Hebron – Israeli soldiers arrested an international
solidarity activist during a demonstration in commemoration of the Palestinian
Land Day in al-Mafghara village

 

Israeli Forces Continue
Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the occupied
Palestinian territory oPt

      

 

The Israeli
forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians and wounded a third one in Anabta
village, east of Tulkarm.

 

A child and a
boy were wounded during an incursion into Hebron.

 

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

An
Irish journalist was wounded in al-Nabi Saleh protest while a Palestinian
civilian was wounded in Kofur Qaddoum protest.

A
Palestinian boy was wounded during a peaceful protest in the center of Hebron,
in protest to the death of the Palestinian prisoner Abu Hamdiya.

6
Palestinian civilian, including 4 children and a photojournalist, were asrrested.

 

The Israeli forces
conducted 65 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

30
Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a woman, were arrested.

 

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

During the reporting period, the border
crossings between the Gaza Strip and Israel were completely closed for 4 days.

The Israeli forces established dozens of
checkpoints in the West Bank.

5
Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were arrested at checkpoints.

 

The Israeli
forces have continued to attack the Palestinian fishermen in the sea and
conducted 2 airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

The
Israeli forces continued to fire at Palestinian fishing boats to force them to
sail within the 3 nautical-mile limit only.

 

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

A
Jerusalemite was obliged to demolish a room attached to his house.

 

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

The
settlers uprooted 200 olive seedlings in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.

The
settlers continued their attacks against the Palestinian civilians and their
property.

 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt
continued during the reporting period 28 March – 03 April 2013:

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, the
Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians and wounded 5 others, including a
child and an Irish journalist, in the West Bank.  In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces
continued to fire at the Palestinian fishing boats in order to minimize the
allowed fishing area to 3 nautical miles instead of 6 nautical miles.  Moreover, the Gaza Strip witnessed 2
airstrikes on an agricultural facility and an open land.   

 

In the West Bank, in an excessive
use of lethal force, the Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians and
wounded a third one in Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. This happened when the
Israeli forces stationed at Annab checkpoint, east of the said village, opened
fire at a group of boys protesting in the vicinity of the checkpoint.

 

On 29 March 2013, an 18-year-old boy
was wounded by a bullet to the right leg and another 13-year-old child was
wounded by a bullet to the right side of his head when an Israeli infantry unit
moved into the center of Hebron.

 

During the reporting period, the
Israeli forces continued to systematically use excessive force against peaceful
protests organized by Palestinians and Israeli and international activists against
the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West
Bank.  As a result, Tommy, 70, an Irish
journalist, was wounded by a bullet to the right hand in al-Nabi Saleh protest,
northeast of Ramallah.  Besides, a
protestor was hit by a gas canister to the pelvis in Kofur Qaddoum protest,
northeast of Qalqilia.  Dozens of protesters
also suffered from tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises.

 

In the same context, the Palestinian
civilians organized many peaceful protests in solidarity with the Palestinian
prisoners in the Israeli jails, especially those on hunger strike.  Other protests were organized to mark the 37
anniversary of the Land Day.  Further,
many protest were organized following the death of the Palestinian prisoner
Maysara Abu Hamdiya, who suffered from cancer, at Soroka hospital in Beersheba
in Israel. The Israeli forces used excessive force, as a result, a 20-year-old
young man was wounded by a bullet to the right leg.  Besides, many civilians suffered from tear
gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli
forces continued to chase the Palestinian fishermen in the sea.  PCHR’s fieldworkers documented 2 shooting
incidents on 28 and 30 March 2013 on Palestinian fishing boats that were
sailing 3 nautical miles off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the
north of the Gaza Strip.  As a result of
the attacks, the fishermen were forced to flee back to the shore fearing of
being wounded or arrested.  However,
neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

It should be noted that on Thursday,
21 March 2013, the Israeli forces declared minimizing the allowed fishing area
from 6 to 3 nautical miles, as the Israeli forces allowed fishermen to sail up
to 6 nautical miles following the cease-fire agreement between Hamas and Israel
in November 2012.

 

Additionally, 2 airstrikes were
launched on Gaza City and the north of the Gaza Strip targeting an open land, a
green house and a water well.  No
casualties were reported, but the residents of the 2 areas were frightened as a
result.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, the Israeli forces conducted at least 65 military
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  During these incursions, the Israeli forces
arrested at least 30 Palestinians, including 3 children and a woman.

 

During
peaceful protests organized in the West Bank, the Israeli forces arrested 6
Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and Abdul Hafiz al-Hashlamoun, a
photojournalist at the European agency.   However, they were all released later.

 

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 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. 
Recently-declared measures to ease the closure are vague, purely
cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis; the root causes
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.  Palestinians in Gaza may no
longer suffer from the same shortage of goods but, as long as the closure is
allowed to continue, they will remain economically dependent, unable to care
for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the
rest of the world. 

 

The 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.

 

During the reporting period, the Israeli forces completely closed
the commercial border crossings between the Gaza Strip and Israel.  They closed Karm Abu Salem crossing for 4
consecutive days, because of the Jewish holidays.  This closure negatively affected the entry of
goods, construction materials and medical consignments in the Gaza Strip.  It also had a negative impact on the living
conditions of the Palestinian civilians. 
The Israeli forces also imposed comprehensive security restrictions due
to the Jewish Holiday of Passover.  As a
result, dozens of thousands of Palestinian workers were denied access to their
work in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem. 
Moreover, the Palestinian traders were denied access to Israel and/or
travel via the border crossings between the Gaza Strip and West Bank. 

 

Measures
to Create Jewish Majority in occupied East Jerusalem

 

At
the level of house demolitions, the Israeli forces obliged Tayseer Hussein Abu
al-Hawa, 59, to demolish a room attached to his house that is located in
al-Sowana neighborhood, east of the Old Town of Jerusalem.  This demolition was ordered by the Israeli
municipality under the pretext of not obtaining a construction permit for that
room.

 

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
Thursday, 28 March 2013, a group of settlers, under the protection of the
Israeli forces and military vehicles, raided the lands of Palestinian civilians
from Silat al-Thaher village, southern of Jenin, where the evacuated
“Homesh” settlement was established. 
According to local sources, dozens of settlers arrived at the scene in a
number of buses, accompanied by large units of the Israeli forces, where they
practiced some Talmudic rituals before withdrawing from the scene; no other
incidents were reported.

