*IOF
Het PCHR noemt het Israëlische leger niet de Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) maar de Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF): het Israëlische bezettingsleger. De mainstream nieuwsmedia houden echter liever de mythe in stand dat het Israëlische leger uitsluitend defensief optreedt (Israeli Defense Forces, IDF), en dus geen gebieden bezet.
*OPT
Occupied Palestinian Territories: de Bezette Palestijnse Gebieden.
Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (19-25 May 2011)
PCHR | 26.05.2011 | NEDERLANDS
A number of Palestinian evacuate Ramadan al-Daghma who was wounded by Israeli force during
a peaceful demonstration in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis, 20 May 2011
a peaceful demonstration in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis, 20 May 2011
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
- A Palestinian civilian was killed by IOF near the border in the central Gaza Strip.
- A Palestinian civilian was wounded in the east of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip.
- Two Palestinian boys sustained severe burns as a smoke bomb, left by IOF in Hebron, exploded.
- IOF continued to target Palestinian farmers in border areas in the northern Gaza Strip.
- IOF fired at Palestinian farmers in two separate incidents, but no casualties were reported.
- IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
- Two demonstrators, including an international human rights defender, were wounded.
- IOF arrested 11 demonstrators, including 10 Israeli solidarity activists and an international one.
- IOF conducted 38 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
- IOF arrested 15 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children.
- The arrested civilians include the mother of Sheikh Saleh al-Arouri, who was deported to Syria.
- IOF continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers continued their attacks in the West Bank.
- Israeli settlers caused severe damages to a Palestinian house, southwest of Bethlehem.
- Seventy olive trees in the vicinity of "Qidoumim" settlement, northeast of Qalqilya, were uprooted.
- Three women activists were attacked at Zaatara checkpoint, south of Nablus.
- Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the Gaza Strip and tightened the siege on the West Bank.
- IOF arrested at least 3 Palestinians at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (19 – 25 May 2011):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian in the Gaza Strip, while 2 Palestinian civilians and an international human rights defender were wounded; 2 of them were wounded in the West Bank and the third was wounded in the Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian children sustained burns due to the explosion of a "smoke" bomb from the Israeli military remnants, southeast of Hebron.
Al-Bureij refugee camp, September 29, 2010
In the Gaza Strip, on 21 May 2011, IOF stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp [foto] in the central Gaza Strip, killed a Palestinian by 2 artillery shells and opening heavy fire at him. An ambulance officer, who participated in recovering the body, said that they found the body approximately one meter far from the border fence. One of the area's residents said that he heard the sound of 2 artillery shells and after 10 minutes, he heard heavy gunfire.
On 20 May 2011, IOF stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire near Palestinians participating in a peaceful demonstration heading to the said border fence, east of Abasan village to the east of Khan Yunis. As a result, a Palestinian was wounded by shrapnel of a bullet in the legs.
In the context of targeting the Palestinian farmers in border areas in the Gaza Strip, IOF opened fire twice at the farmers during the reporting period. On 24 May 2011, IOF stationed at border fence, north of Shurrab lands in the northeast of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were on their lands, which are approximately 650 meters far from the said border fence. On 25 May 2011, IOF stationed on watchtowers at the border fence to the east of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at the farmers on their lands, east of al-Qurman Street, al-Naayma Street and al-Masreyen Street in the east of Beit Hanoun. As a result, the Palestinian farmers were forced to leave their lands and escape fearing for their lives. However, no injuries or damages in their property were reported.
In the West Bank, 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, two demonstrators, including a Palestinian civilian and an international solidarity activist, were wounded. In addition, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank suffered from tear gas inhalation, and bruises as they were beaten by IOF.
IOF has continued to leave military remnants in residential and agricultural areas and in their vicinity. As a result, 2 Palestinian children sustained severe burns on Friday morning, 20 May 2011, when a smoke bomb left by IOF in the southeast of Hebron exploded.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 38 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 15 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children. The arrested persons included Aysha Saleh Yousef Dar Suleiman, 70, from Aroura village, north of Ramallah, who was arrested at approximately 01:30 on Sunday, 22 May 2011, and driven to "al-Maskoubeya" interrogation center in Jerusalem. Dar Suleiman who was released at approximately 20:00 on the same day is the mother of Sheikh Saleh al-Arouri, a member of Hamas Political Bureau, who spent 18 years in Israeli jails and was then deported to Syria.
