Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Dozens of Israeli policemen attempt to break into the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem while Palestinian worshippers were inside - Friday, 24 February 2011
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
IOF have continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
A Palestinian civilian was killed in a peaceful demonstration in al-Ram village, north of Jerusalem, protesting IOF attempts to raid the al-Aqsa Mosque.
5 protesters, including an Israeli Knesset Member and a member of the Palestinian National Council, were wounded in 2 peaceful demonstrations in the center of Hebron.
1 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
IOF have continued bombardments and shootings in the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian resistance activist was wounded in the east of Gaza City.
A tunnel and a container were destroyed in Rafah and damages were caused to 3 houses and offices of the International Federation of Football in the north of the Gaza Strip.
IOF fired at Palestinian fishermen and their fishing boats.
IOF conducted 58 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank
IOF raided the offices of Watan and al-Quds local TV channels and confiscated broadcasting devices and other possessions.
IOF arrested 40 Palestinians, including 2 children.
Israel has continued efforts to create a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.
The Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem registered the lands in the Qalandia airport in its name in "Israel Lands Department".
2 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
The closure of Silwan Charity and Silwan Islamic club was extended for a year.
IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
IOF bulldozed a water well, a water tank, an agricultural room and 22 dunums, and uprooted 960 fruit trees in Hebron.
IOF confiscated 21 dunums of agricultural lands in Salfit.
Israeli settlers carried out 2 attacks in Hebron.
Israeli settlers organized provocative tours in Hebron under IOF protection.
Israeli settlers raided Palestinian villages and wrote racist slogans against Arabs, and offending the Prophet Mohammed.
IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen at sea.
IOF opened fire at Palestinian fishermen off the shore of Deir al-Balah and confiscated fishing nets.
3 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
IOF arrested 9 Palestinians, including 3 children, at checkpoints in the West Bank.
IOF maltreated a school student in Hebron.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (23 – 29 February 2012):
Shooting:
4 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
In the West Bank, on 24 February 2012, IOF used excessive force to kill a Palestinian who was participating in a peaceful demonstration in al-Ram village, north of Jerusalem, in protest against IOF and Israeli settlers attempts to raid the al-Aqsa Mosque.
On 26 February 2012, IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs at Palestinians in al-Ram village, north of Jerusalem, wounding a member of the Palestinian civil defense service.
Also in the West Bank, during the reporting period, IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest against Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall in the West Bank. As a result, 5 protesters, including an Israeli Knesset member and a member of the Palestinian National Council, sustained shrapnel wounds. Additionally, dozens of protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation. In the Gaza Strip, on 28 February 2012, IOF opened fire at participants in a peaceful demonstration in the north of the Gaza Strip but no casualties were reported.
In the Gaza Strip, on 24 February 2012, an IOF warplane fired 2 missiles at a group of Palestinian resistance activists, east of Gaza City, wounding one of them.
5 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
On 23 February 2012, IOF positioned at the border east of Khan Younis opened fire at farms in al-Sreij neighborhood of al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Younis. At the same time, IOF warplanes opened fire at the same area. No casualties were reported.
On 24 February 2012, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a training site used by the Izz Addin al-Qassam Brigades, in the north of the Gaza Strip. The windows of a number of the surrounding establishments crushed. In addition, the explosion left a hole in the site.
On 24 February 2012, IOF fired a shell at a Palestinian house, east of Gaza City. The shell did not explode but it caused a hole in the house. No casualties were reported.
On 24 February 2012, IOF positioned at the border east of Khan Younis opened fire at farms in al-Sreij neighborhood in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Younis. No casualties were reported.
On 26 February, IOF warplanes fired at least one missile at a tunnel in al-Salam neighborhood, south of Rafah. The tunnel was destroyed as a result.
6 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
IOF opened fire on two different occasions at Palestinian fishermen off the shore of Deir al-Balah. No casualties were reported but IOF confiscated fishing nets.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 58 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 40 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children.
During the reporting period, IOF raided the offices of al-Watan and al-Quds local TV channel. Before withdrawing, they confiscated equipment from the offices of the two TV channels.
Also during the reporting period, IOF moved into Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. While patrolling in the streets, a bulldozer carrying IOF got stuck in a bystreet of 3 meters wide in the center of the village. While the driver was trying to get the bulldozer out of the bystreet, he demolished the external wall of a house, a part of an old wall, and a water well.
7 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Restrictions on Movement:
During the reporting period, Israel continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over four years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
IOF have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip and practically made Karm Abu Salem crossing as the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip although it is not proper for
8 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
commercial purposes in terms of its location and operational capacity.
IOF have continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the strangulation of the commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
The total closure of al-Mentar "Karni" crossing on 02 March 2011 has created a bitter situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all the economic and commercial establishments in Gaza Commercial Zone were forced to shut down. It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip in terms of its operational capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision of al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions to totally close Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2009, and Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.
These statistics which were made available to PCHR by the Border and Crossings Department indicate a continued drop in the number of truckloads of Gaza imports and exports.
IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
9 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
The cooking gas crisis which has erupted last November has continued to affect the Gaza Strip. This crisis was created when, on 04 January 2012, the Israeli occupation authorities totally closed Nahal Oz crossing, which used to be dedicated to the delivery of fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza. Fuel and cooking gas supplies were shifted to Karm Abu Salem crossing, which is not technically equipped to receive Gaza's needs of fuel. Karm Abu Salem crossing, with its maximum absorptive capacity, can receive only 200 tons of cooking gas per day.
Approximately 80% of Gaza civilians have continued to depend on aid provided by UNRWA and other relief agencies. Rates of families who are living below poverty line have continued to rise, and approximately 40% of Gaza's manpower has continued to suffer from permanent unemployment as a result of the shutdown of the majority of Gaza's economic establishments.
IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the export of Gaza's products, especially industrial products, leading to undermining any real chances to revive economic establishments. The situation has been aggravated especially after making Karm Abu Salem crossing as Gaza sole commercial crossing and the repeated closure of this crossing which negatively affected the quantity of Gazan products which were allowed to be exported during last April.
IOF have continued to delay the implementation of their decision to allow 60 cars into Gaza weekly although more than 11 months have passed since they announced this decision, after
10 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
three years of ban imposed on the delivery of cars to Gaza. As a result, the prices of cars in Gaza have been on the rise and local markets experience serious shortage in spare parts.
For approximately four consecutive years, IOF have continued to ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza. During the reporting period, IOF approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations.
Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip. IOF only allow the movement of limited groups amidst severe restrictions, and after long hours of waiting in most majority cases. IOF have also continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank, including 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 55 months, IOF have continued to deny approximately 700 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza detained in Israeli jails their visitation rights without providing any justification to this measure, which violates the rules of the international humanitarian law.
