jerusalem. They surrounded a
building belonging to Ayman Qarrash and the bulldozer started to raze the
building. The residential building consists of 3 floors, including the first
one (4 shops and 3 apartments where 8 persons live), as for the second and the
third floors, they were still under construction. Qarrash said that municipal
crews came without prior warning, as the family started building it about a
year ago, and they never received any notices or demolition warnings. They were
surprised that Israeli bulldozers were destroying the markets and ordering
civilians to get out of their houses without allowing them to take their
furniture or their personal needs.

 

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

 

Settlement expansion activities and house
demolition notices

At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 24 October 2013, Israeli forces
accompanied by several military vehicles, moved into eastern Barta’a village,
which is isolated from its vicinity because of the annexation wall, west of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets and broke into a park that is under construction,
belonging to Barta’a Cooperative Society, where Israeli soldiers handed the
workers a notice to stop construction works claiming that they did not get a
permit. Later on, Israeli forces withdrew and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 9:00 on Thursday, 24 October 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by
two military vehicles and a vehicle of the Department of Planning and
Construction of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into Qanan al-Nayas
area, in the southern al-Shoyoukh village, east of Hebron. An Israeli Civil
Administration officer handed two Palestinian civilians notices to stop
construction works of a 200-meter house belonging to Adnan Khalil Halayqa; and
another 150-meter house belonging to Ahmed Muhammed Issa Qaddoum. Both notices
gave them time till 10 November 2013 to handle their legal matters in the
Israeli competent courts.

 

It is worth mentioning that Qanan al-Nayas
area witnesses frequent violations by the    Israeli authorities, including handing notices
to prevent Palestinian civilians from expanding their houses, while they allow
the settlers of “Asfar” settlement to expand their property at the expense of
the civilians’ lands.

 

At approximately 9:00 on Monday, 28 October
2013, Israeli forces accompanied by three military vehicles and a vehicle of
the Department of Planning and Construction of the Israeli Civil
Administration, moved into Suba area in the northwest of Dora, southwest of
Hebron. An Israeli Civil Administration Officer handed Palestinian civilians
three notices to stop construction work in of a 470-meter shed made of bricks
and tinplate, used for sheep farming, a 90-meter shed, used as a store of
fodders, and a 4-meter room of bricks. It is noted that these facilities are
part of a project implemented by Ethna Cooperative Society for Livestock
Development which was created three months ago and benefits many families.

 

At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 28 October 2013, Israeli forces,
accompanied by three military vehicles and a vehicle of the Department of
Planning and Construction of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into
al-Deirat village to the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron. An Israeli
Civil Administration Officer handed two Palestinian civilians notices to stop
the construction work of a 184-meter mosque in the village and a 200-meter
house belonging to Nasser Muhammed Ibrahim al-‘Adra, 43. Israeli authorities
gave them time till 14 November 2013 to handle their legal matters in the
Israeli competent courts.

At approximately 16:00 on the same day, Israeli forces, accompanied by
two military vehicles and a vehicle of the Department of Planning and
Construction of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into Deirat village to
the east Yatta village, south of Hebron. An Israeli Civil Administration
Officer handed Rashed Muhammed Khalil al-‘Adra a notice to stop construction
work on a 40-meter agricultural caravan.

 

At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 29 October 2013, Israeli forces,
accompanied by three military vehicles and a vehicle of the Department of the
Planning and Construction of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into Wad
Aziz area in the west of Ethna village, west of Hebron. An Israeli Civil
Administration Officer handed Muhammed Ahmed Hassan Farajallah, 67, two notices
to stop construction work on a 400-meter shed used for poultry farming, and a
550-meter shed, used for poultry farming. They gave him time until 24 November
2013 to handle their legal matters with the Israeli competent authorities.

 

· Attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and
their property

On Friday morning, 25 October 2013, a group of Israeli
settlers from Kiryat Arbaa’ settlement, attacked the family of Muhammed Ali
al-Qeimari, 50, while they were coming back home, in Wad al-Hussain area in the
east of Hebron.
The aforementioned civilian stated to a PCHR fieldworker:

“I live in Wad al-Hussain area in the east of Hebron, about 200m away from Kiryat
Arbaa’ settlement. My family consists of seven members including Khaled, 23, my
eldest son, who suffers from a mental disorder, and Aya, 4, the youngest one.
Our house is located to the west of the aforementioned settlement. On Friday,
25 October 2013, my sisters were at my house. At approximately 16:00, I went
out to take my sisters’ home, in the center of the city. My wife, Ramziya, 43,
and my daughter were also with me. We went to al-Muhawwal checkpoint which is
called “Jaa’fat Hafoul”, where I usually park my car as Israeli forces prevent
us from entering the area with our cars. At approximately 17:00, we were going
back home, and while we were walking we saw an Israeli, about 18 years old,
standing  near a tent the settlers built
about ten years ago, in front of the entrance of the settlement. We were
surprised that the settler approached us, spit on us, and verbally abused us. I
told him in Hebrew: “Stop it, shame on you”, but he didn’t stop and started to
shout. A group of settlers gathered in the place when an Israeli soldier came
and prevented them from reaching us, before an Israeli settler shouted: “Beat
them!” The settlers tried to attack us, but a number of Israeli soldiers
arrived and prevented them from doing so. We continued walking towards our
house, which is about 100m from the main road, while the settlers were pushing,
kicking, shouting and verbally abusing us. When we approached one of the
sub-entrances, one of the settlers hit my wife on the head so she shouted of
pain. He then tried to take off her veil, while other settlers were spraying
tear gas on us. Khaled, my 23-year old son, tried to prevent the settlers from
attacking us, but they pushed him to the ground. Many settlers gathered in the
place and a number of Israeli military patrols arrived and prevented settlers
from reaching us, and some women helped my wife keep away from the place.
Following the incident, an Israeli officer came and said: “I need your son
Khaled”.  I said: “Why”, he said: “I want
to arrest him”. “Here he is, arrest him” I said. But when Khaled approached,
the officer realized he has mentally disabled, so he left him. Some soldiers
gave us first-aid, and 45 minutes later, an ambulance arrived and we were taken
to Hebron Governmental Hospital, where we received medical treatment. My wife
suffered from pain in the neck in addition to eye redness due to the tear gas
they sprayed. We left the hospital two hours later.”

