Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (16 – 22 Feb. 2012)
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
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Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian civilians in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah
February 23, 2012
Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
IOF
have continued bombardments and shootings in the Gaza Strip.
IOF
implemented 5 airstrikes and fired 9 missiles.
14
civilians, including 2 women and 3 children, sustained bruises and wounds by
glass shrapnel.
A
metal workshop was destroyed and several houses and civilian establishments
were damaged.
IOF
have continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
7
protesters, including an Israeli peace activist, were wounded.
5 of
the wounded were participating in Kafr Qaddoum protest and 2 of them were
participating in al-Nabi Saleh protest.
IOF
have used force against protests in support of Palestinian prisoner Khader
Adnan.
4
protesters were wounded in front of 'Ofer prison, southwest of Ramallah.
IOF
conducted 74 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a
limited incursion into the south of the Gaza Strip.
IOF arrested 21
Palestinians in the West Bank.
The arrested
Palestinians include 4 Palestinians who were released from Israeli jails in the
recent prisoner swap, and including the wife and daughter of a Palestinian who
was released from Israeli jails in the recent prisoner swap and who was
arrested again during the reporting period.
IOF undercover
units implemented arrests in al-Bireh city and in 'Anabta village.
IOF raided
houses of PLC members and the office of PLC members of Hamas Change and Reform
Bloc.
IOF arrested 2
Palestinians in the south of the Gaza Strip while getting ready to hunt birds.
Israel
has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza
Strip from the outside world.
IOF arrested 3
Palestinians at checkpoints in the West Bank.
IOF held a
Palestinian patient at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for several hours as he was
on his way to al-Maqased hospital for treatment.
Summary
Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (16 – 22 February 2012):
Shooting:
In the West Bank, IOF wounded 11
protesters, including an Israeli peace activist. Seven of the Palestinians
wounded in the West Bank were wounded in peaceful protests to the construction
of the annexation wall and settlement activities while 4 Palestinians were
wounded in peaceful demonstrations organized in support of Palestinian prisoner
Khader Adnan. In the Gaza Strip, 14 Palestinians, including 2 women and 3
children, sustained bruises and wounds by shrapnel wounds in airstrikes
implemented by IOF warplanes.
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, 11 protesters, including an Israeli peace activist, were wounded. Seven
of the wounded were wounded in peaceful demonstration organized in protest to
settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall, including 2
of them wounded in the weakly protest in al-Nabi Saleh on 17 February 2012, and
5 wounded in the weakly protest in Kafr Qaddoum also on 17 February. Additionally,
dozens of protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation.
IOF also used excessive force
against peaceful demonstrations organized in support of Palestinian prisoner
Khader Adnan. As a result, 4 Palestinians sustained wounds. Additionally dozens
of protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF warplanes
launched 5 airstrikes at civilian targets and training sites used by groups of
the Palestinian resistance. In these airstrikes, IOF fired 9 missiles.
Additionally, IOF fired 2 artillery shells at a site of the Palestinian
National Security Service. As a result, 14 Palestinians, including 2 women and
3 children, sustained bruises and wounds by shrapnel wounds. Additionally, the
destructions and damages were caused to the targeted places and their
surroundings.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF
conducted at least 74 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the
West Bank, during which they arrested 21 Palestinian civilians, including a child.
During the reporting period, IOF
undercover units moved into Palestinian communities and arrested 4 Palestinians.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF implemented a
limited incursion in the south of the Gaza Strip and arrested 2 Palestinians.
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 four 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, on 04 January 2012, the
Israeli occupation authorities totally closed 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 export of Gaza's
products, especially industrial products, leading to undermining any real
chances to revive 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 delay 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 permission to new categories of Gazan patients
to have access hospitals in Israel or even in West Bank via the crossing.
Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international
diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza
Strip.
For approximately 55 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 fundamental 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 completed, 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 Monday, 13
February 2012, IOF bulldozed Wadi Helwa playground which measures 700 meters
squared; Silwan Creative Forum which is built on Wadi Helwa playground; and a
barrack measuring 60 meters squared and belonging to Amin Abdul Razzaq Seyam,
all in Wadi Helwa in Silawan village, south of the Occupied City of Jerusalem.
They also bulldozed a tin wall of 100 meters in length and a tin room measuring
6 meters squared belonging to Zeid Zamzam Shweiki in Wadi Yasoul neighborhood
in Silwan village.
Also on Monday,
13 February 2012, IOF demolished and leveled to ground a house of Ahmed
Mohammed Nasser al-Baghdadi.
