Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian
civilian during the dispersion of a peaceful demonstration in Hebron

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

 

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

A Palestinian
civilian was killed and 60 others, including 18 children, were wounded during
demonstrations commemorating the Palestinian Land Day.

13
civilians, including an international human rights defender, were wounded
during demonstration protesting the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activities. 

Dozens
of protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

A
Palestinian civilian died of a previous wound in the West Bank.

 

A
Palestinian was killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip while attempting to infiltrate
into Israel.

 

A
Palestinian child was killed by IOF in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

IOF
conducted 77 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 3
limited ones into the Gaza Strip.   

IOF
arrested 28 Palestinians, including 5 children and a journalist.

 

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

IOF
established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.

IOF
arrested a Palestinian child at a checkpoint near Ramallah.

IOF
harassed a Palestinian university student at Hawara checkpoint, south of
Nablus.

 

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

IOF
dismantled 7 tents and confiscated two water tanks in Beit Fourik village, east
of Nablus. 

A
Palestinian woman was injured by Israeli settlers.

 

 

Summary

 

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

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF
killed 3 Palestinians, including a civilian and a child, in the Gaza
Strip.  A 4^th civilian died of
a previous wound in the West Bank.  Additionally,
73 civilians, including 18 children were wounded by IOF in the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed a
Palestinian civilian and wounded 40 others, including 16 children, during the
dispersion of peaceful demonstrations organized in commemoration of the 36^th
anniversary of the Palestinian Land Day.

 

On 31 March 2012, IOF killed a
Palestinian in the central Gaza Strip. 
The claimed that he was armed and was digging near the border between
the Gaza Strip and Israel. 

 

On 03 April 2012, IOF killed a
Palestinian child near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

 

On 02 April 2012, , Israeli aircrafts dropped leaflets in the
border areas in the north of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip,
warning the Palestinian population of getting close to the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel.  The leaflets
included a threat that IOF would violently respond to an attempt to get as
close as to 300 meters from the border, and that “whoever attempts to get close
to the border would be driven away by all means, including shooting.”  The leaflets were concluded by the phrase “he
who warns is executed.”  The leaflets
included also maps of the Gaza Strip, and warnings related to firing home-made
rockets by Palestinian resistance groups.

 

In the West Bank, IOF wounded 33
civilians, including two children, during the dispersion of peaceful
demonstrations organized in commemoration of the 36^th anniversary of
the Palestinian Land Day and in protest to the construction of the annexation
wall and settlement activities. 

 

On 02 April 2012, a Palestinian
civilian dies of a previous wound he had sustained on 27 March 2012 during an
Israeli incursion into Rammoun village, northeast of Ramallah.  

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 77 military incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 28 Palestinian
civilians, including 5 children and a journalist.    

 

On 01 April 2012, a Palestinian detainee, Hana Shalabi, 30, was
deported by IOF) to the Gaza Strip under a deal whose details have not been
unveiled.  According to reports about the deal, Shalabi would stay in Gaza
for three years, and then return to her home in Jenin, in exchange for ending
her hunger strike which had lasted for 44 consecutive days. 

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 limited incursions into Palestinian areas in the
Gaza Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land which they had
already razed.

 

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.

 

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. 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.

 

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.

 

Settlement
Activities:  

 

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

 

On
31 March 2012, a number of Israeli settlers attacked 4 Palestinian civilians
who were traveling near Mikhmas intersection, east of Ramallah.  These civilians were on their way to an
agricultural area in Deir Dibwan village, east of Ramallah.  The settlers attacked them with iron tubes
and bars and sprinkled a spicy material at them.  As a result, Rajaa’ Sabri ‘Aridh, 57,
sustained fractures to her left hand and bruises throughout the body, and Ahmed
Muharram al-Zeer, 50, sustained bruises. 

 

On
the same day, a number of masked Israeli settlers from “Beit Ain” settlement
attached a Palestinian farmer, Mohammed ‘Abdul Hamid al-Sulaibi, 67, and his
family in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, while they were working on their
land.  Al-Suliabi’s children were extremely
terrified.

 

On
02 April 2012, IOF, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into al-Ja’wana area in
the east of Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus.  Without warning, they immediately dismantled
and confiscated 6 tents and two water tanks. 
This attack had been the second of its kind in the area since 14
February 2012. 

 

  

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (29 March – 04 April 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 29 March 2012

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. 
They raided and searched two houses and arrested two Palestinian
civilians:

 

Diaa’ Bassin Shbaita, 25; and

Mohammed ‘Emad Radwan, 21.

