Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (02-08 June 2011)
Reageer (0)
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· A Palestinian civilian was wounded in the Gaza Strip
· A Palestinian child was wounded in an attack launched jointly by IOF and Israeli settlers.
· IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations commemorating the Palestinian Naksa.[1]
- Twenty six demonstrators, including 11 children and a woman, were wounded near Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem.
· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
- Two Palestinians, including a journalist, were wounded.
· IOF conducted 38 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
- IOF arrested 14 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children.
- The arrested Palestinians include two PLC members.
· IOF continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers continued their attacks in the West Bank.
- Israeli settlers set fire to wheat farms in Qalqilya.
- Israeli settlers damaged 20 grape trees and set fire to a wheat farm in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.
· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the Gaza Strip and tightened the siege on the West Bank.
- IOF held a PCHR fieldworker for several hours in the north of Hebron.
- IOF held a PCHR fieldworker at a military checkpoint in the north of the West Bank and questioned him about PCHR’s annual report.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (02 – 08 June 2011):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF wounded 30 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children and a woman, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Twenty nine of them were wounded in the West Bank and the thirtieth was wounded in the Gaza Strip, and the majority of them were wounded in peaceful demonstrations.
In the West Bank, On 02 June 2011, a Palestinian child from Fraata village, northeast of Qalqilya, was wounded when a group of settlers from "Havat Gilad" settlement raided Palestinian lands in Fraata village and set fire to lands planted with wheat and stoned Palestinian farmers. The settlers then called IOF who rushed to the scene to provide protection to settlers. IOF started firing tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets at Palestinians. Asaad al-Tawil, 16, was hit as a result by a tear gas canister to his left eye.
IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall in the West Bank. As a result, Khaled Sabarneh, 42, reporter of the Iranian TV, was wounded by a tear gas canister in the right leg, and Mousa Ahmed Mohammed Abdul Karim, 45, sustained shrapnel wounds to the head.
On 05 June 2001, Palestinians organized a peaceful demonstration on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the occupation of the rest of the Palestinian territories by the Israeli occupation, calling for putting an end to the occupation. IOF used excessive force to disperse this demonstration. As a result, 26 Palestinians, including 11 children and a woman, were wounded. Paramedics who were in the scene told a PCHR fieldworker that only five of the wounded were transferred to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah for treatment while the others were treated on the spot and refused to give their names to the paramedics.
In addition, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten by IOF in peaceful demonstrations in the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian civilian was wounded on 07 June 2011 when IOF positioning on observation towers at the border near Beit Hanoun "Erez" crossing, in the far north of the Gaza Strip, opened intensive fire at a group of Palestinian and international demonstrators who were nearly 300 meters from the border fence to the north of the Agricultural School of al-Azhar University, north of Beit Hanoun.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 38 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 14 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children.
The arrested Palestinians included two members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) of the Hamas Change and Reform Bloc who are Abdul Rahman Fehmi Abdul Rahman Zidan, 51, from Deir al-Ghsoun village in the north of Tulkarm and Ahmed Ali Ahmed al-Haj Ali, 73, from Ein Beit al-Maa refugee camp, west of Nablus. Also Hussam Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Khader, 48, former PLC member of the Fatah parliamentary bloc from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, and Dr. Ghassan Nayef Talab Thougan, 54, an academic and a leader of Hamas, were among those who were arrested by IOF.
Israeli Settlers' Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property:
Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of the international humanitarian law have continued to commit systematic crimes against Palestinian civilians and Palestinian property with protection provided by IOF who ignore conducting investigations into complaints submitted by Palestinian civilians against settlers.
On 02 June 2011, a group of settlers from "Havat Gilad" settlement raided Palestinian lands in Fraata village, northeast of Qalqilya, and set fire in lands planted with wheat and stoned Palestinian farmers. Farmers and some Palestinians from the village who rushed to help the attacked farmers tried to drive the settlers away, but the settlers called IOF who rushed to the scene to provide protection to settlers. IOF started firing tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets at Palestinians and beat them. As a result, a Palestinian child was wounded and another civilian sustained wounds in his left leg as IOF pushed him to the ground. Another 3 Palestinians sustained wounds when they were attacked by Israeli settlers.
On 06 June 2011, Israeli settlers from "Karmei Tzur" settlement established on Palestinian lands in "Khellet al-Kutleh", south of Beit Ummar village and north of Halhoul town in Hebron, sprayed incinerating chemicals at 20 grape trees owned by Ali Ayad Issa Awad, 45. The grape trees were damaged as a result.
On 07 June 2011, Israeli settlers set fire in a wheat farm to the north of Hebron also owned by Ali Ayad Issa Awad. The fire damaged 2 dunums[2] and a half of the farm which measures 3 dunums.
Also on 07 June 2011, dozens of Israeli settlers chased a number of Palestinian shepherds from "Um al-Kheir" village, southeast of Yatta in the south of Hebron, and prevented them from watering and grazing their sheep. IOF also held Belal Mohammed al-Hathalin from from "Um al-Kheir" village for allegedly "taking his sheep to a military zone."
Restrictions on Movement:
Israel has continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and has 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 been steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip and practically made Karm Abu Salem crossing as the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip although it is not proper for commercial purposes in terms of its distance and operational capacity.
· IOF have continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the strangulation of the commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
· The total closure of al-Mentar "Karni" crossing on 02 March 2011 has created a bitter situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all the economic and commercial establishments in Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off. It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip in terms of its operational capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision of al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions to totally close Soafa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2009, and Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.
· These statistics which were made available to PCHR by the Border and Crossings Department indicate a continued drop in the number of truckloads of Gaza imports and exports.
· IOF have continued to impose total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Stri, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
· The cooking gas crisis which has erupted last November has continued to affect the Gaza Strip. This crisis was created when the Israeli occupation authorities totally closed, on 04 January 2010, Nahal Oz crossing, which used to be dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza, and shifted fuel and cooking gas supplies to Karm Abu Salem crossing which is not technically equipped to receive Gaza's needs of fuel. Karm Abu Salem crossing, with its maximum absorptive capacity, can receive only 200 tons of cooking gas per day.
· Approximately 80% of Gaza civilians have continued to depend on alimentary aid provided by UNRWA and other relief agencies, rates of families who are living below poverty line have continued to be on the rise and approximately 40% of Gaza's manpower has continued to suffer from permanent unemployment as a result of shutting down the majority of Gaza's economic establishments.
· IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the exportation of Gaza's products, especially industrial products, leading to undermining any real chances to rerun economic establishments. The situation has been aggravated especially after making Karm Abu Salem crossing as Gaza sole commercial crossing and the repeated closure of this crossing which negatively affected the quantity of Gazan products which were allowed to be exported during last April.
· IOF have continued to prolongue the implementation of their decision to allow 60 cars into Gaza weekly although more than 10 months have passed since they announced this decision after three years of ban imposed on the delivery of cars to Gaza. As a result, the prices of cars in Gaza have been on the rise and local markets experience serious shortage in spare parts.
· For approximately four consecutive years, IOF have continued to ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza. During the reporting period, IOF approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations.
· Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip. IOF only allow the movement of limited groups amidst severe restrictions, including long hours of waiting in the majority of cases. IOF have also continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and Jerusalem. IOF denied new categories of Gazan patient permission to have access to hospitals via the crossing.
· Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip.
· For approximately 46 months, IOF have continued to deny approximately 710 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails their visitation rights without providing any justification to this measure, which violates the rules of the international humanitarian law.
West Bank
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.
· IOF have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying in the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
· There are approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.
· When complete, the illegal annexation wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, confiscating more Palestinian land.
· At least 65% of the main roads that lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF.
· There are approximately 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without permits issued by IOF. Such permits are extremely difficult to obtain.
· IOF continue to harass and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the annexation wall.
· Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (02– 08 June 2011)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 02 June 2011
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghsoun village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and stationed in the western neighborhood of the village. Nearly 50 Israeli soldiers stepped down from their vehicles and snaked into the house of Abdul Rahman Fehmi Abdul Rahman Zidan, 51, a PLC member of the Hamas Change and Reform Bloc. Zidan's wife told a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli soldiers jumped over their house wall. An Israeli soldier talked to Zidan via the window of the bedroom and told him: "Open the door otherwise we will blow the house up." IOF then raided the house and held the Zidan family in the stair case. They drove Zidan before them and searched the house. Approximately one hour later, they arrested Zidan.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They surrounded the house of Hussam Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Khader, 48, former PLC member of the Fatah parliamentary bloc, in the eastern neighborhood in Balata refugee camp. They raided the house with sniffer dogs. They precisely searched the house and confiscated 2 computers. They then arrested Khader.
IOF also surrounded the house of Yaser Ibrahim al-Badrasawi, 46, a clothes merchant, in al-Tiraweyeh neighborhood in Balata refugee camp. They raided and precisely searched the house with sniffer dogs. Then they arrested al-Badrasawi.
