Palestinian Territory (26 Jan. – 01 Feb. 2012)


A Palestinian civilian was wounded by IOF in Gaza City.
IOF partially damaged a Palestinian house in Gaza City.

IOF have continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
4 Palestinian civilians, including two cameramen, were wounded.
Dozens of demonstrators, including and Israeli media worker, sustained bruises or suffered from tear gas inhalation.

IOF conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.
IOF arrested 12 Palestinians, including 3 children, in the West Bank.
IOF arrested two Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
IOF raided Hayat Nablus Tourist Resort and confiscated equipment.

IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.
IOF arrested 4 fishermen and confiscated their boat.

Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli soldiers arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including two children, at various checkpoints in the West Bank.


Israel has continued efforts to create a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.
IOF demolished 2 houses and displaced 13 Palestinians.
IOF closed a charity and a sports club.
IOF prevented Rasem Ubeidat, a writer and journalist, from having access to the West Bank.


IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
IOF distributed demolition notices in the north and south of the West Bank.
A Palestinian women sustained wounds in the head and hemorrhage in the brain as she was attacked by Israeli settlers.


Summary



Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (26January – 01 February 2012):



Shooting:



During the reporting period, IOF wounded 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 cameramen, in the West Bank.



In the West Bank, 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 in the West Bank. As a result, