Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (22-28 December 2011)
Reageer (0)
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
A Palestinian resistance activist was killed and 5 others were wounded in two extra-judicial execution attempts by IOF in the Gaza Strip.
5 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded by IOF.
IOF have continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
A Palestinian civilian was wounded.
IOF conducted 32 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.
IOF arrested 28 Palestinians, including 4 children and a university professor.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli soldiers arrested two Palestinian civilians at various checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli has continued efforts to create a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.
The Israeli municipality of Jerusalem approved the construction of 130 units in “Gilo” settlement.
The Israeli municipality of Jerusalem approved a new settlement project in Silwan village to the south of the old town of Jerusalem.
IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
IOF demolished a house and destroyed 5 wells, 4 water tanks and 4 agricultural rooms in Ethna village, west of Hebron.
IOF demolished a well and 9 agricultural pools in Dura village, southwest of Hebron.
Summary
The 27th of December marks the third anniversary of the commencement of Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s 27 December 2008 – 18 January 2009 offensive on the Gaza Strip. PCHR believes that Israeli forces committed serious violations of IHL and IHRL over the course of the offensive. Violations entailing individual criminal responsibility include – but are not limited to – the crimes of willful killing, the extensive destruction of civilian property, the direct targeting of civilians and civilian objects, the use of human shields, and the launching of indiscriminate attacks.
It is evident that these crimes demand judicial redress. If the law is to be respected – if it is to prove capable of protecting civilian populations – it must be enforced; victims’ rights to the equal protection of the law and effective judicial remedy must be upheld. Those responsible for committing such crimes must be investigated, tried and prosecuted in accordance with international standards.
In light of the clear and unequivocal failure of domestic justice systems, it is clear that recourse must be had to mechanisms of international criminal justice. PCHR call upon the UN Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, to refer the situation in Israel and Palestine to the International Criminal Court. PCHR also reminds States, as High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions, of their pressing legal obligation, to search for and prosecute all those suspected of committing war crimes, regardless of their nationality.
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (22 – 28 December 2011):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian resistance activist and wounded 10 Palestinians, including two children in the Gaza Strip. An eleventh civilian was wounded in the West Bank.
On 27 December 2011, IOF extra-judicially executed a Palestinian resistance activist and wounded another one and 3 civilian bystanders, including a child. An Israeli drone fired a missile at two activists of a Salafit group who were traveling on a motorcycle opposite to Concorde Gallery near Abu Sharekh Square in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya. As a result, one of the activists, was killed, and the other one was wounded by shrapnel to the chest. Additionally, 3 civilian bystanders, including a child, were wounded. Two houses and 4 shops were also damaged, and a car belonging, was completely destroyed.
On the same day, an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a civilian vehicle, in which 4 Palestinian resistance activists were traveling, in al-Jalaa’ Street in the north of Gaza City. As a result, the four activists were wounded, one of them sustained a serious wound. Additionally, a civilian bystander was lightly wounded.
On the same day, a Palestinian child was wounded by the Israeli gunfire in the central Gaza Strip.
On 23 December 2011, IOF fired 3 artillery shells at agricultural areas to the east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. 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, a Palestinian civilian was wounded. Dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 32 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 28 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children. The detainees include a university professor.
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 Sofa 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 Strip, 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 54 months, IOF have continued to deny approximately 700 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.
Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in East Jerusalem
On 28 December 2011, the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem approved the construction of 130 settlement units in “Gilo” settlement, south of Jerusalem. It also approved the establishment of a large tourist project in Silwan village to the south of the old town of Jerusalem. On Tuesday, 27 December 2011, the Israeli daily Maariv reported about a planned settlement project in Silwan village to the south of the old town of Jerusalem. This project is planned by the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem and “Elad” settlement association. The Israeli newspaper reported that “the large tourist project” is a joint project planned by the settlement association, the municipality of Jerusalem and “Nature and Gardens Authority.” It includes the establishment of archaeological centers, pools and basins. According to the newspaper, the local committee of planning and construction of the municipality of Jerusalem is expected to approve presenting the plan for any possible objections. The project is planned on a 5,400-square-meter area of land. According to “Elad” association, a car park absorbing about 250 cars will be established.
