Hisham al-Dgahma's house, which was demolished by Israeli military bulldozers during an incursion into 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis, 26 March 2010

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

· Two Palestinian brothers were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

· 18 Palestinians, including 3 children and a journalist, were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

· IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians.

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

· IOF conducted 8 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and 4 incursions into the Gaza Strip.

· IOF arrested 18 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in the West Bank.

· Among the detainees was Abbas Zaki, member of the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement. 

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

· Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested at least 8 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a woman.

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

· IOF confiscated 3.5 donums[1] of land in Nablus.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (25 – 31 March 2010):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed two Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip, and wounded 18 other Palestinians, including 3 children, a resistance activist and a journalist, in West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF moved into 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis on 26 March 2010. They exchanged fire with activists of the Palestinian resistance and shelled Palestinian communities. As a result, two Palestinian brothers, one of whom was a resistance activist, were killed, and 6 others, including a child, were wounded. 

During the reporting period, 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded by Israeli troops stationed on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel as well as by Israeli naval troops on gunboats patrolling off the shore of the Gaza Strip. 

In the West Bank, 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a journalist, were wounded during the reporting period, when IOF used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  IOF also arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including 'Abbas Zaki, member of the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement and the Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and a journalist. 

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 8 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  IOF arrested 10 Palestinian civilians, including a child. 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 4 limited incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they demolished a house and an egg production facility, razed 31 donums of agricultural land and leveled areas of land that they has previously razed.

Restrictions on Movement: 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 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.  

· On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently, and to allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons. 

· 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.

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

· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, 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.

· Israel had 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 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 mounted sharply.

· At least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than two and a half 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 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.

· During the reporting period, Israeli troop stationed at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a woman.

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.  During the reporting period, IOF issued a military order seizing a 2.5-donum area of land in 'Awarta village, south of Nablus, to establish a military site, as well as a 900-square-meter area of land in Yanoun village, southeast of Nablus.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (25 – 31 March 2010)

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

Thursday, 25 March 2010

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved intro Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including 3 brothers:

1. Hassan Mohammed Nasser, 30;

2. Mohammed Mohammed Nasser, 28;

3. Ussama Mohammed Nasser, 25; and

4. Sami Yousef Abu 'Arqoub, 23.

· At approximately 08:00, Israeli troops stationed at Sofa crossing, southeast of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who were collecting aggregate, approximately 150 meters from the crossing. As a result, Naji Suleiman Abu Raida, 34, was wounded by a gunshot to the right thigh.

· At approximately 21:30, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing approximately 800 meters off the northern shore of the Gaza Strip. As a result, Hazem Ahmed al-Qar'an, 27, from Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, was seriously wounded by shrapnel to the head, and his boat was damaged. 

· At approximately 13:30, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip fired at Sa'id 'Abdul 'Aziz Hamdan, 15, from Beit Hanoun, when approached an area 100 meters from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. He was wounded by a gunshot to the left foot. According to the child, he had gone to the area to look for his brothers who were collecting construction aggregate from the debris of destroyed buildings. After he was wounded, he managed to approach a number of workers located approximately 100 meters from him. They evacuated him to a hospital in Beit Lahia on an animal cart. 

Friday, 26 March 2010

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

1. 'Alaa' Ibrahim Abu Jamhour, 22; and

2. Bayan Mohammed Salah, 22.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bourqin village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Qussai Saleem Mahamid, 24.

· At approximately 14:30, an IOF infantry unit moved approximately 500 meters intro 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis city, in the southern Gaza Strip. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli troops. Later, Israeli tanks, supported by warplanes, moved into the area. They opened fire at houses and agricultural areas as a number of civilians and journalists gathered in the area to observe the events. At approximately 16:45, IOF moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, but continued to fire at the area. At approximately 17:00, as there were reports that a number of people were wounded in the area, Haitham 'Abdul Hakim 'Aaref 'Arafat, 21, and 3 of his friends come to the area to search for wounded people, who they thought might include his brother, 20-year-old Suliman. Soon, Israeli troops fired at them, wounding 'Arafat and 18-year-old 'Abed Rabbu 'Abdullah Abu 'Anza. The latter was wounded by a gunshot to the shoulder and was able to leave the area. 'Arafat remained in the area, bleeding. A number of people attempted to reach him to evacuate him to the hospital, but Israeli troops fired at them. As a result, Fadi Mohammed Abu Hajras, 20, was wounded by a gunshot to the foot. Later, residents were able to evacuate 'Arafat to the hospital. He was seriously wounded by shrapnel. Medical efforts to save his life failed and he was pronounced dead at approximately 22:00. As a result of the indiscriminate Israeli gunfire and shelling, an additional 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Nassim Jawad Abu Daqqa, 13, seriously wounded by a gunshot to the back, which damaged the spinal column and the spleen, when he was near his house;

