Debris of a bird farm that was bombarded by Israeli warplanes in the central Gaza Strip – 05 August 2011

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

IOF wounded a Palestinian woman and killed some of her sheep in the central Gaza Strip.

Two activists of the Palestinians were wounded by IOF in the east of Gaza City.

Israeli warplanes bombarded a number of civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip.

Two bird farms were completely destroyed and a third one was damaged, 500 chickens were killed and a room was destroyed. 

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

Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

IOF conducted 31 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  

IOF arrested 31 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children.

17 of the detainees were arrested in Hebron.

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

IOF arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a journalist, at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

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

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (04 – 10 August 2011):

Shooting:

During the reporting period, a Palestinian woman and two activists of the Palestinian resistance were wounded by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

On 09 August 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at a Palestinian woman while she was grazing animals in the central Gaza Strip. She was wounded moderately wounded and 8 of her sheep were killed. 

On 04 August 2011, two activists of the Palestinian resistance were wounded when IOF fired two artillery shells at them in the east of Gaza City. 

During the reporting period, Israeli warplanes bombarded a number of targets in the Gaza Strip. They bombarded a number of training sites of Palestinian resistance groups and a border tunnel. They also destroyed two bird farms and damaged a third one, killing at least 500 chickens.

During the reporting period, IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall in the West Bank. As a result, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.  

Incursions:

During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 31 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 31 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children. Seventeen of the detainees were arrested in Hebron.  

Restrictions on Movement:

Israel had 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 three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. 

IOF have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip and practically made Karm Abu Salem crossing as the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip although it is not proper for commercial purposes in terms of its distance and operational capacity.

IOF have continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the strangulation of the commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.

The total closure of al-Mentar "Karni" crossing on 02 March 2011 has created a bitter situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all the economic and commercial establishments in Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off. It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip in terms of its operational capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision of al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions to totally close Soafa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2009, and Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.

These statistics which were made available to PCHR by the Border and Crossings Department indicate a continued drop in the number of truckloads of Gaza imports and exports.

IOF have continued to impose total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Stri, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

The cooking gas crisis which has erupted last November has continued to affect the Gaza Strip. This crisis was created when the Israeli occupation authorities totally closed, on 04 January 2010, Nahal Oz crossing, which used to be dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza, and shifted fuel and cooking gas supplies to Karm Abu Salem crossing which is not technically equipped to receive Gaza's needs of fuel.  Karm Abu Salem crossing, with its maximum absorptive capacity, can receive only 200 tons of cooking gas per day.

Approximately 80% of Gaza civilians have continued to depend on alimentary aid provided by UNRWA and other relief agencies, rates of families who are living below poverty line have continued to be on the rise and approximately 40% of Gaza's manpower has continued to suffer from permanent unemployment as a result of shutting down the majority of Gaza's economic establishments.

IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the exportation of Gaza's products, especially industrial products, leading to undermining any real chances to rerun economic establishments. The situation has been aggravated especially after making Karm Abu Salem crossing as Gaza sole commercial crossing and the repeated closure of this crossing which negatively affected the quantity of Gazan products which were allowed to be exported during last April.

IOF have continued to prolong the implementation of their decision to allow 60 cars into Gaza weekly although more than 11 months have passed since they announced this decision after three years of ban imposed on the delivery of cars to Gaza. As a result, the prices of cars in Gaza have been on the rise and local markets experience serious shortage in spare parts.

For approximately four consecutive years, IOF have continued to ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza. During the reporting period, IOF approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations.

Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip. IOF only allow the movement of limited groups amidst severe restrictions, including long hours of waiting in the majority of cases. IOF have also continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and Jerusalem. IOF denied new categories of Gazan patient permission to have access to hospitals via the crossing.

Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip.

For approximately 48 months, IOF have continued to deny approximately 700 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails their visitation rights without providing any justification to this measure, which violates the rules of the international humanitarian law.

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 in the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

There are approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.

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, confiscating more 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.

