Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (10 -16 February 2011)
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Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continued Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· A Palestinian civilian was killed by Jewish young men in Jerusalem.
· IOF continued to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the Gaza Strip.
- 4 Palestinian workers, including a child, were wounded.
· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
- Two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded.
- IOF arrested 3 Palestinian civilians.
· IOF conducted 47 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.
- IOF arrested 19 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and one woman.
- IOF harassed a Palestinian family in al-Khader village near Betlehem.
· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
- Israeli soldiers positioned at a military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 3 Palestinian children.
- Israeli soldiers positioned at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the Gaza Strip arrested a Palestinian civilian.
· IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
- IOF razed a tract of agricultural land and uprooted 53 trees in East Jerusalem.
- IOF ordered Palestinian civilians to evacuated a 20-donum area of land near the annexation wall in Kharas village near Hebron.
- Israeli settlers uprooted 250 seedlings in Beit Ummar town near Hebron.
- Israeli settlers uprooted 12 olive seedlings in Nabi Saleh village near Ramallah.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (10 – 16 February 2011):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, a Palestinian civilian was killed by Jewish young men in Jerusalem. IOF also wounded 6 Palestinian civilians, including two children, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
On Friday morning, 11 December 2011, Hussam Hussein al-Rwaidhi, 24, from Jerusalem, was killed by a number of Jewish young men, when he was on his way back home. Al-Rawaidhi was on his way back home in East Jerusalem from his work in West Jerusalem. While he was walking with his friend, Khader al-Joulani, on a street in West Jerusalem, a Jewish young man stabbed him in the face. Soon after, other Jewish young men gathered and violently beat him. He died of his injuries a few hours later.
During the reporting period, 4 Palestinian workers, including a child, were wounded when Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials.
During the reporting period, 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, two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded, and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation or sustained bruises. Additionally, IOF arrested 3 Palestinian civilians.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 47 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 19 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and a woman.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion into the southern Gaza Strip, 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.
· 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.
· Expanding the list of items allowed into Gaza does not change the illegality of this policy, which is inconsistent with Israel’s legal obligations both as an Occupying Power and under international human rights treaties to which it is party, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
· 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.
· 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.
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 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, 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.
· 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.
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 February 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from "Bat Ain" settlement to the north of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, uprooted 250 olive seedlings from lands belonging to 'Aadi and Ekhlil families in the nearby Safa village.
On 14 February 2011, IOF razed a one-donum area of land belonging to Nasser Khalil Abu Ta'a in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem. At least 40 olive, almond and apricot trees, 7 grape trees and 20 cypress ones were uprooted. According to Abu Ta'a, Israeli police officer violently beat his son, 16-year-old Hamza, and cut his identity card. IOF did not present a judicial order to raze the land, and claimed that the land leveling was for security considerations.
Also on 14 February 2011, IOF handed notices to a number of Palestinian civilians notices ordering the evacuation of 20 donums of agricultural land near the annexation wall in Kharas village, northwest of Hebron, claiming that they are state property. These areas of land, which are planted with olives and almonds, are located nearly 300 meters away from the annexation wall.
On the same day, 14 February 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from "Halmish" settlement, northwest of Ramallah, uprooted 12 olive seedlings in Wad Raya area in Nabi Saleh village. IOF then moved into the area and evacuated the settlers.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (10 – 16 February 2011)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 10 February 2011
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Malek Khaled Slaibi, 15.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Aqqaba village, west of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 brothers: Ra'fat; Ziad; and Eyad Yousef Abu 'Erra, 23, 21 and 19 respectively.
· At approximately 06:30, IOF moved into Beit Dajan village, east of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and photographed a number of old homes, the building of the local council and the old mosque of the village. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah, and patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets , sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a number of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into 'Izbat Shoufa village, south of Tulkarm. They established a checkpoint in the center of the village. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. They withdrew later and no house raids or arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Far'oun village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
Friday, 11 February 2011
· At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Beit Reema village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and held 3 children for some time. They withdrew later and no house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 14:20, IOF moved into Hijja village, east of Qalqilya. They established the entrance of the village and held two Palestinian civilians for an hour. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 17:45, IOF moved into Far'oun village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Khirbat Abu Falah village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 12 February 2011
· At approximately 00:55, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Madama village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Mahmoud 'Aamer Nassar, 16; and
2. 'Abdul Karim Ghassan Ziada, 24.
