PCHR
 Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

http://www.pchrgaza.org

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

No. 33/2008

07 - 13 August 2008

 

 

Israeli Occupation Forces continue to construct the Annexation Wall in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah

 

 

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

 

  • 18 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were injured by IOF gunfire in the West Bank.

  • 17 of these civilians were injured when IOF used force against 3 peaceful demonstrations organized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah.

  • IOF conducted 26 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

  • IOF arrested 33 Palestinian civilians, including 10 children.

  • IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

  • IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested at least three Palestinian civilians.

  • IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attacks Palestinian civilians and property.

  • The Israeli Ministry of Interior approved the construction of 400 housing units in a settlement block to the north of East Jerusalem.

  • Israeli authorities invited tenders for the construction of 416 housing units in two settlements near Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

  • Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron.

 
 

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (7 – 13 August 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF injured 18 Palestinian civilians, including three children, in the West Bank. Most of these civilians were injured when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall.

During the reporting period, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein and Ne’lin villages, west of Ramallah. As a result, 17 Palestinian civilians were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets, whilst dozens of others suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF also used a foul smelling liquid against the demonstrators. On 13 August, a Palestinian child was injured when IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem and opened fire indiscriminately.

In a step that encourages IOF troops to kill Palestinians, IOF exempted IOF the soldiers who killed Fadel Shana’a, a Reuters cameraman, in Juhor al-Dik in the central Gaza Strip on 16 April 2008. The Israeli military advocate-general, Avihai Mendelblit, claimed that an Israeli tank crew who killed Shana’a, and a number of other unarmed civilians, including children, acted properly and will not face any legal action. In a letter sent to Reuters news agency on Tuesday, 12 August 2008, Mendelblit claimed that troops could not see whether Shana’a was operating a camera or a weapon. He also claimed that Shana’a was wearing body armor that resembled that worn by Palestinian resistance activists.  

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 26 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF arrested 34 Palestinian civilians, including 10 children. Since the beginning of 2008, IOF have arrested 1,751 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have 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

IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The IOF siege of Gaza, which has tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and has violated the human, economic and social rights of the approximately 1.5 million Palestinian civilian population, particularly their rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. The siege has also paralyzed the Gazan economy. In addition, the siege has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and many factories have been forced to close. Severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the entire Palestinian civilian population. Regarding civilian movements, IOF permit very few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in order to travel to the West Bank or Israel. Rafah International Crossing Point in the southern Gaza Strip is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world via a country other than Israel. IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it, and have also obstructed European observers working at the Crossing Point from reaching it. Although the Egypt-brokered truce between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel entered into force on June 19, no major changes have been observed regarding the movement of persons and goods through the six Gaza Strip border crossings. The closure of these border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health.

 

West Bank

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to Jerusalem. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often assault Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have also tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested three Palestinian civilians.  

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT have, in violation of international humanitarian law, continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, the Israeli Ministry of Interior approved the construction of 400 housing units in “Neve Ya’qoub” settlement neighborhood in the north of East Jerusalem. The Ministry also approved inviting tenders for the construction of 286 housing units in “Beitar Elite” settlement, west of Bethlehem, and 130 others on Abu Ghunaim Mount (“Har Homa” settlement), south of East Jerusalem. In the same context, the Israeli media reported that IOF agreed with the settlement movement on the transfer of settlers living in “Migroun” settlement outpost, east of Ramallah, to another settlement, and that 40 housing unit would be built for those settlers. IOF also demolished two houses and a building in East Jerusalem claiming that they were built without licenses. 

During the reporting period, Israeli settlers launched three attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank. As a result, a woman and a child were injured and a number of houses were damaged.  

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (7 – 13 August 2008)

 

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

 

Thursday, 7 August

·      At approximately 00:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into the center of Ramallah. IOF troops raided a restaurant in the area and verified the identities of customers. They then arrested Salah Daraghma, 21.

 

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hassan Mahmoud Saleh, director of Saida secondary school. No arrests were reported.

 

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Sourif village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Tha’er nayef Barad’iya, 21.

 

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

 

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They violently raided and searched a taxi office belonging to Ma’moun al-Nassif in the west of the town. They confiscated three cars belonging to the office. In the east of the town, IOF troops broke the windows of a car belonging to the Sobeh family, which was parked in front of the family’s house.  

 

·      At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Qassem Bassem al-Sa’di, 48.

 

·      Also at approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Ahmed Khaled Waked, 18;

2.      Ahmed Sameer Salahm, 19.

 

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Zaher village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Baker Mohammed Maloul, 18;

2.      Zakaria Mohammed Maloul, 22.

 

Saturday, 9 August

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They opened fire at houses and shops, damaging a number of them.

 

Monday, 11 August  

·      At approximately 01:10, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Askar refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Nazem ‘Othman Mayala, 23;

2.      Basheer ‘Othman Mayala, 19.

 

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Wa’el ‘Aadel Shanbar, 23.

 

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Salman Hassan al-Sarai’a, 24.

 

Tuesday, 12 August

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 13 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children:

 

1.      ‘Abdullah Khalil ‘Aassi, 17;

2.      Salah Ramadan Abu Dahoud, 17;

3.      ‘Omar Diab Rajeh, 19;

4.      Haitham Mohammed Bahlajawi, 28;

5.      Adham Zakaria Bahlajawi, 17;

6.      Adham Nihad Mashi, 17;

7.      ‘Abdul Muttaleb Khaled Bilal, 17;

8.      Murad Ahmed Thouqan, 17;

9.      Ahmed Mahmoud Thouqan, 17;

10.  Eihab Taleb al-Shaf’ei, 16;

11.  Adham Rajeh al-Qaissi, 19;

12.  Mohammed Rajeh al-Qaissi, 17;

13.  ‘Omar Abu Shousha, 22.

