Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (12 -18 August 2010)
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Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· A Palestinian resistance activist was killed by IOF in the southern Gaza Strip.
· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
- An Israeli human rights defender was injured.
- IOF arrested two Palestinian civilians, and 5 international human rights defenders.
· IOF continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in the Gaza Strip’s border areas.
- A Palestinian worker was wounded in the northern Gaza Strip.
· IOF expanded the buffer zone in the northern Gaza Strip.
· Israeli warplanes bombarded civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip.
· IOF conducted 21 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 3 limited ones into the Gaza Strip.
- IOF arrested 14 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, in the West Bank.
· 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 and border crossings in the West Bank arrested a Palestinian woman.
· Israel has continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem.
- Guards of Israeli settlements attacked Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem.
· IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
- IOF decided to establish 23 buildings in 8 settlements in the West Bank to be used as classrooms.
- IOF decided to establish a new secular settlement to the east of Nablus.
- Israeli settlers uprooted 150 olive trees in Nablus.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (12 – 18 August 2010):
Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian resistance activist and wounded a worker in the Gaza Strip and an Israeli human rights defender in the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, on 16 August 2010, IOF killed a Palestinian resistance activist during armed clashes in the east of Khan Yunis.
On 14 August 2010, a Palestinian worker was wounded when IOF fired at a number of workers who were collecting raw construction materials in the northern Gaza Strip.
During the reporting period, Israeli warplanes bombarded a number of civilian facilities in the southern and central Gaza Strip.
Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 21 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 14 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children. IOF also arrested two Palestinian civilians, 4 Israeli human rights defenders and an international one.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 limited incursions into Palestinian communities, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian 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 three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
· On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently, and to allow the entry of fuels only through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons.
· 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 the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.
· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than three years.
· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, 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 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 access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.
· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
· At least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than three 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, and 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 approximately 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF. 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 12 August 2010, dozens of workers in settlement protection companies, escorted by the Israeli police, attacked Palestinian civilians in the old town of Jerusalem. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, a worker in Israeli settlement protection companies, pushed a blind Palestinian civilian and kicked him when fell down in al-Wad Street in the old town of Jerusalem. Palestinian civilians in the area were agitated, so they gathered around the blind man to protect him. Immediately, dozens of guards of Israeli settlements and police officers attacked Palestinian civilians.
Settlement Activities: Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 13 August 2010, Israeli settlers from "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron, threw stones and empty bottles at 3 Palestinian houses. The three houses were damaged.
On 14 August 2010, an Israeli settler threw an incendiary bottle at a Palestinian civilian car, in which Sami Khaled Abu Haniya, was traveling, near Kufor Laqif intersection on Nablus-Qalqilya road. The car was damaged.
On 15 August 2010, the Israeli government decided to establish 23 structures in 8 Israeli settlements in the West Bank, to be used as classrooms, that would absorb 600 students. The decision was taken during a meeting between the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Israeli Minister of Education, Gidon Sa'ar, in the presence of the Israeli Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak; Minister of Justice, Yacov Ne'iman; and Attorney-General, Yacov Feinstein.
The Israeli daily Ma'ariv reported on Sunday, 15 August 2010, the Israeli government decided to establish a new secular settlement in the northern West Bank. The new settlement would be a student town, and would be established within the boundaries of "Magdalim" settlement, east of Nablus, to serve students of Ariel College.
The Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported on Monday, 16 August 2010, that the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing invited tenders to establish an additional road to link "Ma'ale Adomim" settlement, east of Jerusalem, with its surrounding. The new road will link the settlement with a new settlement suburb known as "E1."
On 16 August 2010, Palestinian villagers in Qasra village, east of Nablus, woke up to find that 150 olive trees had been uprooted on their lands located between their village and the nearby Jaloud village. Those trees belong to 'Ali 'Abdul Hamid Hassan. The land is located neat "Shavot Rachel" settlement.
On 17 August 2010, Israeli settlers from "Karni Shomron" settlement, east of Qalqilya, threw stones at a car, in which Samer Khaled Abu Haniya, from 'Azzoun village. The car was damaged.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (12 – 18 August 2010)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 12 August 2010
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed 'Abdul Rahman al-Froukh, 32, and his brother Mahmoud, 30, but released the latter later.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the old town of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Aadel 'Abdul Mon'em al-Salaima, 17, and arrested him.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into al-Farrahin area in 'Abassan village, east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. They leveled area of Palestinian agricultural land. They redeployed outside the area at approximately 15:30.
· In the evening, IOF moved into Marda village, north of Salfit. They raided a house belonging to Rawhi Shawqi and arrested him child, 14-year-old Ibrahim.
