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

· IOF killed two Palestinians, including a civilian who was killed in cold blood in Hebron.

· Five civilians were wounded in the Gaza Strip, including 4 children.

· IOF fired bullets and projectiles from the ground, air and sea at civilians and civilian targets in the Gaza Strip.

· IOF conducted 14 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

· IOF arrested 44 Palestinian civilians, including 21 children, in the West Bank.

· IOF arrested 10 civilians in the Gaza Strip, 8 of whom were released.

· Israeli naval troops have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

· 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 military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested one Palestinian civilian.

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

· IOF destroyed a stockyard in “Wadi al-Hussain” area in the southeast of Hebron.

· 6 agricultural wells and 5 rooms were demolished in Ethna village near Hebron.

· IOF issued demolition orders against 3 shops in Bab al-‘Amoud area in Jerusalem.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (11–17 February 2010):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed two Palestinians; a member of the Palestinian resistance who was killed in the Gaza Strip and a civilian who was killed in cold blood in Hebron.  IOF also wounded 5 Palestinians, including 4 children, of them 3 are sisters.  The fifth wounded Palestinian is a member of the Palestinian resistance.

In the Gaza Strip, on 11 February 2010, IOF killed a member of the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, and wounded another one, when a warplane fired one missile at them, near ‘Obeid fuel station in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.

Also on 11 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed along the Gaza Strip border to the east of Juhor al-Dik village, east of Gaza City, wounded 3 sisters from the al-Tarabin family. They fired artillery shells at the village.  One of the shells landed on the house of Isma’il Suleiman al-Tarabin, 42, and three of his daughters were wounded by shrapnel.

On 14 February 2010, a Palestinian minor was wounded in Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip when he was fired at by Israeli soldiers who stepped out from a military jeep that was patrolling along the border opposite to the village. The wounded minor who is a student in the secondary school told a PCHR fieldworker that he was going on a picnic and as he became 300 meters to the west of the border, the soldiers fired at him.

On 13 February 2010, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Jabalya town in the northern the Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian farmers who were working on their farms located to the east of al-Karama Street (the eastern street).  The farmers were forced to flee in fear for their lives and no casualties or damages were reported.

On 14 February 2010, Israeli gunboats fired at two fishing boats that were sailing opposite to al-Waha Resort, northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip.  Four Palestinian fishermen were on board of the fishing boats.  Two gunboats surrounded the Palestinian fishing boats and forced them to sail towards Israel. IOF confiscated the boats and held the fishermen.  At approximately 19:00 on the same day, IOF released two of the held fishermen through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip, while the other fishermen have remained in custody.

On 17 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of al-Seyafa area, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and aggregate from destroyed buildings and roads. No casualties were reported.

In the West Bank, on 12 February 2010, IOF willfully killed a Palestinian civilian in Hebron. IOF fired at him from a close range without any warning while he was walking normally on a branch road of al-Shallala Street in the Center of Hebron.  IOF prevented medical personnel who arrived at the scene from attending the victim. They pulled him by force into an armored personnel carried and left.

IOF continued to systematically use excessive force to disperse demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall, settlement activities and attacks of Israeli settlers.  Many demonstrators sustained bruises as they were beaten by IOF, while others suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 14 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  IOF arrested 44 Palestinian civilians, including 21 children.  IOF stormed Palestinian houses, frightened Palestinians and damaged contents of houses. In this context, IOF maltreated a number of members of the Jaradat family in Sa'irr village, northeast of Hebron.

During the reporting period, al-Jalazon refugee camp, north of Ramallh, witnessed the largest incursion, during which IOF arrested 20 civilians, including 18 children.  

IOF also harassed activists working against the construction of the Annexation Wall and international human rights defenders. IOF arrested two solidarity activists and a cameraman: Janita, 32, an Israeli solidarity activist;  Santa, 27, an Israeli solidarity activist; and ‘Arafa Jamal 'Amira.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 2 limited incursions. On 11 February 2010, IOF moved approximately 400 meters into the east of Juhor al-Dik village in the central Gaza Strip. They stationed in the vicinity of the waste garbage dumping site in the area.  Lorries that transfer garbage to the site were not able to access the site for several hours.

