A
greenhouse in Khan Yunis bombarded by Israeli warplanes, 30 October 2011

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

 

12
Palestinian resistance activists were killed and 5 others were wounded by
Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.

3
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded by IOF in the Gaza
Strip.

 

Israeli
war planes launched 17 air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip.

A
country house, a room and two containers were destroyed and a number of houses,
shops and fields were damaged.

 

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

A
Palestinian civilian was wounded.

Dozens
of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from
tear gas inhalation.

 

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

Israeli
naval troops arrested two Palestinian fishermen.

.

IOF
conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a
limited one into the Gaza Strip.   

IOF
arrested 8 Palestinians.

IOF
used a dog to attack a Palestinian civilian.

 

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

Israeli soldiers arrested 5
Palestinian civilians, including a child, at various checkpoints in the West
Bank.

 

Israel
has continued measures aimed at creating a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.

The
Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem exerts pressure to accelerate the
establishment of a biblical park in Silwan village.

IOF
demolished 3 houses in al-Khan al-Ahmar area.

 

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

Israeli
settlers attacked Palestinian farmers while cropping olives in the West Bank.

An
old woman was injured near Ramallah.

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (27 October – 02 November 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF
escalated attacks on the Gaza Strip. 
Israeli warplanes launched 17 air strikes against various targets.  As a result of these attacks, 12 Palestinian
resistance activists were killed 5 others were wounded.  Additionally, 3 civilians, including a child,
were wounded. 

 

On 29 October 2011, Israeli
warplanes bombarded a training site of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of
Islamic Jihad) in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.  As a result, 5 resistance activists were
killed. 

 

On the same day, an Israeli warplane
fired a missile at two activists of the al-Quds Brigades also in Rafah.  The two activists were killed. 

 

On the same day, an Israeli warplane
fired a missile at two activists of the al-Quds Brigades in the west of Gaza
City.  The two activists were killed.

 

On 30 October 2011, an Israeli
warplane fired a missile at two activists of the National Resistance Brigades
(the armed wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine) in
Rafah.  An activist was killed and the
other one was seriously wounded. 

 

On the same day, Israeli warplanes
fired 3 missiles at 3 activists of al-Ansar Brigades (the armed wing of
al-Ahrar Movement) in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis.  Two activists were killed.

 

On 27 October 2011, a Palestinian
shepherd was wounded by Israeli gunfire in the southeast of Rafah. 

 

On 29 October 2011, a Palestinian
resistance activist and a child were wounded when an Israeli warplane fired a
missile at a number of activists of the al-Quds Brigades in the central Gaza Strip. 

 

During the reporting period, Israeli
warplanes bombarded a number of civilian targets in the Gaza Strip.  As a result of these strikes, a country house
and tow containers were destroyed and a number of houses, shops and farms were
damaged.

 

On 27 October 2011, Israeli naval
troops arrested two Palestinian fishermen in the southern Gaza Strip.    

 

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. 

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 56 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 8 Palestinian
civilians.     

 

On
28 October 2011, IOF used a dog to attack a Palestinian civilian in Beit Ummar
town, north of Hebron.  The civilian was
injured and was then arrested by IOF.

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted a limited incursion into the 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 52 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.

 

Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in Jerusalem:

 

On
30 October 2011, the Israeli media report that a plan to establish the biblical
“King Park” in Silwan village to the south of the old town of Jerusalem would
be approved soon.  Under the plan, 22
Palestinian houses in the village would be demolished.  According to the Israeli media, the Israeli Mayor
of Jerusalem exerts pressure on the District Committee of Construction and
Organization to approve the plan. 

 

On
31 October 2011, IOF demolished 3 Palestinian houses in al-Khan al-Ahmar area
in the northeast of Jerusalem. 

 

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 31 October 2011, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Maghroun” settlement, which stands on the lands of
Mikhmas village, southeast of Ramallah, threw stones at ‘Aa’esha Mohammed Abu
‘Ali, 78.  As a result, she was injured
in the head and the right hand. 

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (27 October – 02 November 2011)

 

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

 

Thursday, 27 October 2011

 

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

 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli
warplanes fired two missiles at a 50-square-meter agricultural house belonging
to Saleem Jalal al-Farra, 41, in Wadi al-Salqa village to the east of the
central Gaza Strip town of Deir al-Balah. 
The house was completely destroyed and 10 olive trees belonging to
al-Farra and 5 nearby houses were damaged.

