Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (28 April - 04 May 2011)
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Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· Two Palestinian children were wounded when IOF moved into Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah.
· IOF continued artillery shelling in border areas in the Gaza Strip
-Four Palestinian civilians, including two children and a woman, were wounded in the east of Gaza Valley village.
-A house was damaged.
· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
- A child was wounded in Bil'ein’s protest, west of Ramallah.
- IOF arrested 8 international human rights defenders.
· IOF conducted 39 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
- IOF arrested 10 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children.
- The arrested Palestinians include a PLC member and a former Minister from Hamas.
- A Palestinian civilian from the Gaza Strip was arrested in mysterious circumstances.
· IOF continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers continued their attacks in the West Bank.
- IOF issued further house demolition notices.
· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the Gaza Strip and tightened the siege on the West Bank.
- IOF arrested at least one Palestinian at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
- IOF maltreated a Palestinian worker and sniffer dogs bit him.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (28 April – 04 May 2011):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF wounded seven civilians, including five children and a woman, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Three of the children were wounded in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, as two of them were wounded when IOF moved into the village on 28 April 2011 while the third child was wounded in Bil'ein’s weekly protest. The other four Palestinians, including two children and a woman, were wounded in an artillery shelling that targeted a house in the Gaza Strip.In the West Bank, on 28 April 2011, IOF moved into Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah. Some boys gathered and stoned IOF who immediately responded by firing bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. Two children were wounded as a result and many civilians suffered gas inhalation.
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 child was wounded during the reporting period. In addition, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank suffered from tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten by IOF.
In the Gaza Strip, on 28 April 2011, four Palestinian civilians were wounded when IOF positioned on the border east of Gaza Valley (Juhor al-Dik) village fired six artillery shells at a house belonging to Jaber Ismail Abu Said, 66. Four of the shells directly hit the house. Four civilians, including two children and a woman, were wounded as a result. The shelling also caused damages to the house, especially the second floor.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 39 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 10 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children. The arrested Palestinians included PLC member of Change and Reform Bloc, Ali Salim Suleiman Rumanin, 39, who was arrested from his house in Jericho, and former Minister Issa Khalil al-Jaabari, 51, who was arrested from his house in Hebron.
On 02 May 2011, IOF moved into Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to Bayan al-Tabib, Chairman of the Village Council. Al-Tabib told a PCHR fieldworker that IOF stole 1,000 Jordanian dinars from his house.
IOF have continued to attempt to prevent international human rights defenders from participating in peaceful assemblies against settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall. As part of these attempts, IOF arrested eight international human rights defenders, including three ones who were arrested on 29 April 2011 in a peaceful protest in Nabi Saleh, northwest of Ramallah, and the other five ones were arrested on 01 May 2011 when IOF attacked a protesting tent in Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya.
In the Gaza strip, at approximately 15:00 on Sunday, 01 May 2011, Israeli occupation authorities informed Khalil Mousa Issa al-Silawi, 41, that his son, Khaled Khalil al-Silawi, 21, is detained in Ashkelon prison in Beersheba in Israel. Al-Silawi said that his son disappeared on Saturday, 30 April 2011, and they searched for him until they were informed about his detention. He also said that the Israeli occupation authorities asked him to apppoint a lawyer for his son. They also told him that his son is denied visitation right until 08 May 2011. Silawi indicated that he does not know any detail as to how his son was captured by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Bulldozing Works and House Demolition Notices:
On 01 May 2011, IOF delivered two notices to demolish two houses belonging to two Palestinian civilians from Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya, under the pretext of lacking licenses.
On 02 May 2011, IOF also delivered notices to two Palestinians from Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, to demolish three industrial and agricultural establishments, including a bricks workshop, an agricultural shed and a vehicle spare parts shop, located along the main road in the south and the east of Beit Ummar, under the pretext that the establishments are close to the road which is used by Israeli vehicles. IOF gave the summoned Palestinians a deadline of one week.
Also on 02 May 2011, in the afternoon, IOF delivered notices to several Palestinian civilians from al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, to evacuate approximately 80 donums[1] where there are at least 13 agricultural wells, claiming that these lands are owned by the State.
Restrictions on Movement:
Israel has continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and has imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
· 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.
