Israeli soldiers take position during clashes with Palestinian civilians in the West Bank town of Hebron.

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

· IOF killed a Palestinian resistance activist with flechette shells.

· 17 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

· IOF continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in border areas of the Gaza Strip.

· IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities.

· IOF conducted 18 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 incursions into the Gaza Strip.

· IOF arrested 50 persons, including 10 children and 3 human rights defenders, in the West Bank.

· IOF razed 77 donums[1] of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip.

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

· IOF have continued efforts aimed at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem.

· IOF stormed al-Aqsa Mosque to allow hundreds of Israeli settlers to enter its yards.

· A landslide caused by Israeli excavations in Silwan village was reported.

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

· IOF destroyed 6 agricultural wells in Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (24 February – 03 March 2010):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed one Palestinian resistance activist in the Gaza Strip, and wounded 17 others, including a woman, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

On 01 March 2010, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel killed a Palestinian resistance activist, when they fired 4 flechette shells at a number of resistance activists. 

On 26 February 2010, a Palestinian resistance activist was wounded during armed clashes with Israeli troops that had moved into al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah. 

On 27 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at Palestinian civilian near the border wounding him in the right thigh. 

On 25 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were gathering bricks and iron bars from destroyed buildings in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported. 

On 01 March 2010, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired two artillery shells at the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties or damage were reported.

On the same day, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at a number of Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists in the north of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. 

In the West Bank, on 28 February 2010, 6 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli troops in East Jerusalem. 

IOF also used forced against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded. 

During the reporting period, 4 Palestinian civilians, including one woman, were wounded, when Israeli troops stationed at a checkpoint near Bethlehem fired at a civilian vehicle. 

IOF also used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest of an Israeli decision to declare the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and Bilal Ben Rabah Mosque in Bethlehem Jewish heritage sites. A number of civilians were wounded and others were arrested.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 18 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  IOF arrested 50 persons, including 10 children and 3 human rights defenders. IOF also harassed Palestinian civilians during house raids. 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 5 incursions into Palestinian communities, during which they razed 77 donums of agricultural land.

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 for more than 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 had continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for over 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 continues 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. 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 coast of the Gaza Strip.

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 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: Israel has continued the construction of the Annexation Wall in the West Bank, in violation of international human rights law and humanitarian law. At noon on Tuesday, 02 March 2010, IOF started to raze Palestinian agricultural land on Krimzan Street in Beit Jala in the southern West Bank, to construct a section of the Annexation Wall in the area. According to engineer Samia Zeit from the Municipality of Beit Jala, IOF plan to raze 300 donums of agricultural land belonging to Palestinian civilians from the town, and the new section will surround Palestinian houses in the area from 3 sides.

Efforts to Create a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem: IOF have continued efforts aimed at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem.

On 28 February 2010, hundreds of Israeli settlers and their supporters, escorted by Israeli security forces, stormed the yard of the al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. IOF used excessive force against Palestinian civilians who gathered inside the Mosque and/or attempted to prevent the provocative entry of settlers into the Mosque. 

Also on 28 February 2010, the Israeli District Court ordered the expulsion of Mansour Abu Gharbiya, 44, from Jerusalem for two years. It is worth noting that Abu Gharbiya served 5 months in prison for allegations of participating in public activities. 

On 01 March 2010, a landslide occurred in Wadi Hilaw Street in Silwan, south of the old city of Jerusalem. This landslide had been the fourth of its kind in the same street since the beginning of the year. Palestinian civilians informed the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem about the hole caused by the landslide, but its officials did not come to the area before the morning of the following day. 

Settlement Activities: Israel has continued its settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

On 24 February 2010, IOF moved into the east of Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They destroyed 6 agricultural wells that supply water to at least 456 donums of agricultural and 47 greenhouses.

Following the Friday Prayer on 26 February 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the center of Southern 'Assira village, south of Nablus. They moved towards areas of land that are threatened by confiscation for the sake of settlement expansion. IOF were present. When Palestinian civilians attempted to plant on the land, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. A number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (24 February – 03 March 2010)

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

Wednesday, 24 February 2010 

· At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Omar Mohammed Blaidi, 23, and arrested him.

· At approximately 07:30, IOF moved nearly 700 meters into al-Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis. By 15:00, they had razed 60 donums of agricultural land planted with barley, vegetables and almonds, belonging to the al-'Omour, Abu To'aima and Abu 'Aataya families.

· At noon, hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including school children, organized peaceful demonstrations in Hebron, in protest of the decision taken by the Israeli government to declare the Ibrahimi Mosque as a Jewish heritage site. The demonstrations moved towards the Ibrahimi Mosque and the entrances of the old city. Immediately, IOF intervened to disperse these demonstrations, especially in the center and south of the city and clashes erupted between them and Palestinian civilians. The clashes continued until the evening, and IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at civilians. As a result, 5 civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF also arrested 3 civilians, including a child:

1. Tha'er Nidal 'Owaiwi, 18;

2. Mohammed 'Abdul Rahman al-Karaki, 18; and

3. Mohammed Abu Ermaila, 16.

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Sourif village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mousa Ahmed Ghnaimat, 18, and arrested him.