IOF have continued to attempt to stop peaceful protests and to prevent international human rights defenders from participating in peaceful assemblies against settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall. As part of these attempts, IOF arrested 11 protesters, including 10 Israeli solidarity activists and an international one.
Israeli Settlers' Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property:
Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of the international humanitarian law have continued to commit systematic crimes against Palestinian civilians and their property with protection provided by IOF that ignore conducting investigations into complaints submitted by Palestinian civilians against settlers.
In the context of the settlers' attacks against the Palestinian civilians and their lands located in the vicinity of "Gush Etzion" and "Efrat" settlement complex, southwest of Bethlehem, an old house belonging to Mohammed Saleh Abu Sawi from Artas village, south of Bethlehem, was deliberately attacked and damaged by a group of settlers living near the family's land on 22 May 2011. The attack resulted in destroying the roof of the house, which was built in the fifties of the last century. The house consists of 4 rooms built of stones and ceiled by wood and iron. Besides, there is a water well near the house.
On the same day, some settlers from "Tafouh" settlement, south of Nablus, attacked 3 Palestinian women from Iskaka Women's Charitable Association, from Iskaka village, east of Salfit.
Additionally, some settlers from "Qidoumim" settlement, northeast of Qalqilya, uprooted 70 olive trees belonging to Mohammed Abdul Latif Hamid Ishtiwi, from Kafr Qaddoum village. Ishtiwi did not know when the incident took place, as he cannot reach his land without a permit from IOF.
Restrictions on Movement:
Israel has continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and has imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Palestinians pass by a pool of blood after the Israeli shelling of a residential area in Beit Hanoun in the northern of Gaza Strip in which at least 18 people were killed, 8 November 2006.
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 been steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation 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.
It should be noted that the Israeli occupation authorities have worked over the past three years to make Karm Abu Salem crossing, which is not appropriate for commercial purposes, as Gaza's major and sole crossing.
In the beginning of 2010, the Israeli occupation authorities closed Nahal Oz crossing which was dedicated for the supplies of fuel and cooking gas to Gaza, and shifted fuel supplies to Karm Abu Salem crossing. these authorities totally closed Sofa crossing, southeast of Khan Younis, and shifted humanitarian aid and food items which used to be delivered via Sofa crossing to Karm Abu Salem crossing. Lately, they exceptionally open Sofa crossing from time to time to allow the delivery of construction aggregate for UNRWA.
- 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. Facts on the ground refute IOF's allegation that they daily allow the export of 10 truckloads of agricultural products.
- Recently, IOF allowed the exportation of very limited quantities of Gaza's agricultural products, including flowers and tomatoes, to European markers.
- 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 [foto] 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 46 months, IOF have continued to deny approximately 710 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.
Israeli troops patrol in the al-Arroub refugee camp in the West Bank city of Hebron
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (19 – 25 May 2011)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 19 May 2011
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Arroub [foto] refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched the house of Nawwaf Abdul Latif Jawabra. Before withdrawing, they arrested Jawabra's 16-year-old child, Mohammed, who is a student in the tenth grade. They drove Mohammed to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of Bethlehem. Mohammed was placed under interrogation for allegedly stoning IOF vehicles travelling on the main street near al-Arroub refugee camp. Ula Khalil, Mohammed's lawyer, said that her client Mohammed was beaten by gun butts on his legs directly after he had been arrested and during the few first hours of his detention in "Kfar Etzion" detention center.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Kafl Hares village, north of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to Abdullah Ibrahim Bouzeyeh, 42. Before withdrawing, they arrested Bouzeyeh who is a mathematics teacher in the nearby village of Qira.