· At approximately 09:05, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and established a checkpoint. They then raided a photography shop and summoned 3 Palestinian civilians: Ashraf Hourani; Anwar al-Hajj Hassan; and Bashar Ameen al-Hajj.
· At approximately 12:15, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north west of Beit Lahia town fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai" used to stand. As a result, Mahran Rezeq Tanboura, 25, from Beit Lahia, was wounded by a bullet to the left knee, when he was nearly 200 meters away from the border. At approximately 13:00, Israeli soldiers fired the workers again. As a result, 'Aashour Mohammed Shkhaidem, 29, from Beit Lahia, was wounded by a bullet to the left knee, when he was nearly 200 meters away from the border.
· At approximately 15:50, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· In the evening, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza City fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials in the east of al-Shuja'iya neighborhood east of Gaza City. As a result, Mohammed Sa'id Eshtaiwi, 16, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by a bullet to the right leg, when he was nearly 800 meters away from the border.
· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into 'Izbat Nasser neighborhood in the east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were resported.
· At approximately 04:20, IOF moved into Habla village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into 'Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 18:10, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Bedya village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
Monday, 14 February 2011
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hares village, north of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Sameh Sameer Sultan, 17; and
2. Sufian Waleed Daoud, 19.
· At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
2. Ahmed Muthanna Hussein, 20;
3. Ubai Hamza Hussein, 19; and
4. Tha'er 'Abdul Rahim Radwan, 13.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a flat in Hakam Nassif apartment building belonging to Muhannad Mahmoud Saladin, 31, and arrested him.
· At approximately 09:50, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north west of Beit Lahia town fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai" used to stand. As a result, Suleiman Salem Abu Rkab, 20, from Beit Lahia, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 200 meters away from the border.
· At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into 'Izbat Shoufa village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hussein Abu Saleem, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 22:40, IOF moved into Deir Ghassana village, northwest of Ramallah, and patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. As a result, a number of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.
· At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ra'fat Ibrahim 'Eissa, 22.
· Also at approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Beit Umar town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Mohammed Saleh Za'aqiq, 15; and
2. Rami Ibrahim Sabarna, 23.
· Also at approximately 00:00, IOF moved into 'Aaboud village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jabal Jouhar neighborhood in the southeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sameeh No'man Da'na, 43, and arrested him.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Masharqa al-Fouqa neighborhood, southeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the al-Ja'bari family, and arrested 'Alyaa' Mohammed al-Ja'bari, 23. It is worth noting that the detainee is the sister of Mar'ei Mohammed al-Ja'bari, who has been detained by IOF for several years.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin. They raided a house belonging to Mohammed 'Ali 'Amarna, bringing his son, 20-year-old 'Ali, who has been detained by them for several months. They searched the house and took out a mysterious object, which they then blew up outside the house. IOF then raided and searched two nearby houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. 'Aziz Samer Qalaq, 20; and
2. Jihad Mohammed 'Amarna, 20.
· At approximately 11:20, IOF moved into Deir Jareer village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 12:15, IOF moved into Sinjel village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 22:35, IOF moved into Marka village, south of Jenin. They raided two houses and summoned two Palestinian civilians for interrogation: Zayed 'Abdul Qader Nafe', 24; and Samer Mahmoud Mousa, 36.
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Kufor Ra'ei village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hafez Hassan Melhem, 80. They then took him out to guide them to the house of his son, 27-year-old Mansour, nearly 200 meters away. They raided the house and interrogated Mansour. They also warned him for carrying out any activity against them. Mansour had been detained by IOF in the past for his activities in Islamic Jihad. IOF then raided and searched a house belonging to Hani Ahmed Harazallah, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 00:15, IOF moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
A Palestinian Civilians Killed by Jewish Young Men in Jerusalem
On Friday morning, 11 December 2011, Hussam Hussein al-Rwaidhi, 24, from Jerusalem, was killed by a number of Jewish young men, when he was on his way back home.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 01:30, al-Rawaidhi was on his way back home in East Jerusalem from his work in West Jerusalem. While he was walking with his friend, Khader al-Joulani, on a street in West Jerusalem, a Jewish young man stabbed him in the face. Soon after, other Jewish young men gathered and violently beat him. He died of his injuries a few hours later. In his testimony to PCHR, Khader al-Joulani stated:
"When we left our work, we were surprised by two Jewish young men. They provoked and insulted us. One of them then took out a knife and hits Hussam on his face. More Jewish young men gathered and violently beat him and me. I was injured in the neck. When the attackers fled, I asked for help from a nearby restaurant, but the staff refused to help us. I called the police. An ambulance arrived then and evacuated Hussam to the hospital, but he died a few hours later."
