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

 

 

· 6
Palestinians, including one child, were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip.

 

· IOF
launched aerial, naval and land attacks on Palestinian civilian targets in the
Gaza Strip.

 

· IOF
used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest of the
construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities.

 

· IOF
conducted 21 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two
incursions into the Gaza Strip.

 

· IOF
arrested 21 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, in the West Bank.

 

· IOF
closed two civil associations in Beit Safafa village, south of Jerusalem.

 

· IOF
demolished 3 houses and razed 17 donums[1]
of agricultural land in al-Musaddar village in the central Gaza Strip.

 

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

 

· IOF
troops positioned at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 4
Palestinian civilians.

 

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

 

· A
new settlement plan to build 549 housing units in Sour Baher village south of
Jerusalem was proposed.

 

· The
Israeli government decided to include the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and Bilal
Ben Rabah Mosque in Bethlehem on the list of Israeli archaeological sites.

 

· IOF
ordered the demolition of a number of houses and civilian facilities in the
West Bank.

 

· Israeli
settlers seized a 100-donum area of land near Ramallah, and uprooted 45 olives
trees near Nablus. 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (18 – 23
February 2010):

 

Shooting: During
the reporting period, IOF wounded 6 Palestinians, including one child, in the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 20 February 2010, 3 activists of
the Palestinian resistance were wounded by IOF in al-Qarara village, northeast
of Khan Yunis. 

 

During the reporting period, Israeli gunboats opened
fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza Strip. Additionally, Israeli troops stationed at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian civilians,
but no casualties were reported.

 

In the West Bank, 3 Palestinian civilians, including
one child, were wounded when Israeli troops fired at a civilian vehicle near
Housan village, south of Bethlehem. 

 

IOF also used forced against peaceful demonstrations
organized in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement
activities in the West Bank.

 

Incursions: During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 21 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  IOF arrested 21 Palestinian civilians,
including 3 children. IOF also closed
two civil associations in Beit Safafa village, south of Jerusalem. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 18 February 2010, IOF moved
into al-Musaddar village in the central Gaza Strip. They demolished 3 houses and razed 17 donums
of agricultural land. On 22 February
2010, IOF moved into the north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, and
leveled areas of land, which they had previously razed. 

 

Restrictions
on Movement: IOF have continued to
enforce a tightened closure regime in 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 more than two and a half years. The illegal Israeli-imposed
siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a
disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  

 

· 1.5
million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of
movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and
education.

 

· The
main concern of 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their
basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

 

· Israel
had continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip for over two and a half years.

 

· Israel
has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of
cooking gas, since 10 December 2008.

 

· The
Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number
of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return to the
Gaza Strip.

 

· Israel
has 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
continues to prevent the entry of spare parts form water networks and sewage
systems. Losses incurred to this sector are estimated at US$ 6 million.

 

· Israel
has imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats,
journalists and humanitarian workers to 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 sharply mounted.

 

· Palestinian
prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived for family visitation for more
than two years. 

 

· IOF
have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza
Strip.

 

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
at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

 

· There
are approximately 630 permanent roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints
across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60-80 ‘flying’ or temporary
checkpoints erected across the West Bank by IOF every week.

 

· 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 (47 out of 72 roads).

 

· There
are around 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.
These 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 and Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international
humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

 

On 18 February 2010, IOF moved into Eastern Barta’a
village, southwest of Jenin. They handed
demolition notices to owners of 9 houses and facilities, claiming that they had
been built without licenses.

 

During the reporting period, the Israeli district
committee for organization and construction in Jerusalem proposed a new
settlement plan to construct 549 new housing units. According to the Israeli organization Ir Amim
for an Equitable and Stable Jerusalem with an Agreed Political Future, the plan
will be advertised soon, and according to it, the housing units will be built
on a 153-donum area of land in Beit Safafa village, south of East Jerusalem. According to Israeli law, the public will
have 60 days to challenge the plan. 

 

In its weekly meeting held on Sunday, 21
February 2010, the Israeli government endorsed the inclusion of the Ibrahimi
Mosque in Hebron and Bilal Ben Rabah Mosque in Bethlehem on the list of Israeli
archaeological sites. It also allocated more than US $ 1 million for
“their maintenance and repair.”  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu linked the decision with the policy of settlement expansion in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) by stating that: “Our existence as a
state does not only depend on the army, but also on enhancing our knowledge,
our national feeling, which we will convey to the next generation, and our
connection to the homeland.” Under the plan, 150 archaeological sites
will be linked by a “historical biblical trail” in order to
“educate the next generation about Jewish and Zionist history.” 

