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Home PUBLICATIONS Reports Weekly Reports Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory ( 06-12 May 2010)

New Ittijah General Director Ameer Makhoul Arrested by Israeli Authorities

Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory ( 06-12 May 2010) Thursday, 13 May 2010 00:00

A peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in Beit Jala town against the construction of the annexation wall

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

• An infant died from tear gas inhalation fired by IOF in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.

• 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank.

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

IOF used a new type of tear gas against demonstrators.

• IOF continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in border areas of the Gaza Strip.

• IOF conducted 16 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

IOF arrested 38 civilians, including 13 children, a journalist and 4 human rights defenders, in the West Bank.

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

Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested two Palestinian civilians.

• IOF have imposed arbitrary measures against members of the Popular Committees against the Annexation Wall and Settlements.

• Israel has continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem.

• A new Israeli settlement plan in East Jerusalem was released.

• Israel began constructing new housing units for settlers in the Ras al-'Aamoud neighborhood of East Jerusalem.

• IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

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• Israeli settlers burnt a field of wheat in Qalqilya.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (06 – 12 May 2010):

Shooting: During the reporting period, a Palestinian infant was killed and 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded by IOF in the West Bank.

On 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and a number of international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They moved towards the Zaher al-Barahish area in the south of the village near "Kermi Tsur" settlement, protesting against the closure and confiscation of Palestinian land for the purpose of settlement activities. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, 7-month-old Hamza Samar Muhanna Abu Maria suffered severely from tear gas inhalation, of which she died at Hebron Hospital 36 hours later. According to her mother, Israeli troops chased the demonstrators into alleys and fired tear gas canisters at houses. They fired at least 4 tear gas canisters at the balcony of Abu Maria's house.

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. At least 13 civilians were wounded, and others sustained bruises or suffered from tear gas inhalation.

On 11 May 2010, a Palestinian child was wounded in clashes between IOF and a number of children who threw stones at military vehicles.

In the Gaza Strip, on 09 May 2010, IOF fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported. On the same day, Israeli warplanes bombed a tunnel under the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. On 10 May 2010, Israeli warplanes bombed another tunnel at the Egyptian border.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 16 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 26 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children. They also arrested 12 civilians, including 4 human rights defenders and a child, during peaceful demonstrations against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.

Restrictions on Movement: Israel had continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over two and a half years. The illegal Israeli-imposed siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

• On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently, and to allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons.

• 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

• The main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

• Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two and a half years.

• Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, since 10 December 2008.

• The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

• Israel had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

• Israel has imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

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• Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

• At least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than two and a half years.

• IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza Strip.

West Bank

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

• IOF have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

• There are approximately 630 permanent roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60 - 80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by IOF every week.

• When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the Wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating 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 (47 out of 72 roads).

• There are around 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF. These 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.

Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem: IOF have continued to take measures at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem.

On 11 May 2010, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem issued orders to evacuate 4 tracts of land in Nablus Street near the US Consulate-General central Jerusalem, claiming that the land is owned by the State of Israel. A petrol station, a workshop and a car park managed by Palestinians are located on the 3- donum plot of land. It is worth noting that the land has been registered as an Islamic endowment for 400 years.

During the reporting period, the Israeli organization Peace Now revealed in a recently published report that Israeli occupation authorities have begun to build at least 14 new housing units for settlers in the Ras al-'Aamoud neighborhood south of al-Aqsa Mosque. The housing units are being built on a site that used to be an Israeli police station. According to the report, there are 119 structures belonging to Jewish parties in Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, where at least 1,900 Israeli settlers live.

Settlement Activities: Israel has continued its settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

On 06 May 2010, one of the Israeli settlers who seized a house belonging to the al-Ghawi family in East Jerusalem slapped Nabeel al-Kurd, 12, when he was near his house in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The settler also boxed 'Abdullah Nasser al-Ghawi, 8, and then escaped.

On the same day, an Israeli settler attacked Jamalat Hashima, 27, when she and her sister Eithar, 18 were on her way home in the 'Aqabat al-Khaldia neighborhood of Jerusalem's old city. The settler hit Jamalat and pushed the Eithar. Palestinian civilians intervened and protected the two women, while the settler ran away.

On the same day, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered in the 'Oyoun al-Haramiya area on the Ramallah-Nablus road, north of Ramallah, and blocked the road. They set fire to tires and prevented the movement of Palestinian civilian vehicles.