11 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
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 completed, the illegal annexation wall will stretch for 724 kilometers throughout 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,
12 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
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.
Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in East Jerusalem
13 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Israeli Newspaper Ma'ariv wrote that the Israeli Municipality's District Committee for Planning and Building in Jerusalem recently registered the land of the Qalandia Airport in the name of the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem and the name of the State of Israel. Ma'ariv revealed that the said land was not previously registered in the name of any Israeli authority. The Civil Airports Department seized the land and submitted a request to the Municipality to register the lands in the name of the Municipality and the State of Israel, in "Israel Lands Department". It should be noted that the Israeli authorities closed the Qalandia Airport after the breakout of the First Intifada in 1987.
On 28 February 2012, the Israeli police extended the closure of Silwan Charity and Silwan Islamic Club for one year.
Settlement Activities:
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
14 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
On 23 February 2012, IOF moved into Soreef village, northwest of Hebron, and demolished a water well and fields. They also uprooted hundreds of trees under the pretext that those lands were "public lands." According to information collected by PCHR, the water well was destroyed, 690 trees were uprooted, 22 dunums were demolished, and 800 meters of the fence surrounding the fields were removed.
On the same day, IOF moved into al-Njasat area, northwest of Hebron. There they demolished an agricultural facility built on an area of 29 meters, and a water tank used for agricultural purposes. They also distributed notices to demolish a mosque, a school and 19 shelters of Bedouins in Kherbet Janba, south of Hebron
On 26 February 2012, IOF sent a military notice confiscating approximately 21 dunums in Sartah, Hares and Qarawet Bani Hassan villages, north of Salfit. In his testimony to PCHR, Abdul Aziz 'Assi, head of the Municipality of Qarawet Bani Hassan, said that this land surrounds "Burkan" settlement, west of Salfit. The land was confiscated a year ago, when IOF surrounded it with barbed wires to prevent the Palestinians from entry, paving the way to arrest them under a security pretext. IOF have been preventing people from entering the land so far."
In the same context, on 27 February 2012, an Israeli settler fired at a number of Palestinians shepherds while they were in their lands, south of Hebron. According to information collected by PCHR, an Israeli armed settler tried to take some sheep. The shepherds fought with him; as a result, the settler fired at the sheep and shepherd. However, no injuries were reported.
15 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
On 28 February 2012, a group of settlers living in Hebron settlements entered al-Nabi Yunis area, north of Hebron. They entered through the eastern entrance of the area by 7 Israeli vehicles before military and police vehicles followed them to make them leave the area. However, no incidents were reported.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (23- 29 February 2012)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 23 February 2012
At approximately 00:40, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the
16 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
streets for some time and raided and searched a number of houses. Before withdrawing at approximately 06:00, IOF arrested 7 Palestinians, including 2 children:
1. Ja'afar Ahmed Hussein, 21;
2. Mohammed Samir Hassan Abu Haneya, 20;
3. Udai Mohammed Said Salama, 20;
4. Talal Taher Salim, 21;
5. Ihab Taleb Mahmoud Masha'al, 17;
6. Uthman Salim Samir, 12; and
7. Ahmed Yousef Salama Salim, 19.
At approximately 00:30, IOF raided 'Ein Beit al-Ma'a refugee camp, west of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets for some time and raided and searched a number of houses. Before withdrawing at approximately 05:00, IOF arrested 7 Palestinian and transferred them to "Howwara" detention center, south of Nablus:
17 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
1. Fawzi Issa al-Hersh, 25;
2. Ali Yousef Mahmoud Ma'arouf, 26;
3. Asad Abdul Karim Said, 19;
4. Ayman Naser Ma'arouf, 20;
5. Mohammed Khaled al-Bouhi, 20;
6. Salah Suleiman Abu al-Rish, 20; and
7. Imad Ramadan Ahmed Shahin, 19, who has many health problems.
In the dawn hours, IOF backed by military vehicles and a large bulldozer raided Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. While patrolling in the streets, the bulldozer got stuck in a bystreet of 3 meters in width in the center of the village. While the driver was trying to get the bulldozer out of the bystreet, he demolished the external wall of a house belonging to Ahmed Sedqi Ahmed Ali "Nawasra", 50, a part of an old wall, and a water well belonging to Adnan Yousef Hassan Mara'aba, 46. IOF withdrew later and no further incidents were reported.
18 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 08:50, IOF moved into Kafr Ne'ma village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Ramon village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into 'Abween village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 10:30, IOF moved into al-Janya village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Shweika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
19 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
and delivered notices to Palestinians requiring them to remove greenhouses, under the pretext of the lack of license. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 17:15, IOF positioned at the border in the east of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at farms in al-Sreij neighborhood in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Younis. At the same time, IOF warplanes opened fired at the area. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Shweika suburb, north of Tulkarm, for the second time within hours. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Safarin village, east of Tulkarm, for the second time within hours. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
20 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into 'Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 19:45, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They established a checkpoint and closed the iron gate at the entrance of the village. They restricted the traffic and imposed a curfew on the residents of the village. In the meantime, they patrolled in the streets and opened fire into the air. IOF withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 20:50, IOF moved into al-Zawya village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Friday, 24 February 2012
At approximately 00:15, IOF moved into Kafr Thulth village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
21 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 00:30, IOF warplanes fired 2 missiles at a group of Palestinian members of resistance in the east of al-Zaytoon neighborhood, east of Gaza City. One of them sustained shrapnel wounds as a result.
At approximately 03:25, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a training site used by the Izz Addin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in the east of the Bedouin village in the north of the Gaza Strip. Windows of two houses in the southwest of the site crushed as a result of the explosion. In addition, the windows of the International Federation of Football, to the south of the site, crushed. Further, the locals, especially women and children, were in panic because of the strong explosion. No casualties were reported. The missile caused a big hole in the training site.
At approximately 08:20, IOF moved into Hableh village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 09:15, IOF moved into Sonjol village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Deir Qeddis village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
22 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Deir Jareer village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Beit 'Aor al-Tahta village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghsoun village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:40, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 20:50, IOF moved into Bedia village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
23 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 21:20, IOF moved into al-Zawya village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Snira village, southeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Beit Amin village, southeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghsoun village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 21:30, IOF positioned at the border in the east of al-Shejaiya district, east of Gaza City, fired a shell at a house owned by Maher Ateya Darwish al-Zaq, 48. The shell did
24 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
not explode but it caused a hole measuring 1 square meter. No casualties were reported. The house which measures 280 square meters, located near al-Menar crossing in the east of al-Shejaiya district, is dwelled by a family of 12 members, including 8 children. The explosives team of the police reported that the shell is a mortar shell, fired by IOF.
