Israeli
occupation forces disperse protests against the Annexation Wall in Bil’ein
village in the West Bank .

 

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

 

 

· 3 members of
the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades were killed and a civilian pedestrian was wounded
by IOF in the central Gaza Strip in a new extra-judicial execution.

 

· A Palestinian
civilian was killed by IOF when approaching the border in northern the Gaza
Strip.

 

· IOF warplanes continued
to bombard civilian establishments in the Gaza Strip.

– Plastic
recycling workshop was destroyed and a construction materials company and
several houses were damaged in the east
of Gaza city.

 

· IOF continued
to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the
Gaza Strip.

– IOF fired at
Palestinian shepherds and farmers in northern the Gaza Strip.

 

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

– A Palestinian
civilian was wounded in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. 

– IOF arrested three
Palestinian civilians.

 

· IOF conducted 51
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  

– IOF arrested 18
Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.

– IOF arrested Members
of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Maher Badr, from his house in
Hebron.

 

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

 

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

– The Israeli
municipality in Jerusalem approved the construction of 920 new settlement units
in “Gilo” settlement.

– IOF bulldozed
lands in Masha village and established 10 settlement units in “Etz
Efraim” settlement in the west of Salfit.

– Israeli
settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in
Hebron.

   

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (31 March – 06 April 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF
killed 3 members of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas,
and wounded a Palestinian pedestrian in the central Gaza Strip in an
extra-judicial execution.  IOF also
killed a Palestinian civilian in the northern Gaza Strip.  IOF wounded a Palestinian civilian in the West
Bank in a peaceful demonstration against the construction of the annexation wall
and settlement activities.

 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF extra-judicially executed three
members of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and
wounded a pedestrian in Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip.  An IOF spokesman announced that the Israeli Air
Force implemented this operation jointly with the Internal General Security
Service of Israel (Shabak) and the Israeli army against three members of the
Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades.  IOF claimed
that the executed Palestinians were planning to kidnap Israelis from Sinai.

 On 05 April 2011, IOF used lethal excessive force to kill a
Palestinian who was approximately 80 meters to the west of the border with
Israel in the northern Gaza Strip.  The
reasons why this Palestinian was in that area have not been known.

On 03 April 2011, IOF positioned in observation towers on the
border in the west of Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun town,
opened fire at Palestinian farmers and shepherds who were in their farms in the
north and northwest of Beit Hanoun.  No
casualties were reported.  On 05 April
2011, IOF warplanes bombarded the al-Sourani mountain area in al-Shaaf
neighborhood in the east of Gaza city.  The
bombardment targeted a plastic recycling workshop. The workshop was totally
destroyed and civilian property and objects in the vicinity sustained damages.

 

In the West Bank, IOF systematically used excessive force to
disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to Israeli settlement
activities and the construction of the annexation wall in the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF wounded a
Palestinian civilian, and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international
human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and bruises as they
were beaten by IOF.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 51 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 18
Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and Mohammed Maher Badr, 53, PLC Member
from the Change and Reform Bloc, who was arrested from his house in Ein Sara
neighborhood in the north of Hebron. 

 

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since
June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic
situation in the Gaza Strip. 

 

· IOF totally closed al-Mentar “Karni”
crossing in the beginning of March 2011.
Al-Mentar crossing is located in the east of Gaza city.  Since its establishment in 2005, the crossing had
served as Gaza’s major commercial crossing.  It was Gaza’s largest border crossing in terms
of its capacity to absorb imports and exports.  IOF’s decision to totally close the crossing
is the culmination of several previous decisions taken by IOF in the context of
a plan aimed at tightening the strangulation of the Gaza Strip and making Karm
Abu Salem crossing, which is not suitable for commercial purposes, as Gaza’s major
and sole commercial crossing.

· For approximately one month, imports allowed
into Gaza have decreased by less than 23.3% in comparison with daily number of
truckloads which used to be allowed into Gaza before mid June 2007 when
approximately 570 truckloads were daily allowed into Gaza via different border
crossings.