 

On 20 February 2010, a number of Israeli
settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, threw
stones and empty bottles at Palestinian houses in the Wadi al-Haussain
area. A Palestinian child was injured in
the head.

 

On the same day, Israeli settlers from
“Shilo” settlement, north of Ramallah, seized a 10-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives. 

 

On 21 February 2010, at least 50 Israeli
settlers broke into a synagogue in the north of Jericho allegedly to conduct
religious rituals, without coordination with the Palestinian side, which is
required as the synagogue is located in an area controlled by the Palestinian
National Authority according to the Oslo Accords. Soon, IOF moved into the area in an attempt
to evacuate the settlers.

 

On the same day, Israeli settlers moved
into Kufol Hares village, north of Salfit. They performed Jewish prayers near monuments in the village. It is worth noting that IOF had moved into
the village at 22:00 and closed its entrances.

 

On 22 February 2010, Israeli settlers
from “Yits’har” settlement uprooted 45 olive trees in Bourin village,
south of Nablus. In the meantime, IOF
moved into the village and imposed a curfew.

 

 

 

Israeli Violations
Documented during the Reporting Period (18 – 23 February 2010)

 

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

 

Thursday, 18 February 2010 

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Jihad ‘Eissa Shabana, 45; and

2. Shaher ‘Abdul Majid Ebrayoush, 35.

 

· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Am’ari refugee camp near al-Bireh. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Mohammed Suleiman Habboub, 18, and arrested him.

 

· At
approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched two flats in al-‘Aqqad building in the center
of the city, and arrested two Palestinian minors:

 

1. Sami Hashem Abu Shalbak, 17; and

2. ‘Alaa’ Mohammed al-Tiryaqi, 17.

 

· Also
at approximately 03:30, IOF moved into ‘Aanin village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Mo’taz Fayez ‘Eissa, 22; and

2. Yousef Sha’ban Yassin, 24.

 

· At
approximately 08:00, IOF moved nearly 700 meters into
al-Musaddar village in the central Gaza Strip. During this incursion, which continued until 16:30, IOF demolished 3
houses and razed 17 donums of agricultural land:

 

1. They demolished a 175-square-meter
house belonging to Mo’in ‘Ali Abu Sa’id, which used to house 5 people;

2. They demolished a 120-square-meter,
two-storey house belonging to ‘Abdul Hai Salem Ben Sa’id, which used to house 8
people;

3. They demolished an 80-square-meter,
tin-made house belonging to Jaber Salem Subaih, which used to house two women;

4. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural
land planted with olive, guava and palm trees, and destroyed a well, an
agricultural pool and a storage shed belonging to Jaber Salem Subaih;

5. They razed a two-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olive and citrus trees, belonging to Suleiman
‘Awad Abu Sa’id; and

6. They razed a 5-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olive trees, belonging to Salem Suleiman Ben
Sa’id.

 

· At
approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Beit Siera village, west of Ramallah, and
patrolled in the streets. A number of
Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli military
vehicles. Immediately, Israeli troops
fired at the children, but no casualties were reported.

 

Friday,
19 February 2010

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Leqia village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, who had been released from Israeli jails
3 weeks prior:

 

1. Yousef Nidal Mafarja, 20;

2. ‘Abbas Hisham ‘Aassi, 20; and

3. Mustafa Rebhi ‘Aassi, 22.

 

· At
approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to
Fadel Sa’id Zakarna, and arrested his two sons: Mohammed, 24; and Mahmoud, 36.

 

· At
approximately 10:00, Israeli gunboats patrolling off the coast of al-Sudaniya
beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail
back to the beach; no casualties were reported.

 

Saturday, 20 February 2010

 

· At
approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Rummana village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time,
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 06:30, an armed clash erupted between a number of activists of
the Palestinian resistance and Israeli troops stationed at the border between
the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan
Yunis. About 30 minutes later, Israeli
troops and gunboats opened fire at the area. As a result, 3 resistance activists were wounded, and a mosque in the
area was damaged.

