Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (10-16 June 2010)
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Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· IOF willfully killed 1 Palestinian civilian and wounded 1 child in Jerusalem.
· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
- Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation in the West Bank and 1 sustained a fracture in the Gaza Strip.
- IOF arrested 7 civilians, including 3 journalists and 2 human rights defenders.
· IOF continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in border areas of the Gaza Strip.
- 4 workers were wounded while working in the border area.
· IOF conducted 24 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 1 limited incursion into the Gaza Strip.
- IOF arrested 29 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children.
- IOF continued to raid houses of activists of protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities.
- IOF summoned a 7-year-old child for interrogation.
· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
- Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 2 Palestinian civilian.
- Israeli troops continued to harass Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints.
· Israel has continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem.
- The Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem approved the construction of 1,600 settlement housing units.
- IOF demolished a number of stores in Jerusalem.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (10 – 16 June 2010):
Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 1 Palestinian civilian and wounded 1 Palestinian child in the West Bank. They also wounded 4 Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, on 11 June 2010, IOF killed 1 Palestinian civilian in Wad al-Jouz neighborhood in East Jerusalem, and wounded 1 Palestinian child. IOF claimed that the victim was driving a car, did not obey orders to stop at a checkpoint in Wad al-Jouz and attempted to run down 2 soldiers, who were injured. Investigations conducted by PCHR refute this claim and confirm that the civilians was willfully killed. Another child was also wounded by the gunfire.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF fired at Palestinian workers who were collecting construction materials. As a result, 4 workers were wounded in 4 separate incidents.
On 14 June 2010, Israeli troops that moved into al-Qarara and 'Abassan villages, east of Khan Yunis, fired 5 artillery shells at the area; no casualties were reported.
On the same day, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza Strip; no casualties were reported.
Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 24 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 29 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children. They also arrested 3 journalists, 3 human rights defender and a university student during the dispersion of peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to settlement activities and the construction of the Annexation Wall.
IOF also stormed the house of Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, 43, Secretary of the National Committee against Settlement Activities and the Wall in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 2 limited incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they leveled areas of previously razed land.
Restrictions on Movement: Israel had continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over 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.
· On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently and to divert the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, citing security reasons.
· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement and the right to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.
The principle concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain basic necessities: food, medicine, water and electricity supplies.
· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than 2 and a half years.
· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip since 10 December 2008, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.
· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened on only a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.
· Israel had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.
· Israel has imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. Israel has prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.
· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated as levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
· At least 800 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than two and a half 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 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.
Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem: IOF have continued to take measures at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem.
On 16 June 2010, IOF, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into al-'Abasiya quarter in Silwan village. There they demolished two 18-square-meter stores belonging to Maher Na'im Siam, claiming that they were built without a license. IOF also confiscated an 18-square-meter container and demolished a 100-sqiuare-meter barrack belonging to the family. On the same day, IOF moved into al-Thawri neighborhood in Jerusalem. Without warning, they demolished a 30-square-meter garage belonging to Kamal Ibrahim al-Shoubaki.
On 14 June 2010, the Planning and Construction Committee of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem, approved the construction of 1,600 housing units in "Ramat Shlomo" settlement in Jerusalem. Israeli postponed the approval of the construction to this week to avoid any crisis with the United States.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (10 – 16 June 2010)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 10 June 2010
· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian children:
1. 'Eissa Kamel Bahar, 16; and
2. Sameer 'Aamer Abu Maria, 15.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, 43, Secretary of the Public Committee against Settlement and the Wall in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. According to Abu Hashem, at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Khillat al-Barahish area in the south of Beit Ummar village. At approximately 02:15, they threw stones at the windows and doors of Abu Hashem's house. They also detonated sound bombs in the vicinity of the house and called on Abu Hashem through megaphones to move to his roof with his hand up. When he and his wife got up the roof, they forced him to uncover the upper part of his body and to return to the house and awaken the 11 other residents of the house. IOF forced the residents out of the house and questioned them until 04:45. According to Abu Hashem, this house raid was the tenth of its kind in the past 2 months. Before raiding Abu Hashem's house, IOF had raided 4 houses, including 2 belonging to his brothers. During these house raids, IOF violently beat Abu Hashem's nephew, 16-year-old Sakher.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into 'Aanin village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed Fat'hi Mansour, 19.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:
. At approximately 06:30, IOF moved into al-Mazra'a village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets and arrested Yousef Mohammed Shraiteh, 15, but released him in the afternoon.
