Israeli
settlers’ attack on Latron Church near occupied Jerusalem

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

      

 

IOF
launched a number of air strikes and opened fire at areas in the Gaza Strip.

3
members of the Palestinian resistance were killed and a fourth one was wounded
in the central Gaza Strip.

3
members of the Palestinian resistance were wounded by Israeli air strikes.

Two
schools and a house were damaged.

 

IOF used
force to disperse peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in the
West Bank.

3
Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were wounded.

IOF
detained 5 Palestinian civilians, including two women, for several hours.

 

IOF
conducted 49 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.   

IOF
arrested 30 Palestinians, including 5 children, in the West Bank.

IOF
arrested 3 Palestinian children from the Gaza Strip who attempted to enter
Israel.   

 

Israeli
gunboats fired at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.

 

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

IOF
arrested two girls and two boys at military checkpoints in Hebron. 

 

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

The
Israeli High Court confirmed an order to demolish two houses in al-Khader
village, south of Bethlehem.

IOF
confiscated 100 dunums[1]
of land in Nahalin village near Bethlehem.

Israeli
settlers attacked a monastery in Latron area, west of occupied Jerusalem.

Israeli
settlers destroyed 20 olive trees in Bourin village, south of Nablus.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (30 August – 05 September 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF
killed 3 Palestinians and wounded another 7 ones, including a woman, in the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 05 September
2012, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a number of members of the
Palestinian resistance.  As a result, 3
members were killed and a fourth one was seriously wounded.

 

On 01 September 2012, 3 members of
the Palestinian resistance were wounded when Israeli warplanes bombarded two
training sites of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza City.  Additionally, two schools and a house were
damaged. 

 

On 03 September 2012, Israeli
warplanes bombarded a training site of the Palestinian resistance in
al-Nussairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.  No casualties were reported.

 

IOF continued to fire at Palestinian
fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.  On 03
September 2012, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in
the northern Gaza Strip.  No casualties
were reported. 

  

During the reporting period, IOF
used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the
construction of the annexation wall, settlement activities and other Israeli
practices in the West Bank.  As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including
a woman, were wounded.  Additionally, IOF
detained 5 Palestinian civilians, including two women, for several hours.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 49 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 
During these incursions, IOF arrested 30 Palestinians, including 5 children.
 

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF arrested 3 Palestinian children near al-Boreij refugee camp
in the central Gaza Strip when they attempted to cross the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel.

 

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
01 September 2012, the Israeli High Court rejected a petition filed by ‘Ali
Saleem Mousa, from al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, to stop the
demolition of his house, where 7 people live, a water well and an agricultural
room located near an Israeli military observation tower.  It should be noted that the Israeli High
Court issued on 29 August 2012 a decision to demolish a nearby house belonging
to Mousa’s father, in which 17 people live.

 

On
02 September 2012, IOF moved into Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem, and
delivered notices to the Local Council of the village ordering the evacuation
and confiscation of 100 dunums of land in Wadi al-Sakran and Khirbat al-Deir
areas in the southwest of the village. 

 

On 04
September 2012, Israeli settlers set fire to doors of a monastery in Latron
area, west of occupied Jerusalem, and wrote anti-Christian slogans.  According to the Israeli daily Yediot
Aharanot, the settlers wrote anti-Christian slogans in the context of
retaliatory attacks launched by settlers. 
The settlers wrote slogans insulting the Christ, the name of “Migron”
settlement outpost, which was evacuated by an Israeli judicial decision and
Nazi slogans in the context of retaliatory attacks known as “Paying the
Price.”  Monks contacted the Israeli
police, which opened an investigation.

 

On
05 September 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Yits’har” settlement,
which stands on the lands of Bourin village, south of Nablus, destroyed 20
olives trees.

 

On
the same day, dozens of Israeli settlers from “Carme’il” settlement, south of
Hebron, gathered on Khirbat Um al-Khair area to the southeast of Yatta village,
and prevented Palestinian shepherds from grazing their animals.  