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.
During the reporting period, IOF demolished a house and destroyed 5 wells, 4 water tabks and 4 agricultural rooms in Ethna village, west of Hebron, claiming that they were established without licenses. They also confiscated some agricultural equipment.
IOF also destroyed a well and 9 agricultural pools in Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They also confiscated some agricultural equipment.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (22 – 28 December 2011)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 22 December 2011
At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Sha’aba area in the east of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sari Sami al-Fakhouri, 24, and arrested him.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Wadi al-Hariya area in the south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Rami Hisham Abu Safiya, 28, and arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Wajeeh Hmaid Abu Maria, and arrested his two sons: Ahmed, 18; and Mohammed, 17. At the same time, IOF raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Saqer Abu Maria, 20, to arrests him but he was not there. Israeli soldiers attempted to hold his sister as a hostage to force to him to surrender, but the family intervened and prevented them. So, Israeli soldiers confiscated the ID card of his brother, Napoleon, 25.
Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinian civilians to question them in regard to the death of a Palestinian director, who hold the Israeli citizenship, Juliano Mir Khamis, who was shot dead on 04 April 2011. The detainees were released a few hours later. They are:
1. ‘Adnan Ibrahim Naghniya, 43;
2. Daoud ‘Abdul Rahman Zbaidi, 30;
3. Ahmed ‘Ali Dabaya, 25;
4. Bilal Khaled Sa’di, 39;
5. Maher Mohammed Eghbariya, 31;
6. Jameel Mohammed Abu ‘Ali, 49;
7. Faisal Majed Abu al-Haija, 25; and
8. Mohammed Ibrahim Sammour, 26.
IOF also raided and searched a house belonging to Kamal Mohammed Abu ‘Ali, 43, and arrested him.
Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Essam Mohammed Tahaina, 56, and arrested him.
At approximately 07:00, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into Abu Safiya area in the east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya. Amidst sporadic shooting, they leveled areas of Palestinian agricultural land which they had already razed. At approximately 12:00, IOF moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into Jansafout village, east of Qalqilya. 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 Ematin village, northeast of Qalqilya. 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 Toura al-Ghabiya village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 22:40, IOF moved into Jainsafout village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Friday, 23 December 2011
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Naba’ ‘Omar al-Saifi, 17;
2. Raghad ‘Abdul Hadi Shamroukh, 18; and
3. ‘Aamer Faisal Ma’ali, 20.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Jabal Hindaza neighborhood in the south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Omar Ibrahim Hmaid, 42, and arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into al-Saf neighborhood in the south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim Mohammed al-Battat, 29, and arrested him.
At approximately 07:20, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yuns fired 3 artillery shells at the eastern parts of ‘Abassan village and al-Zanna area, east of the town. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. 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 ‘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 18:10, IOF moved into Jainsafout 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 ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers stepped down and chased the boys. The later arrested Mohammed Na’im Fuqaha, 22, claiming that he threw stones.
Saturday, 24 December 2011
At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 08:00, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:10, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and established a number of checkpoints at its entrances. They also raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Salah Ahmed Radwan, 18;
2. Ibrahim Ahmed Radwan, 17; and
3. Ayman ‘Abdul Fattah Radwan, 19.
At approximately 11:40, IOF moved into ‘Izbat al-Ashqar village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Sunday, 25 December 2011
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Aassem ‘Abdul Fattah Mansour, and arrested his child, 16-year-old ‘Alaa’. They damaged the house while searching it. They also raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Naji Mofeed Radwan, 18, and arrested him.
Monday, 26 December 2011
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into ‘Allar village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Deir Abu Da’if village, east of Jenin. 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 Saida village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Marka village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into Faqqou’a 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 18:30, IOF moved into Jalboun village, east of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Fareed Ragheb Tabbal, 25, and summoned him for interrogation.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Riad Mousa Shalalda, 37, and arrested him.
Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Majd ‘Abdullah ‘Ali, 22, and arrested him.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of the central Gaza Strip village of al-Musaddar opened fire at the village. As a result, Hamza Mohammed al-Telbani, 12, was wounded by a bullet to the left thigh, when he was on an animal cart nearly 1,000 meters away from the border.
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ameen ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Abu Warda, 38, a journalist and a university lecturer, in al-Quds Street in the east of the city, 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, and in protest to the establishment of a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip. As a result, a Palestinian civilian was wounded. Additionally, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF also arrested a Palestinian civilian.
Following the Friday Prayer on 23 December 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 and support for efforts to achieve national reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah movements. They raised the Palestinian flag and called for ending political division. They then moved towards areas of Palestinian land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian owners. 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 civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday prayer on 23 December 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The protesters walked towards the gate erected by IOF near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby "Halmish" settlement are trying to seize. Israeli soldiers who had been extensively deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands. Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters. A result, Waleed Yousef al-Barghouthi, 22, was wounded by a bullet to the foot, and dozens of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 23 December 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.
3. Extra-Judicial Execution
On Tuesday evening, 27 December 2011, IOF extra-judicially executed a Palestinian resistance activist and wounded another one and 3 civilian bystanders, including a child.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 18:50 on Tuesday, 27 December 2011, an Israeli drone fired a missile at two activists of a Salafit group who were traveling on a motorcycle opposite to Concorde Gallery near Abu Sharekh Square in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya. As a result, one of the activists, ‘Abdullah Khattab ‘Omar al-Telbani, 22, from al-Nafaq Street in Gaza City, was killed, and the other one was wounded by shrapnel to the chest. Additionally, 3 civilian bystanders, including a child, were wounded:
1. Nahidh Tayseer Ma’rouf, 21, from Jabalya, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
2. Mohammed Mahmoud al-Shandaghli, 20, from Jabalya, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and
3. ‘Emad ‘Ali Abu Hassanain, 14, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded by shrapnel to the chest, as he was walking with his father in the area.
Medical sources described the wounds of Ma’rouf and al-Shandaghli as moderate to serious. The two had just left got out of a supermarket in the area when the attack occurred.
Additionally, two houses and 4 shops were damaged, and a Hyundai Verna car belonging to Mohammed Zaiada Nassar, 33, was completely destroyed.
IOF declared that they targeted a number of Palestinian resistance activists affiliated to the World Jihadist Movement, claiming they were planning to launch attacks at the Israeli-Egyptian border.
At approximately 21:35 on the same day, an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a civilian vehicle, in which 4 Palestinian resistance activists were traveling, in al-Jalaa’ Street in the north of Gaza City. As a result, the four activists were wounded, one of them sustained a serious wound. Additionally, a civilian bystander, Shadi Zuhair al-‘Akkawi, 20, was lightly wounded.
4. 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
21 – 27 December 2011
Day
Date
Traveling abroad
Coming into Gaza
Returned into Gaza
Wednesday
21 December 2011
237
469
24
Thursday
22 December 2011
782
642
36
Friday
23 December 2011
--
--
--
Saturday
24 December 2011
720
810
45
Sunday
25 December 2011
605
550
43
Monday
26 December 2011
409
475
36
Tuesday
27 December 2011
585
523
26
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
21 – 27 December2011
Imports:
Date
Imports
Category
Amount
Tons
Number
Liters
21 December 2011
Foodstuffs
791
Agricultural materials
1,761
Various goods
Cartons of clothes
Refrigerators
Washing machines
Cows
Water tanks
A train game
1,158
1,529
161
346
355
130
1
Humanitarian aid
4,021
Cooking gas
156.050
22 December 2011
Foodstuffs
571
Agricultural materials
1,734
Various goods
Cartons of clothes
Glass boards
Refrigerators
Car tires
Cars
Boxes of factory machine parts
1,218
341
520
293
970
20
95
Humanitarian aid
4,005
Cooking gas
112.080
25 December 2011
Foodstuffs
622
Agricultural materials
1,387
Various goods
Cartons of clothes
Washing machines
Refrigerators
Water tanks
Car tires
Printing machines
989
246
498
134
182
402
18
Cooking gas
179.010
26 December 2011
Foodstuffs
480
Agricultural materials
1,138
Various goods
Cartons of clothes
Cars
Refrigerators
Washing machines
Water tanks
857
685
20
134
940
181
Humanitarian aid
3,425
Cooking gas
133.790
27 December 2011
Foodstuffs
567
Agricultural materials
1,150
Various goods
Cartons of clothes
Refrigerators
Car tires
Washing machines
Water tanks
Blowing machines
Birds
1,231
1,916
98
364
112
2
200
Humanitarian aid
2,550
cooking gas
180.410
Exports:
On Wednesday, 21 December 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 19.2 tons of strawberries, and 4 tons of sweet peppers.
On Thursday, 22 December 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 10.9 tons of strawberries, 12,000 flowers, 4.5 tons of sweet peppers and 2.7 ton of tomatoes.
On Sunday, 25 December 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 38.1 tons of strawberries and 36,500 roses.
On Monday, 26 December 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 16.5 tons of strawberries.
On Tuesday, 27 December 2011, IOF allowed the exportation of 26.2 tons of strawberries and 22,000 roses.
Notes:
On Wednesday, 21 December 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 440 tons of cement, 3,360 tons of construction aggregate and 174 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,560 tons of fodders.
On Thursday, 22 December 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 440 tons of cement, 2,730 tons of construction aggregate and 70 tons of construction steel for UNRWA; and 700 tons of construction aggregate for USAID. IOF also allowed the entry of 1,365 tons of wheat.
On Sunday, 25 December 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 1,092 tons of fodders.
On Monday, 26 December 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 226 tons of cement, 2,800 tons of construction aggregate and 70 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 858 tons of fodders.
On Tuesday, 27 December 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 562 tons of cement, 1,820 tons of construction aggregate and 26 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,014 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
21 – 27 December2011
Date
21 December
22 December
23 December
24 December
25 December
26 December
27 December
Patients
41
29
1
Nil
32
28
34
Companions
38
21
1
Nil
32
27
32
Arabs from Israel
8
7
Nil
Nil
24
4
11
Diplomats
2
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
2
International Journalists
Nil
Nil
1
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
International Workers
44
45
12
Nil
7
4
7
Travelers abroad
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Business People
94
73
25
Nil
102
87
101
Economic Meetings
2
4
Nil
Nil
Nil
2
15
Security Interviews
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
2
VIP's
1
Nil
Nil
Nil
1
Nil
Nil
Ambulances to Israel
Nil
Nil
3
Nil
Nil
1
2
Ambulances from Israel
1
1
3
Nil
1
Nil
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.
Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 22 December 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around Qalqilya. On Friday, 23 December 2011, IOF established 8 checkpoints around the town. On Saturday, 24 December 2011, IOF established 7 checkpoints around Qalqilya. On Sunday, 25 December 2011, IOF established 7 checkpoints around Qalqilya.
Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 18:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 23 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablus road near the entrance of Beit Leed village. At approximately 23:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablus road near the entrance of Bal’a village, east of Tulkarm.
Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 07:30 on Sunday, 25 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Sirris – al-Jadida road, south of Jenin. At approximately 11:30 on Tuesday, 27 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
At approximately 14:35 on Saturday, 24 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested Na’el ‘Alaa’ al-Din Jom’a, 30, a police officer.
At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 25 December 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested Mohammed Rajab Jom’a, 27.
5. Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in East Jerusalem
Israeli occupation authorities have continued to make persistent efforts to create a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem and expel Palestinian civilians in the city.
On Wednesday, 28 December 2011, the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem approved the construction of 130 settlement units in “Gilo” settlement, south of Jerusalem. It also approved the establishment of a large tourist project in Silwan village to the south of the old town of Jerusalem. On Tuesday, 27 December 2011, the Israeli daily Maariv reported about a planned settlement project in Silwan village to the south of the old town of Jerusalem. This project is planned by the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem and “Elad” settlement association. The Israeli newspaper reported that “the large tourist project” is a joint project planned by the settlement association, the municipality of Jerusalem and “Nature and Gardens Authority.” It includes the establishment of archaeological centers, pools and basins. According to the newspaper, the local committee of planning and construction of the municipality of Jerusalem is expected to approve presenting the plan for any possible objections. The project is planned on a 5,400-square-meter area of land. According to “Elad” association, a car park absorbing about 250 cars will be established. The buildings will include an archaeological center, information centers and study rooms. In addition to these structures, there is another plan, which was described as a smaller one, which will include established a tourist center in Silwan village. The center will include a fountain, pools and basins on a 3,000-square-meter area of land. The deputy mayor of Jerusalem considered that the plan would mean “Elad” association’s control over the center of Silwan village. According to the Israeli newspaper, the Israeli rightists welcomed the plan. In this context, Elisha Peilig, a member of the Knesset from the Likud Party, stated that “expanding the construction in David Town enhances settlement in East Jerusalem, and there is judicial or planning barrier that may prevent approving the plan to achieve the right of Jews to settle in all parts of Jerusalem.” On its part, the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem stated its pays major attention to “the development of tourism in David Town, which is visited by hundreds of thousands people annually.”
6. 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 06:00 on Thursday, 22 December 2011, IOF, accompanied by bulldozers, moved into Bir al-Ballouta area in the west of Ethna village, west of Hebron. They surrounded a 70-square-meter house and agricultural facilities belonging to Ahmed ‘Abdul Fattah Tmaiza. They ordered the family to vacate the house in 15 minutes. They then demolished and a 20-square-meter room and destroyed a water tank and a well. They also confiscated 4 water pumps and agricultural materials whose value is estimated at 9,000 ILS. The house and these agricultural facilities were established 9 years ago at a cost of 200,000 ILS. IOF claimed that they were established without a license. Tmaiza applied to IOF for a license, but on 01 October 2011, he received a notice to stop the construction.
At the same time, IOF destroyed a well and a 16-square-meter house belonging to Jebrin Ahmed Tmaiza and Jamal Ahmed Farajallah. They also confiscated an electricity generator, 3 water pumps and agricultural tools. Losses are estimated at 38,000 ILS.
At approximately 07:30, IOF destroyed a well, a 32-square-meter room and a water tank belonging Mohammed Hussein Abu As’ad. They also confiscated a water pump and agricultural tools. Losses are estimated at 10,000 ILS.
At the same time, IOF destroyed an old well and a nearby water tank.
IOF moved them towards Twal Mousa, nearly 500 meters away from the annexation wall in the west of the village. They destroyed a well, a water tank and a 14-square-meter room belonging to Mohammed Ibrahim al-Batran. They also confiscated 3 water pumps. Losses are estimated at 58,000 ILS.
At approximately 07:00 also on Thursday, IOF moved into al-Majour area in the south of Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They destroyed a well, 9 agricultural pools and irrigation networks, and confiscated 5 water pumps belonging to the ‘Amru clan. Losses are estimated at 128,000 ILS. The owners had applied for licenses to establish these facilities, but IOF rejected the application.
……………………………………………………
Recommendations to the International Community
1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.
2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with their legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.
4. PCHR calls for the immediate implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.
5. PCHR recommends that international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and urge their governments to bring the perpetrators to justice.
6. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.
7. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
8. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.
11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace process or agreement must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
…………………………………………………………
Public Document
For further information please visit our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email ( pchr@pchrgaza.org ) or telephone (+972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).
Source