· At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew in the afternoon and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Jefna village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Aroura village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Kafr Naama, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 17:00, an IOF vehicle moved into the northern neighborhood of al-Khadr village, southwest of Bethlehem. The vehicle chased a number of boys and arrested Mohammed Rezeq Ahmed Arafa, 20, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp, for allegedly stoning IOF vehicles positioning and travelling in the north and the west of al-Khadr village. Arafa was taken to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of Bethlehem.
· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Yabad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:45, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:50, IOF moved into Beit Leqia, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Friday, 20 May 2011
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of Qaqilya. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched many houses amid firing sound bombs. Before withdrawing, they arrested 4 Palestinians, including 2 children:
1. Sameh Mahmoud Hussein, 17;
2. Ahmed Ali Rashed Radwan, 17;
3. Mohammed Imad Mohammed Radwan, 19; and
4. Amr Mohammed Abu Haneyeh, 18.
In addition, IOF confiscated 2 hunting rifles from 2 houses belonging to Udai Samir Hassan Salim and Mohammed Imad Radwan.
The mother of Mohammed Radwan, who was arrested by IOF, told a PCHR fieldworker the following:
"At approximately 03:03 on Friday, 20 May 2011, a large number of Israeli occupation soldiers raided the nearby house of my brother-in-law. They were screaming in megaphones and they fired sound bombs at the house’s door. They forced the residents to get out of the house. They were looking for my son Mohammed whose name is the same as his cousin's. The soldiers found that my brother-in-law's son whose name is Mohammed is not the person who is wanted. They then left my brother-in-law's house and immediately came to our house. They fired sound bombs and called on us through megaphones to leave the house within two minutes. I left the house with my son and my little daughter. They entered the house and nearly 15 minutes later, an Israeli intelligence officer called me to enter the house. I saw that the house was damaged. The officer asked me 'where is your son Mohammed?' I replied 'I do not know.' He said 'call him immediately and tell him to come home.' I called Mohammed, but he did not answer. The officer then said 'if he does not arrive, we will kill him and bring him dead to you.’ They had dogs and my little daughter was frightened and was crying all the time. They left the house and headed to my other brother-in-law’s house where my son was sleeping. They went upstairs. They destroyed the house and arrested Mohammed. His uncle told me that they held him from his neck, stuck him against the wall and stroke his head against the wall. When they left the house with my son, I heard him saying 'I want to say bye to my mum' and the officer said 'you have just knew that you have a mum?' We then brought him a jacket and saluted him. I went to check my house which was heavily damaged. They destroyed the closets, beds, windows, doors, sinks, the seats in the salon, the kitchen and everything in the house. They also confiscated a hunting rifle which was used by my son Mohammed."
· At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Baqa al-Sharqiya village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:30, IOF positioning at the border to the east of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip opened fire at points close to dozens of Palestinians participating in a peaceful demonstration. They demonstrators were walking towards the border in the east of Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. Ramadan Mohammed Khalil al-Daghma, 47, who was participating in the demonstration sustained shrapnel wounds in the legs as a result. Al-Daghma was transferred to the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Yunis for medical treatment.
· At approximately 12:35, IOF moved into Bedia village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Bitonia town, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Beit Leqia village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Saturday, 21 May 2011
· At approximately 03:00, IOF positioned at the border to the east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip fired two artillery shells and bullets at Ibrahim Mohammed Ali Faraj Allah, 19, from al-Nussairat refugee camp. Faraj Allah was killed as a result.
Following coordination done by the International committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a medical crew from the Palestine Red Crescent Society managed to evacuate the body of Faraj Allah.
Awni Khattab, 48, a paramedic who participated in evacuation of the body, reported that the body was only one meter from the border fence and that dogs ate parts of the abdomen and thigh as Faraj Allah was killed at dawn and his body was evacuated at approximately 16:00 on the same day. He said that it took them nearly three hours to find the body and that the body was dissolute.
A resident from the area reported that in on Saturday morning, 21 May 2011, he heard two artillery shells. Ten minutes later, he heard intensive firing of bullets. The father of the dead person said that he called his son at approximately 01:30 on Saturday, 21 May, and that his brother Adel called him. Ibrahim told them that he was near the border fence. They tried to call him later, but he did not answer so they reported it to the police.