Also on 11 February 2010, a special unit of IOF moved approximately 250 meters into the al-Ghoul family’s land, north west of the evacuated "Dogit" settlement to the northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.  They unit arrested 6 Palestinians who were collecting and breaking rubble from destroyed houses to sell it to brick factories.

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 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.

· 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 few 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 in the face of Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· Poverty and unemployment have sharply mounted 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 is estimated at US$ 6 million.

· IOF have imposed additional restrictions on access of 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 have sharply mounted.

· Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived for family visitation for more than two 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 permanent 630 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 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.

Annexation Wall: On 11 February 2010, IOF destroyed 6 agricultural wells and 5 neighboring rooms near the Annexation Wall in Ethna village, northwest of Hebron. They also confiscated a number of power generators and water pumps.  These wells and rooms which were destroyed under the pretext of being constructed near the Annexation Wall without licenses belong to the families of al-Tumaizi, al-Jeyyawi and al-'Asoud.

On 17 February 2010, IOF delivered two demolition notifications to two houses' owners. The two houses are under construction and located in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.  The two houses are built near the Annexation Wall which is parallel to the bypass street no. 60.

IOF also imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on both sides of the Annexation Wall in the north of the West Bank. On Monday morning, 15 February 2010, IOF stationed near the gate erected on the Annexation Wall, southeast of Qalqilia, prevented students from ‘Arab al-Ramadin from going to the schools in Habla village, south of Qalqilia.

IOF also imposed restrictions on the movement at the gates of ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village which is isolated by the Wall, southeast of Qalqilia.  The gates are the only exit for the residents of the village, especially after the eastern side of the village was closed with the establishment of “Sheri Tekva” settlement, while the western side of the village was closed after the establishment of “Oranit” settlement. The southern and northern sides of the village are closed by the Annexation Whale in which two electronic gates are erected to allow the movement of locals.  By closing the two gates, the village became completely closed.

Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Majority in Jerusalem: During the reporting period, the Israeli Supreme Court upheld a decision taken by the Israeli Central Court to evacuate and demolish three shops in Bab al-‘Amoud area in occupied East Jerusalem.  IOF delivered evacuation and demolition notices to the owners of the affected shops. This decision is in line of the declared intent of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem to close Bab al-‘Amoud area and the market from Bab al-‘Amoud to the al-Buraq Wall for 2-4 years under the pretext of developing the infrastructure of the old town of Jerusalem.  The application of this intent means paralyzing commercial and economic transactions in the old city.  This decision is part of measures taken by IOF in order to create a Jewish majority in Jerusalem.

Settlement Activities: IOF have 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 17 February 2010, IOF bulldozed a stockyard belonging to Jamal Jamil Suleiman Abu Es’eifan in “Wadi al-Hussain” area in the southeast of Hebron.  The stockyard was built on a 150-square-meter area and was used to raise animals and birds. Abu Es’eifan stated that the stockyard and the animals raised in it were granted to his family by the International Committee of the Red Cross two years and a half ago.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (11-17 February 2010)

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

Thursday, 11 February 2010  

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Jalazon refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 20 Palestinian civilians, including 18 children:

1. Malek Rabah Ma’moun Nakhlah, 16;

2. Muhanna Mahmoud Fawzi Nakhlah, 16;

3. Saddam Husein Theeb Sharayka,15;

4. Khaled Marwan Dalaysheh, 16;

5. Mahmoud Ramadan Sharaya’, 16;

6. Muhanad Ramada ‘Eleyan, 16;

7. Mohammed Khaled Wasfi Sa’adat, 15;

8. Ahmed Mahmoud Khalil Nakhlah, 15;

9. Mohammed Mahmoud Abdul Aziz Zeid, 16;

10. Mo’ayad Mahmoud Fawzi Nakhlah, 16;

11. Husein Khaled al-‘Arish, 18;

12. Ahmed Mohammed Sha’ban Ghazawi, 17;

13. ‘Amr Zuheir ‘Awwad, 16;

14. Zeid Mahmoud Zeid, 15;

15. ‘Uthman ‘Umar ‘Urabi, 18;

16. Yasin Ahmed Nakhleh, 16;

17. ‘Udai Zeidan al-Hattab, 17;

