Israeli soldiers push away a group of protesters made up of Palestinians, Israelis and international activists during a demonstration against Israel's controversial barrier in the West Bank village of Ma'asarah Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and Continue to Impose a Total Siege on the Gaza Strip
* IOF killed two activists of the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip and one civilian in the West Bank.
* 16 Palestinian civilians, including two children and two journalists, were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank.
* 9 of these civilians were wounded by IOF and Israeli settlers in Kherbat Safa area, north of Hebron.
* IOF conducted 26 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
* IOF arrested 52 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children, in the West Bank and 10 fishers in the Gaza Strip.
* IOF conducted a wide scale incursion into Kherbat Safa area, north of Hebron.
* IOF occupied 8 Palestinian houses, and reclassified them as military sites.
* IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
* IOF troops positioned at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 9 Palestinian civilians.
* IOF have continued measures aimed at the creating of a majority Jewish demographic in East Jerusalem.
* IOF demolished two Palestinian houses in Jerusalem.
* A Palestinian house in the old town of Jerusalem was seized.
* IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
* IOF ordered the demolition of a number of houses in Hebron.
* Israeli settlers seized 4 shops in the old town of Hebron.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (02 – 08 April 2009):
Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed two activists of the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip and one civilian in the West Bank. They also wounded 16 Palestinian civilians, including two children and two journalists, in the West Bank. Three of these civilians were wounded by Israeli settlers in a joint attack with IOF.
In the Gaza Strip, on 04 April 2009, IOF killed two members of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. IOF also fired artillery shells at the ambulance that attempted to evacuate the bodies from the area.
In the West Bank, on 07 April 2009, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Sour Baher village, south of Jerusalem, claiming that he ran down three Israeli soldiers.
On 04 April 2009, a Palestinian child was wounded by IOF during an incursion into Qalqilya.
On 06 April 2009, IOF wounded a Palestinian child in Qabalan village, south of Nablus.
On 08 April 2009, dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, attacked Palestinian civilians in Kherbat Safa area, north of Hebron. As a result, nine Palestinian civilians were wounded by gunshots, including three who were shot by settlers; 26 others suffered from tear gas inhalation.
During the reporting period, five Palestinian civilians, including two journalists, were wounded when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall.
Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 26 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two incursions into the Gaza Strip. IOF arrested 52 Palestinian civilians, including eight children.
Following the death of one Israeli settler, and the injury of another, in the “Beit Ain” settlement (northwest of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron), IOF moved into the Kherbat Safa area. This operation was allegedly conducted in order to search for a Palestinian worker suspected of killing the Israeli settler. The military operation continued for a number of days, during which time IOF occupied eight Palestinian houses, transforming them into military sites.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF arrested 10 Palestinian fishers off the coast of the northern Gaza Strip.
Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The IOF siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.
· The main concern of 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.
· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two years.
· IOF have not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip – excluding limited amounts of cooking gas – since 10 December 2008.
· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israel for medical treatment, trade or social visits. In the past two months, five patients, including two children, died due to the denial of access to medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers attempting to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.
· The Palestinian civilian population’s living conditions have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have sharply increased.
· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been denied family visitation for more than 17 months.
· At least 10% of the population of the Gaza Strip is deprived of electricity supplies.
West Bank
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.
· IOF have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
· There are approximately 630 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, approximately 60-80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints are 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 has already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.
· IOF continue to harass, and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall.
· At least 65% of the main roads leading to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF (47 out of 72 roads).
· There are approximately 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. Access to these roads is restricted to those vehicles with Israeli license plates. 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.
. Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank. This harassment includes regular spot checks and searches by IOF; these are often carried out in the street.
· During the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested nine Palestinian civilians.
Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank territory. IOF started to establish an iron fence on the northern edge of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, which – when finished – will be 3.5 kilometers long and 2.5 meters high. It will extend from 'Izbat al-Tabeeb area to the intersection of "Ma'ale Shomron" settlement. The fence will separate 'Azzoun village from its northern lands. A week earlier, IOF had closed the main entrance to the village, and a month earlier, they closed its northern entrance, claiming that stones were thrown at Israeli vehicles traveling in the area. According to sources in the local council of the village, at least 200 donums[1] of land belonging to the village will be seized for the purpose of the establishment of the fence. The establishment of the fence is part of the construction of the Annexation Wall near Qalqilya, which has been conducted in four stages, the fourth of which is the current one. According to the local council, there are concerns that a fifth stage may be implemented to the south of the village. At least 8,000 Palestinians live in 'Azzoun village, in an area estimated at approximately 9,000 donums. The construction of the Wall in the area has restricted access of Palestinian civilians to their lands.
The establishment of a majority Jewish demographic in Jerusalem: IOF have escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem in order to force them to leave the city. On 03 April 2009, a number of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF police, stormed a house belonging to Nasser 'Ali Jaber, 30, in al-Sa'diya quarter in the old town of Jerusalem. They removed the door of the house and seized the house, claiming that it belongings to an extremist Jewish association. It is worth noting that Jaber was repairing and maintaining the house, in which he has lived together with his family for more than 20 years. On 06 April 2009, IOF demolished a 100-square-meter house belonging to 'Abdul Rahman al-Fakhouri, 24, in the al-Luqluq quarter of the old town of Jerusalem. The IOF Municipality of Jerusalem had informed the family on Thursday, 02 April 2009, that the house would be demolished, claiming that it was built without a license. On the same day, the Israeli High Court gave permission to IOF to evacuate two houses, belonging to the al-Ghawi and al-Jarrah families in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, in favor of Jewish groups. The court rejected a petition filed by the families against the evacuation, although the families submitted documents that support their ownership of the house.
Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law. Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On 02 April 2009, at least 20 Israeli settlers blew up the doors of four shops in the second-hand clothes market near "Abraham Avino" settlement outpost in the south of Hebron. They then removed the rubble and started to rehabilitate the four shops in order to seize them. On 06 April 2009, IOF informed five Palestinian civilians in Deir Sa'da area to the south of al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron, that their houses would be demolished. IOF claim that these houses were built without licenses. These civilians filed petitions against the demolition orders.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (02 – 08 April 2009)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 02 April 2009
· At approximately 00:15, IOF moved into al-'Araqa village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 15 Palestinian civilians, including three children:
1. Eihab Hussein Yahia, 20;
2. 'Imad Hussein Yahia, 15;
3. Mahmoud Qassem Hammad, 64;
4. Fadi Mahmoud Hammad, 24;
5. Ahmed Mohammed Yahia, 15;
6. Rabee' Sameer Yahia, 25;
7. 'Izziddin Sameer Yahia, 18;
8. 'Aali Nafe' Yahia, 25;
9. Saleh Qabel Waked, 19;
10. Mo'tassem Tawfiq Yahia, 15;
11. Yousef Tawfiq Yahia, 20;
12. 'Allam Mohammed Yahia, 29;
13. Ayman 'Abdul Malek Hammad, 33;
14. Mohammed Bassam Yahia, 18; and
15. 'Omar 'Abdullah Yahia, 40.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-'Eizariya village, southeast of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested three Palestinian civilians:
1. 'Eissa Hussein al-Khatib, 27;
2. Ahmed Tariq Shaheen, 32; and
3. Mahdi 'Ali Tmaira, 28.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Maher Saber Dairiya, 24.
· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ra'ed Wasfi Zahran, 33.
· In the afternoon, following the death of an Israeli settler and the injury of another one in "Beit Ain" settlement to the northwest of Beit Uammar village (north of Hebron), IOF moved into Kherbat Safa area near the settlement, allegedly to search for a Palestinian worker suspected of killing the settler. This military operation continued for a number of days.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Kherbat Safa area and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched dozens of houses and turned four of them into military sites. During the house raids, five houses were damaged. IOF troops also violently beat Ahmed Mohammed Radwan, 40, who is physically disabled. IOF held and interrogated dozens of Palestinian civilians on a schoolyard. Later, they arrested three Palestinian civilians:
1. Fadi 'Omar 'Aadi, 20;
2. Shadi 'Omar 'Aadi, 23; and
3. Mohammed 'Aaref Darwish, 21.
IOF withdrew from the area on Saturday noon, 04 April 2009.
