Israeli forces fire tear gas canisters to disperse the weekly peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village near Ramallah

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

 

Two Palestinian children were killed by the explosion of a suspicious object in Hebron.

3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the explosion.

 

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

A Palestinian civilian was seriously wounded in Ramallah.

Dozens of protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

IOF conducted 71 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.   

IOF arrested 40 Palestinians, including 13 children.

IOF established a dirt road in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

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

Israeli soldiers arrested 4 Palestinian civilians at various 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.

Israeli settlers uprooted 35 olive trees in Far’ata village, northeast of Qalqilya.

Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicle south of Nablus.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (01 – 07 March 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, two Palestinian children were killed and 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded by the explosion of a suspicious object in Hebron.  Additionally, a Palestinian civilian was seriously wounded by IOF north of Ramallah.

 

On Tuesday afternoon, 06 March 2012, two Palestinian children were killed and three others were wounded when a suspicious object left by the Israeli military exploded in Wad Al-Reem area to the east of Sa'ir village, northeast of Hebron.  According to medical reports and observations by a PCHR fieldworker, the two children who were killed sustained serious injuries and burns throughout the body. Their bodies were dismembered as the shrapnel penetrated the head, the chest and the face.  Immediately following the incident, the Palestinian police opened investigations into the incident.  The police announced that the explosion was caused by a mortar shell which had been left by the Israeli military.  The shell exploded in a pile of wastes.  At approximately 15:20 on the same day, Israeli occupation forces moved into the area to check the explosion and search neighboring farms.

 

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, a Palestinian civilian was seriously wounded by a tear gas canister to the head near ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  Dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.    

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 71 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 40 Palestinian civilians, including 13 children.  

 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion into the north and established a dirt road. 

 

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 Sofa 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 Strip, 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 57 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 03 March 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Hfat Gilad” settlement uprooted at least 35 olive trees from the lands of Far’ata village, northeast of Qalqilya.  The trees belong to Ibrahim As’ad Tawil and Ameen Mahmoud Tawil.  Shaher Tawil stated to a PCHR field worker that a number of members of his family received threats from Israeli settlers to attack their lands, claiming that a child from the family broke into the above settlement and set fire to a house in it. 

 

On 04 March 2012, 3 Israeli settlers threw stones at a Palestinian taxi that was traveling on Tulkarm-Ramallah road near “Titzhar” settlement, south of Nablus.  The taxi was damaged, but no injuries were reported.

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (01 – 07 March 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 01 March 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Dyouk village, northwest of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Saleh Ameen Ekmayel, 38 (they confiscated a computer from his house);

2. Ahmed ‘Adnan Ekmayel, 21; and

3. Tariq Yahia Abu al-Rub, 21.

 

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed ‘Azmi Mardawi, 30, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:40, IOF moved into Kufor Laqif village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into ‘Obwin village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Khirbat Um al-Namel village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:45, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into al-Janya village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:35, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Friday, 02 March 2012

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Bittin village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:15, IOF moved into Tumos’iya village, north of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into ‘Assala village, south of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Ras Karkar village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Beit ‘Aur village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:15, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:45, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:40, IOF moved into al-Zawia village, west of Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 03 March 2012  

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Burham village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Deir Dibwan village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:35, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  They raided a house belonging to ‘Emad Shbaita and transformed it into a military observation point.  They withdrew at approximately 19:45 and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Kharabtha Bani Hareth village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Sunday, 03 March 2012

 

At approximately 00:15, IOF moved into Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron.  They raided and searched two houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. ‘Abdul Hassib ‘Aabed, 35; and

2. Bassam Mohammed Ghunaimat, 25.

 

At approximately 00:45, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Rasheed Riad Walwil, 25; and

2. ‘Odai Bassam Abu ‘Olba, 21.

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Rihiya village, south of Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to Judge Ahmed al-Tubasi, 45, and summoned him for interrogation.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 09:00, IOF moved into al-‘Ouja village, northeast of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into al-Teera village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Kufol Hares village, north of Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Beit Qad village, northeast of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets.  A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.  Israeli soldiers responded by firing tear gas canisters and sound bombs.  IOF withdrew later and no casualties or arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Jafna village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into ‘Allar village, northeast of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 05 March 2012

 

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

 

1. Nihad ‘Abdul Nabi Ayoub, 24;

2. ‘Abbas Abu Raya, 22; and

3. Adham Mohammed ‘Adawi, 21.

 

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

 

1. Samer ‘Abdullah al-Hour, 27; and

2. Mos’ab Mohammed al-Hour, 20. 

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Abdullah Naji Abu Samra, 36.