· At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Beit Qad village, east of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into Kafr al-Labd village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither arrests nor further events were reported.
· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither arrests nor further events were reported.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Soudan village, north of Ramallah. They raided a house belonging to Murad Rezeq Allah Duha (Murad al-Soudani), 37. They delivered a notice to Duha to appear before the Israeli intelligence service, and they then withdrew. It should be noted that Duha is a poet and he is the Secretary General of the General Union of Palestinian Writers, and the President of the Palestinian House of Poetry.
· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kafr Ra'i village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and then took position in the northern neighborhood. They raided two houses belonging to Tareq Zaki Nazzal "Melhem", 26, and Mohammed Fouad Mohammed Diab, 20. They arrested Nazzal and Diab and drove them to "Dotan" settlement, southwest of Jenin. Diab told a PCHR fieldworker that he and Nazzal were handcuffed and blindfolded and that they were detained in a room in "Dotan" settlement for nearly 4 hours. They were then driven to the Israeli District Coordination Office where the "Military Courts Compound" is in Salem village, northwest of Jenin. They were presented before the court to testify, as attesting witnesses, in a session held to try a Palestinian prisoner, based on a request by the Israeli military public prosecutor. After the session, Diab and Nazzal were released.
· At approximately 09:40, IOF moved into Beit Or al-Tahta village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into al-Jarousheyeh village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Then they stationed near the entrance of the village and erected a military checkpoint. IOF soldiers stepped down from their vehicles and stopped travelling vehicles and checked the ID cards of passengers. They removed the checkpoint later and withdrew. At approximately 22:30, they retuned and positioned near the entrance of the village and erected a military checkpoint. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into al-Ouja village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Monday, 23 May 2011
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched many houses. Before withdrawing, they arrested 3 civilians and drove them to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of Bethlehem:
1. Hassan Nayef Hassan al-Ra'i, 19;
2. Umar Zuhdi Mahfouz, 19; and
3. Asaad Diab al-Badawi, 20.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tarqoumia village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched many houses. Before withdrawing, they arrested 2 civilians, including a child, and drove them to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of Bethlehem:
Muath Abdul Munim Shalalfa, 17; and
Udul Munim Shaker Abdul Munim Shalalfa, 18.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghosoun village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Aroura village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched the house of Sheikh Saleh al-Arouri. Before withdrawing at approximately 02:00, they arrested Aysha Saleh Yousef Dar Suleiman, 70, who is Sheikh al-Arouri's mother, and drove her to "al-Maskoubeya" interrogation center in Jerusalem. Dar Suleiman was released at approximately 20:00 on the same day. It should be noted that Sheikh al-Arouri is a member of Hamas Political Bureau. He spent 18 years in Israeli jails and then was deported to Syria.
· Also at approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Um al-Tout village, northeast of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Faroun village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Silat al-Daher village, south of Jenin. They raided the offices of "Silat al-Daher Commercial Compound Company." They held the staff members and checked their ID cards. They also checked the surveillance cameras installed in the offices. On 16 May 2011, IOF chased a lorry of the Company while travelling on the main road between Nablus and Tulkarm, west of Nablus, on its way to distribute goods in Hebron. IOF stopped the lorry and arrested the two persons who were in it, claiming that they found a suspicious object in the lorry. IOF withdrew later from the village and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 20:25, IOF moved into al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They provocatively patrolled in the streets and claxoned now and then to bother Palestinians in the village. A number of boys gathered and stoned IOF that immediately responded by firing bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. Many civilians suffered from gas inhalation as a result. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Rummana village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 13:35, IOF positioned at the border to the north of Shurrab farm, northeast of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were in their farms, nearly 650 meters from the border. Farmers were forced to flee in fear for their lives. Neither casualties nor damages to property were reported.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghosoun village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Atil village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Ein Beit al-Maa refugee camp, west of Nablus. They surrounded the house of Mohammed Hassan Ali al-Khatib, 26. They destroyed the handle of the external door. They then destroyed the door of the second floor. The residents of the house were surprised when they saw nearly 16 soldiers veiled in black in the salon on the second floor of the 3-storye house. IOF checked the ID cards of the men and arrested Mohammed.