18. Mohammed Rebhi Masarwah, 15;

19. Naser Jamal Sharayka, 16; and

20. Malek Sa’id Khalil Dar ‘Umar, 15.  

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem city. They stationed in al-Fawaghra neighborhood in the middle of Bethlehem city. The raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. Mahmoud Jamal Masalmeh, 24; and

2. Nashat ‘Umar Shalash, 16.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children:

1. Abdul Latif Isma’il Mohammed Ghuneimat, 17;

2. Jarrah Hassan Salem Abu Fara, 21;

3. Issa ‘Amr Barathe’iyeh, 21, a student in Hebron University; and

4. Jarrah Mohammed Amin Ghneimat,17.

· At approximately 06:30, IOF stationed along the Gaza Strip border to the east of Juhor al-Dik village, east of Gaza City, opened fire indiscriminately at Palestinian houses in the village. They then fired several artillery shells at the village. One of the shells landed on the house of Isma’il Suleiman al-Tarabin, 42, and three of his daughters were lightly wounded as a result. The house of the al-Tarabin family is located approximately one kilometer to the east of the border. The wounded girls are:

1. ‘Afaf Isma’il al-Tarabin, 12, wounded by shrapnel to the face and the head;

2. Ahlam Isma’il al-Tarabin, 11, wounded by shrapnel to the head; and

3. Muna Isma’il al-Tarabin, 5, wounded by shrapnel to the head and the neck.

After the firing, an IOF ground force moved approximately 400 meters to the west of the border strip.  The force stationed in the vicinity of the waste garbage dumping site in the area. Lorries that transfer garbage to the site were not able to access the site for several hours as a result.

·  Also at approximately 06:00, a special unit of IOF moved nearly 250 meters into the al-Ghoul family’s land, north west of the evacuated "Dogit" settlement to the northwest of Beit Lahia, northern the Gaza Strip. The unit arrested 6 Palestinian civilians who were collecting and breaking rubble from destroyed houses to sell it to brick factories. It should be noted that Israel has imposed a ban on the delivery of construction materials into the Gaza Strip since its imposition of total closure on the Strip in June 2007. Brick factories in Gaza use the rubble of destroyed houses to make bricks.  Rubble collection has created job opportunities for many Palestinian workers, and is one of the most dangerous jobs as the rubble is collected from areas near the border of the Gaza Strip.  Ghassan Rajab Mohammed Ma’rouf, 34, is one of the workers who were arrested and released later.  He stated to PCHR that an IOF force fired at them and surrounded them.  The force arrested 6 workers, including 2 of Ghassan’s brothers who are Khamis, 29, and Jebril, 18; his nephew Rajab Mohammed Rajab Ma’arouf, 20; Hemmat ‘Aziz ‘Ayesh Tawfiq al-Sous, 34, and Na’el Mansour Tanbourah, 34. The force led the arrested workers to Israel where they were questioned about the reason of their presence in the area. They were released at approximately 16:00 on the same day through Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing.  

· At approximately 10:15, an Israeli warplane fired one missile at two members of the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad Movement, near ‘Obeid fuel station in the east of al-Shejaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.  One of the two men, Fares Akram Ahmed Jaber, 27, from al-Jalaa’ neighborhood in Gaza City, was killed and the other was wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.   

Friday, 12 February 2010

· In the afternoon hours, IOF willfully killed a Palestinian civilian in Hebron a short distance without any warning while he was walking normally on a branch road of al-Shallala street in the center of Hebron city.

According to PCHR's investigations and eyewitnesses' testimonies, including Mazen Sa’di Jebril al-Joulani, 47, and ‘Eid Mesbah Abdul Mu’ti Abu Meshar, 39, a paramedic of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), at approximately 16:10 on 12 February, 6 Israeli soldiers were passing through Ali Bakka road, a branch road of al-Shallala Street in the center of Hebron.  In the meanwhile, Fayez Ahmed Sa’id Faraj, 41, from Hebron, was coming from the other direction.  As he became 8 meters far from the soldiers, the soldiers pointed their guns at him and ordered him to stop.  Faraj continued walking, but one of the soldiers opened fired directly at him without warning.  He was wounded by a bullet to the thigh.  He fell onto the ground and the soldiers ordered him to get out what was in his pockets.  It seems that he thought it was over and got up and he walked approximately 2 meters with difficulty.  He seemingly wanted to repose against the wall of the side street or to sit down on the sidewalk.  But the soldiers, also without any warning and without any justifications, fired directly at him from a distance of 10 meters.  He was wounded by several bullets to the abdomen, pelvis and thigh.  He fell onto the ground again.  While bleeding on the ground, Faraj raised his left hand, apparently as a sign to ask the soldiers to stop firing. One of the soldiers fired directly at his left hand.  The soldiers did not allow PRCS medical personnel who arrived at the scene to attend Faraj. They pulled him into an armored personnel carrier.  Later, the Israeli liaison office informed PRCS that Faraj died and asked for an ambulance to transfer his body to al-Ahli Hospital.  According to medical sources, Faraj was hit by 6 explosive bullets; including two bullets o the abdomen, two bullets to the higher part of the right thigh, one bullet to the right side of the pelvis and one bullet to the left hand.

