Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (21- 27 July 2011)
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Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
A Palestinian civilian was wounded.
IOF arrested 8 Palestinian demonstrators.
IOF conducted 24 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.
IOF arrested 9 Palestinian civilians, including two children.
Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
IOF arrested 3 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
IOF harassed 5 Palestinian children in Hebron.
IOF resumed the construction of the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.
IOF razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Bethlehem and uprooted at least 22 pine and olive trees.
IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (21 – 27 July 2011):
Shooting:
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, a Palestinian civilian was wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF also arrested 8 Palestinian civilians.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 24 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 9 Palestinian civilians, including two children.
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.
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 prolong the implementation of their decision to allow 60 cars into Gaza weekly although more than 11 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 47 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.
Construction of the Annexation Wall
On 26 July 2011, IOF started razing large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem, for the purpose of the construction of a section of the annexation wall. They uprooted dozens of pine and olive trees and leveled areas of land. IOF leveled these areas of land for the purpose of the construction of a section of the annexation wall. IOF had uprooted at least 20 pine and olive trees and had razed a 250-square-emter area of land. It is worth noting that this area has been targeted by intensive Israeli settlement activities.
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 22 July 2011, at least 8 Israeli settlers from “Esh Kudash” settlement in the southeast of Jaloud village, southeast of Nablus, attacked a Palestinian child who was grazing animals in the area between Qasra and Jaloud villages. When the child saw the settlers, he fled. The settler caught a sheep and slaughtered it. The father and mayor of the village went to the area, where they found a military jeep had arrived. They submitted a complaint concerning the attack.
On 25 July 2011, a number of armed Israeli settlers from “Halmish” settlement, northwest of Ramallah, closed the entrance of the nearby Nabi Saleh village. They attempted to enter the village and threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF intervened later and evacuated the settlers.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (21 – 27 July 2011)
1- Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 21 July 2011
At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Kfiret village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Tariq Mahmoud Eghbariya, 32, and arrested him. They released him at approximately 03:00 at Barta’a checkpoint near the annexation wall, northwest of Jenin.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Quds Street in the southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ghanem Mohammed Sawalma, 47.
At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Yousef al-Battat, 42, and arrested him together with his sons: Majd, 19; and Haitham, 20. At noon, IOF released Haitham, but kept the father and Majd in custody. According to al-Battat’s wife, Israeli soldiers threw stones at the house and detonated two sound bombs before raiding it. During the house search, they damaged the furniture.
At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Silwad village, east of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets. The stopped and questioned Tha’er Waleed Sharqawi, 20. They also summoned him for interrogation in a military post to the north of Jenin.
At approximately 10:10, IOF moved into Wadi al-Rasha village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 10:10, IOF moved into Ras Teera village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 10:10, IOF moved into Magharat al-Dab’a village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:15, 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.
At approximately 11:00, 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 11:30, IOF moved into Beit Siera village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 22:15, 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.
Friday, 22 July 2011
At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Ematin village, northeast of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Rafat Sadiq Sawan, 22, and summoned him for interrogation.
At approximately 10:15, IOF moved into Hijja village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Deir Dibwan village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Sateh Marhaba neighborhood in al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Swaih area in Ras al-‘Aamoud neighborhood in East Jerusalem. They stopped near a house belonging to the family of Islam Fu’ad Waleed, 15, and arrested him. They took him away from the house and beat and interrogated him. They released him an hour later.
At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 23 July 2011
At approximately 01:50, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 02:20, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and raided a number of houses. They summoned Bader ‘Abdul Latif Jom’a, 20, and Sari Jawad ‘Obaid, 20, for interrogation.
At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 20:35, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. A number of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Sunday, 24 July 2011
At approximately 10:30, IOF raided a house belonging to the family of Daoud ‘Eissa al-Qaq, 12, in Wadi Hilwa area in Silwan village to the south of the old town of Jerusalem, and arrested him. They took him to a detention center, where they beat and interrogated him. He was released on bail on the following day.
Monday, 25 July 2011
At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, a number of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
At approximately 06:00, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of Palestinian land along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They withdrew from the area at approximately 09:30 and no casualties were reported.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Jenin refugee camp. They stopped near a house belonging to ‘Adnan Ibrahim Naghniya, 43, and threw stones at the house. When Naghniya got out of the house to check what was going on, they arrested him. His house and a car belonging to his neighbor, Muneeb Yahia al-Sa’di, were damaged. Later, IOF raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Bilal Khaled al-Sa’di, 35, and arrested him.