 

On
Friday, 29 March 2013, dozens of settlers coming from “Daniel”
settlement outpost established southern of al-Khader village, southern of
Bethlehem, uprooted 200 olive seedlings from al-Mustafy area, adjacent to the
settlement outpost.  The attacked land is
the property of Ahmed Nabhan Moussa (65).

 

On
Sunday, 31 March 2013, approximately 230 settlers, some of them armed, from
“Efrat” and “Gush Etzion” settlements, southern of
Bethlehem, raided Solomon pools area, western of Artas village, southwestern of
the city.  The settlers performed some
Talmudic rituals in the area, under the protection of Israeli forces.  Before withdrawing, the settlers threatened
that they will come back to the area on daily basis.

 

On
Sunday, a group of settlers from “Yitzhar” settlement, established on
Palestinian civilians’ lands southern of Nablus, threw stones at school buses
boarding students from Ramon School for Girls while on their way back to the
village, northeastern of Qalqilya, from a fieldtrip to the city.  As a result, 11-year-old Bushra Farah
Abdul-Qader Kohla sustained cuts in the right side of her face after a stone
hit her in the face.  Also, many others
sustained scratches because of the scattered glass.

 

On
Monday, 01 April 2013, a group of settlers from “Ovijal” settlement ,
established on Palestinian lands eastern of Yatta, southern of Hebron, attacked
Palestinian farmers and shepherds in Um al-‘Arayes area, eastern of the
city.  As a result, Jihad Salama Shihda Mkhamra
(45) sustained minor bruises after he fell while the settlers were chasing the
farmers.

 

Also
on Monday, a group of settlers from “Mitzpe Yair” and
“Ovijal” settlements, established on Palestinian lands in Be’r al-Ad
area, eastern of Yatta, attacked shepherds of al-Nawa’ja family and beat them.  The Israeli forces intervened when the
shepherds attempted to defend themselves and arrested Ziad Younis Abu-‘Aram
(55) and transported him to an unknown destination.

 

On
Tuesday, 02 April 2013, dozens of settlers from “Havat Maon”
settlement, established on Palestinian lands eastern of Yatta, attacked
Palestinian farmers while in their farms, eastern of al-Twana village and
addressed them with profane language and anti-Islam slogans.  The settlers expelled the farmers and
shepherds from the area, under the protection of the Israeli forces.

 

Also
on Tuesday, a number of settlers from “Maon” settlement, established
on Palestinian lands southern of Yatta, raided the farmlands in al-Hamra area,
eastern of Yatta and burned a number of olive trees belonging to Ibrahim Khalil
Mahmoud Rab’i (45).

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period 28 March – 03 April 2013

 

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

 

 

Thursday, 28 March 2013

 

At
approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm.  They raided and searched  a house belonging to the family of Ezz Eddin
Esam Abdul Jabbar Shreiteh, 22, and arrested him. 

 

At
approximately 03:00, the Israeli forces moved into Qbatya village, southeast of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 05:15, the Israeli forces moved into al-Rashayda village, east of
Bethlehem.  They raided a house belonging
to the family of Saber Awda Rashayda, 30, and arrested him and his brother
Sabri, 29.

 

At approximately
11:00, the Israeli forces moved into the Old Town of Hebron.  They raided and topped a number of houses. They
also imposed security restrictions under the pretext of ensuring the travel of
settlers to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover.  

 

At
approximately 11:30, the Israeli forces moved into Hares village, northwest of
Salfit.  They brought 5 Palestinian
children, who were arrested on 15 March 2013 when a settler had a car accident
on the main street due stones thrown at him according to the Israeli claim. The
Israeli forces obliged the 5 children to perform the incident of stone throwing
from the same place.  The arrested child,
Mohammed Mahdi Kleib, 17, was seen handcuffed at approximately 11:30 near
“Ariel” settlement.  The
Israeli soldiers removed his handcuffs and let him perform the incident.  Moreover, another arrested child named Ammar
Abed Nayef Souf, 16, was brought to the scene at approximately 16:00, and
performed the incident as well in the same place.  Ayyad Souf, the father of one of the arrested
children said that the 5 children were brought one by one from “Ariel”
settlement to perform the incident according to the arrested lawyer.

 

At
the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Ein Ereik village, west of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  No arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 14:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Aroub refugee camp, north
of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets
and stationed in the center of the camp. 
A number of boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who
in response fired rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs.  As a result, a number of civilians suffered
from tear gas inhalation.  The Israeli
forces withdrew later to the entrance of the refugee camp.

 

At
approximately 16:30, the Israeli gunboats stationed of al-Waha resort,
northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire sporadically at
the Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing 3 nautical miles of the shore
and attempted to go beyond this distance. 
As a result, the Palestinian fishermen fled back to the shore for fear
of being arrested or wounded.  However,
neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

At
approximately 17:30, the Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm from its eastern
side.  They patrolled the streets, where
some boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli forces, who in response
opened fire in the air and sound bombs to disperse the gathering.  The Israeli forces withdrew later, and
neither house raids nor arrests were reported. 
This incursion was conducted after reporting the disappearance of 2
Israeli soldiers in the area.

 

At
approximately 18:00, the Israeli forces moved into Anabta village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 18:30, the Israeli forces moved western Toura village, southwest
of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 19:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Arqa village, west of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 21:30, the Israeli forces moved into Ras Karkar village, northwest
of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 21:50, the Israeli forces moved into Harmala village, southeast
of Bethlehem.  They fired sound bombs and
tear gas canisters between the Palestinians’ houses.  The Israeli forces claimed that they moved
into this village after a group of Palestinian boys had threw stones at the
settlers’ cars passing in that area.

 

At
the same time, the Israeli forces moved into al-Ouja village, northeast of
Jericho.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.      

 

Friday, 29 March 2013

 

At
approximately 09:30, the Israeli forces moved into Sheqba village, west of
Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later; no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 14:00, an Israeli infantry unit moved into Bab al-Zawiya area in
the centre of Hebron.  They deployed
between stores, where dozens of young men gathered and threw stones and empty
bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired rubber-coated metal
bullets indiscriminately.  As a result,
an 18-year-old boy was wounded by a bullet to his right leg and another
13-year-old boy was wounded by a bullet to the right side of his head.  The two wounded were transported by a
Palestine Red Crescent Society’s (PRCS) ambulance to Hebron governmental
hospital to receive necessary medical treatment. 

 

At
approximately 15:00, the Israeli moved into al-‘Aqaba area, south of Doura,
south of Hebron.  They deployed between
the houses, where a number of boys gathered and threw stones at them.  The Israeli forces in response fired sound bombs
and rubber-coated metal bullets. As a result, some boys suffered from tear gas
inhalation.  The Israeli forces withdrew
later; neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately
15:30, the Israeli forces moved into Jenin. They patrolled the streets and
raided a house belonging to the family of Tawfiq Suleiman Ahmed Abu Mashayekh,
57.  The Israeli forces brought with them
Abu Mashayekh’s son, who was arrested on 20 March 2013, in cuffs. They searched
the house and confiscated identification papers and a pistol. The Israeli
forces withdrew and re-positioned in the eastern neighborhood of the city.  In the meanwhile, they raided a house
belonging to the family of Rami Ahmed Abdullah al-Sa’di, 23, and arrested him. 

 

At
the same time, the Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets,
where a number of boys gathered and threw stones at them.  The Israeli forces in response fired sound
bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets. As a result, some boys suffered from
tear gas inhalation.  The Israeli forces
withdrew later; neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 21:30, the Israeli forces moved into Kharsa village, southeast of
Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported. 

Saturday, 30 March 2013

 

At approximately 02:30, the Israeli
forces moved into Budrus village, west of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 05:30, the Israeli
forces moved into Marj Na’jah village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 06:30, the Israeli
gunboats positioned off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the
Gaza Strip, opened fire sporadically at the Palestinian fishing boats that were
sailing 3 nautical miles of the shore, as they attempted to go beyond the 3
nautical miles.  As a result the
fishermen fled back to the shore for fear of being arrested or wounded.  However, neither casualties nor material
damage were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, the Israeli
forces moved into Faqou’a village, northeast of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets and detained Adham
Ali Mahmoud Abu ‘Eid, 10.  The Israeli
forces released the child and withdrew later.

 

At approximately 11:30, the Israeli
forces moved into Beit ‘Our al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 20:00, the Israeli
forces moved into Fasayel village, northwest of Jericho.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 20:30, the Israeli
forces moved into Burham village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some and
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 21:00, the Israeli
forces moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets, where some boys
gathered and threw stones at the Israeli vehicles.  The Israeli soldiers in response fired sound
bombs at the stone throwers.  They
withdrew later; no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:30, the Israeli
forces moved into Deir Razeh, east of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.  

                                                            

Sunday, 31 March 2013

 

At approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into Housan
village, southwest of Bethlehem.  They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family
of Mohammed Samih Shousha, 18, and a house belonging to the family of Hosam
Ibrahim Hassan, 30, village, north of Hebron. 
They arrested the 2 aforementioned persons and transported them to an
unknown destination. 

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Beitounia village,
west of Ramallah.  They patrolled the
streets for some time and they withdrew at approximately 01:30.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:30, the Israeli forces moved into Kherbatha
al-Musbah village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, the Israeli forces moved into ‘Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets, detained many
Palestinian civilians for some time. 
They questioned them on the spot and released them later.

 

 

Monday,
01 April 2013

 

At
approximately 00:30, the Israeli forces moved into Qofein village, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and later withdrew.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

     

Tuesday,
02 April 2013

 

At
approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-Douha village, west of
Bethlehem.  They patrolled the streets
and a number of female soldiers raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Khaled Mahmoud Bedeir.  They
arrested Bedeir’s wife, Heba Bahjat Mahmoud Bedier, 27, and confiscated her
cell phone and a photo album.  It should
be noted that Bedier is a mother of 2 daughters.  She is sick and needs medical treatment.

 

At approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces
moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and raided a
number of houses.  They arrested 4
civilians and transported them to an unknown destination:

1. Abdul Hakim Abdul Nasser, 18;

2. Fares Wa’el ‘Ajarma, 26;

3. Ahmed Zain ‘Atta Jawabra, 16; and

4. Ezz Eddin Mohammed Abu Maria,18.

 

At
the same time, the Israeli forces moved into al-Hawooz area in the center of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Abdullah ‘Atta ‘Ebeido, 23, and arrested him.

 

At
the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Rummana village, northwest of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets and
raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Ghazi Farid
Mahajna, 22.  It should be noted that the
Israeli forces raided Mahajna’s house on Thursday, 21 December 2012, and
arrested his brother.  They raided the
house again on Thursday, 10 January 2013. 
The third time they raided the house was on 21 January 2013, when they
arrested his other brother.

 

At
approximately 02:35, the Israeli forces moved into Taqou’ village, southeast of
Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Tareq Mousa Ahmed Abu Mefreh, 24, and arrested
him.  The Israeli forces then raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Ayman Mohammed Mousa al-Badan, 22,
and arrested him.

 

At
approximately 09:00, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Leed village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time.  An eyewitness said to PCHR’s
fieldworker that the Israeli forces stopped some young persons, questioned them
on the spot and released them later. 
However, neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 12:30, an Israeli infantry unit moved into the vicinity of Tareq
Ben Ziad school and the Ibrahimi mosque in the Old Town of Hebron.  They fired sound bombs and gas canisters at
the school students while they were going home. 
As a result, a number of students suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

At
approximately 14:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Aroub refugee camp, north
of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets
and stationed in the center of the city. 
They deployed between the houses, as a result, residents of the area
were frightened.  Some boys gathered and
threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired sound bombs, tear
gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets. 
As a result, a number of civilians suffered from tear gas
inhalation.  The Israeli forces withdrew
later; neither house raids nor arrests were reported.  At approximately 18:00, a number of boys
gathered at the entrance of the refugee camp entrance and set fire to tires and
threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli forces, who in response fired
sound bombs and gas canisters.  As a
result, a number of boys suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

At
approximately 16:00, the Israeli forces moved into Mothallath al-‘Aqaba, east
of Doura in the southwest of Hebron. 
They patrolled the streets and deployed between the houses.  A number of boys gathered and threw stones at
the Israeli soldiers, who chased the boys in a nearby agricultural land and
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in
response.  As a result, some boys
suffered from tear gas inhalation and were treated on the spot.

 

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

 

At
approximately 22:30, the Israeli warplanes hovered in the north of the Gaza
Strip and bombarded a 1200-square meter greenhouse of tomatoes that belongs to
Faraj Hussein Khamis Abu Rabee’, 43, from al-Shaima’ area in Beit Lahia.  The greenhouse is built on an agricultural
land on 30 dunums, southwest of the Bedouin village, northeast of Beit Lahia in
the north of the Gaza Strip. This land is located 1,700 meters to the south of
northern borders of the Gaza Strip.  As a
result of the attack, the greenhouse and its waster well were completely
destroyed.  However, no casualties were
reported.