 

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Mughayar village, northeast of Ramallah.  They raided and searched a  number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1.Muntasser ‘Omar Abu ‘Alya, 20; and

2. Hadi ‘Atiya Na’san, 21.

 

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Misilya village, southeast of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:30, the Israeli police moved into Silwan village to the south of the old town of Jerusalem.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian children:

 

1. Shaddad al-‘Aa’war, 12;

2. Suhaib al-‘Aa’war, 13;

3. Elias al-‘Aa’war, 14;

4. Ahmed Salah, 14; and

5. Islam al-‘Aa’war, 17.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into ‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp, west of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Marka village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:10, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:35, IOF moved into Hijja village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into ‘Anin village, northwest of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Jabal Jouhar neighborhood in the south of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

 

1. Munjed Fawaz Barqan, 20;

2. Mohammed Hammad al-Rajabi, 22;

3. Rafiq Salman al-Zaru, 27;

4. Munjed Jihad al-Rajabi, 18;

5. Waheed Waleed Abu Qwaider, 17; and

6. Fareed Waleed Abu Qwaider, 19.

 

Tuesday, 06 March 2012

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm town and refugee camp.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Yatma village, south of Nablus.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including two children:

 

1. Mohammed Taleb Snoubar, 22;

2. Ahmed Mohammed Snoubar, 22;

3. Khaled Saqer Najjar, 21;

4. Mohammed ‘Aaref Snoubar, 17; and

5. ‘Ouda ‘Ammar Snoubar, 17.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children:

 

1. Mo’taz Khaled ‘Awadh, 17;

2. ‘Aayesh Khaled ‘Awadh, 18;

3. Bassel Khaled Abu Hashem, 15;

4. Zain Hisham Abu Maria, 15;

5. Sami ‘Aamer Abu Jouda, 15; and

6. Sa’ed ‘Emad Slaibi, 16.

 

It should be noted that IOF have arrested at least 45 Palestinian civilians, including 20 children, from the town since the beginning of 2012. 

 

Wednesday, 07 March 2012

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Barta’a village, west of Jenin.  They raided and a number of car maintenance workshop searching for cars with Israeli plates.  According to eyewitnesses, IOF confiscated at least 17 cars belonging to Palestinians living in Israel.  They withdrew from the village later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 06:00, IOF moved nearly 450 meters into the Erez industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip.  They paved a dirt road in the area, amidst sporadic shooting.  In the meantime, IOF closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.  IOF withdrew from the area at approximately 09:30, and reopened the crossing.

 

At approximately 07:15, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian areas located near the border.  No casualties were reported.  

 

Two Palestinian Children Killed and Three Others Wounded the Explosion of Suspicious Object

 

On Tuesday afternoon, 06 March 2012, two Palestinian children were killed and three others were wounded when a suspicious object left by the Israeli military exploded in Wad Al-Reem area to the east of Sa'ir village, northeast of Hebron.

 

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 14:30 on Tuesday, 06 March 2012, a number of children were in a yard close to their houses in al-Reem area and used for placing wastes collected from the surrounding areas.  In the meanwhile, a suspicious object in the yard exploded and caused a very loud sound. This explosion resulted in the deaths of two children:

 

1. Hamza Mohammed Zayed Jaradat, 12; and

2. Zayed Jumaa Zayed Jaradat, 12.

 

In addition, another three Palestinians, including a child, sustained shrapnel wounds ranging between serious and moderate.  The wounded were evacuated by ambulances from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society to Hebron Public Hospital.  Later on the same day, two of the wounded were referred to al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron for surgeries and medical treatment. The wounded are:

 

1. Hesham Zayed Jaradat, 20, who sustained shrapnel wounds in the back of the neck and the back of the right thigh.

2. Yasser Mohammed Zayed Jaradat, 18, (a brother of Hamza, who was killed in the incident) who sustained shrapnel wounds in the left side of the chest and in the legs.

3. Nazir Jumaa Zayed Jaradat, 16, (a brother of Zayed, who was killed in the incident), who sustained shrapnel wounds in the back of the neck and in the right thigh.

 

According to medical reports and observations by a PCHR fieldworker, the two children who were killed sustained serious injuries and burns throughout the body. Their bodies were dismembered as the shrapnel penetrated the head, the chest and the face.