Friday, 03 April 2009
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ba'ein village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They erected a number of checkpoints in the streets. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians and arrested Jihad Mohammed Qattawi, 18.
Saturday, 04 April 2009
· At approximately 04:40, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip fired a number of artillery shells at activists of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas). Two activists were killed. The activists were transporting explosive devices approximately 150 meters away from the border. At approximately 07:30, two ambulances of Palestine Red Crescent Society arrived at the area to evacuate to the bodies of the two activists, but IOF fired three shells near them and forced them to leave the area. At approximately 11:00, following coordination through the ICRC, IOF allowed a Palestinian ambulance to reach the area and evacuate the bodies. The two dead activists were identified as:
1. Jameel Mohammed 'Aaraf Qanna, 22, from Khan Yunis; and
2. Mohammed Na'im al-Hamaida, 20, from Rafah.
· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into al-Naqoura village, northwest of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Sunday, 05 April 2009
· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into al-Sa'diya quarter in the old town of Jerusalem. They attacked Palestinian civilians who gathered near a house belonging to the Jaber family – which was confiscated by IOF – to express solidarity with the family. IOF violently beat these civilians and arrested a number of them for some time.
Monday, 06 April 2009
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Tariq Ibrahim 'Awadh, 35; and
2. Nader 'Abdul Fattah Abu Juhaisha, 28.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Kherbat Safa area to the northwest of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Jamal Mohammed 'Ouda, 39; and
2. Mazen Hussein al-Teet, 19.
· At approximately 06:30, IOF gunboats besieged at least 30 fishing boats were fishing northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. There were 69 Palestinian fishers on board at the time. The IOF gunboats opened fire at the fishing boats, most of which were able to flee to the beach. IOF gunboats held three fishing boats and took them to a harbor outside the Gaza Strip. Two IOF gunboats chased a fishing boat to the west of Jabalya town and forced it to sail towards the same harbor. IOF naval troops forced the fishers to take their clothes off and jump into the water and an IOF gunboat then took them to Ashdod Harbor, nearly 40 kilometers away from the Gaza Strip. Eight of those fishermen were identified as:
1. Waheeb Jom'a al-Sultan, 22;
2. Mohammed Jom'a al-Sultan, 17;
3. Nasser Mohammed Zayed, 40;
4. Ref'at Zayed Zayed, 19;
5. Safwat Zayed Zayed, 30;
6. Hafeez As'ad al-Sultan, 22;
7. Tariq Kamel al-Sultan, 17; and
8. Hafez As'ad al-Sultan, 24.
· At approximately 16:45, a number of Palestinian children gathered near the road linking between Za'tara intersection, south of Nablus, and Jericho town, to the north of Qabalan village. They threw stones at IOF military vehicles traveling on the road. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the children wounding Rimah 'Omran Aqra', 16, with two rubber-coated metal bullets to the thigh and pelvis.
Tuesday, 07 April 2009
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata and 'Askar refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested six Palestinian civilians, including two children:
1. Jihad Mohammed Hashash, 22;
2. Bahaa' Khalil Marshoud, 22;
3. Muntasser 'Ali 'Eissa, 21;
4. Salam Hani al-Shalabi, 18;
5. 'Adnan Kamal al-Mallah, 16; and
6. Saddam Hussein al-Qunairi, 16.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Murad Suleiman Kmail, 27.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kherbat Safa area to the northwest of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Jameel Mahmoud Abu Dayah and turned it into a military site.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tubas town. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Ashraf Ahmed Daraghma, 27; and
2. Nasser Fawzi Sawafta, 30.
· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Far'a refugee camp, south of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Hassan 'Ali Tayeh, 17; and
2. Majdi Subhi 'Abdul Jawad, 22.
· At approximately 11:00, IOF border guard troops opened fire at Eyad 'Azmi 'Owaisat, 20, from al-Sawahar village southeast of Jerusalem, when he was traveling in his car in the village. He was instantly killed. IOF claimed that 'Owaisat ran down three members of the IOF border guard, but eyewitnesses refuted this claim.
Wednesday, 08 April 2009
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata and 'Askar refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested six Palestinian civilians, including two children:
1. Ahmed Sbaih al-Masri, 19;
2. Mohammed Nasser al-'Anani, 18;
3. Fadi Salem Ja'ja', 18;
4. Yazan Ra'ed al-'Aassi, 16;
5. Waleed Ibrahim Abu Msallam, 16; and
6. Mohammed 'Atallah al-Dairi, 21.
· At approximately 02:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into al-Far'a refugee camp, south of Tubas, traveling in two civilian vehicles. The vehicles stopped near a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Rashad Sawalma, 32. IOF troops raided and searched the house and arrested Sawalma.
· At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into 'Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested three Palestinian civilians:
1. Najeeb Salah 'Abdul Halim, 30;
2. Baraa' Salah 'Abdul Halim, 21; and
3. Islam 'Abdul Karim Hassan, 27.
· At approximately 06:10, at least Israeli settlers from "Gush Etzion" and "Beit Ain" settlements, escorted by IOF troops, gathered to the north and east of Kherbat Safa area northwest of Beit Uammar village, north of Hebron. Many of those settlers were armed. They opened fire at Palestinian civilians who gathered to protect themselves and their property. The settlers and IOF troops moved forward and opened fire at Palestinian civilians and houses. Palestinian civilians in response threw stones at them to prevent them from storming their houses. The settlers and IOF used firearms, sound bombs and tear gas canisters against Palestinian civilians. IOF brought reinforcements to the area and declared it as a closed military zone. These attacks continued for 90 minutes, and peaked when IOF broke into the village and raided houses. As a result of these attacks, nine Palestinian civilians were wounded by gunshots, including three who were shot by settlers. Additionally, 26 civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF also transformed three houses in the area into military sites. Those who were wounded are:
1. Tha'er Nasser 'Aadi, 20, seriously wounded by a gunshot to the neck and shrapnel to the chest and the right shoulder and arm;
2. Waleed Mohammed Ekhlil, 35, wounded by a gunshot to the right ankle;
3. Suhail Ahmed Abu Dayah, 33, wounded by two gunshots to the right knee and leg;
4. Mohammed 'Ali Ekhlil, 34, wounded by a gunshot to the right leg;
5. 'Ammar Kassab Abu Dayah, 31, wounded by a gunshot to the right thigh;
6. Mohammed Hussein Ekhlil, 24, wounded by a gunshot to the left hand;
7. Amjad Ibrahim Abu 'Ayash, 33, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;
8. Mohammed 'Ali Ekhlil, 21, wounded by a gunshot to the left leg; and
9. Nader 'Ali Abu Dayah, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right shoulder.
2. Continued Siege on the OPT
IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The IOF siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.
· The main concern of the 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.
· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two years.
· IOF have not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip – excluding limited amounts of cooking gas – since 10 December 2008.
· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have 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. In the past two months, five patients, including two children, died due to the denial of their access to medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers attempting to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.
· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have sharply increased.
· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been denied family visitation for more than 17 months.
· At least 10% of the population of the Gaza Strip is deprived of electricity supplies.
Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
01 – 07 April 2009
Date
Details
01 April 2009
88 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for
local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
02 April 2009
102 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for
local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
03 April 2009
74 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for
local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
04 April 2009
Closed.
05 April 2009
109 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for
local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
06 April 2009
115 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for
local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
07 April 2009
113 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for
local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point
01 – 07 April 2009
Date
Details
01 April 2009
Two persons, including a US citizen, were allowed to travel to Egypt and 20 patients
were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
02 April 2009
31 members of a Moroccan medical delegation were allowed to travel to Egypt and 21 patients were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
03 April 2009
23 Palestinians, including a number of patients and a 10-member delegation of Hamas,
were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
04 April 2009
Closed.
05 April 2009
15 patients and 7 containers of medicines were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
06 April 2009
17 patients were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
07 April 2009
23 persons, including a Canadian citizen, were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF allowed approximately 4,000 tons of seeds and fodder into the Gaza Strip.
