Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Israeli soldiers fire incendiary bombs at Palestinian farms in Bil'ein village during the dispersion of a peaceful demonstration, 30 September 2011
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
3 Palestinians, including a child, were wounded by IOF in the Gaza Strip.
IOF launched a number of air strikes against civilian facilities and training sites in the Gaza Strip.
Two houses and a warehouse of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company were damaged.
IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
A Palestinian civilian was wounded.
IOF conducted 35 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.
IOF arrested 3 Palestinians
Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
IOF uprooted 95 olive trees in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem, for the purpose of the construction of the annexation wall.
IOF razed 15 donums[1] and destroyed some agricultural facilities in Beit Oula village, northwest of Hebron.
IOF ordered stopping the establishment of an agricultural road and demolished 7 agricultural rooms, 5 tents and two water wells in Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit.
IOF declared a plan to establish a new road for settlers on Palestinian agricultural land in Beit Ummr town, north of Hebron.
Israeli settlers uprooted 50 olive trees and took over 150 sheep south of Hebron.
Israeli settlers burnt 50 olive trees in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (29 September – 05 October 2011):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF wounded 4 Palestinians, including a child, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, on 01 October 2011, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. As a result, two Palestinians were wounded by shrapnel. An old woman also sustained bruises. IOF claimed that they targeted a number of Palestinians who intended to launch home-made rockets into Israeli towns.
On 03 October 2011, a Palestinian child was wounded when IOF fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting iron and aluminum in Juhor al-Dik (Gaza Valley) village in the central Gaza Strip.
On 30 September 2011, an Israeli warplane bombarded a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
On 05 October 2011, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.
During the reporting period, IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall in the West Bank. As a result, a Palestinian civilian was wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 35 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 3 Palestinians.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted a limited incursion into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian agricultural land.
Restrictions on Movement:
Israel had continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
IOF have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip and practically made Karm Abu Salem crossing as the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip although it is not proper for commercial purposes in terms of its distance and operational capacity.
IOF have continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the strangulation of the commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
The total closure of al-Mentar "Karni" crossing on 02 March 2011 has created a bitter situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all the economic and commercial establishments in Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off. It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip in terms of its operational capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision of al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions to totally close Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2009, and Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.
These statistics which were made available to PCHR by the Border and Crossings Department indicate a continued drop in the number of truckloads of Gaza imports and exports.
IOF have continued to impose total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza 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 52 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 29 September 2011, IOF declared a plan to establish a new road for settlers on agricultural area in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, allegedly to secure the movement of Israeli settlers on bypass road #60 linking between Hebron and Bethlehem. The road will be 8 kilometers long, and will affect at least 800 dunums of Palestinian agricultural land.
On the same day, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit. They ordered a number of workers to stop the establishment of an agricultural road in Zaher Subeh area, claiming that the area is under Israeli security control according to the Oslo Accords. According to the Mayor of Kufor al-Dik, Jamal al-Dik, the road was expected to serve at least 70% of the agricultural areas in the village.
On the same day, a number of Palestinian farmers in al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron, discovered that Israeli settlers from “Sham’a” settlement, southeast of the village, had uprooted at least 50 olive trees at night. They also drew the David Star on rocks and the uprooted trees.
On 01 October 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Sham’a” settlement to the southeast of al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron, took over at least 150 sheep while Palestinian shepherds were grazing them in Deir al-Louz area in al-Shwaika village to the east of al-Zahiriya village. The settlers took the sheep into the settlement after threatening to kill the shepherds.
On the same day, at least 10 Israeli settlers from “Halmish” settlement, northwest of Ramallah, set fire to olive trees in Wad Raya area in the south of Nabi Saleh village. At least 50 olive trees belonging had been burnt before fire engines were able to extinguish fire.
On 03 October 2011, IOF moved into al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem. They razed at least 5 dunums of agricultural land and uprooted at least 95 olive and oak trees to establish a road near the annexation wall.
On 04 October 2011, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit. They demolished 3 agricultural homes, an agricultural compartment, 5 tents and a number of water wells belonging to the ‘Ayash and Ahmed families.
On the same day, IOF moved into Beit Oula village, northwest of Hebron. They razed 15 dunums of agricultural land and destroyed some agricultural facilities. They also confiscated two mobile homes and two electricity generators.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (29 September – 05 October 2011)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 29 September 2011
At approximately 19:20, 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.