IOF kept al-Rwaidhi's body in the Israeli forensic medicine institute. The Israeli police called the victim's father and informed him that they would deliver the body at Qalandya checkpoint at night. They also ordered him to bury the victim's body with the presence of 10 relatives only. IOF delivered the victim's body to the family on Wednesday morning, 16 February 2011, and the body was buried at 04:30 on the same day.
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 in the West Bank. As a result, two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded. Dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. Additionally, IOF arrested 3 Palestinian civilians.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 11 February 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. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded:
1. Mohammed Fat'hi Abu Rahma, 19, hit by a tear gas canister to the right foot; and
2. Mohammed Shawkat al-Khatib, 16, hit by a tear gas canister to the right hand.
Additionally, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 11 January 2011, 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, a Palestinian civilian, who has not been identified, was hit by a tear gas canister to the right foot. Additionally, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 11 February 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Beit Reema 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. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF also arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Jalal Ibrahim Tamimi, 52;
2. Rayan 'Othman Tamimi, 33; and
3. Helmi Muneer Tamimi, 29.
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 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.
· Expanding the list of items allowed into Gaza does not change the illegality of this policy, which is inconsistent with Israel’s legal obligations both as an Occupying Power and under international human rights treaties to which it is party, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
· 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.
· 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.
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.
Rafah International Crossing Point: Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border has been closed since 29 January 2011 due to the ongoing political crisis in Egypt. Palestinian sources in the crossing point stated that 56 Palestinians have been stuck in Cairo International Airport since the beginning of the crisis, as the crossing point has been closed. On 13 February 2011, a Palestinian civilian and the body of a dead one were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
09 – 14 February 2011
Date
Imports
Category
Amount
Tons
Liters
09 February 2011
Foodstuffs
587
Agricultural materials
186
Various goods
840
Humanitarian aids
353
Cooking gas
136.310
Benzene (for UNRWA)
40,000
Diesel
127,810
10 February 2011
Foodstuffs
783
Agricultural materials
274
Various goods
1,103
Humanitarian aids
694
Cooking gas
64.200
13 February 2011
Foodstuffs
782
Agricultural materials
203
Various goods
1,348
Humanitarian aids
641
Cooking gas
161.910
14 February 2011
Foodstuffs
678
Agricultural materials
133
Various goods
1,020
Humanitarian aids
1,453
On Wednesday, 09 February 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 320 tons of cement and 28 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA.
On Thursday, 10 February 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 120 tons of cement for Palestinian Water Authority.
On Sunday, 13 February 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 280 tons of cement for Palestinian Water Authority.
On Monday, 14 February 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 312 tons of cement for UNDP, 200 tons of cement for Palestinian Water Authority and 432 tons of cement for UNRWA.
Note:
IOF closed the crossing on Tuesday, 15 February.
Exports:
On Wednesday, 09 February, 61,000 flowers and 4.6 tons of strawberries were exported.
On Thursday, 10 February, 240,000 flowers and 7 tons of strawberries were exported.
On Monday, 14 February, 235,000 flowers and 4.5 tons of strawberries were exported.
Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially reopened the crossing on Wednesday, 09 February, and allowed the entry of 1,833 tons of wheat and 1,443 tons of fodders. They opened it again on Sunday, 13 February 2011, and allowed the entry of 3,430 tons of aggregate.
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.
On Tuesday evening, 15 February 2011, IOF informed the Palestinian side that business people would be prevented from traveling through the crossing starting from Wednesday morning, 16 February 2011. The claimed that a Palestinian trader made a statement to the media about the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, and that the Gaza government's decision to ban some goods imported from Israel from being entered into the Gaza Strip. Later, IOF informed that Palestinian business people would be allowed to travel through the crossing on Thursday morning, 17 February 2011.
Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing
09 – 15 February 2011
Date
09 February
10 February
11 February
12 February
13 February
14 February
15 February
Patients
11
15
2
Nil
39
44
57
Companions
8
20
2
Nil
35
51
56
Arabs from Israel
1
6
2
Nil
21
2
11
Diplomats
11
3
Nil
Nil
Nil
8
2
International Journalists
1
4
7
Nil
1
2
1
International Workers
23
64
28
Nil
14
41
23
Travelers abroad
Nil
10
6
Nil
6
3
3
Business People
52
63
Nil
Nil
65
56
63
Economic Meetings
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
5
Nil
Nil
Security Interviews
1
1
Nil
Nil
Nil
2
2
VIP's
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
4
Ambulances to Israel
2
5
3
Nil
1
5
2
Ambulances from Israel
1
5
Nil
Nil
2
1
Nil
At approximately 08:30 on Tuesday, 15 February 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing arrested Mohammed Mousa Zo'robm 39, from Rafah, when he was accompanying his sister, 44-year-old Hanan, who suffers from cancer, to an Israeli hospital.
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 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 established a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 08:30 on Thursday, 10 February 2011, IOF re-established their presence at 'Attara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 10:30, IOF established a checkpoint at Silwad intersection, northeast of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 18:50, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit 'Our al-Fouqa village, west of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 13 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint under 'Ein Yabroud Bridge, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 13:20, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 09:40 on Monday, 14 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Silwad – al-Mazra'a al-Sharqiya road, east of Ramallah. At approximately 12:00, IOF re-established their presence at 'Attara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. At approximately 12:30, IOF established a checkpoint under 'Ein Yabroud Bridge, northeast of Ramallah. Israeli soldiers positioned at those checkpoints stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 10 February 2011, IOF established two checkpoints around Qalqilya. On Friday, 11 February 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town. On Saturday, 12 February 2011, IOF established two checkpoints around Qalqilya. On Sunday, 13 February 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around Qalqilya. Israeli soldiers stationed 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 14:00 on Thursday, 10 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the northern entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 16:20 on Saturday, 12 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the northern entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 13 February 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 13:30, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road, south 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 03:35 on Saturday, 12 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Hares village, north of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 14:35 on the same day, they established a checkpoint at the entrance of Yassouf village, east of Salfit. At approximately 08:30 on Sunday, 13 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Yassouf village, east of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 11 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of al-Zubaidat village, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
· On Thursday morning, 10 February 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old town of Hebron arrested Jalal Fayez Abu Rahma, 15.
· At approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 12 February 2011, Israeli soldiers patrolling near the annexation wall in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, arrested two Palestinian children: Mohammed Faisal al-Khatib, 14; and Ameer 'Eissa Yassin, 14.
4. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
· On Sunday afternoon, 13 February 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from "Bat Ain" settlement to the north of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, uprooted 250 olive seedlings from lands belonging to 'Aadi and Ekhlil families in the nearby Safa village. According to information available to PCHR, the settlers were escorted by IOF. They uprooted 250 olive seedlings planted by the families on 27 January 2011. It is worth noting that an Israeli settlers shot dead a Palestinian child in the area the end of last month.
· On Monday morning, 14 February 2011, IOF razed a one-donum area of land belonging to Nasser Khalil Abu Ta'a in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem. At least 40 olive, almond and apricot trees, 7 grape trees and 20 cypress ones were uprooted. According to Abu Ta'a, Israeli police officer violently beat his son, 16-year-old Hamza, and cut his identity card. IOF did not present a judicial order to raze the land, and claimed that the land leveling was for security considerations.
· Also on Monday, 14 February 2011, IOF handed notices to a number of Palestinian civilians notices ordering the evacuation of 20 donums of agricultural land near the annexation wall in Kharas village, northwest of Hebron, claiming that they are state property. These areas of land, which are planted with olives and almonds, are located nearly 300 meters away from the annexation wall.
· On Monday afternoon, 14 February 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from "Halmish" settlement, northwest of Ramallah, uprooted 12 olive seedlings in Wad Raya area in Nabi Saleh village. IOF then moved into the area and evacuated the settlers.
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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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