A Palestinian girl sleeps on luggage as she and her family wait to cross to Egypt, at Rafah international border crossing, 

 

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

 

· 1 Palestinian civilian and 5 resistance activists were killed by IOF.

 

· 2 Palestinian civilians and 1 resistance activist were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank.

 

· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

- 4 demonstrators, including a child, were wounded and 4 journalists sustained bruises.

 

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

 

· IOF conducted 11 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 1 limited incursion into the Gaza Strip.

- IOF arrested 22 civilians, including 4 children.

- Among the detainees were 6 human rights defenders, including 3 Israeli ones.

 

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

- Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 1 Palestinian civilian.

 

· Israel has continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem.

- IOF cancelled permanent residences of 4 Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Jerusalem.

- IOF stormed and searched Beit Hanina Club.

- IOF closed Wad Hilwa road in Silwan village.

 

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

- 2 Palestinian children were wounded by an Israeli settler in Hebron.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (03 – 09 June 2010):

 

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 1 Palestinian civilian and 5 activists of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 2 civilians and 1 resistance activist in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF and 2 children were wounded by an Israeli settler. 4 journalists also sustained bruises when they were beaten by IOF.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 07 June 2010, 1 Palestinian civilian and 5 activists of the Palestinian resistance were wounded by IOF in the sea off the coast of the al-Zahraa' beach, southwest of Gaza City. 

 

On the same day, an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a Palestinian resistance activist in the northern Gaza Strip, wounding him with shrapnel. 

 

Also on June 7^th, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at workers who were collecting construction aggregate. 

 

In the West Bank, on 03 June 2010, 2 Palestinian children were wounded by an Israeli settler at the entrance of al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. 

 

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 Annexation Wall and settlement activities. At least 4 civilians, including a child, were wounded. 4 journalists sustained bruises and others suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

 

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 11 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 16 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children. They also arrested 6 human rights defenders, including 3 Israeli ones.  

 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 1 limited incursion into Palestinian areas, during which they leveled previously razed areas of land.

 

Restrictions on Movement: Israel had continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and 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, citing security reasons. 

 

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

 

· The principle concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain basic necessities: food, medicine, water and electricity supplies.

 

· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than 2 and a half years.

 

· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip since 10 December 2008, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.

 

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened on only 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. Israel has prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

 

· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated as levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

 

· At least 800 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than 2 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.

 

Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem: IOF have continued to take measures at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem. 

 

During the reporting period, IOF canceled the permanent residence in occupied Jerusalem of 4 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), from the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas, and expelled them from the city to the West Bank. The 4 PLC Members are: Mohammed Abu Tair; Ahmed 'Atwan; Mohammed Toutah; and Eng. Khaled Abu 'Arafa. All 4 became PLC Members following the January 2006 Palestinian legislative elections; they were arrested by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) following the capture of an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, in the Gaza Strip in 2006. The 4 PLC members were released after serving their prison sentences. The cancellation of their permanent residence was based on a decision by former Israeli Interior Minister, Ron Bar'oun, under allegations of "breaking loyalty to the state" and participating in the Palestinian legislative elections.

 

On 06 June 2010, IOF closed Wad Hilwa Street in Silwan village to the south of the old city of Jerusalem for vehicles. Israeli bulldozers conducted work on the road, which caused cracks and collapses. An Israeli plan for Silwan village includes the establishment of a network of tunnels under the village. 

 

On 03 June 2010, IOF stormed Beit Hanina Club, searching it without a judicial warrant. It should be noted that IOF had repeatedly attempted to close the Club, claiming that it hosted organizational meetings to plan activities sponsored by the Palestinian Authority.  

 

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (03 – 09 June 2010)

 

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

 

Sunday, 06 June 2010

 

· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Beit Reema village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Alichandro Tariq al-Barghouthi, 16, and arrested him. They also raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Abdul Qader 'Abed al-Barghouthi, 16, and arrested him.