2. Ra'ed Mohammed Abu Tu'aima, 35, lightly wounded by shrapnel to the head and the limbs when he was near his house;

3. Hassam Mohammed Abu Raida, 21, wounded by a gunshot to the shoulder; and

4. Bassam Burhom al-Daghma, 22, lightly wounded by shrapnel. 

At approximately 21:30, IOF moved into the area again. This incursion continued until the early morning of the following day, during which time IOF demolished a house and razed 31 donums of agricultural land:

1. IOF demolished a 330-square-meter, two-storey uninhabited house belonging to Hashem Ibrahim al-Daghma;

2. They demolished an egging facility belonging to Majed Abu Samra;

3. They razed a 13-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and wheat belonging to Salem 'Atiya Abu Daqqa;

4. They razed a one-donum area of agricultural land planted with parsleys belonging to Ibrahim Salman Qudaih;

5. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and wheat belonging to Nidal Isma'il Abu Daqqa; and

6. They demolished a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables belonging to 'Obaida Mohammed Qaudaih. 

At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 28 March 2010, medical crews found the body of Suleiman 'Abdul Hakim 'Arafat, 20, a member of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), after IOF allowed them to enter the area where armed clashes had taken place on Friday. Suleiman was the brother of Haitham 'Arafat, who was killed by IOF while searching for Suleiman.

Sunday, 28 March 2010

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Fadi Mohammed Qanaze', 21.

· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved approximately 600 meters into 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. They leveled area of Palestinian land, which they had previously razed. They withdrew from the area at approximately 14:00.

Monday, 29 March 2010

· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved approximately 400 meters into the east of al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of land, which they had already razed.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into 'Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned two Palestinian civilians for interrogation: Sobhi 'Abdul Maqsoud, 25; and Shaker Hassan 'Amara, 50.

· At approximately 11:30, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, to the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp, opened fire at a peaceful demonstration organized by the Public Committee against the Security Fence established by IOF along the border, when a number of young men got as close as two meters to the border. As a result, Mohammed Hani al-Atayi, 21, from Deir al-Balah, was wounded by a gunshot to the right leg.

· At approximately 12:00, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, fired at hundreds of Palestinian civilians who were participating in a peaceful demonstration near the border. As a result, 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded:

1. Jom'a Ramadan al-Najjar, 22, wounded by a gunshot to the head;

2. Walaa' Farid al-Najjar, 19, wounded by a gunshot to the left thigh; and

3. Hani Riad al-Najjar, 17, wounded by a gunshot to the left leg and shrapnel to the right leg.

· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit. They arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child, by their houses near the main road:

1. 'Abdul Rahim Mohammed Zaidan, 16; and

2. Mohammed 'Abdul Qader Zaidan, 38.

Wednesday, 31 March 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-'Azza refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned two Palestinian civilians for interrogation: Sami 'Abdul Hamid al-'Azza, 50; and Majed 'Abdul Hadi al-'Azza, 34.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 08:45, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and iron bars from destroyed buildings in the industrial zone, south of the crossing. The workers fled and no casualties were reported. 

· At approximately 09:30, IOF moved approximately 300 meters into the east of al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of Palestinian land, which they had already razed. They withdrew from the area at approximately 13:00.

2. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations

Israel has continued to construct the Annexation Wall and 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 and the ongoing settlement activities. At least 5 Palestinian civilians, including one child, were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets, and several others sustained bruises or suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

· Following the Friday Prayer on 26 March 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 access annexed lands behind it. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and some of them sustained bruises. IOF also arrested Gur Mintser, 54, an Israeli human rights defender. 

· Also at noon on Friday, 26 March 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'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, and other sustained bruises. 

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 26 March 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration protesting against land confiscation in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam, northwest of Ramallah. When the demonstrators attempted to reach land seized by Israeli settlers near "Halmish" settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, two Palestinian civilians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets:

1. Ahmed Hussein al-Tamimi, 16, wounded in the face; and

2. 'Ali Yousef al-Tamimi, 32, wounded in the right leg.

Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.