Majda Mohammed Hassan al-Badrasawi, 40, is al-Badrasawi's wife. She told a PCHR fieldworker the following:
"At approximately 02:15 on Thrusday, 02 June 2011, the Israeli occupation forces surrounded our house which is located in al-Tiraweyeh neighborhood in Balata refugee camp. The soldiers used a sharp tool and tried to open the door that separates our apartment from the apartment of my brother-in-law, Mohammed, but they failed. They then knocked the door and called: 'Mohammed and Yaser, open the door.' My brother-in-law, Mohammed, opened the door. They checked his ID card and the ID cards of his sons. My husband was not among them so the soldiers asked about him. Mohammed told them that my husband was at home. They asked him to knock our door and to ask Yasser to get out. My brother-in-law knocked our door and Yasser got out with his ID card in his hand. They checked Yasser's ID card and asked: 'Is there anybody in the house?' We answered them that there was nobody in the house. They then asked me, my husband, my brother-in-law, and our daughters Walaa, 21, Zahraa, 14, Sujoud, 11 and Ibtihal, 8, to get into a room in the house. They let a big brown dog go in the house. They entered behind the dog. They searched the house and then arrested my husband."
· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They stationed in al-Maajin neighborhood, northwest of the city, and surrounded building no. 8 of the housing buildings belonging to al-Najah National University. They knocked the door of Dr. Ghassan Nayef Talab Thougan, 54, an academic and a leader of Hamas, on the fifth floor of building no/ 8. Thougan opened the door and IOF arrested him without entering the house.
· At approximately 02:20, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They drove their vehicles in the streets and then raided and searched the house of Ali Abdul Wahhab Shaker Hamamra, 22. IOF withdrew at approximately 03:00 after arresting Hamamra. IOF beat Hamamra with gun butts and with their legs while transferring him to one of their vehicles. They then drove him to an Israeli police station in "Kfar Etzion" settlement, southwest of Bethlehem, where he was placed under interrogation for allegedly stoning IOF vehicles.
· At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Kafr al-Labad village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 16:50, IOF moved itno Yasouf village, northeast of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets and held a number of Palestinians and questioned them about their workplaces and telephone numbers. IOF withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Friday, 03 Friday 2011
· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Hfeira village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 00:15, IOF moved into Hares village, north of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets and raided the house of Belal Tahsin Ali Aqel, 26. They delivered a notice to Aqel requiring him to appear before the Israeli intelligence. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 00:15, IOF moved into Marda village, north of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets and raided the house of Belal Tahsin Ali Aqel, 26. They delivered a notice to Aqel requiring him to appear before the Israeli intelligence. IOF withdrew later and nether house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into al-Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and raided the house of Belal Tahsin Ali Aqel, 26. They delivered a notice to Aqel requiring him to appear before the Israeli intelligence. IOF withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Saturday, 04 June 2011
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 23:45, IOF moved into al-Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and fired flash bombs near the village. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Sunday, 05 June 2011
· At approximately 10:10, IOF moved into Bedia village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 10:10, IOF moved into al-Zawya village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Nazlet Issa village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 12:50, IOF moved into Azzoun vilalge, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Monday, 06 June 2011
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Azzoun vilalge, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched the house of Umar Abdul Hafiz Odwan. Before withdrawing, they arrested Odwan's sixteen-year-old son, Saji.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and positioned near al-Mansheyeh neighborhood, east of Nour Shams refugee camp. They used a bomb to blow up the door of a house belonging to Nazmi ali Ahmed Eisha, 54, and raided the house. They used gun butts to severely beat Eisha's thirty-year-old son, Ashraf. They searched the house and arrested Eisha's twenty-one-year-old son, Mahfouz, who is a member of the Palestinian National Security Service.
IOF then moved to the adjacent house which belongs to Imad Mohammed Ayoub Abu Sareyeh. They searched the house and arrested Abu Sareyeh.
After that, they drove to the north and positioned in al-Mahjar neighborhood, north of Nour Shams refugee camp. They raided and searched a house belonging to Faisal Mahmoud Abdullah Khalifeh, 30. They arrested Khalifeh and withdrew.
Nazmi Eisha who is the father of Mahfouz who was arrested by IOF told the PCHR fieldworker the following:
"At approximately 02:45 on 06 June 2011, we were sleeping when the Israeli occupation army raided our 2-storey house. We woke up when they blew the door up. I then saw nearly 50 soldiers inside the house. They deployed in the house and severely beat my son Ashraf, 30, on his back using gun butts. They then handcuffed him and took him to my bedroom. They collected all my family members and forced them to stay in the same room. They then questioned my son Hazem, 27, on whether my son Mahfouz, 21, was bringing weapons to the house or not. They searched the house and then they went up stairs to the second floor. They arrested my son who is a member of the Palestinian National Security Service."