The Israeli
Municipality's District Committee for Planning and Building in Jerusalem
approved a plan to construct a large building in the yard of the al-Buraq Wall
(the Western Wall) opposite to the western wall of the al-Aqsa Mosque and near
the Mughrabi Gate Bridge. The building will be called "Beit Halibah".
According to the plan, the building area is estimated at approximately 3,700 meters
squared, consists of three floors and two underground floors. The building was prepared
for use for the Jewish settlers and foreign tourists, as well as an information
center and exhibition grounds.
Settlement
Activities:
Israel
has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of
international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.
On
13 February 2012 on Monday, IOF demolished a number of tents, stockyards for
sheep and stores for fodders in Kherbet al-Rahwa in the south of al-Dahirya
village, southwest of Hebron. Besides, IOF confiscated a number of agricultural
tools and equipment under the pretext of not obtaining a "prior
license" from the Israeli authorities. The attack resulted in the
demolition of six tents, eights stockyards and stores, an old well and ten
cells for beekeeping.
On
the same day, IOF bulldozed five barracks and four tents in al-Ja'wana area,
east of Kherbet Tana, east of Nablus. They belong to Shaher Fa'eq Taher Hanani,
'Atef Ahmed Hanani and As'ad Mohammed As'ad.
On
Wednesday, 15 February 2012, IOF, using three bulldozers, uprooted 250 olive
trees and 30 fig trees in Beer al-Hour area, northeast of Ramallah. The area is
adjacent to "Shilo" settlement from the northern side. The uprooted
trees have been planted for over 15 years in lands belonging to Rabee' Mohammed
As'ad Dar Jbara with an area of approximately 300 dunums. This attack is a part
of a series of attacks paving the way to annex the lands of the village to
"Shilo" settlement.
On
the same context, on 09 February 2012, the Israeli settlers planted forest
trees in a land with an area of approximately 15 dunums in al-Dawali area. The
land belong to Hassan Abdullah Ishtiwi, north of Kafr Qaddoum.
In
Salfit, a group of settlers seized dozens of dunums of land belonging to Yasouf
village. The targeted land is adjacent to the eastern and southern sides of the
settlement. The settlers established iron bars using cement to be surrounded by
a fence.
In
Nablus, on 09 February 2012, the Israeli settlers moved from "Bracha"
settlement, south of Nablus, to houses of Palestinians in al-Batin area,
northeast of Burin.
In
Hebron, on 10 February 2012, dozens of settlers from "Carmiel"
settlement, south of Hebron, moved into 40 dunums of lands belonging to
al-Hatheleen family. The settlers
planted a number of seedlings in front of the Israeli soldiers. In 11 February 2012, another group of
settlers attacked a number of farmers and solidarity activists while, on
voluntary basis, they were planting trees in Susia area, east of
"Susia" settlement, south of Hebron.
Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (16- 22 February 2012)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 16 February 2012
At
approximately 00:00, IOF moved into 'Arraba, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled
in the streets for some time and then stationed in the southern neighborhood.
They raided and searched the house of Ibrahim Mohammed Saleh Dahbour, 44, a PLC
member for Hamas Change and Reform Bloc. They confiscated a computer, a laptop,
ID documents, a number of video tapes and 3 mobiles. IOF withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.
Also at
approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Jabriat neighborhood, north of Jenin.
They raided and searched the house of Khaled Suleiman Fayez Abu Hassan, 44, a
PLC member for Hamas Change and Reform Bloc. They confiscated 2 computers,
documents and 2 mobile phones from the house. Before withdrawing from the
house, they asked Abu Hassan to go with them to the office of PLC members for
Hamas Change and Reform Bloc. In the same time, another IOF force raided and
searched the house of Khaled Abdullah Yahya, 53, PLC member for Hamas Change
and Reform Bloc. They also asked Yahya
to go with them to the office of PLC members for Hamas Change and Reform Bloc.
As the two PLC members arrived at their office in al-Samoudi building in the
east of Jenin, IOF raided and searched the office. Then they asked Abu Ha and
Yahya to leave the place. IOF remained in the office for some time. Before
withdrawing, they confiscated some documents from the office of PLC members for
Hamas Change and Reform Bloc.
At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Rajabi neighborhood, south of Hebron.
They raided and searched the house of Zeid Zidan Mohammed Zayed al-Rajabi, 35.
Before withdrawing, IOF arrested al-Rajabi and transferred him to "Kfar
Etzion" detention center, southwest of Bethlehem.