· On Sunday morning, 28 March 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians, Christian clerics and international and Israeli human rights defenders participated a peaceful demonstration in Bethlehem, protesting against the fact that Christians were prevented from entering Jerusalem to celebrate Palm Sunday. The demonstration was organized by Holy Land Trust. The demonstrators marched from the yard of the Church of the Nativity towards the southern crossing to Jerusalem. They gathered around the main gate of the crossing and passed through it. They also passed through the second gate. IOF intervened and attacked the demonstrators and drove them away from the crossing. They also arrested 14 demonstrators (10 Palestinians and 4 international and Israeli human rights defenders). They released the human rights defenders several hours later, but kept Palestinian detainees in custody. The Palestinians are:

1. Shareef 'Ali Mash'al ('Abbas Zaki), 68, member of the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement and the Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization;

2. Marwan Sha'ban Farafja, 42, a leader of the Fatah movement in Bethlehem;

3. Ahmed Khalil al-'Azza, 30, from the Holy Land Trust;

4. Mahmoud Hussein Zawahra, 45;

5. Mohammed Jaber al-Houbani, 29;

6. Antoine Bishara Shahwan, 15;

7. Fadi Eyad Hamad, 28, a cameraman of Associated Press;

8. Shadi Fawaghra, 25;

9. Ibrahim Mohammed Salah, 50; and

10. Hassan Mohammed Braijiya, 35.

· At noon on Tuesday, 30 March 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israel human rights defenders and peace activists organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Budros village, west of Ramallah, celebrating Palestinian Land Day. They marched towards the Annexation Wall. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs, and beat a number of demonstrators. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a journalist, were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets:

1. Haroun Yousef 'Amaira, 26, a reporter for Palestine Television, wounded in the leg;

2. 'Adnan Ahmed Shalash, 35, wounded in the abdomen; and

3. Mohammed 'Ali Marar, 45, wounded in the back.

Additionally, a number of other demonstrators sustained bruises or suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

3. 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.  

· On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently, and to allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons. 

· 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.

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

· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, 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.

· Israel had 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 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 mounted sharply.

· At least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than two and a half 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

24 - 30 March 2010

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

24 - 30 March 2010

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: Israel partially opened the crossing on Thursday, 25 March 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,560 tons of wheat and 1,677 tons of fodders. 

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF 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. The small number of patients permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.

Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

24 – 30 March 2010

The West Bank

Israel has 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. On Thursday evening, 25 March 2010, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the old city.  According to eyewitnesses, hundreds of Border Police officers established military checkpoints at the entrances of the old city, on all of the streets inside the walls of the old city, as well as on streets in the immediate vicinity. On Friday morning, 26 March 2010, IOF imposed additional restrictions on access to the old city and al-Aqsa Mosque.  On Monday morning, 29 March 2010, IOF closed Jerusalem and prevented Palestinians from the West Bank from entering it.  

· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. IOF 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. 

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday afternoon, 25 March 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 25 March 2010, IOF closed 3 alleys in the Jaber quarter, in the southeastern part of the old city of Hebron, with cement blocks, allegedly to secure the movement of Israeli settlers on the road linking between the Ibrahimi Mosque and "Kiryat Arba" settlement.  

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

· At noon on Thursday, 25 March 2010, Israeli troops stationed near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child, claiming they were in possession of a knife: Saif Mohammed al-Qasrawi, 18; and Mohammed Fares al-Qasrawi, 17.

· On Thursday afternoon, 25 March 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Nazem Mohammed 'Obaid, 45, from Yasouf village northeast of Salfit.

· On Friday morning, 26 March 2010, Israeli troops stationed at al-Hamra checkpoint, south of Tubas, arrested Salah 'Abdul 'Aziz Abu Rwais, 25; and Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Rwais, 20, both from al-Nassariya village south of the town. 

· On Saturday morning, 27 March 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Qalanadiya checkpoint, south of Ramallah, arrested Salam Yousef Safi, 19, from al-Am'ari refugee camp near Ramallah, claiming that she had attempted to stab an Israeli soldier.

· On Saturday evening, 27 March 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, arrested 'Ali Yousef Jeetawi, 33, from Bal'a village east of the town. 

· On Sunday evening, 28 March 2010, Israeli troops stationed at al-Karama International Crossing Point on the Jordanian border arrested Ma'ath Ameen al-Ghoul, 22, from al-Far'a refugee camp south of Tubas. 

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.

· During the reporting period, IOF issued a military order seizing a 2.5-donum area of land in 'Awarta village, south of Nablus, to establish a military site, as well as a 900-square-meter area of land in Yanoun village, southeast of Nablus. 

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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).