 

At
approximately 23:45, the Israeli warplanes launched a missile in the vicinity
of Hassanein factory for construction blocks, east of al-Tuffah area in
al-Sha’af, east of Gaza City.  Neither
casualties nor material damage were reported. 
It should be noted that the said factory was attacked several times
earlier.       

 

 Wednesday, 03 April 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, the Israeli forces moved into Bani Na’im
village, east of Hebron.  They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 3 civilians:

1. Hamza Hassan
Manasra, 19;

2. Ibrahim
Sawalha, 20; and

3. Shaheen Ayesh
Ziadat, 21.

 

At approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into Taqou’
village, southeast of Bethlehem.  They
raided a house belonging to Feras Fahad Za’al Jebreen, 25, and handed him a
notice to refer to the Israeli forces in “Ghosh Ezion” settlement,
south of the city.

 

At approximately 02:00, at approximately 02:00, the Israeli forces
moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. 
They patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging to the family of
Ezz Eddin Abu Rayan, 21, and arrested him.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Beit Za’ta area, in
the center of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. 
They patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging to the family of
Ibrahim ‘Ouda Sabarna, 33, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:15, the Israeli forces moved into al-Dhaisha
refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem. 
They raided a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Ibrahim Da’amsa,
16, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-Hawooz area
in the center of Hebron.  They patrolled
the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Nour
Ahmed al-Sarsour, 22.  They arrested the
aforementioned person and transported him to an unknown destination. 

 

At approximately 03:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Douha
village, west of Bethlehem.  They
patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging to the family of Omar Mohammed
Abu ‘Ajamiya, 16, and arrested him.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village,
south of Bethlehem.  They raided a house
belonging to the family of Mazen Mahmoud Issa, 20, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 03:30, the Israeli forces moved into
Bethlehem.  They patrolled the streets
and stationed in Wad Ma’ali in the center of the city.  They raided a house belonging to the family
of Anas Walid Salman, 20, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 04:00, the Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets and stationed in
the eastern neighborhood of the city. 
They raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Ali Abdul Karim
Hamshari, 27, and arrested him.  The
Israeli forces then stationed at the entrance of Tulkarm refugee camp, raided a
house belonging to the family of Rami Samir Hamed Abu Samra, 21, and arrested
him.  It should be noted that each of the
arrested persons was previously arrested by the Palestinian services on the
grounds of being affiliated to Hamas movement. 
The first arrested one was released on bail from the Palestinian prison
few days before his arrest.

 

At approximately 04:10, the Israeli forces moved into al-‘Ebayat
area, east of Bethlehem.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Issa Mohammed ‘Ebayat, 23, and
arrested him.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Jenin.  They patrolled the streets, raided a house
belonging to the family of Rajeh Mohammed Sa’id Qeblawi, 35, and arrested
him.  It should be noted that the
aforementioned person was wounded on 20 February 2013, when the Israeli forces
raided his brother’s house and arrested 2 persons from the house.

 

At approximately 13:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub
refugee camp, north of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets and stationed in the center of the refugee camp.  A number of boys gathered and threw stones
and empty bottles at the Israeli forces, who in response fired sound bombs,
tear gas canisters and rubber coated metal bullets. As a result, many civilians
suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces attacked residents of Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron, during the funeral procession of a person to a
nearby cemetery near the bypass road (60). 
The Israeli forces fired sound bombs and gas canisters, due to which,
many persons suffered from tear gas inhalation. Following the funeral, a number
of boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli forces
stationed at the entrance of the village. 
The Israeli forces in response fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound
bombs and tear gas canisters.  As a
result, some gas canisters fell into a house belonging to the family of Habes
al-‘Alami, 60, and into a store belonging to Fayez Ibrahim Abu Ayash, 44.

 

At approximately 14:00, the Israeli forces moved into al-Hawawer
area, northeast of Halhoul, north of Hebron. 
A number of boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli vehicles.  The Israeli forces in response fired sound
bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets, however, no
casualties were reported.

 

At the same time, the Israeli forces moved into the landfill area
near Kherbet Hawwar, northeast of Yatta, south of Hebron.  They deployed in the area and detained 2
workers of the landfill. They arrested Bajes Ibrahim Rab’i, 18, and transported
him to an unknown destination.

 

In an excessive use of lethal force, the Israeli forces killed 2
Palestinian civilians and wounded a third from Anabta village, east of
Tulkarm.  This attack happened when the
Israeli forces opened stationed at Ennab checkpoint, east of the village,
opened fire at a group of boys protesting in the vicinity of the
checkpoint.  The Israeli forces claimed
that these boys threw Molotov cocktails at the checkpoint.  However, the Israeli forces could have used
less force or arrested them.

 

According to investigation conducted by PCHR, at approximately
21:30 on the abovementioned day, a group of Palestinian boys and youngsters
headed towards Ennab military checkpoint, established on the main Nablus –
Tulkarm road, east of ‘Anabta, eastern of Tulkarm.  The boys threw stones and empty bottles at
the Israeli forces, stationed inside the military watchtowers.  Immediately, the forces responded with live
bullets and chased the demonstrators; as a result, 18-year-old ‘Amer Ibrahim
Naji Zarboul sustained a bullet wound to the chest, and he died instantly, and
Fadi Abdul-Qader Ibrahim Nassar (20) sustained a bullet wound to his right
hand.  Medical sources informed a PCHR
fieldworker that the Israeli forces banned a Palestine Red Crescent Society
(PRCS) ambulance, which arrived at the scene at the time of the clashes, from
transporting Zarboul’s body.  The body
remained with the Israeli side for approximately 20 minutes before allowing the
ambulance to evacuate him, according to the same source.  On the other hand, Nassar was transported to
Martyr Thabet Thabet Public Hospital in Tulkarm for treatment.  At approximately 04:30 on Thursday, 04 April
2013, the Israeli liaison informed their Palestinian counterpart that they have
another body of a Palestinian body; a PRCS ambulance went to ‘Inab military
checkpoint, received the body and transported it to Martyr Thabet Thabet Public
Hospital.  The body was identified as
Naji Abdul-Salam Naji Bilbaisi’s (19).  He
sustained a bullet wound to the chest; medical sources could not confirm
whether the deceased bled to death or the bullet caused instant death.