Saturday, 14 August 2010
· At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Kufol Hares village, north of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 08:00, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers, who were collecting raw construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai" used to stand. As a result, one of the workers, Rafiq 'Aayesh al-Sous, 30, from Beit Lahia town, was wounded by a bullet to the right thigh, when he was nearly 1,200 meters away from the border.
· At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Sunday, 15 August 2010
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Safarin village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hasaan village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Monday, 16 August 2010
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ussama Ibrahim al-Najjar, 40, and arrested him.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to 'Abdullah Ahmaru and arrested his child, 14-year-old Tamer.
· At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Beit 'Awa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim Mahmoud al-Masalma, 22, and arrested him.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Nader Mohammed Bisharat, 27; and
2. Mahmoud 'Abdullah Bisharat, 27.
· At approximately 15:00, armed clashes erupted between a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance and Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis. Soon, IOF sent backup to the area. IOF then moved nearly 300 meters into the area. In the evening, IOF declared that they killed an activist of the Palestinian resistance and that an Israeli soldier was injured in the clashes. The resistance activist was identified as Nassam Burhom Suleiman al-Daghma, 22, a member of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad). IOF did not allow Palestinian medical crews to attend his body until 17:00 on the following day. According to medical sources, he was hit by bullets and shrapnel throughout the body, and apparently bled to death.
· At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including two brothers:
1. Mohammed Salem al-Junaidi, 24;
2. Ashraf Salem al-Junaidi, 26; and
3. Ra'fat 'Ezzat al-Najjar, 22.
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Anan Mohammed Jawabra, 20, and arrested him.
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ameer Sameer Abu 'Ayash, 19, and arrested him.
· At approximately 09:00, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into al-Farrahin area in 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of Palestinian land. They redeployed outside the area at approximately 15:00.
· At approximately 21:35, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a tunnel in al-Shouka village on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. Two hours later, they fired a missile at another tunnel in al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah. No casualties were reported.
· At approximately 21:50, Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at a deserted house and an empty greenhouse in the northwest of Khan Yunis. The missile made a large crater in the area, but no casualties were reported.
· At approximately 22:30, Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at a tract of land located in the east of Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip. The missiles hit a well, two rooms and a deserted house. The well and the house were destroyed and a nearby factory was damaged.
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. As a result, an Israeli human rights defender was injured. A number of civilians also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. IOF also arrested two Palestinian civilians, 4 Israeli human rights defenders and an international one.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 13 August 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the annexation wall. Israeli troops stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, Tanya Eizokovitz, 29, an Israeli human rights defender, was hit by a tear gas canister to the right hand. Several demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli troops.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 13 August 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 Israeli troops positioned near the Wall. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, several demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 13 August 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 and others sustained bruises.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 13 August 2010, Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem. They moved towards areas of land where IOF intend to construct a section of the annexation wall. IOF had already closed the entrance of the village. Once the demonstrators arrived at the area, Israeli troops fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them, and a violently beat a number of them. As a result, Mahmoud Mohammed Abu 'Ali, 40, sustained bruises to the left knee. IOF also arrested two demonstrators, but released them later on bail: Majed Khalil al-A'raj, 40; and Ma'moun Sa'di al-A'raji, 25.
· At approximately 16:00 on the same day, the Youth Commission against Settlement in Hebron, organized a peaceful demonstration to protest the continued closure of al-Shuhada Street in the center of the town. A number of international solidarity activists participated in the demonstration, which stopped near the entrances of "Beit Rumano" settlement outpost in the north of the old town. Israeli troops attacked the demonstrators and prevented them from moving forward, claiming that the area was a closed military zone. They also arrested 4 Israeli human rights defenders and an international one.
· At approximately 11:40 on Tuesday, 17 August 2010, Israeli troops stationed near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip fired at about 40 Palestinian civilians and 10 international solidarity activists who demonstrated nearly 50 meters away from the crossing. When the shooting stopped, the demonstrators removed a barbwire fence placed by IOF around a tract of Palestinian agricultural land in the area. The demonstration ended at approximately 13:00 and no casualties were reported.
3. Continued Closure of the OPT
Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure of the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
· On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently, and to only allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons.
· 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 the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.
· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than three years.
· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, 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 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 access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.
· Since the imposition of the closure, living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
· At least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than three years.
· IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza Strip.
Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:
At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 01 June 2010, the Egyptian authorities decided to open Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border in both directions without specifying a date for its closure. The Egyptian decisions came following the Israeli attack on the Gaza-aid flotilla in international water. On the following morning, the crossing point was effectively opened and restricted categories of Palestinian civilians were allowed to travel through it.
Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point
11 – 17 August 2010
Date
Details
11 August 2010
467 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 354 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
12 August 2010
444 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 468 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
13 August 2010
328 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 287 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
14 August 2010
631 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 380 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
15 August 2010
343 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 489 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
16 August 2010
467 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 335 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
17 August 2010
414 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 227 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
11 – 17 August 2010
Date
Imports
Category
Amount
Tons
Liters
10 August 2010
Foodstuffs
1,173
Agricultural materials
201
Various goods
2,035
Humanitarian aids
111
Cooking gas
180
Industrial fuel
211,985
11 August 2010
Foodstuffs
1,738
Agricultural materials
304
Various goods
895
Cooking gas
154
Industrial fuel
90,000
12 August 2010
Foodstuffs
989
Agricultural materials
285
Various goods
1,021
Humanitarian aids
279
Cooking gas
165,170
Industrial fuel
411,470
15 August 2010
Foodstuffs
1,080
Agricultural materials
241
Various goods
1,205
Humanitarian aids
186
Cooking gas
127.460
Industrial fuel
160,260
16 August 2010
Foodstuffs
1,169
Agricultural materials
311
Various goods
1,198
Humanitarian aids
236
Cooking gas
154
Industrial fuel
160,992
17 August 2010
Foodstuffs
909
Agricultural materials
36
Various goods
1,828
Humanitarian aid
133
Cooking gas
153
Industrial fuel
161,000
Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Wednesday, 11 August 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,404 tons of wheat and 2,691 tons of fodder. They also opened it on Tuesday, 17 August 2010, and allowed the entry of 975 tons of wheat and 2,957 tons of fodder.
Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, a number of international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.
Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing
11 – 17 August 2010
Date
Patients
Companions
Palestinians from Israel
Diplomats
International Journalists
International Workers
Travelers abroad
Traders
11 August 2010
23
23
15
3
5
31
1
18
12 August 2010
25
20
4
7
6
58
4
10
13 August 2010
1
1
4
6
5
16
Nil
Nil
14 August 2010
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
15 August 2010
34
35
15
Nil
3
15
Nil
22
16 August 2010
43
40
4
12
5
8
2
22
17 August 2010
20
20
10
5
1
13
2
13
The West Bank
Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
· Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays, preventing Muslim Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque. On Friday morning, 13 August 2010, the first Friday in the Holy Ramadan Month, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem. Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints around Jerusalem prevented Palestinian civilians aged below 50 from entering the city for the Friday Prayer. IOF also reinforced their presence in the city. They established a number of roadblocks and checkpoints in various areas.
· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have continued to close a number of roads in the center, south and southeast of Hebron for several years. During the reporting period, Israeli troops stationed in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque stopped and checked Palestinian civilians wishing to pray in the mosque. On Friday and Saturday, 12 and 13 August 2010, IOF reinforced their presence in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque and other areas in Hebron. They also established observation points atop of a number of houses. IOF also prevented the calls for prayers in the Ibrahimi Mosque on Friday evening and Saturday morning. On Monday, 16 August 2010, IOF established a number of checkpoints inside and around the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 14 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint opposite to al-Tanib factory in the west of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, but no arrests were reported. On Tuesdy moon, IOF established a checkpoint the intersection of "Shavi Shomron" settlement on Nablus-Jenin road, northwest of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Wednesday evening, 18 August 2010, IOF closed all entrances of Nablus.
· 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. At approximately 23:30 on Friday, 13 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 11:30 on Thursday, 05 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablus road, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 14 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At noon, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 03:00 on Sunday, 15 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
· At approximately 19:20 on Monday, 16 August 2010, Israeli troops stationed at a checkpoint in Tal Rumaida neighborhood arrested Ayat Nasser al-Sa'id, 21. They took her to a police station near "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron, where they interrogated her. They released her at approximately 23:00 on the same day.
Harassments at Military Checkpoints
· At approximately 12:00 on Saturday, 14 August 2010, IOF violently beat 'Aassem Ma'zouz Masalha, 35, near the entrance of "Karni Shomron" settlement, east of Qalqilya. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, Masalha was driving his truck on Nablus-Qalqilya road. Israeli police officer who were traveling in a civilian car ordered him to stop. They got out of the car and asked him for his licenses and ID card. He was not carrying his ID card, so they violently beat him using gun butts. They left him on the ground and left the area. He was later evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. According to medical sources, he sustained bruises throughout the body.