The West Bank
IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
· Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have denied the entry of medical supplies and equipment from Palestinian National Authority controlled areas into Jerusalem. This measure has affected six Palestinian hospitals in Jerusalem.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Although IOF dismantled Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, IOF troops positioned at an iron gate established on Nablus-Tulkarm road, west of Nablus, often stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles especially at times of heavy traffic. In the same context, IOF troops positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, often conduct prolonged and complicated checking on Palestinian civilians. Additionally, IOF have continued to erect checkpoints on roads leading to the city.
On Thursday morning, 02 April 2009, IOF troops positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Mahmoud Jameel Jawabra, 25, from Kufor Ra'ei village southwest of Jenin.
On Sunday morning, 05 April 2009, IOF troops positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Yousef Mahmoud Abu Ja'as, 22, from Jenin refugee camp.
· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday noon, 02 April 2009, IOF moved into Kherbat Safa area, north of Hebron, and imposed a curfew. They closed the entrances to the area with sand barriers. On Friday evening, 03 April 2009, IOF troops positioned in the center and south of Hebron established a new iron gate and a checkpoint in Jaber quarter in the south of Hebron. IOF obligated Palestinian civilians who wish to travel in their cars in the area to obtain permits.
At approximately 01:20 on Sunday morning, 05 April 2009, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, stopped an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society on its way towards the Tunnel checkpoint, south of Jerusalem, in order to evacuate a wounded person. IOF troops forced the two medics traveling in the ambulance to get out of it. They violently beat the two medics and held them for 20 minutes. The two medics are: 'Ali Mohammed Tumaizi, 25; and Eyad 'Adnan Madiya, 26.
On Monday morning, 06 April 2009, IOF troops positioned near the Annexation Wall to the west of Ethna village, northwest of Hebron, arrested Sameer Mohammed Tumaizi, 55, and his two sons, Younis, 22, and Fares, 20, when they were farming their land. IOF claimed that the three farmers were in a closed military zone.
On Tuesday morning, 07 April 2009, IOF troops positioned at the northern entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, southwest of Hebron, arrested Samer Mohammed Ahmaru, 18.
Also on Tuesday, IOF troops positioned near the Ibrahimi Mosque in the south of Hebron arrested unidentified Palestinian civilian.
· Bethlehem: On Thursday afternoon, 02 April 2009, IOF erected a number of checkpoints in areas located to the southwest of Bethlehem. They stopped and searched hundreds of Palestinian civilian vehicles. One of those checkpoints was erected at the entrance of Beit Fajjar village, southwest of Bethlehem. IOF troops positioned at the checkpoint stopped and violently beat 4 Palestinian workers who were on their way back to their homes in the village. They sustained bruises and cuts. The workers were identified as:
1. Majed Mousa al-'Ajouri, 28, seriously injured in the head;
2. Mahmoud Rasmi Taqatqa, 37;
3. Saleh Taqatqa, 26; and
4. Mohammed Dairiya, 33.
· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 02 April 2009, IOF erected a checkpoint between Masliya and Qabatya villages, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Qalqilya: On Saturday morning, 04 April 2009, IOF troops positioned at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya, arrested Jamal Yousef Yameen, 26, from Jeet village east of the town.
3. Construction of the Annexation Wall
IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall.
