Israeli
forces destroy agricultural land in Jerusalem

Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

 

A
Palestinian resistance activist was killed and a civilian was wounded by IOF in
the Gaza Strip.

 

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

A
Palestinian civilian was wounded.

 

IOF
conducted 53 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two
limited ones into the Gaza Strip.   

IOF
arrested 29 Palestinians, including 6 children.

 

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

Israeli soldiers arrested 3
Palestinian civilians at various checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

Israel
has continued efforts to create a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.

The
Israeli municipality of Jerusalem ordered confiscation of 13 dunums[1]
of Palestinian land in Wad al-Jouz neighborhood.

Israel
intends to construct hundreds of settlement units in Jerusalem and suburbs.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (29 December 2011 – 04 January 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF
killed a Palestinian resistance activist and wounded a civilian in the Gaza
Strip.  Another civilian was wounded in
the West Bank.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 30 December 2012, an Israeli warplane fired a
missile at two Palestinian resistance activists in Juhor al-Dik village, south
of Gaza City.  An activist was killed by
shrapnel throughout the body. 

 

On 31 December 2012, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when
Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel
fired at him. 

 

During the reporting period, Israeli gunboats fired at Palestinian
fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.  Israeli
naval troops also arrested 3 fishermen, but released two of them later. 

 

On 29 December 2012, Israeli warplanes bombarded a plot in the
northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

 

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

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 53 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 29 Palestinian
civilians, including 6 children.  

 

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 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 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 54 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 East Jerusalem

 

On
02 January 2012, traders and workers in the industrial zone in Wad al-Jouz
neighborhood in East Jerusalem found banners along the road leading to the
industrial zone ordering confiscation of 13 dunums of land between the Hebrew
University and the Palestine Archaeological Museum (known now as
“the Rockefeller Museum”).  The
order was issued by the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem.  A committee of traders stated that the order
of confiscation was signed by the Israeli mayor of Jerusalem on 20 September 2011.  This plan will affect at least 170 shops,
which employ at least 700 workers. 
According to Ahmed Sab Laban, a researcher in settlement affairs, the
Israeli municipality of Jerusalem intends to expand the road in the area, as
part of a wider plan to link the old town of Jerusalem with West Jerusalem and
Israeli settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank.  According to Sab Laban, there is another
Israeli plan to establish a 200-room hotel in al-Hisba area in Wad al-Jouz
neighborhood.  The development of this
road will pave the way for implementing the project of the hotel.

 

The
Civil Coalition for Defending the Palestinians’ Rights in Jerusalem unveiled
settlement plans aimed at expanding Israeli settlements in Jerusalem and
suburbs.  The Coalition stated that
Hebrew newspapers published an invitation for bids to establish 117 settlement
units in “Har Homa” settlement on Abu Ghumain Mount in the south of
Jerusalem.  There are also plans to
expand “Har Adar” settlement, northwest of Jerusalem, to establish new
settlement units.  In the same context,
there are plans to construct 213 units in “Efrat” settlement, south of
Bethlehem, and a number of units in “Givat Hazait” settlement in Jerusalem.

 

 

 

  

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (29 December 2011 – 04
January 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 29 December 2011

 

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved
into al-‘Eizariya village, east of occupied Jerusalem.  They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Ashraf Daoud Abu al-Reesh, 21;

2. ‘Ammar ‘Aamer Hussein, 27;

3. Mohammed Mazen Abu al-Reesh, 25;
and

4. Daoud Waleed al-Sinnawi, 20.

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved
into Abu Esnaina neighborhood in the south of Hebron.  They raided and searched two houses and
arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Fadi Yassin al-Rajabi, 25; and

2. Ja’far ‘Abdul Rahim Abu Hussein,
27.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Qassem Nazmi
Ghawi, 20, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli
warplanes fired 3 missiles at a plot belonging to Sa’id Mohammed al-Da’our,
55.  No casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 04:15, an Israeli
warplane fired a missile at a training site of the Palestinian resistance in
the west of al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City.  The site was damaged, but no casualties were
reported.

 

At approximately 07:30, Israeli
gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip
opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. 
Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and no casualties
were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, Israeli
gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip
opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. 
Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and no
casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into Kufor Dan village, northwest of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets and checked wells.  They withdrew later and neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:10, IOF moved
into Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets and established a checkpoint.  They arrested ‘Omar ‘Ali al-Sidda, 22.