 

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved
into al-Balou’ neighborhood in al-Bireh. 
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 Deir Ebzei’ village, west of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 14:00, IOF moved
hundreds of meters into al-Fukhari area in the southeast of the southern Gaza
Strip town of Khan Yunis.  They leveled
areas of Palestinian land which they had already razed.  This incursion continued until 01:30 on the
following day, during which Israeli helicopter gunships opened fire at
agricultural areas.  No casualties were
reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved
into al-Shouka village, east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, amidst
spondaic shooting.  They searched areas
along the border between the Gaza Strip. 
They withdrew from the area at approximately 20:00.

 

At approximately 18:00, 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 19:30, IOF moved
into Deir Abu Mash’al village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Friday,
30 March 2012

 

At approximately 08:40, IOF moved
into Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved
into Kufor Malek village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 09:00, IOF
moved into al-Zbaidat village, north of Jericho.  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 Beit Siera village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 16:45, IOF moved
into 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 18:00, IOF moved
into Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin. 
They patrolled in the streets.  A
number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military
vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers
fired sound bombs.  IOF withdrew from the
village later, and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Saturday, 31 March 2012  

 

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

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into ‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp, northwest of Jericho.  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 Yatta village, south of Hebron.  They
raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Hammad Jaber al-Nawaj’a,
33, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved
into Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 08:35, Israeli
soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east
of Khan Yunis opened fire at agricultural areas.  Palestinian farmers were forced to leave
their lands and no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 11:40, 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 15:20, IOF moved
into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 16:00, IOF moved
into Hijja village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Also at approximately 16:00, IOF
moved into Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 16:05, IOF moved
into Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:40, IOF moved
into ‘Izbat Shoufa village, southeast of Tulkarm.  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 the agricultural area between Marka and ‘Arraba villages, south of
Jenin.  They searched the areas and
opened fire into the air.  They withdrew
later and no other incidents were reported.

 

At approximately 18:30, IOF moved
into Saffa village, west of Ramallah. 
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 Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  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 ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 01 April 2012

 

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

 

At approximately 01:00, 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 02:00, IOF moved
into Halhoul town, north of Hebron.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into Deir Jareer village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:00, IOF moved
nearly 300 meters into the east of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza
Strip.  They searched areas along the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. 
They pulled back to the border 6 hours later. 

 

At approximately 17:30, IOF moved
into Kharabtha al-Misbah village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:45, IOF moved
into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:30, IOF moved
into Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets.  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. 
IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:10, IOF moved
into ‘Assala village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 21:55, IOF moved
into Qalqilya.  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 ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:50, 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 23:00, IOF moved
into Hijja village, east of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Monday, 02 April 2012

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa village,
southwest of Ramallah.  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 Qabatya village, southeast
of Jenin.  They raided and searched two
houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Mofeed ‘Aadel Nazzal, 53; and

2. Fadi Yousef Khuzaimiya, 23.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Marka village,
southwest of Jenin.  They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including two
brothers:

 

1. Mustafa Hisham ‘Abdul ‘Aziz, 31;

2. Ahmed ‘Ali Mousa, 30;

3. Saleh ‘Ali Mousa, 33; and

4. Fares Tayseer Mousa, 34.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tubas town.  They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Fakhri ‘Abdul Raziq Daraghma, 40; and

2. ‘Odai Radwan Daraghma, 19.

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of
Ramallah.  They raided and searched
houses belonging to members of the Islamic Bloc in Bir Zeit University and
arrested two of them:

 

1. Ayman Abu ‘Arram, 26, formers Chairman of the Student Council;
and

2. Hamdan Jamal al-Sayed, 27. 

 

In the early morning, medical sources at an Israeli hospital
declared that Rashad Hassan Shihada Shouka, 28, from Rammoun village, northeast
of Ramallah, died of wounds he had sustained last week. 

 

According to PCHR’s documentation, at approximately 01:30, IOF
moved into al-Joura area in the east of Rammoun village, northeast of
Ramallah.  They surrounded a house
belonging to Hassan Shoukha and fired at 3 of his sons and wounded them: Akram,
35; Anwar, 36; and Rashad, 28.  They also
arrested the three sons and evacuated them to an Israeli hospital.  IOF claimed that a soldier was stabled by a
Palestinian during a routine operation in the area, so other soldiers fired at
the three Palestinians.  IOF did not
allow Palestinian medical crews to attend the three Palestinians, and evacuated
them in an Israeli ambulance to an Israeli hospital.  The three victims underwent surgeries, but
Rashad died of his wound.