 

Monday, 07 June 2010

 

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

 

1. Tamer Isma'il 'Awadh, 23;

2. Saif Rabeeh Bahar, 26; and

3. Wassim Jamal Wahadin, 15.

 

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. 'Ali Jamal al-Badawi, 18;

2. Nour Ahmed al-Badawi, 19; and

3. Ahmed Haitham al-Badawi, 18.

 

· At approximately 03:30, Israeli naval troops, reinforced by aircrafts, located nearly 1 kilometer off the coast of the al-Zahraa' beach, south of Gaza City, opened fire at a group of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (the armed wing of Fatah movement), killing 5 members of the group and a fisherman. The bodies of the fisherman and 1 member of the group were found on the following day. Those killed were identified as:

 

1. Mahmoud Khalil Mohammed Radi, 26, a fisherman from Nussairat refugee camp;

2. Fayez Nahidh Mustafa al-Fairi, 20, from Jabalya refugee camp, shot in the head;

3. Na'el Hashem Fakhri Qwaider, 34, from Gaza City, shot in the head;

4. Hamed Hussein Ahmed Thabet, 21, from al-Nussairat refugee camp, shot in the head;

5. Ibrahim Mash'our Wajeeh al-Wihaidi, 23, from Gaza City, shot in the head and the chest.

 

The Palestinian media quoted sources of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades as saying that members of the Brigades wearing diving suits were training in the sea, nearly 1 kilometer away from al-Zahraa' beach, whereupon Israeli naval troops intercepted and fired at them. The Israeli media quoted sources of IOF as saying that the Israeli navy foiled an attempt of infiltration into Israel through the sea.

 

· At approximately 07:10, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at Ahmed Saleh Salah, 21, from the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya, a member of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), as he was about to launch a home-made rocket from Sha'sha'a area in the northern Gaza Strip. He was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

 

· At approximately 08:00, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from the industrial zone. As a result, 1 worker, Adham Hussein al-Kafarna, 45, was wounded by a gunshot to the right foot.

 

Tuesday, 08 June 2010

 

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

 

1. 'Odai Nidal Bahar, 17; and

2. Mahmoud Sa'id Bahar, 20.

 

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 'Imad 'Aziz al-Ashqar, 25.

 

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Za'tara village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Hassan Zawahra, and summoned him for interrogation.

 

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kharsa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Saleem Yousef al-Rajoub, who is detained in Israeli jails. No arrests were reported.

 

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Sirris village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, and also stopped and checked Palestinian civilians following the Dawn Prayer and arrested Shareef 'Amarna, 26.

 

· At approximately 13:00, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza City fired at Palestinian workers who were collecting construction aggregate near the eastern cemetery, nearly 300 meters away from the border. As a result, Mohammed Salah Abu Khader, 35, was wounded by a gunshot to the right foot.

 

Wednesday, 09 June 2010

 

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Mohammed Hisham al-Sa'di, 26;

2. Tariq Khalil 'Ejjawi, 22;

3. Mohammed Hisham Abu Tabeekh, 26; and

4. Islam Ameen Staiti, 24.

· At approximately 06:30, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from the industrial zone. No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into al-Qarara and 'Abassn villages, east of Khan Yunis. There they leveled previously-razed areas of Palestinian land, after which IOF moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at approximately 18:00.

 

· At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Alaa' Ahmed Da'dou', but no arrests were reported.

 

2. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting Settlement Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall

 

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 Annexation Wall and settlement activities. 4 Palestinian civilians were injured, 4 journalists sustained bruises,  and a number of others suffered from tear gas inhalation.  