 

At approximately 9:00 on Saturday, 26 October 2013, a
group of about 10 Israeli settlers from the Israeli outpost “Adi Ad”,
established on Palestinian civilian lands, in the northwest of Maghir village,
northeast of Ramallah, attacked a number of Palestinian farmers while they were
cropping olives, from lands near the aforementioned outpost. As a result,
Yasser Kamal Abdullah Na’ssan, 30, sustained serious injuries in the head and
the right hand, in addition to bruises in the left hand. His video camera that
was recording the attack and the front glass of his car were also broken.

Yasser Kamal Na’ssan stated to a PCHR fieldworker:

“While I was working along with six farmers cropping
olives from the land of my uncle, Ratib Abdullah Na’ssan, 65, who owns a
50-dunum agricultural land in Bab al-Kharjiya area in the northwest of Maghir
village which is about 1Km from Adi Ad outpost, established on the lands of
Maghir and Turmus’ayya villages, northeast of Ramallah. The land contains about
2,000 olive trees of about 25-30 years old. At approximately 09:00, I saw 10
masked settlers; some of them were holding sharp tools and iron bars. They
approached us and stopped about half a kilo meter form us. Minutes later, they
approached and threw stones at us, so I immediately started recording the
incident using a video camera belonging to B’Tselem Centre, and my cousin was
standing beside me. Two of them, one with an iron bar and the other one with a
broken glass bottle, brutally beat me and broke the camera. The attack lasted for
about 5-10 minutes, which caused me serious injuries in the head and the right
hand. The other settlers continued to throw stones at the farmers, and stole
the ladders and equipment we used to crop olives. Few minutes later, Israeli
forces arrived with the stolen equipment and asked us to leave the place, but
we refused. 20 minutes later, Israeli forces and the Israeli liaison arrived,
while I was still bleeding. They asked me to go to the Israeli police station
“Benjamin” to submit a complaint, but they did not conduct any field
investigation. My cousin then arrived and took me to the medical centre in
Maghir village, from which I was taken to the medical centre in Turmus’ayya.
After receiving first-aid and getting an x-ray for my head, I was transferred
the Palestinian Medical Complex in Ramallah. I had a deep wound and got 7
sutures in the head and two others in the right hand, in addition to bruises in
the left hand. At approximately 14:00, I went back home and knew that settlers
smashed the front glass of my cousin’s car (Toyota Tundra 1996). At
approximately 12:00 on the next day, I went to Benjamin Police Station and
submitted a complaint.”

 

At approximately 9:00 on Saturday, a large number of
Israeli settlers stormed, under the protection of Israeli forces, the markets
of the old town in the center of Hebron, provoked Palestinian civilians and
verbally abused them. Many settlers also gathered in the vicinity of the
Ibrahimi Mosque to celebrate “Shaabat Shayye Sarah”, while Israeli authorities
prevented Palestinian worshippers from reaching it.

 

On the same day evening, Israeli settlers from Efrat
settlement, established on the lands of Khadr town, in the southern Bethlehem,
sit fire to about 70 olive trees, and uprooted and stole about 15 other almond
trees, in Lamish area, in the south of the town. The land’s owner, Muhammed
Moussa Da’ou’, told a PCHR field worker that he went to  his land on Sunday, 27 October 2013, to find
that the trees were set on fire and uprooted by Israeli settlers.

At approximately 8:45 on Monday, 28 October 2013,
three Israeli settlers from “Ma’ali Labunah” settlement, established on
Palestinian civilian land, in the northwest of Sanjal village, north of
Ramallah, attacked a number of Palestinian farmers while they were cropping olives
on their lands near the aforementioned settlement. As a result, Muhammed
Ibrahim Muhammed Faqha, 48, sustained bruises under the left eye and was
arrested by Israeli forces that arrived at the place, claiming that he attacked
one of the settlers and hit him above the eye with a handsaw. He was taken to
Benjamin police station, but was released at approximately 15:30 on the same
day.

 

At approximately 10:30 on Wednesday, 30 October 2013,
dozens of Israeli settlers form the settlements near Hab Al-Thib area, near
al-Fraidis Mountain in the east of Bethlehem, surrounded activists of the
Popular Resistance and international activists while they were working on
Palestinian civilians’ lands. Hassan Brijiya told a PCHR fieldworker that
dozens of Israeli settlers surrounded them while they were on the land and
prevented them from working. Israeli forces then arrived and took the settlers
out of the land.

 

 

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

Public Document

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