It should be noted that the Israeli occupation authorities have worked over the past three years to make Karm Abu Salem crossing, which is not appropriate for commercial purposes, as Gaza's major and sole crossing. For this purpose, on 02 March 2011, the Israeli occupation authorities totally closed al-Mentar ("Karni") crossing which is the major and largest commercial crossing in the Gaza Strip in terms of its absorptive capacity to receive Gaza’s imports and exports. In the beginning of 2010, the Israeli occupation authorities closed Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which was dedicated for the supplies of fuel and cooking gas to Gaza, and shifted fuel supplies to Karm Abu Salem crossing. Three years ago, these authorities totally closed Sofa crossing, southeast of Khan Younis, and shifted humanitarian aid and food items which used to be delivered via Sofa crossing to Karm Abu Salem crossing.
· 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. Facts on the ground refute IOF's allegation that they daily allow the export of 10 truckloads of agricultural products.
· Recently, IOF allowed the exportation of very limited quantities of Gaza's agricultural products, including flowers and tomatoes, to European markers.
· For approximately four consecutive years, IOF have continued to ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza. During the reporting period, IOF approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations.
· Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip. IOF only allow the movement of limited groups amidst severe restrictions, including long hours of waiting in the majority of cases. IOF have also continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and Jerusalem. IOF denied new categories of Gazan patient permission to have access to hospitals via the crossing.
· Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip.
· For approximately 46 months, IOF have continued to deny approximately 710 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails their visitation rights without providing any justification to this measure, which violates the rules of the international humanitarian law.
West Bank
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.
· IOF have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying in the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
· There are approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.
· When complete, the illegal annexation wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, confiscating more Palestinian land.
· At least 65% of the main roads that lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF.
· There are approximately 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without permits issued by IOF. Such permits are extremely difficult to obtain.
· IOF continue to harass and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the annexation wall.
· Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (28 April – 04 May 2011)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 28 April 2011
· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Itra village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Ejja village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 13:30, IOF moved Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah. They provocatively drove in the streets. Some boys gathered and stoned IOF who immediately responded by firing bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. Two children were wounded as a result and many civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation as a result. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported. The wounded children are"
1. Jamal Atef al-Khatib, 15, wounded by two bullets in the mouth and the abdomen.
2. Nashmi Mohammed Abu Rahmeh, 16, wounded by a bullet in the right foot.
· At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Kharabtha al-Mesbah village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:10, IOF stationed on the border in the east of Gaza Valley village (Juhor al-Dik) fired six shells at the house of Jaber Ismail Abu Said, 66. Four shells hit the house directly. Four persons, including two children and a woman, were wounded as a result. The area of the targeted house measures 100 square meters. Two families composed of 10 members, including 5 children, live in the house which is approximately 400 meters far from the border.
The wounded are:
1. Sanaa Ahmed Abu Said, 25, who sustained shrapnel wounds in the right leg.
2. Alaa Addin Naser Abu Said, 10, who sustained shrapnel wounds in the neck and the abdomen.
3. Misa Naser Abu Said, 5, who sustained bruises in the chest and the abdomen.
4. Mohammed Jaber Abu Said, 27, who sustained shrapnel wounds in the face.
It should be noted that ambulances managed to have access to the scene approximately 30 minutes after the shelling, after having coordination with the Israeli side via the ICRC. The ambulances evacuated the wounded and the residents of the house. It should be noted that earlier, the house was under IOF shelling on 13 July 2010 when the wife of Abu Said's son, Naser Jaber Abu Said, was killed and another three persons, including two women and the house owner, were wounded.
· At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Friday, 29 April 2011
· At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into the area located between Azzoun and Izbat al-Tabib villages, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no incidents were reported.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Jefna village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 12:15, IOF moved into Azzoun and Izbat al-Tabib villages, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into the wooded area located between Azzoun and Izbat al-Tabib villages, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the area for some time. Before withdrawing, they arrested Abdul Aziz Shaher Salim, 17, who was driving a tractor in the area. One of the Palestinians saw Salim when IOF arrested him.
· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Beit Leqia village, west of Ramallah. They provocatively drove in the streets. Some boys gathered and stoned IOF who immediately responded by firing bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. Many civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation as a result. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Saturday, 30 April 2011
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:20, IOF moved into Jayous village, southeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:10, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Hamza Abdul Halim Hussein, 49, and Ayman Khaled Abu Hina, 40. They withdrew at approximately 22:40, and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Fahma village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Bitonia village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Sunday, 01 May 2011
· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Ematin village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Deir Ghazala village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:45, IOF moved into Habla village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 13:40, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 14:40, IOF moved into Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya. They raided two houses belonging to Zeyad Yasser Mohammed Tabib and his brother Shadi Tabib, and delivered two notices to demolish the two houses under the pretext of the lack of licenses.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupation authorities informed Khalil Mousa Issa al-Silawi, 41, that his son, Khaled Khalil al-Silawi, 21, is detained in Ashkelon prison in Beersheba in Israel. Al-Silawi said that his son was missing on Saturday, 30 April 2011, and they searched for him until they were informed about his detention. He also said that the Israeli occupation authorities asked him to appoint a lawyer for his son. They also told him that his son is denied visitation right until 08 May 2011. Silawi indicated that he does not know any detail as to how his son was captured by the Israeli occupation authorities.
· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. 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. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Bala'a village, northeast of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time amid firing sound bombs. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Monday, 02 May 2011
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Oja village, northeast of Jericho. They raided and searched a house belonging to PLC member Ali Salim Suleiman Rumanin, 39. They withdrew at approximately 01:25 and arrested Rumanin.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time amid firing sound bombs. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched many houses. Before withdrawing, they arrested four Palestinians and transferred them to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of Bethlehem:
1. Ragheb Taha Sabatin, 17;
2. Mohammed Khaled Hamamra, 22;
3. Alaa Khaled Shousha, 22; and
4. Mohammed Khaled Sabatin, 23.
· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to Bayan al-Tabib, Chairman of the Village Council. Al-Tabib told a PCHR fieldworker that IOF stole 1,000 Jordanian dinars from his house:
"At approximately 04:00 on Monday, 02 May 2011, the army raided my house. They forced my wife and children to leave the house. They remained in the house till 06:00. They searched the house and mishandled its content. They destroyed the television, computers and closets. They stole 1,000 Jordanian dinars."
· At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Ramin village, northeast of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and then stationed near the "al-Dalah female hostel" for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 16:50, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and established a checkpoint near the entrance of the village. The officer stopped Palestinians and asked them about their opinion about the "Intifada of 15 May 2011," but Palestinians did not respond and stoned IOF vehicles. IOF withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 20:50, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time amid firing sound bombs. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 03 May 2011
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Aaida refugee camp, northwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Feras Aqel Mustafa Dar Haj, 22. Before withdrawing, they arrested Dar Haj and transferred him to "Kfar Etzion" detention center in the southwest of Bethlehem.
· At approximately 02:35, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and held Saleh Hassanin, a member of the Palestinian National Security, who was patrolling in the area. They withdrew later and no house raids or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 06:00, dozens of Israeli settlers backed by IOF moved into the eastern area of Nablus. They performed religious rituals in the Tomb of Prophet Joseph near Balata village, east of Nablus. In the meanwhile, Palestinian boys gathered and stoned IOF vehicles. IOF immediately responded by firing bullets and smoke bombs to disperse the boys. IOF also chased the boys and arrested two of them:
1. Ahmed Reyadh al-Saheli, 16; and
2. Khaled al-Bouhi, 16.
Wednesday, 04 May 2011
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into several neighborhoods in Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to former Palestinian Minister, Issa Khalil al-Jaabari, 51. Before withdrawing, IOF arrested al-Jaabari.
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 child was wounded, while dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. Additionally, IOF arrested 8 international activists; 3 of whom were arrested on 29 April 2011 during Nabi Saleh’s weekly demonstration, northwest of Ramallah, and the 5 others were arrested on 01 May 2011, when IOF attacked a sit-in in Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 29 April 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'in 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 sustained bruises. In addition, Mohammed Iyad Bernat, 8, was hit by a tear gas canister in the back.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 29 April 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 number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
· At the same time, 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. 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 3 international activists, who were transported to an unknown destination.