 

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

 

During the reporting period, Israeli
forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian
civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at
the construction of the wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  As a result, a 70-year-old Irish journalist,
Tommy, sustained a bullet to the right hand in Nabi Saleh weekly demonstration,
and a Palestinian was hit by a tear gas canister to the pelvis.  Also, dozens of civilians suffered due to
tear gas inhalation; others sustained bruises.

 

In a relative context, Palestinian
civilians organized peaceful demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinian
prisoners in Israeli jails, particularly those on hunger strike and other
demonstration in commemoration of the 37^th anniversary of Land
Day.  Other demonstrations were organized
following the death of prisoner Maisra Abu-Hamdia, who was a cancer patient in Soroka Medical
Center in Beersheba.  The Israeli forces
used excessive force against these demonstrations.  As a result, a 20-year-old male sustained a
bullet wound in the right leg; also, dozens of civilians suffered due to tear
gas inhalation; others sustained bruises.

 

The Israeli forces arrested 6
Palestinian civilians in these demonstrations, including 4 children and a
cameraman.  They were all released later
on.

 

Demonstrations
against the Construction of the Annexation Wall and Settlement Activity

 

At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 29 March 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and representatives of national parties gathered for a
demonstration in Brouqin, western of Salfit, and headed towards Khelat al-Jame’
area near “Borkan” settlement and “Janat Ariel” settlement
outpost northern of the village.  The
civilians planted olive trees in the area, which is threatened of confiscation
under pretext of being in area (C) which falls under Israeli jurisdiction
according to the Oslo Accords. 
Immediately, the Israeli forces, who raided the area with a number of
military vehicles, fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators; as a result, a number of them suffered due to tear gas
inhalation.  The demonstrators performed
the Friday prayer in Khelat al-Jame’; the demonstration ended at approximately
13:00.

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 29 March 2013, 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 and in solidarity with the prisoners on
hunger strike inside Israeli jails.  The
demonstrators patrolled the streets of the village, chanting slogans calling
for national unity.  The protesters aimed
to stress the need to adhere to national principles and the right of return, to
resist the occupation and to call for the release of all Palestinian
prisoners.  The protesters raised
Palestinian flags and pictures of prisoners and made their way towards the
lands adjacent to the annexation wall. 
The Israeli forces closed all ways and entrances to the village since
early morning hours, to prevent Palestinians, journalists and international
activists from joining the protest.  The
protesters raised Palestinian flags and made their way towards the wall.  They called through megaphones for Israeli
settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land.  Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators.  As a result, dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.  The demonstrators moved towards areas of the
annexation wall.  Immediately, Israeli
soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs
and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. 
As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation
and others sustained bruises.

 

Around the same time on Friday, 29 March 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders
gathered in the Martyrs Square in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to
hold a weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall
and settlement activities and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners inside
Israeli jails and in commemoration of the 37^th anniversary of Land
Day.  The protesters walked towards
Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halmish”
settlement are trying to seize.  The
Israeli forces closed all entrances to the village in the morning to prevent
Palestinian, international activists and journalists from joining the
demonstration.  Upon their arrival to the
aforementioned area, the Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets,
sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters and civilian houses in the
area, and chased them into the village. 
As a result, an Irish journalist, Tommy (70), sustained a bullet wound
in the right hand; also, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas
inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Following Friday Prayer, dozens of al-Ma’sara village locals,
southern of Bethlehem, international and Israeli human rights activists,
activists in popular resistance, the Volunteer Work Committee in the city and
mothers of Palestinian prisoners gathered for the weekly peaceful demonstration
against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activity.  The demonstration started from Shomou’
Cultural Center in the center of the village, and it was also in commemoration
of the 37^th anniversary of Land Day and celebrating the Palestinian
woman.  The participants held Palestinian
flags and signs against the occupation while they roamed the streets of the
village.  Upon their arrival at the area
of the wall, the Israeli forces closed all the entrances to the village,
established a checkpoint by its western entrance and banned the civilians from
reaching their lands.  The Israeli forces
fired tear gas canister at the demonstrators. 
As a result, a number of them fainted due to tear gas inhalation.  The Israeli soldiers assaulted a number of
Palestinians with plastic clubs; they were identified as: Mahmoud Moussa
Mohammed Alaadin (26); Mo’ath al-Laham (32); Fatima Ali Brijia (54); Laila Zawahra
(55); and Khawla Salim Mahmoud Zawarha (48). 
Moreover, the Israeli soldiers detained Fatah Revolutionary Council,
Haitham Saleh Ibrahim ‘Arar for two hours before releasing him.

 

At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 29 March 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians, activists of the Popular Committees against Settlement
Activity and the Hebron Defense Committee and international human rights
activists gathered in al-Haraiek area, southeast of Hebron, for a peaceful
demonstration calling for opening the route linking Hebron to it southern
villages, which has been closed for the past 12 years.  These villages are, al-Rayhia, al-Thaheria,
Doura and al-Fawar Refugee Camp.  Upon
their arrival to the steel gate which closes the road leading to bypass road
(60), the Israeli forces surrounded the area and declared it a closed military
zone, ordering the demonstrators to leave immediately.  The soldiers fired tear gas canisters and
sound bombs at the demonstration.  A
number of protesters fainted as a result of tear gas inhalation.  As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
due to tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

At approximately 13:10 on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
the center of Kufor Kadoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the
continuous closure of the eastern entrance of the village since the outbreak of
al-Aqsa Intifada.  The Israeli special
forces attempted to set ambushes to arrest a number of demonstrators.  As they failed to arrest any, the Israeli
soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters before the demonstration
ended; as a result, Kamel Mufied Kamel Barham (22) was hit by a tear gas
canister to the pelvis.

 

At approximately 12:00 on Saturday, 30 March 2013,
dozens of Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights
defenders, gathered in the Center of Bait Ummar village, north of Hebron, for
the weekly peaceful demonstration organized against the settlement expansion
policy, the wall and in commemoration of Land Day.  The demonstrators headed towards the
confiscated farmlands near the security fence of “Kermi Tsour”
settlement, east of the village.  A large
Israeli forces unit raided the area and fired rubber-coated bullets, tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them and chased them across the fields.  As a result, dozens of participants suffered
from tear gas inhalation.  Moreover,
Abdul-Hafiez al-Hashlamon, cameraman for an European agency, and transported
him to an unknown destination.