· The above numbers demonstrate that Karm Abu
Salrm crossing cannot meet Gaza’s needs which used to be delivered to Gaza via
four border crossings.  Karm Abu Salem
crossing is also unsuitable to receive Gaza’s exports because it is not
technically equipped to transfer goods and its absorptive capacity is very
limited making the crossing unsuitable to receive the same numbers of
truckloads which used to be exported via al-Mentar crossing before tightening
the siege in June 2007.

· The closure of al-Mentar crossing and the
dependence on Karm Abu Salem crossing resulted in the aggravation of the
suffering of industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors in the Gaza Strip,
created more obstacles in the face of the movement of the limited goods allowed
into Gaza and resulted in the increase of the transportation costs which in
turn will result in the increase of prices of Gaza’s imports and in the
infliction of additional costs on Gaza exporters (who export agricultural crops
allowed by IOF).

· The cooking gas crisis which renewed four
months ago has continued to exist as IOF closed Nahal Oz crossing, which used
to be dedicated for the delivery of fuel to Gaza and shifted fuel supplies to
Karm Abu Salem crossing which is not technically equipped to receive Gaza’s
needs of fuel.  IOF banned the delivery
of cooking gas to Gaza for 15 days and allowed the delivery of limited quantities
of cooking gas for 24 days only.  During
the reporting period, IOF allowed the delivery of approximately 4,530 tons of
cooking gas to Gaza (less than 116 tons per day in average). This average
represents 39% of Gaza’s actual daily needs.  During winter, Gaza daily
needs 300 tons of cooking gas.

· 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.  Facts on the ground refute IOF’s allegation
that they daily allow the exportation of 10 truckloads of agricultural
products.

· Recently, IOF allowed the exportation of very
limited quantities of Gaza’s agricultural products, including flowers and
tomatoes, to European markers.

· IOF allowed the weekly delivery of 20 small
cars to the Gaza Strip. In July 2010, IOF declared that they would allow the
delivery of 60 cars to Gaza every week.

· 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 to international organizations. As part of what IOF call
the easing of the siege which was declared in July 2010, IOF allowed the
delivery of approximately 70,000 tons of construction aggregate, 3,250 tons of
cement and 1,315 tons of iron bars for UNRWA, UNDP, ANERA and Coastal
Municipalities Water Utility.

· Israel has
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian civilians from
the Gaza Strip. IOF only allow the movement of limited groups amidst severe
restrictions, including long hours of waiting in the majority of cases. IOF have
also continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian
patients allowed to move via Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment
in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and Jerusalem. IOF denied new categories
of Gazan patient permission to have access to hospitals via the crossing.

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

· For approximately 45 months,  IOF have continued to deny approximately 710 Palestinian
prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails their visitation rights without
providing any justification to this measure, which violates the rules of the
International Humanitarian Law.

 

 

West
Bank

 

IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank,
including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

 

· IOF have
established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting
Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying
in the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

 

· There are
approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints
across the West Bank.

 

· When complete,
the illegal annexation wall will stretch for 724 kilometers
around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of
the wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the wall has been
constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

 

· At least 65% of
the main roads that lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are
closed or fully controlled by IOF.

 

· There are
approximately 500
kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In
addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East
Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF. Such
permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

 

· IOF continue to
harass and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the
construction of the Annexation Wall.

 

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

 

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 03 April 2011, IOF continued
bulldozing works in Beit Abu Zreiq area in the west of Masha village which is
located behind the annexation wall in the west of Salfit. The bulldozing works
were conducted to expand “Etz Efraim” settlement . Chairman of the
local council of Masha village stated to PCHR that IOF recently constructed 10
settlement units, including six completed units and 4 ones under construction.