 

Also at approximately 03:30, Israeli
gunboats stationed opposite to Khan Yunis beach in the south of the Gaza Strip
arrested two Palestinian fishermen: Ahmed ‘Omar Rannira, 21; and Mousa Ibrahim
Abu Jayab, 42, both from Deir al-Balah. 
They also confiscated the fishing boat.

 

At approximately 03:40, Israeli
warplanes launched 3 air strikes on targets in the west of the southern Gaza
Strip town of Khan Yunis, which resulted in the destruction of:

 

A container used for storage of
fishing equipment belonging to Mohammed Mahmoud Abu Shammala;

A 30-square-meter room belonging to
Nayef Abu Shammala in Asdaa’ Media City; and

A container on a space area.

 

At approximately 03:45, an Israeli
warplane fired a missile at a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades
(the armed wing of Hamas) in the west of the central Gaza Strip town of Deir
al-Balah.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into
al-Yamoun village, northwest of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 12:30, IOF moved
into Seilat al-Harthiya village, northwest of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:30, IOF moved
into Jenin.  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, Israeli
soldiers stationed on an observation tower near Karm Abu Salem (Kerem) Shalom
crossing at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at Mustafa
‘Aayesh Ermailat, 33, who was grazing animals on the land of Gaza International
Airport in the southeast of Rafah, nearly 800 meters from the border.  He was wounded by a bullet to the left hand.

 

At approximately 16:20, 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 16:45, IOF moved
into Jayous village, northeast 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 18:20, IOF moved
into NabiElias village, east of Qalqilya. 
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 21:30, IOF moved
into Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm.  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.

 

At approximately 23:40, IOF moved
into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  They
raided and searched 3 houses, claiming that stones had been thrown at the main
road near the village.  They withdrew
later and no arrests were reported.

 

Friday,
28 October 2011

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli gunboats opened fire at a small
fishing boat belonging to ‘Eissa Ramdan Abu ‘Amira, 52, which was sailing
nearly 3 nautical miles off Gaza seashore. 
The boat was heavily damaged, but no casualties were reported.

 

Also 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 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 14:00, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest
of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Zaher
village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled
in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into the main road of Dura town,
south of Hebron.  They patrolled in the
street and chased and fired sound bombs at a number of Palestinian
civilians.  A number of Palestinian boys
threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. 
IOF unleashed dogs to chase the boys. 
Soon, 5 Israeli soldiers moved towards Baher Shareef Abu Ras, 20, when
he was in front of his house.  They
unleashed a dog, which attacked him and bit his right foot.  Soon after, the soldiers violently beat
him.  He sustained injuries and
bruises.  They then arrested him.

 

At approximately 16:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Saturday, 29 October 2011

 

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

 

At approximately 13:15, Israeli warplanes fired 3 missiles at a
training site of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) known
as Muhajer (Immigrant) located in a former Israeli settlement in the
western part of Rafah, a town in southern Gaza Strip. As a result, 5
activists of the al-Quds Brigades were killed:

 

1. Ahmed Khalil al-Sheikh Khalil, 36, from Rafah;

2. Mohammed Ahmed ‘Aashour, 26, from Khan Yunis;

3. ‘Abdul Karim Mousa Shatat (al-Masri), 30, from Khan Yunis;

4. Bassem Mohammed Abu al-‘Ata, 33, from Gaza City; and

5. Hassan Mohammed al-Khudari, 27, from Gaza City. 

 

Additionally, 3 activists were moderately wounded.  Following the attack, IOF took responsibility
for it, and an IOF spokesman claimed that the Israeli air force launched air
strikes in the context of an operation, in which the Israeli Internal Security
Service was involved, against a cell of Islamic Jihad accused of launching Grad
rockets at Israeli towns. 

 

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 17:15, 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 18:00, 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.

 

At approximately 20:30, n Israeli warplane fired a missile at two
activists of the al-Quds Brigades while they were walking near al-Murabetin
Mosque in al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah. The two activists
were instantly killed. They were identified as:

 

1. Suleiman Mahrous Abu Fatma, 21; and

2. Sami Hamad Abu Sabt, 23, both from Rafah. 

 

A civilian bystander, ‘Essam Mohammed Abu Qershain, 36, was
moderately wounded by shrapnel. 