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (30 August – 05 September 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 30 August 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved
into al-Dyouk village, northwest of Jericho. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrested were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into ‘Awarta village, southeast of Nablus. 
They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian
civilians, including a man and his wife:

 

1. Saleem Hassan ‘Awad, 65;

2. Fawzia Mohammed ‘Awad, 60, his wife;

3. Mohammed Fat’hi Sa’ada, 20;

4. Mohammed Ghazi Sabbah, 32;

5. Bahaa’ Faze’ Darawsha, 30; and

6. Mazen Niaz ‘Awad, 39.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved
into Beit ‘Awa village, southwest of Hebron. 
They raided and searched a number of houses belonging to the al-Swaiti
family, and arrested 5 members of the family, including 3 children:

 

1. Mos’ab Mohammed al-Swaiti, 23;

2. Mohammed Sameeh al-Swaiti, 15;

3. Hamza Riad al-Swaiti, 19;

4. Ebaa’ ‘Oudetallah al-Swaiti, 15; and

5. Shadi Riad al-Swaiti, 17.

 

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved
into Sinjel village, north of Ramallah. 
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 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 23:40, IOF moved
into Kufor Malek village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Friday, 31 August 2012

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, south
of Hebron.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Mohammed ‘Aayesh Shatat, 23.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tarqoumia village, west of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of ‘Izziddin al-Muraqtan, 23.

 

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

 

Saturday, 01 September 2012

 

At approximately 00:00, Israeli
helicopter gunships fired two missiles at two training sites of the Palestinian
resistance in the northwest of Gaza City. 
A missile hit a site of the Liberals Movement, while the other one hit
Abu Qadous site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of
Hamas).  As a result of the bombardment,
3 members of the Palestinian resistance were wounded by shrapnel throughout
their bodies.  Additionally, a nearby house
and two schools were damaged.

 

At approximately 07:30, 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 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 09:30, IOF moved
into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:10, 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.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved
into Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:50, 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.

 

Sunday, 02 September 2012

 

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Far’oun village, south of
Tulkarm.  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 Fassayel village, northwest
of Jericho.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village,
southeast of Jenin.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Najeeb ‘Abdullah Abu al-Rub, 35,
and arrested him.

 

At approximately 08:30, 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 10:00, IOF moved into Deir Jarir village,
northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Ne’lin village, west of
Ramallah.  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 al-Jalama village, north of
Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:30, 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 15:25, 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 15:30, IOF moved into al-Sammou’ village, south of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of ‘Eissa Khalaila, 35, and arrested him. 

 

At approximately 15:55, 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.

 

At approximately 18:00, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit
Lahia seashore in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing
boats.  Palestinian fishermen were forced
to escape and no casualties or damage were reported.

 

At approximately 18:20, IOF positioned at the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of al-Boreij refugee camp arrested 3
Palestinian children who attempted to cross the border:

 

1. Sa’ed Ameen
Warda, 16;

2. Mohammed Hassan
al-Taweel, 16; and

3. Ra’ad Hussein
Abu Khater, 16, all from al-Nussairat refugee camp. 

 

At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of
Jenin, and patrolled in the streets.  A
number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military
vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers
fired tear gas canisters and sound bobs. 
As a result, Friyal Mas’oud Abu Bakr, 47, suffered from tear gas
inhalation.  IOF withdrew from the
village later, and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

Monday, 03 September 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, an Israeli warplane fired two missiles at
two training sites of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of
Hamas) in the northeast of al-Nussairat refugee camp in the central Gaza
Strip.  The site was damaged, but no
casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah.  They raided and searched
a house belonging to Nasser ‘Abdul Qader al-Tamimi, 40, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 03:15, 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 04:50, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation
towers to the north of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun opened fire
at open areas in the town.  No casualties
were reported, but Palestinian civilians, especially children and women, were
terrified.

 

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

 

At approximately 21:35, 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 22:10, 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 22:15, IOF moved into Kufor Thuluth village, east
of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:10, 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.

 

Tuesday, 04 September 2012

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village,
northeast of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in
the streets and fired tear gas canisters at the garden of a house belonging to
Murad Eshwaiti.  As a result, Eshtaiwi’s
wife and 3 children suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF then raided and searched a number of
houses in the village and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Mo’ayad ‘Aaref
Eshtaiwi, 55;

2. Aws ‘Abdul
Raziq ‘Aamer, 27;

3. Ahmed ‘Abdul
Rahim ‘Aamer, 28;

4. Mohammed Rushdi
‘Aamer, 26; and

5. Wassin ‘Abdul
Hamid, 22.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Mawrqa and al-Koum
villages, southwest of Hebron.  They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Wednesday, 05 September 2012

 

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus.  They raided and searched a number of houses
in the old town and Ras al-‘Ein neighborhood and arrested 4 Palestinian
civilians:

 

1. Mohammed Sadiq al-Foula, 18;

2. Ayman Bassem al-Foula, 18;

3. Ameer Bassem al-‘Aamoudi, 25; and

4. Nidal Majed al-Zaurba, 18.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Awarta village, southeast
of Nablus.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested George Mazen ‘Awad, 22.