At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Alar village, northeast of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into 'Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Saturday, 25 February 2012
25 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Beit Qabatya, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Jenin and Jenin refugee camp. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 06:00, IOF positioned at the border in the east of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at farms in al-Sreij neighborhood in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Younis.
At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Kober village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Kafr 'Ein village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
26 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into al-Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Beitin village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Kafr Malek village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 23:20, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a cement factory in Tal al-Sultan, southwest of Rafah. As a result, a container inside the factory was destroyed. No casualties were reported.
Sunday, 26 February 2012
27 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 00:20, IOF warplanes fired at least a missile at a tunnel in al-Salam neighborhood, south of Rafah, at the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The targeted tunnel was destroyed and no casualties were reported.
At approximately 01:00, moved into al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses. They fired flash bombs in the sky and deployed in the streets and at the entrances of the village. They withdrew at approximately 02:30 and no casualties were reported.
At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Deir 'Ammar village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Beit 'Aor al-Tahta village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:00, IOF gunboats opened fire at a number of Palestinian fishermen who were fishing 2,000 meters off the shore of Deir al-Balah. The fishermen were accordingly forced to move approximately 450 meters to the east in fear for their lives but IOF confiscated fishing nets belonging to Samir Nustafa Suleiman al-Aqraa, 42, from Deir al-Balah, and Yousef Mohammed Musa al-Aqraa, 52, from Deir al-Balah.
28 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Monday, 27 February 2012
At approximately 00:10, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and raided and searched a number of houses. They held 'Adli Zaki Abdul Razzaq Radwan, 34, for approximately 2 hours. They released Radwan after delivering him a notice requiring him to appear before the Israeli intelligence. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Kafr Qalil village, southeast of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They then raided and searched a number of houses. Before withdrawing, they arrested 10 Palestinians and transferred them to "Howwara" detention center, in the south of Nablus:
1. Saqer Khaled Mansour Abu al-Sa'ud, 19;
2. Jaber Hekmat 'Amer, 21;
3. Bahaa Mufid 'Amer, 23;
29 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
4. 'Inad Samer 'Amer, 23;
5. Nasir Bassam 'Amer, 22;
6. Deyaa Ra'ed Mansour, 24;
7. Mustafa 'Ali 'Amer, 22;
8. Abdullah Hassan 'Amer, 23;
9. Tamer Mereb 'Amer, 22;
10. Shalabi Mereb 'Amer, 19.
Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They patrolled in the streets for some time and raided and searched a number of houses. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
30 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 18:00, IOF gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishermen who were fishing 2,000 meters off the shore of Deir al-Balah. The fishermen sailed to the east and fled to the shore in fear for their lives.
At approximately 19:15, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, for the second time in hours. They patrolled in the streets and established a checkpoint at the entrance of the village. They raided a number of shops and held Abdul Rahman Yousef Hussein Shbeita, 25. They questioned Shbeita and then released him.
At approximately 21:30, IOF moved into Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, for the third time within 22 hours. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
31 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Jabryat area which overlooks Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. They stationed in the area and dozens of soldiers sneaked in darkness into the refugee camp. They raided and searched the house of Mahmoud Said Suleiman Sa'adi, 32, a leader of the Islamic Jihad movement, in the center of Jenin refugee camp. Before withdrawing from the house, they arrested Sa'adi. They then raided and searched the house of Ali Qassem Ali Sa'adi, 2, a member of the Islamic Jihad movement, and arrested him. The soldiers then stationed in al-Hawashin neighborhood, in the center of Jenin refugee camp. They raided the house of Khaled Saleh Hussein Abu Zeina, 53, and arrested him. They also raided the house of Munir Faysal Ersan al-Qreini, 24, and Ghassan Ragheb Abdul Rahman Sa'adi, 50, who are both members of the Islamic Jihad Movement. Al-Qreini and Sa'adi were not at home at the time of the raid. IOF also raided the house of Mohammed Ali Barakat Dabaya, 28, a member of the Fatah movement, in Talaat al-Ghubs area, south of Jenin refugee camp, and they arrested Dabaya. At approximately 05:00, IOF withdrew from the refugee camp. They transferred the four arrested Palestinians to "Salem" detention center, northwest of Jenin. They questioned them and released them, except Dabay, at approximately 10:30 on the same day.
At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Zabouba village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets amid intensive firing. In the meanwhile, a number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at IOF who replied by firing tear gas canisters at the boys. IOF withdrew later and neither further incidents nor arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
32 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They patrolled in the streets for some time and raided and searched a number of houses. Before withdrawing at approximately 05:00, they arrested 3 Palestinians and transferred them to "Howwara" detention center, south of Nablus:
1. 'Awni Mazen al-Shakhshir, 27;
2. Sabri Umar Sabri al-Zammar, 25; and
3. 'Amer Abu Za'arour, 24.
In the dawn of Wednesday, 29 February 2012, IOF moved into Ramallah and al-Bireh. They raided and searched the offices of Watan local TV channel. Before withdrawing, they confiscated the broadcasting equipment from the offices, thus disrupting the broadcasting.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, 29 February, IOF raided the fourth and fifth floors in PARC building in Qaddoura refugee camp in the center of Ramallah. The offices of Watan local TV channel are located in these floors. At
33 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
the time of the raid, 4 employees were in the offices: production director Abdul Rahman Asaad Aref Thaher, broadcasting director Ahmed Zaki, reporter Hamza Salayma and Ibrahim Melhem. Thaher and Melhem were in the fourth floor and were getting ready to leave when they were surprised by 7 soldiers at the entrance of the fourth floor. The soldiers stoop them outside and ordered them to sit down and not to move. They raided the offices in the fourth floor without giving any explanation. Zaki and Salayma, who were in the fifth floor, had heard firing in the neighborhood. They thought that IOF were raiding the refugee camp and decided to go filming the raid. As they arrived at the entrance, they were surprised by a number of soldiers. Salayma filmed the soldiers but an officer ordered him to switch the camera off and ordered him to give him the tape. Salayma stopped filming but he gave the officer a tape other than the one in the camera. The soldiers then raided and searched the offices. Before withdrawing, they confiscated the main broadcasting device, 9 computers of the news department, 2 computers of the IT department, a computer of the human resources director, 2 computers of the production unit, a computer of the secretary, a computer of the financial department, a laptop, tapes, and documents.
