Jenin – Palestinian women mourning a young man who was shot by
Israeli forces

 

Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians
and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

      

 

4 members of Palestinian armed groups were killed by
Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

 

A Palestinian civilian was killed by Israeli forces in
Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin.

 

Israeli forces opened fire at open areas in the
northern Gaza Strip; no casualties were reported.

 

Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force
against peaceful protesters in the West Bank.

 

6 Palestinian
civilians were wounded.

Dozens of
civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

 

Israeli forces conducted 50 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank.

 

At
least 50 Palestinian civilians,
including 7 children, were arrested.

The detainees include a number of political leaders of
Hamas.

 

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

Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in
the West Bank.

At least 7 Palestinian civilians, including a child,
were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

Israeli navy forces have continued targeting
Palestinian fishermen in the sea.

Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing
boats, but neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

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

Israeli forces issued notices to demolish houses and
civilian facilities in area (C)[1].

Israeli settlers continued their attacks against
Palestinian civilians and their property.

340 olive trees were damaged by Israeli settlers in
the north and south of the West Bank.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
(31 October – 06 November 2013).

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 4
members of Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip and one civilian in the
West Bank.   They also wounded 6 Palestinian
civilians, during peaceful protests against the construction of the annexation
wall in the West Bank.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 31 October 2013, Israeli forced
killed 4 members of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas)
during an armed clash between the two sides, when Israeli forces moved into the
area along the border with Israel between al-Qarara and Bani Suhaila villages,
east of Khan Yunis.  Three of these
members were killed inside a tunnel, a part of which was blown up over
them.  The body of one of them was
recovered on the following day, while the bodies of the other two members are
still missing. 

 

Also in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces positioned at
the border between the Gaza Strip and Israeli opened fire at open areas in the
northern Gaza Strip on 31 October and 04 November 2013.  No casualties were reported.

 

On 04 November 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed in
Gaza sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza
Strip.  No casualties or damage were
reported.

 

In the West Bank, on 31 October 2013, Israeli forces
killed a Palestinian civilian in Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin.  Israeli forces had moved into the village to
arrests a number of Palestinian civilians. 
While they were leaving the village, a number of young men gathered and
threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. 
Israeli forces opened fire at these young men killing one of them.   

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces continued
the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by
Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of
the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 6 Palestinian
civilians were wounded.  

 

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 50 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 50 Palestinians, including 7
children and 3 political leaders of Hamas.

 

On 04 November 2013, Israeli forces attacked a
Palestinian family in Tarqoumia village, west of Hebron.  They raided the house and attacked members of
the family.  According to members of the
family, they lost jewels whose value is estimated at US$ 3,000 during this
house raids.

 

Restrictions on movement:

 

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

 

The illegal 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 Israeli authorities impose measures to
undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip
population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 7
consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate
the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other
countries around the world. This resulted in a grave violation of the economic,
social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7
million people.  The Israeli authorities
has established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports
and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy that
has been aggravating for years due to the shortage of imports.  They also aim at imposing a complete ban on
the Gaza Strip’s exports. 

 

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

 

As part of using military checkpoints and border
crossings as traps to arrest Palestinian civilians under the pretext they are
wanted, Israeli forces arrested at least 7 civilians, including a child, in the
West Bank.

 

Settlement activities

 

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

 

On 31 October 2013, Israeli forces stormed Killat
al-Ghamqa area in the southwest of Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They delivered notices to 2 Palestinian
civilians ordering them to stop construction works in 2 houses.

 

On 04 November 2013, Israeli forces stormed Wadi ‘Aziz
area in the west of Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They delivered notices to 2 Palestinian
civilians ordering them to stop construction works in 2 houses.

 

On the same day, Israeli forces demolished a car
washing workshop in ‘Ein Ayoub area in the west of Ras Karkar village,
northwest of Ramallah, allegedly because it was not licensed.

 

On the same day, the Israeli Ministry of Housing
issued invited tenders to build 1,859 housing units in Israeli settlements in
the West Bank and East Jerusalem. 

 

During the reporting period, Israeli settlers
continued to attack Palestinian civilians and their property: 

 

On 31 October 2013, Israeli settlers cut and damaged
300 olive trees in ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.

 

On 02 November 2013, a number of Israeli settlers
stormed Palestinian agricultural areas in Yatta village, south of Hebron.  They prevented Palestinian farmers from
cropping olives.  The settlers quarrelled
with Palestinian farmers, and when Israeli forces arrived at the area, they
arrested 2 Palestinians.

 

On 03 November 2013, Israeli settlers, escorted by
Israeli forces, gathered on Palestinian agricultural land in Yatta village,
south of Hebron, and called for expelling Palestinians from the area.

 

On 04 November 2013, Israeli settlers, escorted by
Israeli forces, cut and burnt at least 40 olives trees in Housan village, west
of Bethlehem. 

 

On 05 November 2013, Israeli settlers, escorted by
Israeli forces, stormed 3 deserted houses in Jabal Jales area in the east of
Hebron.  They brought construction
materials into these houses to establish a new settlement building. 

 

On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers gathered
in Jabal Jales area in the east of Hebron. 
An Israeli bulldozer started establishing a road in the area in order to
expand a settlement outpost established in the area a few years ago.  