 

At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Nablus.  They stormed al-Madina al-Munawara apartment
building in an-Najah National University Street.  They blew up doors of two flats on the second
and fourth floors.  Leila Abu Ghazala who
was awake when IOF broke into the building attempted to stop blowing up the
door of her flat, but Israeli soldiers threatened to open fire at her, and then
blew up the door.  Israeli soldiers
raided and searched the two flats and arrested two Palestinian civilians,
including a child:

 

1. ‘Essam ‘Ammar Abu Ghazala, 16; and

2. Khaled Deeb al-Halabi, 21.

 

At approximately 06:00, Israeli aircrafts dropped leaflets in the
border areas in the north of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip, warning
the Palestinian population of getting close to the border between the Gaza Strip
and Israel.  The leaflets included a
threat that IOF would violently respond to an attempt to get as close as to 300
meters from the border, and that “whoever attempts to get close to the border
would be driven away by all means, including shooting.”  The leaflets were concluded by the phrase “he
who warns is executed.”  The leaflets
included also maps of the Gaza Strip, and warnings related to firing home-made
rockets by Palestinian resistance groups.

 

At approximately 09:30, 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 10:00, IOF moved into Bitillu village, northwest
of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa
village, southwest of Ramallah.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 10:15, IOF moved into 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 14:45, 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.

 

At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into Kharabtha al-Misbah village,
southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 17:30, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village,
northeast of Qalqilya.  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 Safarin village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 03 April 2012

 

At approximately 00:10, IOF positioned at the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Khan Yunis opened fire sporadically at the
house of Mohammed Kassab Shurrab, 67, nearly 450 meters away from the border,
in al-Fukhari area in the southeast of the town.  The house was damaged.  It is worth noting that Shurrab was wounded
and two of his sons were killed by IOF on 16 January 2012 during the Israeli
offensive on the Gaza Strip (Operation Cast Lead).

 

At approximately 00:20, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  They raided and shop of mobile phones and
confiscated a number of phones.  They
also arrested Khaled Yousef Radi, 29.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Dahia neighborhood in the
southeast of Nablus.  They raided a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Anwar Mina, 30, correspondent of Quds Press
News Agency, and arrested him.  They then
raided a house belonging to the family of Fadel Hamed Khudair, 33, and arrested
him. 

 

At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Marj Na’ja village, north of
Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa village,
southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Kfiret village, southwest of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets and
stopped and questioned a number of Palestinian civilians.   They then established a checkpoint at the
entrance of the village.  They withdrew
later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, 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.

 

Also at approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Baqa al-Sharqiya
village, north of Tulkarm.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into 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 13:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Awa village, west of
Jenin.  They raided and searched a number
of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including two children:

 

1. Diaa’ Isma’il Masalma, 18;

2. Yasser Majed Masalma, 17; and

3. Bahaa’ ‘Abdul Qader Masalma, 17.

 

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

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF delivered the body of Bilal Yousef
Ibrahim al-Sa’aida, 20, from al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip,
to a Palestinian ambulance at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.  According to the Israeli military’s website,
Israeli soldiers noticed on Saturday evening, 31 March 2012, a Palestinian
digging near the border so they fired at him. 
During searches in the area, his body was found with a Kalashnikov
rifle.  According to medical sources, the
victim was hit by several bullets throughout the body.  The victim’s brother, Jalal al-Din Yousef
al-Sa’aida, 40, stated that his brother had been missing since Friday evening,
30 March 2012.  The family began to
search for him at approximately 14:00 on Saturday, 31 March 2012, but they did
not find him.  At approximately 22:00 on
the same day, they heard sounds of shooting at the border to the east of
al-Maghazi refugee camp.  When they heard
Israeli news that IOF killed a Palestinian near the border in the central Gaza
Strip, they contacted the ICRC, and the latter informed them that their son’s
body was kept by IOF. 

 

At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Beit Reema village,
northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 16:20, IOF moved into Beit Siera village,
southwest of Ramallah.  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 22:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, northwest
of Jenin, and patrolled in the streets. 
A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli
military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli
soldiers fired sound bombs.  IOF withdrew
later and no casualties were reported.

 

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

 

Wednesday, 04 April 2012

 

At approximately 00:25, IOF moved into Brouqin village, west of
Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including two children:

 

1. Mohammed Mahmoud ‘Awadh, 22;

2. Yousef Mohammed ‘Awadh, 21;

3. Mohammed Yousef ‘Awadh, 15; and

4. Muhannad Zuhair al-‘Allami, 14.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bani Na’im village,
northeast of Hebron.  They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested Hassan ‘Atiya al-Khdour, 22.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jericho and the neighboring
‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported. 

 

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jaba’ village, south of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 06:30, IOF moved into Koubar village, northwest of
Ramallah.  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 Kharabtha al-Misbah village,
southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:15, Palestinian medical sources found the body
of Hashem Misbah Salem Sa’ad, 17, from al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in the east of
Gaza City, nearly 300 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and
Israel.  According to his mother, Haifa’
‘Ali al-Tawil, he left the house at approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, 03 April
2012, carrying knife.  He told his mother
that he wanted to revenge his sister’s death who was killed by IOF during
Operation Cast Lead.  It is worth noting
that at approximately 21:45 on Tuesday, 03 April 2012, IOF positioned at the
border opened fire at Palestinian areas. 
According to medical sources, the victim was hit by shrapnel throughout
the body.  

 

Palestinian Detainee, Hana Shalabi, Deported to
the Gaza Strip

 

On Sunday, 01 April 2012, a Palestinian detainee, Hana Shalabi, 30,
was deported by IOF) to the Gaza Strip under a deal whose details have not been
unveiled.  According to reports about the deal, Shalabi would stay in Gaza
for three years, and then return to her home in Jenin, in exchange for ending
her hunger strike which had lasted for 44 consecutive days. 

 

Once she arrived in Gaza, Shalabi was transported to Shifa Hospital
in Gaza City, and was admitted into the intensive care unit, as her health
condition deteriorated consequent to 44 days of hunger strike.  According
to representatives of human rights organizations who had visited Shalabi in
Hasharon Prison in the north of Israel, where she was detained, her health
condition deteriorated and she suffered from pains throughout the body. 

 

IOF arrested Hana Yahia Saber Shalabi, from Bouqin Village near
Jenin in the northern West Bank, from her house on 16 February 2012.  She
was detained in Hasharon Prison, and was placed under administrative detention
for 6 months. She had declared an open hunger strike in protest to re-arresting
her by IOF, as she had been released in October 2011 in the context of the
prisoners swap between the Palestinian resistance and IOF, after serving two
years under administrative detention.

 

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.  As a result, 13
demonstrators, including an international one, were wounded, and dozens of others
suffered from tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises.

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 30 March 2012, 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 Palestinian
prisoners in Israeli jails.  The
demonstration coincided with the Palestinian Land Day.  The demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag
and called for ending the political split. They then moved towards areas of annexation
wall.  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.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 30 March 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities.  The demonstration coincided
with the Palestinian Land Day.   The
demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag and called for national unity and for
the release of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails.  They 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.

 

Also following the Friday prayer on 30 March 2012, 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, 4 civilians, including a child,
were wounded, and other demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation (PCHR
keeps names of the wounded).

 

At approximately 01:20 on Friday, 30 March 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a
peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in
protest to continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village by IOF.  IOF fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs
at the demonstrators.  As a result, 8
demonstrators, including an international one, were hit directly by tear gas
canisters.  Additionally, 22
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Peaceful Demonstrations on the Land Day

 

IOF excessively used force against peaceful demonstrations
organized by Palestinian civilians on Friday, 30 March 2012, to commemorate the
Land Day.  The use of excessive force resulted in killing a Palestinian
civilian and wounding 40 others, including 16 children, in the Gaza Strip,
while 20 civilians, including two children, were wounded in the West Bank. 
Additionally, dozens of Palestinians suffered from gas inhalation or sustained
bruises.  

 

The Gaza Strip

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 30 March 2012, hundreds of
demonstrators gathered in the vicinity of the Customs Checkpoint, west of Beit
Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, 1,700 meters to the south of Beit Hanoun
(Erez) crossing, to mark Land Day.  A number of Palestinians could reach
areas close to the cement wall and into the road connecting Beit Hanoun
crossing with the Palestinian Liaison Office (55), and some of them entered the
industrial zone.  IOF then fired bullets and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators.  As a result, Mahmoud Mohammed Zaqqout, 19, from Beit Lahia
Project was killed by a bullet to the neck.  Additionally, 35 others, including
15 children, were wounded; the wounds of two of them were serious.  Another 6 civilians, including two children,
suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 30 March 2012, approximately
100 Palestinians headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel
to the east of ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis.  They raised the
Palestinian flag and chanted national slogans commemorating Land Day. 
When they reached an area approximately 100 meters away from the said fence, a
number of demonstrators got closer and tried to put the Palestinian flag on it,
and the flag was actually put on the fence.  IOF patrolling behind the
fence fired tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets at them. 
As a result, five civilians, including a child, were wounded and their wounds
were described as moderate (PCHR keeps their names).