 

At approximately 21:45, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a
number of activists of the al-Quds Brigades, south of Wadi al-Salqa, a village
located east of the central Gaza Strip town of Deir al-Balah. The missile
landed near a house, and wounded an activist. Additionally, 15-year-old
Rawand Tayseer Abu Mughassib, was lightly wounded in the left hand while she
was on her way to her grandmother’s house in the area, according to her
father. Three houses were also damaged in the attack.

 

At approximately 22:30, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at two
activists of the al-Quds Brigades who were near the landing ground located near
Ansar security compound in the west of Gaza City. The two activists were
instantly killed. They were identified as:

 

1. Mardi Nahidh Mohammed Hajjaj, 24; and

2. Suhail Ibrahim Jundiya, 27, both from al-Shuja’iya neighborhood
in Gaza City.

 

Also at approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Beit Qad village,
northeast of Jenin.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Faqqou’a village, east
of Jenin.  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.

 

Sunday, 30 October 2011

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Leed village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:35, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a
training site of al-Ahrar Movement in the evacuated Israeli settlements in the
west of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis.  The site was damaged, but no casualties were
reported.

 

At approximately 02:40, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a
police station in the evacuated Israeli settlements in the west of Khan
Yunis.  The site was damaged, but no
casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 03:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a
space area of land belonging to the Maqat family in al-Nafaq Street in the
center of Gaza City.  A number of nearby
houses and shops were damaged.

 

Also at approximately 03:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at
a farm in al-Qaraman Street in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit
Hanoun.  The missile made a crater, and
damaged two nearby farms:

 

1. 60 olive and citrus trees were uprooted, and water pipelines and
a part of the fence were destroyed in a farm belonging to Sofian Mousa Hamad;
and

2. 45 olive and citrus trees, water pipelines and a part of the
fence were destroyed in a farm belonging to ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Mustafa Hamad.

 

Additionally, a greenhouse belonging to Isma’il Mustafa ‘Abdul
Rahman was damaged.  

 

At approximately 03:35, an Israeli warplane fired two missiles at a
greenhouse in the evacuated Israeli settlements in the west of Khan Yunis.  The greenhouse was heavily damaged, but no
casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm town and refugee
camp.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, 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.

 

Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Sabah al-Kheir suburb,
west of Jenin.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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 11:25, IOF moved into Deir Ballout village, west
of Salfit.  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 Silwad village, northeast of
Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:45, IOF moved into Kufol Hares village, northwest
of Salfit.  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 15:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at two
activist of the National Resistance Brigades (the armed wing of the Democratic
Front for the Liberation of Palestine) while they were riding a motorcycle near
Gaza International Airport in the southeast of Rafah.  One of the activists, Ahmed ‘Ali Jarghoun,
25, was killed, and the other one was seriously wounded.

 

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.

 

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.

 

At approximately 23:45, Israeli warplanes fired 3 missiles at a
number of activists of al-Ansar Brigades (the armed wing of al-Ahrar Movement)
in the east of Ma’an village, east of Khan Yunis.  Two activists were killed:

 

1. ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Hussein al-‘Aqqad, 25; and

2. Yousef Rawhi Mahmoud Abu ‘Abdu, 21.

 

Also at approximately 23:45, IOF moved into Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and summoned Bilal Mohammed Hassan, 26, for interrogation.

 

Monday, 31 October 2011

 

At approximately 00:00, 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 01:15, an Israeli drone fired two missiles at a number
of Palestinian resistance activists in Tal al-Za’tar area in the northern Gaza
Strip town of Jabalya.  No casualties
were reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jayous village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Kufor Laqef village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and summoned Mukhtar Hussein ‘Abdul Qader, 40, and Tamer Rushdi
‘Assaf, 25, for interrogation.  They

 

At approximately 08:00, 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.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village,
northwest of Jenin.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Bal’a village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 01 November 2011

 

At approximately 00:05, IOF moved into Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Kufor Sour village, south of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Jalboun village, northeast
of Jenin.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Mohammed Tariq Abu al-Rub, 22, and arrested
him.

 

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

 

At approximately 02:45, IOF moved into Jenin.  The patrolled in the streets for some time
and arrested Yazan ‘Aatef al-Shayeb, 23.