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
(31 October – 06 November 2013)

 

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

 

 

Thursday, 31 October 2013

 

At approximately 00:10, Israeli forces moved into
Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Yahia Hani Jadu, 27, in Wad Shaheen
neighbourhood in the center of the town and arrested him.

 

In an excessive
use of force, in the morning, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in
Qabatya village, southeast of the northern West Bank town of Jenin. 

 

According to
investigation conducted by PCHR, at approximately 01:00, Israeli force moved
into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin.  They stationed in the eastern
part of the village.  They raided a house belonging to the family of Emad
Shawkat Kmail, 30, and arrested him.  They then moved towards the western
part of the village.   There, they raided a number of houses and
arrested 3 Palestinian civilians: Rassem Tawfiq Khzaimiya, 60; Mo’men Saba’na,
23; and Ayman Abdul Rahman Abu al-Rub, 28.  At approximately 05:00, while
Israeli forces were withdrawing from the village taking the detainees, a number
of young men gathered at the western entrance of the village.  They
blocked it with iron barriers and set fire to tires.  When Israeli forces
passed by the area, the young men threw stones and empty bottles at them. 
Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
young men.  They then fired live ammunition directly at the young
men.  As a result, Ahmed Emad Youseg Tazaz’a, 22, was seriously wounded by
a bullet to the heart.  He was immediately evacuated to al-Razi Hospital
in Jernn, but medical efforts to save his life failed.  He was pronounced
dead at approximately 06:00. 

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Um
al-Sharayet neighbourhood in al-Bireh. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Faraj Abdul
Rahman Rummana, 40, after breaking the external door.  They arrested Rummana, who is a political
leader of Hamas.  At approximately 02:50,
Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Sheikh Jamal Mohammed
al-Taweel, 51, a political leader of Hamas, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 02:55, Israeli forces moved into
al-Duhaisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched two house belonging
to the families of ‘Aassef Ibrahim Da’amsa, 20, and Mo’tassem Mazen Abdul
Qader, 20, and arrested both of them.

 

At approximately 04:30, Israeli forces moved into
Bitounia town, west of Ramallah.  They
raided and searched a house belonging to Hussein Mohammed Abu Kwaik, 57, a
political leader of Hamas, on the 6^th floor of Baghdad housing
project (5) and arrested him.

 

At approximately 13:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah, and patrolled the streets.  A number of young men gathered and threw
stones at Israeli military vehicles.  In
response, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at the stone throwers.  As a result, a number of civilians suffered
tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and stopped and questioned a
number of Palestinian civilians.  They
withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 16:40, Israeli forces moved into
al-Araqa village, west of Jenin, and patrolled the streets.  A number of young men gathered and threw
stones and empty bottles at Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them. 
Israeli forces withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and stopped and questioned a number of
Palestinian civilians.  They withdrew
later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin, and patrolled the streets.  A number of young men gathered and threw
stones at Israeli Military vehicles. 
Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs
at them.  An Israeli military vehicle
also hit a vehicles of Ya’bad Municipality damaging it.

 

In the evening, Israeli forced killed 4 members of the
Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) during an armed clash
between the two sides, when Israeli forces moved into the area along the border
with Israel between al-Qarara and Bani Suhaila villages, east of Khan
Yunis.  Three of these members were
killed inside a tunnel, a part of which was blown up over them.  The body of one of them was recovered on the
following day, while the bodies of the other two members are still
missing. 

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 20:00, Israeli forces backed with heavy military vehicles moved
nearly 200 meters into the east of al-Qarara village, east of Khan Yunis.  They opened fire sporadically, while drones
were hovering over the area.  They
levelled and searched the border area. 
At approximately 22:50, a heavy explosion was heard in the area,
following which Israeli forces fired a number of artillery shells and opened
fire.  Israeli helicopters then
intervened and opened fire at the area. 
A number of members of Palestinian armed groups exchanged fire with
Israeli forces that had moved into the area. 
Ten minutes later, Rabi’ Khalil Suleiman Baraka, 23, a member of the
Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, was killed by shrapnel to the head, and another
member was moderately wounded.  As a
result of the Israeli shelling during those armed clashes, another 3 members of
the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades were killed when a tunnel was destroyed over
them by Israeli forces:

1. Khaled Mohammed Jum’a Abu Bakra, 35;

2. Mohammed Rasheed Hussein Dawood, 26; and

3. Mohammed Essam Omar al-Qassas, 23.

 

On the following day morning, a number of Palestinian
civilians moved to the affected area and attempted to search for the bodies of
the victims, but Israeli forced opened fire at them. 

 

On Saturday morning, 02 November 2013, following
coordination with Israeli forces, medical and Civil Defense crews headed to the
area, in the presence of the ICRC.  They
started searching for the bodies using a digger.  Several hours later, they found Abu Bakra’s
body.  The search stopped at 16:00 and
was resumed on the following days.  The
other two bodies have not been found so far.

 

At approximately 21:30, Israeli forces stationed on
observation towers at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east
of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at open area.  Palestinian civilians were extremely
terrified, but no casualties were reported.

