Destruction incurred to an animal farm in the east of Gaza as a result of an Israeli air strike which resulted in the death of an old Palestinian civilian
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
A Palestinian old man was killed and his son was wounded, east of Gaza City.
Two rooms were destroyed and two houses were damaged.
A large number of animals and birds were killed.
IOF have continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
6 protesters, including 3 media workers, were wounded.
IOF have used force against protests in support of Palestinian prisoner Adnan Khader.
8 protesters, including 4 media workers and a PLC member, were wounded.
IOF conducted 72 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
3 civilians were wounded when IOF moved into Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho.
IOF arrested 26 Palestinians, including a child and two Palestinians who were recently released from Israeli jails, in the West Bank.
IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.
IOF arrested 5 fishermen, including a child.
IOF confiscated 3 fishing boats.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israel has continued efforts to create a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.
IOF bulldozed a house and a playground.
The Israeli Municipality approved the construction of a large building in the yard of the al-Buraq Wall.
IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
IOF bulldozed 5 barracks and destroyed 4 tents in the east of Nablus.
IOF destroyed 6 residential tents and bulldozed 8 animal farms and, a groundwater well and destroyed 10 beehives in Hebron.
250 olive trees and 30 fig trees were uprooted in Tormos'aya, northeast of Ramallah.
Israeli settlers attacked 5 Palestinian civilians who were under protection by IOF.
Summary
Israeli violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (09 – 15 February 2012):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF killed an old Palestinian man and wounded his son in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, IOF wounded 17 Palestinians, including 7 media workers and a PLC member. Six of the Palestinians wounded in the West Bank were wounded in peaceful protests against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities, 8 Palestinians were wounded in peaceful demonstrations organized in support of Palestinian prisoner Adnan Khader, and three Palestinian were wounded when IOF moved into Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed a Palestinian old man, Abdul Karim al-Zaytoona, 71, and wounded his son, Mohammed, 22, when an IOF F16 aircraft fired a missile on 11 February 2012 at an animal farm. The man and his son were in a room near the targeted farm.
On 11 February 2012, IOF warplanes fired at least one missile at the house of Musa Juma'a Eyada al-Teir in al-Shoka village, east of Rafah. The missile hit a tin room in the yard of the house. The room was destroyed and set alight but no casualties were reported. Additionally, a neighboring house was damaged.
Twenty five minutes later, IOF warplanes fired a missile at an agricultural room in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. The room was totally destroyed but no casualties were reported.
Another 20 minutes later, IOF warplanes fired a missile at an open area in al-Shoka village, east of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip. The targeted area is located around 1,000 meters from the border with Israel. No casualties were reported.
On 13 February 2012, IOF stationed at the border in the east of al-Bureij refugee camp, in middle Gaza, opened extensive fire at the border area in the east of the refugee camp. IOF continued firing for around 15 minutes. No casualties were reported.
On 12 February 2012, IOF arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen who were sailing 2 nautical miles off al-Waha resort, in the north of the Gaza Strip.
On 13 February 2012, IOF opened extensive fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing off al-Waha resort, in the north of the Gaza Strip. They surrounded 2 fishing boats and arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen who were on board of the two boats.
On 14 February 2012, IOF opened extensive fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing off al-Waha resort, in the north of the Gaza Strip. They surrounded a fishing boat and arrested a Palestinian fisherman who was on board of the boat.
On 14 February 2012, IOF opened extensive fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing 1,500 meters off al-Soudaneya area. They fishermen were forced to sail 5,000 meters to the south and wait in sea to the morning to return and look for their fishing nets. IOF opened fire at the fishermen every time they went to look for their fishing nets. They fishermen were unable to get their nets back.
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, 6 protesters, including 3 media workers and a local activist, were wounded. Additionally, dozens of protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation.
IOF also used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organized in support of Palestinain prisoner Adnan Khader. As a result, 8 Palestinians, including 4 media workers and a PLC member, sustained wounds. Additionally dozens of protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Further, on 11 February 2012, IOF wounded three Palestinians when they entered into Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 72 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 26 Palestinian civilians, including a child.
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 the 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 over al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions to endure the closure on the strip such as the total closure of 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. The rate of families who are living below poverty line have continued to 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 leaving Karm Abu Salem crossing as Gaza sole commercial crossing and the repeated closure of this crossing, which negatively affected the quantity of Gazan products allowed to be exported since 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 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 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 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 barracks 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 water 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 belongs 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 fence the area.
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. On 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.
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