 

Immediately following the incident, the Palestinian police opened investigations into the incident.  The police announced that the explosion was caused by a mortar shell which had been left by the Israeli military.  The shell exploded in a pile of wastes.  At approximately 15:20 on the same day, Israeli occupation forces moved into the area to check the explosion and search neighboring farms.

 

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, and in protest to the establishment of a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip.  As a result, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 02 March 2012, in spite of the cold weather, 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 and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, especially Hanaa’ Shalabi who has been on hunger strike, and Watan Television and al-Quds Educational Television who were stormed by IOF.  They raised the Palestinian flag and called for ending political division. They then moved towards areas of annexation wall.  They called through megaphones on Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land.  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.

 

Also following the Friday prayer on 02 March 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli  and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.  The protesters walked towards the gate erected by IOF near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby "Halmish" settlement are trying to seize.  Israeli soldiers who had been extensively deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands.  Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters.  A result, a number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 11:45 on Tuesday, 06 March 2012, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists who demonstrated near the crossing.  According to Saber al-Za’anin, Coordinator of the Local Initiative in Beit Hanoun, who supervises the organization of peaceful demonstrations against the establishment of a buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip, at approximately 11:20, a peaceful demonstration that included 40 demonstrators, including 6 international solidarity activists and two journalists, was organized near the Agricultural School in Beit Hanoun.  When the demonstrators get as close as to 150 meters from the border, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the demonstrators.  The gunfire continued for about 30 minutes.  No casualties were reported.  

 

At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 05 March 2012, dozens of students from Prince Hassan School and dozens of Palestinian guys gathered near 'Attara checkpoint up north of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They were commemorating the second anniversary of the deaths of 6 Palestinians from the family of Bassam Abu 'Awwad when an Israeli military jeep collided with a Palestinian taxi between the Palestinian village of Silwad and "Ofra" settlement, northeast of Ramallah. The demonstrators walked towards 'Attara checkpoint, where Israeli soldiers were stationed behind concrete's blocks. Israeli soldiers closed the checkpoint and clashes erupted between them and the demonstrators. These latter threw stones at the soldiers who responded by firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, Mohammed Tayseer Yousef Abu Awwad, 19, was directly hit by a tear gas canister to the head and he lost consciousness. His cousin who was also participating in the demonstration carried him and walked 50 meters to the back. Abu Awwad was transported by a taxi to Bir Zeit village. There, he was taken into a Palestinian ambulance to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah where he immediately underwent a surgery. Dr. Ahmed al-Bitawi, Director of this Compound, stated that Abu Awwad sustained fractures to the skull and hemorrhage in the head as a result of the wounds he sustained by the tear gas canister. His condition was described as critical. Eyewitnesses told a fieldworker of PCHR that the tear gas canister was fired at Abu Awwad by a soldier who was only 20 meters from him and that Abu Awwad was not imposing any threat to IOF.

  

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

29 February – 06 March 2012

 

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

28 February – 06 March 2012

 

Imports:

 

 

Exports:

 

On Tuesday, 28 February 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 302,000 flowers.

On Thursday, 01 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 290,000 flowers.

On Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 120,000 flowers.

On Monday, 05 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 7 tons of tomatoes and 28 tons of biscuits.

On Tuesday, 06 March 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 31 tons of biscuits and 157,000 flowers.

 

Notes:

 

On Tuesday, 28 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 40tons of cement, 3,500 tons of construction aggregate and 20 tons of construction steel for UNRWA; and 560 tons of cement for the Palestinian Water Authority.  They also allowed the entry of 780 tons of fodders.

 

On Wednesday, 29 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 2,450 tons of construction aggregate and 94 tons of construction steel for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 585 tons of fodders.

 

On Thursday, 01 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 2,030 tons of construction aggregate and 38 tons of construction steel for UNRWA; 135 tons of construction steel for the Palestinian Water Authority; and 2,590 tons of construction aggregate for UNDP.  They also allowed the entry of 390 tons of fodders.

 

On Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 1,820 tons of construction aggregate and 440 tons of cement for UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of 468 tons of wheat.

 

On Monday, 05 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 624 tons of fodders.

 

On Tuesday, 06 March 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 404 tons of cement for UNRWA; and 200 tons of cement and 38 tons of construction steel for UNdp.  They also allowed the entry of 585 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

29 February – 06 March 2012

 

 

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 young Muslim Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.  

