U N I T E D N A T I O N S N A T I O N S U N I E S OCHA Weekly Report: 19 – 25 December 2007 | 1 € OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS P.O. Box 38712, East Jerusalem, Phone: (+972) 2-582 9962 / 582 5853, Fax: (+972) 2-582 5841 [email protected], www.ochaopt.org Protection of Civilians Weekly Report 19 – 25 December 2007 Of note this week Gaza Strip: • The IDF killed 11 Palestinians and injured 20 others in the Gaza Strip. • Six IDF soldiers were injured in two separate incidents in the Central Gaza and Khan Younis governorates. • Since 18 December, and for the second time this month, the Palestinian strawberries association has blocked all exports of strawberries to protest against the limited amounts Israel has allowed them to export through the crossing. • Sufa crossing was re-opened on 23 December for humanitarian and commercial commodities (it had been closed since 28 October). 86 truckloads, including 44 from UNRWA, were allowed entry into Gaza via Sufa on 23, 24 and 25 December. • Windows and the boundary wall of an UNRWA school were damaged as a result of an exchange of fire between the IDF and armed Palestinian men during the IDF incursion into Al Msadar area southeast of Al Maghazi Camp (Central Gaza). • 37 Qassam rockets and 49 mortar shells were fired towards Israel. Eight mortars were fired at IDF soldiers inside the Gaza Strip. West Bank: • The IDF injured 11 Palestinians in the West Bank. In addition, Israeli settlers physically assaulted and injured three Palestinians while they were cultivating their land in Till village. • One Israeli settler and one IDF soldier were injured by stones in the Qalqiliya and Ramallah governorates, respectively. • The IDF imposed curfew on ‘Azzun village for 14 hours following a confrontation between the IDF and Palestinians in the village (Qalqiliya). • During Al Adha holiday: Palestinian vehicles were allowed to access the northern Jordan Valley area via Hamara and Tayasir checkpoints without possessing a permit on two days. Palestinians with Israeli citizenship were allowed to access Jenin governorate via Al Jalama checkpoint on four days. • 43 flying checkpoints, 69 IDF arrest operations, and 71 arrests were reported. 1 Palestinian and Israeli conflict related casualties: 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Children Injuries Deaths Women Deaths Deaths Palestinians 34 11 - - Israelis 80- - Internationals 20- - 1 Excluding Palestinian-Palestinian internal violence and other ‘indirect’ conflict related incidents reported in Section 2. OCHA Weekly Report: 19 – 25 December 2007 | 2 1. Physical Protection – conflict related casualties Gaza Strip: • 20 December: Eight armed Palestinian men (aged 19, 21 (2), 22, 24 (2), 25 and 28 years) were killed and another 17 Palestinians, including four civilians, were injured during the IDF ground operation east of Al Maghazi Camp. Four IDF soldiers were also injured in the same operation (Central Gaza). • 21 December: One armed Palestinian man (aged 22 years; Hamas member) was killed during armed clashes with an IDF special-forces unit that had entered Abassan area east of Khan Younis (Khan Youins). • 21 December: Two IDF soldiers were injured when armed Islamic Jihad men detonated an explosive device near an IDF mobile patrol near the border fence (Khan Younis). • 22 December: Two armed Palestinian men (affiliated with DFLP) were injured when the IDF fired two artillery shells in their direction in Johr Ed-Dik area in Gaza City (Gaza). • 23 December: A 40-year-old Palestinian man was injured when IDF soldiers stationed at the border east of Deir El-Balah opened fire towards areas east of Deir Al Balah (Central Gaza). • 24 December: Two armed Palestinian men (aged 22 and 23 years; Hamas members) were killed when an IAF aircraft fired a rocket targeting a group of armed Hamas men east of Al Bureij refugee camp (Central Gaza). Other incidents (not involving casualties): • 19 December: One Qassam rocket was fired from north of Beit Hanun towards Sderot. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 19 December: One Qassam rocket was fired from north of Sheikh Zayid City towards the Green Line. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 19 December: Islamic Jihad men claimed responsibility for firing five mortar shells from east of Deir El Balah towards the Green line. No injuries were reported (Central Gaza). • 20 December: Four mortar shells were fired from Abu Al Ajeen area east of Deir El Balah towards the IDF Kissufim military base. No injuries were reported (Central Gaza). • 20 December: Two Qassam rockets were fired from north of Beit Hanun towards Sderot. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 20 December: One Qassam rocket was fired from north of Beit Hanun towards the Green Line. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 20 December: Five mortar shells were fired from north of Beit Hanun towards Erez crossing. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 20 December: Four mortar shells were fired from north of Beit Hanun towards Erez crossing. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 20 December: Three mortar shells were fired from north of Beit Hanun towards Erez crossing. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 20 December: Six mortar shells were fired from east of Al Qarrara towards the IDF Kissufim military base. No injuries were reported (Khan Younis). • 20 December: Eight mortar shells were fired from east of Gaza City towards the Green Line (Gaza). • 20 December: Three mortar shells were fired from east of Rafah towards Kerem Shalom crossing. No injuries were reported (Rafah). • 21 December: One Qassam rocket was fired from north of Beit Hanun towards Sderot. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 21 December: Two Qassam rockets were fired from north of Beit Hanun towards Sderot, one of which exploded prematurely in the Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 21 December: Two Qassam rockets were fired from north of Beit Hanun towards Sderot. Both rockets landed in the Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 21 December: One Qassam rocket was fired from north of Beit Lahiya towards the Green Line. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 22 December: One Qassam rocket was fired from north of Beit Hanun targeting Sderot. According to the Israeli media, one Qassam rocket landed in an industrial park in Sderot (North Gaza). • 22 December: Two mortar shells were fired from Zaitoun quarter east of Gaza City targeting the Green Line south of Karni crossing. No injuries were reported (Gaza). • 22 December: Armed Palestinian men (Hamas members) fired four mortar shells from Johr Ed-Dik area towards the Green Line. One of the shells landed in the Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported (Central Gaza). OCHA Weekly Report: 19 – 25 December 2007 | 3 • 23 December: Three Qassam rockets were fired from north of Beit Hanun towards Israel No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 23 December: One Qassam rocket was fired from north of Beit Hanun targeting Sderot. According to the Israeli media, a rocket struck an open area in the western Negev. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 23 December: One Qassam rocket was fired from north of Beit Hanun targeting Sderot. According to the Israeli media, a Qassam rocket struck the western Negev. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 23 December: Armed men fired one Qassam rocket from north of Beit Hanun towards Sderot. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 23 December: IDF tanks stationed on the eastern border of Gaza City fired a surface-to- surface missile towards an open area east of Zaitoun quarter in the City. No injuries were reported (Gaza). • 20 December: Two Qassam rockets were fired from east of Al Bureij Camp towards the Green line. No injuries were reported (Central Gaza). • 21 December: Two mortar shells were fired from east of Al Maghazi Camp towards the Green line. No injuries were reported (Central Gaza). • 22 December: IDF soldiers stationed at the border line east of Deir El-Balah opened fire for 10 minutes towards Palestinian farmers working in the area. No injuries were reported (Central Gaza). • 22 December: The IDF entered Al Faraheen area east of Khan Younis and opened Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) fire towards Palestinian houses. No injuries were reported. The IDF later withdrew to the border (Khan Younis). • 23 December: One Qassam rocket was fired from north of Beit Lahiya towards the Green Line. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 23 December: Three mortar shells were fired from east of Rafah towards Sufa crossing. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) claimed responsibility. No injuries were reported (Rafah). • 24 December: Armed men attempted to launch a Qassam rocket from the area east of Shuja’iya quarter towards the Green Line. The rocket exploded prematurely in Gaza. No injuries were reported (Gaza). • 24 December: Three mortar shells were fired from Abu Al Ajeen area east of Deir El Balah towards the IDF Kissufim military base. No injuries were reported (Central Gaza). • 24 December: IDF patrol boats opened fire for 10 minutes targeting Palestinian fishing boats at sea west of Khan Younis, forcing them to return to shore. No injuries were reported (Khan Younis). • 24 December: Two Qassam rockets were fired from north of Beit Hanun towards Sderot. The rockets landed in the Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported (North Gaza). • 24 December: An IDF patrol boat opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats at sea west of Rafah, forcing them to return to shore. No injuries were reported (Rafah). • 24 December: The eight IDF armoured vehicles that had entered the Gaza Strip north and east of the Islamic Cemetery east of Jabaliya Camp withdrew to the border fence. No injuries were reported (North Gaza).