 

Demonstrations in Commemoration of Land Day

 

At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 30 March 2013, a group of
Palestinian civilians gathered for a demonstration in commemoration of Land Day
from the center of Jaious village, northeastern of Qalqilya, towards the
confiscated lands southern of the city. 
The civilians started planting a number of trees near the closed gate
and were stunned to see a number of Israeli soldiers hiding behind the gate and
behind trees in an area close to “Zufim” settlement.  The Israeli forces, arrived in two military
vehicles, fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstration.  As a result, a number of the participants suffered
due to tear gas inhalation.  The Israeli
forces also detained 3 children and released them at 15:00.  They were identified as: 10-year-old Mustafa
Hazza’ Qadoumi; 12-year-old Mohammed Tha’er Shamasna; and 10-year-old ‘Afif
Tha’er Shamasna.

 

At approximately 11:10 on Saturday, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and activists in popular resistance gathered in Bethlehem in front of the
Israeli military checkpoint no. 300, established on the northern entrance of
the city, for a popular sit-in in commemoration of the 37^th
anniversary of Land Day.  Immediately,
the Israeli soldiers, stationed at the checkpoint, fired tear gas canisters and
sound bombs at them; as a result, a number of participants suffered due to tear
gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 11:30 on Saturday, 30 March 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians gathered in Um Rokba area, at the southwestern entrance
of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, for a demonstration in commemoration
of the 37^th anniversary of Land Day. 
The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli forces stationed in the
area.  Immediately, the Israeli forces
fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstration and civilian
houses; as a result, some fainted due to tear gas inhalation.  The Israeli soldiers attempted to break into
Khader Ali Khader’s (50) house and broke the glass in the main gate. Also, the
Israeli soldiers closed all the roads leading to the area after a military SUV
turned over while chasing the demonstrators.

 

At noon on Saturday, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international human rights activists gathered for a peaceful demonstration in
commemoration of the 37^th anniversary of Land Day, organized by
national factions in Ramallah and al-Bireh. 
The demonstration started in front of Qalandia refugee camp, northern of
Jerusalem, and it moved towards Qalandia checkpoint and raised Palestinian
flags.  The forces closed the checkpoint
before the demonstrators’ arrival and fired tear gas canisters, sound bombs and
chased them to the outskirts of the camp. 
As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered due to tear gas
inhalation and other sustained bruises.

 

Other Peaceful Demonstrations

 

Also following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian boys and
teenagers gathered near the annexation wall, established on the southern side
of Beit Loqia village, southwest of Ramallah. 
The demonstrators threw rocks at the Israeli soldiers, stationed behind
the wall, who in response fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters
and sound bombs at them and chased them across the olive fields.  As a result, a number of Palestinian civilians
suffered due to tear gas inhalation; others sustained bruises.

 

At approximately 16:50 on Sunday, 31 March 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians gathered in Um Rokba area, at the southwestern entrance
of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. 
The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli forces stationed in the
area.  Immediately, the Israeli forces
fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstration and civilian
houses; as a result, some fainted due to tear gas inhalation.  Moreover, the Israeli forces arrested
11-year-old Saleh Rizeq Moussa, and they also arrested his father when he
inquired about his son from one of the soldiers; they were transported to an
unknown destination.

 

At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 03 April 2013, a demonstration
started from Doura Ben Roshd in the center of Hebron condemning the death of
prisoner Maisra Abu-Hamdia (64) in Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, resulted
from medical neglect.  The demonstration
roamed the streets of the city, chanted national slogans, raised Palestinian
flags and headed towards Bab al-Zawya area, set fire to a rubber tires and
threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, stationed at one of the checkpoint
established at the entrance of the old city, categorized as H2 according to the
Oslo Accords.  The Israeli soldiers,
covered behind cement cubes, fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and
tear gas to canisters randomly at the Palestinian civilians; as a result,
dozens of them suffered due to tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 15:00, a demonstration started from the center of
Beit Ummar village, northern Hebron, in protest to the death of prisoner Maisra
Abu-Hamdia (64) in Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, resulted from medical
neglect.  The demonstrators roamed the
streets of the village then headed towards the entrance of the city, linked to
bypass road (60), set rubber tires ablaze and threw stones and empty bottles at
Israeli soldiers, stationed in the surrounding area of the military watchtower.  The Israeli soldiers, covered behind cement
cubes, fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas to canisters
randomly at the Palestinian civilians; as a result, dozens of them suffered due
to tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 03 April
2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered by the Martyrs Square in Nablus
and organized a peaceful organization protesting the death of prisoner Maisra
Abu-Hamdia inside Israeli jails.  The
demonstration roamed the streets of the city then headed towards Howara
checkpoint, established on the southern entrance of the city; the Israeli
forces closed the checkpoint and denied them access.  The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli
soldiers, stationed at the checkpoint, who responded with tear gas canisters
and sound bombs.  As a result, a number
of participants suffered due to tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 12:00, a number of Palestinian
youngsters gathered in Bab al-Zawya area, in the center of Hebron, set fire to
rubber tires and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli forces, stationed at
one of the checkpoint established at the entrance of the old city and Shuhada
Street.  The Israeli soldiers chased the
boys, raided a number of shops, took over their roofs and fired live bullets,
rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canister and sound bombs at them
randomly.  As a result, a 20-year-old boy
sustained a bullet wound to the right leg and was transported to Hebron Public
Hospital in a Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance.  Also, a number of civilians suffered due to
tear gas inhalation.

 

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

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for nearly 5 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 IOF
have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip, making Karm Abu Salem crossing the
sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for
commercial purposes, in terms of its distance and operational capacity. 

 

The 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 terrible situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip.  Following this closure, all 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 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. 

 

The IOF
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 in
the Gaza Strip. 

 

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

 

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

 

The IOF
have continued to impose a total ban on the export of products from Gaza,
especially industrial products, undermining any real chance of reopening economic
establishments.  The situation has been aggravated
since the Karm Abu Salem crossing was designated as Gaza’s sole commercial
crossing; the repeated closure of this crossing negatively affects the quantity
of Gaza products which are allowed to be exported.  

 

For approximately 6 consecutive years, the IOF have continued to
ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza.  During the reporting period, the IOF approved
the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of
international organizations.

 

Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun Erez crossing for
Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip. 
The IOF only allow the movement of limited groups amidst severe
restrictions, including long hours of waiting in the majority of cases.  The IOF have also 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 Jerusalem.  The IOF
denied new categories of Gazan patients permission to access hospitals via the
crossing.   

