Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (15 – 21 March 2012)
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
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A
dog accompanying Israeli soldiers attack a demonstrator during the
weakly peaceful protest in Kufor Qaddoum village near Qalqilya, 16 March
2012
March 22, 2012
Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
IOF continued
to fire at Palestinian civilians and property in border areas in the Gaza
Strip.
A
Palestinian child was wounded when he was at home in Rafah.
IOF
opened fire at agricultural areas in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis.
IOF
opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.
IOF have
continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
Two
Palestinian civilians were wounded.
IOF
arrested two Palestinian civilians, and a dog belonging to IOF violently
attacked one of the detainees.
IOF
attacked a journalist and destroyed his camera in al-Ma’sara village, south of
Bethlehem.
Dozens
of protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation.
IOF
conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a
limited one into the Gaza Strip.
IOF
arrested 8 Palestinians, including 3 children and a woman.
Israel
has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza
Strip from the outside world.
Israeli
soldiers arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, at various
checkpoints in the West Bank.
IOF
have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have
continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
IOF
destroyed 30 dunums of agricultural land in Nablus and demolished a house and
an animal farm in Qalqilya.
Israeli
settlers uprooted 220 olive trees in Nablus.
Israeli
settlers attacked a Palestinian civilian in Hebron and injured him.
Summary
Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (15 – 21 March 2012):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF
wounded 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip.
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, two
Palestinian civilian were wounded, and dozens of Palestinian civilians
and
international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.
IOF also arrested two Palestinian civilians. News agencies published a
photo that showed a
dog belonging to IOF violently attack a Palestinian civilian before IOF
arrested him. Additionally, Israeli
soldiers attacked a journalist and destroyed his camera.
In the Gaza Strip, a 6-year-old
Palestinian child was wounded by a bullet to the right thigh when he was at
home as IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the
east of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian communities.
Incursions:
During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 56 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 8 Palestinian
civilians, including 3 children and a woman.
In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion into the northern Gaza
Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land which they had
already razed.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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
15 March 2012, IOF cut and uprooted almond and olive trees on a 30-dunum
agricultural plot belonging to Canaan Jamal Canaan in the east of Beit Dajan
village, northeast of Nablus. The land
is located near "Alhamra" settlement.
IOF claim that the land has been confiscated.
On
the
same day, IOF moved into the east of Qalqilya. They demolished a house
and an animal farm. They claimed that the house and the animal
farm were established without licenses.
On
16 March 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from "Kodesh" settlement, southeast
of Nablus, damaged and uprooted 220 olive trees belonging to the Salawda and
Dawabsha families in Douma village.
On
18 March 2012, 3 Israeli settlers from "Ramat Yishai" settlement outpost in Tal
Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron stopped and attacked Mustafa
'Adnan Abu Salima, 19, when he was on his way back home. They violently beat him and spayed a gas into
his eyes. Israeli soldiers were present
in the area, but did not intervene to stop the attack. Abu Salima sustained bruises throughout the
body. The settlers also stole his
glasses and mobile phone.
1. Incursions into
Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 15 March 2012
At
approximately 00:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a space area in
Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. No
casualties were reported.
At
approximately 08:00, IOF moved into Ertah suburb, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Beit 'Aur al-Tahta village, southwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 09:40, IOF moved into Kufor Ne’ma village, southwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 11:45, 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 21:00, IOF moved into Sinjel village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Mailthaloun village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
Also
at approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Sirris village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
Also
at approximately 23:30, IOF moved into al-Judaida village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
Friday,
16 March 2012
At
approximately 07:00, IOF moved into the area located between 'Azzoun and
'Assala villages, east of Qalqilya. They
patrolled in the area for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At
approximately 07:30, IOF moved into Kharabtha al-Misbah village, southwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Jafna village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 12:10, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of
Qalqilya. They raided a house belonging
to Bakr 'Adnan 'Ali, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, and
took the number of mobile phones of all members of the family. They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.