 

At approximately 10:00, Israeli aircraft hovering over the southern
Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis dropped warning flyers onto the town.  The flyers warned Palestinian civilian not to
get as close as to less than 300 meters from the border between the Gaza Strip
and Israel, otherwise they would be endangered, including being shot.  A map was placed under the warning.  On the back of flyers, there was a message
warning civilians of those who launch rockets. 
It also included a phone number and an e-mail address asking civilian to
provide information via them.

 

Wednesday, 02 November 2011

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee
camp and al-Sikka Street, northwest of Nablus. 
They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian
civilians:

 

1. Ahmed ‘Ali Khabbas, 22;

2. Nidal Mohammed Qattawi, 21;

3. Zahi Na’im Shabaru, 21; and

4. Fathallah ‘Alaa’ al-Din Fathallah, 24.

 

At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into ‘Awarta village, south of
Jenin.  They raided and searched a number
of houses and arrested Hani ‘Abdul Latif Darawsha, 38.

 

At approximately 06:00, IOF moved nearly 150 meters into the east
of Wadi al-Salqa village to the east of the central Gaza Strip town of Deir
al-Balah.   They leveled areas of
Palestinian land.  They redeployed
outside the area two hours later and no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation
towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at
Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials in the
industrial zone, southwest of the crossing. 
The worker fled and no casualties 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, a Palestinian
civilian was wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights
defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. 

       

Following the Friday Prayer on 28 October 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 portraits
of Marwan al-Barghouthi and Ahmed Sa’adat, Members of the Palestinian
Legislative Council who have been detained by IOF.  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, ‘Eissa
Abu Rahma, 42, was hit by a tear gas canister to the right hand, and a number
of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

  

Also following the Friday Prayer on 28 October 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 28 October 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 callling 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, a number of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises. 

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 28 October 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village,
northwest of Qalqilya, in protest to continued closure of the eastern entrance
of the village by IOF.  IOF intercepted
the demonstration and fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
demonstrators.  As a result, a number of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 11:15 on Tuesday, 01 November 2011, Israeli
soldiers stationed on observation towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the
northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians and
international solidarity activists who demonstrated near the crossing.  According to Saber al-Za’anin, Coordinator of
the Local Initiative in Beit Hanoun, stated that once the demonstrators got as
close as to 70 meters from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel and
placed the Palestinian flag on a hill, Israeli soldiers opened fire at
them.  No casualties were reported.  

 

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

26 October
– 01 November 2011

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

26 October
– 01 November 2011

 

Imports:

 

 

Notes:

 

On Wednesday, 26 October 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 280 tons of
cement, 2,520 tons of construction aggregate and 243 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA; 40 tons of cement for ANERA; and 194 tons of cement and 32 tons of
construction steel for UNDP.  They also
allowed the entry of 1,404 tons of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 27 October 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 2,310 tons
of construction aggregate for UNRWA. 
They also allowed the entry of 1,599 tons of fodders.

 

On Monday, 31 October 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 400 tons of
cement, 218 tons of construction steel and 2,520 tons of construction aggregate
for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry
of 1,520 tons of wheat.

 

· IOF closed the crossing on Sunday, 30 October 2011, for security
claims.

 

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

19 –
25 October 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 10:30 on Thursday, 27 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
on the road linking between Bitounia town and Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa town, west of
Ramallah.  At approximately 19:30 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint at ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya intersection on
Nablus-Ramallah road.  At approximately
20:00, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of
Ramallah.  At approximately 08:30 on
Friday, 28 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa
intersection, southwest of Ramallah.  At
approximately 09:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance
of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. 
At approximately 10:00, IOF established a checkpoint under Kharabtha
al-Misbah Bridge, west of Ramallah.  At
approximately 19:00 on Friday, 21 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on
the road liking between Silwad and al-Mazra’a al-Sharqiya villages, northeast
of Ramallah.  At approximately 09:00 on
Saturday, 29 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi
Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  At
approximately 10:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint on the road
linking between Bitounia town and Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa town, west of
Ramallah.  At approximately 17:00 on the
same day, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of
Ramallah.  At approximately 09:50 on
Sunday, 30 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kufor
‘Ein village, northwest of Ramallah.  At
approximately 10:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at al-Taybeh
intersection, northeast of Ramallah.   