Friday, 11 June 2010
· At noon, IOF killed 1 Palestinian civilian in Wad al-Jouz neighborhood in East Jerusalem and wounded 1 Palestinian child. IOF claimed that the victim disregarded orders to stop at a checkpoint in Wad al-Jouz and attempted to run down two soldiers with his car; the soldenier were injured. Investigations conducted by PCHR refute this claim and confirm that the civilians was willfully killed.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 13:00, following the Friday Prayer, Ziad Mohammed Badawi al-Joulani, 41, drove his car to visit his relatives in Housh al-Hadami area in Wad al-Jouz neighborhood. When he arrived at the area, he saw Israeli troops stationed at a temporary checkpoint. A number of Palestinian children were throwing stones towards Israeli troops. When al-Joulani drove his car into a branch road, Israeli troops chased him. When he stopped the car and stepped down, they fired at him. He was wounded by 3 bullets to the left arm, the abdomen and the left thigh, which caused him to fall to the ground. An Israeli soldier then moved towards him and fired at him from point-blank range, wounding him further by 2 bullets to the right thigh and the head. He was announced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The victim was married and a father of 3 children. As a result of the shooting, 5-year-old Ilham Sa'id al-Silwadi was also wounded by shrapnel to the head and the neck. Israeli troops also violently beat Mahmoud 'Othman al-Joulani, 34, when he attempted to offer initial medical aid to the victim.
Saturday, 12 June 2010
· At approximately 07:45, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia fired at Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from a site, where the evacuated Israeli settlements of "Dogit" and "Elli Sinai" used to stand in the northern Gaza Strip. As a result, Rajab Mohammed Ma'rouf, 19, was wounded by a bullet to the right foot.
Sunday, 13 June 2010
· At approximately 10:30, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from the industrial zone. As a result, one of the workers, Mohammed 'Aziz Halawa, 24, from Jabalya, was wounded by a bullet to the right foot.
Monday, 14 June 2010
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian children:
1. 'Anan Mohammed Bahar, 16;
2. Mo'ayad Jawad Bahar, 17; and
3. Mohammed 'Ali Abu Maria, 17.
· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved nearly 450 meters into al-Qarara and 'Abassan villages, east of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of Palestinian previously razed land. At approximately 13:15, IOF fired 5 artillery shells at agricultural areas, but no casualties were reported.
· At approximately 09:00, Israeli gunboats stationed off the coast of Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats, which were forced to sail back to the beach. No casualties were reported.
· At approximately 09:45, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of the Bedouin village fired at Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from Erez industrial zone. As a result, 'Awadh Jom'a Abu Warda, 18, from Jabalya, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg.
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hamza Mahmoud Rayan, 26.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Isma'il Khader Masalma, 17, and arrested him.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Fa'eq Mahmoud Hajajla, 52, and summoned him for interrogation.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Far'a refugee camp, south of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into 'Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:
1. Safwan Nazeeh Melhem, 22; and
2. Ahmed Fat'hallah Jadallah, 22.
· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Jenin and the refugee camp there. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Bourqin village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Kufor Qoud village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 'Aadel Mohammed Qaddouha, 20.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Jalqamous village, northeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into Khuza'a village, east of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of previously razed Palestinian land.
· At approximately 11:40, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Lahia town fired at Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists who were protesting the establishment of thr buffer zone along the border. As a result, Zakaria Ibrahim Abu Watfa, 62, Secretary of the Palestinian Arab Front, fell down and sustained a fracture to the right foot.
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 'Alaa' Mahmoud Slaibi, 20, and Mohammed Sameer Abu Maria, 22. They also summoned 7-year-old Mohsen Yousef 'Awadh for interrogation. According to local sources, at least 90 Palestinian civilians have been arrested by IOF in the village since the beginning of this year. In the Hebron district, IOF have arrested 470 Palestinian civilians, including 90 children and 4 women, since the beginning of this year.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Wd al-Hariya neighborhood in Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Fahed Majed Abu Sbaih, 23.
