Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Continued Systematic Attacks against Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· IOF killed a
Palestinian civilian at a military checkpoint in the West Bank.
- 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli air strikes in the
Gaza Strip.
· IOF continued
to fire at Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the
Gaza Strip.
- IOF arrested 4 Palestinian fishermen and
confiscated their boat.
· Israeli
warplanes attacked a number of targets in the Gaza Strip.
- A number of training sites were bombarded and 6 houses were
damaged.
· IOF continued
to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
- A Palestinian
woman was killed in Bil'ein village.
- 5 Palestinian
civilians, including a child and a paramedic, were wounded.
- IOF arrested an
Israeli journalist.
· IOF conducted 30
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into
the Gaza Strip.
- IOF arrested 28
Palestinian civilians, including a member of the Palestinian Legislative
Council and 9 children.
· Israel has
continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip
from the outside world.
· Israel has
continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in
Jerusalem.
- IOF demolished
two houses in East Jerusalem.
· IOF have
continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have
continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
- IOF ordered the demolition of more Palestinian houses.
Summary
Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (30 December 2010 – 05 January 2011):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, IOF
killed two Palestinian civilians, including a woman, and wounded 5 others,
including a child and a paramedic, in the West Bank. Three Palestinian civilians were also wounded
by Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.
During the reporting period, IOF
used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest
to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation
wall. As a result, a Palestinian woman
was killed, and 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a paramedic,
were wounded, and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human
rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation or sustained bruises. IOF also arrested an Israeli journalist.
Ms. Jawaher Ibrahim Ahmed Abu Rahma, 35, who extremely suffered
from difficulties in breathing and fainted. She was evacuated to Palestine
Medical Compound in Ramallah, but at approximately 09:30 on Saturday, 01
January 2011, she was pronounced dead. and others sustained bruises as they
were beaten by Israeli soldiers. IOF
also arrested an Israeli journalist, Silan Dalal, 23.
Medical sources in Palestine Medical
Compound in Ramallah, Abu Rahma died as a result of weakened performance of her
respiratory apparatus due in inhalation much tear gas. In the same context, the Israeli daily Ha'aretz
reported on Monday, 03 January 2011, that the Israeli military uses CS tear
gas, which was first manufactured 50 years ago and was described as dangerous,
to disperse Palestinian demonstrations. According to the newspaper, extensive research around the world proved
that the gas is lethal. According to an
Israeli doctor, Daniel Argo, who participates in organizations against the
annexation wall, the gas causes extreme difficulties in breathing, and stresses
that the Israeli military has continued to use it. Dr. Argo stated that the same gas killed the
woman's brother, Bassem Abu Rahma, a year and a half ago, but the Israeli
military denied responsibility for his death. The Israeli military claimed that Jawaher Abu Rahma died because of
various health problems she was suffering from.
On 02 January 2011, Israeli soldiers
positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint, east of Tubas, shot dead a Palestinian
civilian. They claimed that he attempted
to stab a soldier, but an Israeli radio reported according to military sources
that the victim was unarmed and that he was carrying a beverage bottle. The radio reported that "initial
investigations conducted by the Israeli military revealed that the man was not
carrying any tool that might hurt soldiers, his behavior did not reflect any
terrorist intention and he was not a member of any terror organization.
During the reporting period, Israeli
warplanes attacked a number of targets in the Gaza Strip. They bombarded site of the 'Izziddin
al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas). The site were heavily damaged and
6 houses were damaged. IOF also
bombarded tunnels along the Egyptian border south of Rafah. Three Palestinian civilians were also
wounded.
IOF also arrested 6 Palestinian
fishermen and confiscated their boat opposite to Gaza beach.
Incursions:
During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 30 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 28
Palestinian civilians, including a member of the Palestinian Legislative
Council and 9 children.
In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion, during which they leveled
areas of Palestinian land, which they had already razed.
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 three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since
June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic
situation in the Gaza Strip.
· The illegal closure has caused not only a
humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the
population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared recently to ease the
blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of
the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of
the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip
and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply
shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become internationally
accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza may no longer suffer from
the same shortage of goods, but they will remain economically dependent and
unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically
isolated from the rest of the world.
· Expanding the list of items allowed into Gaza
does not change the illegality of this policy, which is inconsistent with
Israel’s legal obligations both as an Occupying Power and under international
human rights treaties to which it is party, such as the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights.
· Facts on the
ground refute Israeli claims with
respect to the easing of the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the
reduction of restrictions imposed on the entry of goods.
· Israeli
declaration of allowing new goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip constitutes
an attempt to delude the international community, as such goods do not meet the
minimal needs of the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have
continued to ban the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip.
· IOF have
imposed a ban on all exports from the Gaza Strip.
· Israel had
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing
to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social
visits.
· Israel has
imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists
and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented
representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from
entering the Gaza Strip.
· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated;
levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
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 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints
across the West Bank.
· When complete,
the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers
around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of
the Wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been
constructed inside the West Bank itself, 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.
· 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 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.
During the reporting period, IOF
demolished two houses in East Jerusalem, claiming that they were built without
licenses.
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.
On 30 December
2010, IOF handed notices to Palestinian civilians in the southeast of Yatta
town, south of Hebron, ordering the dismantlement of 5 tents to the west of
"Sousia" settlement. These
orders coincided with attempts by Israeli settlers to seize large areas of
Palestinian land near the settlement.
On 02 January
2011, a number of Israeli settlers from "Rafafa" settlement, north of
Salfit, attempted to attack a number of Palestinian farmers who went to their
agricultural lands, which were razed by IOF.