 

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 27 October 2011, IOF established 4
checkpoints around the town.  On Friday, 28
October 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town.  On Saturday, 29 October 2011, IOF established
4 checkpoints around Qalqilya.  On Monday,
31 October 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around Qalqilya.  At approximately 05:00 on Tuesday, 01
November 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of
Qalqilya.                           

 

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 17:00 on Monday, 31 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on
Tulkarm-Qalqilya road, south of Tulkarm. 
     

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 27 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of al-Yamoun village, northwest of Jenin.  At approximately 11:30 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at Beit Qad intersection, east of the town.  At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 29
October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Araqa
village, west of Jenin.  At approximately
20:00 on Sunday, 30 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance
of ‘Aanin village, northwest of Jenin. 
At approximately 10:30 on Monday, 31 October 2011, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Zbbouba village, northwest of Jenin.    

 

Salfit:  IOF have continued
to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 10:10 on Saturday, 29
October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Deir Estia – Qeira road,
northwest of Salfit.  At approximately
18:05 on Sunday, 30 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance
of Eskaka village, east of Salfit.  At
approximately 19:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint on Brouqin –
Kufor al-Dik road, west of Salfit.  At
approximately 07:40 on Monday, 31 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on
Salfit – Brouqin road, west of Salfit. 

 

Jericho: IOF have continued to impose additional restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.   At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 27 October
2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the southern entrance of Jericho.    

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 06:00 on Saturday, 29 October 2011, Israeli
soldiers positioned at a checkpoint established at Beit ‘Ainoun intersection,
east of Hebron, arrested 3 Palestinian civilians from al-Zahiriya village,
southwest of Hebron.  The soldiers
stopped the car in which the three civilians were traveling and arrested them:

 

1. ‘Abdul Halim Mohammed Wraidat, 25;

2. ‘Odai Hashem Abu ‘Allan, 21; and

3. Ma’ath Radi Khdairat, 18.

 

At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 31 October 2011, IOF established
a checkpoint on Tulkarm – Qalqilya road, south of Tulkarm.  They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles and arrested Bilal Mahmoud al-Hatta, 30, a taxi driver.

 

At approximately 16:30 also on Monday, Israeli soldiers positioned
at Kufor Qassem crossing arrested Ramzi Mohammed ‘Affouni, 24.  ‘Affouni and his father lost their way and
traveled towards the crossing and they were transporting goods.  Israeli soldiers searched their vehicle and
found an old knife in it, so they arrested ‘Affouni.

 

At approximately 15:30 on Friday, 21 October 2011, IOF arrested 4
Palestinian civilians when they were on fields in Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron, claiming that they were present in a closed military zone:

 

1. Saleem Mohammed ‘Aadi, 40;

2. Mohammed Mufleh ‘Aadi, 35;

3. Mufleh Mohammed ‘Aadi, 18; and

4. Jamal Mohammed ‘Aai, 15.

 

4. Efforts
to Create a Jewish Majority in East Jerusalem

 

Israeli
occupation authorities have continued to make persistent efforts to create a
Jewish majority in East Jerusalem and expel Palestinian civilians in the
city. 

 

On
Sunday, 30 October 2011, the Israeli media report that a plan to establish the
biblical “King Park” in Silwan village to the south of the old town of
Jerusalem would be approved soon.  Under
the plan, 22 Palestinian houses in the village would be demolished.  According to the Israeli media, in spite of
international opposition for the plan, the Israeli Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir
Barkat, exerts pressure on the District Committee of Construction and
Organization to approve the plan.  The
legal advisor of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem has threatened the
committee to resort to the Israeli Supreme Court of it does not approve the
plan soon.

 

On
Monday noon, 31 October 2011, IOF demolished 3 Palestinian houses in al-Khan
al-Ahmar area in the northeast of Jerusalem. 
The houses belong to Mohammed, Suleiman and Salman Ba’ran. 

 

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

 

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

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Monday, 31 October 2011, a number of Israeli settlers
from “Maghroun” settlement, which stands on the lands of Mikhmas village,
southeast of Ramallah, threw stones at ‘Aa’esha Mohammed Abu ‘Ali, 78.  As a result, she was injured in the head and
the right hand.  The settlers attacked
the old women in al-Hilwa area in the west of the village, when she was
cropping olives.  Palestinian farmers
called an ambulance which evacuated her to Ramallah Hospital.

 

………………………………………………………

 

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 (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8
282 4776 – 282 5893).