· Also at approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of Qaqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 09:40, IOF moved into Kafr Qdoum village, northeast of Qaqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They positioned near Umar Bin al-Khattab Mosque, east of Anabta village, and they raided the site where workers from Anabta's Municipality's Electric Power Department were. Mohammed Adnan Ateyeh Shehab, 25, a power technician from Anabta's Municipality reported to a PCHR fieldworker that IOF raided the site where they were present to maintain an electrical column and forced them to descend from the tower. Before their withdrawal, they arrested the technical officer Ibrahim Said Ibrahim Hannoun, 40, and drove him to Innab military checkpoint erected on the way between Tulkarma and Nablus, east of Tulkarm. They questioned him about their work in the site and then released him.
· At approximately 11:40, IOF moved into Jit village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghsoun, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Mithlon village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 07 June 2011
· At approximately 02: 00, IOF moved into Ein Beit al-Maa refugee camp and al-Maajin, northwest of Nablus. They surrounded the house of Ahmed Ali Ahmed al-Haj Ali, 73, LC member of the Hamas Change and Reform Bloc, in al-Zahra building in al-Sekka Street. They raided and searched the house and arrested al-Haj Ali.
· Also at approximately 02: 00, IOF blew up the doors of the offices of the PLC Change and Reform Bloc's members on the second and fourth floor in al-Bayan building near the Arab Specialized Hospital in Rafidia, west of Nablus. They searched the offices and confiscated a computer and administrative files.
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and positioned in the old town in the center of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Adnan Khalil Ibrahim Makhzoumi, 56, after blowing up the main door. Makhzoumi told a PCHR fieldworker that he was surprised to see IOF inside his house as he was sleeping with his family who woke up because of the soldiers' screaming. He added that a member of the Israeli force introduced himself as Captain "Ayoub" from the Israeli intelligence, and explained that they were there to arrest Makhzoumi's twenty-nine-year-old son, Hani. IOF arrested Hani and withdrew. It should be noted that Hani was released from the Israeli jails just sixth months ago after serving 7 years in prison for charges relating to his affiliation to Hamas.
· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Balaa village, northeast of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and positioned in the western neighborhood in the village. They raided a house belonging to Fahd Mansour Abdul Rahim Mansour, 24. Another force was raiding in the same time a farm belonging to the Mansour family. The farm is nearly 500 meters from the house. After searching the house and the farm, IOF arrested Mansour who was in the farm.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Baqa al-Sharqeya town, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Nazlet Issa village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Jafna village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:10, IOF moved into Broqin village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 11:10, IOF moved into Kafr Addiq town, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:25, IOF positioned on observation towers at the border near Beit Hanoun "Erez" crossing, north of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, opened intensive fire at nearly 30 demonstrators, including 7 international solidarity activists, who were near the "landfill", northern the Agricultural School of al-Azhar University in the north of Beit Hanoun. The demonstrators were nearly 300 meters from the border fence. Mohammed Usama Uthman Ahmed (al-Kafarneh), 19, an activist of the Local Initiative from al-Fertah area in Beit Hanoun, sustained shrapnel wounds to the neck, the chest and the right foot. Ahmed was transferred to Beit Hanoun Public Hospital for treatment and his wounds were described to be between light and moderate. Saber al-Zaanin, coordinator for the Local Initiative in Beit Hanoun and supervision over demonstrations organized near the border against the imposition of a buffer zone by IOF to seize Palestinian property, reported that at approximately 10:50 on Tuesday, 07 June 2011, the demonstration started near the Agricultural School in Beit Hanoun and walked to the north to the border. As the demonstrators became nearly 300 meters from the border fence at approximately 11:25, the Israeli occupation soldiers sporadically opened fire into the air to cause fear to demonstrators and they then opened intensive fire near the demonstrators. Ahmed was wounded as a result and the demonstrators were in panic. The demonstrators fled the area especially as the Israeli occupation soldiers started firing directly at them. The Israeli occupation soldiers continue to fire for approximately 10 minutes and the demonstrators then managed to transfer Ahmed to Beit Hanoun Governmental Hospital.
· At approximately 14:30, IOF moved into al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They provocatively patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and stoned IOF who immediately responded by firing bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. Many civilians suffered from gas inhalation as a result. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 08 June 2011
· At approximately 00:15, IOF moved into Deir Ballout town, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Yasouf village, east of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of Qaqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and raided and searched a house belonging to Said Ismail Radwan. Before withdrawing at approximately 04:30, they arrested Radwan's sixteen-year-old son, Nassar.
1. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting Settlement Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall
During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, Khaled Sabarnah, 42, a reporter of the Iranian TV, was hit by a tear gas canister in the right leg; and Mosa Ahmed Mohammed Abdul Karim, 45, was wounded by shrapnel of a bullet in the head. Besides, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises because of beating them in the peaceful demonstrations.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 03 June 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall. The demonstrators were raising the Palestinian flag, portraits of Marwan al-Barghouthi, and banners marking the tenth anniversary of the martyrdom of the popular resistance leader, Faisal al-Husseini. The demonstration was organized on the eve of the forty fourth anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territory in 1967 (Naksa). IOF made a barrier of barbed wire approximately 100 meters far from the wall. Before demonstrators' arrival to the barrier, IOF closed the barrier and fired bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. IOF also sprayed wastewater at the demonstrators and chased them in olive field. As a result, Khaled Sabarnah, 42, a reporter of the Iranian TV, was hit by a tear gas canister in the right leg. Besides, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the annexation wall. They then walked to the wall. IOF closed the gate erupted in the wall with barb wire. When the demonstrators tried to cross the wall to the land located behind it, IOF prevented them. The demonstrators responded by stoning IOF who responded by firing bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. IOF also chased demonstrators in olive field. Many demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation as a result.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 03 June 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration, the central Martyrs' Square in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against the wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators walked in the streets of the village and chanted national slogans, expressing their refusal to the occupation and its arbitrary actions. They held Palestinian flags. Then they walked to the lands that settlers from "Halmish" settlement try to seize. IOF closed off the southern entrance of the village to prevent Palestinian and international demonstrators from having access to the mentioned lands. As the demonstrators attempted to access the land, IOF prevented them. They also sprayed wastewater at the demonstrators and chased them, as a result, many demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises. IOF fired bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, dozens of Palestinian civilians suffered from gas inhalation.
· On Saturday noon, 04 June 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in a farmland near Badras village, west of Ramallah. They then headed to the Israeli stone crusher installed on the villages of Shukba, Ne'lin, Qibya, Shabtin and Badras, west of Ramallah. When the demonstrators arrived to the stone crusher, the Israeli soldiers guarding the area started heavily firing at them. IOF that arrived to the area also started firing bullets and rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, Mosa Ahmed Mohammed Abdul Karim, 45, was wounded by shrapnel of a bullet in the head. Abdul Karim was transferred to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive the necessary medical treatment. Medical sources described his wounds as moderate. Additionally, dozens of demonstrators suffered from gas inhalation and received the necessary first aid.
Peaceful Demonstrations in the Forty Fourth Anniversary of the Israeli Occupation in 1967 (Naksa)
In the context of the activities organized on 05 June, the forty fourth anniversary of the Palestinian Naksa, Palestinian civilians organized many peaceful demonstrations calling for ending the Israeli occupation. IOF used excessive force to disperse the demonstrators. As a result, 26 civilians were wounded, including 11 children and a woman. Besides, dozens of other civilians suffered from gas inhalation and sustained bruises, as they were subjected to beating.
· On Sunday, 05 June 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the forty fourth anniversary of the Palestinian Naksa. They then headed to Qalandya checkpoint, which separates Ramallah from Jerusalem. IOF closed the checkpoint's gate and deployed a big number of heavily armed soldiers at the checkpoint. Clashes had erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli soldiers. The demonstrators set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers, while the soldiers responded by firing bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canister and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, 26 Palestinian civilians were wounded, including 11 children and a woman. Besides, dozens of civilians suffered from gas inhalation and sustained bruises due to being subjected to beating by IOF. Medical sources said to PCHR field worker that only 5 wounded persons were transported to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive medical treatment, while the others, who refused to mention their names, received the first aid in the clashes' scene.
(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded civilians, who were transported to Palestine Medical Complex)
· In the same context, on Sunday, 05 June 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists organized a peaceful demonstration in front of the Great Mosque, central al-Walaja village, northwest of Beit Jala. The demonstrators walked to the annexation wall, where IOF had been deployed and set up a human barrier to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the wall. The Israeli soldiers surrounded the demonstrators and attacked them by clubs before chasing them in olive fields. IOF also fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets at the demonstrators. As a result, 5 Palestinian civilians were wounded due to beating and tear gas inhalation. They received the first aid by the Palestinian medical staff available in the area.
2. Continued Closure of the OPT
Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure of the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
· The illegal closure has caused not only a humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared recently to ease the blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza may no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.
· Facts on the ground refute Israeli claims with respect to the easing of the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the reduction of restrictions imposed on the entry of goods.
· Israeli declaration of allowing new goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip constitutes an attempt to delude the international community, as such goods do not meet the minimal needs of the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have continued to ban the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have imposed a ban on all exports from the Gaza Strip.
· Israel had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.
· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:
Rafah International Crossing Point: The Egyptian authorities surprisingly closed Rafah International Crossing Point on Saturday, 04 June 2011, under the pretext of implementing maintenance works in the gate of the crossing, without any coordination with the Palestinian party. After communications between the Egyptian authorities and the Palestinian party and after protests made near the crossing by Palestinians willing to travel via the crossing, the Egyptian authorities agreed to allow Palestinians leaving the Gaza Strip to move via the crossing on foot, but the Palestinian side did not agree to this step, as stated by Lieutenant Colonel Salama Baraka, Director General of the Crossings Police. On the other hand, approximately 353 Palestinians were allowed to return to Gaza via the crossing on foot.
On Sunday, 05 June 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Ayoub Abu Shaar, Director of Rafah crossing Police, announced that the work at Rafah crossing was suspended by the Palestinian side, saying that this suspension is in protest to the unclear mechanism of the work at the crossing during the recent days, slow procedures and the closure of the crossing on Saturday, 04 June 2011 by the Egyptian side without any coordination with the Palestinian side. Abu Shaar noted that the Egyptian side informed the Palestinian side that they would resume work at the crossing and that the mechanism of the work would be like in the recent days.
Abu Shaar said: "However, the closure of the crossing yesterday without any coordination with us and the slow procedures adopted in the recent days pushed us to suspend the work at the crossing. We need to have permanent real facilitations and we do not want to return to the old policy and determine the number of travelers.”
On Wednesday, 08 June 2011, Abu Shaar announced that the crossing would be opened in both directions after reaching an agreement with the Egyptian side. He did not give any further detail. The Egyptian authorities announced that the work at the crossing would be resumed based on a new mechanism starting from Saturday, 28 May 2011, to allow Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to move via the crossing from Saturday through Thursday, from 09:00 to 17:00 Cairo local time, and would be closed on Friday, which is the weekend. Under these procedures the following categories are exempted from applying for entry visas: all Palestinian women; male Palestinian aged below 18 and above 40; and children who accompany their parents, who are already exempted from applying for visas. Male Palestinians over 18 and under 40 need to obtain visas in order to be allowed to move via the crossing.
According to this mechanism, patients who have medical transfers and students on condition that they present what proves so are allowed to move via the crossing. All travelers have to hold their Palestinian IDs and passports.
Note: declarations made by Lieutenant Colonel Salama Baraka, Director General of the Crossings Police, and Lieutenant Colonel Ayoub Abu Shaar, Director of Rafah crossing Police, were published on the website of the Palestinian Ministry of the Interior.
Later, unknown differences erupted between the Palestinian and Egyptian parties and the crossing was closed for 4 days during the reporting period as a result. The crossing was opened only in one direction and was opened in both directions on Wednesday, 08 June 2011.
Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point
01-07 June 2011
Day
Date
Traveling abroad
Coming into Gaza
Returned into Gaza
Wednesday
01 June 2011
382
521
83
Thursday
02 June 2011
455
480
71
Saturday
04 June 2011
-
353
-
Sunday
05 June 2011
-
355
-
Monday
06 June 2011
-
362
-
Tuesday
07 June 2011
-
411
-
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
01-07 June 2011
Date
Imports
Category
Amount
Tons
Liters
01 June 2011
Foodstuffs
854
Agricultural materials
1,081
Various goods
1,103 tons + 836 boxes of clothes + 1,520 boxes of shoes + 202 washing machines + 393 refrigerators + 70 barrels + 520 glass panels + 20 cars + 866 wheels + 214 oxenHumanitarian aids
3,290
Cooking gas
111.38002 June 2011
Foodstuffs
945
Agricultural materials
2,021
Various goods
1,206tons + 1,466 boxes of clothes + 645 boxes of shoes + 680 refrigerators + 322 washing machines + 20 cars + 1,560 glass panels
Humanitarian aids
2,499 tons + 10 power generators
Cooking gas
133.360
05 June 2011
Foodstuffs
785
Agricultural materials
1,176
Various goods
1,047 tons + 1,453 boxes of cloths + 3,230 boxes of shoes + 63 washing machines + 300 refrigerators + 470 glass panels + 164 barrels
Humanitarian aids
976
Cooking gas
134.770
06 June 2011
Foodstuffs
1,041
Agricultural materials
1,349
Various goods
1,195 + 888 boxes of clothes + 3,457 boxes of shoes + 148 washing machines + 364 refrigerators + 20 cars + 3 lifts + 156 cookers + 12 boxes of machines for packaging potato chips
Humanitarian aids
2,029
Cooking gas
132.900
Notes:
· On Wednesday, 01 June 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 640 tons of cement, 2,030 tons of aggregate for the Water Authority. IOF also allowed the delivery of 897 tons of fodder and 78 tons of wheat.
· On Thursday, 02 June 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 116 tons of aggregate for UNRWA and 1,820 tons of aggregate also for UNDP. Besides, they allowed the entry of 1,287 tons of fodders and 195 tons of wheat into the Gaza Strip.
· On Sunday, 05 June 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 360 tons of cement and 92 tons of iron for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,053 tons of wheat into the Gaza Strip.
· On Monday, 06 June 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 360 tons of cement, 75 tons of iron for UNRWA, 1,050 tons of aggregate for UNDP. 37 tons of aggregate to the Water Authority and 40 tons of cement to ANERA. In addition, 1,131 tons of wheat were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
· On Tuesday, 31 May 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 418 tons of cement, 30 tons of iron and 1,540 tons of aggregate for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 975 tons of fodders and 78 tons of wheat into the Gaza Strip.
Exports
|
· No exports this week.
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.
IOF completely closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing on Tuesday, 07 June 2011, and Wednesday, 08 June 2011, for the movement of all categories of travelers under the pretext of the Jewish holidays. The crossing was reopened on Thursday, 09 June 2011.
It should be noted that the repeated closures of the crossing during the Jewish holidays aggravates the suffering of the Palestinian travelers, particularly, the patients who face difficulties to obtain Israeli permits to pass via the crossing.
Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing
01-07 June 2011
Date
01 June
02 June
03 June
04 June
05 June
06 June
07 June
Patients
34
39
Nil
Nil
29
57
Nil
Companions
28
36
Nil
Nil
27
52
Nil
Arabs from Israel
1
8
4
Nil
13
4
Nil
Diplomats
7
5
Nil
Nil
Nil
4
Nil
International Journalists
1
3
3
Nil
2
1
Nil
International Workers
33
39
12
Nil
13
25
Nil
Travelers abroad
Nil
2
Nil
Nil
4
Nil
Nil
Business People
61
56
Nil
Nil
59
61
Nil
Economic Meetings
Nil
3
Nil
Nil
4
Nil
Nil
Security Interviews
Nil
1
Nil
Nil
2
3
Nil
VIP's
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
1
1
Nil
Ambulances to Israel
3
Nil
1
Nil
2
3
Nil
Ambulances from Israel
1
1
Nil
Nil
3
2
Nil
The West Bank
Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
· Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays, preventing Muslim Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.
· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:30, IOF established a checkpoint on Beit Our al-Tahata – Beit Our al-Fouqa road, west of Ramallah. At approximately 17:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, west of Ramallah. At approximately 19:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint on Silwad – al-Mazra’a road, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 09:30 on Tuesday, 07 June 2011, IOF re-established their presence at Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. At approximately 17:30, IOF established a checkpoint near “Ofar” settlement, northeast of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 02 June 2011, IOF established 6 checkpoints around the town. On Friday, 03 June 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town. On Saturday, 04 June 2011, IOF established 8 checkpoints around the town. IOF positioned at these checkpoints stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:30 on Saturday, 04 June 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road near Jibara Gate, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 07 June 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near Bzaria village, north of Tulkarm. At the same time, IOF established a checkpoint near Beit Leed intersection, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday, 05 June 2011, IOF established more checkpoints around the town, and imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 15:30 on Wednesday, 08 June 2011, IOF prevented Palestinian farmers from farming their lands to the north of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. At approximately 16:00, a PCHR field worker, Fahmi Shahin, and a field worker of al-Haq received a phone call from a farmer, who informed them that IOF expelled them from their lands in ‘Ein al-Baida and Abu al-Rish areas near “Bat Ain” settlement. The two field workers went to the area to check what was going on. At approximately 17:20, IOF arrived at the area and arrested the two field workers and three other persons. The detainees were released at 20:00.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 05 June 2011, an IOF infantry unit established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablus road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They also stopped and questioned a PCHR field worker, Hussam ‘Adnan Hattab, 25. They particularly questioned him about his work and about PCHR.
· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 11:30 on Thursday, 02 June 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on the road linking between Jenin and the northern villages of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 16:30 on Saturday, 04 June 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 19:30 on the same day, they established a checkpoint between Hares and Kufol Hares villages, northwest of Salfit.
· Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 18:30 on Monday, 06 June 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Fassayel village, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
3. 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 19:30 on Thursday, 02 June 2011, Israeli settlers from "Havat Gilad" settlement broke into the Palestinians' lands in Fara'ta village, northeast of Qalqilya. They set fire to a land planted with wheat and stoned the Palestinians, who were defending their lands. The Palestinian farmers and villagers, who hurried up for help, tried to dismiss the settlers and prevent them from setting fire to other lands. However, the settlers called the Israeli soldiers, who hurried up to the area to provide protection to the settlers. IOF fired tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets at the famers and started beating them. As a result, As'ad Amin Mohammed Mahmoud al-Taweel, 16, was hit by a tear gas canister in the left eye; and Jamil Mohammed Dawood, 44, from Haris village in the northwest of Salfit, was wounded in the left leg, as the Israeli soldiers pushed him to the ground. It should be noted that Dawood's leg had already been broken and there were bars of platinum inside that leg. Three other civilians were wounded due to the settlers attack:
1. 'Awwad Abdul Khaliq Abdul Rahman al-Taweel, 47, who was hit by a stone in the left eye;
2. 'Adnan Abdul Khaliq Abdul Rahman al-Taweel, 41, who was hit by a stone in the right leg; and