At
approximately 15:25, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 18:30, IOF moved into al-Mantara area in the north of Beit Ummar
town, north of Hebron. They raided a
house belonging to Mohammed Ahmed al-'Allami.
They forced the family out and searched the house. They claimed that they were looking for "a
suspect" who was seen in the vicinity of the nearby "Kfar Etzion" settlement.
At
approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At
approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-'Araqa village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 23:15, IOF moved into Snirya village, southeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
Saturday, 17 March 2012
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved
into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron.
They raided and searched two houses and arrested two Palestinian
children: 'Alaa’ Anees Abu Maria, 15; and Mohammed No’man al-Za’aqiq, 15. The two children were released a few hours
later.
At approximately 06:30, Israeli
gunboats stationed opposite to the Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip
opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.
Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach, and no
casualties were reported. Israeli
gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the same area at
approximately 20:00.
At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into Hijja village, east of Qalqilya.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into Deir Jareer village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:00, IOF moved
into Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 18:30, Israeli
soldiers positioned in military sites near Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom)
crossing, southeast of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses and
agricultural areas in Rafah. As a
result, Suhaib Majed Sultan, 6, was seriously wounded by a bullet to the right
thigh, when he was in his house in al-Salam neighborhood in the southeast of Rafah.
At approximately 23:00, IOF moved
into Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 23:30, IOF moved
into 'Aanin village, northwest of Jenin.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
Sunday, 18 March 2012
At approximately 09:00, IOF moved
into Kufor 'Ain village, northwest of Ramallah.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into Ta’nak village, northwest of Jenin.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into Kufor Dan village, northwest of Jenin.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 15:00, IOF moved
into Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 19:00, IOF moved
into Kufor 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 22:00, IOF moved
into Zibda village, southwest of Jenin.
They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 23:30, IOF moved
into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.
They raided and searched a house belonging to 'Atallah Tamim
Tamimi. They photographed the house and
all members of the family. They withdrew
later and no arrests were reported.
Monday, 19 March 2012
At approximately 00:15, IOF moved into Qalqilya. 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 Salfit. They raided and searched two house belonging
to the Abu Zaher family and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Eyad 'Abdul Jabbar Abu Zaher, 39; and
2. 'Emad 'Abdul Jabbar Abu Zaher, 42.
At approximately 02:10, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya. They raided and searched two
houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Qussai Shaher Saleem, 18; and
2. Ma’awia 'Abdul Latif Saleem, 17.
At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Dura al-Qare’ village,
northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Deir Nizam village,
northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, south of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:45, IOF moved into Toura al-Gharbiya village,
southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 14:35, 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 14:45, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into 'Arraba village, southwest
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Beit Leed village, east of
Tulkarm. 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 Shwaika suburb, north of
Tulkram. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Zawata village, west of
Nablus. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Amani Saleh al-Khandakji, 26, and arrested her. They also confiscated the hard desk of her
personal computer.
At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into Beit Leed village, east of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Deir Dibwan village,
northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Deir Ebzei’ village, west of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into 'Allar village, north
of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Saida village, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Baqa al-Sharqiya village,
north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Beit 'Aur al-Tahta village,
west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah. They raided and
searched two houses belonging to Bassem al-Tamimi, a Palestinian prisoner in
Israeli jails, and Naji al-Tamimi, who has been recently released from Israeli
prisons. They confiscated three
computers, a laptop, some documents, books, CDs, a camera and a mobile
phone. They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into 'Arraba village, southwest
of Jenin. They raided and searched a
house belonging to Ja’far Ibrahim 'Izziddin, 40, a leader of Islamic Jihad, and
arrested him.
At approximately 05:15, IOF moved nearly 150 meters into al-Sayafa
area in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia. They leveled areas of Palestinian land which
they had already razed. At approximately
06:30, IOF opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were on their lands to the
south of the affected areas. IOF
withdrew from the area at approximately 09:00 and no casualties were reported.
At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw
stones at Israeli military vehicles. IOF
withdrew from the town later and no other incidents were reported.
