Members of the Yassin clan sitting on the remain of their destroyed houses in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza CityIsraeli 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
Five Palestinians, including a child, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
One of the victims was extra-judicially executed by IOF.
Twenty six Palestinians, including six children and a woman, were injured by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
IOF warplanes bombarded targets in the Gaza Strip.
Intensive air strikes on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, forced civilians to evacuate their homes in the area.
IOF conducted 40 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
IOF arrested 54 Palestinian civilians.
Eighteen houses were transformed by IOF into 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 one Palestinian civilian.
IOF have continued measures aimed at creating a demographic Jewish majority in east Jerusalem.
IOF ordered the evacuation and demolition of 129 houses.
1,000 Palestinian civilians are threatened with having their homes demolished by IOF.
The Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem forced two families to demolish their homes in Jerusalem.
IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
IOF confiscated 222 donumms[1] of Palestinian land in Ramallah and Hebron.
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilian vehicles on roads near Nablus.
SummaryIsraeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (05 – 11 March 2009):
ShootingDuring the reporting period, IOF killed 4 activists of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 7 Palestinians, including a child and her mother, in the Gaza Strip. They also killed a child and wounded 17 civilians, including five children, in the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, on 05 March, IOF killed three armed Palestinian activists near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Maghazi refugee camp.
On 07 March, IOF extra-judicially executed an armed activist of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) and wounded another in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip.
On 07 March 2009, a woman and her child were injured when IOF gunboats opened fire at fishing boats in Rafah.
On 10 March, four police officers were injured when IOF gunboats shelled their vehicles in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. On the same day, a Palestinian civilian was injured when IOF opened fire at houses in al-Maghazi refugee campin the central Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, on 11 March February, IOF shot dead a Palestinian child and injured and arrested another near Ramallah. They claimed he had attempted to throw a Molotov Cocktail bottle at Israeli vehicles.
On 6 March 2009, a Palestinian child was injured when IOF fired at Palestinian demonstrators in Nablus.
On 8 March, a Palestinian civilian was injured when IOF fired at Palestinian demonstrators in Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya.
During the reporting period, 14 Palestinian civilians, including three children, were wounded when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall.
IncursionsDuring the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 40 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the
West Bank. IOF arrested 54 Palestinian civilians. IOF also transformed 18 houses into military sites. During the house raids, IOF damaged a number of houses.
Restrictions on MovementIOF 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· 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 majority of the civilian population lack continual access to safe drinking water.
· Hundreds of thousands of civilians continue to endue power cuts, which affects their daily quality of life.
· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a limited number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and subsequentlyneeded 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 Israel for medical treatment, trade or socialvisits.
· IOF have imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. They have also prevented representatives of international humanitarian organizations from entering theGaza Strip in order to assess the humanitarian situation.
· The lives of premature babies continue to be at risk as they depend on medical equipment, such as incubators, that requires constant electricity.
· Standards of living across Gaza have seriously deteriorated, whilst poverty and unemployment levels have sharply increased.
· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails continue to be deprived of all family visits. The visits were first suspended sixteen months ago, in June2007.
West BankIOF 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 Stripcontinue 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 prayingat the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
· There are approximately permanent 630 roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60-80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpointserected across the West Bank by IOF every week.
· When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the WestBank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the Wall has already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructedinside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.
· At least 65% of the main roads that leads to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF (47 out of 72 roads).
· There are around 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF. These permitsare extremely difficult to obtain.
· IOF continue to harass, and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall.
· Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.
· During the reporting period, IOF arrested one Palestinian civilian at an IOF military checkpoint.
Creating a Demographic Jewish majority in east JerusalemIOF continue to take arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem in order to force them out of the city. During the reporting period, IOF ordered 129 families counting at least 1,000 individuals to evacuate their homes, which are scheduled to be demolished. In addition, IOF forced two Palestinians in Jerusalem to demolish their homes,claiming that they were built without licenses.
Settlement ActivitiesIOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT have in violation of international humanitarian law, continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, IOF confiscated 222 donumms of land in Ramallah and Hebron. Israeli settlers also burnt a house built by the Public Committee against the Wall in Bal'ein village, west ofRamallah, and attacked Palestinian civilian vehicles on roads near Nablus.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (05 – 11 March 2009)1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 05 March· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Madama village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched
a number of houses. No arrests were reported, but IOF summoned 10 Palestinian civilians for interrogation.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Sa'ed 'Ouda al-Halaiqa, 23;
2. Ibrahim 'Abdul Jawad al-Halaiqa, 38.
· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Sa'ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 'Eissa Zayed al-Froukh, 40.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Khalil al-Battat, but no arrests werereported.
· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kufor al-Labad village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestiniancivilians:
1. Mohammed Ahmed Barhoush, 26;
2. Yousef 'Abdul Ra'ouf Barhoush, 28.
· At approximately 06:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip fired a number of artillery shells at a number of armed resistance activists. Two of the activists were instantly killed and a third one died later the same day of his injuries.nd at Shifa Hospital:
1. Wassim Hassan Mansour, 21;
2. Mohammed 'Eid Saleh Hammad, 27;
3. Ibrahim Hassan Babma, 22.
A fourth activist was also injured.
· At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. Dozens of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. IOFtroops fired at them, but no casualties were reported.
· At approximately 15:00, IOF warplanes bombarded the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, near Salah al-Din Gate. No casualties were reported, but Palestinian civilians weretraumatized.
· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 20:30, IOF warplanes launched 8 air strikes on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, near al-Salam neighborhood, Salah al-Din Gate and Yebna refugee camp.
Friday, 06 March· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-'Araqa village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Muhannad Mahmoud Yousef, 25.
· At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into the Northern Mount neighborhood in Nablus. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. IOF troops fired at the children, injuring Muneerb Anees al-Bustami, 17, with arubber-coated metal bullet to the right foot.
Saturday, 07 March· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tubas town. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Far'a refugee camp, south of Tubas. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 14:20, IOF warplanes fired a bomb near Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. No casualties were reported.
· At approximately 18:00, IOF gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in Rafah. As a result, a woman her child, who live in the Swedish village at the coast inRafah, were wounded:
1. Reem 'Omar Hassouna, 25;
2. Nivine Yasser Hassouna, 3.
Sunday, 08 March · At approximately 00:35, an IOF warplane fired two bombs on al-Barrwai Company in al-Tuffah neighborhood. The company was heavily damaged, but no casualties were reported.
· At approximately 00:55, IOF warplanes dropped 3 bombs at Salah al-Din Gate and Yebna refugee camp near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. No casualties were reported.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Ma'ath Jad Sa'ada, 25;
2. Mohammed 'Eissa Braijiya, 27.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-'Azza refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestiniancivilians:
1. Ussama 'Abdul Karim, 20;
2. Mohammed al-'Ajouz, 20.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Marka village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. Dozens of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at them, wounding 'Alaa' 'Abdullah Salama, 24,with a tear gas canister.
· In the early morning, IOF police and Border Guard moved into Beit Hanina neighborhood in the north of Jerusalem. They raided a house belonging to the family of Mar'ei al-Radaida, who was killed on Thursday, 05 March 2009, in the south of the city. They arrested his father, Ahmed Mahmoud al-Radaida, 45; his wife, Safiya Ahmed al-Radiada, 17; his uncle, Yousef, 25; his brother, Mahmoud, 24; and his other brother, 'Ali, 26. IOF released them later, except for the two brothers.
Monday, 09 February · At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into 'Aqqaba village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Muthanna 'Imad Abu 'Erra, 18.
· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Tubas. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Fara'a refugee camp, south of Tubas. They patrolled in
the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 10 March · At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed 'Omar Hamdan, 40.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tubas town. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Fara'a refugee camp, south of Tubas. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrestswere reported.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tumos'iya village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Tariq Abu 'Awad, 35;
2. Ihsan 'Abdul Qader, 23.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Munther Rebhi 'Amara, 17.
· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Doha village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned Mohammed and Ra'edHussein Fararja for interrogation.
· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 02:15, IOF moved Southern Mazra'a village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Taybeh village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Rummana village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Shuhada Triangle village, south of Jenin. They raided
and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses. They also raided a shop of jewelry belonging to Ibrahim Abu Hassib, 41, andconfiscated three computers and some documents.
· At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed three of them into military posts. IOF seized these houses until the evening. They restricted the movement of their residents. IOF troops also chased and fired at Palestinian children claiming that they threw stones at IOF military vehicles. During this incursion, IOF troops violently beat Yousef Sami Sabarna, 15. He sustainedserious bruises throughout his body.
· At approximately 15:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip fired at Palestinian houses in the camp. As a result, Muhannad Sehi Abu Mandil, 24, waswounded by a gunshot to the left foot.