 

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Aqqaba village,
northwest of Tubas.  They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested Ja’far Khaled Ghannam, 22.

 

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee
camp, north of Hebron.  They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian children:

 

1. ‘Omar ‘Abdul
‘Aziz al-Ballassi, 17; and

2. Ahmed
al-Badawi, 17.

 

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bani Na’im village,
east of Hebron.  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 Sourif village, northwest of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to ‘Abdullah Ghunaimat, but no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of
Hebron.  They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to Ahmed ‘Eissa Abu ‘Arram, but no arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Tarqoumia village, west
of Hebron.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to ‘Azmi Qabaja, but no arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 04:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village,
south of Hebron.  They raided and searched
a house belonging to Ibrahim Hussein Hawarin, 50, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of
Hebron.  They patrolled in the streets,
conducted training and set up tents in the vicinity of the village. 

 

At approximately 22:20, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at 4
members of the Palestinian resistance in the east of al-Boreij refugee camp in
the central Gaza Strip, nearly 1,500 meters away from the border with
Israel.  As a result, 3 members were
instantly killed:

 

1. Khalil Faraj al-Jarba, 27, from al-Boreij refugee camp;

2. Khaled Salah al-Qerem, 24, from al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in Gaza
City; and

3. Zakaria Mamdouh al-Jammal, 20, from Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in
Gaza City.

 

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, 3 Palestinian
civilians, including a woman, were wounded. 
Additionally, some demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF also arrested 4 Palestinian civilians,
including two women, but released them later.

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 31 August 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 settlement activities and in
commemoration of Rachel Corrie, an American human rights defender who was run
down by an Israeli military bulldozer in the Gaza Strip in 2003.  They moved towards areas of the annexation
wall.  They called through megaphones on
Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land.  Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators.  As a result, a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 31 August 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 demonstrators moved
towards areas of the annexation wall.  
Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a result, some demonstrators suffered from
tear gas inhalation.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 31 August 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders
gathered in the center of 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.  As a
result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were wounded, and some others
suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF
detained Mohammed ‘Abdul Karim al-Khatib, 38, a Palestinian activist, for some
time.  They also arrested 4 Palestinian
civilians, including two women, but released them at approximately 23:00 on
bail:

 

1. Mustafa Ittihad
al-Reemawi, 22;

2. Miriam Ibrahim
Barghouthi, 20;

3. Haneen Ibrahim
Barghouthi, 20; and

4. Bilal ‘Abdul
Salam Tamimi, 46.

 

The
fourth member was seriously wounded.

 

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 six 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. 

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

29 August
– 04 September 2012

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem
(Kerem Shalom) Crossing

29 August
– 02 September 2012

 

Imports:

 

 

 

Notes:

 

On Wednesday, 29 August 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 460 tons of
cement, 2,870 tons of construction aggregates, 506 tons of flour and 129 tons
of milk for UNRWA; 21 tons of car oil and 9 tons of medicines for the ICRC;
1,960 tons of construction aggregates for the Palestinian Water Authority; and
111 tons of flour for WFP.   They also allowed the entry of 1,131 tons of
fodders and 390 tons of wheat.

 

On Thursday, 30 August 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 400 tons of
cement, 1,610 tons of base course, 980 tons of construction aggregates, 18 tons
of tar, 48 tons of marbles, 79 tons of cooking oil, 320 tons of flour and 18
tons of stationery for UNRWA; 2,310 tons of construction aggregates, 300 tons
of cement and 47 tons of construction steel for the Palestinian Water
Authority; 122 tons of flour for WFP; 18 tons of car oil for the Municipality
of Gaza; and 38 tons of cement for ANERA. 
They also allowed the entry of 1,638 tons of fodders, 351 tons of wheat
and 406 tons of straws. 

 

On Sunday, 02 September 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 540 tons of
cement, 71 tons of construction steel, 1,610 tons of base course, 1,470 tons of
construction aggregates and 371 tons of flour for UNRWA; 25 tons of flour, 29
tons of sugar, 26 tons of hummus.  They
also allowed the entry of 1,248 tons of fodders and 351 tons of wheat.

