PCHR Weekly Report

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and Continue to Impose a Total Blockade on the Gaza Strip

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (15 – 21 October 2009):

Shooting: IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders to protest the construction of the Annexation Wall in the West Bank. As a result, two Palestinian civilians, a French human rights defender and a Canadian journalist were wounded.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 19 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 25 Palestinian civilians, including two children.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened bloacked 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.

IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The illegal IOF blockade 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.

· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

· The main concern of 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two years.

· IOF have not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas, since 10 December 2008.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· Poverty and unemployment rates stand at approximately 80% and 60% respectively in the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of spare parts form water networks and sewage systems. Losses incurred to this sector are estimated at US$ 6 million.

· IOF have imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment are among the highest in the world.

· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been denied family visitation rights for more than three years.

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 at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

· There are approximately permanent 630 roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60-80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by IOF every week.

· 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 has already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

· At least 65% of the main roads that leads to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF (47 out of 72 roads).

· There are around 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 a permit issued by the IOF. These 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: IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law and Israeli settlers living have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. IOF have continued construction works in dozens of settlements in the West Bank. According to Israeli media sources, extensive construction works have been started in 11 settlements in the past three weeks. In this context, the Israeli daily "Ha'aretz" reported on Friday, 16 October 2009, that such construction "is not part of stages of the construction of 2,500 housing unit agreed on between the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and the US administration." They also do not include 492 new housing units whose construction has been approved by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Additionally, construction has continued in another 20 settlements. Settlement construction is being implemented on large areas of Palestinian land in the West Bank. Last week, the Israeli Peace Now pointed out that construction works in 34 settlements aim at building 800 housing units.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (15 – 21 October 2009)

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

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Salam Street in the northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched the house of journalist Eyad Sha'ban Sorour, 37, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Turmos'iya village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ayman Saleh Tubaish, 30, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Sa'ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Budros village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed Hassan Marar, 36.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into 'Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Shawawra village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ghaleb Ahmed 'Ali, 32, and summoned him for interrogation.

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

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Ta'nak village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Fu'ad Khalil Khlaif, 51, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mustafa 'Omar Bouja, 20, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Wajdi Saleh Abu Khalil, 23.

· At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Eastern Baqa village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Sameer Fat'hi 'Ajaj, 30.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya, and imposed a curfew, claiming that stones were thrown at military vehicles traveling on a nearby road.

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.

IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The IOF siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

· The main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two years.

· IOF have not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas, since 10 December 2008.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of spare parts form water networks and sewage systems. Losses incurred to this sector are estimated at US$ 6 million.

· IOF have imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment are among the highest in the world.

· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been denied family visitation rights more than three years.

Date	Details
14 October 2009	101 Palestinians, including patients, and the body of a dead one were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
15 October 2009	4 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 207 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
16 October 2009	Closed.
17 October 2009	12 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
18 October 2009	31 Palestinians, including 22 wounded persons, were allowed to travel to Egypt.
19 October 2009	20 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 56 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
20 October 2009	3 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Date	Details
14 October 2009	102 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
15 October 2009	117 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
16 October 2009	Closed.
17 October 2009	Closed.
18 October 2009	78 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
19 October 2009	76 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
20 October 2009	102 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Nahal Ouz Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF opened the crossing on Monday, 12 October 2009, and Wednesday, 21 October 2009, and allowed the entry of limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have allowed only diplomats, a number of international journalists, workers at international agencies and a few patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. As mentioned above, IOF have allowed a few number of patients to pass through the crossing, but under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.

Date	Patients	Companions	Arabs from Israel	International Journalists	Ambassadors	International Workers	Travelers abroad
14 October 2009	18	17	2	6	Nil	27	Nil
15 October 2009	41	40	4	7	7	109	5
16 October 2009	1	1	2	2	Nil	Nil	Nil
17 October 2009	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
18 October 2009	58	56	12	3	Nil	13	3
19 October 2009	26	26	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
20 October 2009	42	39	2	3	Nil	58	2

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Wednesday, 14 October 2009, and allowed the entry of limited amounts of seeds and fodders.

IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

· Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. 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 violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF troops positioned at an iron gate established on the Nablus-Tulkarm road have continued to conduct prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians, especially in the morning. IOF troops positioned at Shavi Shomron checkpoint on the Nablus-Jenin road, and at Za'tara checkpoint, south of the city, have also continued to restrict the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 15 October 2009, IOF closed a checkpoint in Deir Sharaf area, west of the town, for several hours. At noon, IOF closed Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus. At the same time, IOF closed Shavi Shomron checkpoint. On Sunday morning, 18 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians.

· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 17 October 2009, IOF erected a checkpoint on the Ya'bad-'Arraba road, southwest of Jenin, and another one at the entrance to Ta'nak village, west of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Jenin. IOF troops positioned at Jaba'-Qalandya checkpoint, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 18 October 2009, IOF erected a checkpoint at Surda intersection, north of Ramallah, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilian vehicles to and from Ramallah.