‘Eid Abu Menshar, a PRCS paramedic, stated to the PCHR fieldworker that:

“We were informed via the phone on Friday afternoon, 12 February 2010, that there was a wounded person on Ali Bakka road, a branch road of al-Shallala Street in the center of Hebron.  We drove to the reported scene at approximately 16:25.  As we arrived, we saw the wounded person.  We knew later that he was Fayez Faraj.  He was on the ground and he was bleeding from different parts of his body.  We found out later that he was wounded in the abdomen, pelvis, thigh and left hand.  We intervened and tried to provide first medical aid.  He was still alive.  We tried to stop the bleeding in his right thigh.  We carried him on a stretcher to the ambulance.  The Israeli soldiers were surrounding the ambulance and pointing their guns at us. We asked them to make space because we wanted to transfer the wounded person to the hospital and told them that his condition was serious.  They refused to allow us pass.  We repeated our request and we warned of the consequences.  We continued to provide first aid to the wounded person inside the ambulance.  In the meanwhile, an Israeli officer came and told us that he was a military doctor.  He got into the ambulance and we explained the conditions of the wounded person to him.  He checked the wounded person and assessed his condition.  He did not provide any help and left the ambulance.  Before leaving, he told us that we were allowed to drive to the hospital immediately.  We had already controlled approximately 6% of the external bleeding.  As the ambulance moved only one meter, Israeli soldiers shouted at us. They stopped us pointing their guns at us.  They surrounded the ambulance and opened its door.  They got inside while pointing their guns at us.  They pulled the wounded person by force. They carried him on a stretcher to an armored personnel carrier.  The carrier was not holding any medical signs.  The wounded person waived his hand protesting against this action and trying to resist.  A number of the soldiers even clashed with him with hands.  They put him by force into the carrier and they drove away at approximately 16:40. We tried to follow the carrier, but the soldiers prevented us.  At approximately 17:45, the PRCS emergency center received a phone call from the Israeli military liaison office requesting an ambulance to transfer the body of the victim.  They required the ambulance to be drove to the northern entrance of Hebron, near Zaid fuel station.  The same medical personnel drove to the mentioned location.  As we arrived, we saw three Israeli military vehicles and a personnel carrier.  An ambulance of the Magen David Adom (MDA) arrived at the location.  The MDA delivered the body in a black bag with a death certificate to us.  We then transferred the body to al-Ahli Hospital.”

Saturday, 13 February 2010

· At approximately 16:45, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Jabalya town in the northern the Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian farmers who were working in their farms located to the east of al-Karama street (the eastern street).  The farmers were forced to flee in fear for their lives and no casualties or damages were reported.

Sunday, 14 February 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. ‘Aziz Ibrahim al-Hor, 22; and

2. ‘Imad Talab al-Haddoush, 24.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Yasin Abdul Rahman Kmeil, 29.

· At approximately 06:45, Israeli gunboats fired at 2 fishing boats that were sailing opposite to al-Waha Resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Four Palestinians were on board of the fishing boats. Two gunboats surrounded the Palestinian fishing boats and forced them to sail towards Israel. IOF confiscated the boats and arrested the fishermen who are: Sharif Mohammed al-Abed al-Sultan, 37, Samih Rajab al-Abed al-Sultan, 23, ‘Awad Ghaleb al-Sultan, 21, and Fadal Jamal al-Sultan, who are all from Beit Lahia town. At approximately 19:00 on the same day, IOF released Sharif al-Sultan and Samih al-Sultan through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip, while the other fishermen are still detained.