 

On Monday, 04 April 2011, the
Israeli “Organization and Construction Committee” in occupied
Jerusalem approved a plan to establish 942 new settlement units on an area
measuring 270 donums in “Gilo” settlement between Jerusalem and
Bethlehem. The Israeli radio quoted sources from the Israeli occupation
municipality in Jerusalem as saying that “During the last four decades, no
changes have been made to the policy of the Israeli government and
municipality. There is broad consensus among Israelis to continue the
construction works in Jerusalem.”

 

Israeli settlers living in the
occupied West Bank in violation of the International Humanitarian Law have
continued to commit systematic crimes against Palestinian civilians and their
property. These crimes are usually committed in full view of IOF which provide
consistent protection to settlers and ignore opening investigations into
complaints submitted by Palestinian civilians against settlers who attack them.

 

On 31 March 2011, approximately 20
settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement acted provocatively while passing
on the road connecting “Kiryat Arba” settlement and the Ibrahimi
Mosque in the old town of Hebron. A number of them beat Basem Bassam Jaber, 28,
who sustained bruises to the upper part of his body. The settlers then attacked
3 small shops on both sides of the road in a trial to terrorize the Palestinian
owners and attack them.

 

On 01 April 2011, a number of
settlers from “Beit Hadassah” settlement located on al-Shuhada street
which is blocked by IOF in the face of Palestinians poured incendiary materials
on sunshades installed in front dozens of shops with the aim to set these shops
alight.

 

 Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (31 March – 06 April 2011)

 

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

 

Thursday, 31 March 2011

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses in al-Jelda, Eisa and Abu
Kteila neighborhoods.  They withdraw at
approximately 03:00. Before withdrawing,
they arrested three Palestinians and transferred them to “Kfar
Etzion” detention center northern Hebron and then to “Ofer”
prison in the southwest of Ramallah. The arrested Palestinians are:

1. Munir
   Izzat Mohammed Dofash, 21, who is a student at Palestine Polytechnic
   University;
2. Mohannad
   Mohammed Hasan Syaj, 24, who is owner of a shop; and
3. Tamer
   Hafez Karim al-Haymouni, 28, who is a taxi driver.

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF who have been blocking the entrances of Beit Ummar
village in the north of Hebron and imposing military siege on the village for
the ninth consecutive day stormed the village again.  They raided and searched many houses and
checked the ID cards of local civilians.  Before withdrawing, they arrested 3
Palestinian civilians, including a child:

 

1. Nedal Husni
Husein Zaaqiq , 19;

2. Mohammed Husni
Husein Zaaqiq, 16; and

3. Shehda Jaafar
Yousef Adi, 18.

 

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Dheisheh refugee camp,
south of Bethlehem.  They raided and
searched a house in the Eastern Neighborhood and arrested Munir Maarouf Abdul
Hamid Amr, 18.

 

· At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Faroun village, south
of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Ein Sara neighborhood in the
north of Hebron.  They raided a house
belonging to Mohammed Maher Badr, 53, PLC Member from the Change and Reform
Bloc, and arrested him.

 

· At approximately 10:15, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghsoun village,
north of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 11:45, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

 

Saturday,
02 April 2011

 

· At
approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and raided a Barrack. They delivered a notice to Zeyad Saleh Quraan
requiring him to appear before the Israeli Intelligence. Later, they withdrew
and no arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 10:30, IOF moved into the open farms between Brouqin village and
Kafrit village, southwest of Jenin. They
scanned the area.  They withdrew later
and no incidents or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 10:50, IOF moved into Kafr Addik village, west of
Salfit. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 10:55, IOF moved into Brouqin village, west of
Salfit. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Jbara village which is
isolated from its surroundings as it is located behind the annexation wall,
south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets. In the meanwhile, they stopped Yusri Ahmed
Ibrahim Uda, 27, and transferred him to the military checkpoint installed near
the entrance of the village. They
checked his ID card and then released him. No house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 11:45, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 16:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghsoun village,
north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

 

ٍSunday,
03 April 2011

 

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Bedia village, northwest of
Salfit. They patrolled in the streets. Before withdrawing, they delivered a notice
to Imad Ahmed Mohammed al-Dalo, 22, requiring him to appear before the Israeli
Intelligence. No arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Qarawet Bani Hassan village,
northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in
the streets, raided a house belonging to Muhsen Mohammed Yousef Meri and
delivered him a notice requiring him to appear before the Israeli
intelligence. No arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 09:15, IOF positioned on observation towers on the
border in the west of Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing opened fire at Palestinian
farmers who were in their farms in the north and northwest of Beit Hanoun
village. IOF also fired at Palestinian
shepherds who were tending their sheep approximately 600 meters to the east of
Beit Hanoun crossing. IOF continued to
fire for approximately ten minutes. Palestinian farmers and shepherds left the area in fear for their
lives. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Baqa al-Sharqeya
village, north of Tulkarm. They
patrolled in the streets. They withdrew
later and no house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Alar village, northeast
of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 10:15, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest
of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Sida village, northeast of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Beit Sira village, west
of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Jalqamous village, southeast
of Jenin. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into Shweika village, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into Kafr Addiq village, west of
Salfit. They patrolled in the
streets. Before withdrawing at
approximately 17:40, they delivered a notice to Husein Shaaban Samara,
requiring him to appear before the Israeli Intelligence. No arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Faroun village, south of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 04 April 2011

 

· At
approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided an searched many houses in the
center and the north of the camp. The
arrested two children and transferred them to “Kfar Etzion” detention
center north of Hebron:

1. Abdullah
   Imad Ahmed Abu Sharar, 16; and
2. Malek
   Mohammed Abdul Rahman al-Jawabra, 16.

 

· At approximately 01:10, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into several neighborhoods in the
north of Hebron. They raided and
searched many houses and arrested two Palestinians:

 

1. Eyad Hesham
Mahmoud Sabah, 27; and

2. Muhannad
Mohammed Ismail al-Qawasmeh, 30.

 

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bil’ein village, west
of Ramallah.  They raided and searched
many houses including the house of Ali Ibrahim Burnat and the house of Khamis
Fathi Abu Rahmeh, under the pretext of searching for international solidarity
activists.  IOF prevented local media personnel from
documenting this event. Later, IOF
withdrew and no arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Ein al-Sultan refugee camp,
north of Jericho. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Arraba village, southwest of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and
raided the house of Bassam Sharif Fares al-Arda, 37. Al-Arda told a PCHR fieldworker that he was
not at home at the time of the raid and that IOF left him a notice requiring
him to appear before the Israeli intelligence on Wednesday, 06 April 2011. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

· At approximately 16:30, IOF moved into Fahma village, southwest of
Jenin. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Kafr Ra’i village, southwest
of Jenin. They patrolled in the
streets. They withdrew later and no
house raids or arrests were reported.

 

·  At approximately 17:50, IOF moved
into Kafr Thulth village, southeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Jayous village, west of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

 

Tuesday, 05 April 2011

 

· At
approximately 02:30, IOF moved into ‘Awartah village, southeast of Nablus. They
broke into a number of houses, searched them and damaged their contents.  IOF
withdrew at approximately 06:30 after arresting 6 Palestinians :

1) Ahmed Ma’an
Yahya ‘Awwad, 18, a high school student;

2) Hakim Mazen
Nyazi ‘Awwad, 18, a high school student;

3) His brother,
George, 22, a student at An-Najah University in Nablus;

4) Nyazi Mohammed Nyazi
‘Awwad, 30, a worker;

5) Sami Tareq
Ahmed Drawshah, 23, a member of the National Security Service; and

6) His brother,
Jihad, 18, a school student.

It should be noted that the Darawshah brothers were released later.