Abdul Jalil, who is Mohammed's brother, told a PCHR fieldworker that his brother Mohammed spent 3 months in Juneid prison. At the end of 2010, Mohammed was granted amnesty after he signed a pledge, under Palestinian National Authority management, not to leave Nablus city. He was released from Juneid prison after signing the pledge.
· Also at approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Wad al-Tuffah area, west of Nablus. They raided and searched many houses. Before withdrawing at approximately 04:10, they arrested Fares Mahmoud al-Natour, 23.
· At approximately 11:20, IOF positioned on observation towers along the border in the east of Beit Hanoun tonw in the north of the Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian farmers in their farms in the east of al-Qurman Street, al-Naayma Street and al-Masreyen Street in the east of Beit Hanoun. Farmers were forced to flee in fear for their lives. Neither casualties nor damages to property were reported.
2. Crimes Caused By Israeli Military Remnants
IOF have continued to leave military remnants in residential and agricultural areas and in their vicinity. As a result, 2 Palestinian children sustained severe burns on Friday morning, 20 May 2011, when a smoke bomb left by IOF in the southeast of Hebron exploded.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 08:00 on Friday, 20 May 2011, Eid Mohammed Daajneh, 15, and Mohammed Yousef Hassan Daajneh, 15, were herding their sheep in "Wad al-Bad" area, nearly 800 meters to the east of (al-Bweib) village, in the far northeast of Yatta village, south of Hebron. Eid found a strange object which is a small cylindrical tin-coated metal tube with a black cover on one of its edges. The boy removed the tin and intense fast-spreading white smoke immediately rose. The boy dropped the tube and tried to flee the area with his friend. The two boys were totally in panic. However, the rising smoke had touched their bodies and caused burns throughout their bodies. Parts of their clothes and shoes were burned as well. Although they fled the area and went away for dozens of meters calling for help from their relatives, burns continued to spread in their bodies and their skins continued to melt.
According to a PCHR fieldworker’s documentation and observation and according to medical examination underwent on the two boys, the boys sustained first-degree and second-degree burns as follows:
1. Eid Mohammed Daajneh sustained first-degree and second-degree burns under the right eye, in the front, the right temple, the right hand and fingers, the right arm, the left knee, the right ankle and first-degree burns in the fingers of the left hand.
2. Mohammed Yousef Hassan Daajneh sustained first-degree and second-degree burns in the fingers of the left hand and signs of black carbon around the burns in the fingers of the left hand, the left ankle and second-degree burns in the right ankle.
Jihad Khalil Hassan Daajneh, 35, a shepherd, said that he saw the two boys running to him while crying because of pain and panic. He was nearly 60 meters from them. He tried to provide first aid by pouring water on the fire set in their limps. He made a phone call asking for a car to transfer the boys to "Abu al-Hassan al-Qasem" Hospital in Yatta where they were provided with first medical aid. Because of their serious conditions and inability to know the nature of the burns they sustained, coordination was made via the Palestinian Liaison Office with the Palestinian police to get an Israeli military medical crew. The Israeli medical crew arrived, with an Israeli force, at the crossroads of "Zif" village, east of Yatta. They diagnosed the wounds and provided primary treatment for the two boys.
Israeli explosives experts questioned the two boys about their wounds and the shape and nature of the object that caused their wounds. They showed the two boys samples of the ammunitions used by IOF and the boys could recognize the object that caused their burns. The medical crew provided primary medical treatment to the boys, but they refused to transfer the boys to a specialized Israeli hospital for treatment in an attempt to avoid assuming responsibility for this crime. The two boys were transferred in ambulances of the Palestine Red Crescent Society to Hebron Public Hospital for treatment.
Israeli Channel 10 affirmed IOF’s responsibility for the object that caused wounds to the boys. The channel reported: "The Daajnehs sustained wounds when they were playing near the village and an object from the ammunitions used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and left in the scene during a raid implemented by the IDF in the area."
According to eyewitnesses and field observation, members of the Daajneh family found a similar object on Sunday afternoon, 22 May 2011, while herding sheep in the same area. The Israeli police was informed about the object and arrived at the scene. They closed the area and exploded the object which caused a loud noise. White smoke rose from the object for nearly 40 meters.
It should be noted that landmines and military remnants left by IOF cause severe suffering for Palestinians and shepherds in rural, nomad and remote areas where there are settlement activities or which are close to sites used for military training by IOF especially in Yatta and Bani Na'im in the south and southeast of Hebron, al-Khan al-Ahmar in the east of Jerusalem, and south and north of the Jordanian Valley in Jericho. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed or wounded as a result of these military remnants.
3. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting Settlement Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall
During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, a Palestinian civilian and an international human rights defender were wounded, and dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises. Besides, 10 Israeli activists and an international one were arrested by IOF. They were transported to an unknown destination.
Israeli troops stormed a number of homes in Bil'in and tried to arrest local youth, during the search campaign, soldiers fired tear gas at local youth who responded by hurling stones at the soldiers, September 2010
- · Following the Friday Prayer on 20 May 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'in village [foto], west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall. The demonstrators then walked to the annexation wall. IOF made a barrier of barbed wire approximately 100 meters far from the wall. Before demonstrators' arrival to the barrier, IOF closed the barrier and fired bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. IOF also sprinkled wastewater at the demonstrators and chased them in olive field. As a result, Ibrahim Abdul Fattah Birnat, 29, was hit by a tear gas canister in the back, while dozens of demonstrators, including Mohammed Suleiman Yassin, 20, suffered from tear gas inhalation.
- · Also following the Friday Prayer on 20 May 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the annexation wall. They then walked to the wall. IOF closed the gate established on the wall with barbed wire. When the demonstrators tried to cross the wall to the land located behind it, IOF prevented them. The demonstrators responded by stoning IOF that responded by firing bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. IOF also chased demonstrators in olive field. Many demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation as a result.
- · Also following the Friday Prayer on the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against the wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators walked in the streets of the village and chanted national slogans, expressing their refusal to the occupation and its arbitrary actions. They held Palestinian flags. Then they walked to the lands that settlers from "Halmish" settlement try to seize. IOF closed off the southern entrance of the village to prevent Palestinian and international demonstrators from having access to the mentioned lands. As the demonstrators attempted to access the land, IOF prevented them. IOF fired bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. IOF also sprayed wastewater at the demonstrators and chased them. As a result, an unknown international activist was hit by a tear gas canister in the right hand. Besides, many demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises. Additionally, IOF arrested 11 unknown activists, including 10 Israeli solidarity activists and an international one, and transported them to an unknown destination.
- · At approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 21 May 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Iraq Burin village and neighboring villages, south of Nablus. They walked to the lands that settlers try to seize in the southern side of the village, west of "Bracha" settlement. Before the demonstrators reach the said lands, IOF fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 7 demonstrators, including Amir 'Aref Qadous, 15, Adham Kamal Faleh Qadous, 20, and two international activists, suffered from tear gas inhalation.
4. 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.
- Facts on the ground refute Israeli claims with respect to the easing of the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the reduction of restrictions imposed on the entry of goods.
- Israeli declaration of allowing new goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip constitutes an attempt to delude the international community, as such goods do not meet the minimal needs of the Gaza Strip.
- IOF have continued to ban the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip.
- IOF have imposed a ban on all exports from the Gaza Strip.
- Israel had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.
- Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
A Palestinian woman whose house has been occupied by Jewish settlers argued with Israelis who came to celebrate Jerusalem Day in the mainly Arab neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, December 2009
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 [foto]: 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.
- Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 19 May 2011, IOF established 6 checkpoints around the town. At approximately 11:20, IOF established a checkpoint on Nabi Saleh – Kafr Ein road, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 20:40, IOF re-established their presence at Attarah checkpoint at the northern entrance of Birzeit village, north of Ramallah. At approximately 22:00, IOF established a checkpoint near 'Eyoun al-Haramiyah intersection, north of Ramallah.