 

Friday, 01 November 2013

 

· At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
Beita village, southeast of Nablus.  They
raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinians, mostly
children:

1. Qutaiba Ahmed Hamayel, 17;

2. Farouq Sbaih Hamayel, 18;

3. Karam Azzam al-Tayeh, 16;

4. Ali Abbas Hamayel, 17;

5. Mohammed Emad Hamayel, 17;

6. Aamer Mahmoud Hamayel; and

7. Adham Eyad Hamayel, 17.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, Israeli force moved into
Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. 
They raided and searched two house belonging to the families of Shadi
Ibrahim Bahar, 22, and Muntasser Diab ‘Aawdh, 24, and arrested both of them.

 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into
Seilat al-Harthiya village, north of Jenin. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Ali Ibrahim
Mahamid, 28, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Wad al-Hariya
neighbourhood in the south of Hebron. 
They raided a bakery and arrested Emad Hamdi Abu Khalaf, 22.

 

At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Maqfa area near al-Aqaba village, southwest of Hebron.  A number of Palestinian boys gathered and
threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. 
In response, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs
at the boys.  As a result, a number of
boys suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

In the evening, Israeli forces arrested Mohammed Hani
Jawabra, 21, from ‘Anbata village east of Tulkarm, when he referred to the
Israeli district coordination office, southwest of Tulkarm, in response to a
summons he received from Israeli forces.

 

At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Saturday, 02 November 2013

 

At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
‘Awa village, southwest of Hebron, and patrolled the streets.  A number of boys gathered and threw stones
and empty bottles at Israeli military vehicles. 
In response, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound
bombs.  As a result, a number of civilians
suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

At
approximately 20:00, Israeli forces moved into Sourif village, northwest of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 20:20, Israeli gunboats stationed off Beit Lahia seashore in the
northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing
4 nautical miles from the beach. 
Palestinian fishermen were frightened, so they sailed back to the
beach.  No casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 22:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Oula village, west of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 03
November 2013

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Ni’lin village, west of
Ramallah.  They raided two house
belonging to the families of ‘Abdullah Aa’ad ‘Amira, 21, and Nasser Salah
‘Amira, 21, and arrested both of them.

 

Also at
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Sa’ir village, east of
Hebron.  They raided a house belonging to
the family of ‘Abdullah Mahmoud al-Shalalda, 32, and handed him a summons to
refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gush Etzion” settlement bloc,
south of Bethlehem.

 

Also at
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Mwarraq village, southwest of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Majd village, southwest of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into the old town of Ramallah.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Murad Khader al-Froukh, 19, and arrested him.  They also confiscated an iPad and a Nextbook.

 

At
approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Abu Ktaila neighbourhood in the
Hebron.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Bahjat Sameeh al-‘Ajlouni, 25, but no arrests were
reported.

 

 

Monday, 04 November 2013

 

At
approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin,
and patrolled the streets.  A number of
young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.  In response, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at them.  Soon
after, Israeli forces raided a number of houses and delivered summons to a
number of civilians to refer to the Israeli intelligence service.  While Israeli forces were leaving the
village, a military vehicle hit a car belonging to Ahmed Nemer Malaisha,
damaging it.

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Tarqoumia village, west of
Hebron.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Ra’ef Mohammed Qabaja, 21, and arrested him.  They also raided a house belonging to the
family of ‘Alaa’ Mazen Dababsa, 21, and arrested him.  They then raided and searched a house
belonging to ‘Eissa Mohammed Qabaja, 68, and harassed the family.  According to Tamer ‘Eissa Qabaja, jewels
whose value is estimated at US$ 3,000 were lost when Israeli forces raided the
house.

 

Also at
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir Samet village, southwest of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Awarta village, southeast of
Nablus.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested Ayman Hani Darawsha, 22.

 

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Liqya village, west of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the
streets.  They then raided a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Rabah ‘Aassi, who was killed by them.  They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported. 

 

At
approximately 03:40, Israeli forces moved into Abu Dees town, southeast of
occupied Jerusalem.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Eissa Nasser Jaffal, 19, and
arrested him.

 

At
approximately 10:15, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets and stationed near
offices of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company.  They stopped and questioned a number of
Palestinian civilians.  They then moved
towards the municipal butchery and did the same there.  Israeli soldiers confiscated a video tape
from Saleem Suhail Ouda, 22, a cameraman of the local Kul al-Nas TV.  They also prevented Mo’ayad ‘Eissa Ashqar,
32, a cameraman of al-Salam TV and Maan TV, from photographing.  Israeli forces withdrew later and no more
incidents were reported.

 

At
approximately 12:45, Israeli forces moved into Rafat village, west of
Salfit.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and established a checkpoint at the entrance of the village.  They withdrew later and neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at
approximately 12:45, Israeli forces moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast
of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the
streets for some time and detonated sound bombs.  They withdrew later and neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately
20:30, Israeli forces stationed on observation towers at the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit
Hanoun opened fire at open areas.  No
casualties were reported.   

 

Tuesday, 05 November 2013

 

At
approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Saida village, north of
Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of ‘Alaa’ al-Din Mohammed Hamdan, 21, and
arrested him.

 

At
approximately 01:10, Israeli forces moved into Salfit.  They delivered summonses to Mohammed Yasar
Eshyaeh, 22, and Mohammed Fattash Fattash, 24, to refer to the Israeli
intelligence service.