There are approximately 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 permits issued by IOF. Such permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

IOF continue to harass and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the annexation wall.

Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.

Settlement Activities:  

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

On 06 August 2011, 6 Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, attacked Radhi Bassam al-Ja’bari, 14, and Anas Nafez Qaffiha, 19, when they were near their houses. Israeli soldiers were present in the area, but did not intervene to stop the attack. 

On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers stopped Anas ‘Aaref Jaber, 15, and Hamza Mohammed Jaber, 16, near the Ibrahimi Mosque, and beat the latter. They then forced the two children away from the area.

On 09 August 2011, dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF moved into Be’r al-Saba Street in the center for Hebron, and conducted Jewish rituals near what they call “Etna’el Shrine.” Some of the settlers were armed. They left the area later.

On the same day, at least 200 Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, arrived at a historic site atop of al-Fraidees Mount, south of Bethlehem, and conducted some rituals. 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (04 – 10 August 2011)

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

Thursday, 04 August 2011

At approximately 01:10, Israeli warplanes bombarded a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) near al-Maqqoussi housing project in the northwest of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 01:15, Israeli warplanes bombarded a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in Jaffa Street in the east of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They surrounded a house belonging to the al-Shourbaji family. They called through megaphone on Mohammed Yousef al-Shourbaji, 21, to get out of the house. Once he got out, they arrested him.

At approximately 02:20, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a tunnel near Saladin Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Bal’a village, northeast of Tulkarm. The raided and searched a house belonging to Mansour ‘Abdul Rahim Mansour, 49, and arrested him.

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 17:30, IOF arrested Nihad No’man Mdallal, 18, from Kufor Sour village south of Tulkarm, after summoning him from interrogation.

At approximately 19:10, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City, fired two artillery shells at a number of Palestinian resistance activists in al-Tuffah neighborhood in the northeast of Gaza City. As a result, two activists were wounded.

At approximately 21:30, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported. 

Friday, 05 August 2011

At approximately 01:20, Israeli warplanes fired 4 missiles at 3 bird farms, two of which were empty, in Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. The two empty farms, which belong to Salem Selmi Abu al-‘Ajin, were completely destroyed, while the third one, which is rented by ‘Alaa’ Hussein al-Louh, was heavily damaged and 500 chickens were killed. 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at a security site on the coastal road to the west of Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip. Half an hour later, they fired a third missile at the site. The site was damaged, but no casualties were reported.

At approximately 02:35, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a mobile room placed on an agricultural plot in the west of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. The room was destroyed, but no casualties were reported.

At approximately 03:10, IOF moved into Ramin village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Adnan Ibrahim Bsaissi. They questioned Bsaissi as they were looking for his brother. They showed him a map to locate his brother’s house, but he could not. They ordered him to accompany them to his brother’s house. When they arrived at the house, IOF raided and searched it. They took the family out, and then arrested the brother, Malek, 31.

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Khirbat Abu Falah village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Deir Qiddis village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Deir Abu Mash’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and searched the area separating the village from “Dutan” settlement. They withdrew later, and no arrests were reported.

Saturday, 06 August 2011

At approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and established a checkpoint. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Beit Siera village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Safa village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Ne’lin village, wets of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets and provoked Palestinian civilians. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. A number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

At approximately 23:20, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, while a ceremony to honor families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails was being held in the 40 Park. They surrounded the park and attacked the gathering using tear gas canister and sound bombs, claiming that stones were thrown at them while passing near the park. Palestinian civilians were provoked, so they threw stones at IOF. Israeli soldiers immediately fired rubber-coated metal bullet at those civilians. They also chased and beat a number of civilians. Dozens of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation, and Kifah Ahmed Abu ‘Ayash, 24, sustained a facture to the left foot. The windows of a car belonging to Maisara Mahmoud ‘Alaq was broken. Before their withdrawal, IOF arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1- Mohammed Shawkat ‘Alqam, 19;

2- Nayef Khaled Ekhlil, 18;

3- Mohammed Ayman Ekhlil, 17;

4- ‘Afif Ibrahim ‘Awadh, 18; and

5- Mahmoud Yousef al-‘Alama, 17.

