Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (17 - 23 February 2011)
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Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continued Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· 3 Palestinian civilians were killed by IOF in the northern Gaza Strip.
· A Palestinian resistance activist was killed and 6 others and 3 civilian bystanders, including two children, were wounded by IOF artillery shelling on Gaza City.
· IOF continued to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the Gaza Strip.
- Two Palestinian workers were wounded.
- IOF arrested 3 Palestinian fishermen in Khan Yunis.
· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
- 8 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded.
- IOF arrested 15 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children, and two international human rights defenders.
· IOF conducted 47 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 3 limited ones into the Gaza Strip.
- IOF arrested 10 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.
· 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 6 Palestinian children, including 3 children.
· IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
- IOF destroyed 3 water wells and an agricultural room in Bani Na'im town, east of Hebron.
- IOF demolished 8 homes and two water wells in Sousia area, south of Hebron, rendering 40 Palestinian civilians homeless.
- Israeli settlers uprooted 200 olive seedlings and 70 olive trees in Qasra village, south of Nablus.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (17 – 23 February 2011):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF killed 3 Palestinian civilians and a resistance activist and wounded 10 others (two children, two workers and 6 resistance activists) in the Gaza Strip. They also wounded 8 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children in the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, on 17 February 2011, IOF killed 3 Palestinian civilians who were attempting to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs. IOF fired artillery shells and gunshots at the victims.
On 23 February 2011, IOF killed a Palestinian resistance activist and wounded 6 others and two children in the east of Gaza City. IOF fired two artillery shells at a number of activists of The al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad).
During the reporting period, two 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.
On 23 February 2011, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.
In the West Bank, 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, 8 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded, and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation or sustained bruises. Additionally, IOF arrested 15 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children, and two international human rights defenders.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 47 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 10 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 limited incursions into the southern and central 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 17 February 2011, IOF stormed Khillat al-Furn area in the west of Bani Na'im village, southeast of Hebron. They demolished 3 water wells and an agricultural room located near bypass #60.
On 20 February 2011, Israeli settlers from "Kida" settlement near Qasra village, south of Nablus, uprooted 200 olive seedlings and 70 olives trees in Qasra village.
On 22 February 2011, IOF demolished 8 tents and shelters and destroyed two water wells in Sousia area in the south of Yatta town, south of Hebron.
Also on 22 February 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from "Bat Ain" settlement to the northwest of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, uprooted at least 250 olive trees and seedlings.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (17 – 23 February 2011)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 17 February 2011
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Masaken neighborhood in the northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Basheer Zamel Zamel, 28.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:30, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town fired a number of artillery shells at 3 Palestinian civilians who were attempting to cross the border to search for jobs in Israe. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli helicopters flew over the area and opened fire. Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers in the area opened fire until 02:30. As a result, the three civilians were killed by shrapnel. The victims are:
1. Jihad Fat'hi Khalaf, 21, from Jabalya town;
2. Tal'at Mohammed al-Rawagh, 41, from Gaza City; and
3. Ashraf 'Abdul Latif Qtaifan, 32, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City.
According to medical crews of Palestinian Red Crescent Society, they were informed by the ICRC that there were 3 dead persons in the northwest of Beit Lahia, so they moved to the area. They found the bodies at approximately 08:15 nearly 200 meters away from the border.
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Beit Wazan village, west of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed Sa'id Salah, 36, and Sameh Haten Abu 'Eisha, 24. They also confiscated 3 mobile phones from the former's house and 4 computer sets, a laptop and a mobile phone from the house of the latter.
· At approximately 13:15, IOF moved into Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and closed the entrances of the village. They withdrew from the village at approximately 15:00, and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Friday, 18 February 2011
· At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. They chased 10-year-old Mahmoud Ahmed al-'Allami , who resorted to a house in the village, and arrested him. They claimed that the child threw stones at an Israeli military checkpoint at the eastern entrance of the town.
· At approximately 15:50, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 17:50, IOF moved into Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Kufor Malek village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids were reported.
· At approximately 18:20, IOF moved into Kufor Laqef village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 19 February 2011
· At approximately 11:00, an Israeli gunboat chased a Palestinian fishing boat nearly 3 kilometers off Khan Yunis beach in the northern Gaza Strip. Three fishermen were on board of the boat: Mustafa Hijazi al-Lahham, 42; Hijazi Hani al-Lahham, 27; and Mahmoud Hassan al-Lahham, 30. Israeli soldiers on board of the gunboat fired near the fishing boat and ordered the fishermen to stop it. They forced the fishermen to take their clothes off and to swim towards the gunboat, which was nearly 20 meter away. They took the fishermen to the Israeli Ashdod Harbor. There, the fishermen were interrogated. They were released at 21:00, but the fishing boat was kept in custody.