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Nablus.  They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 3 Palestinians:

1. Hamdi Hussein Mar’ei, 22;

2. Ahmed Mohammed Abu Salhiya, 23; and

3. Nidal al-‘Aaidi, 21.

 

At
approximately 01:45, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinians:

1. Anas Ahmed Saleem, 19;

2. Khaled Mahmoud Saleem, 18;

3. Ussama Ahmed Saleem, 19;

4. Ahmed Jawdat Radwan, 18; and

5. Yousef Saqer Saleem, 19.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Obaida Mofeed Sayed Ahmed, 20, and arrested him.  They then raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Samer ‘Abdul Salam Mar’ei, 21, and arrested him.

 

At
approximately 09:00, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets and stopped and
questioned a number of Palestinian civilians. 
A number of young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli military
vehicles.  In response, Israeli soldiers
fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs. 
A number of Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation.  Israeli forces withdrew from the town later
and no more incidents were reported.

 

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into Kharabtha al-Misbah village,
southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 06 November 2013

 

In the early morning, Israeli forces moved into Jaba’
village, south of Jenin.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Eyad Abdul Rahim Ekhaliliyah, 36, a
teacher, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. 
They raided and searched two houses belonging to the families of Shamikh
Jaber al-Titi, 19, and Ahmed ‘Abdul Rahman Abu Sil, 21, and arrested both of
them.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into the
southern area of Hebron.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Alaa’ Nasser Abu Turki, 22, and
arrested him.

 

Also at approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Deir Nizam village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They raided and searched 5 houses in the village and arrested 5
Palestinians, including a child:

1. ‘Abdul Latif ‘Abdul Fattah al-Khatib,23;

2. Jaber ‘Abdul Khaliq Mizher, 19;

3. Hammam Mohammed Mizher, 20;

4. Ibrahim Ahmed ‘Assaf, 17; and

5. Majdi Yousef Tamimi, 21.

 

Also at
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Kahel village, northwest of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest
of Jenin.  They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Mohammed Hafez Jawabra, 33, and arrested him.

 

A Palestinian Prisoner Dies in Israeli Jails

 

At
approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 05 November 2013, Hassan ‘Abdul Halim ‘Abdul
Qader al-Turabi, 22, was pronounced dead at ‘Affoula Hospital in Israel.  Al-Turabi was arrested by Israeli forces from
his house in Sarra village, southeast of Nablus, on 07 January 2013, although
he was suffering from leukaemia.  His
health condition deteriorated 3 weeks ago. 
He was evacuated from Mageddo Prison in Nablus to ‘Affoula
Hospital.  He was admitted into the
intensive care unit, where it was found that he was subjected to 3 clots in the
neck, the chest and the abdomen.  Two
days later, Israeli forces cancelled the order of his detention, but he was
kept in the hospital because his condition was critical.  He died on Tuesday, 05 November 2013.  Al-Turabi was accused by Israeli forces of
being a member of an armed cell of Islamic Jihad.

 

2. Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting
settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces used
excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian civilians,
international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction
of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  As a result, 6 Palestinian civilians, including
a child, were wounded; 3 of whom were wounded in Bil’in weekly protest, one in
Nabi Saleh weekly protest, and a child in Qatna village in Ramallah and Bireh.

 

(PCHR keeps the names of the Palestinian wounded
persons and apologizes for not publishing the names fearing for Israeli forces
would arrest them in the context of their policy to repress peaceful protests).

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 01 November 2013, dozens
of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The
demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and headed to the
liberated territories near the annexation wall. Israeli forces had closed all
the entrances of the village since morning to prevent the Palestinian and
international activists and journalists from participating in the
demonstration. The demonstrators marched adjacent to the cement wall and tried
to cross the fence before Israeli forces that are stationed behind the wall in
the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it fired live bullets,
tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water at
them and chased them in olive fields. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians were
wounded: A young man, 21, shot in the right leg with a “Tutu bullet;” a man
,40, shot in the left leg with a live bullet; and a man, 36, shot with three
live bullets in the back, hand, and right leg. 
Many others also suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises.

 

On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians
organised a peaceful demonstration in the center of Ni’lin village, west of
Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities. The demonstration marked the 96^th anniversary of Balfour
Declaration. The demonstrators took the streets of the village and headed to
the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gate of the wall with barbwires
and prevented the demonstrators from crossing it, before the demonstrators responded
by throwing stones at them. Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated
steel bullets, tear gas canisters, skunk water and sound bombs at demonstrators
and chased them in the village. As a result, a Palestinian civilian in his 40s
was shot with a live bullet in the back, and many others suffered gas
inhalation. Wounded were treated on the spot.

 

Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised a peaceful
demonstration in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activities in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. The demonstrators
took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the
occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity, and they then headed to the
lands that the settlers are trying to seize by force near “Halmish” settlement.
Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the village since morning to
prevent the Palestinian and international activists and journalists from
participating in the demonstration. When they had arrived at the land, the demonstrators
were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets,
sound bombs and skunk water and were chased in the village. As a result, a
Palestinian civilian (22) was shot in the back with a rubber-coated steel
bullet, and many others suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises. The wounded
were treated on the spot.