2. Use of
Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting Settlement
Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall
During
the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the
West Bank, and in protest to the establishment of a buffer zone in the Gaza
Strip. As a result, a number of
demonstrators were wounded and dozens of others suffered from tear gas
inhalation. IOF used dogs to attack the
demonstrators, and news agency showed footage of a trained dog attacking a
demonstrator who was arrested by IOF.
Following the Friday Prayer on 16 March 2012, in spite of the cold
weather, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human
rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of
Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and in
solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, especially Hanaa’
Shalabi who has been on a hunger strike.
They raised the Palestinian flag and a portrait of Marawn al-Barghouthi,
Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council who has been detained by IOF, and
called for ending the political split. They then moved towards areas of annexation
wall. They called through megaphones on
Israeli settlers in "Mitityahu" settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators. As a result, two
demonstrators were wounded (PCHR keeps their names) and a number of other ones
suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 16 March 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a
peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in
protest to continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village by
IOF. They moved towards the entrance,
and there, IOF fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result two demonstrators were hit by
tear gas canisters:
1. Riad Mohammed Eshtaiwi, 38, hit by a tear gas canister to the
left foot; and
2. Waheeb 'Abdul Latif 'Abdullah, 25, hit by a tear gas canister to
the right shoulder.
A number of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas
inhalation. Additionally, IOF arrested
Murad Hussam Eshtaiwi, 42, and Ahmed Shaker Eshtaiwi, 23. The latter was arrested after a dog used by
IOF had attacked him.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 16 March 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in
protest to the construction of the annexation wall and in solidarity with Hana
Shalabi, a Palestinian prisoner who has been on a hunger strike. They moved towards the area of the annexation
wall. IOF stopped and prevented them
from moving towards the wall. They also beat
and detained 4 Israeli human rights defenders for about an hour. IOF also forcibly took a camera from Mousa
al-Sha’er, a reporter of France Press, and smashed it. They further smashed windows of a van
belonging to 'Ali Saleem Fawaghra, 28, while he was traveling with wife and
children near the demonstration.
On Saturday noon, 17 March 2012, IOF used force to disperse a
peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international
human rights defenders near the fence of "Karmi Tsur" settlement to the south
of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. The
demonstration was organized in protest to the expansion of the settlement. Israeli soldiers attacked the demonstrators
and violently beat a number of them using gun butts. As a result, Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, 44, and
Younis Mohammed 'Arar, 42, sustained bruises throughout the body. It is worth noting that "Karmi Tsur"
settlement was established between Beit Ummar and Halhoul towns in the 1980s. It was expanded several times, the latest of
which was in 2006, when IOF annexed at least 600 dunums of Palestinian land to
the settlement.
A Peaceful Demonstration in Solidarity with
Hana Shalabi
At approximately 12:30 on Thursday, 15 March 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and families of Palestinian prisoners detained by IOF
organized a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Hana Shalabi, a
Palestinian prisoner who has been on hunger strike. The demonstration was organized near 'Oufar
Prison, southwest of Ramallah. The
demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag and portraits of Hana Shalabli. They called for ending the occupation and
releasing all Palestinian prisoners.
They moved towards the gate of the prison, which was closed by IOF. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal
bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation.
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 nearly 5 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.
IOF have continued to impose total ban on the delivery of raw
materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials
allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population in
the Gaza Strip.
The cooking gas crisis which has erupted last November has
continued to affect the Gaza Strip. This
crisis was created when the Israeli occupation authorities totally closed, on
04 January 2010, Nahal Oz crossing, which used to be dedicated for the delivery
of fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza, and shifted fuel and cooking gas
supplies to Karm Abu Salem crossing which is not technically equipped to
receive Gaza's needs of fuel. Karm Abu Salem crossing, with its maximum
absorptive capacity, can receive only 200 tons of cooking gas per day.
Approximately 80% of Gaza civilians have continued to depend on
alimentary aid provided by UNRWA and other relief agencies, rates of families
who are living below poverty line have continued to be on the rise and
approximately 40% of Gaza's manpower has continued to suffer from permanent
unemployment as a result of shutting down the majority of Gaza's economic
establishments.
IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the exportation of
Gaza's products, especially industrial products, leading to undermining any
real chances to rerun economic establishments.
The situation has been aggravated especially after making Karm Abu Salem
crossing as Gaza sole commercial crossing and the repeated closure of this
crossing which negatively affected the quantity of Gazan products which were
allowed to be exported during last April.
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 traders, international
diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday evening, 14 March 2012, IOF
arrested Ahmed Subhi al-Kahlout, 40, a trader from Gaza City, when he was
traveling via Beit Hanoun crossing.
For approximately 57 months, IOF have continued to deny
approximately 700 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails
their visitation rights without providing any justification to this measure,
which violates the rules of the international humanitarian law.
Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:
Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point
14 –
20 March 2012
Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
13 –
19 March 2012
Imports:
Exports:
On Wednesday, 14 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 22 tons
of biscuits.
On Thursday, 15 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 309,000 flowers.
On Monday, 19 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 30 tons of
biscuits.
Notes:
On Wednesday, 14 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 306 tons of
cement and 40 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,716 tons of fodders.
On Thursday, 15 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 3,360 tons of
construction aggregate, 442 tons of cement and 149 tons of construction steel for
UNRWA; and 560 tons of construction aggregate for UNDP. They also allowed the entry of 1,559 tons of fodders.
On Monday, 19 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 3,010 tons of
construction aggregate, 480 tons of cement and 72 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA; and 80 tons of cement for UNDP.
They also allowed the entry of 897 tons of fodders.
Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing
14 –
20 March 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.
There are approximately hundreds of 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.
Many of the main roads that lead to Palestinian communities in the
West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF.
IOF have continued to restrict access of Palestinian civilians from
the West Bank to East Jerusalem, through a strict system of permits and a
network of checkpoints.
IOF have completed controlled access to the Jordan Valley through 4
permanent checkpoints established at its entrances. Palestinians living outside the area are not
allowed to enter it without permits.
Settlement activities and expansion of settlements impose
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
IOF have continued to restrict access to gunfire areas and natural
reserves, which constitute about 26% of the total area of the West Bank.
Israeli military checkpoints restrict the movement of goods
throughout the West Bank.
Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem,
and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped, searched and even
arrested in the streets by IOF.
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 young Muslim Palestinians from
praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.
Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 17:30 on Thursday, 15 March 2012, IOF re-established their
presence at 'Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. At the same time, IOF established a
checkpoint at Beit 'Aur al-Fouqa intersection, southwest of Ramallah. At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 16 March
2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah. At approximately
10:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Dibwan village,
northeast of Ramallah. At approximately
16:30, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit 'Aur al-Tahta intersection,
southwest of Ramallah. At approximately
11:00 on Saturday, 17 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint under Kaharabtha
al-Misbah Bridge, west of Ramallah. At
approximately 20:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Mazra’a
al-Sharqiya village, northeast of Ramallah.
At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 18 March 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Khirbat Abu Falah village, northeast of
Ramallah. At approximately 17:00, IOF
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Silwad village, northeast of
Ramallah. At the same time, they
established a checkpoint under 'Ein Yabroud Bridge, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 16:30, IOF established a
checkpoint at Beit 'Aur al-Fouqa intersection, southwest of Ramallah.
Qaqlqilya: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. On Saturday, 17 March 2012,
IOF established 9 checkpoints around the town.
On Monday, 19 March 2012, IOF established 3 checkpoints around the town.
Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 15 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
'Arraba intersection, southwest of Jenin.
At approximately 14:30 on Saturday, 17 March 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin. At approximately 13:30 on Sunday, 18 March
2012, IOF established a checkpoint on Sanour-Misliya road, south of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles and arrested Mahmoud Ahmed al-Hajj Saleh, 30, from Qabatya
village south of Jenin. At approximately
16:00 on Monday, 19 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at 'Arraba
intersection, south of Jenin. At
approximately 18:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ya’bad village,
southwest of Jenin.
