Israeli soldiers burn old olive trees in Qatna village, northwest of Jerusalem
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· A Palestinian worker was killed when Israeli warplanes bombarded a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip.
· 9 Palestinians, including 6 civilians, were wounded by IOF in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
· Israeli warplanes attacked a number of civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip.
- 3 training sites and a number of tunnels were destroyed.
· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
- A Palestinian civilian was wounded.
- Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
· Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.
· IOF conducted 32 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two limited ones into the Gaza Strip.
- IOF arrested 13 Palestinian civilians, including a child.
- Golden jewels were stolen from a house in Tallouza village near Nablus.
· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
- IOF arrested one Palestinian civilian 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.
- IOF confiscated more irrigation networks in al-Baq’a area near Hebron.
- 3,000 olive trees were burnt in Bourin village, south of Nablus.
- Israeli settlers attacked 3 Palestinian shepherds and injured two of them.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (14 – 20 July 2011):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian worker in a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. They also wounded 10 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
On 14 July 2011, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a tunnel on the Egyptian border near Saladin Gate in the south of Rafah. The tunnel was destroyed and a worker was missing. Palestinian medical crews were able to find his body at approximately on 16 July 2011. Additionally, 5 Palestinians were wounded.
On 16 July 2011, an activist of al-Qauds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) was wounded when an Israeli drone fired a missile at him in the northern Gaza Strip.
On 18 July 2011, two activists of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) were wounded when an Israeli drone fired a missile at them in the southern Gaza Strip.
During the reporting period, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip in two separate incidents. In one of these attacks, on 14 July 2011, Israeli gunboats attacked Palestinian fishing boats and an international boat, Oliva, which monitors Israeli attacked against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip. Three fishing boats and Oliva were damaged.
During the reporting period, Israeli warplanes attacked a number of targets throughout the Gaza Strip. As a result of these attacks, 3 training sites of resistance groups and a number of tunnels on the Egyptian border were destroyed.
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, a Palestinian civilian was wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF also arrested two Palestinian civilians and an Israeli human rights defender.
On 18 July 2011, a Palestinian civilian was wounded in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, when IOF fired at Palestinian civilians who were participating in a funeral procession of a dead Palestinian.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 32 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 13 Palestinian civilians, including a child. They also stolen golden jewels, whose value is estimated at US$ 7,000 from a house in Tallouza village near Nablus.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted two limited incursion into the southern and central Gaza Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian 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 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 47 months, IOF have continued to deny approximately 710 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 15 July 2011, at least 10 Israeli settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus, set fire to olive trees in al-Khirnaqa area in the south of Bourin village. Palestinian fire fighters were able to extinguish fire, but after at least 3,000 olives trees had been burnt.
On 17 July 2011, bulldozers belonging to Israeli settlers razed large areas of Palestinian land in the east of Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron, for the purpose of expanding “Asfar” settlement to the east of the village. These areas of land belong to the Shalalda family. When owners of the land attempted to stop such attacks on their lands, armed Israeli settlers stopped them and called Israeli soldiers who expelled them from their lands. On Monday and Tuesday, the bulldozers, continued to raze areas of land. The bulldozers razed at least 5 dunums[1] of Palestinian land.
On 18 July 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Maghroun” settlement, southeast of Ramallah, attacked 3 Palestinian shepherds from Mikhmas village. The settlers used stones and sharp tools in their attack. As a result, two shepherds were injured.
On 19 July 2011, IOF moved into al-Baq’a area, east of Hebron. They dismantled irrigation network from Palestinian agricultural plots and confiscated them. According to various sources, IOF dismantled irrigation networks that covered a 25-donum area of agricultural land planted with grapes and vegetables belonging to the al-Rajabi family. This operation has been the fourth of its kind since the beginning of this year in this area, which is located near bypass road #60.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (07 – 13 July 2011)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 14 July 2011
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Til village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Ibrahim ‘Assida, 23.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Zawata village, west of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Zaher Sidqi Mousa, 35, and arrested him.