 

Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a
peaceful demonstration in Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in protest at
the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The
demonstration started in front of the Candles Cultural Centre in the centre of
the village. The demonstrators took to streets raising the Palestinian flag.
When they arrived at the area where the annexation wall is established, Israeli
forces started firing tear gas canisters in attempt to disperse them, detained
three international activists for one hour, and prevented the demonstrators
from reaching the annexation wall.

 

At approximately 12:30 on the same day, Palestinian
civilians and international activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the
centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilya, and headed towards the
eastern entrance of the village, in protest at the continued closure of the
entrance with an iron gate since the beginning of the Aqsa Intifada. Clashes
erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces that fired sound bombs and
tear gas canisters to prevent them from reaching the aforementioned gate. As a
result, many suffered gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 5 November 2013, a
group of Palestinian children gathered in Ein al-Samra area, near the
annexation wall, established in the southern lands of Qatna village, in
northwest of Jerusalem. The children threw stones at Israeli “border guards”
who fired rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas canisters, and sound bombs, and
chased them with sniffer dogs in olive fields. As a result, Youssef Muhammed
Tawfiq Dar Taha (13) was hit by a rubber-coated steel bullet in the forehead.
The child was transferred to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, and underwent
a surgery as he suffered from a skull fracture. Many others suffered gas
suffocation and bruises.

 

3. Continued closure of the oPt

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israeli
forces continuously tightens the closure of the Gaza Strip and closes all
commercial crossings , making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial
crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes
in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.

 

Israeli
forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the
closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of
imports and exports.

 

The
total closure of al-Mentar (“Karni”) crossing since 02 March 2011 has
seriously affected the economy of the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all
economic and commercial establishments in the 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 capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports.
The decision to close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of
decisions resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza
Strip in the beginning of 2009, and the Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City,
which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip,
in the beginning of 2010.

 

Israeli
forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to
the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited
quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of
the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

 

The
cooking gas crisis has ranged between the ebb and flow for 3 months due to the
closure of Karm Abu Salem for security reasons. 
According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli authorities only allow around 98
tonnes of cooking gas into Gaza per day. 
This limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is 200
tonnes per day, of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during the winter.

 

For almost 6 consecutive years,
Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of construction materials
to the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, Israeli forces approved the
delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of
international organisations in the Gaza Strip. 
Israeli forces also continued to impose almost total ban on the Gaza
Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for
light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices.

 

Israel has continued to close the
Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the
Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with
many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a
policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via
the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or
in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel denied permission to access
hospitals via the crossing for new categories of patients from the Gaza Strip.

 

For around a year and a half,
Israeli forces have allowed Palestinian detainees’ families to visit their sons
in the Israeli jails according to special and unfair conditions after more than
5 years of deprivation in violation of international humanitarian law.

 

The Egyptian authorities allow the
population of the Gaza Strip to travel via Rafah International crossing, which
connects the Gaza Strip with the outside world. 
Only limited and specified categories are allowed, including patients,
students, persons that hold residencies in Egypt or abroad, men over 40 years,
females in all ages, children under 18, persons who hold Arab and foreign
nationalities, and members of Arab and international humanitarian delegations.  It should be mentioned that the crossing
opens seven days a week.  Nowadays, the
crossing is overcrowded due to the prolonged procedures from the Egyptian side,
particularly after closing it for several days over the past weeks due to
Egypt’s security conditions, which has affected the travellers’ movement in
both directions.

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) crossing

29 October- 03 November 2013

 

 

Exports:

 

On
Thursday, 31 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 230
kilograms of garlic leaves, 180 kilograms of basil and 180 kilograms of mints.

 

Other Imports:

 

 

On
Tuesday, 29 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 780 tonnes of
fodders and 936 of wheat.

On
Wednesday, 30 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 585 tonnes of
fodders and 1,053 tonnes of wheat.

On
Thursday, 31 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 507 tonnes of
fodders and 1,209 tonnes of wheat.

On
Sunday, 31 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 702 tonnes of
fodders and 780 tonnes of wheat.

 

Empty Plastic
Containers Returned to Israel via Karm Abu Salem

 

 

 

On
Tuesday, 29 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed 6 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Wednesday, 30 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed 6 truckloads of empty
plastic containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Thursday, 31 October 2013, Israeli forces allowed 4 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Sunday, 03 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed 5 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

 

Beit Hanoun
(“Erez”) crossing, in the north of the Gaza Strip, is deisgned for
the movement of individuals, and links the Gaza Strip with the West Bank.

 

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”)
crossing

30 October- 04 November 2013

 

 

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

 

• Ramallah: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 31
October 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the entrance of Beit
Liqya village, west of Ramallah.  The
checkpoint was removed later and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 09:30 on Friday, 01 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.

 

At
approximately 21:45 on Saturday, 02 November 2013, Israeli forces
re-established their presence at ‘Attarah Checkpoint at the northern entrance
of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. 
They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.  It should be mentioned that the
aforementioned checkpoint connects the north of the West Bank with its south
and centre.  Israeli forces evacuated it
a year ago, but they retained the cement blocks and a watchtower.  They re-establish their presence at the
aforementioned checkpoint from time to time.

 

At
approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 03 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint near the intersection of Beit ‘Or al-Fouqa village, southwest of
Ramallah, causing severe traffic jam. 
They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 20:00, they established
another checkpoint near the intersection of “‘Ofrah” settlement,
north of Ramallah.  At approximately 20:20,
they re-established their presence at ‘Attarah Checkpoint at the northern
entrance of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah.

 

• Hebron: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 31
October 2013, Israeli forces closed the entrance of Beit Ummar village, which
is connected with bypass road (60), north of Hebron, and prevented public
transport vehicles from transporting passengers at the entrance of the
village.  Israeli forces then detained a
number of vehicles while some of them fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs
at civilians, who were gathering at the entrance.  As a result, a number of them suffered tear gas
inhalation.  At approximately 16:30,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Bani Na’im village,
east of Hebron.  Around the same time,
another checkpoint was established at the southern entrance of Halhoul town,
north of Hebron.  All checkpoints were
removed later and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 16:00 on Friday, 01 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.  The checkpoint was removed later, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Saturday, 02 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the southern entrance of Halhoul town, north of Hebron.  At approximately 07:30, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp, which is
connected with bypass road (60), south of Hebron.  At approximately 18:30, a similar checkpoint
was established at the entrance of Ethna village, west of Hebron.  The two checkpoints were removed later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 03 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.  At approximately 15:30, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of Kharsa village, north of the city.  The two checkpoints were removed later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 17:00 on Monday, 04 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint on the main road between al-Samou’a and Yatta villages, south of
Hebron.  At approximately 21:00, another
checkpoint was established at the southern entrance of Hebron.  The two checkpoints were removed later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Monday, 06 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the southern entrance of Halhoul town, north of Hebron.  At approximately 07:30, they established a
similar checkpoint at the entrance of Ethna village, west of Hebron.  The two checkpoints were removed later and no
arrests were reported.

 

· Qalqilya: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 14:40 on Friday, 01 November
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilya.  The
checkpoint was removed later and no arrests were reported. 

 

At
approximately 14:35 on Saturday, 02 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  The checkpoint was removed later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 16:30 on Monday, 04 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  The checkpoint was removed later and no
arrests were reported.

 

· Salfit: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 20:00 on Friday, 01 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit.  The checkpoint was removed later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 17:15 on Monday, 04 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint between the villages of Brouqin and Kufor al-Dik villages, west of
Salfit.  The checkpoint was removed later
and no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests and Maltreatment at military
checkpoints

 

At
approximately 18:00 on Thursday, 31 October 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the southern entrance of Hebron. 
They arrested Hassan ‘Abdel Fattah Ibrahim al-‘Awawdah (56) taking him
to an unknown destination.  The
checkpoint was removed later.

 

At
approximately 15:00 on Sunday, 03 November 2013, Israeli forces arrested Saleh
Younis Saleh (19) from Yatta village, south of Hebron, after detaining him at a
checkpoint near Jericho.

 

At
approximately 13:30 on Tuesday, 05 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin.  When Mohammed Taleb Kahled Abu Baker (22), a
Palestinian National Security officer (unknown rank), was passing through the
checkpoint by a public service vehicle, he was forced to get out of the vehicle
and was then arrested. 

 

At
approximately 14:00 on Tuesday, 05 November 2013, a special unit of the Israeli
forces set an ambush for a number of civilians while they were on their way
back from school in ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  Upon the civilians’ arrival at their houses,
Israeli forces arrested them in al-Mentar area, north of the village near the
main road.  Eyewitnesses said that a
group of infantry soldiers dressed in civilian clothes arrested 4 young men, 3
of whom are high schools students, when they were on their way back home.  The detainees were identified as: Wael
Mahmoud Hasan Hussein (18); Huyey Hamzah ‘Abdel Halim Hussein (19); Islam
‘Abdel Fattah Abu Haniyah (17); and Ibrahim ‘Abdullah ‘Omran (18).  After being forced by Israeli forces to go to
the main road and then to get into the military jeep, the detained young men
were taken to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 17:00 on Monday, 04 November 2013, a group of Israeli soldiers
stationed at the annexation wall gate in ‘Azoun ‘Etmah village, east of
Qalqilya, severely beat two brothers from ‘Ezbet Salman village, south of
Qalqilya, while they were on their way back from their work in ‘Azoun ‘Etmah
village.  As a result, they were entered
into the hospital for medical treatment. 
The two brothers; Ali Samih Salman (23) and ‘Alaa’ Salman (29), received
several hits and punches on their body after Israeli soldiers hidden behind the
wall had beaten them with their hands, feet and rifle butts under the pretext
that the two brothers intended to infiltrate through a hole in the annexation
wall.

 

‘Ali Salman said to a PCHR fieldworker that:

“At approximately 17:00 on Monday, 04 November 2013,
my brother and I were on our way back from work in ‘Azoun ‘Etmah village as I
have a tract of land there where we work in. 
We as usual went out from Mashtal Jalal area to go together back home in
‘Ezbet Salman.  We were on our way, and
when we approached the hole, a group of Israeli soldiers hidden behind the wall
attacked us.  They severely beat us till
we bled thinking that we wanted to infiltrate through the hole to work in
Israel.  They severely kicked and stepped
on us, and used gun butts to hit us. 
After they were done with beating us, they smashed our cell phones and
confiscated our ID cards, in which I had 100 NIS, two 1,600 NIS checks, my
permit and some papers.”