At the same time, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered near the road that links the 'Oyoun al-Haramiya area and Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem.

On 07 May 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers from "Qedumim" settlement threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on the Nablus-Qalqilya road. A number of vehicles were damaged.

On 08 May 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from settlement outposts in the center of Hebron sprayed wastewater on Palestinian civilians who organized a

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peaceful demonstration demanding the reopening of al-Shuhada Street for the movement of civilians. Israeli troops were present in the area, but did not intervene to stop the settlers.

On 10 May 2010, Israeli settlers burnt 3 donums of land planted with wheat belonging to 'Aadel Hassan Ymin, 54, in Qalqilya.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (06 – 12 May 2010)

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

Thursday, 06 May 2010

• At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided a house belonging to the family of 'Ammar Naji Kmayel, 27, and arrested him.

• At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

• At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Taqqou' village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. 'Odai Khalil Hmaida, 17; 2. Ahmed 'Ali Sabbah, 22; and 3. Moneer Jamal Sabbah, 22.

• Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Ejza village, northwest of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinian civilians:

1. 'Omar Faheem Abu Kafia, 24; 2. 'Ammar Faheem Abu Kafia, 23; 3. Bilal Faheem Abu Kafia, 21; 4. 'Abdul Hamid Hani Abu Kafia, 20; 5. Shaker 'Abdullah Mar'ei, 21; 6. Suhaib Ziad Mar'ei, 20; 7. Mohammed Diab Mar'ei, 22; 8. Ahmed Diab Mar'ei, 20; and 9. Suleiman Sabri Gharib, 38.

• At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a deserted house in the center of the village and arrested Sa'id 'Atallah 'Amira, 24.

• At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Beit Reema village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

• At approximately 19:40, IOF moved into Deir Ghassana village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Friday, 07 May 2010

• At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Fasayel village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Saturday, 08 May 2010

• At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Jafna village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported

Sunday, 09 May 2010

• At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Maza'a al-Sharqiya village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

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• At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Bardala village, east of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

• At approximately 10:35, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia opened fire at a number of Palestinian farmers who were working on a tract of agricultural land belonging to the Abu Halima clan, approximately 500 meters from the border. The farmers were forced to take shelter behind agricultural wells; no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 23:25, Israeli warplanes fired at least one missile at al-Shouka village near the Egyptian border, southeast of Rafah. The attack targeted a tunnel in the area. No casualties were reported.

Monday, 10 May 2010

• At approximately 00:35, Israeli warplanes fired at least one missile at al-Shouka village near the Egyptian border, southeast of Rafah. The attack targeted a tunnel in the area. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Doha village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Fu'ad 'Obaid Da'amsa, 32, and summoned him for interrogation.

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

• At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Wissam Khaled Hamamra, 20, and arrested him.

• At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 15-year-old Nour Mohammed 'Zaqiq with a gunshot to the right thigh.

Wednesday, 12 May 2010

• At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned Ashraf Ibrahim Abu Rahma, 28, for interrogation.

• At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 11 Palestinian children aged 16-17:

1. Rabee' 'Ali Klaib; 2. Hani Sabri Souf; 3. Qussai Nasser Suleiman; 4. Ma'zouz 'Abdul Rahman Klaib; 5. Mohammed Jihad Daoud; 6. Hassan Mohammed Salama; 7. Nadiz E'timad Souf; 8. Samer 'Ayad Souf; 9. Bahaa' Ramzi Sultan; 10. Mohammed Jawdat Daoud; and 11. Saqer Hussein Suleiman.

2. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting Settlement Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall

During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities. At least 13 Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders were injured and one infant girl died after being exposed to tear gas fired by IOF in her home.

• At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 06 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem. They moved towards al-Natouf area in the northwest of the village, where IOF were leveling areas of land. Soon, IOF attacked the demonstration. They forcibly pulled away international human rights defenders, and then fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the other demonstrators. They also violently beat a number of demonstrators. As a result, 11 demonstrators were injured. IOF also arrested 3 Palestinian civilians and one international human rights defender, but later released them on bail.

• Following the Friday Prayer on 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall

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and attempted to access annexed lands behind it. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and some of them sustained bruises. Israeli troops further arrested 6 demonstrators, including 3 human rights defenders:

1. 'Abdul Fattah Bernat, 53; 2. Haitham al-Khatib, 34, a photographer of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Bil'ein; 3. Ashraf Abu Rahma, 28; 4. Stormy, 27, an American human rights defender; 5. Dr. Roi Vakiner, 37, an Israeli human rights defender; and 6. Uri Bightman, 27, an Israeli human rights defender.