 

At approximately 13:45, an Israeli
gunboat chased a small fishing boat on board of which were 3 Palestinian
fishermen nearly 3 nautical miles off Khan Yunis seashore in the southern Gaza
Strip.  Israeli naval troops opened fire
at the boat and ordered the fishermen to stop it.  They then ordered the fishermen to take their
upper clothes off, jump into the water and swim towards the gunboat.  Israeli naval troops handcuffed and
blindfolded the fishermen.  The fishermen
were taken to an Israeli military post, where they were interrogated.  Two of the fishermen were released at
approximately 00:30 on Friday, 30 December 2011, while the third one remained
in custody.  The fishermen are:

 

1. Nabeel Ahmed al-Hinnawi, 34;

2. Mahmoud Ahmed al-Hinnawi, 43; and

3. Munther Mousa Sahwil, 38, who
remained in custody.

 

At approximately 14:30, 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.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved
into ‘Arrana village, north of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Friday,
30 December 2011

 

At approximately 06:30, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at two
Palestinian resistance activists in the north of Juhor al-Dik village, south of
Gaza City.  An activist, Mo’men Mohammed
‘Abdul Majid Abu Daf, 22, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was killed
by shrapnel throughout the body.

 

At approximately 10:15, 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 13:00, IOF moved into al-Mentar area in the north
of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:30, 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 21:50, 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 22:00, IOF moved into al-‘Araqa village, west of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 31 December 2011

 

At approximately 18:30, Isma’il Mohammed Abu Doun, 33, from Tal
al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City, was admitted into Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital in
Beit Lahia, as he was wounded by a bullet to the left thigh.  According to investigations conducted by
PCHR, Abu Doun left his house on a motorcycle, and at approximately 16:30, he
arrived at the north of the Bedouin Village in the northern Gaza Strip.  He stepped down and walked up to 100 meters
from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at him
and he was wounded.  Soon after, IOF
moved into the area and arrested him.  At
approximately 18:00, IOF handed Abu Doun to the Palestinian side.  According to local sources, Abu Doun suffers
from a psychological disorder.

 

At approximately 20:15, IOF moved into Yassouf village, east of
Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets
and arrested Ahmed Ra’ed ‘Abdul Hamid, 21.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Deir Estia village,
northwest of Salfit.  They patrolled in
the streets, and arrested two children who were traveling in a car:

 

1. Yasser Rafiq ‘Awad, 17; and

2. Jihad Nihad ‘Abdullah, 17.

 

Sunday, 01 January 2012

 

At approximately 00:50, 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 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested two Palestinian children:

 

‘Abdullah Ahmed Hawari, 16; and

Mahmoud ‘Abdullah Radwan, 15.

 

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, northwest
of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, northwest
of Jenin.  A number of Palestinian boys
gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the
boys, but no casualties were reported. 
IOF withdrew from the village later, and neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Nazlat al-Sheikh Zayed
village, northwest of 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.

 

Also at approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north
of Ramallah.  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 18:30, IOF moved into Kufol Hares village, north
of Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into al-Jiftlek village, north of
Jericho.  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.  A number of
Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters.  As a result, a number of Palestinian
civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

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 23:20, IOF moved into al-Taybeh village, northeast
of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 02 January 2012

 

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Taybeh village, west of
Jenin.  They raided and searched two
houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Adham Tawfiq Abu Murad, 25; and

2. Fu’ad Mahmoud Mahamid, 26.

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beot Ummar town, north of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including two brothers:

 

1. Mohammed Jamal ‘Alqam, 20;

2. Ma’ath Jamal ‘Alqam, 18; and

3. Ibrahim Yousef Sabarna, 18.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, 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.

 

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

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Salem village, northeast of
Nablus.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Sa’d Daoud Eshtayeh, 40; and

2. ‘Abdul Hakim Daoud Eshtayeh, 42.

 

At approximately 09:00, 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 10:30, IOF moved into Jericho and the nearby ‘Ein
al-Sultan refugee camp.  They patrolled
in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 13:15, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast
of Qalqilya.  They raided a number of
houses and summoned 3 Palestinian civilians for interrogation: ‘Alqama Mahmoud
Jom’a, 27; Mo’ein ‘Abdul Latif Barham, 30; and Bahaa’ Mohammed Eshtaiwi, 18.

 

At approximately 18:40, IOF moved into al-‘Ouja village, northeast
of Jericho.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into 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 22:20, 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.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  They raided two houses and summoned Yousef
‘Abdul Rahim Eshtaiwi for interrogation.

 

Tuesday, 03 January 2012

 

At approximately 00:30, 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 01:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Mahmoud Radhi ‘Oqailan, 27;

2. Majed ‘Eissa Jbour, 26; and

3. Mo’ayad Yousef Abu Fanous, 18.

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, during the house
raids, IOF held the 20-member family of Sameer Hraziat, Chairman of the General
Union of Palestinian Workers in Yatta, outside their house from 01:00 to 06:00.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya
village, northwest of Jenin.  They raided
and searched a house belonging to Ussama Mohammed Shalabi, 39, a leader of
Islamic Jihad, and arrested him.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, 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 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Hamza Nawaf Sabarna, 23; and

2. Khader Fat’hi Sabarna, 19.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into ‘Allar village, northeast of
Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of ‘Ali Majed Taqatqa, 20, and arrested him.  They also confiscated two laptops, textbooks
and reports belonging to Taqatqa.

 

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

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 11:10, IOF moved into ‘Aboud village, northwest of
Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation
towers near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire
at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction
materials from the industrial zone to the southwest of the crossing.  The workers were forced to flee and no
casualties were reported.

 

Also 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 18:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets and
raided and searched a number of houses. 
They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 04 January 2012

 

At approximately 02:25, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a number
of houses and arrested two Palestinian children:

 

1. Ansar Sa’id Radwan, 17; and

2. Mahmoud ‘Othman Radwan, 17.

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into
al-Farrahin area in ‘Abassan village, east of the southern Gaza Strip town of
Khan Yunis.  They leveled areas of
Palestinian land.  They then moved
southward to Khuza’a village and leveled areas of land amidst indiscriminate
shooting.  IOF moved back to the border
between the Gaza Strip and Israel and no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a shop
of used car spare parts belonging to Zain Khader al-‘Allami, 37.  They arrested al-‘Allami and confiscated a
truck, whose value is estimated at 50,000 ILS.

 

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.  Additionally, dozens
of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas
inhalation.  IOF also arrested a
Palestinian civilian. 

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 30 December 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 and support for efforts to
achieve national reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah movements.  They raised the Palestinian flag and called
for ending political division. They then moved towards areas of Palestinian
land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian
owners.  Israeli soldiers stationed in
the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters
at the demonstrators.  As a result, Mohammed
Shawkat al-Khatib, 19, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the
neck.  Additionally, a number of civilians
suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday prayer on 30 December 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli  and international human rights
defenders gathered in the center of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activities.  The protesters walked towards
the gate erected by IOF near the entrance of the village and leading to
Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halmish”
settlement are trying to seize.  Israeli soldiers who had been extensively
deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the
morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the
affected lands.  Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets,
sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters.  A result, dozens of
civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 30 December 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 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.  

 

At approximately 12:00 also on Friday, 30 December 2011,
Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor al-Dik
village near Salfit.  They moved towards
Deir Sam’an area in the west of village, where IOF intend to confiscate areas
of land.  The demonstrators wanted to
perform the Friday Prayer in the area, but IOF prevented them.  Soon, clashes erupted between Palestinian
civilians and IOF.  Israeli soldiers
fired tear gas canisters at civilians. 
As a result, two civilians suffered from year gas inhalation.  According to chairman of the local council,
Jamal al-Dik, IOF intend to confiscate more than 2,000 dunums of land in the
village. 

       

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

28 December
2011 – 03 January 2012

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

28 December2011
– 03 January 2012

 

Imports:

 

 

Exports:

 

On Wednesday, 28 December 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 4
tons of sweet peppers.

On Thursday, 29 December 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 7.25
tons of sweet peppers.

On Sunday, 01 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 37.3
tons of strawberries and 105,550 roses.

On Monday, 03 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 21.7
tons of strawberries.

 

Notes:

 

On Wednesday, 28 December 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 2,800 tons
of construction aggregate and 174 tons of construction steel for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 819 tons of fodders.

 

On Thursday, 29 December 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 596 tons of
cement, 2,800 tons of construction aggregate and 58 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry
of 702 tons of fodders.

 

On Sunday, 01 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 1,053 tons of fodders.