At approximately 03:00, IOF raided the offices of al-Quds local TV channel in al-Quds street, opposite to al-Bireh tourist hotel. They knocked at the external gate but the officer inside did not open the gate as he thought that they would leave if they do not find anyone inside. A number of the soldiers climbed the wall surrounding the building where the offices of al-Quds local TV channel are located and they walked in the yard. They used tools to open the main gate. Then the officer from al-Quds local TV approached the soldiers because he was afraid that they may destroy the gate. He introduced himself to the soldiers and asked them to allow him to call his boss and tell him what was happening. At this moment, they confiscated his mobile and another mobile belonging to his work. He then asked them to allow him to open the gate so that they do not destroy it. He opened the door and the soldiers moved inside the building. The soldiers destroyed the door of the room where the internet devices and the server are placed and entered to the room. The IOF officer asked the officer from al-Quds local TV channel to take him to the room where the main broadcasting device is located by the officer from al-Quds local TV channel told the IOF officer that he had no idea about the place of the broadcasting device. The soldiers went to the roof and looked for the broadcasting device. They found it and confiscated it.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Furik village, northeast of Nablus. They patrolled
34 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
in the streets for some time. Then they raided and searched a number of houses included the houses of Muhsen Abdul Jabbar Nasasra, Nazir Aref Aref Hanani, Mohammed Shehada Nasasra, Lino Hamdan Mleitat, Ahmed Mahmoud Hanani, Kamel Mahmoud Hanani and Mohammed Suleiman Nasasra. Before withdrawing at approximately 05:00, IOF arrested 3 Palestinians and transferred them to "Howwara" detention center, in the south of Nablus:
1. Fadi Ahmed Mahmoud Hanani, 28;
2. Adli Kamel Mahmoud Hanani, 34; and
3. Maysara Mohammed Suleiman Nasasra.
Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Hares village, north of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They raided and searched the house of Nadi Itimad Ahmed Souf, 20. Before withdrawing, they arrested Souf and transferred him to "Howwara" detention center.
Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kafl Hares village, north of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They raided and searched the house of Ahmed Mahmoud Abdul Rahim Bouzeyeh, 19. Before withdrawing, they arrested Bouzeyeh and transferred him to "Howwara" detention center.
35 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Deir Estaya village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They raided and searched the house of Kifah Abdul Fattah Mohammed Zidan, 20. Before withdrawing, they arrested Zidan and transferred him to "Howwara" detention center.
Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Fara'ata village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They raided and searched the house of Kawwad Abdul Khaleq Tawil. Before withdrawing, they arrested Fadi, 25, and Tawfiq, 23, who are Tawil's sons and transferred them to "Howwara" detention center.
1. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrators Protesting Settlement Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall
During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the West Bank, and in protest to the establishment of a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip. IOF attacks on peaceful demonstrations resulted in wounding 5 Palestinian civilians, including Israeli Knesset Member Mohammed Barakeh and Palestinian National Council Member Mohammed Amin al-Jaabari. Additionally, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders participating in peaceful demonstrations suffered from tear gas inhalation.
36 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Following the Friday Prayer on 24 February 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'in village, west of Ramallah, protesting the construction of the annexation wall. They raised the Palestinian flag. They called for ending the political division and for releasing all the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. As they arrived at Abu Leimoun reserve, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a number of Palestinians, including Haroun 'Amayra, cameraman of Palestine TV, suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer, on 24 February 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ni'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the annexation wall. They chanted slogans calling for Palestinian reconciliation, adherence to the Palestinian inalienable rights and resistance of the occupation. They clashed with Israeli troops positioned near the annexation wall. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday prayer on 24 February 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities and to protest against the Israeli violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. They raised the Palestinian flag and chanted slogans condemning IOF arbitrary actions. The protesters walked towards the gate erected by IOF near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby "Halmish" settlement are trying to seize. Israeli soldiers, who had been
37 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
extensively deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands. Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters. As a result dozens of protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation. Additionally, IOF occupied the roofs of a number of houses in al-Nabi Saleh village and transferred them into military barracks. IOF withdraw at approximately 16:00 from the village and no arrests were reported.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 24 February, IOF used excessive force to disperse two peaceful demonstrations that were organized in the center of Hebron, commemorating the 18th anniversary of the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre, protesting the closure of al-Shuhada Street in the center of Hebron, and calling for opening al-Shuhada Street and lifting the restrictions imposed on Palestinians' right to the freedom of movement. IOF closed all the roads leading to al-Shuhada Street and all the roads leading to the old city of Hebron. They violently confronted the demonstrators over several hours. They fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. Additionally, they sprayed toxic chemicals at the demonstrators. They were also intentional to attack medical crew while evacuating and rescuing the wounded. Around 40 demonstrators sustained wounds, suffered tear gas inhalation or sustained bruises as they were beaten by IOF. Additionally, IOF arrested 2 Palestinians and an international solidarity activist. The demonstrations were organized by the Committee for the Defense of Hebron, the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements and Youth against Settlements in Hebron. Different solidarity delegations, public opinion leaders, PLC members, Chairman of the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality and Knesset Member (Hadash) Mohammed Barakeh, professor Ghadi al-Ghazi, Hadash member, Mahmoud al-'Aloul, member of the Fatah Central Committee, Former Member of the European Parliament Luisa Morgantini, and Leader of Abnaa Elbalad Movement Raja Eghbareyeh participated in the demonstrations.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, following the Friday Prayer on 24 February 2012, hundreds of Palestinians and dozens of international solidarity activists participated in a peaceful demonstration organized by the Committee for the Defense of Hebron and the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements. The demonstrators walked from farms in the southeast of Tal Rmeida neighborhood in the center of Hebron to al-Karantina Street that leads to one of the main entrances of al-Shuhada Street. When the demonstrators were around
38 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
120 meters from the entrance of al-Shuhada Street, IOF soldiers who excessively deployed in the area extensively fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters from 5-15 meters distance directly at the demonstrators who were unable to reach al-Shuhada Street as a result. The soldiers were intentional to throw a sound bombs between the legs of Mohammed Barakeh and Palestinian National Council Member Mohammed Amin al-Jaabari. Barakeh and other demonstrators were wounded as a result. The soldiers pushed Barakeh and al-Jaabari and threatened them. Then IOF brought an armored vehicle equipped with a sprayer and used the sprayer to spray toxic chemicals at the demonstrators. The sprayed toxic chemicals cause suffocation, inability to breathe and losing consciousness. This resulted in confrontation between IOF and the demonstrators in al-Karantina Street and the surroundings of the Islamic cemetery.
In the meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian civilians were carrying a dead body to bury it in the Islamic cemetery. The demonstrators opened the way for those participating in the funeral. However, IOF continued firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters. They even were intentional to spray toxic chemicals at those participating in the funeral and at the dead body.