Friday, 30 September 2011
At approximately 00:00, Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in the northwest of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The site was heavily damaged and a nearby warehouse of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was slightly damaged.
At approximately 00:15, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 00:30, 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.
Also at approximately 00:30, 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.
Also at approximately 00:30, 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 01:00, 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 01:30, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into ‘Arrana village, north of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Soon after, IOF moved into Deir Ghazala village, north of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Later, IOF moved into ‘Arbouna village, north of Jenin. 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 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 22:30, IOF moved into Jalboun village, northeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Saturday, 01 October 2011
At approximately 00:35, IOF moved into Eskaka village, east of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 00:35, IOF moved into Yassouf village, east of Salfit. 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 ‘Aboud village, northeast of Ramallah. 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 Khirbat Abu Falah village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 19:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of Palestinians who were in the garden of a house belonging to ‘Ata ‘Abdul ‘Aati al-Za’anin in al-Wadi Street in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. As a result, two Palestinians who were in a visit to the owner’s son were wounded:
1- Yousef Rafiq Shabat, 28, seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and
2- ‘Abdullah Akram Abu Harbid, 22, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.
Sa’diya Sa’id Nasser, 65, who was in the house, also sustained bruises to the head. Additionally, the house was damaged. It should be noted that the two wounded persons are members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), but they were in an ordinary visit when they were attacked. The Israeli military claimed that it targeted a number of Palestinians who intended to launch home-made rockets into Israeli towns.
At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah. 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 Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Beer 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 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.
Also at approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghossoun village, north 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 Jericho. 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 Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Sunday, 02 October 2011
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north 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 Kharabtha al-Misbah 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 ‘Aaboud 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 al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya village, north of Ramallah. 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 Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. 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 Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, a number of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Monday, 03 October 2011
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. 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 Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 08:10, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza Valley village fired at number of Palestinian workers who were collecting iron, aluminum and plastics from a landfill in the northeast of the village. One of the workers, Mohammed Salman al-Swarka, 17, was wounded by a bullet to the left thigh.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into ‘Aaroura village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of Jericho. 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 Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 04 October 2011
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1- Hammouda ‘Ali al-Sa’di, 25;
2- Mohammed Hassan al-Baw, 22; and
3- Wa’el Jameel al-‘Arja, 23.
At approximately 06:15, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of Palestinian agricultural land in al-Wad area. At approximately 10:30, Israeli helicopter gunships opened fire at the area, but no casualties were reported. IOF moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at approximately 15:00.
Wednesday, 05 October 2011
At approximately 08:00, Israel gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian fishermen were forced to flee towards the beach and no casualties 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. As a result, a Palestinian civilian was wounded. Additionally, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Following the Friday Prayer on 30 September 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall. They raised the Palestinian flag and chanted slogans calling for ending the occupation and annexation wall and release of all Palestinian prisoners. Moreover, the demonstrators raised banners calling the world for the recognition of the State of Palestine and carried the Libyan uprising flags and an American flag on which (veto) was written. They then moved towards areas of Palestinian land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian owners. When they reached (Abu Lemon) nature preserve, the demonstrators walked along the wall and released the balloons and kites. The demonstrators also used megaphones to call on Israeli settlers living in “Mitityaho Mizrach” settlement to leave it. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and fire broke out in a number of farms.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 30 September 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the annexation wall. They chanted slogans calling for Palestinian reconciliation, adherence to the Palestinian inalienable rights and resistance of the occupation. Additionally, they chanted "194 is the State of Palestine" and other slogans against the American President and his speech at the United Nations that was defended the Israeli 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 30 September 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations and settlement activities. They raised the Palestinian flag, chanted slogans against the USA, called for ending the occupation and chanted "194 is the State of Palestine". When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near "Halmish" settlement, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, Nariman Mahmoud Tamimi, 30, was hit by a tear gas canister to the abdomen. A number of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises.
At approximately 13:30, following the Friday Prayer on 30 September 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They moved towards the eastern entrance of the village, in protest against the permanent closure of the entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada. Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at 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 over three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The illegal closure has caused not only a humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared recently to ease the blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza may no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment