04 – 10 February 2010

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

· 7 Palestinian civilians, including two journalists and a child, were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank.

· IOF launched aerial, naval and land attacks on Palestinian civilian targets in the Gaza Strip.

· IOF conducted 22 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

· IOF carried out a wide-scale military operation in Shu'fat refugee camp near East Jerusalem.

· IOF arrested 32 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and a woman, as well as two international human rights defenders in the West Bank.

· IOF detained 4 Palestinian fishermen from the Gaza Strip for several hours.

· IOF stormed the office of the Stop the Wall Campaign in Ramallah. 

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

· Israeli troops positioned at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including two children.

· Israel has continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

· IOF leveled areas of land in Beit Sahour town to construct an observation tower.

· Israeli settlers seized 50 donums[1] of land in Salfit.

· Israeli settlers seized a mountain near Nablus and established a new settlement outpost.

· Israeli settlers uprooted 50 grape vines in Hebron.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (04 – 10 February 2010):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF wounded 7 Palestinian civilians, including two journalists and a child, in the West Bank. 

On 06 February 2010, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded when IOF fired at dozens of civilians who gathered at the entrance of 'Iraq Bourin village, south of Nablus, to prevent Israeli settlers from entering the village. 

On 08 February 2010, two Palestinian journalists were wounded while they were covering clashes between IOF and dozens of Palestinian children in Shu'fat refugee camp near East Jerusalem.  On the following day, a child was wounded in the camp.

On 09 February 2010, a Palestinian shepherd was wounded by an Israeli settlement guard in 'Iraq Bourin village, south of Nablus. 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF launched a series of aerial, naval and land attacks on Palestinian civilian targets in the Gaza Strip.  They also detained 4 fishermen for several hours and confiscated two fishing boats. Furthermore, they bombarded Gaza International Airport.   

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 22 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  IOF arrested 32 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and a woman, and two international human rights defenders. 

During the reporting period, IOF carried out a wide-scale military campaign against Shu'fat refugee camp near East Jerusalem.  During this campaign, 3 Palestinian civilians (a child and two journalists) were wounded, and at least 60 others were arrested. 

On 10 February 2010, following the identification of a Palestinian who stabbed an Israeli soldier near Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, IOF moved into al-Kheljan village, southwest of Jenin.  They raided and searched a number of houses, including the home belonging to the family of this Palestinian, Mahmoud al-Khatib.  They ordered the family to vacate the house in order to demolish it.  IOF withdrew from the village at night after having arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including al-Khatib's four brothers.

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

Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip over two and a half years. The illegal Israeli-imposed 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 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for the past two and a half years.

· Israel has 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 to the Gaza Strip.

· Israel has 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.

· Israel has 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.

· Israel has imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. It has 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 have sharply mounted.

· Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails from the Gaza Strip have been deprived of family visitation rights for more than two and a half years. 

· IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the Gaza Strip coast.

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 at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

· There are approximately 630 permanent roadblocks, 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 have 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 lead 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: Israel has continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

On 04 February 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from "Rafafa" settlement, northwest of Salfit, razed an area of Palestinian agricultural land, seized areas of land and placed mobile homes in Deir Estia and Hares villages.  They razed at least 50 donums of agricultural land planted with olives and fenced off a 24-donum area of land. 

In the same context, a number of Israeli settlers from "Adi Ad" settlement placed 4 mobile homes on Sha'ab Mountain, to the east of Jaloud village, southeast of Nablus, to establish a new settlement outpost. 

On 05 February 2010, Israeli settlers from "Kiryat Arba" and "Kharsina" settlements attacked Palestinian civilians and property in al-Baq'a area in the southeast of Hebron.  They uprooted at least 80 grape vines from a field belonging to the Jaber family to the east of bypass road #60.

On 06 February 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from "Brakha" settlement, south of Nablus, escorted by IOF, stormed 'Iraq Bourin village.  Dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered and attempted to prevent the settlers from entering the village.  Immediately, IOF fired at these civilians.  As a result, 3 civilians were wounded.