In the same time, another peaceful demonstration started from the Prophet's Commandments Mosque in the south of Hebron. The demonstrators walked in Tareq Bin Zeyad Street in the south of Hebron. As they were around 150 meters from the permanent military checkpoint which is established near Abu al-Rish Mosque and which leads to the Ibrahimi Mosque and al-Shuhada Street, IOF who had already extensively deployed in the area fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and bullets from different distances at the demonstrators, preventing them from going forward. They chased the demonstrators in the street and they were intentional to spray an ambulance from the Palestinian Medical Relief Committees with toxic chemicals while the paramedics where evacuating and rescuing the wounded in the area. They also were intentional to spray toxic chemicals at surrounding Palestinian houses, leading to confrontations in the surroundings of Tareq Bin Zeyad school and in nearby streets.
39 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
IOF use of force against these demonstrations resulted in wounding 40 Palestinian and international solidarity activists. Thirteen persons of the wounded were transferred to Hebron Public Hospital and Mohammed Ali al-Muhtaseb Hospital. The rest of the wounded were treated in the field. Among the wounded, 5 persons sustained shrapnel wounds as follows:
1. Israeli Knesset Member Mohammed Barakeh, who was wounded by a sound bomb in the left leg;
2. Palestinian National Council Member Mohammed Amin al-Jaabari, 66, who sustained shrapnel wounds by a sound bomb and who suffered from tear gas inhalation;
3. Manal Ne'man al-Ja'abari, 35, who sustained slight burns and shrapnel wounds from two sound bombs to the back and the left hand;
4. Rami Mahmoud 'Atawna, 33, who sustained shrapnel wounds by a sound bomb to the right hand; and
5. Mu'tasem al-Rajabi, 22, who sustained shrapnel wounds in the right knee and who lost consciousness due to gas inhalation.
In addition, IOF arrested two Palestinians; Badi' Adib al-Dweik, 39, Fadi Hazem Quraan, 25, and an international solidarity activist. IOF released al-Dweik and the solidarity activist later on the same day while they transferred Quraan to "'Ofer" detention center, southwest of Ramallah.
40 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
On Saturday afternoon, 25 February 2012, IOF used force against dozens of Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists who were organizing a peaceful demonstration in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, in protest to the expansion of "Karmi Tsur" settlement, south of Beit Ummar village and preventing Palestinian farmers from having access to their farms in the proximity of the settlement.
Yousef Abu Mareya, activist from the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, reported that IOF surrounded the demonstrators in Khellet al-Kutla area, 150 meters from the fence surrounding "Karmi Tsur" settlement. They attacked some of the demonstrators and chased them in farms. They also fired sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, Abu Mareya's borther, Musa, 36, sustained bruises in the legs.
At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 26 February 2012, IOF fired rubber coated metal bullts, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at Palestinians in al-Ram village, north of Occupied Jerusalem. As a result, Nader Ahmed Abdul Rahman Abu Ezreiq, a member of the Palestinian civil defense service, from Rafat village, west of Salfit, sustained wounds by a bullet to the right hand, while on duty.
Abu Ezreiq stated the following to the PCHR fieldworker:
41 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
"At approximately 18:15 on Sunday, 26 February 2012, we got a phone call and the caller told us that there were a number of civilians who were stuck in a house in al-Ram village due to confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces and that they needed our help. We immediately drove to the scene. We parked our vehicle away from the confrontations between the civilians and the forces. We started to rescue the civilians who were stuck in the house. As we were leaving the house after rescuing the civilians, we met a number of civilians who were running to us as the Israeli forces were extensively firing tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. I saw a number of civilians who were suffering from tear gas inhalation. As I walked to them to rescue them, the Israeli immediately fired rubber-coated metal bullets at us. As a result, a bullet wounded me in my right hand. Another bullet hit the civil defense vehicle. I then left the site because of my wound".
Use of Excessive Force against Other Peaceful Demonstrations
During the reporting period, many peaceful demonstrations were organized in protest to IOF raiding the al-Aqsa Mosqu in Occupied Jerusalem and to their use of force against Palestinians who were in the Mosque trying to confront Israeli settlers who were trying to get into the Mosque to perform religious rituals. As a result, a Palestinian civilian was killed and a member of the Palestinian civil defense service was wounded. Additionally, dozens of demonstrators and passers-by suffered from tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 24 February 2012, a number of Palestinian boys gathered
42 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
near Qalandia checkpoint, north of Occupied Jerusalem, to organize a peaceful demonstration in protest to IOF attempts to raid the al-Aqsa Mosque. They chanted slogans calling for an end to the Israeli occupation and the closure of all the Israeli prisons, and other slogans condemning IOF repressive policy against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and attacks on the al-Aqsa Mosque. Then they walked to Qalandia checkpoint. Before they arrived at the checkpoint, IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets, live bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. The demonstrators responded by throwing stones at IOF. As a result, a number of the demonstrators and passers-by suffered from tear gas inhalation including Maya Musa Rebhi, 14 months, and Nebal Ishaq, 18 months who were transferred to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah for treatment.
On Friday, 24 February 2012, IOF used excessive force against participants in a peaceful demonstration in al-Ram village, north of Occupied Jerusalem, organized in protest to IOF attempts to raid the al-Aqsa Mosque. As a result, a Palestinian civilian was killed.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 15:00 on Friday, 24 February 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered near the northeastern entrance of al-Ram village, north of Jerusalem, to organize a peaceful demonstration in protest of attempts by IOF and Israeli settlers to storm the al-Aqsa Mosque. Some of the protesters walked towards the gate of an IOF camp, 200 meters from the entrance of al-Ram village. A number of them managed to set fire to tires inside the camp. In the meantime, a large personnel carrier arrived from the camp, and approximately 20 Israeli soldiers stepped down from the carrier. The Palestinian men who had entered the camp immediately fled to the entrance of al-Ram village. The soldiers who were deployed near the gate of the IOF camp fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. They then walked towards the entrance of al-Ram village, and the Palestinian demonstrators threw stones at them. At the same time, one of the demonstrators, Tala't Abdul Rahman Diab Ramiya, 24, threw fireworks at the soldiers who were near the entrance of al-Ram village. The soldiers responded by firing bullets. Around 20 minutes later, Ramiya threw fireworks again, at around 15 soldiers who were at the entrance of the village, approximately 50 meters from him. It was around 16:18 when a military officer, who was positioned behind the soldiers, opened fire at Ramiya, who was wounded by a bullet that penetrated his right armpit and exited from his back. Ramiya fell onto the ground and was transferred, by a Palestinian car, to al-Salam Medical Center in al-Ram village. The Center was closed, and Ramiya was carried to a car belonging to the Jerusalem Governorate. Shortly
43 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
thereafter, an ambulance from a Palestinian medical team arrived and transferred Ramiya to the Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah. At approximately 20:00 on the same day, Ramiya was pronounced dead. Eyewitnesses stated to a PCHR fieldworker that an Israeli soldier, who was wearing a black bulletproof vest, fired at Ramiya with the intention to kill him. The Israeli officer was 50 meters away from Ramiya. Eyewitnesses reported that Ramiya did not pose any threats to the soldiers and that the soldiers could have used less lethal force or they could have arrested him.