On 03 January 2011,
IOF moved into Arab al-Zayed area to the north of Jericho. They handed 15 notices to Palestinian
civilians ordering the demolition of a number of houses and a mosque, claiming
that they were built without licenses. The affected property is located nearly one kilometer away from
"Miva'ot" settlement. IOF
threatened to implement the order this month and requested the affected
civilians to refer to the Israeli military liaison.
Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (30 December 2010 – 05
January 2011)
1. Incursions
into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 30 December 2010
· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Yatta town, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to
Khalil Mousa Reb'ei, 50, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC)
from the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas, and arrested him. Reb'ei was released from Israeli jails 13
months ago after 40 months of detention. Thus, the number of PLC Members arrested by IOF in less than 3 months
has mounted to 5.
· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Barta'a village, southwest of Jenin. They raided a shop belonging to Tha'er
Sa'diya, from Jenin, and confiscated large amounts of fireworks. They also arrested two workers: Mohammed Fu'ad Abu Shqair, 24; and Mohammed
Ibrahim Zayoud, 24.
· At
approximately 03:50, IOF moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of
Tulkarm. They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Ibrahim 'Ali al-Da'ma, 23, and arrested him.
· At
approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Ma'awia Ahmed Shurafa, 25, and arrested him. They then raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Ahmed Salah, 25, and arrested him.
· At
approximately 17:30, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.
Friday,
31 December 2010
· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian
civilians:
- 'Imad
Hafez al-Rajabi, 46;
- 'Abdullah
'Imad al-Rajabi, 23;
- Mohammed
Yousef Abu al-Halawa, 25; and
- Nour
al-Din 'Imad al-Rajabi, 22.
Sunday, 02 January 2011
· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Manya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
- Mohammed
'Ali Kawazba, 15;
- Mohammed
Jamal Kawazba, 16; and
- Mohammed
Ra'ed al-'Orouj, 14.
· At
approximately 01:55, IOF moved into Bedya village, west of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Islam Mohammed Shatat, 21, and summoned him for interrogation. Shatat was released from Israeli jails one
month ago.
· At
approximately 02:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a site of the
'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in Mas'oud Street in
Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. Two rooms in the site were destroyed and 4
nearby houses and a tract of agricultural land were damaged. Additionally, Ahmed Mohamme Mansours, 48, was
injured by fragments of glass in the head when he was inside his house.
· At approximately
02:10, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at a barrack in the
northeast of al-Nussairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. As a result, Tha'er 'Awni Jad al-Haq, 23, was
wounded by shrapnel to the head. Additionally, two nearby houses belonging to 'Awni Sa'id 'Abdul Haq and
Jamal 'Abdul Karim al-Ghefari were damaged.
· At
approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Yatta town, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to
Mohammed Salem Meghnem, but no arrests were reported.
· In the morning,
Israeli soldiers positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint, east of Tubas, shot dead a
Palestinian civilian. They claimed that
he attempted to stab a soldier, but an Israeli radio reported according to
military sources that the victim was unarmed and that he was carrying a
beverage bottle. The radio reported that
"initial investigations conducted by the Israeli military revealed that
the man was not carrying any tool that might hurt soldiers, his behavior did
not reflect any terrorist intention and he was not a member of any terror
organization.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, in the morning,
Ahmed Mahmoud Mohammed Daraghma, 25, from Tubas, arrived at al-Hamra checkpoint
southeast of the town, on his way to his work. At approximately 07:45, he moved towards the checking room, and there a
female Israeli soldier shouted on him. Immediately, an Israeli soldier stationed on an observation tower in the
area fired at Daraghma, wounding him with a bullet to the leg. Another Israeli soldier in the area also
fired at Daraghma, killing him with a
bullet to the heart.
In his testimony to PCHR, an eyewitness, 'Othman Ahmed
al-Maslamani, 25, from Tubas, stated:
"At approximately 07:45 on Sunday, 02 January 2011, I crossed
a checking area on the pedestrian route at al-Hamra checkpoint towards my work
in Jericho. Ahmed Mahmoud Mohammed
Daraghma, 25, was behind me. While he
was crossing the checking area, I saw him carrying a bottle of orange
juice. When he got close to the checking
area, a female Israeli soldier shouted on him and he moved back. Soon after, I saw an Israeli soldier
stationed on an observation tower at the checkpoint, nearly 150 meters away
from the checking area, firing at Daraghma and wounding him with a bullet to
the leg. However, an Israeli soldier,
who was nearly 30 meters away fired a number of bullets at Daraghma, killing
him. After coming this crime, the
soldiers drove people several meters away from the checkpoint and closed it for
more than 75 minutes. During the
closure, a number of Israeli soldiers checked Daraghma's body before delivering
him to a Palestinian ambulance. "
· At
approximately 09:55, IOF moved into Jayous village, north of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.
· At
approximately 11:35, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.
· At
approximately 11:50, IOF moved into Zibda village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.
· At
approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.
· At
approximately 18:30, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.
· At
approximately 20:20, IOF moved into al-Fundoq village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.
Monday, 03 January 2011
· At approximately 00:05, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No house raids or
arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jaba' village, south of
Jenin. They raided and searched a house
belonging to Ahmed Salim Salatna, 46, and arrested him. They also confiscated some contents of the
house.
· At approximately 07:00, IOF moved nearly 500 meters into the east
of Khuza'a village, east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. The opened fired and leveled areas of
Palestinian land. Two schools in the
area were evacuated at 10:00 in order to protect children from the Israeli
gunfire.
· At approximately 09:25, IOF moved into Hijja village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
and photograp