· At approximately 16:40, IOF gunboats fired a number of artillery shells at Beit Lahia coast in the northern Gaza Strip. A shell fell and exploded near a police vehicle. As aresult, 4 police officers were wounded:
1. Ahmed Rasmi al-Rafati, 28;
2. Anwar al-Sayed Abu Jalhoum, 26;
3. 'Abdul Qader 'aadel Humaida, 20;
4. Hassan Suleiman Salah, 37.
· At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, again and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched dozens of houses and shops and transformed a number of them into military posts. During the house raids, IOF troops heavily damaged several houses. During this operation, which is still ongoing, IOF arrested 25 Palestinian civilians, but released 16 of them later:
1. Imam Ziad 'Awadh, 18;
2. Ibrahim Fat'hi 'Awadh, 18;
3. Hussein Khalil Abu 'Ayash, 80;
4. Waheb Mahmoud Ekhlil, 32;
5. Yousef Bader Ekhlil, 23;
6. Mohammed 'Ayad 'Awadh, 47;
7. Kamal Rezeq 'Aadi, 24;
8. Saleh Mohammed Ekhlil, 22;
9. Khwailed 'Abdul Qader Ekhlil, 22;
10. Khaldoun 'Abdul Qader Ekhlil, 24;
11. Mufeed Mohammed Ekhlil, 28;
12. Wa'el Ahmed Abu 'Ayash, 20;
13. Ra'ed Mohammed Ekhlil, 28;
14. 'Ammar Mohammed Abu Maria, 22;
15. Jamal Ibrahim Ekhlil, 29;
16. 'Eissa 'Ali 'Awadh, 31;
17. Waleed Fat'hi Sabarna, 25;
18. Mohammed Sameer Sabarna, 21;
19. Mohammed 'Omar Slaibi, 22;
20. Mohammed 'Eissa 'Aadi, 23;
21. Yousef Ziad Khamis, 24;
22. Mohammed Nasser Abu Maria, 21;
23. Mohammed Haitham Slaibi, 23;
24. Mohammed 'Azzam 'Aadi, 22;
25. Suhail Mohammed Evraighaith, 23.
Wednesday, 11 March · At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Budros village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinian civilians:
1. Mohammed Ibrahim 'Awadh, 17;
2. Tariq 'Awadh, 20;
3. 'Abdullah Ahmed 'Awadh, 18;
4. Mohammed Mansour 'Abdul Karim, 17;
5. Mohammed Tayseer Khalifa, 18;
6. Mahmoud Yousef 'Abdul Karim, 19;
7. Mohammed Khalifa Khalifa, 18; and
8. Mohammed Mahmoud 'Awadh, 20.
· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Suleiman Abu Rawaja, 24.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF warplanes dropped two bombs on Salah al-Din Gate and al-Brazil neighborhood near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. No casualties were reported.
· At approximately 07:00, IOF gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in Rafah. No casualties were reported.
· At approximately 07:30, IOF moved into the east of Tulkarm and patrolled the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· In the evening, IOF shot dead a Palestinian child and wounded and arrested another one near Ramallah. They claimed that the victim attempted to throw a Molotov Cocktail bottle at Israeli vehicles, but eyewitnesses refuted this claim and asserted that the two children were about to throw stones at Israeli vehicles.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 18:00, Fayez Fares 'Ata, 17, and Salem 'Othman Zahran, 15, both from Deir Abu Mash'al village west of Ramallah, went to the bypass road located to the west of their village to throw stones at Israeli vehicles traveling on the road. Immediately, IOF troops opened fire at them. As a result, Fayez Fares ‘Ata was killed by two gunshots to the abdomen and the hand. Zahran was wounded and arrested by IOF. According to eyewitnesses, IOF troops fired at the two children from a range of less than 50 meters.
2. Extra-Judicial ExecutionDuring the reporting period, IOF extra-judicially executed an armed activist of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) and wounded another in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 05:50 on Saturday, 07 March, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a civilian car that was traveling in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. Three armed activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) were traveling in the car. One of them, 27-year-old Mahmoud Sami Fattouh, was killed, another armed activist was wounded. The third one survived the attack.
3. Continued Siege on the OPTIOF 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 StripIOF continue to impose a siege on the 1.5 million civilians of the Gaza Strip. The border crossings of the Strip have been closed for more than two years as part of IOF’s policy of collective punishment, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of civilians and goods. As a result, the territory is unable to secure basic foods, medicine, and other supplies, and the poverty rate now stands at more 80%.
The tightened siege has led to the collapse of the Gaza Strip economic sectors. Most production facilities have ceased to operate due to the siege and restriction on movement of goods and individuals.