· At approximately 15:00, Israeli soldiers stepped down from a military jeep that was traveling behind the border strip opposite to Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip, and fired at Yousef Mohammed Ahmed al-Atrash, 17, wounding him with a bullet to the left thigh. Al-Atrash who is a student in the secondary school told the PCHR fieldworker that he was going on a picnic and as he became 300 meters to the west of the border, the soldiers opened fire at him. 

Monday, 15 February 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They stationed in Wadi Shahin neighborhood in the center of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Samer Mousa al-Douri, 19.  They delivered a summon to al-Douri to appear before the Israeli intelligence service in “Etsion” settlement in the south of Bethlehem.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-‘Ebaiat village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ali Mohammed Sweis, 19. They delivered a summon to Sweis to appear before the Israeli intelligence service in “Etsion” settlement in the south of Bethlehem.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sa’di Zeyad Husein al-Jayawi, 23, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They stationed in Tel street in the south of Nablus and in al-Makhfeya neighborhood in the southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched 3 houses and arrested 5 civilians in Tel street and a house in al-Makhfeya neighborhood and arrested two brothers. The Palestinians whose houses were raided stated to a PCHR fieldworker that IOF destroyed doors locks using huge iron hammers and sharp tools if the dwellers were late to open the doors. They also used trained dogs to search houses. The arrested Palestinians are:

1. Mahdi Rasem Mahmoud Abdul Aziz Slim, 24;

2. Raji Rasem Mahmoud Abdul Aziz Slim, 21;

3. Mjahed Mohammed Darwish Sa’id al-Qutb, 23;

4. Thaer Farid Abdul Latif Najem, 18;

5. Mjahed Farid Abdul Latif Najem, 18;

6. Imad Walid Abdul Latif Najem, 20; and

7. Mohammed Zeyad Tayseer Muna, 20.

Tuesday, 2 February 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Shyoukh, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a he house belonging to the family of Mohammed Nasim al-Warasna, 23, and arrested him.

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Toubas. They raided and searched a number of houses. They arrested two civilians:

1. ‘Ali Mahmoud Rezeq Bani ‘Odeh, 60; and

2. Sa’ad ‘Ali Bani ‘Odeh, 26.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Sa’eer village, northeast of Hebron. They surrounded 3 houses in “Ras al-‘Aroud” area, south of Sa’eer village, amidst firing of sound bombs and throwing stones at the surrounded houses. They raided and searched the houses. They maltreated the residents of the houses and beat a child. They arrested three civilians, including two brothers:

1. Majdi Ya’aqoub Jaradat, 26;

2. Fou’ad Ya’aqoub Jaradat, 22; and

3. Sa’ad Shleish Shahin Jaradat, 26.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and to the testimony of Mohammed Shleish Jaradat, 40, who is one of the owners of the raided houses, and who is the brother of Sa’ad who was arrested, an IOF force surrounded two houses belonging to Shleish Shahin Jaradat, 70, who is the father of Mohammed, and Yaqoub Hamed Jaradat. They were pointing their guns and firing sound bombs in the vicinity and inside of the houses. They further threw stones, some of them weighed one kg, at the doors and windows. The windows of the houses were crushed and the residents and the neighbors were terrified. Mohammed Jaradat affirmed that the soldiers fired a single bullet at a window of the second floor of his father’s house. They then raided the house accompanied by trained dogs. They searched the house and asked where his brothers were because they wanted to question them. He said that the soldiers beat his brother Mu’taz, 19. They held maltreated and questioned the rest of the family members. They then headed to a house belonging to Mohammed Jaradat and his brother ‘Arafat, 27, and raided it the same way. ‘Arafat was injured in the abdomen as he was hit by a stone. IOF arrested Sa’ad, Mohammed’s brother, who was working in a nearby petrol station.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into “Haret al-Sheikh” neighborhood in the center of Hebron. They raided and searched the house of Ya’aqoub Mohammed al-Joulani, 29, and they arrested him.

· At approximately 06:15, IOF stationed on observation towers along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of al-Seyafa area, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and aggregate from destroyed buildings and roads. The workers were forced to flee the area and no casualties were reported.

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

IOF have 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 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 few 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 in the face of 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 is estimated at US$ 6 million.