At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Barqin village, west of Jenin. They patrolled
in the streets for some time and then stationed in the southern neighborhood. They
raided and searched the house of Hanaa Yehya Saber Shalabi, 30, who was
recently released from Israeli jails. Before withdrawing, they arrested
Shalabi. It should be noted that Shalabi served 25 months in administrative
detention and was released in the recent prisoner swap.
At
approximately 02:10, IOF warplanes fired two missiles at a training site used
by the Izz Addin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in Yafa Street,
east of al-Tufah neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. As a result, the
windows in some of the surrounding houses and establishments, particularly
Mohammed al-Durrah Hospital, crushed and locals were in panic. Additionally, 10
Palestinians sustained bruises and were transferred to al-Shifa Hospital for
treatment:
1. Alaa Abed Abu Ghneima, 24;
2. Sharihan Uthman Hassan Abdul Al, 23;
3. Nader Ahmd Zaqzouq, 30;
4. Shaima Uthman Abdul Al, 14;
5. Maher Fadhel Ata Allah al-Jammal, 50;
6. Maher Yahya Jamal Khalaf, 40;
7. Mukarram Tawfiq Abdul Salam Hassouna, 54;
8. Asil Radi Abdul Al, 7;
9. Mohammed Ali Mahmoud Lubbad, 22, who is a paramedic of the civil
defense service; and
Za10. kariya Said Helles, 21; who is a nurse at Mohammed al-Durrah
Hospital and who sustained wounds in the nose as he was hit by glass shrapnel
from the crushing windows.
Also at approximately 02:10, IOF warplanes
fired three missiles at a training site used by Palestinian resistance groups,
northwest of Nusseirat in the middle of the Gaza Strip. The site was damaged
and no casualties were reported.
At approximately 08:15, IOF moved
into Asala village, south of Qalqilya. Patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were arrested.
At approximately 08:50, IOF moved
into Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some
time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were arrested.
At approximately 09:00, IOF moved
into Beit 'or al-Foqa village, southwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 09:00, IOF
moved into Fasayel village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for
some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into Beit Sira village, southwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some
time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests
were reported.
At approximately 10:25, IOF moved
into al-Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 15:00, IOF moved
into Shweika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and
withdrew approximately two hours later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 17:00, IOF moved
into Zabuba village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some
time. In the meanwhile, a number of Palestinian boys gathered and stoned IOF
who replied by firing tear gas canisters and sound bombs. IOF withdrew later
and no arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 17:00, IOF
moved into al-Jiftlik village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets
for some time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:30, IOF moved
into Asala village, south of Qalqilya, for the second time within hours. They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:45, IOF moved
into Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some
time. Then they raided and searched a number of houses in al-Safha
neighborhood. They held the residents of the raided house in the outdoors in
cold and rainy weather. The raided houses include: the houses of Mesleh
Mohammed Hussein, Salah Mohammed Hussein, Imran Abdullah Hussein, Mohammed Amin
Abdullah Hussein, Mohammed Said Saleh Salim, Ali Abdul Hafez Odwan, Juma'a
Yasin Inaya and Iyad Wasfi Hussein. They also searched a car repair workshop.
IOF withdrew at around 21:30 and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 20:00, IOF moved
into Kafr Qaddoum 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 al-Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya, for the second time in
hours. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 21:00, IOF
moved into Tormos'aya village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 21:30, IOF moved
into al-'Oja village, northeast of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 22:10, IOF an IOF
warplane fired two missiles at Zuhdi Ashor & Sons Metal Workshop, east of
al-Zaytoon headquarters in the east of Gaza City, which is owned by Eyad Zuhdi
Rashad Ashour, 38. As a result, the workshop which measures 600 meters squared
was totally destroyed. The windows of the house of Eyad Zuhdi Rashad Ashour
which is built on top of the workshop were crushed as well. Additionally,
Mohammed Salim Ramadan Ashour, 27, sustained light wounds.
Friday, 17 February 2012
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into al-Yamoun village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved
into Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of
houses belonging to the al-Halayqa family. Before withdrawing, IOF arrested
Shadi Mohammed Ismail al-Halayqa, 18, and Anas Ahmed Ismail al-Halayqa, 21, and
transferred them to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of
Bethlehem.
At approximately 09:00, 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.