On 09 February 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from "Brakha" settlement, south of Nablus, attacked a Palestinian shepherd in 'Iraq Bourin village to the south of the settlement.  A settlement guard also fired at the shepherd, wounding him. 

On 10 February 2010, IOF prevented a number of Palestinian farmers from Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, as well as international solidarity activists, from planting areas of land which are under threat of being confiscated, as they are near "Karmi Tsur" settlement to the southwest of the village.  Israeli troops fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters.  However, the farmers and solidarity activists were able to plant about 500 olive trees. 

Also on 10 February 2010, IOF moved into 'Esh al-Ghurab area in the southeast of Beit Sahour, east of Bethlehem.  They leveled areas of land which served as an Israeli military post 5 years ago.  According to Israeli media sources, IOF planned to construct an observation tower in the area.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (04 – 10 February 2010)

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

Thursday, 04 February 2010  

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Sa'ir village, northeast of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian children:

1. Nash'at Zaidan Jaradat, 16;

2. Nassar 'Aatef Jaradat, 16; and

3. Shadi Mohammed Jaradat, 16.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinian civilians:

1. Murshed Mohammed Za'aqiq, 35;

2. 'Aayesh Ahmed al-Za'aqiq, 23;

3. Rami Bassam Za'aqiq, 32;

4. Mohammed Bassam Za'aqiq, 20;

5. Murad 'Aamer Abu Jouda, 21;

6. Mohammed 'Aamer Abu Jouda, 20;

7. Shareef Fat'hi Ebraighaith, 22; and

8. Ashraf 'Ali Sabarna, 27.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kufor Ra'ei village, west of Jenin.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Fu'ad Diab, 20.

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved nearly 250 meters into 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis.  They leveled areas of Palestinian land that they had previously razed.  They withdrew from the area 4 hours later.

· At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into Beit Oula village, northwest of Hebron.  They stormed al-Qandil furniture company and arrested two workers:

1. Maher Ramdan al-Najjar, 22; and

2. 'Abdullah Hussein Qandil, 21.

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Ethna village, northwest of Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Mousa Sawaifa, 31, when members of the family were out.  They damaged the house and its furniture. 

Friday, 05 February 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Hamza Tawfiq Meqbel, 18, and arrested him.

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

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned Shadi Abu Hashash for interrogation.

Saturday, 06 February 2010

· At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They established a checkpoint at the Safa intersection and chased Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 13:10, Israeli soldiers violently beat Ibrahim Mohammed Ekhlil, 22, near his house.  He sustained bruises all over his body. 

Sunday, 07 February 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin.  They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into the cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh. They stormed an apartment building in al-Bireh in which a number of international human rights defenders live. After checking the visas in their passports, IOF arrested Ariadna Jove Marti, 24, a Spanish journalist, and Bridgette Chappell, 25, an Australian student at Bir Zeit University, and took them to Ofer Prison, pending their deportation from the county, citing their expired visas as the reason. The two women are activists in the International Solidarity Movement. An Israeli military spokesman claimed that the women are “were known to have been involved in illegal riots that interfered with Israeli security operations."  It is worth noting that IOF have arrested a number of international human rights defenders who participate in peaceful against Israeli violations of human rights and attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, including Eva Novakova, a Czech citizen. 

· At approximately 06:30, two Israeli gunboats opened fire at two Palestinian fishing boats sailing off the coast of al-Waha resort to the northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.  Four Palestinian fishermen were on the boats.  IOF from the two gunboats arrested the fishermen and confiscated the two fishing boats.  The four fishermen were released in the evening. They are: 'Odai 'Abdul Bari al-Sultan, 18; Mohammed 'Abdul Bari al-Sultan, 20; Dib Kamel al-Anqah, 22; and Ahmed Kamel al-Anqah, 18.