 

· At
approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Safa village, north of Hebron. They fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs
and chased Palestinian farmers to prevent them from accessing their
agricultural lands. Israeli troops fired
tear gas canisters at a number of houses, which threatened the life of
8-year-old Nasser Bassam ‘Aadi, who suffers from several chronic diseases. According to his mother, a tear gas canister
was fired at the house, which forced her to take him from the house to his
uncle’s house, as he faced extreme difficulties breathing. 

 

· At
approximately 09:30, Israeli gunboats patrolling off the coast of al-Sudaniya
beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail
back to the beach; no casualties were reported.

 

· In
the morning, IOF moved into Sour Baher village, south of Jerusalem. They stormed offices of the Zaid Ben Thabet
Center and the Cultural Forum Association and closed them until 28 February
2010. They also confiscated several
documents and computer hard disks. 

 

· At
approximately 17:00, Israeli troops stationed in observation towers along the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, to the east of Jabalya city, opened
fire at a number of Palestinian farmers who were working on their lands, nearly
400 meters
from the border. The farmers fled and no
casualties were reported. 

 

· At
approximately 20:00, Israeli troops in a military jeep patrolling to the west
of Housan village, west of Bethlehem, opened fire at a Palestinian civilian
vehicle. As a result, 3 Palestinian
civilians, including a child, were wounded:

 

1. Mohammed Bassem Shousha, 17, seriously
wounded by 5 gunshots to the abdomen;

2. Isma’il Mohammed Za’oul, 19, wounded by
two gunshots to the pelvis and the hand;

3. Mos’ab Ahmed Za’oul, 21, wounded by a
gunshot to the hand.

 

An Israeli military spokesman claimed that “Palestinians fired at a
military unit in Housan village, so soldiers returned the fire.”

 

· At
approximately 20:30, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel, to the northeast of Beit Hanoun, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in the town. The gunfire
continued for nearly 40 minutes, but no casualties were reported. 

 

Sunday, 21 February 2010

 

· At
approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Zaubaidat village, north of Jericho, and
imposed a curfew. They raided and
searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 09:00, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel, to the north of Beit Lahia, opened fire at a number of
Palestinian workers who were approximately 400 meters from the
border. The workers were gathering
stones, iron bars and aggregate from the debris of destroyed buildings in the
area, in order to sell them. The workers
fled and no casualties were reported.

 

· At
approximately 10:30, an artillery shell fired by Israeli troops stationed at
the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel landed on a 300-square-meter house
belonging to Ahmed ‘Ali Obaid, in which 13 people live, and a 150-square-meter
house belonging to Daoud ‘Ali al-Shanti, in which 18 people live. Windows were broken, but no casualties were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 10:50, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel, to the north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, fired
an artillery shell at the Bourat Abu Samra area in the north of the town,
approximately 400 meters
from the border. Palestinian ambulances
rushed to the area to evacuate any possible casualties. As medical crews were searching for
casualties, Israeli troops fired at them. No casualties were reported.

 

· At
approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Beit Reema village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

Monday, 22 February 2010

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested Amjad Mohammed al-Shalalda, 19.

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Sammou’ village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses,
shops and offices, but no arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 10:15, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into the
Bourat Abu Samra area, in the north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza
Strip. Until approximately 18:25, they
leveled areas of land, which they had previously razed.

 

· At
approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Bourin village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Ayman Lu’ai al-Najjar, 24;

2. Amjad Lu’ai al-Najjar, 23;

3. Majdi Lu’ai al-Najjar, 21; and

4. Eyad Mustafa al-Zawahri, 24.

 

Tuesday, 23 February 2010

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Deir Abu Da’if village, northeast of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· Also
at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into the Abu Snaina neighborhood of
Hebron. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of ‘Abdul Mo’in Fawzi Abu Hadeed, 20, and arrested him.

 

· Also
at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Masayef neighborhood of
Ramallah. They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Saqer Ameen ‘Aateeq, 17, and arrested him.

 

· Also
at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Far’a refugee camp, south of
Tubas. They raided and searched a number
of houses, shops and workshops and arrested Hussein Kamel Abu al-Samen, 26, and
his brother Mohammed, 24. 

 

2. Continued Siege on the OPT

 

Israel has 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 more than two and a half years. The illegal Israeli-imposed
siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a
disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  

 

· 1.5
million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of
movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and
education.

 

· The
main concern of 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their
basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

 

· Israel
had continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip for over two and a half years.