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, a Palestinian civilian was wounded, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. IOF also arrested 8 Palestinian civilians.
At approximately 10:30 on Friday, 22 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and a number of international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. They moved towards the eastern entrance of the village, where IOF establish a checkpoint. When the demonstrators got close to the checkpoint, Israeli soldiers attacked them and fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sounds bombs. As a result, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left foot. Israeli soldiers also arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including two brothers:
1- Mo’tassem Ibrahim Abu Maria, 18;
2- Rami Hassan Abu Hashem, 32;
3- Mohammed Mahmoud Abu ‘Ayash, 17; and
4- Yousef Mahmoud Abu ‘Ayash, 19.
Following the Friday Prayer on 22 July 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, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 22 July 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 annexation wall. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 22 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near "Halmish" settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. Additionally, IOF arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:
1- Tariq Bashir Tamimi, 29;
2- Ziad ‘Abdul Razzaq Tamimi, 23;
3- Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aal, 19; and
4- Mohammed Abu Samra, 25, a volunteer paramedic.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 22 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the entrance of the village by IOF. Israeli soldiers prevented the demonstrators from getting close to the entrance and attacked them. Baker ‘Adnan ‘Ali, 29, sustained bruises, and a number of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.
On Saturday noon, 23 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Iraq Bourin village, south of Nablus, in protest to the confiscation of their lands and attacks by Israeli settlers. The demonstrators moved towards the east of the village, where IOF had confiscated areas of land. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. At approximately 16:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of the village and declared it a closed military zone.
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.
Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:
Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point
20 – 26 July 2011
Day
Date
Traveling abroad
Coming into Gaza
Returned into Gaza
Wednesday
20 July 2011
573
480
15
Thursday
21 July 2011
671
654
31
Friday
22 July 2011
--
--
--
Saturday
23 July 2011
--
--
--
Sunday
24 July 2011
564
992
38
Monday
25 July 2011
695
565
8
Tuesday
26 July 2011
1,288
582
3
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
20 – 26 July 2011
Imports:
Date
Imports
Category
Amount
Tons
Number
Liters
20 July 2011
Foodstuffs
820
Agricultural materials
1,519
Various goods
Refrigerators
Cartons of clothes
Cartons of shoes
Automated Teller Machines
1,550
168
188
500
2
Humanitarian aid
3,697
cooking gas
139.480
21 July 2011
Foodstuffs
849
Agricultural materials
904
Various goods
Refrigerators
Cartons of clothes
Cartons of shoes
Cars
1,261
251
730
1,425
20
Humanitarian aid
2,374
cooking gas
132.610
24 July 2011
Foodstuffs
1,116
Agricultural materials
1,284
Various goods
Cartons of clothes
Refrigerators
Biscuits machine
Glass boards
Washing machines
1,120
1,058
354
11
520
164
Humanitarian aid
3,912
cooking gas
134.470
25 July 2011
Foodstuffs
1,030
Agricultural materials
1,021
Various goods
Refrigerators
Washing machines
Cartons of clothes
Cartons of shoes
Water tanks
Automated Teller Machines
Electricity generators
Cars
1,112
229
112
822
551
138
2
4
20
Humanitarian aid
2,916
cooking gas
138.450
26 July 2011
Foodstuffs
753
Agricultural materials
2,210
Various goods
Cartons of clothes
Refrigerators
Washing machines
Sewing machines
Glass boards
1,013
1,252
286
71
60
640
Humanitarian aid
596
1
cooking gas
160.560
Notes:
On Wednesday, 20 July 2011, IOF allowed the entry 3,290 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA, and of 60 tons of cement for ANERA. They also allowed the entry of 897 tons of wheat.
On Thursday, 21 July 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 160 tons of cement, 1,890 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA, and 32 tons of cements and 40 tons of construction iron for UNDP. They also allowed the entry of 858 tons of wheat and 39 tons of fodders.
On Sunday, 24 July 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 560 tons of cement, 153 tons of construction iron and 2,870 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 234 tons of fodders and 1,014 tons of wheat.
On Monday, 25 July 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 1,960 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA, and 630 tons of construction aggregate for UNDP. They also allowed the entry of 68 tons of fodders and 920 tons of wheat.
On Tuesday, 26 July 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 476 tons of straws, 1,560 tons of fodders and 156 tons of wheat.