At approximately 11:50 on Tuesday, 28 February 2012, IOF positioned in watchtowers at the border fence near Beit Hanou (Erez) crossing, north of the Gaza Strip, fired at a group of demonstrators and Palestinian and international activists in the vicinity of the crossing. The demonstration was comprised of approximately 50 protestors, including 5 international activists and 6 journalists. When they approached to a distance of 150 meters from the border, IOF fired bullets and tear gas canisters, but no injuries were reported.
Saber al-Za'neen, Coordinator of the Local Initiative in Beit Hanoun and the one supervising the demonstration, said that at approximately 11:15 on the said day, a demonstration headed to the northern area. When the demonstrators were around 150 meters from the fence, IOF sporadically fired bullets at them. Then they fired dozens of tear gas canisters, while firing bullets. IOF continued firing till around 12:30. The demonstrators were terrorized and fled out of the area, but no injuries were reported.
2. Continued Closure of the OPT
44 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
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, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. This closure has caused not only a humanitarian crisis but also 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, unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.
45 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:
Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point
22 – 28 February 2012
Day
Date
Traveling abroad
Coming into Gaza
Returned into Gaza
Wednesday
22 February 2012
46 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
782
407
40
Thursday
23 February 2012
734
560
99
Friday
24 February 2012
--
47 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
--
--
Saturday
25 February 2012
593
638
49
Sunday
26 February 2012
600
589
48 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
28
Monday
27 February 2012
532
473
61
Tuesday
28 February 2012
591
866
58
49 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
22 – 28 February 2012
Imports:
Date
50 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Imports
Category
Amount
Tons
Number
Liters
22 February 2012
Foodstuffs
498
51 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Agricultural materials
1,006
Various goods
Cartons of clothes
Washing machines
Refrigerators
Glass boards
Gas ovens
Water tanks
52 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Oxen
1,250
532
408
154
1,040
160
56
381
Cartons of shoes
53 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
3,167
Humanitarian aid
91
Cooking gas
184.710
23 February 2012
54 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Foodstuffs
554
Agricultural materials
1,102
Various goods
Cartons of clothes
Washing machines
55 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Refrigerators
Cartons of shoes
923
1,206
238
60
2,167
Cars
20
Oxen
56 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
200
Glass boards
1,040
Power generators
33
Electricity poles
44
Car tires
898
Humanitarian aid
3,600
57 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Cooking gas
115.800
26 February 2012
Foodstuffs
678
58 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Agricultural materials
723
Various goods
Cartons of clothes
Refrigerators
Glass boards
Electricity poles
Power generators
781
59 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
420
105
1,040
200
13
Humanitarian aid
4,344
60 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Cooking gas
70.820
27 February 2012
Foodstuffs
594
Agricultural materials
884
61 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Various goods
1,251
Cartons of clothes
960
Cars
62 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
20
Glass boards
520
Electricity poles
156
Power generators
63 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
12
Water tanks
106
Humanitarian aid
3,930
Cooking gas
70.770
64 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Exports:
On Thursday, 23 February 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 250,000 flowers.
On Sunday, 26 February 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 378,000 flowers.
On Monday, 27 February 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 7.6 tons of cherry tomatoes.
On Tuesday, 14 February 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 124,000 flowers.
65 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Notes:
On Wednesday, 22 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 40 tons of construction steel for the French Consulate. They also allowed the entry of 936 tons of wheat.
On Thursday, 23 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 2,800 tons of construction aggregate, 404 tons of cement and 38 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 858 tons of fodders.
On Sunday, 26 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 3,780 tons of construction aggregate and 564 tons of cement for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 546 tons of fodders.
On Monday, 27 February 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 3,500 tons of construction aggregate and 280 tons of cement for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 780 tons of wheat.
66 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, a number of international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.
Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing
21 – 28 February 2012
Date
21 February
22 February
23 February
24 February
25 February
67 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
26 February
27 February
28 February
Patients
43
32
26
2
Nil
42
14
68 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
43
Companions
38
31
24
2
Nil
39
14
43
Arabs from Israel
69 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
7
Nil
14
3
Nil
25
6
14
Diplomats
8
7
13
70 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Nil
Nil
Nil
10
12
International Journalists
2
Nil
3
1
Nil
71 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Nil
Nil
2
International Workers
41
44
75
10
Nil
4
28
31
72 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Travelers abroad
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Business People
100
73 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
96
90
44
Nil
90
87
96
Economic Meetings
4
Nil
5
74 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Security Interviews
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
2
75 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Nil
3
VIP's
Nil
1
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
1
Nil
76 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Ambulances to Israel
Nil
1
2
Nil
Nil
1
3
2
Ambulances from Israel
1
77 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
1
1
Nil
Nil
1
Nil
Nil
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.
78 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
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.
On Friday morning, 24 February 2012, IOF imposed more restrictions and established checkpoints on road leading to al-Aqsa mosque. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli undercover units and police established checkpoints in the center of Jerusalem and the entrances of the Old City and al-Aqsa mosque.
On Sunday morning, 26 February 2012, IOF imposed more restrictions in the city. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli undercover units and police established checkpoints in the center of the city and patrolled in the Old City and at entrances of adjacent neighborhoods. The Israeli spokesperson claimed that these measures were taken "for fear of the eruption of clashes with the Palestinians around Jerusalem."
Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday morning, 28 February 2012, the Israeli Golani Brigade that had patrolled in Hebron since 27 February 2012 stopped two dustmen from the city, who were doing their work in the southeastern part of Tal al-Rumaidi neighborhood, in the center of Hebron.
According to information collected by PCHR and testimonies of eyewitnesses from the same neighborhood; one of whom is named Khaled Basayta, reached the area at approximately 08:30 and started their work. At approximately 10:50, members of Golani Brigade arrived and obliged the two dustmen to stop working and return part of the garbage near the house of Abu Haikal family. After the intervention of Lina Jameel Rateb Abu Haikal, 42, who told IOF about the illegality of stopping dustmen from cleaning and detaining them, an Israeli officer detained Abu Haikal with the two dustmen inside an olive field that is adjacent to the houses of Abu Haikal and al-Haddad. They all were detained from 11:00-13:00, as they were released after IOF threatened the two dustmen of being subjected to punishment and warned them against
79 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
entering the area.
Lina Abu Haikal said that the garbage, which was removed from the area, was originally the settlers' garbage that is deliberately thrown at the entrances of her house and other houses. She stressed that IOF called the Israeli police and an officer who introduced himself as an officer from the "Civil Administration" after detaining her and the two dustmen.