 

· Israel
has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of
cooking gas, since 10 December 2008.

 

· The
Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number
of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return to the
Gaza Strip.

 

· Israel
has 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
continues to prevent the entry of spare parts form water networks and sewage
systems. Losses incurred to this sector are estimated at US$ 6 million.

 

· Israel
has imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats,
journalists and humanitarian workers to 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 sharply mounted.

 

· Palestinian
prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived for family visitation for more
than two years. 

 

· IOF
have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza
Strip.

 

Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting
Period:

 

Movement at Rafah International
Crossing Point

17 – 22 February 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) Crossing

17 – 22 February 2010

 

 

Al-Mentar
(Karni) Crossing: IOF partially
opened the crossing on Thursday, 18 February 2010, and allowed the entry of
1,840 tons of wheat and 1,960 tons of fodders. They opened it again on Monday, 22 February 2010, and allowed the entry
of 1,240 tons of wheat and 1,940 tons of fodders. 

 

Beit
Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have continued
to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians.
They 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. As mentioned above, IOF
have allowed a small number of patients to pass through the crossing, but under
severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez)
Crossing

17 – 22 February 2010

 

 

 

 

The
West Bank

 

IOF have
imposed a tightened siege 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. IOF often
violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and
enter the city.

 

· Ramallah: IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian
civilians in Ramallah. Israeli troops positioned at the Jaba’ and Qalandiya
checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional restrictions on
movement and conducted prolonged checks on Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, IOF erected a
number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian
vehicles. At approximately 11:00 on
Saturday, 13 February 2010, IOF closed Halmish checkpoint at the entrance of
Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  On Sunday morning, 22 February 2010, IOF
established a checkpoint near Rafat village, southwest of Ramallah. They stopped and searched dozens of
Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

 

· Nablus: IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. On Thursday afternoon, 18
February 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus,
imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

 

· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday evening, IOF closed al-Jalama checkpoint, north of Jenin,
for more than one hour. They also
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin,
and another checkpoint at the entrance of Ta’nak village, west of the
town. They stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

 

Arrests
at Military Checkpoints

 

· On
Friday morning, 19 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed at a military
checkpoint established at the eastern entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of
Hebron, arrested ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Sha’ban al-Hindi, 37.

 

· At
approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 20 February 2010, Israeli troops patrolling in
al-Majnouna area to the south of Hebron arrested two Palestinian civilians:
Ahmed Khalil Najib, 22; and his brother Yassin, 27.

 

· At
approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 23 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed at a
checkpoint on the Jenin-Nablus road arrested Mos’ab Jameel Thmainat, 21, a student at An-Najah University. 

 

3. Construction of the Annexation Wall

 

IOF have continued to
construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory.  During the
reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in
protest of the construction of the Wall.

 

· Following
the Friday Prayer on 19 February 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of
Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah. Dr. Salam Fayad, Palestinian Prime Minister;
Dr. Sabri Saidam, the Palestinian President’s Advisor for Communications and
Information Technology; Dr. Nabeel Sha’ath, Member of the Central Committee of
the Fatah movement; Tayseer Khaled, Member of the Executive Committee of
Palestine Liberation Organization; Dr. Mustafa al-Barghouthi, Secretary General
of the National Initiative; the Mayor of Geneva; and a number of national
figures participated in the demonstration. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall and attempted to cross onto the
annexed lands behind it. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear
gas inhalation, and some of them sustained bruises.

 

· Also
at noon on Friday, 19 February 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ni’lin
village, west of Ramallah, in protest of the construction of the Annexation
Wall. They clashed with Israeli troops
positioned near the Wall. Israeli
soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters
at demonstrators. Dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

· Also
at noon on Friday, 19 February 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized
a peaceful demonstration in Wad Raya area between Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam
villages, northwest of Ramallah. When
they attempted to reach lands located near “Halmish” settlement,
which Israeli settlers attempt to seize, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. Dozens of civilians suffered from tear gas
inhalation.