· On Monday morning, 16 August 2010, 10-month-old Mo'men 'Azmi al-Qasrawi, was about die when the wheel of a checking machine used by IOF at checkpoint 300, north of Bethlehem, swallowed his arm. The toddler sustained a fracture to the hand and some cuts and bruises.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and the testimony of the toddler's mother, Shirine 'Azmi al-Qasrawi, she and her 3 children, including Mo'men, arrived at checkpoint 300, north of Bethlehem, at approximately 11:00, on their way to Jerusalem to pray in the al-Aqsa Mosque. At approximately 12:00, she was allowed to get close to the first gate of a mobile wheel used for checking. When she was there, Mo'men's arm was stuck in the wheel after he had been separated from his mother. The wheel continued to spin. In spite of the toddler's cries and appeals of the mother and other civilians, Israeli troops did not stop the wheel immediately and waited for some minutes. As a result, Mo'men sustained a facture to the hand, and cuts to the head and the face. He was taken to a hospital in Jerusalem.
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.
· On Thursday evening, 12 August 2010, dozens of workers in settlement protection companies, escorted by the Israeli police, attacked Palestinian civilians in the old town of Jerusalem. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 16:30, a worker in Israeli settlement protection companies, escorted by 3 armed guards, pushed a blind Palestinian civilian and kicked him when fell down in al-Wad Street in the old town of Jerusalem. Palestinian civilians in the area were agitated, so they gathered around the blind man to protect him. Immediately, dozens of guards of Israeli settlements and police officers attacked Palestinian civilians. They also arrested Ra'ed Fat'hi Taha, 33. He was released on Saturday evening, 14 August 2010, but an Israeli court ordered his expulsion from the old town for 15 days.
5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
· On Friday evening, 13 August 2010, Israeli settlers from "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron, threw stones and empty bottles at 3 Palestinian houses belonging to Jamal Jameel Abu Es'aifan, 'Abdul Hai Abu Es'aifan and Jameel Abu Es'aifan. The three houses were damaged.
· On Saturday evening, 14 August 2010, an Israeli settler threw an incendiary bottle at a Palestinian civilian car, in which Sami Khaled Abu Haniya, was traveling, near Kufor Laqif intersection on Nablus-Qalqilya road. The car was damaged.
· On Sunday, 15 August 2010, the Israeli government decided to establish 23 structures in 8 Israeli settlements in the West Bank, to be used as classrooms, that would absorb 600 students. The decision was taken during a meeting between the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Israeli Minister of Education, Gidon Sa'ar, in the presence of the Israeli Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak; Minister of Justice, Yacov Ne'iman; and Attorney-General, Yacov Feinstein. According to Israeli sources, the classrooms would be established in the settlements of "Ofra, Eili, Talmon; Adam; Eitamar; Emanuel; Allon Moreh; and Efrat." The Israeli Minister of Defense would be responsible for facilitating the establishment of the classrooms, as was agreed in the meeting.
· The Israeli daily Ma'ariv reported on Sunday, 15 August 2010, the Israeli government decided to establish a new secular settlement in the northern West Bank. The new settlement would be a student town, and would be established within the boundaries of "Magdalim" settlement, east of Nablus, to serve students of Ariel College. Around 30 students were accepted to live in the town, and will have to work as volunteers for 8 hours a week.
· The Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported on Monday, 16 August 2010, that the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing invited tenders to establish an additional road to link "Ma'ale Adomim" settlement, east of Jerusalem, with its surrounding. The new road will link the settlement with a new settlement suburb known as "E1." According to the newspaper, 200 million NIS (approximately US$ 50 million) were invested in the infrastructure of E1 settlement neighborhood, which is supposed to link "Ma'ale Adomim" settlement with Jerusalem. The construction of the neighborhood has been suspended due to US objection. However, the infrastructure of the project has continued to be established. In its response to this report, the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing claimed that "the decision to freeze construction in settlement does not include services for existing structures."
· On Monday morning, 16 August 2010, Palestinian villagers in Qasra village, east of Nablus, woke up to find that 150 olive trees had been uprooted on their lands located between their village and the nearby Jaloud village. Those trees belong to 'Ali 'Abdul Hamid Hassan. The land is located neat "Shavot Rachel" settlement.
- At approximately 22:30 on Tuesday, 17 August 2010, Israeli settlers from "Karni Shomron" settlement, east of Qalqilya, threw stones at a car, in which Samer Khaled Abu Haniya, from 'Azzoun village. According to Abu Haniya, when he arrived near the entrance of the aforementioned settlement, he was surprised by a number of Israeli settlers who shouted on him to stop, but he fled. They threw stones at his car, damaging it.
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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.
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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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