Also at approximately 09:00, IOF
moved into Jafna village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into Kharabth al-Misbah village, southwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time. IOF withdrew
later and no arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 09:30, IOF
moved into al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into Zabouba village, northwest of Jenin. They stationed for some time in and
then drove to the west. They raided a 4-storey house belonging to Fahmi Asaad
Mustafa Jaradat, 53, a Sharia Judge, who is the President of the Sharia Court
of Appeal. They
stationed in the fourth floor which
is under construction and transformed it into military barracks. One of
Jaradat's daughters told the PCHR fieldworker that IOF remained in their house
until the evening and that the family remained without water and telephone.
After IOF withdrew, the family fixed the water and telephone networks.
At approximately 10:10, IOF moved
into Sonjol village, north of Ramallah.
They provocatively patrolled in the streets for some time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.
Also at approximately 10:10, IOF moved into Kharabtha Bani Hareth
village, west of Ramallah. They
patrolled in the streets for some time. They
withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 16:00, IOF moved
into Bir al-Basha village, south of Jenin.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 16:15, IOF
positioned at the border in the east of al-Bureij, in the middle of the Gaza
Strip, fired two shells at the Maqboula site, southeast of al-Bureij, which is
used by the Palestinian National Security Service.
At approximately 21:35, IOF moved
into Bedia village, west of Salfit. They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew at approximately 22:35. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 22:30, IOF moved
into Kafl Hares village, north of Salfit.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew at approximately
22:50. Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.
Saturday, 18 February 2012
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Beit Leqia village,
southwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in
the streets for some time. They withdrew
later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Aqabet Jaber refugee camp,
south of Jericho. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Ahmed Ali al-Sheikh Ibrahim, 23;
2. Mohammed Ali al-Masri, 22; and
3. Ibrahim Walid Hmeidat, 22.
At approximately 06:30, IOF moved into Izbat al-Tabib village, east
of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into Mithlon village, southeast
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time. Before leaving, they delivered a notice to Mahmoud Hassan
requiring him to appear before the Israeli intelligence.
Also at approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Berham village,
northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in
the streets for some time. They withdrew
later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Beitin village, northeast of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.
At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Zabouba village, northwest
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew 30 minutes later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 16:00, IOF moved again into Zabouba village,
northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 22:30, IOF moved for the third time within hours
into B Zabouba village, northwest of Jenin.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
Sunday, 19 February 2012
At approximately 00:20, an IOF warplane
fired a missile
at a house belonging to Ali Ghazi Mohammed al-Zaharna, 37. The house
which measures 120 meters squared
is located in al-Shurafa Street in al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza
City. The missile landed on the top roof
and made a hole in the ceiling but it did not explode. The missile
caused damages to the house. Additionally, al-Zaharna, his wife and his
two-year-old children sustained bruises.
At approximately 00:30, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a
training site used by Izz Addin al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas,
in Yafa Street, east of al-Tuffah neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The bombardment resulted in damages to the
neighboring establishments, especially Gaza Martyrs Boys Basic School. The windows of the school crushed and damages
were caused to the exhibit, the library and the book store in the school.
Around 600 students attend this school which employs 23 teachers. The school which measures 4 donums is located
12 meters to the east of the targeted site.
No casualties were reported. It
should be noted that this site was targeted several times in the past, most
recently on 16 January 2012.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved
into Beit Rima village, northwest of Ramallah.
They raided and searched the house of Yahya Hassan al-Khatib, 20. Before withdrawing, they arrested al-Khatib.
Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some
time. They withdrew later and no arrests
were reported.
At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Deir Niam village, northwest
of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time. They withdrew
later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Alar village, northeast of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:00, IOF moved Beit 'Aor al-Tahta village, west
of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time. IOF withdrew
later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 12:15, IOF moved into Shweika suburb, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Sabah al-Kheir suburb, north
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 15:45, IOF moved
into Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Zabouba village, northwest
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time. Meanwhile, a group of
Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at IOF who replied by firing tear
gas canisters and sound bombs. IOF
withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:10, IOF moved
into Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and established a checkpoint
at the entrance of the village. IOF
withdrew at approximately 18:55 and neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Monday, 20 February 2012
At approximately 00:15, IOF moved into Jaba' village, south of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qabatia, southeast of Jeni. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and then stationed in al-Zakarna neighborhood in the center of Qabatia. They raided and searched the house of Shadi
Talal Mahmoud Zakarna, 25. Before
withdrawing, IOF arrested Zakarna.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and raided a number of houses in different neighborhoods in Tulkarm. According to PCHR investigations and to the
statements by victims and eyewitnesses, IOF raided houses belonging to
supporters of Islamic movements. Israeli officers from the Israeli intelligence
service questioned the residents of the raided houses. An officer who introduced himself as
"Captain Burkan, responsible for the Islamic movements file in the Israeli
intelligence" questioned residents from the raided houses. Another officer who introduced himself as
"Captain Itay, responsible for the Islamic Jihad file in the Israeli
intelligence" questioned residents of the raided houses and supporters of
the Islamic Jihad. The questioning
focused on the opinion of the questioned persons on the current economic and
political conditions, the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas and
the prospects for the success of this agreement. The officers warned the questioned persons of
engagement in any activities by Islamic groups.