 

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

 

v Settlement expansion activities and house
demolition notices

 

At approximately 9:00 on Thursday, 31 October 2013, Israeli forces
accompanied by two military vehicles and a vehicle of the Department of
Planning and Construction moved into Khellat al-Ghamqa area in the southwest of
Ethna village, west of Hebron. An Israeli Civil Administration Officer handed
the following civilians notices to stop construction work on their houses:

1. Hamdan Muhammed Bashir Hamdan, a 140-meter-house that is still under
construction and consists of one floor.

2. Muhammed Khalil Hamdan, a 200-meter-house that is still under
construction and consists of one floor.

 

The notices number gave both civilians a time limit till 24 November
2013 to handle their legal matters with the competent Israeli authorities.

 

At approximately 9:00 on Monday, 04 November 2013,
Israeli forces, accompanied by two military vehicles and a vehicle of the
Department of Planning and Construction of the Israeli Civil Administration,
moved into Wad Aziz area, in the west of Ethna village, west of Hebron. An
Israeli Civil Administration officer handed Palestinians two notices to stop
construction work on a 120-meter house that consists of two floors, belonging
to Sa’ed Issa al-Jayyawi and Muhanned Issa al-Jayyawi. At approximately 10:00,
Israeli forces moved into Wad al-Bir area, in the southwest of the village. An
Israeli Civil Administration officer handed Jamal Ahmed Khalil al-Jayyawi (38)
a notice to stop construction works on his 15-meter house that is still under
construction and consists of one floor.

 

Also on Monday morning, 04 November 2013, Israeli
forces, accompanied by a vehicle of the Department of Planning and Construction
of the Israeli Civil Administration and a bulldozer, moved into Ein Ayyoub area
in the west of Ras Karkar village, northwest of Ramallah. Israeli soldiers
deployed in the area and the bulldozer started to scrap the asphalt and
demolish the fence and an arbour. At approximately 12:00, before withdrawing,
Israeli forces confiscated all the equipment, including a gator, a vacuum cleaner, and a soap machine.

 

At approximately
10:00 on Wednesday, 06 November 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by a vehicle
of the Department of Planning and Construction of the Israeli Civil
Administration, moved into the western area of Ethna village, west of Hebron.
An Israeli Civil Administration officer handed Palestinians a notice to stop
work construction on a 900-meter- dirt road that links Wad Bir area with
Khellet al-Amma in the western area of the village. The notice gave Palestinians
a time limit until 28 November 2013 to handle their legal matters.

 

On Monday, 04 November 2013, the Israeli Ministry of
Housing issued tenders for builing 1,859 new housing units in settlements in the
West Bank and East Jerusalem.  The
tenders included 828 new housing units in East Jerusalem.  For “Ramat Shlomo” settlement whose expansion
plan was approved a few days ago, the Israeli Ministry issued tenders for 387
new housing units. Moreover, the Israeli Housing Ministry issued tenders for
311 new housing units in “Gilo” settlement, and 13 housing units in “Har Homa”
settlement.
As for the West Bank, the Israeli government issued, through the Housing
Ministry, tenders for 1,031 new housing units in the West Bank from the north
to the south, but the majority of the tenders were issued in the vicinity of
East Jerusalem, as part of the Israeli plan that is called “Greater Jerusalem” that
is aimed to annex large settlement blocs around Jerusalem to isolate it from
the West Bank. New tenders were also issued for 102 housing units in “Givat
Ze’ev” settlement, north of Jerusalem, and 238 housing units in “Beitar Illit”
settlement, south of Jerusalem, in addition to 80 housing units in “Jaba
Benjamin Adam” settlement, 18 housing units in “Ariel” settlement, 283 housing
units in “Alkanah” settlement and 196 housing units in “Krnyh Shomron”
settlement.

v Attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and
their property

 

At approximately 22:00 on Thursday, 31 October 2013,
Israeli settlers from “Karni Shomron” and “Ma’ale Shomron” settlements near Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilya, chopped down 300 olive trees from “Khellat Khalil”
lands, in the north of the above-mentioned village. The attack affected 200
trees belonging to the two elderly brothers, Saleh and Salah Muhammed Majd
Rodwan, and 100 trees belonging to the heirs of Ahmed Abdullah Rodwan. Hassan
Rassem, member of Azzoun Municipality, told a PCHR fieldworker:

“On Thursday evening, 31 October 2013, Saleh and Salah
Rodwan were on their land in “Khellat Khalil” area in the north of Azzoun village.
They did not water the seedlings as they thought it was going to rain, but when
it did not rain, both brothers went back to water them on Friday, o1 November
2013, and found out that all the seedlings were chopped down and destroyed.
They knew that a public vehicle driver from Jayyous town village saw Israeli
settlers attacking the trees near the main road that is known as Road (55).”

