Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory ( June 16– 22 2011)

PCHR [PDF]- Israeli soldiers arrest an Israeli human rights defender during the weekly peaceful demonstration against the construction of the annexation wall in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

· A Palestinian was wounded and arrested by IOF in Qalqilya.

· Israeli warplanes bombarded a chicken farm in the central Gaza Strip, killing 3,500 chicks.


· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

- 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded.

- IOF arrested 6 international human rights defenders.

· Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.

- Two fishing boats were damaged.

· IOF conducted 38 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two limited ones into the Gaza Strip.

- IOF arrested 12 Palestinian civilians, including two children.

· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

- IOF arrested two Palestinian civilians, 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 demolished 8 houses to the south of Hebron.

- At least 30 dunums of agricultural land planted with olives were burnt.

- Israeli settlers damaged two houses and a car in Kufor Hares village, north of Salfit.

- Israeli settlers violently beat a Palestinian civilian in Hebron..

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (16 – 22 June 2011):

Shooting:

During the reporting period, 5 Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF in the West Bank.

On 19 June 2011, a Palestinian civilian was wounded and arrested by IOF in the northern West Bank town of Qalqilya. IOF claimed that he attempted to stab an Israeli soldier.

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, 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded, and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF also arrested 6 international human rights defenders.

During the reporting period, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip in 3 separate incidents. In one of these attacks, two Palestinian fishing boats were damaged.

On 22 June 2011, Israeli warplanes bombarded a chicken farm in the central Gaza Strip. The farm was damaged and 3,500 chicks were killed. IOF claimed that a tunnel was dug under the farm.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 38 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 12 Palestinian civilians, including two children.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted two limited incursions into Palestinian areas in the 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 10 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 46 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 16 June 2011, fire broke out in agricultural plots planted with olives belonging to the families of ‘Abbadi and al-Kilani to the southwest of Jenin. According to eyewitnesses, who accused IOF of responsibility for the incident, at least 30 dunums of land planted with olives were burnt. Palestinian civilians rushed to the area attempting to extinguish fire, but their attempts failed.

Also on 16 June 2011, IOF moved into Kufor Hares village, north of Salfit, escorting a number of Israeli settlers who were visiting a religious site. The settlers remained in the village until the following day. They threw stones at two houses breaking their windows. They also threw stones at a car belonging to Jalal Mahmoud As’ad, damaging it heavily.

On 18 June 2011, 15 Israeli settlers from “Beit Hadasa” settlement intercepted Anas Hashem Abu al-Halaw, 21, a university student, when he was on his way back to his house in Qub Janeb neighborhood, which overlooks al-Shuhada Street that has been closed by IOF. The settlers violently beat Abu al-Halawa for two minutes before he was able to flee. When he arrived near Cordoba School, the same settlers attacked him again. They violently beat him, while Israeli soldiers were present in the area. He bled from the shoulder and the arm. The settlers then escaped. Israeli soldiers gathered around him, but they did not offer him any help. A Palestinian ambulance evacuated him to the hospital.

On 20 June 2011, IOF moved into Khirbat Beer al-‘Abed village to the east of Yatta town, south of Hebron. They forced Palestinian civilians to vacate their houses and tents. They then demolished 8 houses and subordinate tents, in which 50 people live. They also damaged some crops. Additionally, IOF detained a female student for some time, claiming that she was banned from living in the area.



Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (16 – 22 June 2011)


1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip


Thursday, 16 June 2011

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:


1. Salah Khalil Hamamra, 18;

2. ‘Obaida Mohammed Sabatin, 18; and

3. Saber ‘Otham Sabatin, 19.

According to information available to PCHR, the three detainees were violently beaten during interrogation.

· At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

· At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into ‘Aaboud village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 14:15, IOF moved into Nabi Elias villahe, east of Qalqilya. They raided a car maintenance workshop. They held and interrogated Malek ‘Abdul Latif Majd and Khaled ‘Ali Radwan. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

· At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into ‘Asala village, northeast of Qalqilya. 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. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 19:15, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. 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 Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the boys. A number of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit. 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. No arrests were reported.

Friday, 17 June 2011

· At approximately 00:20, IOF moved into Farkha village, southeast of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

· At approximately 00:25, IOF moved into Khirbat Qais village, southeast of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Rabah Hissein Hraizat, 48, and his son Fadi, 26, and arrested both of them.

· 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. No 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. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 12:30, 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.

· At approximately 14:30, IOF moved into al-Hashimiya village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and erected a checkpoint at the entrance of the village. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

· At approximately 20:40, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia seashore in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.