 

· Following the Friday Prayer on 04 June 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah. The demonstrators carried an incarnate of the Turkish Marmara ship, which was attacked by the Israeli navy, and raised Palestinian flags and those of 32 countries whose citizens joined the Gaza aid flotilla. 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, 3 demonstrators were hit by tear gas canister:

 

1. Jaber Abu Rahma, 22, hit by a tear gas canister to the back;

2. Jadallah al-Khatib, 50, hit by a tear gas canister to the back; and

3. Suleiman Khattab, 20, hit by a tear gas canister to the right hand.

 

4 journalists also sustained bruises:

 

1. Fadi Mithqal al-Jayousi, 30, a cameraman of Palestine Television, sustained bruises throughout the body and his camera was smashed by IOF;

2. Carina Abua, 42, a Norwegian journalist, sustained bruises to the upper limbs;

3. Haitham Khattab al-Khatib, 34, a photographer of the B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, sustained bruises throughout the body; and

4. George Khouri, 32, a cameraman of al-Arabiya Satellite Channel, sustained bruises.

 

IOF also arrested 3 demonstrators:

 

1. Howaida 'Arraf;

2. Eilan Shalif, 72; and

3. Ashraf Abu Rahma, 29.

 

'Arraf and Shalif were released later, while Abu Rahma remained in custody. Additionally, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and some of them sustained bruises. 

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 04 June 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against 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. As a result, 'Eissa 'Awadh 'Amira, 17, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back. Additionally, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. 

 

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 04 June 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near "Halmish" settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

· At 12:00 on Friday, 04 June 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders and a number of Palestinian political leaders, including Hanin Zo'bi, member of the Israeli Knesset; PLC member Qais 'Abdul Karim and Moheeb 'Awad; and Dr. Leila Ghannam, Governor of Ramallah, organized a peaceful demonstration of "Return to Latron Villages." They gathered in Nouba village, west of Ramallah, and moved towards the annexation walls. When they attempted to cross towards land isolated by the wall, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at them. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

· On Wednesday morning, 09 June 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem. IOF attacked the demonstration and arrested Dr. Mazen Qamsiya, Director of the Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement Between People, and 2 Israeli human rights defenders: Shai Ghalatzi; and Yutam Wolf.

 

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 closed Nahal Ouz crossing permanently and diverted the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, citing security reasons. 

 

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

 

· The principle concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain basic necessities: food, medicine, water and electricity supplies.

 

· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than 2 and a half years.

 

· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip since 10 December 2008, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.

 

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened on only 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. Israel has prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

 

· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated as levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

 

· At least 800 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than 2 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

02 – 08 June 2010

 

 

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

02 - 08 May 2010

 

 

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Tuesday, 08 June 2010, and allowed the entry of 585 tons of wheat, 2,301 tons of fodders and 435 tons of construction aggregate. 

 

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 which include prolonged delays and security clearances.

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

02 – 08 June 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 Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established numerous checkpoints in and around and 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, 03 June 2010, IOF erected a number of checkpoints in the old city of Jerusalem and reinforced their presence in the area. On Friday morning, 04 June 2010, IOF prevented Palestinian civilians under 40 years old from praying in al-Aqsa Mosque. On Sunday, 06 June 2010, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem and the Israeli Ministry of Transportation issued a decision banning entry to the old city through Hebron Gate. According to Israeli radio, the gate would be closed from 09:00 to 18:00 daily, except for residents of the old city, owners of shops in the area, and disabled persons; others can apply for permits to travel through the gate during times of its closure. 

 

· 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 in Nablus. On Saturday morning, 05 June 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday and Wednesday, 06 and 09 June 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.     

 

· Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Qalqilya. They daily establish a temporary checkpoint on a bypass road leading to the city. IOF stop and search Palestinian civilians vehicles.  

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

· On Monday evening, 07 June 2010, Israeli troops stationed at a checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem arrested Mohammed Bader al-Talahma, 20, from al-Burj village south of Hebron.

 

4. Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem

 

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

 

· During the reporting period, IOF canceled the permanent residence in occupied Jerusalem of 4 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), from the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas, and expelled them from the city to the West Bank. The 4 PLC Members are: Mohammed Abu Tair; Ahmed 'Atwan; Mohammed Toutah; and Eng. Khaled Abu 'Arafa; all became PLC Members following the January 2006 Palestinian legislative elections. 

 

The 4 PLC Members were arrested by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) following the capture of an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, in the Gaza Strip in 2006. They were released after serving their prison sentences. The cancellation of their permanent residence was based on a decision by former Israeli Interior Minister, Ron Bar'oun, under allegations of "breaking loyalty to the state" and participating in the Palestinian legislative elections.

 

On 11 September 2009, the 4 PLC Members, represented by Attorney Hassan Jabarin, filed a petition at the Israeli High Court against the Israeli Interior Minister's decision. The Court held several hearing sessions, but did not take any action. The former Israeli Attorney-General, Mini Mazoz, stated that he would support the decision to cancel the permanent residence of the 4 Jerusalemites, claiming that "three of them are members of an organization that is defined in Israel as a terrorist one, and they are members of the leadership of a non-Israeli political entity."

 

The 4 Jerusalemites are:

 

1. Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed 'Atwan, 42, from Sour Baher village south of Jerusalem. Mr. Atwan was arrested on 09 June 2006 and imprisoned for 40 months. Following his release, he was summoned by the Israeli police and told that his permanent residence was cancelled; he was given a temporary residence permit that will expire on 03 July 2010.

2. Mohammed Mahmoud Hassan Abu Tair, 54, from Um Touba village south of Jerusalem. Mr. Tair was arrested on 09 June 2006 and imprisoned for 43 months. Following his release on 20 May 2010, he was summoned by the Israeli police and told that his permanent residence was cancelled; he was given a temporary residence permit that expire on 03 July 2010.

3. Mohammed 'Omran Saleh Toutah, 41, from Wad al-Jouz neighborhood in Jerusalem. Mr. Toutah was arrested on 29 January 2007 and imprisoned for 42 months. Following his release on 02 June 2010, he was summoned by the Israeli police and told that his permanent residence was cancelled; he was given a temporary residence permit that expire on 03 July 2010.

4. Khaled Abu 'Arafa, 49, former Minister of Jerusalem Affairs in the Hamas-led government formed in 2006. Mr. Arafa was arrested on 29 June 2006 and was imprisoned for 28 months until being released on 27 September 2008. In addition, he was also sentenced to a 15-month suspended imprisonment and a bail of 7,000 NIS. He was summoned by the Israeli police and told that his permanent residence was cancelled and was given a temporary residence permit that expire on 03 July 2010.

 

· On Sunday morning, 06 June 2010, IOF closed Wad Hilwa Street in Silwan village, to the south of the old city of Jerusalem, for all vehicles. Israeli bulldozers conducted work on the road which caused cracks and collapses. An Israeli plan for Silwan village includes the establishment of a network of tunnels under the village. 

 

· At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 03 June 2010, IOF stormed Beit Hanina Club, searching the Club without a judicial warrant. It should be noted that IOF has repeatedly attempted to close the club claiming that it hosts organizational meetings for activities sponsored by the Palestinian Authority. 

 

 

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.

 

· On Thursday morning, 03 June 2010, an Israeli settler fired at and wounded 2 Palestinian children at the entrance of al'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron:

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and a testimony by Mahmoud 'Aaref Tafesh, 17, at approximately 09:40 on Thursday, Mr. Tafesh and his classmates attended a picnic in a wooded area in the northwest of al-'Arroub refugee camp. As he and his companions—Hisham Jamal al-Titi, 17, Mo'taz Mousa 'Omran, 16, and Ibrahim Mohammed al-Biss, 16—arrived at road #60 (Hebron-Bethlehem road), near an Israeli military observation tower, an Israeli settler stopped his car nearly 3 meters away from them, exited his car and fired his pistol at the children. As a result, 2 children were wounded:

 

1. Mo'taz Mousa 'Omran, 16, seriously wounded by a bullet to the right thigh; and

2. Ibrahim Mohammed al-Biss, 16, wounded by a bullet to the abdomen. 

 

 

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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 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 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 (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).