Two field workers from B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights, arrived at the area: Mosa Mahmoud Abu Hashhash and Manal No'man al-Ja'bari. They went there to investigate the incident; however, IOF detained them for approximately 30 minutes before releasing them.
Also in the afternoon on the same day, IOF established a new military site in the southern part of Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood, in the center of Hebron. According to investigations conducted by PCHR and testimonies of eyewitnesses, at approximately 13:00, the Israeli soldiers from Golani Brigade patrolling in the area set up a military tent in the center of a dirt road, in which they prevented the Palestinians in the southern and eastern parts of the neighborhood from reaching their homes by cars. Besides, the Palestinians would pass under more restrictions. It should be noted that IOF closed by huge cement blocks another dirt road last month.
Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 23 February 2012, IOF established 5 checkpoints throughout Qalqilya.
At approximately 12:30 on Friday, 24 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint between Jayyous and Kafr Jamal villages, northeast of Qalqilya. As a result, they arrested Morad Salah Nofal and Salah Salah Nofal, but they were released at 12:45 after the intervention of the military liaison. At approximately 15:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of
80 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
Qalqilya.
On Saturday, 25 February 2012, IOF established 4 checkpoints throughout Qalqilya.
Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 23 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF positioned at 'Ennab checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablus road, east of Tulkarm, imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinians.
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 24 February 2012, IOF positioned at 'Ennab checkpoint on Tulkarm-Nablus road, east of Tulkarm, imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinians. At approximately 18:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Far'oun village, south of Tulkarm.
Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 23 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Arraba village, south of Jenin. They also established a checkpoint at the entrance of Sanour village, southeast of Jenin.
At approximately 15:00 on Monday, 27 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.
81 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
3. Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in East Jerusalem
Israeli occupation authorities have continued to make persistent efforts to create a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem and expel Palestinian civilians from the city.
On 23 February 2012, Israeli Newspaper Ma'ariv published that the Israeli Municipality's District Committee for Planning and Building in Jerusalem recently registered the land of the Qalandia Airport in the name of the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem and the name of the State of Israel. Ma'ariv revealed that the said land was not previously registered in the name of any Israeli authority. The Civil Airports Department seized the land and submitted a request to the Municipality to register the lands in the name of the Municipality and the State of Israel, in "Israel Lands Department". It should be noted that the Israeli authorities closed the Qalandia Airport after the breakout of the First Intifada in 1987.
The newspaper added that the Israeli Minister of Transportation, Yezrael Katz, had for a committee to study the case of the Qalandia Airport. The committee decided to transfer the lands of the airport to the Israeli Municipality, which subsequently decided to establish an industrial zone on the land and to transfer the equipment of the Municipality to these lands. Hagit Ofran, the Settlement Watch Director for the Israeli Peace Now movement, said that transforming the transport into an industrial zone would destroy any opportunities for the establishment of the two states, adding that: "I do not care in whose name the land will be register. It must be transferred to the Palestinian Authority".
82 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
On 28 February 2012, the Israeli police extended the closure of Silwan Charity and Silwan Islamic Club for one year.
4. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On Thursday morning, 23 February 2012, IOF moved into Soreef village, northwest of Hebron, and demolished a water well and a fields. They also uprooted hundreds of trees under the pretext that those lands were "public lands."
In their testimony to PCHR, the lands' owners and head of Soreef Municipality said that:
83 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
"At approximately 02:00 on the same day, IOF supported by military vehicles and bulldozers moved into Deir Mosa and Heelet al-Wahadeen areas respectively, northwest of Soreef. At approximately 04:00, before they withdrew at approximately 08:30, IOF started the demolition and uprooting of trees in many fields belonging to 4 families from the village.
As a result of the attack, a water well was destroyed, 690 trees were uprooted, 22 dunums were demolished and 800 meters of the fence surrounding the fields were removed.
The targeted lands and facilities belong to:
1. Mohammed Ahmed Abdullah al-Qadi;
2. Mohammed Lafi Ahmed Ghneimat;
3. Ishaq Abdul Fattah Abdullah al-Qadi; and
4. Suliman Mosa Othman Ghneimat.
In his testimony to PCHR, Mohammed Ghneimat said that IOF prevented him from approaching his targeted fields when IOF were demolishing them. They also used toxic substances on the trunks of trees after they saw them. Ghneimat pointed that the targeted fields are 3 kilometers away from the annexation wall.
84 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
It should be noted that IOF had sent 8 notices to a number of Palestinians in the village through an officer in the "Civil Administration". The notices states stopping the construction works in their houses under the pretext that they did not obtain licenses from the Israeli authorities. These house belong to Yusef Mohammed Abdul Latif Ghneimat, Abdullah Hussein Ghneimat, Mahmoud Ahmed al-Hour, Ibrahim Mohammed Attallah al-Hour, Hussein Suliman Na'eem and Mohammed Mahmoud Ghneimat.
At approximately 07:00 on the same day, IOF moved into al-Njasat area, northwest of Hebron. They demolished an agricultural facility that is built on an area of 29 meters and a water tank used for agricultural purposes, which both belong to Ahmed Mosa Othman Dababsah, from Noba village.
On the same day also, IOF distributed notices to demolish a mosque, a school and 19 shelters of Bedouins in Kherbet Janba, south of Hebron.
According to information collected by PCHR and testimony of Othman Jabareen, a member of the National Committee in Msafer Yatta area, the Israeli notices provide the demolition of a school consisting of 3 rooms, a mosque established in the area from 1999 and 19 shelters of tin and tents. The shelters and tents belong to Khaled Hussein Jebreel, No'man Mohammed Mahmoud Jebreel, Isam Isa Yunis, Ibrahim Isa Rab'i and others.
At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 26 February 2012, IOF sent a military notice to confiscate approximately 21 dunums in Sartah, Hares and Qarawet Bani Hassan villages, north of Salfit.
85 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
In his testimony to PCHR, Abdul Aziz 'Assi, head of the Municipality of Qarawet Bani Hassan, said that this land surrounds "Burkan" settlement, west of Salfit. The land was confiscated a year ago, when IOF surrounded it by barbed wires to prevent the Palestinians from entry paving the way to confiscate them under security reasons. IOF have been preventing people from entering the land so far. It was found that there was no land to be confiscated in Qarawet Bani Hassan according to the notice, but the land was included as it was previously registered in the financial record. The Hares village council confirmed that a dunum was confiscated by IOF in Hares village to establish the barbed wires around "Burkan" settlement. This dunum belongs to the heirs of 'Azzam Abed Dawood. The Sartah village council pointed that, under this military order, 20 dunums would be confiscated. These lands belong to: Mohammed Hussein Salah, Tayseer Mostafa Hamed Salah, Hamed Hussein Hamed Salah, Mahmoud Yusef Abu Zahra and Wa'el 'Abbas Sa'eed.