 

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

 

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

 

· At
approximately 12:00 on Thursday, 18 February 2010, IOF moved into eastern
Barta’a village, southwest of Jenin. They handed demolition notices to owners of 9 houses and facilities,
claiming that they were built without licenses:

 

1. A 350-square-meter, under-construction
house belonging to Na’el Ibrahim Qabaha;

2. A 150-square-meter, under-construction
house belonging to Yahia Yousef Qabaha;

3. A 240-square-meter, under-construction
house and a bird farm belonging to Mohammed Tayseer Qabaha;

4. A 240-square-meter, under-construction
house and a bird farm belonging to Saleh Saleh Qabaha;

5. A 150-square-meter house belonging to
Muhannad Yousef Qabaha;

6. A 150-square-meter, under-construction
house belonging to ‘Aayesh Mustafa Qabaha;

7. A 150-square-meter house belonging to
‘Alaa’ Hatem Qabaha;

8. A 150-square-meter, under-construction
house belonging to Mohammed Hatem Qabaha; and

9. A 240-square-meter, under-construction
house and a bird farm belonging to Rami Saleh Qabaha.

 

· During
the reporting period, the Israeli district committee for organization and
construction in Jerusalem proposed a new settlement plan to construct 549
housing units. According to the Israeli
organization Ir Amim for an Equitable and Stable Jerusalem with an Agreed
Political Future, the plan will be advertised soon, and the housing units will
be built on a 153-donum area of land in Beit Safafa village, south of East
Jerusalem. According to the Israeli law,
the public will have 60 days to challenge the plan. This plan is linked with another plan, which
has already been announced, to construct 2,337 housing units in “Givat
Hamatos” settlement. These plans
are part of a 4-stage project to construct 3,699 housing units and a number of
hotels, including the necessary infrastructure. According to the Ir Amim, these plans aim at establishing a new Israeli
settlement that will reinforce the separation between Jerusalem and the
southern West Bank. 

 

· In its weekly meeting held on Sunday, 21 February 2010, the
Israeli government endorsed the inclusion of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and
Bilal Ben Rabah Mosque in Bethlehem on the list of Israeli archaeological
sites. It also allocated more than US $ 1 million for “their
maintenance and repair.”  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
linked the decision with the policy of settlement expansion in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory (OPT) by stating that: “Our existence as a state
does not only depend on the army, but also on enhancing our knowledge, our
national feeling, which we will convey to the next generation, and our connection
to the homeland.” Under the plan, 150 archaeological sites will be
linked in a joint “historical biblical trail” in order to
“educate the next generation about Jewish and Zionist history.” PCHR condemns
this decision, and recalls that the decision was
taken on the eve of the 16^th anniversary of the killing of 29
Palestinian worshippers in the Ibrahimi Mosque by an Israeli settler, Baroch
Goldstein, on 25 February 1994. PCHR further emphasizes that the continued
international tolerance towards crimes committed by Israel, the Occupying
Power, serves to encourage the continuation of such crimes. Accordingly,
PCHR repeats its calls for the international community to provide protection
for Palestinian civilians, their property and their religious sites. It is worth noting that Israeli occupation
authorities established the “Shamgar Committee” following the mass
killing in the Ibrahimi Mosque on 25 February 1994. The committee
recommended dividing the Mosque between Muslims and Jews (30% and 70% respectively).

 

· At approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 20 February 2010, a number of Israeli
settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, threw
stones and empty bottles at Palestinian houses in Wadi al-Haussain area. As a result, ‘Alaa’ Husni Abu Es’aifan, 7, was
injured in the head.

 

· On the same day, Israeli settlers from “Shilo”
settlement, north of Ramallah, seized a 10-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olive trees belonging to Hassan Mohammed Sahabana and Hussam Dib
‘Aaida. 

 

· At approximately 14:30 on Sunday, 21 February 2010, at least 50
Israeli settlers broke into a synagogue in the north of Jericho, allegedly to
conduct religious rituals, without coordination with the Palestinian side,
which is required as the synagogue is located in an area controlled by the
Palestinian National Authority according to the Oslo Accords. Soon, IOF moved into the area in an attempt
to evacuate the settlers.

 

· At approximately 23:00 on the same day, Israeli settlers moved
into Kufol Hares village, north of Salfit. They performed Jewish prayers near monuments in the village. It is worth noting that IOF had moved into
the village at 22:00 and closed its entrances.

 

· On Monday evening, 22 February 2010, Israeli settlers from
“Yits’har” settlement uprooted 45 olive trees in Bourin village,
south of Nablus. In the meantime, IOF
moved into the village and imposed a curfew.

 

…………………………………………………………

 

 

Recommendations
to the International Community

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

 

Public Document

For further information please visit our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s
office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email ([email protected])
or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).