 

· At
approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Kfeiret village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

 

· In an excessive
use of lethal force, in the morning, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian who was at a distance of approximately 80 meters
to the west of the border with Israel in the northern Gaza Strip. The reasons behind the Palestinian’s presence
in that area has not been identified yet.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately
09:20, IOF stationed at the border, north of Beit Lahia town in the northern
Gaza Strip, opened fire at Mohammed Zeyad Khamis Shalha, 22, killing him. Shalha lived near al-Taqwa mosque, next to
Beit Lahia cemetery in Beit Lahia project.

According to medical sources of the Palestine Red Crescent Society,
which sent 2 ambulances to the scene, at approximately 09:30, they obtained a
permit through the International Committee of the Red Cross to enter the area
and find the body. At approximately
11:30, they found the body at 80 meters away from the borders. The body was transported to Martyr Kamal
‘Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip, where doctors
said the victim was by bullets in the neck, chest, left thigh and legs.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, Shalha was in his
civilian clothes. None of the political
or resistance Palestinian groups mourned him, as he used to head there to
collect aggregate for the construction works. However, the reason behind his presence in that area on that date was
not identified.  

 

· At
approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Shweikah suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· Also at
approximately 13:00, IOF moved into al-Mentar area in ‘Azoun village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and stationed at the UNRWA
schools’ street, at the entrance of Wadi Bourqin in Jenin refugee camp. They surrounded the area, in which
al-Horriyah Theater is located, and started examining the crime scene, where
the Palestinian director, Juliano Mer Saliba Khamis, was killed by an unknown
gunman on Monday, 4 April 2011. Additionally, IOF questioned a number of the Palestinians regarding the
murder. Later on, Israeli troops broke
into al-Horriyah Theater, where Khamis used to work, and confiscated some equipment. They withdrew later and neither house raids
nor arrests were reported. 

 

· At
approximately 15:30, IOF moved into Bourqin village, northwest of Jenin. 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-Hashemyah village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 19:15, IOF moved into ‘Azoun village, west of Qalqilya. They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 20:20, IOF moved into Beit Leqia village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets in a
provocative manner. A number of children
stoned them, as a result, IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters
and sound bombs at them. Many
Palestinians suffered from gas inhalation . IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 22:55, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 23:10, an IOF warplane fired a missile at al-Sourani Mountain area
in the east of al-Shaaf neighborhood in the east of Gaza city.  No
casualties were reported.

 

Just five minutes later, an IOF F-16 fighter fired a missile at a
tin-covered structure used for recycling plastic waste.  This project, located near al-Sourani Mountain,
is owned by Mamdouh Yousef Khalil Zeidan.  The project which stands on 1,200 m2 of land
is aimed at protecting the environment.  The project is implemented in partnership with
Gaza Municipality.  This structure was
totally destroyed when it was bombarded earlier by IOF on 21 March 2011. The recent bombardment inflicted heavy
damages to Reyadh Hassanin Construction Materials Company which is owned by
Reyadh Yousef Hassanin and which is established on a piece of land measuring
670 m2. Fourteen workers are employed in the company. Damages were caused to machines, brick molds,
two water pumps and the floor. In addition, partial damages were caused to
eleven houses located to the west of the targeted project. The windows of these houses were crushed. Four Palestinian civilians, including two
women, were panicked and light injuries in different parts of the body. They were transferred to al-Shifa hospital.

 

 

Wednesday, 06 April 2011

 

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

 

 

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 2 children, were arrested and transported to an unknown
destination.

   

· Following the
Friday Prayer on 01 April 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the
construction of the annexation wall. 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 01 April 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the annexation
wall. They clashed with Israeli troops
positioned near the Wall. Israeli troops
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators. As a result, a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

· At
approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 25 March 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against
land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh. When the demonstrators attempted to reach
areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near “Halmish” settlement,
Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at them. As a result, Ref’at
Wajeeh Tamimi, 20, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the
back. A number of demonstrators also
suffered from tear gas inhalation. Additionally, IOF arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2
children:

 

1) Mohammed Wajeeh
Tamimi, 17;

2) Tamer Farah
Tamimi, 15; and

3) Adham Mahmoud
Falanah, 20. 