· On Sunday, 01 May 2011, IOF supported with 20 military vehicles and a bulldozer broke into Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya. They bulldozed areas in the eastern part of the village in order to put a barbed wire fence. They also demolished a sit-in tent and attacked 5 international activists.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and the testimony of Bayan al-Tabib, head of the local council of Ezbet al-Tabib, at approximately 12:30 on the aforementioned day, IOF supported with 20 military vehicles, a bulldozer and an officer of the Civil Administration attacked Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya. They immediately asked the civilians and international activists to evacuate the sit-in tent that was established at the entrance of the village on 29 April 2011 in protest to an Israeli decision issued to confiscate the land at the northern part of Izbat al-Tabib in order to establish a military fence. Negotiations had taken place between the Civil Administration officer, his deputy and the Israeli commander for 2 hours. It resulted in demolishing the tent and driving the international activists away from the area. After the civilians and activists refused to evacuate the place, at approximately 14:30, IOF told them that a force would head to the neighboring 'Azzoun village, and they would keep the tent in case no one intercepted that force. The force started moving, while the tent was on the left. When they approached, an Israeli soldier hit a woman and pushed her down to the ground. Other soldiers got the activists away and surrounded the tent. Later, the bulldozer started working in the eastern part of the village, at the yellow gate area, on the road leading to 'Azzoun village. When the bulldozer got close to the olive farms, a group of women tried to dismiss the Israeli soldiers. Later, when they approached the tent's area, 4 international activists stood against them to protect the tent. The Israeli soldiers attacked all of them by gun butts and then arrested them. IOF remained there until 18:00. The international activists who were attacked are: Trapi and Olivos, from Britain; Rachel, from Sweden; Sandy and another unidentified activist, from the USA. The 2 latter activists were transported to Israel.
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
27 April - 03 May 2011
Date
Details
27 April 2011
293 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt, 206 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip and 125 Palestinians were returned.
28 April 2011
496 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt, 338 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip and 3 Palestinians were returned.
29 April 2011
Closed.
30 April 2011
Closed.
01 May 2011
1 Palestinian was allowed into the Gaza Strip.
02 May 2011
358 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt, 405 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip and 63 Palestinians were returned.
03 May 2011
474 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt, 342 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip and 73 Palestinians were returned.
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
27 April - 03 May 2011
Date
Imports
Category
Amount
Tons
Liters
27 April 2011
Foodstuffs
1,686
Agricultural materials
1,743
Various goods
1,309
Humanitarian aids
1,580
Cooking gas
199.310
28 April 2011
Foodstuffs
1,612
Agricultural materials
1,755
Various goods
1,280
Humanitarian aids
697
Cooking gas
195.280
01 May 2011
Foodstuffs
1,293
Agricultural materials
1,957
Various goods
1,306
Humanitarian aids
901
Cooking gas
205.300
02 May 2011
Foodstuffs
1,345
Agricultural materials
1,795
Various goods
1,357
Humanitarian aids
1,139
Cooking gas
135.250
03 May 2011
Foodstuffs
1,293
Agricultural materials
1,925
Various goods
1,255
Humanitarian aids
1,548
Cooking gas
45.280
Notes:
· On Wednesday, 27 April 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 640 tons of cement, 134 tons of iron for UNRWA. Additionally, they allowed the entry of 1,560 tons of fodders.
· On Thursday, 28 April 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 61 tons of iron for UNRWA. They allowed the entry of 1,599 tons of fodders.
· On Sunday, 01 May 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 240 tons of cement and 91 tons of iron for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,638 tons of wheat and 117 tons of fodders.
· On Monday, 02 May 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 280 tons of cement and 52 tons of iron for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,677 tons of wheat.
· On Tuesday, 03 May 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 713 tons of cement and 69 tons of aggregate for UNRWA. Additionally, they allowed the entry of 67 tons of iron for UNDP, while 1,755 tons of fodders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
Exports
· On Thursday, 28 April 2011, 42,000 flowers were exported.
· On Sunday, 01 May 2011, 62,000 flowers were exported.
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
27 April - 03 May 2011
Date
27 April
28 April
29 April
30 April
01 May
02 May
03 May
Patients
50
41
1
Nil
59
41
51
Companions
48
36
1
Nil
54
36
47
Arabs from Israel
18
1
29
Nil
4
Nil
2
Diplomats
2
8
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
2
International Journalists
1
Nil
2
Nil
2
1
5
International Workers
19
63
6
Nil
4
15
24
Travelers abroad
Nil
1
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
3
Business People
56
59
Nil
Nil
58
56
62
Economic Meetings
Nil
2
2
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Security Interviews
1
1
Nil
Nil
1
Nil
Nil
VIP's
1
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
6
Nil
Ambulances to Israel
3
6
Nil
Nil
3
Nil
Nil
Ambulances from Israel
1
2
Nil
Nil
3
3
1
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. IOF imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinians during the Christian feasts.
· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah, particularly, "Jaba' – Qalandia" checkpoint that was established in the southeast of Ramallah. At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 28 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit 'Our al-Tahta – Beit 'Our al-Foqa road, west of Ramallah. At approximately 18:00, IOF established a similar checkpoint under the bridge of Karbatha al-Mesbah village, west of Ramallah. At approximately 21:30, IOF re-established their presence at 'Atarah checkpoint at the northern entrance of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. At approximately 22:00, IOF established a checkpoint near the intersection of Surda village, north of Ramallah.
At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 29 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. No arrests were reported. At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF established a similar checkpoint near the entrance of Beit 'Our al-Foqa village, west of Ramallah, while they re-established their presence at 'Atarah checkpoint, north of Ramallah at 20:00. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
At approximately 19:30 on Saturday, 30 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah.
At approximately 22:30 on Monday, 02 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah
At approximately 20:30 on Tuesday, 03 May 2011, IOF re-established their presence at 'Atarah checkpoint at the northern entrance of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah, and closed it completely.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 28 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the intersection of "Yitzhar" settlement, south of Hawara checkpoint in southern Nablus. At the same time, they established a checkpoint near al-Taneeb factory for bricks on Nablus – Tulkarm road.
At approximately 06:00 on Tuesday, 03 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of the Eastern Lubban village, south of Nablus.
· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 29 April 2011, IOF established 7 checkpoints around the town. On Sunday, 01 May 2011, they established 5 checkpoints around the town.
· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF established many checkpoints at byroads. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. Since the beginning of the Intifada, the road connecting Kafr al-Labad with Shofah villages, east of Tulkarm, is closed. In addition, the road connecting Shofa village and its farm is closed. At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 28 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm.
At approximately 09:00 on Friday morning, 29 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Tulkarm – Qalailya road near the entrance of Far'oun village, south of Tulkarm. At approximately 17:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm.
At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 30 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. It should be noted that this checkpoint is almost daily established and IOF keep military vehicles in the area to guard the bypass road connecting “Avni Heifetz” and “Ennab” settlements, east of Tulkarm, with “Shavi Shomron” settlement, west of Nablus. At approximately 11:30 IOF stationed at Ennab checkpoint on Tulkarm – Nablus road, east of Tulkarm, imposed more restrictions against the Palestinian civilians. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, but no arrests were reported.
At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 01 May 2011, IOF stationed at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinians. At approximately 11:30, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm – Qalqilya road at "Mothallath Jbarah" area, south of Tulkarm. At approximately 24:05, IOF established a similar checkpoint on Tulkarm – Qalqilya road near the entrance of Far'oun village.
At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 02 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm- Qalqilya road at Mothallath Jbarah area, south of Tulkram.
At approximately 18:00 on Tuesday, 03 May 2011, IOF stationed at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed more restrictions against the movement of Palestinians.
· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 19:00 on Friday, 29 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kafrit village, southwest of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 18:30 on Thursday, 28 April 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fasayel village, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
· At approximately 16:30 on Sunday, 01 May 2011, Israeli troops stationed at the "Container" checkpoint on the Eastern Sawahrah village – Wad al-Nar road, northeast of Bethlehem, arrested Mohammed Hashem Mohammed Ermeilat, 25, from Bani Na'im village, southeast of Hebron. He had been detained for few hours before he was transported to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of Hebron.
Harassments at Military Checkpoints
On Sunday morning, 01 May 2011, on "International Workers’ Day", Israeli troops stationed in al-Kassarah area, southwest of al-Ramadeen village near the annexation wall, chased a number of Palestinian workers while they were crossing to Israeli territory to search for work in Beersheba. A number of the Palestinian workers were beaten and one of them was attacked and mauled by sniffer dogs. As a result, two Palestinians sustained moderate and minor injuries:
1. Mohammed Nasser Mohammed Tmaizi, 22, from Ethna village, northwest of Hebron. He was wounded in the forehead and right leg and sustained bruises throughout the body and scratches in the legs; and
2. Na'im Mohammed Hosheiyah, 45, from Yatta, south of Hebron. He sustained superficial wounds in the left leg, scratches in the limbs and bruises throughout the body.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and the testimony of Mohammed Nasser Mohammed Tmaizi, at approximately 02:30 on the aforementioned day, Tmaizi and other 4 workers were heading by a taxi to al-Dhaheriyah area. They drove a Mitsubishi Magnum to transport them to the borders of the Israel. At approximately 04:00, they arrived at al-Kassarah area, southwest of al-Ramadeen village. They started walking on foot to cross the borders through a hole in the annexation wall. At a distance of 3 meters away from the fence, a worker saw a group of 4-5 Israeli soldiers with a huge sniffer dog. The workers started running away. Immediately, IOF let the dog chase the workers until it pushed Tmaizi to the ground at a distance of 50 meters east of the fence. The dog attacked him and started biting his legs. In the meanwhile, the soldiers surrounded him while he was lying on the ground. They kept watching the dog attacking him for a few minutes. Later, the soldiers kicked and beat him by gun butts, especially on the head and legs. As a result, he sustained a wound in the forehead, wounds in the right leg, scratches in the legs and bruises throughout the body.
In his testimony to PCHR, Tamiza said:
"After I was attacked, IOF forced me to walk towards the fence, but I was exhausted and my forehead was bleeding, as I was hit by a gun butt. They detained me without offering any medical treatment. I was obliged to lay down on my stomach for 4 hours before they asked me to get up and leave. I left immediately walking between valleys and hills to the east for a distance of 3 kilometers until I reached al-Ramadeen village. I asked for help, and they called an ambulance, which transported me to Hebron Hospital to receive the medical treatment needed."
At approximately 16:20 on Sunday, 01 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya. They chased Saleh Wajeeh al-Qur'an, 20, while he was going home through an unpaved road.
In his testimony to PCHR, al-Qur'an said:
"I was in Nabi Elias village. When I was prevented from entering Qalqilya, I headed to another road. As a result, the Israeli soldiers saw me and ran after me. I fell off the horse, due to which, I sustained bruises and was transported to the emergency hospital in the city to receive the necessary medical treatment."
4. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers
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 14:40 on Sunday, 01 May 2011, Israeli troops supported with many military vehicles broke into Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya. They broke into two houses belonging to Zeidan and Shadi Yasser Mohammed Tabib. Before the Israeli troops withdrew, Tabib had received notices of demolishing their houses under the pretext of not obtaining a license.
· On Monday morning, 02 May 2011, IOF sent Palestinians from Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, notices of demolition of 3 industrial and agricultural facilities adjacent to the main road, south and east of the town.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and testimony of Mohammed 'Ayyad 'Awad, spokesman of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall, officers of the Israeli "Civil Administration" accompanied by Israeli troops submitted 3 notices of demolition to owners of the 3 targeted facilities. These facilities are established on lands of their owners on the main road connecting Hebron with Bethlehem. The facilities belonging to Saber Zamel Abu Maria and Ahmed Hmeid Abu Maria are a workshop for construction blocks, an agricultural shed and a workshop to sell cars' spare parts. The demolition notices were issued under the pretext that the facilities are close to the road used by Israeli vehicles. The military notices offered a one-week period to appeal the decision.
· On Monday also, 02 May 2011, IOF sent 8 notices of evacuating dozens of donums to a number of Palestinians in al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, under the pretext that these famrs, which are located in the southeast of the refugee camp, are "State Property".
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and testimonies of the camp's residents, an Israeli officer of the "Civil Administration" and Israeli troops disseminated the notices around the targeted lands and submitted some of them to farmers in or close to those lands at "Khalayel al-Tobasi" area. The evacuation notices include prevention of entering the lands or utilizing them. They are about 80 donums which include 13 wells for agricultural purposes. The lands belong to a number of Palestinians, including Khaled Hassan Sarhanah, Jebril Mostafa Sarhanah, Nezar Abdul Ra'ouf Janazrah, Amjad Jaber Shadafan, Abdul Ra'ouf Sha'ban Janazrah and Samir Mohammed al-Hleiqawi.
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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