Thursday, 25 February 2010

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and a kindergarten. They arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1. Ibrahim Fat'hi 'Awadh, 18;

2. Eyad Bassam Za'aqiq, 34;

3. Nader Mohammed Bahar, 37;

4. Mohammed Rafiq al-'Allami, 17; and

5. Hassan Faheem al-'Allami, 22.

They also summoned a number of civilians for interrogation.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Reema village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. Ra'fat Saqer 'Assaf, 16; and

2. Husni Mohammed Husni, 20. 

· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Senjel village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. Mohammed Rebhi Ghefari, 20; and

2. Rateb 'Eissa Khalil, 47.

· In the morning, dozens of Palestinian school children organized a peaceful demonstration in Hebron in protest of the Israeli decision to declare the Ibrahimi Mosque a Jewish heritage site. The demonstration moved towards the Ibrahimi Mosque, and there, IOF fired sounds bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 4 children from the Jaber family, aged 5-10, suffered from tear gas inhalation. They were admitted to a hospital in the city. 

· At approximately 13:50, Israeli troops stationed at 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 workers who were collecting bricks and iron bars from the debris of destroyed buildings in the area. The workers fled and no casualties were reported.

· At approximately 14:00, dozens Palestinian civil society activists and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Hebron in protest of the Israeli decision to include the Ibrahimi Mosque on the list of Jewish heritage sites. The demonstration moved from the center of the town towards the Ibrahimi Mosque, but IOF intervened and fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. They also violently beat a number of demonstrators. As a result, 9 demonstrators, including PCHR field worker Fahmi Shaheen, were injured. IOF also detained two Israeli human rights defenders and a US human rights defender for several hours. 

Friday, 26 February 2010

· At approximately 01:50, an Israeli infantry unit moved approximately 200 meters into al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah, near Gaza International Airport in the southern Gaza Strip. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with Israeli troops. As a result of the exchange of fire, a resistance activist was severely wounded by shrapnel.

Saturday, 27 February 2010

· At approximately 13:55, Majed Khamis Matar, 22, from Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, was admitted to Kamal 'Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia with a gunshot wound in his right thigh. Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Jabalya had fired at Matara when he attempted to cross the border. They then arrested him and took him to an unknown location inside Israel. Later, they handed him to a Palestinian ambulance at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.

Sunday, 28 February 2010

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Aanin village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. Mohammed Rajab Yassin, 20; and

2. Qaisar Fat'hi Mansour, 23.

· At approximately 12:30, IOF moved approximately 500 meters into Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives belonging to Yousef Ahmed Abu Mughassib;

2. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives belonging to 'Abdul Muhdi Hussein Abu Mughassib; and

3. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives belonging to Jihan 'Abdul 'Aziz Abu Mughassib.

Monday, 01 March 2010

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

1. Mujahed Munjed Jasser, 22; and

2. Mohammed Ahmed Abu al-Haija, 22.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Am'ari refugee camp in al-Bireh. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Fares Saleh al-Tarteer, 17.

· At approximately 11:50, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired two artillery shells at a space area to the north of al-Nada housing project in the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties or damage were reported, but Palestinian civilians were extremely terrified.

· At approximately 11:55, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing fired at a number of Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists who peacefully demonstrated in the north of Beit Hanoun. The demonstrators raised a Palestinian flag in the area. According to Saber al-Za'anin, Coordinator of the Local Initiative in Beit Hanoun, such demonstrations are organized weekly to protest against the establishment of a buffer zone along the border by IOF. The gunfire continued for approximately 20 minutes and Israeli troops photographed the demonstration. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 12:15, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired 4 flechette shells at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were approximately 700 meters from the border, in the Hamdoush area of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. As a result, an activist, 19-year-old Mohammed Ashraf Ghaben, was killed as he was left bleeding to death, and another activist was wounded. The wounded activist was evacuated to the hospital by motorcycle. A Palestinian ambulance arrived in the area in an attempt to evacuate the other activist's body, but IOF moved into the area and surrounded the body. At approximately 15:30, the Israeli troops moved back towards the border, and Palestinian civilians were able to evacuate the activist's body to Kamal 'Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. According to medical sources, he was hit by shrapnel and a gunshot to the neck.

Tuesday, 02 March 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hatem Mohammed Basheer, 35.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hassan Mahmoud Jawabra, 55.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into 'Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, west of Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned a number of Palestinian civilians for interrogation.

· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into 'Ein 'Arik village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children:

1. 'Aamer Yousef Qarabsa, 16;

2. Rebhi 'Abed Qarabsa, 16;

3. Mohammed Muneef Qarabsa, 15;

4. 'Abed Isma'il Abu Sharifa, 20; and

5. Falah Yousef Qarabsa, 20.

Wednesday, 03 March 2010

· At approximately 00:30, IOF, supported by a helicopter, moved into the villages of al-Yamoun, Seilat al-Harthiya and Kufor Dan, west of Jenin. This military operation targeted two members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad): 'Alaa' Sha'ban Zayoud, 33, from Seilat al-Harthiya village and Bajes 'Aadel Hmaidiya, 32, from al-Yamoun village. IOF surrounded houses belonging to families of the targeted persons and their relatives. They harassed residents of these houses, including 74-year-old 'Aaida 'Abdul Hafes Hamdiya, who suffers from paralysis of the lower limbs. IOF forced the elderly woman to sit on a chair, and ordered her grandchildren to take her 100 meters away from her house. They also forced Nancy Kamal Hmaidiya, 24, who gave birth only 5 days earlier, to carry her baby, get out of the house and sit outside with her children under very cold weather conditions.

In her testimony to PCHR, Nancy Hmaidiya, stated:

"… I woke up hearing the explosion of a sound bomb outside our house, although I was very exhausted because I had just given birth. I was afraid. I asked my husband to wake up our children, and I brought a blanket and covered my newborn baby. I then carried him. All of this did not take more than 5 minutes, while the [Israeli] army was detonating sounds bombs outside the house and ordering us to open the door, threatening to blow it up. My husband opened the door and immediately, the soldiers ordered him to raise his hands. We were then all ordered to get out of the house towards the yard. My husband told them that I was not able to leave because I gave birth 5 days earlier, but they shouted at us to get out and we did. They forced my husband to sit on a chair, approximately 10 meters from us. I sat on a step of the stairs, and my children were around me shivering because of the cold. We stayed in this position until 03:00, and the whole time my baby was crying, and the soldiers were searching the house. They then allowed us to get back into the house. Approximately half an hour later, about 15 soldiers came to the house and searched it thoroughly. They left the house at 04:30."

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. 'Abdul Nasser al-Swais, 47; and

2. Aysar Hamdan, 35.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into 'Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Shaher Mohammed Yassin, 27.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Reema village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. Ra'fat Saqer 'Assaf, 16; and

2. Husni Mohammed Husni, 20.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including 4 brothers:

1. Ta'meen 'Awadh al-Tamimi, 27;

2. Mustafa 'Abdul Raziq al-Tamimi, 27;

3. Majd 'Abdul Raziq al-Tamimi, 23;

4. 'Odai 'Abdul Raziq al-Tamimi, 15; and

5. Lu'ai 'Abdul Raziq al-Tamimi, 15.

· At approximately 08:15, IOF moved approximately 500 meters into the Bourat Abu Samra area in the north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of land, which they had previously razed. They withdrew from the area at approximately 09:55.

2. Continued Siege on the OPT

Israel has continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than 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 had continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for over 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 continues 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. 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 coast of the Gaza Strip.

Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

23 February – 02 March 2010

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

23 February – 02 March 2010

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Thursday, 25 February 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,760 tons of wheat and 1,760 tons of fodders. They opened it again on Tuesday, 02 March 2010, and allowed the entry of 2,394 tons of wheat and 1,596 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 limited 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. As mentioned above, IOF have allowed a small number of patients to pass through the crossing, but under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.

Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

23 February – 02 March 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 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, preventing Muslim Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF 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. Israeli troops positioned at the Jaba' and Qalandiya checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged checks of Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On the morning of Wednesday, 03 March 2010, IOF erected a checkpoint at the Beit 'Our intersection west of Ramallah. They prevented hundreds of Palestinian civilians from traveling to Bil'ein village. It is worth noting that IOF have continued preventing Palestinian civilians from traveling on road #443 although the Israeli High Court ordered opening the road to Palestinian traffic. 

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Wednesday morning, 03 March 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

Firing at Palestinian Civilians

· At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 27 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed at a military checkpoint near Housan village, west of Bethlehem, stopped a Palestinian civilian's vehicle. They asked the passengers for their identity cards, and then fired at the vehicle. As a result, 4 Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were wounded:

1. Tha'er Mashour Shalalda, 22, wounded by a gunshot to the left thigh and shrapnel to the back;

2. Thabet Mashour Shalalda, 20, wounded by a gunshot to the back;

3. Qassem Mashour Shalalda, 19, wounded by shrapnel to the thighs; and

4. Asmaa' Shaher Shalalda, 21, wounded by shrapnel to the head, the right hand and the legs.

IOF did not offer these civilians any medical aid, and allowed their evacuation to Beit Jala Hospital only approximately 15 minutes later. According to medical sources, the victims were hit by explosive bullets.