 

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

29
August – 04 September 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:

 

Ramallah and al-Bireh: 
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
08:00 on Thursday, 30 August 2012, IOF established a checkpoint under ‘Ein
Yabroud Bridge, northeast of Ramallah. 
At approximately 08:40, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur
al-Fouqa intersection, southwest of Ramallah. 
At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 31 August 2012, IOF abolished a
checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 19:30, IOF established a
checkpoint at al-Taybeh intersection, northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately 20:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Qiddis village, west of Ramallah.  At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 01
September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Beit ‘Aur
al-Fouqa village, southwest of Ramallah. 
At approximately 18:30, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At
approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 02 September 2012, IOF re-established their
presence at ‘Attrara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  At approximately 19:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa intersection, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 08:30 on Monday, 03
September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge,
southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately
09:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ne’lin village, west of
Ramallah.            

  

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 14:10 on Saturday, 01
September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at Jainsafout intersection, east
of Qalqilya.  At approximately 01:10 on
Sunday, 02 September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of
‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, southeast of Qalqilya. 
   

 

Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 30 August 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the southern entrance of Jericho.  At
approximately 20:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Ouja
village, northeast of Jericho.  At
approximately 20:00 on Friday, 31 August 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the southern entrance of Jericho.  At
approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 01 September 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 18:30, IOF established a
checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho. 
At approximately 20:00 on Sunday, 02 August 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho. 
At approximately 17:00 on Monday, 03 September 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Ouja village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 20:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho. 
  

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 09:00 on Friday, 31 August 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.  At approximately 22:30 on Saturday, 01
September 2012, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Qabatua
village, southeast of Jenin. 

 

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 00:30 on Saturday, 01 September 2012, Israeli soldiers positioned
at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.          

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 12:30 on Thursday, 30 August
2012, Israeli soldiers stationed at an electronic gate in the vicinity of the
Ibrahimi Mosque in the old town of Hebron arrested Malaka Kamel ‘Amru, 24,
claiming that she was carrying a knife.   

 

At approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 04 September
2012, Israeli soldiers stationed at an electronic gate in the vicinity of the
Ibrahimi Mosque in the old town of Hebron arrested Hadeel Jamal al-Batash, 12.

 

At approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, 04 September
2012, Israeli soldiers positioned in Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood in the center
of Hebron arrested Sundos Hisham al-‘Azza, 18, and her brother Ahmed, 12, when
they were on their way back home.  IOF
released the two children at approximately 06:00 on the following day.

 

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
Friday morning, 01 September 2012, the Israeli High Court rejected a petition
filed by ‘Ali Saleem Mousa, from al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, to stop
the demolition of his house, where 7 people live, a water well and an
agricultural room located near an Israeli military observation tower.  It should be noted that the Israeli High
Court issued on 29 August 2012 a decision to demolish a nearby house belonging
to Mousa’s father, in which 17 people live.

 

On
Saturday, 02 September 2012, IOF moved into Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem,
and delivered notices to the Local Council of the village ordering the
evacuation and confiscation of 100 dunums of land in Wadi al-Sakran and Khirbat
al-Deir areas in the southwest of the village. 
These areas of land belonging to Hassan Mahmoud Najajra, Hussein Mousa
Ghayaza, Saleem ‘Ali Najajra, Mohammed ‘Abdul Rahman Shakarna, ‘Eissa Mohammed
Fannoun, ‘Ali Mohammed Fannoun, and Hassan ‘Abdullah Najajra.

 

At
approximately 05:30 on Tuesday, 04 September 2012, Israeli settlers set fire to
doors of a monastery in Latron area, west of occupied Jerusalem, and wrote
anti-Christian slogans.  According to the
Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot, the settlers wrote anti-Christian slogans in the
context of retaliatory attacks launched by settlers.  The settlers wrote slogans insulting the
Christ, the name of “Migron” settlement outpost, which was evacuated by an
Israeli judicial decision and Nazi slogans in the context of retaliatory
attacks known as “Paying the Price.” 
Monks contacted the Israeli police, which opened an investigation.

 

On
Wednesday morning, 05 September 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Yits’har” settlement, which stands on the lands of Bourin village, south of
Nablus, destroyed 20 olives trees belonging to Nasser Ismail Qadous.

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 05 September 2012, dozens of Israeli settlers
from “Carme’il” settlement, south of Hebron, gathered on Khirbat Um al-Khair
area to the southeast of Yatta village, and prevented Palestinian shepherds
from grazing their animals.  

 

…………………………………………………

 

 

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).