All detainees were released later, with the exception of Bernat and al-Khatib, both of whom remained in custody.

• Also following the Friday Prayer on 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with IOF troops positioned near the Wall. IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.

• Also following the Friday Prayer on 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabil Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near "Halmish" settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. Israeli troops also arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child: 'Alaa' Mohammed al-Tamimi, 19; and Bassel 'Abdul Elah al-Tamimi, 12. The child was released later, but the young man was kept in custody.

• On Friday afternoon, 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and a number of international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They moved towards Zaher al-Barahish area in the south of the village near "Kermi Tsur" settlement, protesting against the closure and confiscation of Palestinian land for the purpose of settlement activities. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, 7-month-old Hamza Samar Muhanna Abu Maria suffered from severe tear gas inhalation, of which she died at Hebron Hospital 36 hours later. According to her mother, Israeli troops chased the demonstrators into alleys and fired tear gas canisters at houses. They fired at least 4 tear gas canisters at the balcony of Abu Maria's house. As a result, the infant seriously inhalted a significant amount of tear gas. The baby girl was evacuated to a hospital in Hebron, but died at approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 09 May 2010.

• At approximately 13:30 on Saturday, 08 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of 'Iraq Bourin village, south of Nablus. They moved towards the eastern part of the village, were IOF plan to confiscate land near "Brakha" settlement. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, Hihad Waleed Qadous, 19, was hit by a tear gas canister to the left leg, which caused two fractures.

3. Continued Siege on the OPT

Israel has 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 more than two and a half years. The illegal Israeli-imposed siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

• 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

• The main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

• Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two and a half years.

• Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, since 10 December 2008.

• The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to

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return home to the Gaza Strip.

• Israel had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

• Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

• At least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than two and a half years.

• IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza Strip.

Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point 05 – 11 May 2010

Date Details 44 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 167 others were allowed into the 05 May 2010 Gaza Strip. 14 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 116 others were allowed into the 06 May 2010 Gaza Strip. 07 May 2010 Closed. 08 May 2010 Two Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt. 09 May 2010 Closed. 10 May 2010 Closed. One Palestinian was allowed to travel to Egypt and 3 others were allowed into the Gaza 11 May 2010 Strip.

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing 05 – 11 May 2010

Imports Date Amount Category Tons Liters Foodstuffs 169 Agricultural materials 591 Various goods 1,109 05 May 2010 Cooking gas 198 Industrial fuel 251,000 Humanitarian aids 303 Foodstuffs 695 Agricultural materials 256 Various goods 534 06 May 2010 Cooking gas 175 Industrial fuel 173,000 Humanitarian aids 261 Foodstuffs 575 Agricultural materials 269 Various goods 494 09 May 2010 Cooking gas 199 Industrial fuel 169,000 Humanitarian aids 349 Foodstuffs 506 Agricultural materials 171 Various goods 357

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Cooking gas 194 10 May 2010 Industrial fuel 109,000 Humanitarian aids 233 Foodstuffs 462 Agricultural materials 174 Various goods 320 11 May 2010 Cooking gas 155 Industrial fuel 159,000 Humanitarian aids 340

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Wednesday, 05 May 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,989 tons of wheat and 1,404 tons of fodders. They opened it again on Tuesday, 11 May 2010, and permitted the entry of 1,755 tons of wheat and 2,535 tons of fodders.

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, a number of international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.

Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing 05 – 11 May 2010

Arabs Date Patients Companions from Diplomats International International Travelers Traders Israel Journalists Workers abroad 05 May 2010 33 29 16 3 7 39 3 9 07 May 2010 8 7 3 Nil 5 24 Nil Nil 08 May 2010 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 09 May 2010 38 35 29 3 2 18 Nil 6 10 May 2010 63 63 12 2 2 51 Nil Nil 11 May 2010 31 30 4 Nil 1 32 4 7

The West Bank

Israel has imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

• Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays, preventing Muslim Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.

• Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. IOF troops positioned at the Jaba' and Qalandiya checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged checks of Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At noon on Tuesday, 11 May 2010, IOF established two checkpoints at the entrance of Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, to prevent local and international human rights defenders from entering the village to participate in peaceful protests against the construction of the annexation wall.

• Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 08 May 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 09 May 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

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• Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At noon on Thursday, 06 May 2010, IOF closed the Hebron - al-Zahiriya road with sand barriers and rocks. During this process, the main water network of al-Zahiriya village was damaged. It is worth noting that IOF claimed some months ago that they would open the road for the movement of Palestinian civilians.

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

• On Thursday evening, 06 May 2010, Israeli troops stationed at al-Hamra checkpoint, southwest of Tubas, arrested 'Ali Hassan Tayeh, 23, from al-Fara'a refugee camp south of Tubas.

• On Saturday evening, 08 May 2010, Israeli troops stationed at the entrance of Battir village, west of Bethlehem, arrested Shadi 'Eissa Ma'ali, 34, from al- Duhaisha refugee camp south of Bethlehem.

4. Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem

Israel has recently escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem in order to force them to leave the city. PCHR has devoted this section in the Weekly Report to highlighting violations of human rights perpetrated by IOF against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.

On 11 May 2010, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem issued orders to evacuate 4 tracts of land in Nablus Street near the US Consulate-General central • Jerusalem, claiming that the land is owned by the State of Israel. A petrol station, a workshop and a car park managed by Palestinians are located on the 3 -donum plot of land. It is worth noting that the land has been registered as an Islamic endowment for 400 years.

During the reporting period, the Israeli organization Peace Now revealed in a recently published report that Israeli occupation authorities have begun to build • at least 14 new housing units for settlers in the Ras al-'Aamoud neighborhood south of al-Aqsa Mosque. The housing units are being built on a site that used to be an Israeli police station. According to the report, there are 119 structures belonging to Jewish parties in Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, where at least 1,900 Israeli settlers live.

5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

• At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 06 May 2010, one of the Israeli settlers who seized a house belonging to the al-Ghawi family in East Jerusalem slapped Nabeel al-Kurd, 12, when he was near his house in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The settler also boxed 'Abdullah Nasser al-Ghawi, 8, and then escaped. A few minutes later, IOF arrived in the area to protect Israeli settlers. When Palestinian civilians complained about these attacks, IOF attempted to arrest Nasser al-Ghawi, the father of the second child. They also asked that the civilians go to an Israeli police station to submit a complaint. They did as instructed, but had to wait for an hour and half. They then were informed that there was no need to file a complaint as the police allegedly found the perpetrators. However, the police did not take any legal action against the perpetrator.

• At approximately 16:30 also on Thursday, an Israeli settler attacked Jamalat Hashima, 27, when she was on her way home with her sister Eithar, 18, in the 'Aqabat al-Khaldia neighborhood of Jerusalem's old city. He hit Jamalat and pushed Eithar. Palestinian civilians intervened and protected the two women, while the settler ran away.

• On Thursday evening, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered in the 'Oyoun al-Haramiya area on the Ramallah-Nablus road, north of Ramallah, and blocked the road. They set fire to tires and prevented the movement of Palestinian civilian vehicles.

• At the same time, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered near the road that links the 'Oyoun al-Haramiya area and Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem.

• On Friday, 07 May 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers from "Qedumim" settlement threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on the Nablus-Qalqilya road. A number of vehicles were damaged.

• On Saturday evening, 08 May 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from settlement outposts in the center of Hebron sprayed wastewater on Palestinian civilians who organized a peaceful demonstration demanding the reopening of al-Shuhada Street for the movement of civilians. Israeli troops were present in the area, but did not intervene to stop the settlers.

• At approximately 17:00 on Monday, 10 May 2010, 'Aadel Hassan Ymin, 54, from Jeet village east of Qalqilya, learned that a large blaze had broken out in his land. He immediately went to his land and found that the fire, which had been extinguished by Palestinian civilians, had destroyed at least 3 donums of the land. He saw an Israeli military jeep and police vehicle in the area. Another Israeli military jeep arrived at the area. An Israeli solider stepped out of the vehicle and stated that he saw a person wearing a white shirt in the area who then entered the nearby "Givat Gilad" settlement immediately before the fire broke out. The Israeli police transported Yamin to Hawara military post, where he submitted a complaint.

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Recommendations to the International Community

1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with their legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4. PCHR calls for the immediate implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

5. PCHR recommends that international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and urge their governments to bring the perpetrators to justice.

6. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

7. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

8. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.

11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace process or agreement must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

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Public Document For further information please visit our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email ( [email protected] )or telephone (+972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).

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