Sunday, 07 August 2011

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. They then moved northward to the nearby Kufor Rumman village, where they patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Beit Siera village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Monday, 08 August 2011

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 01:10, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into ‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp, northwest of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 17:20, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported. 

Tuesday, 09 August 2011

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into various areas in Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and shops and arrested 17 Palestinian civilians:

Hassan ‘Ali al-Qawasmi, 42;

Hussam ‘Ali al-Qawasmi, 39;

Hussein ‘Ali al-Qawasmi, 37;

Mohammed ‘Ali al-Qawasmi, 34;

Hijazi ‘Ali al-Qawasmi, 27;

‘Aassem Ahmed al-Qawasmi, 30;

‘Essam Ahmed al-Qawasmni, 30;

Ja’far Ibrahim al-Qawasmi, 30;

‘Izzat Ibrahim al-Natsha, 34;

Daoud ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Natsha, 28;

Jalal Jamal Yaghmour, 27;

Kamal Helmi Yaghmour, 42;

Hussein Kamal Yaghmour, 19;

Yousef ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Haddoush, 22;

Ahmed Mazen Kalbouna, 21;

Mohammed Khalil Yaghmour, 21; and

Rami Bassem al-Qawasmi, 20.

The first five detainees are brothers of two Palestinians who were killed by IOF in 2000 and 2004 , and of two ones who have been detained in Israeli prisons. 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-‘Alaqa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Aayed Mohammed Doudin, 35, an activist of Hamas, and arrested him.

At approximately 10:30, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Juhor al-Dik village in the central Gaza Strip fired at Salma Suleiman al-Swarka, 74, while she was grazing animals nearly 500 meters away from the border. She was wounded by a bullet to the right thigh, and 8 sheep were killed.  

Wednesday, 10 August 2011

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed ‘Abdul Fattah Jawabra, 15, and arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Hussein Eqtait, 16, and arrested him.

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 Wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. 

Following the Friday Prayer on 05 August 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall.  Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and fire broke out in some olive fields.

Also following the Friday Prayer on 05 August 2011, 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 Israeli troops positioned near the annexation wall. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 05 August 2011, 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. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF also arrested 3 international human rights defenders.

Also following the Friday Prayer on 05 August 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the entrance of the village by IOF. Israeli soldiers prevented the demonstrators from getting close to the entrance and fired tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a number of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.  

3- Continued Closure of the OPT

Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure of 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 three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The illegal closure has caused not only a humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared recently to ease the blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza may no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.

Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

03 – 09 August 2011

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

03 – 09 August 2011

Imports:

Notes:

On Wednesday, 03 August 2011, IOF allowed the entry 26 tons of construction steel, 10 tons of gypsum and 2,730 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA, and of 160 tons of cement and 32 tons of construction steel for UNDP. They also allowed the entry of 80 tons of fodders, 1,092 tons of wheat and 462 tons of straws.

On Thursday, 04 August 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 328 tons of cement, 54 tons of construction steel and 2,520 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 960 tons of wheat and 80 tons of fodders.  

On Sunday, 07 August 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 200 tons of cement and 2,100 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 1,209 tons of fodders.

On Monday, 08 August 2011, IOF allowed the entry 33 tons of construction steel and 3,780 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,248 tons of fodders and 120 tons of wheat. 

On Tuesday, 09 August 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 300 tons of cement, 109 tons of construction steel and 2,940 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,327 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

03 – 09 August 2011

The West Bank

Israel has imposed a tightened closure 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 the eve of the first Friday of the Holy Ramadan, IOF imposed severe restrictions on access to the city. On Thursday evening, 04 August 2011, IOF closed Qalandya checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem for transports until Friday evening. They only allowed male Palestinians aged over 50 and female ones aged over 30 from the West Bank to pray in the al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday.    