On 27 February 2012, an Israeli settler fired at a number of Palestinians grazers while they were in their lands, south of Hebron.
According to information collected by PCHR, an Israeli armed settler tried to take some sheep by force. The grazers fought with him; as a result, he fired at the sheep and grazer. However, no injuries were reported.
On Tuesday morning, 28 February 2012, a group of settlers living in Hebron settlements entered al-Nabi Yunis area, north of Hebron. They entered through the eastern entrance of the area by 7 Israeli vehicles before military and police vehicles followed them to make them get out of the area, however, no incidents were reported.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
86 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
On Thursday, 23 February 2012, IOF re-established their presence at a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Nablus (checkpoint 17) and arrested Baha' Salama Mahmoud 'Awad, 27, from Jenin. Eyewitnesses said that IOF stopped vehicles and checked the IDs of Palestinians passing through the checkpoint. As a result, 'Awad was arrested. It should be noted that 'Awad is a Palestinian policeman in Nablus.
At approximately 18:30 on the same day, IOF positioned at the southern area of Hebron arrested Sa'di Nafez Sa'di al-Atrash, 21, from Hebron. Al-Atrash was arrested after he had been detained by an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint leading to the Ibrahimi mosque. He was arrested under the pretext that he was wanted to IOF. Al-Atrash was transported to the Israeli police station near "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast Hebron before he was transported to "Kfar Etzion" detention center.
At approximately 19:00, IOF positioned at a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Tabaqa viallge, south of Hebron, arrested Ezz Eddin Salama Salama Hreibat, 20, and Ra'ed Mohammed Shnan, 20, from the said village. They were detained under the pretext of "throwing stones" at the Israeli soldiers and were transported to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of Bethlehem.
According to information collected by PCHR, Hreibat was subjected to beating by 5 soldiers under detention. The soldiers put him at the military jeep and started beating him throughout his body, especially the head and legs. When visiting him, his lawyer noticed the obvious signs of beating, particularly his right hand that had been still bleeding. Hreibat requested the administration of the detention center to offer him medical treatment, but they refused.
87 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
At approximately 14:00 on Friday 24 February 2012, IOF positioned and patrolled at Tareq Ben Zeyad Street, south of Hebron, arrested Tayseer Taleb Othman Abu Sneina, 20, from Hebron. Abu Sneina was detained under the pretext of "throwing stones" after IOF were chasing the Palestinians following dispersing a peaceful demonstration. He was transported to the Israeli police station near "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron, before transporting him to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of Bethlehem.
At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 25 February 2012, IOF patrolled in the vicinity of "Ma'on" Settlement, south of Hebron, arrested Tareq Ibrahim Abu Jundiya, 16, and Yusef Omar Abu Jundiya, 16, after they were detained while grazing sheep in lands belonging to their families. They were transported to the Israeli police station near "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron. An activist in the Committee against Settlement in the east of Yatta, Naser al-Nawaj'a, said that the detention of those two children is a part of continues attacks against grazers in order to prevent them from sheep grazing in the vicinity of the settlement.
On Monday 27 February 2012, IOF positioned at a permanent checkpoint, south of Hebron, arrested the Mohanned Ameen Ali al-Bakri, 13, a student in al-Mutanabbi School. Al-Bakri was detained while he was going to school. He was subjected to beating and torture. Two hours following the detention of him, IOF transported him to the Israeli police station, southeast of Hebron, where he was questioned. After the intervention of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Al-Bakri was released on the same day.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and testimonies of eyewitnesses, at approximately 07:30 on the same day, while al-Bakri was going to school, he passed through the Israeli checkpoint, as two Israeli soldiers followed and stopped him 45 meters away from the school. One of them grabbed him and kicked him on his legs. Al-Bakri fell down, the Israeli
88 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
soldier stepped on him, handcuffed him and tortured him for two hours. He was then transported to the Israeli police station to be detained under the pretext that he "picked a bullet up and intended to throw it at the soldiers."
In his testimony to PCHR, the school headmaster Akram Khalil Suliman Zama'ra, 48, said:
"Mohanned al-Bakri is a student in the eighth grade. After he passed through the Israeli checkpoint as usual going to school, two Israeli soldiers positioned at the checkpoint chased him after he was 5 meters away from the checkpoint. They shouted and pointed their guns at him. They stopped him in a terrifying and provocative way. In the meanwhile, I knew about his detention, as a result, I immediately went out of the school. I saw a soldier who was grabbing the boy and kicking him on his legs until the boy fell down on the ground. The soldier stepped on al-Bakri before taking his bag, deliberately scattering its contents on the ground and ripped the bag. I intervened to stop torturing the boy before his father arrived, but they pushed me away and ordered me to go back to school at gun point. In the meantime, other 6 soldiers arrived and transported the boy to the checkpoint, where he was handcuffed and forced to sit on the ground. At approximately 09:30, an Israeli jeep arrived and transported al-Bakri to the Israeli police station near "Kiryat Arba" settlement. He was detained under the pretext of "picking up a bullet to throw it on the soldiers". The boy told me after he was released that he was questioned on what they claimed about the bullet. He totally negated the charge, but he was placed under great pressure to admit it. After making calls with the representative of ICRC in Hebron, he intervened and went to the said police station. Al-Bakri was released at approximately 12:30 on the same day. After I had met the boy, I felt he was negatively affected by that attack."
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and testimony of the school headmaster, IOF positioned at the checkpoint for 9 years always stop and detain teachers and students of that school. They also beat and torture them while going to school or getting back home. In this
89 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
context, 112 students out of 268 ones studying in that school pass twice through this checkpoint. These students are subjected to detention, search and verbal insults daily. In the past few weeks, 27 students in the first and second grades were subjected to beating when they crossed the checkpoint. Besides, the 14 teachers and workers of the school are subjected to search and detention to hours, as a result, the educational process is negatively affected. The latest attack against teachers took place when IOF deliberately detained 4 teachers at approximately 12:30 on Thursday, 23 February 2012. The teachers are: Bashar al-Natsha, Ibrahim Zahda, Safwat Tneina and Mohanned al-Za'tary. IOF claimed that their detention was a part of "security check".
On Tuesday, 28 February 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qalqilya. They checked the IDs of Palestinians passing through the checkpoint and arrested Ma'zouz Abdul Rahman Mohammed Kleib, 20, from Hares village, north of Salfit. He was transported to Hawarah prison, south of Nablus. It should be noted that Kleib is a member in the Palestinian National Security Service.
………………………………………………………
Recommendations to the International Community
90 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
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.
91 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
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
92 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
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 ( [email protected] ) or telephone (+972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).
93 / 94 Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 – 29 Feb. 2012) Thursday, 01 March 2012 00:00
94 / 94