 

 

3. Extra-Judicial
Execution

 

During the reporting period, IOF extra-judicially executed 3
activists of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in Deir
al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip. As soon as the 3 activists were
executed, IOF’s spokesperson declared that Israeli Air Force carried out a
joint operation between the Israeli Intelligence Service “Shabak”
and IOF against 3 activists of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, claiming that
the 3 activists were planning to kidnap Israelis from Sinai.

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 00:10
on Saturday, 02 April 2011, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a white
“KIA” car. Three members of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades were in
the car, which was in al-Ja’farawi area, on Saladin Street, south of Deir
al-Balah. The missile hit the car directly, burning it and the three members as
well. Additionally, another passing car
was partially damaged and the driver, Dahesh Ibrahim al-Sersawi, 27, from Gaza
City, was wounded by shrapnel in the face, chest, abdomen and right shoulder.
Medical sources at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah described his
wounds as moderate. The killed are:

 

1. Isma’il
Ali Lobbad, 35, from Gaza City;

2. Abdullah
Ali Lobbad, 44, from Gaza City; and

3. Mohammed
Mahdi al-Dayah, 31, from Gaza City.

 

4. Continued
Closure of the OPT

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since
June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic
situation in the Gaza Strip.

 

· The illegal
closure has caused not only a humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights
and human dignity for the population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared
recently to ease the blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with
the root causes of the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and
complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out
of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new
Israeli policy is simply shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one
that may become internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in
Gaza may no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain
economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally
and academically isolated from the rest of the world.

 

· Expanding the
list of items allowed into Gaza does not change the illegality of this policy,
which is inconsistent with Israel’s legal obligations both as an Occupying
Power and under international human rights treaties to which it is party, such
as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

 

· Facts on the
ground refute Israeli claims with respect to the easing of the closure imposed
on the Gaza Strip and the reduction of restrictions imposed on the entry of
goods.

 

· Israeli
declaration of allowing new goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip constitutes
an attempt to delude the international community, as such goods do not meet the
minimal needs of the Gaza Strip. 

 

· IOF have continued
to ban the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip. 

 

· IOF have
imposed a ban on all exports from the Gaza Strip. 

 

· Israel had
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing
to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social
visits.

 

· Israel has
imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists
and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented
representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from
entering the Gaza Strip.

 

· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated;
levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

30
March – 05 April 2011

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

30
March – 05 April 2011

 

 

Notes:

 

· On Wednesday, 30 March 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 286 tons of
iron and 1,599 tons of fodders.

· On Thursday, 31 March 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 1,599 tons of
fodders.

· On Sunday, 03 April 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 1,131 tons of
wheat.

· On Monday, 04 April 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 897 tons of
wheat.

· On Tuesday, 05 April 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 158 tons of
aggregate for UNRWA. They also allowed
the entry of 819 tons of wheat.

 

Exports  

· On Thursday, 31 March 2011, 119,000 flowers were exported.

· On Sunday, 03 April 2011, 77,000 flowers were exported. 

 

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF completely
closed the crossing.

 

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel
has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of
Palestinian civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, a number of
international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited
number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the
crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting
their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients
permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe restrictions
that include prolonged checking. 

 

At approximately 7:30 on Tuesday, 05 April 2011, employees of the
Palestinian Liaison Office (55) of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, locating
about 800 meters
away from Beit Hanoun crossing’s gate from the southern side, started their
work to allow all categories of travelers pass via the crossing. However, at approximately 09:30 of the same
day, 38 patients and their companions were returned through the Safe Passage in
the crossing. Many calls were performed,
as a result, they found out that the patients were returned because of the
doctors’ strike in a number of the Israeli hospitals in Tel Aviv. The strike would continue for 48 hours, due
to which, many patients will not be able to travel and receive the medical
treatment needed. 