· At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Ethna village, northwest of Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Mousa Sawaifa, 31, who was not at home.  They handed a written notice to his wife summoning him to a police station in "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron. They also threatened to arrest the wife in case Sawaifa did not present himself.

Monday, 08 February 2010

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Zubaidat village, north of Jericho.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mousa Ahmed Zbaidat, 24, and arrested him.

· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into al-Bireh.  They raided and searched a house belonging to Jamal Mohammed al-Taweel, Mayor of al-Bireh, and arrested his wife, Muntaha Khaled al-Taweel, 45.

· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into Kherbat Jebara village, south of Tulkarm.  They established a checkpoint at the entrance of the village and prohibited any movement through.  They also leveled areas of land at the entrance of the village and later set up examination rooms.

· At approximately 11:30, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, to the north of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a number of Palestinian demonstrators and international solidarity activists who gathered to the north of the Agricultural School.  No casualties were reported.  According to Saber al-Za'anin, Coordinator of the Local Initiative, weekly peaceful protests are organized in the area against the creation of "a buffer zone" along the border.  IOF fired at the protestors sporadically for 15 minutes.  

Tuesday, 09 February 2010

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. Nassim Rebhi Jawabra, 19; and

2. Bayan Kahled al-Badawi, 20.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit 'Awa village, southwest of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. Thabet Mohammed Safi, 37; and

2. Yusri Mahmoud al-Masalma, 23.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin city and refugee camp.  They raided and searched a house belonging to Isma'il Raja Abu Tame', but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, west of Jenin.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Tha'er Abu Hammad, 26.

· At approximately 12:30, IOF moved arrested 3 Palestinian school children as they were leaving school in Zeita al-Sha'rawiya village, northwest of Tulkarm:

1. Mohammed Ghanem Masarwa, 14;

2. Mo'tassem Nafez Masarwa, 14; and

3. Mohammed Muhannad Masarwa, 14.

· At approximately 23:20, Israeli troops stationed in observation towers along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at the beach area.  No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 23:40, an Israeli drone fired a missile at Gaza International Airport, southeast of Rafah.  A few minutes later, Israeli warplanes dropped 4 bombs on the airport.  Buildings in the airport were completely destroyed.  No casualties were reported.

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

· At approximately 00:15, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing off the coast from al-Waha resort in the northern Gaza Strip.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to leave the area and no casualties were reported.

· At approximately 08:30, Israeli troops stationed in observation towers along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who were collecting debris from an evacuated Israeli settlement.  The civilians fled and no casualties were reported.

· At approximately 17:00, following the identification of a Palestinian who stabbed an Israeli soldier near Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, IOF moved into al-Kheljan village, southwest of Jenin.  They raided and searched a number of houses, including the home belonging to the family of this Palestinian, Mahmoud al-Khatib.  They ordered the family to vacate the house in order to demolish it.  IOF withdrew from the village at night after having arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including al-Khatib's four brothers:

1. Mohammed Yousef al-Khatib, 27;

2. Ahmed Yousef al-Khatib, 20;

3. 'Emad Yousef al-Khatib, 38;

4. Usaid Yousef al-Khatib, 17;

5. Mohammed 'Aqqab al-Khatib, 38; and

6. 'Aatef 'Aqqab al-Khatib, 27.

During the house raids, IOF confiscated a number of computers, mobile phones and documents from homes belonging to the extended al-Khatib family.

Military Campaign against Shu'fat Refugee Camp near East Jerusalem

During the reporting period, IOF carried out a wide-scale military campaign against Shu'fat refugee camp near East Jerusalem.  During this campaign, 3 Palestinian civilians (one child and two journalists) were wounded, and at least 60 others were arrested. 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Sunday evening, 07 February 2010, IOF besieged Shu'fat refugee camp and closed all roads leading to it.  On the following morning, they moved into the camp, escorted by a helicopter that was hovering over the camp, and accompanied by officials of the Israeli tax authority.  They raided dozens of houses, shops and medical centers and damaged them.  Tax officials also confiscated some furniture. 

