Damage caused by an arson attack launched by Israeli settlers against Bain al-Nourain Mosque in Qasra village, southeast of Nablus
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
5 Palestinians were killed by Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.
Two of the victims are civilians.
Bodies of 3 workers who were missing in a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip that had been bombarded by Israeli warplanes were found.
A Palestinian child died of a previous wound in the Gaza Strip.
28 Palestinians, including 13 children, 7 women and an old man, were wounded by IOF the Gaza Strip, and one civilian was wounded in the West Bank.
IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
IOF conducted 68 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
IOF arrested 28 Palestinians, including two children and two members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
IOF arrested at least 7 Palestinians, including a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, at military 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.
Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque in Qasra village near Nablus.
IOF ordered the demolition of more Palestinian civilian facilities.
IOF razed large areas of agricultural land and uprooted 88 trees in al-Walaja village near Bethlehem.
Israeli settlers uprooted 20 olive trees in Qalqilya and burnt 100 trees southeast of Bethlehem.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (25 August – 07 September 2011):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF killed 5 Palestinians, including two civilians (in the Gaza Strip. A child also died of a previous wound. Additionally, rescue team found the body of 3 Palestinian workers in a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip, which had been bombarded by Israeli warplanes. IOF also wounded 28 Palestinian civilians, including 13 children, 7 women and an old man in the Gaza Strip, and one civilian in the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, on 25 August 2011, two Palestinian civilians were killed when Israeli warplanes bombarded al-Salama Sports Club in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia. Additionally, 25 civilians, including 11 children and 7 women, were wounded. A number of houses and civilian facilities were also damaged.
On the same day, two Palestinian resistance activists were killed, when an Israeli warplane bombarded a motorcycle they were traveling on in the northern Gaza Strip.
On the same day, rescue teams found the bodies of 3 Palestinian workers in a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip that had been bombarded by Israeli warplanes.
On 29 August 2011, medical sources declared that a Palestinian child from Beit Lahia town dies of a previous wound.
On 6 September 2011, IOF killed a Palestinian resistance activist and wounded an old man and his two children by an air strike during an incursion into the southern Gaza Strip.
On 06 September 2011, Israeli warplanes bombarded and destroyed an uninhabited house in the central Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by IOF in Qasra village, southeast of Nablus.
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, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 68 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 28 Palestinian civilians, including two children and two members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Restrictions on Movement:
Israel had continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
IOF have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip and practically made Karm Abu Salem crossing as the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip although it is not proper for commercial purposes in terms of its distance and operational capacity.
IOF have continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the strangulation of the commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
The total closure of al-Mentar "Karni" crossing on 02 March 2011 has created a bitter situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all the economic and commercial establishments in Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off. It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip in terms of its operational capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision of al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions to totally close Soafa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2009, and Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.
These statistics which were made available to PCHR by the Border and Crossings Department indicate a continued drop in the number of truckloads of Gaza imports and exports.
IOF have continued to impose total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Stri, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
The cooking gas crisis which has erupted last November has continued to affect the Gaza Strip. This crisis was created when the Israeli occupation authorities totally closed, on 04 January 2010, Nahal Oz crossing, which used to be dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza, and shifted fuel and cooking gas supplies to Karm Abu Salem crossing which is not technically equipped to receive Gaza's needs of fuel. Karm Abu Salem crossing, with its maximum absorptive capacity, can receive only 200 tons of cooking gas per day.
Approximately 80% of Gaza civilians have continued to depend on alimentary aid provided by UNRWA and other relief agencies, rates of families who are living below poverty line have continued to be on the rise and approximately 40% of Gaza's manpower has continued to suffer from permanent unemployment as a result of shutting down the majority of Gaza's economic establishments.
IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the exportation of Gaza's products, especially industrial products, leading to undermining any real chances to rerun economic establishments. The situation has been aggravated especially after making Karm Abu Salem crossing as Gaza sole commercial crossing and the repeated closure of this crossing which negatively affected the quantity of Gazan products which were allowed to be exported during last April.
IOF have continued to prolong the implementation of their decision to allow 60 cars into Gaza weekly although more than 11 months have passed since they announced this decision after three years of ban imposed on the delivery of cars to Gaza. As a result, the prices of cars in Gaza have been on the rise and local markets experience serious shortage in spare parts.
For approximately four consecutive years, IOF have continued to ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza. During the reporting period, IOF approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations.
Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip. IOF only allow the movement of limited groups amidst severe restrictions, including long hours of waiting in the majority of cases. IOF have also continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and Jerusalem. IOF denied new categories of Gazan patient permission to have access to hospitals via the crossing.
Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip.
For approximately 48 months, IOF have continued to deny approximately 700 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails their visitation rights without providing any justification to this measure, which violates the rules of the international humanitarian law.
West Bank
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.
IOF have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying in the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
There are approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.
When complete, the illegal annexation wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, confiscating more Palestinian land.
At least 65% of the main roads that lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF.
There are approximately 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without permits issued by IOF. Such permits are extremely difficult to obtain.
IOF continue to harass and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the annexation wall.
Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.
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 25 August 2011, at least 10 Israeli settlers from “Ramat Magharon” settlement, which stands in the southeast of Mikhmas village, southeast of Ramallah, set fire to olive trees in al-Hilwa area in the village. At least 100 olive trees were burnt before villagers were able to extinguish fire.
On 27 August 2011, 7 Israeli settlers from “Ramat Yishai” settlement outpost in Tal Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron attacked a Palestinian civilians when he was in front of his house. They violently beat him in the presence of Israeli soldiers. As a result, he sustained bruises to the upper part of the body.
On 28 August 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Beit Hadassa” settlement outpost in al-Shuhada Street in the center of Hebron attacked a number of Palestinian houses using stones and empty bottles. A number of houses were damaged.
On 30 August 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Shilo” settlement, north of Ramallah, gathered at Nablus-Ramallah road and threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles. No injuries were reported.
On 01 September 2011, Nidal Ahmed ‘Aqel, 48, from Kufor Qaddoum village northeast of Qalqilya, was informed that Israeli settlers attacked his land. When he went to his land, he found that 20 olive trees had been cut.
On 04 September 2011, IOF moved into Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya. They handed notices to 3 Palestinian civilians ordering them to stop the construction of their houses allegedly for the lack of licenses.
On 05 September 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Yish Kudesh” settlement near Qasra village, southeast of Nablus, broke windows of the first floor of Thu al-Nourain Mosque in the southwest of the village. They then pushed two tires into the mosque and set fire to them. The mosque was damaged. Before leaving the area, the settlers wrote slogans on walls insulting Prophet Mohammed.
On the same day, IOF and the Israeli police, accompanied by a number of armed Israeli settlers, moved into ‘Ein Jwaiza area in al-Walaja village, west of Bethlehem. They uprooted 88 trees. IOF denied Palestinian civilians access to the area.
On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers attacked ‘Edwan Nemer ‘Edwan, 41, from Zawata village west of Nablus, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, when he was on his way to his work. He was injured.
On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from “Bitar Elite” settlement, west of Bethlehem, pumped waste water into the lands of the nearby Houssan and Nahalin villages. As a result, hundreds of trees were damaged.
On the same day, at least 25 Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, stormed a house garden and agricultural lands belonging to ‘Ata ‘Abdul Jawad Jaber in al-Baq’a area near bypass road #60, east of Hebron. They then attacked Jaber’s house and demanded IOF to expel him. They left the area at approximately 19:00, threatening to come back again.
On 06 September 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Qidoumim” settlement threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on Qalqilya-Nablus road. As a result, a number of vehicles were damaged.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (25 August – 07 September 2011)
1- Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 25 August 2011
At approximately 00:05, Israeli warplanes launched a missile on al-Salama Sports Club near Beit Lahia project's market in the northern Gaza Strip. The attack resulted in the full destruction of the 3-storey building; the first floor includes a gym, the second floor includes the administration offices and a multi-use hall, while the third one includes a football and volleyball field established on a 1,000-square-meter area. Additionally, two Palestinian civilians were killed due to the attack, as they were in the garden of an adjacent house belonging to Abdul Rahman Mohammed al-Masri in the northwestern side of the club. The victims are: Salama Abdul Rahman al-Masri, 18, the son of the house's owner, who died immediately; and Alaa 'Adnan Mohammed al-Jakhbeer, 22, from Jabalya, who was accompanying al-Masri. Al-Jakhbeer suffered from a hemorrhage in the pelvis because of shrapnel and was transferred to the hospital, but he died two hours later. Additionally, 25 Palestinian civilians, including 11 children and 7 women, sustained wounds and bruises due to the falling of smashed glass and stones at them. Moreover, extensive damages were caused to al-Huda Children Complex in Beit Lahia to the north of the club. The Complex established on an area of 1600 square meters consists of a kindergarten and a primary school. Dozens of houses surrounding the Club, 3 stores and 3 vehicles were damaged.
At approximately 14:00, civil defense crews found the bodies of ‘Emad Jamal ‘Abdul Raziq Abu Harb, 21, and Mahmoud Rajaa’ Sa’id al-Sibakhi, 20. Two hours later, they found the body of Mohammed Khaled Mohammed Tafish, 22. The victims are all from al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah. The three workers were missing when Israeli warplane bombarded a tunnel in al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah on Wednesday evening, 24 August 2011. As a result of the bombardment, a worker was instantly killed and 3 others and a security officer were wounded, while the above victims were missing.
At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into al-Swaitat neighborhood in the east of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:30, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at two activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), who were traveling on a motorcycle near al-Khuzondar gas station the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya. The two activists were instantly killed. They were identified as:
1- ‘Alaa’ Nabil Hamdan, 22; and
2- Saleem Khaled al-‘Arabid, 27.
At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Brouqin village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Deir Abu Da’if village, east of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Deir Ghazala village, northeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Beit Qad village, east of Jenin. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
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