 

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

 

1.      ‘Aassef Mahmoud Abu al-Rub, 22;

2.      Mahmoud Ahmed Abu al-Rub, 21;

3.      Hassan Khaled Dahmaz, 22.

 

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Akram ‘Othman al-Haj, 23;

2.      Mohammed Mahmoud al-Tareefi, 21.

 

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tubas town. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

 

·      At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Ras al-Joura, Be’r al-Mahjar and the University neighborhoods in the north of Hebron. They raided and a butchery in the University neighborhood and arrested Jalal Fakhri al-Natsha, 22.

 

·      Also at approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Kufor Laqef village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 13 August

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses.No arrests were reported.

 

·      At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Taffouh village, west of Hebron, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched many houses and turned some of them into military sites. During those raids, IOF damaged a number of houses. IOF withdrew from the village at approximately 13:30. No arrests were reported.

 

·      At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They opened fire indiscriminately. As a result, Mohammed Salem al-Ja’fari, 16, was wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

 

·      At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Beit Jala town. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Shebli Muneer Rizqallah, 25, and arrested him.

 

2.      Continued Siege on the OPT

IOF have 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

As previously noted, IOF have continued to impose a siege on the 1.5 million civilians of the Gaza Strip. The border crossings of the Strip have been closed for more than two years as part of IOF’s collective punishment policy, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of civilians and goods. As a result, the territory is unable to secure its basic needs of food, medicine, and other supplies, pushing the poverty rate above 80%.

The continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for civilian life in the Gaza Strip has led to the paralysis of the educational sector. In addition, the health sector is on the verge of collapse due to the stoppage of many ambulances from operating for lack of fuel. Healthcare facilities have registered a 25% drop in clients due to the transport crisis, and hundreds of healthcare professionals have been unable to reach their work places. Furthermore, the transportation sector has almost ceased functioning throughout the Gaza Strip, resulting in massively reduced essential services, including the delivery of drinking water delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection.

The tightened siege has led to the collapse of the Gaza Strip economic sectors. Most production facilities have ceased to operate due to the siege and restriction on movement of goods and individuals.

Concerning the movement at Nahal Ouz crossing, east of Gaza City, the amounts of fuel have recently been further reduced, which may cause another major fuel crisis across the Strip. During the reporting period, IOF allowed the entry of the following amounts of fuel:

Date

Benzene

Diesel

Cooking Gas

Energy Fuel

5 August 2008

38,020 liters

266,000 liters

105.010 tons

782,200 liters

6 August 2008

45,010 liters

251,480 liters

125.480 tons

643,800 liters

7 August 2008

 Nil

383,460 liters

209.530 tons

788,800 liters

8 August 2008

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

9 August 2008

 Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

10 August 2008

45,000 liters

173,400 liters

229.310

541,400 liters

11 August 2008

38,410 liters

304,460 liters

200.150 tons

592,400 liters

12 August 2008

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

IOF allowed a very limited number of seriously ill patients and staff of international organizations to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. However, IOF have also prevented families of at least 900 Palestinians detained in Israeli jails from visiting them since 6 June 2007. During the reporting period, the movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing was as shown in the following table:

Date

Patients

Companions

Traders

Businessmen

Journalists

International workers

Travelers abroad

 7 August

28

29

2

13

4

24

19

8 August

8

7

1

17

8

18

14

9 August

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

10 August

18

18

4

14

11

18

14

11 August

30

28

Nil

16

2

19

2

12 August

20

20

Nil

Nil

2

33

13

During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing and allowed the entry of a small amount of aggregate.

Concerning the movement at Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, during the reporting period, it was as shown in the following table:

Date

Details

6 August 2008

93 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

7 August 2008

39 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

8 August 2008

46 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

9 August 2008

Closed

10 August 2008

47 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

11 August 2008

79 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

12 August 2008

Closed

With regard to Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the Egyptian authorities started to open on a limited basis for some patients. The movement at the crossing point during the reporting period was as shown in the following table:

Date

Details

 7 August 2008

A patient traveled abroad for medical treatment.

 8 August 2008

7 patients who had received medical treatment abroad were allowed to travel back to the Gaza Strip.

 12 August 2008

12 patients who had received medical treatment abroad were allowed to travel back to the Gaza Strip.

On 13 August, the local media reported that Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, would be reopened following 4 months of closure. However, to date the crossing remains closed.  

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 3,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor and harass the fishermen. The Oslo Accords permit Palestinian fishermen to fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza coastline.  

 

The West Bank

As previously noted, IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the entire West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

·      Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 7 August, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. On Saturday morning, 9 August, IOF troops positioned at Za’atara checkpoint, south of Nablus, and Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 10 August, IOF troops positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 11 August, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday morning, 12 August, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Wednesday morning, 13 August 2008, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 12:00, IOF closed Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus.  

 

·      Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 7 August, IOF erected a checkpoint the western entrance of Artah suburb, south o Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Saturday, 9 August 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Sunday, 10 August, IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the town. On Monday, 11 August, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, several times. On Tuesday, 12 August, IOF erected a checkpoint at ‘Attil intersection, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and held civilian aged below 40 for several hours.  

 

At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 10 August, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint at Bal’a intersection, east of Tulkarm, arrested Ahmed Sa’id Zayed, 26, from Jenin.

 

·      Bethlehem: On Thursday morning, 7 August, IOF troops positioned at the Rachel Tomb checkpoint, north of Bethlehem, arrested Sanaa’ Suleiman Salah, 26, from al-Khader village southwest of Bethlehem,