At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 20 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 18:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kafr Ne'ma village, west of Ramallah. At approximately 19:00, IOF re-established their presence at Attarah checkpoint at the northern entrance of Birzeit village, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
At approximately 19:10 on Saturday, 21 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Beit Liqia village, west of Ramallah.
At approximately 20:30 on Sunday, 22 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Ras Karkar village, west of Ramallah. At approximately 22:00, IOF established a similar checkpoint near the entrance of Yabroud village, northeast of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, however, no arrests were reported.
- Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 19 May 2011, IOF established 3 checkpoints around the town. On Friday, 20 May 2011, IOF established 3 checkpoints around the town. At approximately 22:15, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Hajja village and a checkpoint at the intersection of Jinsafout village, east of Qalqilya.
On Monday, 23 May 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
- Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 11:30 on Thursday, 19 May 2011, IOF stationed at 'Ennab checkpoint on Tulkarm – Nablus road, east of Tulkarm, imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
At approximately 14:00, IOF established a checkpoint on 'Etil – Deir al-Ghsoun road, north of Tulkarm. At approximately 22:30, IOF established a similar checkpoint at the intersection of al-Jaroushiya village, north of Tulkarm.
At approximately 01:00 on Friday, 20 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm – Qalqilya road near the entrance of Far'oun village, south of Tulkarm.
At approximately 12:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm, while at approximately 12:15, they established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir al-Ghsoun village, north of Tulkarm. At approximately 12:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nazlet Isa village, north of Tulkarm. At approximately 22:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the intersection of al-Jaroushiya village, north of Tulkarm.
At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 21 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Beit Leed village, north of Tulkarm.
At approximately 19:30, IOF stationed at 'Ennab checkpoint on Tulkarm – Nablus road, east of Tulkarm, imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinians and their vehicles.
At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 22 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm – Qalqilya road in al-Kafriyat area, south of Tulkarm. At approximately 21:00, IOF established a checkpoint on Kafr al-Labad – al-Hfasi road, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched the civilian vehicles, however, no arrests were reported.
At approximately 13:30 on Monday, 23 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on Tulkarm – Qalqilya road near the entrance of Far'oun village, south of Tulkarm. They detained Maher Mohammed 'Atiyah Thalathin, 37, from Ezbet Shoufa village, south of Tulkarm for an hour, while he was passing in his car via the checkpoint. Thalathin said to PCHR field worker that IOF searched his car before he was released.
At approximately 14:00 IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Jaroushiya village, north of Tulkarm. At approximately 23:30, IOF re-established the checkpoint at the same area.
- Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 11:20 on Saturday, 21 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Jalboun village, east of Jenin.
- Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 17:30 on Thursday, 19 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fasayel, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched civilian vehicles, however, no arrests were reported.At approximately 19:30 on Saturday, 21 May 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of al-'Ouja, north of Jericho.
Arrests at Checkpoints
- At approximately 16:30 on Thursday, 19 May 2011, IOF stationed at the intersection on "Asyoun – Beit Fajjar" main road between Hebron and Bethlehem arrested Fo'ad Khalil Mohammed al-Shamisti, 33, from Yatta, south of Hebron. He was transported to "Kfar Etzion" detention center.
- At approximately 20:30 on Saturday, 21 May 2011, IOF re-established their presence at Attarah checkpoint at the northern entrance of Birzeit village, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched the Palestinian civilians and their vehicles. Before they retreat, IOF arrested Hassan Hussein Hassan Kan'an, 42, and transported him to an unknown destination.
- At approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, 24 May 2011, IOF stationed at al-Karama International Crossing Point, at the borders between Jericho and Jordan, arrested Riad Abdul Razeq Rajab Shqouqani, 23, from 'Askar refugee camp, northeast of Nablus. Shqouqani was coming from Sharjah to the OPT via al-Karamah International Crossing Point.