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around Hebron. On Thursday, 15 October 2009, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance to Halhoul Bridge, north of Hebron, another one on Beit Kahel Bridge and a third one at the entrance of Ethna village, west of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Friday and Saturday, 16 and 17 October 2009, IOF erected a number of checkpoints on roads linking the north and south of Hebron. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday evening, 18 October 2009, IOF troops positioned in the center and south of Hebron prevented a solidarity delegation from Follow Women Campaign, comprised of about 120 women riding bikes, from entering the old town for no apparent reason.

On Thursday afternoon, 15 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at the entrances of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron violently beat Subhi Abu Subaih, the Muezzin of the mosque. He sustained bruises throughout the body.

· Bethlehem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday afternoon, 20 October 2009, IOF closed the southern entrance of Bethlehem. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Wednesday, 21 October 2009, IOF erected a number of checkpoints on the main roads leading to Bethlehem. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· Tubas: On Tuesday evening, 13 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint established near Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin, arrested Wissam Mustafa Mustafa, 16, from Bourqin village west of Jenin.

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. 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.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 16 October 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the center of Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the Wall and following provocation threw stones at IOF troops positioned in the area. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, two Palestinian civilians, a French human rights defender and a Canadian journalist were hit by tear gas canisters:

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 16 October 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with IOF troops positioned near the Wall. IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 16 October 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem. Israeli troops closed the entrance of the village and attacked the demonstrators. They fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators and violently beat a number of them. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians sustained bruises: Ya'qoub Bader al-Din Barijiya, 22; 'Omar 'Alaa' al-Din, 24; and Hamza Mahmoud Zawahra, 25.

4. Efforts intended to Establish a Jewish Majority in occupied East Jerusalem

IOF has recently escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem to force them to leave the city. PCHR has devoted this section in the Weekly Report to highlight violations of human rights perpetrated by IOF against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.

· On Saturday noon, 17 October 2009, IOF handed copiers of court rulings to three Palestinian families ordering the evacuation of their houses, claiming that the houses are rented from Jewish groups and that the families did not pay the rental payment. According to the orders, the families must evacuate the houses and pay the costs of demolishing the structures and removing the rubbles. The families of have lived in these houses since 1956. They are:

1. The family of 'Abdullah Talab Skafi, which counts 13 individuals, including 9 children living in 3 houses;

2. The family of Mohammed Ibrahim Hammas, which counts 30 individuals, including 7 children living in 6 houses; and

· On Sunday, 18 October 2009, officials from the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem, handed demolition orders to owners of at least 67 houses in Bashir and Wadi Tasoul quarters in Silwan village. The Municipality rejected an organizational plan provided by residents of the two quarters even through they paid taxes and fees. The two quarters are located near the fence of the old town. The demolition of these houses is part of the Israeli 2020 Plan, according to which more than 550 donums of land would be seized.

· During the reporting period, a number of Israeli settlers set up a tent in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem, celebrating the takeover of houses belonging to the families of al-Ghawi and al-Hannoun. At approximately 20:30 on Tuesday, 20 October 2009, dozens of Israeli settlers attacked members of the al-Ghawi family, who live in a tent opposite to their houses, which was taken over by Israeli settlers a few months ago. The settlers violently beat women and children and robbed the contents of the tent. At least 7 civilians were injured. When Palestinian civilians intervened to stop the attack, the Israeli police arrested 4 of them: Samir 'Abdul Latif; Saleh Diab; Khaled al-Ghawi; and Nidal Abu Gharbiya.

· IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on East Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque since Friday, 09 October 2009. They have erected a number of checkpoints at the entrances to the old town and nearby villages and suburbs. Thousands of Israeli soldiers and police officers have been deployed in the streets as IOF have declared a state of high alert under the pretext of preventing any clashes that may erupt between Palestinian civilians and Israeli settlers who declared that they would break into the the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF have also denied men aged below 50 access to the al-Aqsa Mosque. At approximately 13:00 on Friday, IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians in Ras al-'Aamoud neighborhood. IOF undercover units disguised as press teams also arrested 3 Palestinian civilians. They violently beat those civilians in front of television cameras. Additionally, at least 10 civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· At approximately 08:30 on Monday, 12 October 2009, IOF, accompanied by officials of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem and a bulldozer, moved into Hawd al-Tabel quarter in Beit Hanina village, north of Jerusalem. They besieged a 50-square-meter house belonging to Amjad Khamis al-Tiryaqi, in which 5 people, including 3 children live. They forced the family out and demolished the house.

5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

· IOF have continued construction works in dozens of settlements in the West Bank. According to Israeli media sources, extensive construction works have been started in 11 settlements in the past three weeks. In this context, the Israeli daily "Ha'aretz" reported on Friday, 16 October 2009, that such construction "is not part of stages of the construction of 2,500 housing unit agreed on between the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and the US administration." They also do not include 492 new housing units whose construction has been approved by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Additionally, construction has continued in another 20 settlements. Settlement construction is being implemented on large areas of Palestinian land in the West Bank. Last week, the Israeli Peace Now pointed out that construction works in 34 settlements aim at building 800 housing units.

1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4. PCHR calls for the immediately implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

5. PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.

6. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

7. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

8. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.

11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).

PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights LTD (non-profit) http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory	No. 41/2009 15 - 21 Oct. 2009
Salem village, Nablus – An Israeli soldier looking at an Palestinian woman while cultivating olives on her family's land