 

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 02 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  At the same time, they established a checkpoint at the entrance of Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah.  At approximately 10:30, they established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kharabtha Bani Hares village, west of the town.  At approximately 14:30, they established a checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa intersection, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 15:30 on Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah.  They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 05 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, west of Ramallah.  At approximately 10:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Koubar village, northwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 20:00, IOF established a checkpoint at ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya intersection, northeast of Ramallah.  At approximately 15:00 on Tuesday, 06 March 2012, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. 

 

Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 01 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at Jeet intersection, northeast of Qalqilya, and another one at the northern entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of the town.  On Friday, 02 March 2012, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town.  On Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town.  On Monday, 05 March 2012, IOF established 8 checkpoints around the town.

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 02 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Araqa village, west of Jenin.  At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at Ya’bad intersection, southwest of Jenin.  At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.   

 

Tulkarm:  IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 18:30 on Thursday, 01 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm.  At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 02 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalailya road near Jibara Gate, south of Tulkarm.  At approximately 17:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm.  At approximately 12:30 on Saturday, 03 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at Baqa al-Sharqiya intersection, north of Tulkarm.  At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit Leed intersection, east of Tulkarm.  At approximately 20:00, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 19:00 on Monday, 05 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm-Qalailya road near Jibara Gate, south of Tulkarm.  At approximately 15:30 on Tuesday, 06 March 2012, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 18:30, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit Leed intersection, east of Tulkarm.   

 

Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 01 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.  At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 04 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho.  At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 05 March 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein Fassayel village, north of Jericho. 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 02 March 2012, IOF positioned in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old town of Hebron arrested ‘Omar Ahmed al-Atrash, 24, from Dura village, south of the town, claiming that he was carrying a knife.

 

At approximately 22:30 on Saturday, 03 March 2012, IOF positioned in the streets of the east and south of Hebron arrested Sa’ed Hassan al-Swaiti, 21, from Beit ‘Awa village southwest of the town, claiming that he was carrying a knife.

 

At approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 04 March 2012, Israeli soldiers positioned at a checkpoint near Tarqoumia and Ethna villages, northwest of Hebron, arrested Mohammed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Batran, 42, from Ethna village.

 

At approximately 17:00, IOF established a checkpoint at Jaba’ intersection, south of Jenin.  They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested ‘Arafat Nizar Ahmed, 22, from ‘Arraba village.    

 

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, 03 March 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Hfat Gilad” settlement uprooted at least 35 olive trees from the lands of Far’ata village, northeast of Qalqilya.  The trees belong to Ibrahim As’ad Tawil and Ameen Mahmoud Tawil.  Shaher Tawil stated to a PCHR field worker that a number of members of his family received threats from Israeli settlers to attack their lands, claiming that a child from the family broke into the above settlement and set fire to a house in it. 

 

In his statement to PCHR, Shaher Tawil said:

 

“On Saturday morning, 03 March 2012, my cousins, Ibrahim As’ad Tawil and Ameen Mahmoud Tawil went to their land.  They found that 35 olive trees had been cut.  This attack followed clashes with Israeli settlers.  At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 28 February 2012, I received a phone call from my son who was working on an agricultural plot near the settlement.  He told me that Israeli settlers got out of ‘Gilad’ settlement and moved to a house belonging to our relative, ‘Awad ‘Abdul Khaliq Tawil.  I immediately went to the area.  There were at least 70 Israeli settlers and at least 20 Israeli military vehicles in the area.  People began to gather. An Israeli officer wanted someone to talk to.  I asked him: ‘What do you want?’  He said to me that the settlers saw a 16-year-old child moving into the settlement and setting fire to a house.  We told them it is impossible as no one dares to enter the settlement.  The settlers were armed and they wanted to attack us.  They threw stones at our relative’s house.  The child accused of entering the settlement came and the settlers attacked him.  Israeli soldiers then arrested the child, me and two of our relative: Tawfiq ‘Abdul Khaliq Tawil, 22; and Fadi ‘Abdul Khaliq Tawil, 24.  They took us to ‘Qidoumim’ settlement and interrogated us.  They released the child and me on the same day, but kept our two relatives in custody.  On Saturday, 03 March 2012, when Palestinian farmers went to their lands, they found 4 Israeli settlers and a military jeep in the vicinity.”

 

At approximately 12:30 on Sunday, 04 March 2012, 3 Israeli settlers threw stones at a Palestinian taxi that was traveling on Tulkarm-Ramallah road near “Titzhar” settlement, south of Nablus.  The taxi was damaged, but no injuries were reported.

 

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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).