 

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

 

During the reporting period, the Israeli forces completely closed
the commercial border crossings between the Gaza Strip and Israel.  They closed Karm Abu Salem crossing from
Sunday, 24 March 2013 – Wednesday, 27 March 2013, because of the Jewish
holidays.  This closure negatively
affected the entry of goods, construction materials and medical consignments in
the Gaza Strip.  It also had a negative
impact on the living conditions of the Palestinian civilians.  The Israeli forces also imposed comprehensive
security restrictions due to the Jewish Holiday of Passover.  As a result, dozens of thousands of
Palestinian workers were denied access to their work in Israel and occupied
East Jerusalem.  Moreover, the
Palestinian traders were denied access to Israel and/or travel via the border
crossings between the Gaza Strip and West Bank.  

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

27
March- 02 April 2013

 

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

27
March- 02 April 2013

Imports:

 

 

 

 

Exports:

· On Thursday, 28
March 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 8 truckloads of
plastics and 208,000 carnation flowers.

Other Imports:

 

On Thursday, 28 March 2013, the Israeli forces allowed the entry of
220 tons of cement, 72 tons of construction steel, and 5,040 tons of
construction aggregate for UNRWA; and 2080 tons of construction aggregate for
the private sector.  They also allowed
the entry of 1053 tons of fodders and 156 tons of wheat.

 

It is noteworthy that Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing was
closed from Friday, 29 March, to Monday, 01 April 2013, for celebrations of
Jewish holidays.

 

 

 

Imports
through Rafah International Crossing Point, South of the Gaza Strip:

26
March – 01 April 2013

Imports:

 

 

Note: Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing, north
of the Gaza Strip, links the Strip with the West Bank, and it is for the
movement of individuals.

Note: for technical reason relating to the Palestinian liaison
department, PCHR was not able to obtain statistics for this week, and it will
be included in the next weekly report.

 

Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank.  During the reporting period, IOF 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
11:30 on Thursday, 28 March 2013, the Israeli forces reestablished at ‘Attara checkpoint at the northern
entrance of Birzeit, north of the city.    They later withdrew, and no arrests were
reported.  At approximately 09:00 on
Friday, 29 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 11:00, the Israeli forces established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of
Beit Loqya, southwest of the city. 
At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 30 March 2013, they established a
checkpoint in the aforementioned area. All checkpoints were later removed and
no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 20:00, they reestablished the checkpoint in the aforementioned
area.  The checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 30 March 2013, the Israeli forces established
a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta, southwest of Ramallah.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Hebron:  Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 28 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit
‘Aynoun village, northeast of the city. 
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 16:30 they established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’air village, east of Hebron.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests
were reported.  At approximately 07:00 on
Monday, 01 April 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of al-Koum village, west of Dora, southwest of Hebron.  At approximately 15:00, they established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp, as this entrance connects
bypass road (60), south of Hebron. The two checkpoints were later removed, and
no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 02 April 2013, the Israeli forces established 2
checkpoints; the first one was at the entrance of Sa’air, east of Hebron, and
the other was at the eastern entrance of Yatta, as this entrance connects
bypass road (35), south of Hebron.  At
approximately 16:00, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
southern entrance of Halhoul, north of Hebron. 
All checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported. At
approximately 13:00 on Wednesday, 03 April 2013, the Israeli forces established
a checkpoint the entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, as the entrance connects
bypass (60), north of city.  At
approximately 13:30, they established another checkpoint at the southern
entrance of Halhoul, north of Hebron. 
The 2 checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Qalqilya:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 10:00
on Sunday, 31 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the
main Qalqilya-Nablus road and denied cars access in the passage between ‘Azoun
village and “Kedumim” settlement, north of Qalqilya.  The Israeli forces forced shops’ owners to
close their shops, which are located on both sides of the main street in
al-Fondq, east of the city, claiming that settlers organized a demonstration in
the aforementioned street between “Shafi Shomrone” settlement, northwest of
Nablus, and “Kedumim” settlement, north of Qalqilya, and they allowed cars to
pass at approximately 13:15.  At
approximately 12:30, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
intersection of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya.  At approximately 22:30, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of the city,
blocking traffic after they closed the Iron Gate, north of the village.

 

Tulkarm:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
18:30 on Friday, 29 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint on
the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, near the intersection of Beit Leed
village in an area known as” Abu Martein”, east of Tulakrm.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.  At approximately
18:30 on Saturday, 30 March 2013, the Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab
checkpoint, which is established on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus,
east of Tulkarm, tightened restrictions against Palestinians and obstructed
their movement.  The tightening ended,
and no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 18:00 on Sunday, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint on
the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, near the intersection of Beit Leed
village, east of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint
was later removed, and no arrests were reported.   At approximately 20:00, the Israeli forces
positioned at ‘Inab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, tightened restrictions against
Palestinians and obstructed their movement through the checkpoint.  At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 01 April
2013, the Israeli forces positioned at ‘Inab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, tightened
restrictions against Palestinians and obstructed their movement through the
checkpoint.  At approximately 18:00, they
established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, near the
intersection of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm.  At approximately 16:00 on Tuesday, 02 April
2013, the Israeli forces positioned at ‘Inab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm,
tightened restrictions against Palestinians and obstructed their movement
through the checkpoint.

 

Jenin:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
06:00 on Monday, 01 April 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at
the western entrance of Ya’abod village, southwest of Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were removed.  At approximately
11:00 on Tuesday, 02 April 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint at
the intersection of al-Zawyah village, south of Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed and no
arrests were reported.

 

Jericho:  the Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 28 March
2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint on al-Mo’arajat road between
Jericho and Ramallah.  At approximately
17:30, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the southern entrance
of Jericho, and reestablished the aforementioned checkpoint at approximately
17:00.  All checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 07:00 on Friday, 29 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a
checkpoint near the entrance of al-Zbeidat village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 09:00, they established
another checkpoint near the southern entrance of Jericho.  At approximately 16:00, the Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.  At approximately
09:30 on Saturday, 30 March 2013, the Israeli forces established a checkpoint
near the entrance of Fasayel village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 15:30, they established the
same checkpoint near the southern entrance of the city.  At approximately 17:30, the Israeli forces
established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fasayel village, north of
Jericho.  All the checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Detention at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 28 March 2013, the Israeli forces,
which deployed in the old city in the central Hebron, arrested Mohammed Hmeidan
al-‘Aweiwi, (18), while he was near his house and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

At approximately 17:00 on the aforementioned Thursday, the Israeli
forces, stationed near the annexation wall, south of Qalqilya, arrested 3
children under the pretext of throwing stones at the tower at Jaljoulia
checkpoint.  The children were identified
as: Mohammed ‘Omer Abu Salah, (16); Mohammed Abdel Karim Malouh, (16); and
‘Allam Yasser Ibrahim Barham, (14), and were released at approximately 22:00
after the Palestinian Military Liaison’s intervention.