· IOF have imposed additional restrictions on access of 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 have sharply mounted.

· Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived for family visitation for more than two 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

10-16 February 2010

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

10 – 16 February 2010

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Monday, 15 February 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,280 tons of wheat and 2,320 tons of fodders.  It should be noted that IOF were supposed to open the crossing on Wednesday, 17 February 2010, but it was closed for security claims.

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

09 – 16 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. At approximately 15:00, on Saturday, 13 February 2010, IOF closed the gate of "Halmish" checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.

• Nablus: IOF continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 14 February 2010, IOF troops stationed at Hawara and Za'tara checkpoints, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinians.  On Monday afternoon, 15 February 2010, IOF troops stationed at the checkpoint in Deir Sharaf valley, opposite to the al-Tanib brick factory, west of Nablus, imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinians. According to eyewitnesses, IOF troops stationed at the said checkpoint had detained dozens of young people in a degrading manner.  On Wednesday, 17 February 2010, IOF closed all checkpoints surrounding the city.  According to eyewitnesses, IOF fired at a car with a Israeli registration plate that was passing close to Beit Fourik checkpoint, east of the city. After the car had driven away, IOF closed all checkpoints in Nablus. 

• Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday afternoon, 11 February 2010, IOF troops established a checkpoint between Rummana and Zabbouba villages, west of Jenin. According to eyewitnesses, IOF conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians.  On Sunday morning, 14 February 2010, IOF troops established a checkpoint on Jenin-Nablus road.  According to eyewitnesses, another checkpoint was established at the intersection of 'Anza village, south of Jenin, and IOF conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians.

• Hebron: IOF continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 11 February 2010, IOF totally closed the entrance leading to the market and arch of "Al-Laban" adjacent to al-Sadaqa Park in the center of the old town of Hebron. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, IOF closed the entrance of the said market and arch with fixed iron sheets, which completely separated the said area from other areas, including: al-Qazazin neighborhood, al-Haram Street and the Esqafeya market. This was part of the systematic policy followed by IOF to isolate and close the old town and displace its inhabitants. 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

• On Wednesday morning, 17 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed at a checkpoint established close to Salem Camp, west of Jenin, arrested Mahmoud Khaled Khozameya, 18, from Qabatya village southeast of Jenin.

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 to the construction of the Wall.

1. Peaceful Demonstrations Against the Wall

• Following the Friday Prayer on 12 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.  Israeli troops were hiding behind cement blocks in the area. The troops blocked the gate of the Wall with a barb wire fence. As the participants tried to cross the gate to reach lands located behind it, IOF fired live bullets, rubber coated bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. Dozens of participants suffered  from tear gas inhalation,  while others sustained bruises from IOF beatings.

• Also following the Friday Prayer on 12 February 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall. They moved towards the Wall and tried to gain access to lands behind the Wall, which are part of the lands of Ne'lin village. IOF prevented them from crossing the gate erected in the Wall and the demonstrators threw stones at IOF.  IOF responded by firing live bullets, rubber coated bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by IOF.  IOF also arrested an Israeli human rights defender, Janita, 32; an Australian human rights defender, Santa, 27; and a Palestinian journalist, 'Arafa Jamal 'Amira, 19.

• Also following the Friday Prayer on 12 February 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the al-Nab'a area, between al-Nabi Saleh village and Deir Netham, northwest of Ramallah. As they were trying to reach lands located near “Halmish” settlement to plant seedlings, IOF soldiers who were in the area fired rubber coated bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

2. Construction Works and Bulldozing

• On Thursday morning, 11 February 2010, IOF destroyed 6 wells and 5 neighboring rooms, which are close to the Annexation Wall in Ethna town, northwest of Hebron. They also confiscated electrical generators and water pumps.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and testimonies of owners of those agricultural facilities, including Mohammed Abdul Mohdi Morshid al-Tumaizi and Eyad Hussein al-Jeyyawi, IOF and two military bulldozers stormed into al-Bas area at approximately 8:00. This area is adjacent to the Annexation Wall, west of Hebron. At 8:40, bulldozers started destroying 6 wells used for irrigation and 5 neighboring rooms used for electrical generators and storing agricultural equipment. IOF also confiscated some electrical generators and water pumps used for irrigation. Al-Tumaizi and al-Jeyyawi stated that IOF also had damaged some donums of farms of different crops. They both confirmed that there was no prior warning or notification.

These wells, which were destroyed, as IOF claimed, "for being adjacent to the Annexation Wall and having no licenses from IOF to dig them", belong to five brothers: Taysir, 'Aziz, Morshid, Hassan and Mohammed Abdul Mohdi Morshid al-Tumaizi, Thyab Hussein al-Jeyyawi, Mohammed 'Esa al-Jeyyawi, Mohammed Mostafa al-Jeyyawi, Mohammed Badr al-'Asoud and Mohammed Fadel al-'Asoud.

It should be noted that these targeted farms are considered the only sources of living for many families. In addition, dozens of farmers work in these farms, providing the town with different types of vegetables. The destruction of the area, which aimed at preventing people from planting farms adjacent to the Wall, caused large financial losses.

• On Wednesday, 17 February 2010, IOF sent two notifications to two houses' owners. The two houses are under construction and located in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. The first notification orders the demolition of the house of Ramzi Mostafa Dawood Salah while the other one orders stoppage of construction works in the house of Ali Saleem Mosa.

• Salah stated that not only IOF have isolated about 20,000 out of 22,000 donums owned by the town's locals due to the construction of the annexation Wall in the south, west and north of al-Khader village, but also prevented people from building in the rest of the lands located outside the Wall. He also mentioned that 500 donums from the town are (A) lands, 700 donums are (B), and 800 donums are (C) in accordance with Oslo agreement.

4. Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Majority in 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.

The Israeli Supreme Court upheld a decision taken by the Israeli Central Court to evacuate and demolish three shops in Bab al-‘Amoud in occupied eastern Jerusalem. The Market Inspector of IOF Municipality in Jerusalem delivered evacuation and demolition summons to the owners of the affected shops. The owners are: Najati al-Ju’ba who has a shoes shop, Mutasem Abu Ermeila who has a clothes shop, and Samer al-Salayma who has a shop for children clothes. The total area of the three shops measures 200 m². the shops were built in beginning 1990s on Waqf (endowment) lands which were confiscated by IOF to implement a plan of IOF Municipality in Jerusalem to build public WCs and garden. In 2004, the targeted shops were set alight. The Israeli police opened investigations into the incident and concluded by stating that the fire was set by unknown persons although the police had observation cameras. In the same year, the owners of the shops started to repair their shops, but the Municipality and the Israeli Authority of Antiquities continuingly delivered notifications to the owners of the shops to stop the repair works. The owners resorted to the Israeli Magistrate’s Court and then to the Central Court which made a decision in favor of the owners. But the so-called old city development company appealed to the court of the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem which made a decision in favor of the Israeli company. They owners appealed the decision at the Magistrate’s Court which upheld the decision. The owners appealed the decision of the court of the Israeli Municipality again with the Supreme Court which also upheld the decision. This decision is in line of the declared intent of the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem to close Bab al-‘Amoud and the market from Bab al-‘Amoud to the al-Buraq Wall for two or four years under the pretext of developing the infrastructure of the old town of Jerusalem. The application of this intent means paralyzing commercial and economic transactions in the old town. This decision is part of measures taken by IOF in order to create a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem.

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.

• On Wednesday, 17 February 2010, IOF destroyed a stockyard belonging to the family of Jamal Jameel Soliman Abu Es'ifan, 38. The stockyard is used for sheltering livestock and birds in "Wadi al-Hsein" area, southeast of Hebron.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and testimony of Jamal, at approximately 12:00, on Wednesday, IOF troops driving 5 vehicles headed by an officer from the Israeli "Civil Administration", a "Settlements' Security" jeep and a bulldozer belonging to settlers living in the neighboring "Kiryat Arba" settlement stormed the area. They immediately started destroying the stockyard, because settlers refused its existence adjacent to the said settlement according to the Israeli claim. The stockyard is established on a land officially owned by Abu Es'ifan family and its space amount to 150 square meters. Jamal said that he was granted the livestock and the stockyard from ICRC and he gave them to his family two years and a half ago. He indicated that he received a demolish notification from IOF two years ago, as the officer of Israeli "Civil Administration" in Beit 'El told him that the demolition was upon the request of the settlers. 

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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 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.

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Public Document

For further information please visit our website (http://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).