· At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 02 April 2009, IOF started to establish an iron fence on the northern edge of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, which will be 3.5 kilometers long and 2.5 meters high. It will extend from 'Izbat al-Tabeeb area to the intersection of "Ma'ale Shomron" settlement. The fence will separate 'Azzoun village from its northern lands. A week earlier, IOF had closed the main entrance to the village, and a month earlier, they closed its northern entrance, claiming that stones were thrown at Israeli vehicles traveling in the area. According to sources of the local council of the village, at least 200 donums of land belonging to the village will be seized for the purpose of the establishment of the fence. The establishment of the fence is part of the construction of the Annexation Wall near Qalqilya, which has been conducted in four stages, the fourth of which is the current one. According to the local council, there are concerns that a fifth stage may be implemented to the south of the village. At least 8,000 Palestinians live in 'Azzoun village, whose area is estimated at 9,000 donums. The construction of the Wall in the area has restricted access of Palestinian civilians to their lands.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 03 April 2009, scores of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall and threw stones at IOF troops positioned in the area. Immediately, IOF troops fired gunshots, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, two journalists were wounded:
1. Sa'ed al-Hawari, 33, a Reuters reporter, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg; and
2. Reebhi al-Koubari, 45, a Palmedia reporter, hit by a tear gas canister to the leg.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 03 April 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the area where IOF were razing land to construct a section of the Wall in the village. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the demonstrators. As a result, three Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Mohammed 'Abdul Hafiz Musleh, 21, wounded by a gunshot to the left leg and a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand;
2. Sabti Mohammed al-Khawaja, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back; and
3. Mohammed Rateb 'Amira, 24, hit by a tear gas canister to the right leg.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 27 March 2009, scores of Palestinian civilians and a number of international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration against the construction of the Wall in al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall, but IOF troops intercepted them at the entrance of the village. IOF troops fired tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF troops also violently beat two Palestinian children:
1. Usayd Hassan Braijiya, 7; and
2. Yousef Jom'a Zawahra, 14.
4. The establishment of a Jewish majority demographic in Jerusalem
IOF 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 highlight violations of human rights perpetrated by IOF against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.
· At approximately 02:30 on Friday, 03 April 2009, a number of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF police, stormed a house belonging to Nasser 'Ali Jaber, 30, in al-Sa'diya quarter in the old town of Jerusalem. They removed the door of the house and seized the house, claiming that it belongings to an extremist Jewish association. It is worth noting that Jaber was repairing and maintaining the house, in which he has lived together with his family for more than 20 years. On Sunday, 05 April 2009, IOF arrested Jaber, but released him on bail on the following day and prevented him from going to his house. The family filed a petition at the Israeli Central Court in Jerusalem against the confiscation, but the court postponed considering the petition until 16 April 2009 and allowed the settlers to stay in the house.
· At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 06 April 2009, IOF demolished a 100-square-meter house belonging to 'Abdul Rahman al-Fakhouri, 24, in al-Luqluq quarter in the old town of Jerusalem. The IOF Municipality of Jerusalem had informed the family on Thursday, 02 April 2009, that the house would be demolished, claiming that it was built without a license.
· On Monday, 06 April 2009, the Israeli High Court gave permission to IOF to evacuate two houses belonging to the al-Ghawi and al-Jarrah families in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem in favor for Jewish groups. The court rejected a petition filed by the families against the evacuation, although the families submitted documents that support their ownership of the house.
· At approximately 06:00 on Tuesday, 07 April 2009, IOF police and border guard moved into Sour Baher village, south of Jerusalem. They besieged a two-storey house belonging to the family of Hussan Tayseer Dwayat, who was killed by IOF. They demolished a flat on the second floor of the house. The Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, issued a demolition order on 04 December 2008 against the house. The family filed a petition against the order at the Israeli High Court, which approved the demolition of the aforementioned flat not the whole house. Dwayat was killed on 02 July 2008 after he ran down 4 Israelis using a bulldozer in the center of Jerusalem.
5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property
IOF have continued 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, 02 April 2009, at least 20 Israeli settlers, lead by the extremist Baroch Mazeil, blew up the doors of four shops in the second-hand clothes market near "Abraham Avino" settlement outpost in the south of Hebron. They then removed the rubble and started to rehabilitate the four shops in order to seize them. The shops belong to Hassan Bader, 'Azzam al-'Owaiwi, Mohammed al-Qawasmi and Bahaa' al-'Owaiwi.
· On Monday morning, 06 April 2009, IOF informed five Palestinian civilians in Deir Sa'da area to the south of al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron, that their houses would be demolished. IOF claim that these houses were built without licenses. These civilians filed petitions against the demolition orders.
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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 to 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 immediately 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 reality of the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005. Disengagement resulted, not in an end to occupation but rather in a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
8. In recognition of the ICRC’s role 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 (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).
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[1] 1 donum is equal to 1,000 square meters.
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