A group of Israeli settlers attacked on Monday morning a Palestinian school in the southern part of Nablus, northern West Bank. Witnesses told local media that the settlers smashed windows and put-up a banner and wrote slogans on the outer wall of the school calling for the killing of Arabs. May 9 2011
5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
- In the context of the settlers' attacks against the Palestinian civilians and their property located in the vicinity of "Gush Etzion" and "Efrat" settlement complex, southwest of Bethlehem, an old house belonging to Mohammed Saleh Abu Sawi from Artas village, south of Bethlehem, was deliberately attacked and damaged by a group of settlers living near the family's land.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Sunday morning, 22 May 2011, members of Abu Sawi family headed to their land and old house in "Khelet Ikhleil" area, east of the said settlement complex and the head office of the so-called Israeli Civil Administration, to work in their land as usual. The family members were shocked that the house's roof was completely destroyed; an attack that can only be done by the Israeli settlers, as the land's location does not allow the entry of any Palestinian, excluding the land's owners, who can pass after being searched and their IDs being checked. The house is only 200 meters far from the settlements' fence and "Civil Administration" head office, which is a military zone surrounded by watchtowers and surveillance cameras.
Abu Sawi family said that the attack included destroying the roof of the house, which was built in the fifties of the last century. The house consists of 4 rooms built of stones and ceiled by wood and iron. Besides, there is a well near the house. The family stated: "This is not the first time that their property had been attacked by settlers and IOF, in addition, the Israeli settlers used to throw dead dogs inside the well." They pointed that: IOF closed the entrance leading to the land through the "Civil Administration" three years ago, due to which, they were obliged to stop their car away from the house and go to the land on foot. Their car was attacked by the Israeli soldiers under the pretext that it is close to the military position.
- At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 22 May 2011, a group of Israeli settlers from "Taffouh" settlement, south of Nablus, attacked 3 Palestinian women from Iskaka Women's Charitable Association, from Iskaka village, east of Salfit.
In her testimony to PCHR field worker, Ms. Ahlam Adnan Harb said:
"On Sunday morning, 22 May 2011, 2 members of the Association and I headed to Za'tarah intersection, as we intended to go to Ramallah. Once we arrived at the intersection, we found approximately 15 settlers standing there, some of whom were armed. They approached and started stoning us; however, we escaped the stones and were not harmed. IOF were supporting the settlers in their attack and did not prevent them, in addition, they pointed their guns at us. We wanted to stop a car to leave the area, but they were chasing us and prevented us from leaving. We tried to defend ourselves. In the meanwhile, a Palestinian civilian standing at the intersection saw us and ran towards us. As a result, we retreated immediately for fear of the eruption of clashes between the Palestinian civilians and Israeli soldiers. This attack against Palestinians and their property has repeatedly taken place at this intersection because of the presence of the Israeli settlers there and the soldiers’ support to them."
- Some settlers from "Qidoumim" settlement, northeast of Qalqilya, uprooted 70 olive trees belonging to Mohammed Abdul Latif Hamid Ishtiwi, from Kafr Qaddoum village. Ishtiwi did not know when the incident took place, as he can't reach his land unless by a permit from IOF.
In his testimony to PCHR field worker, Ishtiwi said:
"At approximately 08:30 on Sunday, 22 May 2011, I went to plough my land named "Barous Valley", southeast of Kafr Qaddoum, plot 27. I went with the ploughman, as I had a permit to enter the land. Once we arrived, we were shocked that 70 olive trees, which were planted 7 years ago, had been uprooted. The land’s area is 15 dunums and is located near Qidoumim settlement, i.e. approximately 150 meters far from the settlement. It is also located near an outpost at Odlah Mountain, which is part of Qidoumim settlement. The settlers carried out the attack, as they are close to the land. Besides, Palestinians are not allowed to enter the land except by a permit from the Israeli side. After I saw my land, I phoned the Village Council and the Red Cross, who came to the site and photographed it. However, the Israeli soldiers came, dismissed them and prevented them from photographing. We spent half an hour before we were dismissed by IOF. Later, I filed a complaint to the Red Cross and Ariel Police."
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.
Public Document
For further information please visit our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).
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