 

New measures needed for the a medical referral in Israel are
required which will aggravate the conditions. The patients have to present his papers at al-Amal Hotel in Omar
al-Mokhtar Street in the west of Gaza City, and wait for a date for traveling,
which may take a long time.

 

Note: all other
categories passed through the crossing, including the patients referred to
hospitals in the West Bank.

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

30
March – 05 April 2011

 

 

The West Bank

 

Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the
reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.

 

· Jerusalem: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have
established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the
movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays, preventing Muslim
Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.  

 

· Ramallah: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian
civilians in Ramallah. At approximately
20:35 on Sunday, 03 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint between Silwad
village and the eastern farm, northeast of Ramallah.

At
approximately 14:00 on Monday, 04 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near
the entrance of Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 16:00 on the same day, IOF
established a similar checkpoint near the entrance of Beit ‘Our al-Foqa
village, west of Ramallah, while they re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint, north of Ramallah. They
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At the same time, IOF established a
checkpoint near the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles.

At
approximately 19:30 on Tuesday, 05 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
near the entrance of Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah.

 

· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 31 March 2011, IOF established 4
checkpoints around the town. On
Saturday, 02 April 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town. On Monday, 04 April 2011, IOF established 4
checkpoints around the town. On Tuesday,
05 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Jeet intersection. At approximately 14:15 on the same day, IOF
established 4 checkpoints around the town. 

 

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 03 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ateel village, north of
Tulkarm. They stopped and searched
Palestinian civilians vehicles. At
approximately 12:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Qafeen village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

At
approximately 08:00 on Monday, 04 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of ‘Ateel village, north of Tulkarm. At approximately 17:00 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint on Tulkarm – Qalqilya road, 500 meters away from
Jbarah checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. At
approximately 20:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Leed
village, east of Tulkarm. At
approximately 22:00, IOF established another checkpoint at the entrance of
al-Jaroshiyah village, north of the town.

At
approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 05 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on
Tulkarm – Nablus road, near the intersection of Bazarya village, east of
Tulkarm. At approximately 22:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Jaroshiyah village, north of
Tulkarm.

At
approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, 06 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on
Tulkarm – Qalqilya road, at Jbarah area, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles.

 

· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 01 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Jenin – Nablus – Tulkarm road, near the
southern entrance of Selet al-Dhahr village, south of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles.

At
approximately 15:40 on Sunday, 03 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance on Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin.

At
approximately 16:00 on Tuesday, 05 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at
the intersection of Rommanah village, northwest of Jenin. They stopped and
searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

 

 

· Jericho: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 19:40 on
Sunday, 03 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Marj
al-Na’jah village, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 05 April
2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of ‘Ein al-Dyouk village,
north of Jericho. They stopped and
searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

 

Arrests
at Military Checkpoints

 

• At approximately 10:00 on Thursday
  morning, 31 March 2011, Israeli troops stationed at al-Karamah border
  crossing, east of Jericho, arrested Mo’taz Jabreen Mohammed Qashqeen, 29,
  from Halhoul town, north of Hebron.
• At approximately 15:00 on the same day, Israeli
  troops stationed at the checkpoint established at the intersection of
  “Za’tarah and al-Freidis” villages. South of Bethlehem, arrested
  ‘Ahed Ibrahim Abdul Shakour Abu Sbeih, 40, from Hebron and another
  anonymous person. The former, who
  is a taxi driver working at al-Karamah crossing, was transported to “Kfar
  Atsyoun” detention center, north of Hebron, while the latter was
  transported to an unknown destination.
• At approximately 16:00, Israeli troops
  stationed at the checkpoint established at the eastern Sawahrah’s
  intersection, named the “Container”, east of Jerusalem, arrested
  Mahmoud Yusef Mahmous al-Atrash, 20, from Hebron. He was arrested while he was returning
  from Ramallah to Hebron, and he was transported to “Kfar Atsyoun”
  detention center, north of Hebron. 

 

 

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

 

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

 

· At
approximately 15:00 0n Sunday, 3 April 2011, IOF continued to bulldoze
“Bat Abu Erzeiq” area, south Masha village, which is located behind
the Annexation Wall, west of Salfit. Chairman
of the local council of the village stated that IOF lately established 10
settler housing units, including 6 completed ones, and the others are still
under construction. He added that IOF
have bulldozed areas in the west of the village. As a result, hundred dunums between Etz
Ephraim settlement and the area bulldozed lately are threatened.

· In the same
context, on Monday, 04 April 2011, the Israeli ” Planning and Construction
Committee” in Jerusalem approved a plan to construct 942 new settler
housing units at an area of 270 dunums in Gilo settlement, between Jerusalem
and Bethlehem. The Israeli radio,
reporting from sources in IOF’s municipality, stated that “the policy of
the Israeli government and municipality has not changed throughout the past 4
decades, and a great majority of the Israeli agreed on continuing the
construction works in Jerusalem.” The municipality claimed that “it continues to improve the
construction works for the benefit of the Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem.”

 

· On Thursday, 31
March 2011, a number of Israeli settlers attacked some small stores at “Haret Jaber” neighborhood , southeast
of Hebron, and attacked a Palestinian. 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR,
at approximately 16:30 on the same day, 23 March 2011, approximately 20 Israeli
settlers living in ” Kiryat Arba” settlement, near the said
neighborhood, performed provocative actions against the Palestinians, when the
settlers went over the road connecting the said settlement and the Ibrahimi
mosque area. Some of the settlers beaten
Basem Bassam Jaber, 28, while he was on that road, as a result, he suffered
from bruises in the upper part of his body. Minutes later, the settlers attacked 3 small stores on the sides of the
road named “Prayers’ Road”. They tried to terrorize the stores’ owners and attack them. The owners of the stores are: Tareq Rasmi
Jaber, Falah Mohammed al-Razim and Ezzeddin al-Shantir.

Tareq Rasmi Jaber, an owner of a store, said
that IOF that intervened when the settlers attacked the store, detained his
father, brother and two of his sons inside the store for over an hour, instead
of taking any real actions against the settlers. He pointed that such attacks of the settlers
against the Palestinian civilians and their property is almost a daily
phenomenon, which happens before the Israeli troops stationed and spread in the
area. 

 

· On Friday, 01
April 2011, a number of the Israeli settlers from “Beit Hadassah”
settlement, which is located on al-Shohada’ street closed by IOF and
al-Shallalah old street, central Hebron, set fire to the sunshades of a big
number of stores on al-Shallalah street, neighboring the said settlement. Once the Palestinian civilians knew about the
fire, they called the fire squad of Hebron municipality, which extinguished the
fire.

 

· At approximately
10:00 on Monday, 04 April 2011, the settlers from “Taffouh”
settlement, northeast Salfit, placed stakes in order to put barbed wires around
the settlement established on the Palestinians’ lands in Yasouf village, east
of Salfit.

Head of the Yasouf’s council, Abdul Rahim Mesleh, stated to PCHR’s
field workers that bypassers noticed 3 settlers placing stakes on the main
street. Later on, Mesleh called the
Palestinian Liaison Office, which called the Israeli one. IOF arrived there and evacuated the place
after the settlers had placed 3 stakes. The stakes have not been removed so far.

 

Mesleh pointed that the lands intended to be surrounded by barbed
wires is near the main street, which connects Salfit and Nablus with Za’tarah
intersection. He stressed that settlers
intensified their activities to expand the settlement through bulldozing areas
to the west of the settlement. Additionally, they placed many caravans in that site a year ago. The settlers have been preventing the
Palestinians from entering these lands to dig their lands or collect the
olives. These lands are closed paving
the way to be annexed to “Taffouh” settlement.   

 

Recommendations to the International
Community

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

 

Public Document

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