Tulkarm: IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 17 March
2012, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians
through Ennab checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablus road, east of Tulkarm. At approximately 10:30, IOF established a
checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalailya road near Jibara Gate, south of Tulkarm. At approximately 22:30, IOF established a
checkpoint at Kufor Sour intersection, south of Tulkarm. At approximately 08:30 on Sunday, 18 March
2012, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians through Ennab checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablus road, east of Tulkarm.
Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 154 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Fassayel village, north of Jericho. At approximately 16:00, IOF established a
checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.
At approximately 11:30 on Sunday, 18 March 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.
Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 14:00 on Saturday, 17 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
near "Elli Zahav" in Salfit. They
detained Mahran Subhi Ahmed, 32, from 4 hours.
They released him after forcing him to pay a fine of 2,000 NIS.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 15 March 2012, Israeli soldiers
positioned at Etzion-Beit Fajjar intersection on Bethlehem-Hebron road arrested
Ramzi 'Othman Tafish, 23, from al-'Arroub refugee camp.
At approximately 10:30 on Sunday, 18 March 2012, the Israeli police
inside Israel arrested Mohammed Jamal Sa’aira, 28, a worker from Kharas village
northwest of Hebron, claiming that he is wanted.
At approximately 13:30 on Sunday, 18 March 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint on Sanour-Misliya road, south of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles and arrested Mahmoud Ahmed al-Hajj Saleh, 30, from Qabatya
village south of Jenin.
4. Settlement
Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israel
has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of
international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.
At
approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 15 March 2012, IOF cut and uprooted almond and
olive trees on a 30-dunum agricultural plot belonging to Canaan Jamal Canaan in
the east of Beit Dajan village, northeast of Nablus. The land is located near "Alhamra"
settlement. IOF claim that the land has
been confiscated.
At
approximately 10:15 on Thursday, 15 March 2012, IOF moved into the east of
Qalqilya. They demolished a house
belonging to Majed Zaid Abu Khadija, and an animal farm belonging to Mahmoud
'Abdul Karim Juai’di. They claimed that
the house and the animal farm were established without licenses.
On
Friday morning, 16 March 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from "Kodesh"
settlement, southeast of Nablus, damaged and uprooted 220 olive trees belonging
to the Salawda and Dawabsha families in Douma village.
At approximately
20:30 on Sunday, 18 March 2012, 3 Israeli settlers from "Ramat Yishai"
settlement outpost in Tal Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron stopped
and attacked Mustafa 'Adnan Abu Salima, 19, when he was on his way back home. They violently beat him and spayed a gas into
his eyes. Israeli soldiers were present
in the area, but did not intervene to stop the attack. Abu Salima sustained bruises throughout the
body. The settlers also stole his
glasses and mobile phone.
………………………………………………………
Recommendations to the International
Community
1. PCHR calls upon the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and
moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect
for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence
practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it
is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human
rights and humanitarian law.
2. PCHR calls upon the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to
take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT
and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
3. PCHR calls upon the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with their legal
obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and
prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.
4. PCHR calls for the immediate
implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of
Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the
West Bank illegal.
5. PCHR recommends that
international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of
exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and urge their
governments to bring the perpetrators to justice.
6. PCHR calls upon the European Union
to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides
that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic
cooperation between the EU states and Israel.
PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods
produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.
7. PCHR calls on the international
community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in
September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of
the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
8. In recognition of ICRC as the
guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase
its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family
visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of
international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar
associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in
pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the
OPT and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
10. PCHR calls upon the
international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions
imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for
international organizations to the OPT.
11. PCHR reiterates that any
political settlement not based on international human rights law and
humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian
question. Rather, such an arrangement
can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace process or agreement must be based
on respect for international law, including international human rights and
humanitarian law.
…………………………………………………………
Public Document
For further information please visit
our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact
PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (
pchr@pchrgaza.org ) or telephone (+972 (0)8
282 4776 – 282 5893).
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