At noon, dozens of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli troops fired at these children.  As a result, two Palestinian journalists, who were covering this campaign, were wounded:

1. Daila Jwaihan, correspondent of quds.net, hit by a tear gas canister to the back; and

2. Kareem Khader, a cameraman of CNN, hit by shrapnel from a sound bomb to the ankle, and a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand. 

Dozens of civilians also suffered from tear gas inhalation.  During that day, IOF arrested at least 60 Palestinian civilians, including a number of children, and raided a number of medical centers and clinic.  IOF withdrew from the camp at approximately 22:30.

On Tuesday morning, 09 February 2010, IOF moved into the camp again.  They confiscated a number of cars.  Soon, dozens of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.  Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 14-year-old Ahmed al-Hawas with a gunshot to the foot.

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

Israel has continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The Israeli 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 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for the past two and a half years.

· Israel has 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 to the Gaza Strip.

· Israel has 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.

· Israel has 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.

· Israel has imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. It has 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 have sharply mounted.

· Approximately 900 Palestinian prisoners from the Gaza Strip in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation rights for more than two and a half years. 

· IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the Gaza Strip coast.

Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

03 – 09 February 2010

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

03 – 09 February 2010

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Wednesday, 03 February 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,280 tons of wheat and 1,120 tons of fodders.  They opened it again on Tuesday, 09 February 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,680 tons of wheat and 1,640 tons of fodders. 

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, employees of international agencies, and a small number of 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. IOF have permitted a small number of patients to pass through the crossing, but under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.

Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

03 – 08 February 2010

The West Bank

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 continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established numerous checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often increase on Fridays, preventing Muslim Palestinians from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli occupation forces often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city.  

· Ramallah:  IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah.  IOF troops positioned at Jaba' and Qalandiya checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians.  During the reporting period, IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  On Thursday evening, 04 February 2010, IOF closed 'Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.        

· Nablus:  IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Tuesday morning, 09 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  

· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 06:00 on Sunday, 07 February 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the Zabbouba intersection, west of Jenin.  They stopped and searched Palestinian civilians' vehicles.  On Monday morning, 08 February 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the western entrance of Jenin, and another one at the entrance of Rummana village, west of the town.  They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.           

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

· At approximately 12:00 on Friday, 05 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed at a checkpoint established at the entrance of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the south of Hebron arrested Mohammed Jebril Taha, 22.

· On Friday evening, 05 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed at a checkpoint established on the Nablus-Jenin road arrested Mohammed Nasser Mahamid, 22, from al-Taybeh village west of Jenin. 

· Also on Friday evening, Israeli troops stationed at a checkpoint to the northwest of Hebron arrested 3 Palestinian civilians from Beit Kahel village:  Rami Mohammed al-'Asafra, 25; Tameem Mohammed al-'Asafra, 21; and Wiham Khaled al-'Atawna, 18.

· On Monday morning, 08 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed at a checkpoint established at the entrance of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the south of Hebron arrested Mo'taz 'Ali al-Sharha, 17, and Shadi Mohammed Rayan, 17, both from Dura village southwest of the town. 

3. Construction of the Annexation Wall

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 of the construction of the Wall.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 05 February 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the Wall and 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.  Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and some of them sustained bruises.