 

The West Bank

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 30 March 2012, hundreds of
Palestinians gathered around Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque (Rachel’s Tomb) at the northern
entrance of Bethlehem.  IOF used noisy loudspeakers and then fired sound
bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a result, 12
Palestinians, including two children, were wounded.  The wounds of two of
them were described as serious (PCHR keeps their names).

 

At the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international
and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
Qalandya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. 
They moved towards Qalandya crossing. 
IOF closed the crossing and fired at the demonstrators.  As a result, 4 demonstrators were wounded
(PCHR keeps their names).

 

At the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians demonstrated near
Oufar Prison, southwest of Ramallah.  IOF
fired at them.  As a result, 3 demonstrators
were wounded (PCHR keeps their names). 

 

At the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a
peaceful demonstration in Budros village, west of Ramallah.  They moved towards the annexation wall and
attempted to cross it.  Immediately, IOF
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at
them.  A number of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation.

 

At the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a
peaceful demonstration in Saffa village, southwest of Ramallah.  They moved towards the annexation wall and
attempted to cross it.  Immediately, IOF
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at
them.  A number of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation.

 

Other Peaceful Demonstrations

 

At approximately 09:45 on Sunday, 01 April 2012, a number of Palestinian
civilians headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the
east of ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis, to organize a peaceful demonstration. 
They set fire to tires and attempted to put the Palestinian flag on the border. 
IOF patrolling behind the fence fired at them. 
No casualties were reported. 

 

3. Continued Closure of the OPT

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for 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.  

 

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.

 

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.

 

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 traders, international
diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza
Strip.  On Wednesday evening, 14 March
2012, IOF arrested Ahmed Subhi al-Kahlout, 40, a trader from Gaza City, when he
was traveling via Beit Hanoun crossing.

 

For approximately 57 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.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

28 March
– 03 April 2012

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

28 March
– 03 April 2012

 

Imports:

 

 

Exports:

 

On Thursday, 29 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 205,000 flowers.

On Sunday, 01 April 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 329,000
flowers.

 

Notes:

 

On Wednesday, 28 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 320 tons of
cement, 1,400 tons of construction aggregates and 82 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry
of 39 tons of construction steel, 624 tons of fodders and 195 tons of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 22 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 40 tons of
cement and 2,660 tons of construction aggregates for UNRWA; and 364 tons of
cement for the Palestinian Water Authority. 
They also allowed the entry of 780 tons of fodders and 351 tons of
wheat.

 

On Sunday, 01 April 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 360 tons of
cement and 2,170 tons of construction aggregates.  They also allowed the entry of 195 tons of
fodders and 273 tons of wheat.

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

28 March
– 03 April 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.

 

There are approximately hundreds of 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.

 

Many of the main roads that lead to Palestinian communities in the
West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF.

 

IOF have continued to restrict access of Palestinian civilians from
the West Bank to East Jerusalem, through a strict system of permits and a
network of checkpoints.

 

IOF have completed controlled access to the Jordan Valley through 4
permanent checkpoints established at its entrances.  Palestinians living outside the area are not
allowed to enter it without permits.

 

Settlement activities and expansion of settlements impose
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

 

IOF have continued to restrict access to gunfire areas and natural
reserves, which constitute about 26% of the total area of the West Bank.

 

Israeli military checkpoints restrict the movement of goods
throughout the West Bank.

 

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

 

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 young Muslim Palestinians from
praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.  On Friday
morning, 30 March 2012, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians inside the city. 
They prevented Palestinians aged below 40 from entering the al-Aqsa
Mosque. 