At approximately 10:15, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some
time. They delivered notices requiring
the demolition of barracks belonging to Mohammed Abdul Karim al-Ju'eidi and an
agricultural room belonging to Abdul Halim Hussein al-'Abah.
At approximately 12:50, an IOF undercover unit kidnapped Umar
Khaled Abu Rweis, 23, from al-Am'ari refugee camp, west of al-Bireh. The members of the undercover unit severely beat
Abu Rweis while transferring him to Qalandia checkpoint, north of Jerusalem,
and then to an unknown destination. According to investigations made by PCHR,
at approximately 12:50, an IOF undercover unit consisting of five armed members
traveling in two vehicles, a white Mercedes bus and a white lorry, with
Palestinian registration plates, stopped near the main entrance of the
Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in al-Bireh on the main road between
Ramallah and Jerusalem. Then the white
Mercedes bus parked in front of PRCS main gate.
Abu Rweis who works as a guard at PRCS walked to the driver to tell him
that he was not allowed to park in front of the gate. At that moment, all the five armed members of
the undercover unit stepped down and kidnapped Abu Rweis at gunpoint. They took him to the bus and drove to
Qalandia checkpoint. They severely beat Abu Rweis with their hands, legs and
gun butts throughout the body.
At approximately 21:30, IOF moved into Deir Estaia village,
northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew at approximately 23:15. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Imatin village, northeast of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew at approximately 00:00. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Tubas. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and raided and searched many houses.
They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Aqaba village,
northwest of Tubas. They patrolled in
the streets for some time. They then
raided and searched the house of Mohammed Hassan Saleh Abu 'Arra, 30, in the
center of 'Aqaba village. Before
withdrawing, IOF arrested Abu 'Arra and transferred him to "Salem"
detention center. Northwest of Jenin
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and then raided and searched the house of Yousef Abdul Rahman Eshteiwi, 25, who
was released recently from Israeli jails in the recent prisoner swap. They forced the residents of the house to go
out and stay in the outdoors in the cold weather. IOF arrested Eshteiwi and withdrew at approximately
04:15.
At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and then raided and searched the house of Mahmoud Adnan Mahmoud
Salim, 21, who was released recently from Israeli jails in the recent prisoner
swap. They forced the residents of the
house to go out and stay in the outdoors in the cold weather. IOF arrested Salim and withdrew at approximately
04:15.
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved approximately 400 meters into Gaza
International Airport, in the far southeast of Rafah in the south of the Gaza
Strip. They arrested three Palestinians
from al-Shoka village in the east of Rafah:
1. Mohammed Hussein Abu Athreh, 20;
2. Saddam Mohammed Abu Athreh, 21; and
3. Ashraf Hassan al-Soufi, 23.
According to testimonies made by the families of the arrested men,
the three men used to hunt birds in the area.
PCHR was unable to collect any further information.
At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into Zabouba village, northwest
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time. Meanwhile a group of
Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at IOF who responded by firing tear
gas canister and sound bombs. Before
withdrawing later, IOF raided and searched the house of Mahmoud Reyad Hussein
Zaghal, 19, and arrested Zaghal.
At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Shweika suburb, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Arraba, southwest of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Shweika suburb, north of
Tulkarm, for the second time within few hours.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 23:40, IOF moved into Kafr Addik village, west of
Salfit. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew at approximately 00:30. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
At approximately 02:00, an IOF foot unit moved into 'Anabta
village, east of Tulkarm. An IOF
undercover unit raided the hosue of Jihad Mohammed Abdul Latif Abu 'Asal, 22,
in the eastern neighborhood in 'Anabta, and arrested Abu 'Asal. At the same time, another undercover unit
raided and searched the house of Abu Asal's brother, Rami, 33, in the center of
'Anabta, and arrested Rami. Also simultaneously, a third undercover unit was
using a white civilian car and made an ambush on the main road between Tulkarm
and Nablus. This road crosses by the center of 'Anabta village. When there were no other cars travelling on
the road and no people were in the area, the undercover unit raided a grocery
shop on the main road and kidnapped Anas Umar Mohammed Abu 'Asal, 20, who was
in the shop. IOF withdrew from the
village after arresting the three Palestinians.