· At approximately 10:00, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of the Bedouin village fired at Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from Erez industrial zone. As a result, Ibrahim Wa'el al-Kafarna, 17, from Beit Hanoun, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg
2. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting Settlement Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall
During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities. 4 Palestinian civilians were injured, 4 journalists sustained bruises and others suffered from tear gas inhalation.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 11 June 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah. Some demonstrators wore soccer shirts. They moved towards a playground, which has been isolated by the annexation Wall, to play a match on the first day of the World Cup. Israeli troops prevented them from doing so, hence they played the match near the Wall. Soon Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. They also detained 5 demonstrators, including 3 journalists, until the end of the demonstration: Nasser Hussein al-Shyoukhi, 43, a cameraman of Associated Press; Fadi Mousa al-'Aarouri, 27, a cameraman of a Chinese news agency; 'Aatef Nayef al-Safadi, a cameraman of a European news agency; 'Alaa' Ghousha, 20, a university student; and a human rights defender who was not identified.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 11 June 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with IOF troops positioned near the Wall. IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 04 June 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near "Halmish" settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
· Also on Friday noon, 11 June 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem. IOF closed the entrance of the village and fired sound bombs at the demonstrators. They also arrested Hassan Ahmed Braijiya, 40, Coordinator of the National Committee against Settlement and the Wall.
· On Monday morning, 14 June 2010, the Public Committee against Israeli Security Zone in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to the establishment of a 300-meter-wide buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The demonstration moved from Khuza'a village, east of Khan Yunis, towards the border. The demonstrators raised Palestinian flags.
3. 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.
· On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently and to allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, citing security reasons.
· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement and the right to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.
· The principle concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain basic necessities: food, medicine, water and electricity supplies.
· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than 2 and a half years.
· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip since 10 December 2008, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.
· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened on only a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.
· Israel had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.
· Israel has imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. Israel has prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.
· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated as levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
· At least 800 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than 2 and a half 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
09 – 15 June 2010
Date
Details
09 June 2010
503 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 380 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
10 June 2010
551 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 365 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
11 June 2010
224 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 221 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
12 June 2010
386 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 243 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
13 June 2010
409 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 263 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
14 June 2010
366 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 271 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
15 June 2010
254 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 318 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
According to sources of the Palestinian Crossings and Borders Commission, between 02 and 15 June 2010, 5,910 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 3,536 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip. The number of people who were denied traveling during this period was 1,759.
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
09 – 15 June 2010
Date
Imports
Category
Amount
Tons
Liters
09 June 2010
Foodstuffs
370
Agricultural materials
134
Various goods
1,362
Cooking gas
211
Industrial fuel
251,000
Humanitarian aids
205
10 June 2010
Foodstuffs
242
Agricultural materials
257
Various goods
358
Cooking gas
178.390
Industrial fuel
215,027
Humanitarian aids
450
13 June 2010
Foodstuffs
869
Agricultural materials
134
Various goods
356
Cooking gas
158
Industrial fuel
251,000
Humanitarian aids
71
14 June 2010
Foodstuffs
415
Agricultural materials
198
Various goods
219
Cooking gas
201.599
Industrial fuel
122,599
Humanitarian aids
430
15 June 2010
Foodstuffs
340
Agricultural materials
141
Various goods
392
Cooking gas
202.790
Industrial fuel
131,000
Humanitarian aids
83
Note: During the reporting period, IOF allowed 124,000 liters of diesel into the Gaza Strip for the private sector. On Wednesday, 09 June 2010, IOF allowed 35 tons of construction materials into the Gaza Strip for UNRWA.
Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Tuesday, 15 June 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,482 tons of wheat, 2,262 tons of fodders, 300 tons of construction aggregate and 300 tons of base course.
Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, select international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe restrictions that include prolonged security clearances.
Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing
09 -15 June 2010
Date
Patients
Companions
Arabs from Israel
Diplomats
International Journalists
International Workers
Travelers abroad
Traders
09 June 2010
16
15
19
Nil
7
9
Nil
11
10 June 2010
30
29
1
2
16
49
7
1
11 June 2010
Nil
Nil
5
4
7
15
Nil
Nil
12 June 2010
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
13 June 2010
38
39
23
Nil
7
6
2
8
14 June 2010
32
36
4
Nil
6
28
1
10
15 June 2010
45
47
6
9
1
32
Nil
1
The West Bank
Israel has 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 Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays, preventing Muslim Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.
· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. IOF troops positioned at the Jaba' and Qalandiya checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged checks of Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Nablus. At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 14 June 2010, IOF closed Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus and forced Palestinian civilian vehicles to travel through 'Awarta commercial crossing. IOF claimed that they arrested a Palestinian who was carrying 5 bombs and that Israeli sabers were able to diffuse them.
· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Tulkarm. On Sunday noon, 13 June 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. There they conducted prolonged checking on civilians. On Friday, 11 June 2010, IOF obstructed access of Palestinian fire engines to Palestinian agricultural isolated by the annexation wall between Qiffin and Nazlat 'Eissa village, north of Tulkarm, to extinguish fire that broke out in the area. The same happened again on Tuesday, 15 June 2010.
· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Qalqilya. On Sunday morning, 13 June 2010, IOF established a checkpoint on the road linking between Hijja and al-Fundoq villages, east of Qalqilya. There they stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Hebron. On Monday morning, 14 June 2010, following an armed attack on an Israeli police vehicle near "Beit Hajai" settlement, southwest of Hebron, IOF waged a wide-scale campaign against villages near Hebron, especially Dura village. IOF erected a number of checkpoints and stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. They also arrested Hassan Abu 'Arqoub, 24, in Kharsa area, south of Dura village.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
· At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 10 June 2010, Israeli troops stationed at a checkpoint near 'Arraba intersection on Jenin-Nablus road arrested Ahmed 'Omar Abu Libda, 26, from Jenin.
Harassments at Military Chcekpoints
· At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 10 June 2010, Israeli troops violently beat Mohammed Mustafa Hijjawi, 38, from Far'oun village south of Tulkarm, when he intervened in an attempt to release his 2 children, who were on their way back to Far'oun, located behind the Annexation Wall. He sustained bruises all over his body and eventually fainted. Israeli troops claimed that the 2 children crossed the Wall towards their village.
· At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 12 June 2010, Israeli soldiers patrolling in the old city of Hebron stopped 10-year-old Ghandi Nidal al-'Owaiwi and violently beat him when he was on his way home. He sustained acute bruises to the abdomen and the head, a cut to the left hand and severe psychological damage.
· On Monday evening, 14 June 2010, Israeli troops violently beat Saleh Daoud Rajabi, 19, from Hebron, as they stopped him when he was on his way home. They dumped him in an area far from his home. Rajanbi was injured and burnt on the right hand. According to Rajabi, Israeli troops placed a lighted cigarette on his hand and violently beat him. They also used a blade to make cuts in his face and hands. They also forced him to take a tablet through the mouth before dumping him in an area far away from his home.
4. Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem
Israel has recently escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem in order to force them to leave the city. PCHR has devoted this section in the Weekly Report to highlighting violations of human rights perpetrated by IOF against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.
· At approximately 08:30 on Tuesday, 16 June 2010, IOF, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into al-'Abasiya quarter in Silwan village. There they demolished two 18-square-meter stores belonging to Maher Na'im Siam, claiming that the buildings were built without a license. They also confiscated an 18-square-meter container and demolished a 100-sqiuare-meter barrack belonging to the family.
· At the same time, IOF moved into al-Thawri neighborhood in Jerusalem. Without warning, they demolished a 30-square-meter garage belonging to Kamal Ibrahim al-Shoubaki.
· On Monday, 14 June 2010, the Planning and Construction Committee of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem, approved the construction of 1,600 housing units in "Ramat Shlomo" settlement in Jerusalem. Israeli postponed the approval of the construction to this week to avoid any crisis with the United States.
………………………………………………………
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 its 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 international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people 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 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 agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
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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 ( pchr@pchrgaza.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or telephone (+972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).
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