Harassments at Military Checkpoints

· On Thursday morning, 25 February 2010, Israeli troops stationed near Jebara checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, stopped, checked and violenly beat Sa'ed Waleed 'Ali, 34, from Kufor Jammal village south of the town, when he was on his way to his work in the town. He sustained bruises.

3. Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued the construction of 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 26 February 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall and attempted to enter onto annexed lands. 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 on Friday noon, 26 February 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ni'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest of 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 on Friday noon, 26 February 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. When they attempted to reach lands located near "Halmish" settlement, which Israeli settlers are attempting to seize, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 3 civilians were wounded:

1. Ref'at Wajeeh al-Tamimi, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

2. Malek Kamal al-Tamimi, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head; and

3. 'Omar Saleh al-Tamimi, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg.

· At noon on Tuesday, 02 March 2010, IOF started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land on Krimzan Street in Beit Jala in the southern West Bank, to construct a section of the Annexation Wall. According to engineer Samia Zeit from the Municipality of Beit Jala, IOF plan to raze 300 donums of agricultural land belonging to Palestinian civilians from the town, and the new section will surround Palestinian houses in the area from 3 sides.

4. Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Majority in Jerusalem

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

· On Sunday morning, 28 February 2010, hundreds of Israeli settlers and their supporters, escorted by Israeli security forces, stormed the yard of the al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. IOF used excessive force against Palestinian civilians who gathered inside the Mosque and/or attempted to prevent the provocative entry of settlers into the Mosque. 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, in the early morning of Sunday, 28 February 2010, IOF closed all roads leading to the al-Aqsa Mosque, and established barriers at the entrances of the old city of Jerusalem, denying Palestinian civilians access to it. A few hours later, at least 200 Israeli police and security officers entered the yard of the al-Aqsa Mosque and surrounded dozens of Palestinian worshippers. They then closed the doors of the Mosque with iron chains. At approximately 08:00, at least 500 Israeli settlers and their supporters, escorted by IOF, broke into the yard of the Mosque through al-Magharbah Gate, to conduct religious rituals for the Jewish holiday of Purim. Soon after, hundreds of Palestinian civilians gathered near Hatta Gate and attempted to reach the al-Aqsa Mosque in an attempt to force Israeli settlers to leave the yard of the al-Aqsa Mosque. Immediately, IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at these civilians. As a result, 6 civilians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets. Israeli police officers also violently beat a number of Palestinian civilians near al-Majles Gate, and a woman, Fatema al-Barsi, sustained a fractured leg when Israeli police officers closed a gate on her legs when she attempted to reach the al-Aqsa Mosque. Additionally, IOF used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by female school children. They also attacked and fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians who gathered near al-Asbat Gate. At least 12 civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

According to eyewitnesses, IOF arrested 5 Palestinian boys in the old city and 5 boys in the Ras al-'Amoud neighborhood. At noon, after the settlers had left the al-Aqsa Mosque complex, IOF maintained the closures of the entrances of the old city. They also prevented Palestinians below 50 years of age from reaching the Mosque. 

· Also on Sunday, 28 February 2010, the Israeli District Court ordered the expulsion of Mansour Abu Gharbiya, 44, from Jerusalem for two years. It is worth noting that Abu Gharbiya served 5 months in prison for allegations of participating in public activities. 

· On Monday, 01 March 2010, a landslide occurred on Wadi Hilaw Street in Silwan, the south of the old city of Jerusalem. This landslide had been the fourth of its kind on the same street since the beginning of the year. Palestinian civilians informed the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem about the hole caused by the landslide, but its officials did not come to the area before morning of the following day. 

5. 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.

· At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 24 February 2010, IOF moved into the east of Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They destroyed 6 agricultural wells that supply water to at least 456 donums of agricultural and 47 greenhouses:

1. A well belonging to Mustafa Ahmed 'Aabed and partners, which provides 200 donums of agricultural land with water;

2. A well belonging to Tariq Mohammed al-Sa'di, which provides an agricultural nursery with water;

3. A well belonging to Mohammed Nemer Mar'ei and partners, which provides 70 donums of agricultural land with water;

4. A well belonging to Bahaa' Mohammed Mar'ei, which provides 62 donums of agricultural land with water;

5. A well belonging to Ahmed Sobhi 'Aabed and his brothers, which provides 29 donums of agricultural land with water; and

6. A well belonging to Nasser Tawfiq 'Aabed and partners, which provides 86 donums of agricultural land with water.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 26 February 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the center of Southern 'Assira village, south of Nablus. They moved towards areas of land threatened by confiscation for the sake of settlement expansion. IOF were present. When Palestinian civilians attempted to plant on the land, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. A number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

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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 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)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).