 

At approximately 9:00 on Saturday, 02 November 2013, a
group of Israeli settlers from “Mitzpe Yair” settlement that is established on
civilian lands in the east of Yatta village, 
south of Hebron, stormed the agricultural lands adjacent to Kherbet
Qoyoys, prevented civilians from harvesting olives and tried to attack them. An
altercation occurred between settlers and Palestinian civilians, when an
Israeli infantry unit moved into the area and arrested two Palestinian
civilians under the pretext of attacking settlers. The detainees are: Jamil
Ahmed Eleian Awas (47); and Sa’id Ahmed Eleian Awad (45).

 

 At
approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 03 November 2013, a number of Israeli settlers
from “Avigal” settlement that is established on civilian lands, in the east of
Yatta village, south of Hebron, gathered at the entrance of Um al-Kheir area
and chanted calling the residents to leave. This happened under the protection
of Israeli forces, which caused the families and children to panic fearing that
Israeli settlers would storm their tents. It is noted that Israeli authorities
distributed a plan to Palestinian civilians in the village to confiscate
numerous agricultural dunums in the vicinity of the above-mentioned area, as a
prelude to annex it to the above-mentioned settlement.

 

On Monday morning, 04 November 2013, Israeli settlers
from “Beitar Illit” settlement, established on the lands of the western
countryside of Bethlehem (Hussan, Wad Fukin, Nahalin), destroyed and set fire
to 40 olive trees on the land of Mnawwar Ali al-Sha’er (41), from Hussan
village, in the west of the city, under the protection of Israeli forces. The
trees were planted near the settlement on an area of 8 dunums. The land’s owner
told a PCHR fieldworker that an altercation occurred between him and the
settlers, which led to his detention for two hours by Israeli forces.

 

At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 05 November 2013, a
number of Israeli settlers stormed, under the protection of Israeli forces,
three old abandoned houses belonging to the al-Sharif, Abu Sanina and Qafish
families. They brought construction materials and equipments in an attempt to
establish a new settlement unit, near the Ibrahimi Mosque, after establishing a
shopping mall, years ago, which caused Palestinian civilians to suffer trying
to reach the Ibrahimi Mosque. It is noted that Israeli settlers seized a house
belonging to al-Bdeiri family on 23 November 2013, which was an Islamic waqf
(religious endowment).

 

At approximately 15:30 also on Tuesday, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Keryat Arba” settlement, established in civilian lands,
east of Hebron, stormed the agricultural lands in “Jabal Jales” area, in the
east of the city. An Israeli bulldozer from “Keryat Arba” settlement cleaved a
dirt road at the expense of Palestinian civilians’ lands to expand “Havat
Gal” settlement outpost that
was established years ago. An altercation occurred between Palestinian
civilians and Israeli settlers, before Israeli forces, accompanied by a vehicle
of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into the area and forced Palestinians
to leave.  It should be noted that
Israeli settlers built a caravan of wood on a land belonging to Youssef Khalil
Abu Rmelia in the above-mentioned area last month. “Havat Gal” was established
in 2005, after Israeli soldiers cleaved a 1-Kilometre dirt road from “Keryat
Arba” settlement to a foot of a mountain, on lands belonging to al-Zaro and
al-Tamini families. Israeli soldiers placed a barbwire fence along the road and
about 6 mobile houses on the top of the mountain, dug a well and built another
house of concrete on a land belonging to the Idris family. “Havat Gal” outpost
controls about 300 dunums of the agricultural lands, while buildings are
established on an area of 6 dunums. The rightful owners of the lands are always
prevented from entering them, and Israeli settlers attack them when they try to
reach their lands in the vicinity of the above-mentioned outpost.

 

 

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 

 

PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position
that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is still
under the Israeli occupation, in spite of the Israeli military redeployment
outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli force have
continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which
have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which
Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR
stresses that there is an international recognition of Israel’s obligation to
respect international human rights instruments and the international
humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the
Laws and Customs of War on Land and the
Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law
and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way
that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.

 

In light of continued arbitrary measures, land
confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the continued
aggression against civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially the latest offensive
that lasted for 8 days in November, PCHR calls upon the international
community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural
obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act
according to the following recommendations:

 

1. PCHR calls upon the international community and the
United Nations to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to
enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the
Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast
majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end
the occupation of the State of Palestine;

2. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international
protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence of
aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the
Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;

4. PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human
rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to
comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the
human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned
committees;

5. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the
Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to
prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the
perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected
Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;

6. PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of
universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal
jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war
criminals;

7. PCHR calls upon the international community to act in
order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through
imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;

8. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer
the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the
International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome
Statute;

9. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that
holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to
achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on
the expense of human rights and victims;

10. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human
Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza
and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the
two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel
it to remove them;

11. PCHR calls upon the international community, in light
of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at
least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of
hostilities launched by Israel which directed targeted the civilian
infrastructure;

12. PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European
Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the
international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the
annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;

13. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article
2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must
respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU
states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violation and crimes
against Palestinian civilians;

14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and
accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva
Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the United
Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to international human
rights law and humanitarian law instruments.

 

 

 

 

 

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Public Document

For further information please visit our website www.pchrgaza.org or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by
email [email protected] or telephone +972 08 282 4776 – 282 5893.