 

On Monday, 02 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 718 tons of
cement, 2,800 tons of construction aggregate and 38 tons of construction steel for
UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 1,365
tons of fodders.

 

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

28 December
2011 – 03 January 2012

 

 

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 09:00 on Sunday, 01 January 2012, IOF re-established their
presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At approximately 11:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-Mazra’a al-Sharqiya village, northeast of
Ramallah.  At approximately 15:00 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa intersection,
southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately
19:30, IOF established a checkpoint at ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya intersection on
Ramallah – Nablus road.  At approximately
10:00 on Monday, 02 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance
of Budros village, west of Ramallah.  At
the same time, they established a checkpoint under ‘Ein Yabroud Bridge,
northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately
11:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint on Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta –
Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa road, west of Ramallah. 
At the same time, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At
approximately 08:30 on Tuesday, 03 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, west of Ramallah.  At approximately 10:40 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah.  At approximately 11:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 16:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Mughayar village, northeast of
Ramallah. 

 

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 29 December 2011, IOF established
5 checkpoints around Qalqilya.  At
approximately 15:45 on Friday, 30 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
near Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. 
On Sunday, 01 January 2012, IOF established 5 checkpoints around
Qalqilya.   On Monday, 03 January 2012, IOF established 5
checkpoints around Qalqilya.                                

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 30 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.  At approximately 12:30 on Saturday, 31
December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Yamoun
village, northwest of Jenin.  At
approximately 16:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin. 

 

Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 11:30 on Sunday, 01 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the southern entrance of Jericho.  At
approximately 15:00 on the same day, they established a checkpoint at the
entrance of ‘Ein al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 02 January
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zbaidat village, north
of Jericho.  At approximately 16:00 on
the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at al-Ma’rajjat road between Jericho
and Ramallah.  At approximately 15:00 on
Tuesday, 03 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein
al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho.  At
approximately 19:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Fassayel village, north of Jericho. 

 

Salfit: At approximately 19:30 on Tuesday, 03 January 2012, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Yassouf village, east of Salfit.   

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 09:15 on Monday, 02 January 2012, IOF established
a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya.  They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles, and arrested Mazen Mustafa ‘Aassi, 30, from Qarawat Bani Hassan
village northwest of Salfit.

 

At approximately 13:30 on Tuesday, 03 January 2012, IOF established
a checkpoint at Seer intersection, south of Jenin.  They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles, and arrested Saleem Ibrahim Abu ‘Erra, 31, from ‘Aqqaba
village.

 

On Wednesday morning, 04 January 2012, IOF positioned at the
Container checkpoint, east of occupied Jerusalem, arrested Mahmoud Ahmed Abu
Esnaina, 55, from Hebron.   

 

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
Monday morning, 02 January 2012, traders and workers in the industrial zone in
Wad al-Jouz neighborhood in East Jerusalem found banners along the road leading
to the industrial zone ordering confiscation of 13 dunums of land between the
Hebrew University and the Palestine Archaeological Museum (known
now as “the Rockefeller Museum”). 
The order was issued by the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem.  A committee of traders stated that the order
of confiscation was signed by the Israeli mayor of Jerusalem on 20 September
2011.  This plan will affect at least 170
shops, which employ at least 700 workers. 
According to Ahmed Sab Laban, a researcher in settlement affairs, the
Israeli municipality of Jerusalem intends to expand the road in the area, as
part of a wider plan to link the old town of Jerusalem with West Jerusalem and
Israeli settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank.  According to Sab Laban, there is another
Israeli plan to establish a 200-room hotel in al-Hisba area in Wad al-Jouz
neighborhood.  The development of this
road will pave the way for implementing the project of the hotel.

 

The
Civil Coalition for Defending the Palestinians’ Rights in Jerusalem unveiled
settlement plans aimed at expanding Israeli settlements in Jerusalem and
suburbs.  The Coalition stated that
Hebrew newspapers published an invitation for bids to establish 117 settlement
units in “Har Homa” settlement on Abu Ghumain Mount in the south of
Jerusalem.  There are also plans to
expand “Har Adar” settlement, northwest of Jerusalem, to establish new
settlement units.  In the same context, there
are plans to construct 213 units in “Efrat” settlement, south of Bethlehem, and
a number of units in “Givat Hazait” settlement in Jerusalem.

 

………………………………………………………

 

 

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

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