 

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
08:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately
10:40 on the same day, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint,
north of Ramallah.  At approximately
08:30 on Friday, 30 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. 
At approximately 09:30, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At
approximately 11:00, IOF established a checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah
Bridge, southwest of Ramallah.  At
approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 31 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Saouther al-Mazra’a village, northwest of Ramallah.  At the same time, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Shaqba village, west of Ramallah.  At approximately 13:00, IOF established a
checkpoint on Bil’ein – Deir Qiddis road, west of Ramallah.  At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 01 April
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Eastern al-Ma’sara
village, northeast of Ramallah.  At
approximately 15:00, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta
intersection, southwest of Ramallah.  At
approximately 15:40, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint,
north of Ramallah.  At approximately
09:30 on Monday, 02 April 2012, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At
approximately 13:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Liqya
village, west of Ramallah, and another one under ‘Ein Yabroud Bridge, northeast
of the town.  At approximately 16:50, IOF
re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At approximately 06:00 on Wednesday, 04 April
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah. 

 

Qaqlqilya:  IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.  At approximately 15:20 on
Thursday, 29 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at Jeet intersection,
northeast of Qalqilya.  On Saturday, 31
March 2012, IOF established 3 checkpoints around the town.  On Sunday, 01 April 2012, IOF established 3
checkpoints around the town.  On Monday, 02
April 2012, IOF established two checkpoints around the town.  At approximately 20:50 on Tuesday, 03 April
2012, IOF established a checkpoint in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village,
northeast of Qalqilya.

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
09:30 on Saturday, 31 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance
of Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. 
At approximately 10:30 on Tuesday, 03 April 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Kfiret village, southwest of Jenin.  

 

Tulkarm:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 15:00 on Monday, 02 April
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at Jibara gate on Tulkarm – Qalqilya road,
south of Tulkarm.  They established a
checkpoint in the same area at approximately 18:00 on the following day. 

 

Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 10:20 on Monday, 02 April 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Yassouf village, east of Salfit.  At approximately 10:30, IOF established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Brouqin village, west of Salfit.  At approximately 12:10 on Tuesday, 03 April
2012, IOF established a checkpoint on al-Matwi road between Salfit and Brouqin
village. 

 

Jericho:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 13:30 on Thursday, 29 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the southern entrance of Jericho.  At
approximately 09:30 on Friday, 30 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the southern entrance of Jericho.  At
approximately 14:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein
al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho.  At
approximately 09:30 on Monday, 02 April 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of al-Zbaidat village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 16:30, IOF established a
checkpoint on Jericho – Ramallah road. 
At approximately 11:30 on Tuesday, 03 April 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho. 
At approximately 15:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
‘Ein al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho. 
At approximately 19:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Fassayel village, north of Jericho.

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 07:20 on Monday, 02 April 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian
vehicles, and arrested ‘Anan Naji Tamimi, 17.

 

Harassments at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 04 April 2012, IOF re-established
their presence at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus.  They stopped a taxi that was coming from Douma
village, southeast of Nablus.  They took
the ID cards of the passengers.  Soon
after, Israeli soldiers took 3 young men to an Israeli intelligence who
questioned them.  The last young man was
Zuhdi Fa’eq Dawabsha, 23, a university student. 
IOF questioned him, handcuffed him and placed him in a pit near the road
for two hours.  They then released
him. 

 

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

 

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

 

On
Saturday morning, 31 March 2012, a number of Israeli settlers attacked 4
Palestinian civilians who were traveling near Mikhmas intersection, east of
Ramallah.  These civilians were on their
way to an agricultural area in Deir Dibwan village, east of Ramallah.  The settlers attacked them with iron tubes
and bars and sprinkled a spicy material at them.  As a result, Rajaa’ Sabri ‘Aridh, 57,
sustained fractures to her left hand and bruises throughout the body, and Ahmed
Muharram al-Zeer, 50, sustained bruises. 

 

On
Saturday morning, 31 March 2012, a number of masked Israeli settlers from “Beit
Ain” settlement attached a Palestinian farmer, Mohammed ‘Abdul Hamid
al-Sulaibi, 67, and his family in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, while they
were working on their land.  Al-Suliabi’s
children were extremely terrified.

 

At
approximately 08:30 on Monday, 02 April 2012, IOF, accompanied by a bulldozer,
moved into al-Ja’wana area in the east of Beit Fourik village, east of
Nablus.  Without warning, they
immediately dismantled and confiscated 6 tents and two water tanks.  This attack had been the second of its kind
in the area since 14 February 2012.  The
tents belong to: ‘Aatef Hussein Hanani; As’ad Mohammed Hanani (two tents);
Shaher Nayef Abu Hait; Mohammed ‘Aadel Nasasra; and Mohyi al-Din Mohammed
Nasasra. 

 

 

……………………………………………………

 

Recommendations to the International
Community

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

 

Public Document

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