UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES RELI EF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR OFFICE DE SECOURS ET DETRAVAUX POUR LES PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST REFUGIES DE PALESTINE DANS LE PROCHE-ORIENT

P.O. Box 19149 Tel : 5890400 Fax : +972-2-5322714 Cables: UNRWA Jerusalem UNRWA Field Office, Jerusalem

WBSR 17 August, 2004

To: Commissioner-General, jLJNg^A Headquarters 5ft Director of UNRWA Operations, From: Hi Subject: Situation Report-West Bank, 17 August 2004 (Reporting period: 24 hours to 0800 hours 17 August)

Summary

In the West Bank the situation remained tense. Five armed incidents (four in the area and one in the Jerusalem area) and three unarmed confrontations (one in the Nablus area and two in the area) were reported. One Palestinian was killed and 23 were injured; no Israeli casualties were reported.

The Israeli security forces maintained the closure on the West Bank. Movement remained hampered or restricted between Palestinian villages and towns and from the West Bank to Jerusalem. The IDF occupied several Palestinian buildings and converted them into observation posts in Nablus. The IDF bulldozed agricultural land belonging to Palestinians for the construction of the wall/fence in Irtas and Wad Rahal.

Curfew was maintained on the Old City of Nablus and was imposed on Camp and Hebron. Search campaigns were conducted in Zababda, , Nablus, Askar Camp, , , , , Dura, Hebron and Arrub Camp. Dozens of Palestinians held marches in support of Palestinian security prisoners in four Israeli jails who have started an open-ended hunger strike last Sunday.

Chronology of events

a. Exchanges of fire/shooting incidents/explosions

Beitunia (0810 hours, IDF opened fire, no injuries were reported). Nablus - Old City (1355 hours, IDF detonated several explosive devices, no injuries were reported). Tulkarm (1415 hours, IDF opened fire at Palestinians, no injuries were reported). Nablus - Old City (1450 hours, IDF opened fire at Palestinians, one Palestinian was killed and 16 were injured). Askar Camp (0500 hours, IDF opened fire at Palestinians, no injuries were reported).

b. Confrontations between unarmed Palestinians and Israeli security forces

Aida Camp (throughout the day, Palestinians stoned IDF troops at the site of construction of the wall/fence, IDF soldiers responded with plastic-coated metal bullets and tear gas, no injuries were reported). Camp No 1 (1010 hours, Palestinians stoned IDF troops, the IDF soldiers responded with live rounds and plastic-coated metal bullets, two Palestinians were D E G E 1 * i p&i h live rounds and tear gas, five Palestinians were injured), c. Other incide r Is flit eluding demolitions') AUG } 7 2:::.i R £f tunia (0810 hours, IDF conducted a search campaign, one Palestinian was detained). Za >abda (0900 hours, IDF conducted a search campaign, four Palestinians were detained), EOSG / CENTRAL Sil tvad (0910 hours, IDF conducted a search campaign, three Palestinians were detained). Nablus (1100 hours, IDF occupied several Palestinian buildings and converted them into observation posts). Enav Checkpoint (1200 hours, IDF detained a Palestinian at the checkpoint). Hebron (1220 hours, IDF closed the Ibrahimi preventing Palestinians Muslim worshippers access during the midday prayer time). Beit Ummar (1300 hours, IDF conducted a search campaign, two Palestinians were detained). Dura and Idna (1310 hours, IDF conducted search campaigns, one Palestinian was detained). Tulkarm (1400 hours, IDF conducted a search campaign, one Palestinian was detained). Attil and Nazlet Sharqiya (1420 hours, IDF conducted search campaigns). Irtas and Wad Rahal (1500 hours, IDF bulldozed agricultural land belonging to Palestinians for the construction of the wall/fence). Kufr Qad (1600 hours, IDF deployed a mobile checkpoint holding up Palestinians for several hours). Hebron (2200 hours, EOF conducted a search campaign and imposed curfew, one Palestinian was detained). Ramallah (overnight, IDF conducted a search campaign, two Palestinians were detained). Arrub Camp (0200 hours, IDF conducted a search campaign, one Palestinian was detained). Askar Camp (0500 hours, IDF imposed curfew, conducted a search campaign and surrounded a Palestinian house).

Settler Activity

Nothing to report.

Casualties

Fatalities: One Palestinian (in Nablus - Old City).

Injuries: 23 Palestinians (16 in Nablus - Old City, two in Camp No.l and five in Hebron).

Freedom of movement

Israeli security forces maintained the general closure on the West Bank, hampering movement between Palestinian towns and villages and into Jerusalem. Curfew was maintained on Nablus - Old City and was imposed on Askar Camp and Hebron. The IDF deployed a mobile checkpoint in Kufr Qad.

UNRWA operations

UNRWA operations continued to be disrupted due to the closure on the West Bank, with staff members delayed or returned at various checkpoints.

UNRWA distributed 233 emergency food parcels in Anata, 234 parcels in . UNRWA also distributed 600 parcels for special hardship cases in , 646 parcels in Biddu and 191 parcels in Khashim Al-Daraj and 9 parcels for nursing and pregnant women in Hebron.

UNRWA mobile health teams visited Nassariya, Yabad, Kufr Qadum, Burqa, Rummaneh, Beit Rima, Burj, Masara and Ramadin.

Anders Fa'nge

cc: DCG, DEO, DOPs, TLA, A/DEO, D/DUO, UNSECOORD NY, EOSG NY