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a patient and a child:
1. Ahmed ‘Ali ‘Awadh, 19, who is sick;
2. Wassim Jamal Bahar, 16; and
3. ‘Ali Mohammed Abu ‘Ayash, 25.
During the house raids, Israeli soldiers violently beat ‘Aawadh’s father. He sustained bruises to the right leg. They also pushed the mother towards the wall, and she fainted.
· At approximately 03:30, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a tunnel on the Egyptian border near Saladin Gate in the south of Rafah. The tunnel was destroyed and a worker, Mohammed Ibrahim al-Bayouk, 21, from Khan Yunis, was missing. Palestinian medical crews were able to find his body at approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 16 July 2011. Additionally, 5 Palestinians were wounded:
1. Jamal Ahmed Shurrab, 18, a worker from Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and sustained burns to the face;
2. Fadel Jaber al-Ra’ei, 18, a worker from Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
3. Majdi Mohammed Abu Samaha, 25, a worker from Beit Lahia, wounded by shrapnel to the left leg;
4. Mohammed ‘Aatef al-Jamal, 29, from Rafah, wounded by shrapnel to the left leg and sustained bruises to the chest; and
5. Wa’el ‘Azmi Abu Zuhri, 40, from Rafah, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and sustained fractures to the left shoulder.
· At approximately 10:00, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Deir al-Balah seashore in the central Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were accompanied by an international solidarity boat – Olivia. They also used water hoses against Olivia. As a result of these attacks, 3 Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing nearly 5 nautical miles offshore were damaged:
1. A boat belonging to Rajab Mohammed al-Hissi, from Gaza City;
2. A boat belonging to ‘Ali Mohammed Kabaja, from al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City; and
3. A boat belonging to Sa’id Mohammed Abu Riala, from al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City.
· Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Turmos’iya village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:45, IOF moved into al-Zawia village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets and stopped and questioned a number of Palestinian civilians. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into ‘Obwin village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:10, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:20, IOF moved into Bedya village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:25, IOF moved into Mas’ha village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 23:30, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a training site of al-Ahrar Movement in the west of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. The site was damaged, but no casualties were reported.
Friday, 15 July 2011
· At approximately 00:00, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) to the west of al-Maqqoussi housing project in the northwest of Gaza City. Two Palestinian children were shocked.
· At approximately 00:05, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in the southwest of Gaza City. The site was heavily damaged, but no casualties were reported.
· Also at approximately 00:05, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in the west of Gaza City. The site was heavily damaged, but no casualties were reported.
· At approximately 03:20, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a tunnel near Saladin Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. No casualties were reported.
· Also at approximately 03:20, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a tunnel at the Egyptian border near Yibna refugee camp in Rafah. No casualties were reported.
· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Bitillu village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into al-‘Ouja village, east of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 16 July 2011
· At approximately 00:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at an activist of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in the east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. He was wounded by shrapnel to the back and the right foot.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ematin village, east of Qalailya. They raided a house belonging to the family of Majdi Ibrahim Sawan, 23, and summoned him for interrogation.
· At approximately 01:50, IOF moved into al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They raided a number of houses and summoned 4 Palestinian civilians for interrogation.
· At approximately 10:45, IOF moved into Ematin village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:25, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia seashore 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.
· At approximately 21:50, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Sunday, 17 July 2011
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Taffouh village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Tariq ‘Abdul Karim Erzaiqat, 22;
2. Fahmi Yousef al-Tarda, 21; and
3. Majdi Ahmed al-Tarda, 20.
· At approximately 09:40, IOF moved nearly 200 meters into the east of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of Palestinian land along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They moved back to the border at approximately 17:30.