At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Zabouba village, northwest
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time. Meanwhile, a group of
Palestinian boys gathered and stoned IOF who responded by firing tear gas
canisters and sound bombs. IOF withdrew
later and no further incidents were reported.
At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Qafin village, north of
Tulkarm. They surrounded the house of
Majdi 'Ateya Suleiman Ajjouli, 50, in the eastern neighborhood of Qafin
village. They raided the house and
arrested Ajjouli, his wife, Maysoon Ajjouli, 42, and his daughter, Dua'a,
23. Eyewitnesses reported that they
heard explosions as IOF where raiding Ajjouli's house. It should be noted that Ajjouli was released
from Israeli jails in the recent prisoner swap after serving 22 years in
prison.
2. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrators Protesting
Settlement Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall
During the reporting period, IOF used excessive force against peaceful
demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians, 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. IOF
attacks on peaceful demonstrations resulted in wounding 7 civilians, including an
Israeli peace activist. Additionally,
dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders participating in
peaceful demonstrations suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 17 February 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'in village, west of Ramallah,
protesting the construction of the annexation wall, marking the seventh
anniversary of the popular resistance in Bil'in and in support of Khader Adnan,
the Palestinian prisoner who has been holding an open-ended hunger strike in an
Israeli jail. They raised the Palestinian flag and the photos of the PLC
member in Israeli jails Marwan al-Barghouthi and Khader Adnan. They called for ending the political division
and for releasing all the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. 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 Palestinians sustained
bruises and suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer, on 17 February 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians, international and human rights defenders organized a
peaceful demonstration in Ni'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against
the construction of the annexation wall and in support of the Palestinian
prisoner Khader Adnan. They chanted slogans calling for Palestinian
reconciliation, adherence to the Palestinian inalienable rights and resistance
of the occupation. They clashed with Israeli troops positioned near the
annexation wall. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets,
sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, a
number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday prayer on 17 February 2012, 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 and in support of the Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan. They
raised the Palestinian flag and the photos of Palestinian Prisoner Khader Adnan
and other prisoners. 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. As a
result, 2 Palestinians (PCHR maintains their names) sustained wounds. In addition, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer, at approximately 12:45 on the
same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human
rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Kafr Qaddoum village,
northeast of Qalqilya, in protest against closing the eastern entrance of the
village. The demonstrators headed towards that entrance. Israeli soldiers
fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 5 demonstrators
including an Israeli peace activist, were wounded. (PCHR) maintains of the names of the wounded.
At approximately 12:30 on Tuesday, 21 February 2012, IOF positioned
in watchtowers at the border fence near Beit Hanou (Erez) crossing, north of
the Gaza Strip, fired at a group of demonstrators and Palestinian and
international activists in the vicinity of the crossing. The demonstration was comprised of
approximately 80 protestors, including 63 international activists, 10
journalists and representatives of Palestinian resistance groups. When they approached to a distance of 150
meters from the border, IOF opened fire, but no injuries were reported.
Saber al-Za'neen, Coordinator of the Local Initiative in Beit
Hanoun and the supervisor of the demonstration, said that at approximately
11:30 on the said day, a demonstration headed to the northern area. When they reached the cement wall, at
approximately 12:30, an activist planted the Palestinians flag. In response to
this act the Israeli soldiers positioned in the watchtower opened fire. The demonstrators were terrorized and fled
out of the area. No injuries were reported.
3. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrators Organized
in Support of Palestinian Prisoner Khader Adnan
During the reporting period, many peaceful demonstrations were
organized in support of and in solidarity with Khader Adnan , the Palestinian
prisoner who has been holding an open-ended hunger strike in an Israeli jail
since 17 December 2011. IOF used excessive
force against participants in these demonstrations which were called for by the
student movement in Birzeit University, in front of "Ofer" prison,
southwest of Ramallah. As a result, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded.
At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 21 February 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails
gathered to organize a peaceful demonstration in support of the Palestinian
prisoner in Israeli jails Khader Adnan .
The demonstration was called for by the student movement in Birzeit
University. The demonstrators headed to
"Ofer" prison in the southwest of Ramallah, and then they walked
towards the gate of the prison. IOF closed
the gate. Before the demonstrators
arrived at the gate, IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets, metal bullets, tear
gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators who threw stones at IOF. As a result, 4 students from Birzeit
University were wounded. The wounded
students were transferred to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah for
treatment. Additionally, many participants suffered from tear gas inhalation
including Nawal Jamil Abdul Hamid, 52.