3. Shaher Mohammed Abdul Rahman al-Taweel, 49, who sustained bruises in the back.
In his testimony to PCHR field worker, Shaher Mohammed Abdul Rahman al-Taweel said:
"At approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 02 June 2011, some farmers and I were in our land named "Khelet al-Doghi", east of the village, which is close to "Havat Gilad" settlement. The land is planted with wheat. While he were harvesting, 3 settlers came, looked at us and left. Later, they returned with approximately 25 other settlers, most of whom were masked, armed, carrying swords and sticks and accompanying horses and dogs. They spread out in a land that overlooks ours. Shortly later, 9 settlers approached and started setting fire to the wheat from differed sides. We tried to extinguish the fire. In the meanwhile, they were stoning us. However, we were able to return them approximately 70 meters to the back. Later, an Israeli force arrived to the area and started firing tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets. As a result, we escaped. Some Palestinians came from the village and our number increased to 25 persons. We stood there to protect our farm from the settlers. IOF captured us, but we were all wounded in spite of the Israeli soldiers' presence. Besides, Imad al-Taweel and his brother 'Adnan, were wounded by the settlers while the Israeli soldiers were capturing them. The clashes lasted until the settlers left and IOF retreated at 22:00".
On Monday evening, 06 June 2011, and Tuesday morning, 07 June 2011, settlers from "Karmei Tzur" settlement established on Palestinian lands in "Khellet al-Kutleh", south of Beit Ummar village and north of Halhoul city in Hebron, launched several attacks against a number of farms belonging to Ali Ayad Issa Awad, 45. They sprayed incinerating chemicals at a number of grape trees on Monday and set fire in other crops on Tuesday.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 18:00 on Monday, 06 June, Awad headed to his farms adjacent to "Karmei Tzur" settlement with a number of his family members. They found out that 20 grape trees were damaged due to spraying them with incinerating chemicals.
At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 07 June 2011, Awad headed to his farms with his brother Mohammed. They two brothers saw fire burning in a wheat farm and an Israeli settler was near his car which was just 2 meters from the burning farm. The two brothers tried to extinguish the fire and preventing it from reaching adjacent farms. In the meanwhile, the Israeli settler got in his car and drove away.
The targeted farms measure 3 dunums. The fire damaged two dunums and a half. It should be noted that the Israeli settlers have sought, during the last four years, to seize approximately 400 square meters in the targeted area to annex them to "Karmei Tzur". These lands are owned by several Palestinian families who are: Sleibi, Awad, Sabarna and Abu Maria.
On Tuesday morning, 07 June 2011, dozens of Israeli settlers chased a number of Palestinian shepherds from "Um al-Kheir" village, southeast of Yatta in the south of Hebron, and prevented them from watering and grazing their sheep. IOF also held Belal Mohammed al-Hathalin, 25, from "Um al-Kheir" village for allegedly "taking his sheep to a military zone."
According to PCHR’s investigations and testimonies made by Yaser Eid al-Hathali, 40, more than 20 settlers from "Carmel" settlement which is adjacent to "Um al-Kheir" village, protected by IOF, gathered for several hours in the morning in lands belonging to "Um al-Kheir" village which is located in the east of "Carmel" settlement. They prevented Palestinian shepherds from entering these lands and nearby pastures to graze their sheep and they prevented them from watering their sheep from water wells belonging to "Um al-Kheir" and located in the lands where the settlers were present. As a number of shepherds tried to reach the pastures, the Israeli settlers who were protected by IOF chased them, surrounded them and their sheep and stoned them. An IOF soldiers kicked a sheep several time and the sheep died as a result. In the meanwhile, they held al-Hathalin for several hours and released him in the afternoon.
al-Hathalin stressed that the Palestinians in his village gain their living from livestock and that the continued ban on their access to pastures and wells, which are militarily closed from time to time by IOF who allow settlers to have access to these pastures and wells, results in severe economic, living and psychological damages inflicted on the Palestinian civilians in the village. These practices by the settlers are aimed at strangulating the Palestinians in the village and force them to leave it so settlers can extend "Carmel" settlement to the east.
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 ( pchr@pchrgaza.org ) or telephone (+972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).
Source