 

At approximately 23:35 on Friday, 29 March 2013, the Israeli forces
stationed at the western entrance of Beit Fajjar village, southeast of
Bethlehem, arrested Anwar Morshid Thawabtah, (17), from the
aforementioned.  Local resources of the
aforementioned village stated that Thawabteh suffers from problems in hearing
and sight, and has been arrested for 3 times in less than 1 month.

 

5. Efforts
to Make a Jewish Majority in Occupied East Jerusalem

 

Bulldozing of
Houses

 

The Israeli
forces forced Taysir Hussain Abul-Hawa (59) to destroy a room attached to his
house, located in al-Sawana neighborhood, eastern of the Old City of
Jerusalem.  On Monday Evening, 01 April
2013, Abul-Hawa did so after receiving an order from the Israeli Municipality
in Jerusalem under pretext that it is built without a permit.  He stated that in 2005, he built the room,
attached to his house where he intended to live; however, the municipality
ordered him to either destroy it or obtain a building license.  He added that he has been trying to get a
permit for the past several years but he has been unsuccessful.  The room is of 25 square meters in area and
its building cost amounted to 100,000 NIS, including the fees for a
construction permit.  He also mentioned
that the municipality’s court issued in 2010 a suspended arrest order against
his wife if the room is not destroyed, knowingly that their lawyer postponed
the demolition order a number of times. 
He also said that he paid 23,000 NIS as construction infraction and
another for 6,000 NIS.

 

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

 

At evening hours on Thursday, 28 March 2013, a group of settlers,
under the protection of the Israeli forces and military vehicles, raided the
lands of Palestinian civilians from Silat al-Thaher village, southern of Jenin,
where the evacuated “Homesh” settlement was established.  According to local sources, dozens of
settlers arrived at the scene in a number of buses, accompanied by large units
of the Israeli forces, where they practiced some Talmudic rituals before
withdrawing from the scene; no other incidents were reported.  It should be mentioned that the settlers have
re-visited the area where the aforementioned settlement was established, since
it was evacuated in September 2005, at least once every month for religious
rituals under strict protection from the Israeli forces.

 

In the early morning of Friday, 29 March 2013, dozens of settlers
coming from “Daniel” settlement outpost established southern of
al-Khader village, southern of Bethlehem, uprooted 200 olive seedlings from
al-Mustafy area, adjacent to the settlement outpost.  The attacked land is the property of Ahmed
Nabhan Moussa (65).  Moreover, the
settlers vandalized the walls in the area, threatening of the outbreak of an
uprising against Palestinians in “Gush Etzion” settlement complex,
south of the city.  In his statement to a
PCHR fieldworker, Ahmed Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against Settlement
Activity, said that the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) had planted
olive seedlings in al-Mustafy area last year, within its activities to empower
the civilians and farmers and their resistance.

 

At approximately 06:45 on Sunday, 31 March 2013, approximately 230
settlers, some of them armed, from “Efrat” and “Gush
Etzion” settlements, southern of Bethlehem, raided Solomon pools area,
western of Artas village, southwestern of the city.  The settlers performed some Talmudic rituals in
the area, under the protection of Israeli forces.  In his testimony to a PCHR field, Adnan
Attallah, member of the Popular Committee against Settlement Activity, the
villagers and activists of the popular committee stopped the settlers who tried
to make them leave the area, threatened them with firearms and banned the
journalists from taping the incident.  He
added that the settlers had maps and documents on the area and distributed
them; these maps showed that Solomon Pools are located within archeological
sites of “Gush Etzion” settlement. 
Before withdrawing, the settlers threatened that they would come back to
the area on daily basis.

 

At approximately 19:00 on Sunday, a group of settlers from
“Yitzhar” settlement, established on Palestinian civilians’ lands
southern of Nablus, threw stones at school buses boarding students from Ramon
School for Girls while on their way back to the village, northeastern of
Qalqilya, from a fieldtrip to the city. 
As a result, 11-year-old Bushra Farah Abdul-Qader Kohla (11) sustained
cuts in the right side of her face after a stone hit her in the face.  Moreover, a number of students panicked, of
them, Amal Ahmed Kahla fainted and was transported to Rafidia Surgical Hospital
in Nablus in a private car.  Also, many
others sustained scratches because of the scattered glass.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 01 April 2013, a group of
settlers from “Ovijal” settlement , established on Palestinian lands
eastern of Yatta, southern of Hebron, attacked Palestinian farmers and
shepherds in Um al-‘Arayes area, eastern of the city.  As a result, Jihad Salama Shihda Mkhamra (45)
sustained minor bruises after he fell while the settlers were chasing the
farmers; he was transported to Yatta Public Hospital for treatment in a private
vehicle.

 

At the mean time, a group of settlers from “Mitzpe Yair”
and “Ovijal” settlements, established on Palestinian lands in Be’r
al-Ad area, eastern of Yatta, attacked shepherds of al-Nawa’ja family and beat
them.  The Israeli forces intervened when
the shepherds attempted to defend themselves and arrested Ziad Younis Abu-‘Aram
(55) and transported him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 15:30 on Tuesday, 02 April 2013, dozens of
settlers from “Havat Maon” settlement, established on Palestinian
lands eastern of Yatta, attacked Palestinian farmers while in their farms,
eastern of al-Twana village and addressed them with profane language and
anti-Islam slogans.  The settlers
expelled the farmers and shepherds from the area, under the protection of the
Israeli forces.

 

At the mean time, a number of settlers from “Maon”
settlement, established on Palestinian lands southern of Yatta, raided the
farmlands in al-Hamra area, eastern of Yatta and burned a number of olive trees
belonging to Ibrahim Khalil Mahmoud Rab’i (45). 
In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Rateb al-Jabour said that a
number of armed settlers, protected by the Israeli forces, raided the farmlands
in al-Hamra area, put rubber tires near the olive trees and set fire to
them.  Al-Jabour added that the settlers’
attacks have become increasingly frequent.

 

Recommendations to the International
Community

 

 

PCHR
emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under 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 least offensive that continued 8 days, 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 fulfill 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
fulfill 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.