· Also at noon on Friday, 05 February 2010, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  They fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in an attempt to prevent Palestinian civilians from organizing a peaceful protest.  Dozens of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· Also at noon on Friday, IOF moved into Deir Nizam village, northwest of Ramallah.  They fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in an attempt to prevent Palestinian civilians from organizing a peaceful protest.  Dozens of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

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

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 Thursday morning, 04 February 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from "Rafafa" settlement, northwest of Salfit, razed an area of Palestinian agricultural land, seized areas of land and placed mobile homes in Deir Estia and Hares villages.  They razed at least 50 donums of agricultural land planted with olives and fenced off a 24-donum area of land.  The damages can be summed up in the following manner:

1. They razed a 25-donum area of land belonging to Yousef Mahmoud Samhan;

2. They closed the roads leading to a tract of land belonging to Nafez Ahmed 'Abdul Haq;

3. They closed the roads leading to a tract of land belonging to 'Abdul Raheem Zaidan;

4. They closed the roads leading to a tract of land belonging to 'Abdul Rahman Taha 'Aqel and occupied the land by setting up a tent and placed mobile homes;

5. They confiscated a tract of land belonging to Mohammed 'Othman Abu Nasser;

6. They leveled a tract of land belonging to the heirs of 'Abdul Karim Mahmoud Sahban; and

7. They razed a tract of land belonging to Ameen 'Abdul Haleem Daoud.

· In the same context, a number of Israeli settlers from "Adi Ad" settlement placed 4 mobile homes on Sha'ab Mountain to the east of Jaloud village, southeast of Nablus, to establish a new settlement outpost.  The land of the mountain, which covers an area of approximately 500 donums, belongs to a number of Palestinian villagers.  This is the second settlement outpost to be established in the area, as the settlers had already established a settlement outpost nearly 300 meters away. 

· On Friday morning, 05 February 2010, Israeli settlers from "Kiryat Arba" and "Kharsina" settlements attacked Palestinian civilians and property in al-Baq'a area in the southeast of Hebron.  They uprooted at least 80 grape vines from a field belonging to the Jaber family, to the east of bypass road #60.

· At approximately 13:00 on Saturday, 06 February 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from "Brakha" settlement, south of Nablus, escorted by IOF, stormed 'Iraq Bourin village.  Dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered and attempted to prevent the settlers from entering the village.  Immediately, IOF fired at these civilians.  As a result, 3 civilians were wounded:

1. Hussam 'Aahed al-Faqeeh, 45, hit by a tear gas canister to the abdomen;

2. Adham Kamal Faraj, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the abdomen; and

3. Sameh Ahmed Nemer, 20, hit by a tear gas canister to the shoulder.

· On Tuesday evening, 09 February 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from "Brakha" settlement, south of Nablus, attacked a Palestinian shepherd in 'Iraq Bourin village to the south of the settlement.  A settlement guard also fired at the shepherd, wounding him. 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 16:00 on Tuesday, 'Ameed 'Aaref Qadous, 18, and his friend, Sa'ad Hussam al-Faqeeh, 18, were grazing animals in al-Malsa area to the east of 'Iraq Bourin village, south of Nablus.  Suddenly, they saw at least 50 Israeli settlers coming towards them from "Brakha" settlement.  The two shepherds threw stones at the settlers and a number of villagers came to help them.  The settlers were forced to move back to the settlement as the villagers chased them.  Soon, a white jeep with an Israeli registration plate arrived at the area.  A settlement guard stepped out of the jeep and opened fire indiscriminately.  As a result, Qadous was wounded by a gunshot to the right leg.

· On Wednesday morning, 10 February 2010, IOF prevented a number of Palestinian farmers from Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, as well as international solidarity activists, from planting areas of land under threat of being confiscated, near "Karmi Tsur" settlement to the southwest of the village.  Israeli troops fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters.  However, the farmers and solidarity activists were able to plant about 500 olive trees. 

· At approximately 14:00 on Wednesday, 10 February 2010, IOF moved into the 'Esh al-Ghurab area in the southeast of Beit Sahour, east of Bethlehem.  They leveled areas of land that served as an Israeli military post 5 years ago.  According to Israeli media sources, IOF plan to construct an observation tower in the area.

…………………………………………………………

Recommendations to the International Community

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 their 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 immediate 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 that international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and  urge their governments to bring the perpetrators 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 demand Israel 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 process or agreement must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

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Public Document

For further information please visit our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).