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
20 – 26 July 2011
Date
20 July
21 July
22 July
23 July
24 July
25 July
26 July
Patients
27
34
Nil
Nil
49
37
42
Companions
26
34
1
Nil
47
32
44
Arabs from Israel
4
15
2
Nil
44
22
2
Diplomats
Nil
5
Nil
Nil
Nil
2
Nil
International Journalists
4
Nil
3
Nil
3
Nil
3
International Workers
5
57
16
Nil
8
34
23
Travelers abroad
Nil
2
Nil
Nil
Nil
4
4
Business People
62
64
Nil
Nil
60
60
61
Economic Meetings
4
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
1
Security Interviews
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
5
Nil
Nil
VIP's
1
1
Nil
Nil
1
Nil
2
Ambulances to Israel
4
2
1
Nil
1
2
2
Ambulances from Israel
1
5
Nil
Nil
1
3
2
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. At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 21 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Bet ‘Aur al-Tahta – Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa road, west of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 17:30 on the same day, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 15 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 09:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint on Nabi Saleh – Kufor ‘Ein road, northwest of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 23 July 2011, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:55 on Thursday, 14 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Friday, 15 July 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around Qalqilya. On Saturday, 16 July 2011, IOF established 3 checkpoints around the town. At approximately 09:45 on Sunday, 17 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Jeet intersection, northeast of Qalqilya. On Monday, 18 July 2011, IOF established 3 checkpoints around the town
Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 15:00 on Sunday, 24 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kufel Hares village, north of Salfit. At approximately 21:35, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Yassouf village, east of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 12:00 on Monday, 25 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 14:30 on Friday, 22 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 11:30 on Sunday, 24 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At the same time, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm. At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 25 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 23:55 on Wednesday, 27 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 17:30 on Saturday, 23 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 22 July 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque, south of Hebron, arrested Hamza Majed Hijazi, 20, claiming that he attempted to attack a soldier.
At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 23 July 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque, south of Hebron, arrested ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Mahmoud Wazwaz, 23, claiming that he was carrying a sharp tool.
At approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 24 July 2011, IOF arrested Mohammed Maher ‘Amarna, 21, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp south of Bethlehem, after summoning him for interrogation in Kfar Etzion military post, southwest of Bethlehem.
Harassments at Military Checkpoints
At approximately 08:30 – 09:20, Israeli soldiers positioned at an observation post established in a house belonging to al-Rajabi family, which was seized by IOF, at al-Ras intersection in the southeast of Hebron held 5 Palestinian children aged 14-15. They checked, interrogated and beat these children before releasing them at approximately 23:00. Two of the children sustained bruises. It is worth noting that Israeli soldiers permanently positioned in the south and east of Hebron often stop and harass Palestinian civilians.
4- Construction of the Annexation Wall
On Tuesday morning, 26 July 2011, IOF started razing large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem, for the purpose of the construction of a section of the annexation wall.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 08:30 on Tuesday, IOF, accompanied by an Israeli constructor, two bulldozers and a digging machine, moved into ‘Ein Jwaiza area in the southwest of al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem. They uprooted dozens of pine and olive trees and leveled areas of land belonging to the al-Atrash and Rabah families. IOF leveled these areas of land for the purpose of the construction of a section of the annexation wall. Between 09:20 and 10:00, a number of members of the families of al-Atrash and Rabah gathered in the area and attempted to stop the leveling of their lands. IOF surrounded them and declared the area a closed military zone. They also prevented journalists from having access to the area. At noon, IOF forced owners of the lands and a number of International solidarity activists out of the area. By 13:00, IOF had uprooted at least 20 pine and olive trees and had razed a 250-square-emter area of land. It is worth noting that this area has been targeted by intensive Israeli settlement activities.
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 17:00 on Friday, 22 July 2011, at least 8 Israeli settlers from “Esh Kudash” settlement in the southeast of Jaloud village, southeast of Nablus, attacked Fayez Ibrahim Hassan, 15, who was grazing animals in the area between Qasra and Jaloud villages. When the child saw the settlers, he fled. The settler caught a sheep and slaughtered it. The father and mayor of the village went to the area, where they found a military jeep had arrived. They submitted a complaint concerning the attack.
At approximately 18:30 on Monday, 25 July 2011, a number of armed Israeli settlers from “Halmish” settlement, northwest of Ramallah, closed the entrance of the nearby Nabi Saleh village. They attempted to enter the village and threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF intervened later and evacuated the settlers.
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 ) or telephone (+972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).
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