· At approximately 15:15, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· 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. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into 'Ein al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Sunday, 20 February 2011
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into an open area to the east of 'Anabta village near "Ennab" settlement, east of Tulkarm. They searched the area for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 15:15, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into Ta'nak village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into al-Taibeh village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 16:20, IOF moved into 'Aanin village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 18:10, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Bedya village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Monday, 21 February 2011
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Brouqin village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 16:15, IOF moved into Habla village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 17:40, IOF moved into Ras 'Atiya village, south of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 19:20, IOF moved into an area located between 'Azzoun and 'Asala villages, south of Qalqilya. They stormed and searched a farm and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child: Ayham and Mustafa Marwan Hawari, 17 and 19 respectively.
· At approximately 22:45, IOF moved into Jeet village, east of Qalqilya. The delivered notices ordering the demolition of 6 houses belonging to: Zahi Ahmed 'Arfan; Hamed Yousef Sakhen; Rawhi Hassan 'Arfan; Subhi Mahmoud 'Arfan; 'Arfan Mohammed Yamin; and Jawad Jasser Yamin.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
· At approximately 00:05, IOF moved into Jayous village, north of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Jamal Abu Hashem, 14, and arrested him.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, northwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. 'Abdul Qadim Turki Shawahna, 24; and
2. 'Aassem 'Abdul Rahman Abu al-Khair, 30.
· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of Palestinian land. They moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at approximately 13:00.
· At approximately 08:30, IOF moved nearly 200 meters into Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of Palestinian land. They moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at approximately 15:00.
· At approximately 09:05, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and delivered summons to 3 Palestinian civilians: Bassam 'Abdul Latif Abu al-'Adel; Mahmoud Na'el 'Abdul Ghafer; and Bahaa' Mohammed Tabaja.
· At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Artah suburb, south of Tulkarm. They stopped Fayez Salem Abu Mo'ammar and delivered a notice to him summoning his brother, 27-year-old Yahaia, for interrogation. During this incursion, IOF also held Nassim Ahmed Abu Rabi', 21, for some rime.
· At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into Deir Ghazala village, northeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 12:00, IOF moved into Beit Qad village, northeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 12:00, IOF moved into 'Izbat Shoufa village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 12:15, an IOF undercover unit moved into Salem village, east of Nablus, traveling in a bus. The bus stopped near a school in the center of the village, and about 40 Israeli soldiers stepped down. They stormed the third floor of Eshtayeh apartment building, where 'Aawdallah Jameel Eshtayeh, 47. They immediately handcuffed him and covered his head with a green sac. They violently beat him before the eyes of his wife and children. They took him to an unknown destination.
· Also at approximately 12:15, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of the Bedouin Village in the northern Gaza Strip fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Nissanit" used to stand. As a result, Saleem Kamal Barakat, 21,from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by a bullet to the right leg, when he was nearly 400 meters away from the border.
· At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into Yassouf village, east of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Far'oun village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Sinjel village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 23:50, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 08:30, IOF moved nearly 200 meters into Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of Palestinian land. They moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at approximately 15:00.
· At approximately 09:10, IOF moved into 'Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, southwest of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets and photographed some historic sites . They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 09:45, Israeli soldiers stationed at observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north 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, Nidal Mohammed Halawa, 22, from al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 300 meters away from the border.
· At approximately 11:40, IOF fired two artillery shells at a number of activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) who were near al-Sawda Factory in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. As a result, 7 activists and 3 civilian bystanders, including two children, were wounded. One of the wounded activists, 'Aadel Mohammed Jundiya, 29, from al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, died of his wounds in the evening. The three cvilians who were wounded are:
1. Ahmed Musbah Abu 'Ammar, 15;
2. Fahmi Ibrahim Saleh, 14; and
3. Nihad Daoud al-Ashqar, 30, from Beit Lahia, wounded by shrapnel to the right side and leg.
· At approximately 20:30, Israeli gunboats fired at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip. The fishermen fled and no casualties were reported.
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, 8 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded. Dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. Additionally, IOF arrested 15 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children, and two international human rights defenders.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 18 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, 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded:
1. Hamza Suleiman Bernat, 18, wounded by two bullets to the back and the right leg;
2. Ahmed Rebhi Abu Rahma, 16, hit by a tear gas canister to the right hand;
3. Kifah Mansour Mansour, 30, hit by a tear gas canister to the left hand;
4. Fadi Mustafa 'Omar, 30, sustained burns to the face; and
5. 'Abdullah Ahmed Yassin, 19, sustained burns to the face.
Additionally, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 18 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 18 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, Wa'd Bassem al-Tamimi, 13, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand. A number of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation. Additionally, IOF turned a house belonging to Helmi al-Tamimi into a military site. Before their withdrawal from the village at approximately 16:15, IOF arrested two Palestinian civilians: Nasser Nizar Amlah, 23; and Hamza Mohammed Abu Qare', 27. They also arrested two international human rights defenders were not identified.
· At approximately 12:00, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Beit Uammar town, north of Hebron, in protest to Israeli settlement activities and the US veto against UN Security Council draft resolution condemning Israeli settlement activities in the OPT. They moved towards closed Palestinian areas located neat "Karmi Tsur" settlement, south of the town. At approximately 13:00, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, two Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Nasri Rasheed Sabarna, 48, Mayor of Beit Ummar, wounded by shrapnel from sound bombs to the left foot; and
2. Hamza Ahmed Abu Hashem, 12, wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets to the left hand and knee.
Four demonstrators, including a woman, also sustained bruises:
1. Muna Mohammed Abu Maria, 44;
2. Mohammed Ibrahim 'A'mar, 65;
3. Hisham Khalil Abu Hashem, 44; and
4. Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, 43, Secretary of the National Committee against the Wall and Settlements.
At the end of the demonstration, Israeli soldiers surrounded a number of demonstrators who were on their way back homes and arrested 13 of them, including 9 children:
1. 'Essam Jamal Abu Hashem, 22;
2. Tariq Jamal Abu Hashem, 18;
3. Mousa Haitham Slaibi, 16;
4. Ma'ath Mahmoud 'Alqam, 16;
5. Mohammed 'Ali 'Awadh, 16;
6. Anwar Yousef 'Awadh, 16;
7. Mohammed Yousef 'Awadh, 14;
8. 'Aayesh Nasser Ekhlil, 15;
9. Ahmed Mahmoud Slaibi, 15;
10. Habes Hisham Abu Hashem, 22;
11. Mo'taz Yousef 'Awadh, 16;
12. 'Ali Mohammed Za'aqiq, 17; and
13. Nabeel Mohammed 'Awadh, 22.
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:
Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point
16 – 22 February 2011
Date
Details
16 February 2011
Closed.
17 February 2011
A Palestinian civilian and the body of a dead one were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
18 February 2011
247 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
19 February 2011
868 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
20 February 2011
787 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
21 February 2011
326 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
22 February 2011
297 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 56 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
Note: Palestinian university students were not allowed to travel to Egypt due to continued closure of Egyptian universities. Travelers who did not have visas to enter Egypt were not directly transported to airports as it was the case during the era of former Egyptian President Husni Mubarak.
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
16 - 22 February 2011
Date
Imports
Category
Amount
Tons
Liters
16 February 2011
Foodstuffs
1,053
Agricultural materials
252
Various goods
1,111
Humanitarian aids
678
Cooking gas
188.490
17 February 2011
Foodstuffs
961
Agricultural materials
188
Various goods
1,302
Humanitarian aids
1,236
Cooking gas
181
18 February 2011
Foodstuffs
557
Various goods
350
Humanitarian aids
481
Cooking gas
45.390
20 February 2011
Foodstuffs
821
Agricultural materials
197
Various goods
967
Humanitarian aids
676
Cooking gas
161
21 February 2011
Foodstuffs
1,020
Agricultural materials
134
Various goods
844
Humanitarian aids
717
Cooking gas
183.960
On Wednesday, 16 February 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 292 tons of cement and 110 tons of iron for UNDP.
On Thursday, 17 February 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 480 tons of cement for Palestinian Water Authority, 180 tons of cement for UNRWA and 50 tons of cement for UNDP.
On Sunday, 20 February 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 280 tons of cement for Palestinian Water Authority.
On Monday, 21 February 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 134 tons of cement for ANERA and 226 tons of iron for Palestinian Water Authority.
Exports:
On Wednesday, 16 February, 442,000 flowers and 3.7 tons of strawberries were exported.
On Thursday, 17 February, 207,000 flowers were exported.
On Monday, 21 February, 438,000 flowers were exported.
Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially reopened the crossing on Wednesday, 16 February, and allowed the entry of 1,716 tons of wheat and 5,600 tons of construction aggregate. They opened it also on Thursday, 17 February 2011, and allowed the entry of 741 tons of wheat and 1,599 tons of fodders. They opened it again on Monday, 21 February 2011, and allowed the entry of 8,330 tons of aggregate for UNRWA.
Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, a number of international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.
Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing
16 – 22 February 2011
Date
16 February
17 February
18 February
19 February
20 February
21 February
22 February
Patients
21
27
2
Nil
46
51
33
Companions
23
23
2
Nil
45
50
33
Arabs from Israel
9
15
Nil
Nil
15
1
Nil
Diplomats
7
3
Nil
Nil
2
5
4
International Journalists
7
5
4
Nil
3
Nil
2
International Workers
19
70
20
Nil
11
24
32
Travelers abroad
Nil
28
Nil
Nil
1
4
Nil
Business People
Nil
81
5
Nil
53
64
54
Economic Meetings
Nil
9
Nil
Nil
5
Nil
4
Security Interviews
1
3
Nil
Nil
2
2
Nil
VIP's
1
Nil
1
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Ambulances to Israel
1
2
1
Nil
2
2
Nil
Ambulances from Israel
2
2
2
1
4
1
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 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, 17 February 2011, and at approximately 11:30 on the following day, 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 18:30 on Friday, 18 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Sinjel village, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 11:15 on Saturday, 19 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 12:45 on the same day, 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. On Tuesday, 22 February 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 18:30 on Wednesday, 23 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint under 'Ein Yabroud Bridge, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 19:00, 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.
· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 17 February 2011, IOF established 8 checkpoints around Qalqilya. On Friday, 18 February 2011, IOF established 5 checkpoints around the town. At approximately 10:50 on Saturday, 19 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. On Sunday, 20 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 10:30 on Thursday, 17 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 17:00 on the same day, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 22:30 on Saturday, 19 February 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 17 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at 'Arraba intersection, southwest of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 19:00 on Monday, 21 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Kufor Dan intersection, northwest of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:30 on Sunday, 20 February 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Yassouf village, east of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 11:20 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint on Yassouf – Eskaka road, 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 19:40 on Thursday, 17 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fassayel village, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
· At approximately 17:00 on Friday, 18 February 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at Mavo Dutan checkpoint, southwest of Jenin, arrested two Palestinian children from Ya'bad village: Bilal 'Awadh Qabaha, 14; and Mohammed 'Omar Abu Salah, 16.
· At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 10 February 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at a checkpoint established near the intersection of "Yits'har" settlement, south of Nablus, arrested Ahmed Rasmi al-Khuffash, 22, from Marda village north of Salfit.
· At approximately 22:00 on Monday, 21 February 2011, an IOF infantry unit that set up an ambush near the western entrance of Beit Fourik village, northeast of Nablus, arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child: Mohammed Ibrahim Mlaitat, 18; Mohammed 'Adnan Mlaitat, 20; and Ussama 'Adnan Mlaitat, 16.
4. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
· At approximately 07:30 on Thursday, 17 February 2011, IOF stormed Khillat al-Furn area in the west of Bani Na'im village, southeast of Hebron. They demolished 3 water wells and an agricultural room belonging to Jamal Mohammed al-Tawil, from Hebron, claiming that the wells and the room are located near bypass #60.
· On Sunday morning, 20 February 2011, Israeli settlers from "Kida" settlement near Qasra village, south of Nablus, uprooted 200 olive seedlings on a tract of land belonging to Saber Mohammed 'Othman, which were planted two days earlier. They also uprooted 70 olive trees on a nearby tract of land belonging to 'Abed and Mohammed 'Abdullah Dawabsha, from the neighboring Douma village.
· At approximately 05:00 on Tuesday, 22 February 2011, IOF, accompanied by two bulldozers, moved into Sousia area in the south of Yatta town, south of Hebron. They closed the entrances of the area and started to forcibly evacuate a number of Bedouin homes. The bulldozers then demolished 8 tents and shelters and tents, in which 40 individuals live. The demolished tents and shelters belong to: 'Eissa Hussein al-Jbour; 'Eissa Badawi al-Jbour; 'Omar Badawi al-Jbour; Mohammed Ibrahim al-Jbour; Mohammed Hussein al-Jbour; and Tayseer al-Jbour. IOF also destroyed two water wells belonging to Mohammed Hussein al-Jbour.
· On Tuesday noon, 22 February 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from "Bat Ain" settlement to the northwest of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, uprooted at least 250 olive trees and seedlings belonging to Palestinian civilians from al-Ja'ba village.
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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).
Source