IOF also arrested Nidal Ahmed Abu 'Ein, 20, and Mahmoud Ghasan Dar
al-Sheikh, 22, and took them to
"Ofer" prison.
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 four 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 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, 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
15 –
21 February 2012
Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
15-21
February 2012
Imports:
Exports:
On Thursday, 16 February 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 202,000
flowers.
On Sunday, 19 February 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 223,000
flowers.
On Monday, 20 February 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of1.9 tons
of bell pepper and 9 tons of cherry tomato.
On Tuesday, 21 February 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 175,000
flowers.
Notes:
On Wednesday, 15 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 2,520 tons
of construction aggregate; 19 tons of stones and 40 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry
of 80 tons of cement and 350 tons of construction aggregate for the French
Cultural Centre. They also allowed the
entry of 700 tons of construction aggregate for UNDP. They allowed the entry of 34 tons of fodder
and 1,092 tons of wheat.
On Thursday, 16 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 2,660 tons
of construction aggregate; 200 tons of cement and 82 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry
of 70 tons of construction steel for the Water Authority. In addition, the allowed the entry of 1,014
tons of fodders.
On Sunday, 19 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 1,911 tons of
construction aggregate, 200 tons of cement, 40 tons construction steel for
UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 858
tons of fodders.
On Monday, 20 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 2,800 tons of
construction aggregate; 160 tons of cement and 38 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry
of 1,092 tons of wheat.
On Tuesday, 21 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 1,820 tons
of construction aggregate; 440 tons of cement and 44 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry
of 975 tons of wheat.
Important note: IOF allowed the entry of the following on
Tuesday, 07 February 2010. The items allowed to enter on this day were not
inserted in the past report.
On this reporting day, IOF allowed the
exportation of 150,000 flowers.
They also allowed the entry of 2,800 tons of construction
aggregate, 440 tons of cement and 38 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 120 tons of
cement for USAID. IOF allowed the entry
of 1,248 tons of fodders.
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
15 – 20 February 2012
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.
Ramallah: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 09:30 on
Thursday, 16 February 2012, IOF re-established their presence at 'Attarah
checkpoint, north of Ramallah. At
approximately 10:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Luqia
village, west of Ramallah. At
approximately 11:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir
Debwan village, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 15:30, IOF established
a checkpoint near the entrance of Deair Masha'al village, northwest of
Ramallah.
At
approximately 09:30 on Friday, 17 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At the same time, they also established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Bil'in village, west of Ramallah. At approximately 10:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance at Beit 'Aor al-Foqa village, southwest of
Ramallah. At approximately 18:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Mghair village, northeast of
Ramallah.
At
approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 19 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint under
the bridge of Kharbatha al-Mesbah, west of Ramallah. At approximately 10:40 on
the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kherbet Abu Falah
village, northeast of Ramallah.
Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 16 February 2012, IOF
established 7 checkpoints throughout Qalqilya.
On
Friday, 17 February 2012, IOF established 4 checkpoints throughout Qalqilya.
On
Saturday, 18 February 2012, IOF established 7 checkpoints throughout Qalqilya;
one of which was established at the entrance of 'Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya. IOF detained Feras Abdul Hamid Za'rour at this checkpoint. Za'rour was released later after IOF gave him
a written notice to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service.
On
Sunday, 19 February 2012, IOF established 7 checkpoints throughout Qalqilya.
On
Monday, 20 February 2012, IOF established 8 checkpoints throughout Qalqilya.
Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 16
February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Far'oun village,
south of Tulkarm.
At approximately
02:00 on Saturday, 18 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of 'Allar village, northeast of Tulkarm. At approximately 15:30 on the same day, IOF
established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablus road, east of Tulkarm.
At
approximately 07:15 on Sunday, 19 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road, south of Tulkarm.
At
approximately 23:30 on Monday, 20 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
on the road between 'Atel village and Deair al-Ghsoun village, north of
Tulkarm.
Salfit: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 14:00 on Friday,
17 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Iskaka village,
east of Salfit. At approximately 22:45,
IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zaweya village, west of
Salfit.
Jenin: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday,
21 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at crossroads of 'Arraba
village, south of Jenin. At the same time, IOF established a checkpoint at the
crossroads of Kfert village, southwest of Jenin.
Jericho:
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately
11:00 on Thursday, 16 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint near the
southern entrance of Jericho. At
approximately 17:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint on Jericho-Ramallah
road.