· At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Qaryout village, southeast of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and violently beat Yazid Sarham Kassab, 30, who is physically disabled. At approximately 17:00, they stopped two children: ‘Abada Mo’men Mousa, 14; and Hamza Mohammed Mousa, 14. They handcuffed and blindfolded ‘Abada. His mother intervened to prevent them from arresting him, but they told her that they would release him in 10 minutes. However, they later took him away from the area. She and other civilians attempted to stop Israeli soldiers, who immediately fired tear gas canisters at them. IOF released ‘Abada at approximately 23:30 on the same day.
· Also at approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided a house belonging to the family of Anees Fares ‘Amawi, 27, and summoned him for interrogation.
Monday, 18 July 2011
· At approximately 01:25, IOF moved into Far’ata village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:40, IOF moved nearly 250 meters into the east of Khuza’a village, east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of Palestinian land along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They moved back to the border at approximately 07:00.
· At approximately 02:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. As a result, two members of the group were wounded, one of whom was in a serious condition.
· At approximately 02:20, IOF moved into Safa village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed ‘Abdul Fattah al-Teet, 21, who suffers from diabetes, and arrested him.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and established a checkpoint on the road linking between Tulkarm and its northern villages. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 14:00, following the funeral procession of a dead Palestinian in the Islamic Cemetery in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, Israeli soldiers positioned at the nearby major entrance of the town fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at Palestinian civilians. As a result, ‘Emad Ahmed Abu Hashem, 21, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet. Soon after, Palestinian boys threw stones at IOF, and limited clashes erupted between the two sides. Israeli soldiers attacked Mousa Mahmoud Abu Hashashm 56, and Manal al-Ja’abari, 25, field workers of B’Tselem, and Mohammed ‘Ayad ‘Awadh, 48, an activist against Israeli settlement activities. Israeli soldiers fired a tear gas canister near al-Ja’bari, detonated a sound bomb near Abu Hashash and pushed ‘Awadh several times. They also prevented the three activists from photographing the scene.
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Taqqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided, searched a house belonging to the family of Sabri Mousa Jebrin, 21, and arrested him. According to the detainee’s brother, Tariq, 32, Israeli soldiers stormed his house and his father’s house in al-Sarra quarter. The masked soldiers broke the door and entered his house. The damaged contents of the house and terrified the family. Israeli soldiers forced him out of the house while they were searching it.
· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Ali ‘Ali Dummaj, 22, and arrested him.
· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Tallouza village, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hussam ‘Abdullah Abu Shaqra, 52, and his son, Rami, 23. They also stolen golden jewels, whose value is estimated at 5,000 Jordanian dinars (approximately US$ 7,000).
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
· At approximately 00:30, Israeli warplanes bombarded a site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in the west of al-Shujaieya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.
· At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into al-Quds Street in the northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a car store belonging to Nizam and Mowaffaq al-Haimouni. They withdrew later and no arrests 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 dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. IOF also arrested two Palestinian civilians and an Israeli human rights defender.
· On Friday morning, 15 July 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. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, Eyad Mohammed Bernat, 38, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg. Additionally, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 15 July 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 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, and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 15 July 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 in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near "Halmish" settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. Additionally, IOF arrested 3 demonstrators, including an Israeli human right defender: Eyad ‘Abdul Karim Tamimi, 41, who was released on the following day morning; ‘Alaa’Abu Shousha, 21; and Eyala, 35, an Israeli human rights defender. IOF also turned the roof of a house belonging to Yasser Tamimi into a military site. They left the house at approximately 18:30.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 15 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Lufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the entrance of the village by IOF. Israeli soldiers prevented the demonstrators from getting close to the entrance. The demonstrators dispersed at approximately 14:00, and no casualties or arrests were reported.
· On Saturday morning, 16 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Iraq Bourin village, south of Nablus, in protest to the confiscation of their lands and attacks by Israeli settlers. The demonstrators moved towards the east of the village, where IOF had confiscated areas of land. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. 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.
Palestinian Center for Human Rights (Full Report)
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