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah.  At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 04 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Beit Liqya – Kharabtha al-Misbah road, southwest of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 11:30 on the same day, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 08:30 on Friday, 05 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 09:00 on the same day, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. At approximately 15:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of ‘Aaboud village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 17:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Reema village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 06 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa intersection, west of Ramallah. At approximately 20:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint near ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya intersection, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 10:30 on Sunday, 07 August 2011, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. At approximately 11:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at Silwad intersection, east of Ramallah. At approximately 18:50, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa village, west of Ramallah. At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 08 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint under ‘Ein Yabroud Bridge, northeast of Ramallah.         

Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday, IOF established a number of checkpoints at the entrances of Bani Na’im and Sa’ir village and Nabi Younis intersection, east of Hebron; on Ethna – Deir Samet road and Kharsa intersection, south of Hebron; and at Beit ‘Einoun, al-Jalajel, Wadi al-Qadhi, al-Fahes and Zif intersections, southeast of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 06 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya. At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. At approximately 09:15 on Sunday, 07 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya. At approximately 10:30, IOF established a checkpoint at Kufor Laqef intersection, east of the town. At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.        

Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 02:15 on Sunday, 07 August 2011, IOF closed Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus. The checkpoint was reopened at approximately 07:10. At approximately 10:30, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through that checkpoint.   

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 04 August 2011, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm. At noon, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit Leed intersection, east of Tulkarm. At approximately 03:00 on Friday, 05 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ramain village, northeast of Tulkarm. At approximately 23:45 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at al-Jaroushiya intersection, north of Tulkarm. At approximately 09:30 on Saturday, 06 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  At approximately 20:30 on Sunday, 07 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Ramin intersection, northeast of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 08 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 09:30 on Tuesday, 09 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

U IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 10 August 2011, IOF established a number of checkpoints on various roads leading to Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 08:30 on Friday, 05 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Bidya village, northwest of Salfit. At approximately 17:40 on Saturday, 06 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Eskaka intersection, east of Salfit. At approximately 18:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qarawat Bani Hassan village, northwest of Salfit. At approximately 19:00 on Sunday, 07 August 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at Qarawat Bani Hassan intersection, northwest of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  

Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 28 July 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zbaidat village, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

At approximately 13:45 on Thursday, 04 August 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, arrested Mohammed Ibrahim Raddad, 27, from Saida village north of Tulkarm. 

At approximately 14:30 on Friday, 05 August 2011, Israeli soldiers deployed in the old town of Hebron arrested Mohammed Ghaleb Abu Sbaih, 18, claiming that he attacked a soldier.

On Tuesday morning, 09 August 2011, IOF positioned at al-Karama International Crossing Point on the Jordanian border arrested Samer ‘Allawi, 46, correspondent of al-Jazeera Satellite Channel. ‘Allawi, who also holds the Jordanian nationality, left his family’s house in Sabastia village, northwest of Nablus, to travel to Jordan and then to his work place. 

At approximately 14:50 on the same day, Israeli soldiers established a temporary checkpoint in Zeita-‘Attil road, north of Tulkarm, as an ambush to arrest Mo’men Nawaf Raddad, 20, from Saida village. When the taxi transporting Raddad arrived at the area, Israeli soldiers stopped it and arrested Raddad.

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

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

On Saturday afternoon, 06 August 2011, 6 Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, attacked Radhi Bassam al-Ja’bari, 14, and Anas Nafez Qaffiha, 19, when they were near their houses. Israeli soldiers were present in the area, but did not intervene to stop the attack. 

At approximately 20:30 on the same day, a number of Israeli settlers stopped Anas ‘Aaref Jaber, 15, and Hamza Mohammed Jaber, 16, near the Ibrahimi Mosque, and beat the latter. They then forced the two children away from the area.

At approximately 18:30 on Tuesday, 09 August 2011, dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF moved into Be’r al-Saba Street in the center for Hebron, and conducted Jewish rituals near what they call “Etna’el Shrine.”  Some of the settlers were armed. They left the area later.

At approximately 19:00 on the same day, at least 200 Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, arrived at a historic site atop of al-Fraidees Mount, south of Bethlehem, and conducted some rituals. 

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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).