At
approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 18 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of al-Zbeidat village, north of Jericho. At approximately 16:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Fassayel village, north of Jericho.
At
approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 19 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Marj Na'ja village, North of Jericho.
Arrests
at Military Checkpoints
At
approximately 13:30 on Saturday, 18 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, and arrested
Samid Mohammed Ishtiwi, 22, from the said village. Ishtiwi, who is a Palestinian policeman, was
transported to an unknown destination.
At
approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 19 February 2012, IOF who established a
checkpoint at "Abu Georges" crossroads in the center of al-Eizareya
village in the east of occupied Jerusalem, arrested Karim Zakareya Khalil
Khalaf, 32, and Usama Karam Yousef Khalaf, 39, from al-Eizareya village. IOF stopped their car, which was travelling
through the crossroad and confiscated 80,000 NIS from Karim Zakareya Khalil
Khalaf, who works in a money exchange office.
At
approximately 16:15 on Sunday, 19 February 2012, IOF positioned at Beit Hanoun
(Erez) crossing, north of the Gaza Strip, told Farida Sa'eed al-Taramsi, 58,
who was the companion of her son Kamel Hekmat Kamel al-Taramsi, 23, from Block
8 in Jabalia refugee camp, north of the Gaza Strip, that she had to return to
Gaza without giving her any information about her son. It should be noted that Farida was
accompanying her son in his travel to al-Maqased Hospital in Jerusalem for
medical treatment.
In
his testimony, Kamel al-Taramsi said that he has been suffering from tumors in
the limbs for the past 8 years. However,
doctors in Gaza could not diagnose the disease.
He tried several times to obtain the papers needed to help him travel
abroad, but in vain. Finally, in mid
January 2012, he obtained Form No. 1 to be referred to al-Maqased Hospital on
19 February 2012. As a result, at
approximately 08:00 on 19 February, al-Taramsi and his mother went to Beit
Hanoun crossing. After they reached the
Palestinian Liaison Office "55" and waited for their coordination,
they obtained it at 09:10. When they
approached the Israeli side, they handed their IDs and papers to the officers
through a window. After approximately 20
minutes, two persons in civilian clothes came to al-Taramsi and asked him to go
with them to be searched. He was put
into a room, where he was asked to take all his clothes off except the
underwear. The two mobile phones were
taken from him and after which he was asked to walk in an underground
corridor. Then he was taken upstairs
again. Al-Taramsi was put into another
room, in which two persons were sitting behind a desk; one of whom was in
civilian clothes and the other was in military uniform. There was also a secretary
to write al-Taramsi's statement. Al-Tarmsi
was questioned about personal and family information and whether his brothers are
members in Palestinian resistance groups.
They accused him of launching home-made rockets on Israel, but he denied
the accusation. Later, he was
transferred to another room with an obscured window and two chairs. He waited there for a long time and then was
taken downstairs again. They reached a
car park, where a Savanna car stopped in front of him. Israeli soldiers handcuffed him and put
glasses on his eyes to prevent him from seeing anything. He was put into the car and transported to an
unknown destination. There he stepped
out of the car and was taken inside a building, where he saw an Israeli
officer, a person in civilian clothes, and a translator. The officer took al-Taramsi's personal
information and then asked him to sign on a paper in Hebrew. Al-Taramsi asked what the paper included; the
officer replied via the translator that the paper was to refer him to the court
and that he would be assigned a lawyer the day after. Al-Taramsi asked the officer: "Do you
judge the patients?" but the officer asked him to shut up and sign the
paper. He signed the paper and was then
transported again to an unknown destination.
When he reached that place, he found himself in a long corridor. He felt extremely exhausted, due to which he
asked for a doctor. A doctor came,
examined him, and talked to the person who was accompanying him in Hebrew. Later, an officer came and took al-Taramsi's
belongings. He was taken again to
another place, but when he reached it, he realized that it was Beit Hanoun
crossing. At approximately 19:00 on the
same day, they asked him to walk back to Gaza.
He went back to Gaza until he reached the Palestinian Liaison Office and
then the Ministry of Interior checkpoint.
Al-Taramsi reached home at 21:15 on the same day. Upon his return, he learned
that his mother had been returned to Gaza at approximately 16:15 on the same
day. Besides, his brother Kamal, who is
a Director General in the Gaza sub office of al-Amal Society for Cancer
Patients, had called a number of friends in human rights organizations for the
release of his brother, including a women named Jameela, who works in a human
rights organization in Israel.
………………………………………………………
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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