With regard to Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the Egyptian authorities started to open on a limited basis for some patients.
IOF allow a very limited number of seriously ill patients and staff of international organizations to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.
The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF also continue to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including at least 3,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords permit Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles from the Gaza coastline.
The overall deterioration of health services in the Gaza Strip has been exacerbated due to the overwhelming number of fatalities and casualties caused by the IOF military offensive. All medical institutions in the Gaza Strip continue to be affected, including hospitals, primary healthcare centers and mental health service providers. Health institutions cannot meet the demand for their services.
Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
04 - 10 March 2009
Details04 March 2009
98 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
05 March 2009
115 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
06 March 2009
73 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
07 March 2009
Closed.
08 March 2009
134 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
09 March 2009
116 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
10 March 2009
109 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
04 – 10 March 2009
Details04 March 2009
Two Turkish journalists were allowed to travel to Egypt. 45 Palestinians, including 27 patients, 12 internationals and the bodies of two dead Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
05 March 2009
10 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt. 21 others, including 19 patients, and the Palestinian Ambassador to China were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
06 March 2009
5 Turkish citizens were allowed to travel to Egypt. 52 Palestinians, including 9 patients, and 39 internationals were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
07 March 2009
One Palestinian was allowed to travel to Egypt. 82 international and 8 trucks of
Scottish aid were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
08 March 2009
14 Palestinians and 10 internationals were allowed to travel to Egypt, and 63 others, including 32 patients, 31 Libyans, the body of a dead Palestinians, 6 trucks of medicines and 3 ambulances were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
09 March 2009
96 Palestinians, including 75 representing Palestinian factions, and two internationals, were allowed to travel to Egypt. 24 Palestinian patients and 364 internationals accompanied by 102 ambulances and trucks of aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
10 March 2009
67 internationals were allowed to travel to Egypt and 55 Palestinian patients were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
Movement at Nahal Ouz Crossing
Movement at al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing
05 – 10 March 2009
2,000 tons of seeds and fodder were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
09 March 2009 1,800 tons of seeds and fodder were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
The West BankIOF 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 of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF have assaulted Palestinian civilians who attempted to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque. On Friday, 6 March, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem. They prevented Palestinians aged below 45 from entering the old town to pray in the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF troops were intensively deployed in the streets. They closed the main road in the center of the city. On Sunday morning, 8 March, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around the city.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 5 March, IOF troops positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 7 March, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 8 March 2009, IOF troops positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 9 March, IOF troops positioned at Za'tara and Hawara checkpoints, south of Nablus, and Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday morning, 11 March, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movements of Palestinian civilians. On Wednesday morning, 12 March, IOF troops positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians.
·
Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday, 7 March, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Arraba village and near Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday morning, 8 March, IOF erected a checkpoint near al-Shuhada Triangle village, south of Jenin, and another one at the entrance of Sanour village, southeast of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday morning, 9 March, IOF erected a checkpoint on Jenin-Haifa road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Wednesday morning, 11 March, IOF erected a checkpoint near Haddad tourist resourt, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 8 March, IOF troops positioned at an iron gate on the Annexation Wall in Barta'a village, southwest of Jenin, arrested Eyad Hamdan Nawasra, 30, from Fahma village southwest of Jenin.
4. Construction of the Annexation WallIOF 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 at the construction of the Wall.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 06 March, 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, 12 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were injured:
1. Mohammed Maher 'Amira, 27, wounded by a gunshot to the abdomen;
2. Ibrahim Mustafa al-Khawaja, 24, wounded by a gunshot to the left foot;
3. Ibrahim Khalil Sorour, 21, wounded by a gunshot to the left foot;
4. Mamdouh al-Masri, 22, wounded by a gunshot to the right foot;
5. Sabti Mahmoud al-Khawaja, 25, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left foot;
6. Mo'men 'Abdul Rahman al-Khawaja, 18, hit by a tear gas canister to right hand;
7. Mohammed Sa'adat al-Khawaja, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left foot;
8. Mohammed Hatem Nafe', 15, hit by a tear gas canister to the back;
9. Daoud Mustafa al-Khawaja, 26, hit by a tear gas canister to the right foot;
10. Mustafa Mohammed Khawaja, 12, hit by a tear gas canister to the right foot;
11. Ihsan Yousef al-Zannoun, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right foot;
12. Khamis 'Abdullah 'Amira, 28, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 06 March, scores of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to 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 demonstrators were wounded:
1. Ibrahim 'Abdul Fattah Bernat, 27, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;
2. 'Omar Saleh Ayoub, 20, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 06 March, scores of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. They moved towards the gate of the Wall in the south of the village in an attempt to cross it towards their lands that have been isolated by the Wall. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF troops also beat an old woman and her granddaughter: Fat'hiya Mustafa Khaled, 13; and Hamsa 'Abdul Nour Khaled, 13.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 06 March, 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 beat two women: Su'ad Mohammed Jom'a, 50; and Leila Zawahra, 52.
· Creating a Demographic Jewish majority in east Jerusalem
IOF has recently escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem 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.
· On Thursday, 05 March, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem ordered the evacuation and demolition of 55 flats in eight apartment buildings in Ras Khamis area in Shu'fat refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, and gave the families 72 hours to evacuate them. They claimed the flats had been constructed without licenses. At least 550 Palestinians, including 230 children, live in these flats. They submitted a petition to the Municipal Court, which issued a temporary injunction stopping the demolition until 9 or 10 March. In the previous week, the Municipality of Jerusalem had issued demolition orders against 88 houses in al-Bassatin quarter in Silwan village.
· On the same day, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem ordered the evacuation and demolition of 29 flats in 10 apartment buildings in al-Tour village. Officials of the municipality stuck notices dated on 24 February 2009, ordering the evacuation and demolition of flats or informing the owners that the municipality claimed against them before the court. At least 200 people, more than 60% of them children, live in these flats.
· Also on the same day, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem ordered the evacuation and demolition of 34 flats, in al-'Abbassiya quarter in Silwan village, south of Jerusalem. At least 240 people, more than 55% of them children, including 15 disabled children, live in these flats. The municipal court ordered the demolition of these flats in 2004 and imposed a fine of 2,400,000 NIS (approximately US$ 600,000). All subsequent petitions submitted by the residents to Israeli courts, including the High Court, against the demolitions were rejected.
· Also on the same day, IOF distributed orders for the demolition of seven flats belonging to the al-Ghawi family in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem. The Israeli High Court rejected a petition submitted by the family on 16 February 2009 and gave the family 21 days to evacuate the homes. Thirty-five people, including 16 children, live in these flats.
· Also on the same day, IOF handed orders to demolish three flats belonging to the Hannoun family in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem. The municipal court ordered the family to evacuate the flats by 15 March 2009. Seventeen people, including six children, live in these flats.
· On Saturday, 7 March, IOF ordered Khalil Mohammed Tarhouni to demolish his 30-square-meter house, in which he, his wife and their child live, in the old town in Jerusalem, claiming that the house was built without a license.
· During the reporting period, IOF ordered Sharif Mohammed 'Attounb to demolish his 80-square-meter house, in which 8 people live, in Sour Baher village south of Jerusalem, claiming the house was built without a license.
· On Sunday, 8 March, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem ordered the evacuation and demolition of a 140-square-meter house, in which 10 people live, belonging to Faraj Hussein 'Olayan, 60, in Silwan village south of Jerusalem. They claimed the house was built without a license. All petitions submitted by the family to Israeli courts against the demolition were rejected. The municipal court ordered the family to evacuate the house by 23 March 2009.
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, 5 March, a number of Israelis settlers from "Matatiaho" settlement, west of Ramallah, attacked a house built by the Public Committee against the Annexation Wall in Bal'ein village. They burnt the house, which was built three years ago.
· On Friday morning, 6 March, dozens of Israeli settlers from "Yits'har" settlement, south of Nablus, threw stones Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on Nablus-Ramallah road. A number of vehicles were damaged.
· On Sunday morning, 8 March, dozens of Israeli settlers from "Yits'har" settlement, south of Nablus, threw stones Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on a road to the south of Nablus. They then closed the road and prevented Palestinian civilian vehicles from accessing it.
· On Monday morning, 9 March, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered on the site where the evacuated "Homesh" settlement used to stand, northwest of Nablus. They threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on Nablus-Jenin road.
· On Monday, 9 March, IOF issued a military order seizing 142 donums of land in the villages of Bal'ein, Kharabtha Bani Hares and Deir Qiddis, west of Ramallah.
· Also on Monday, IOF confiscated 80 donumms of Palestinian agricultural land in the southeast of Yatta village, south of Hebron, for the purpose of settlement expansion.
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Recommendations to the International Community1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.
2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.
4. PCHR calls for the 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 Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
8. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.
11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
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Public Document
For further information please visit our website (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] A donumm is equal to 1,000 square meters.
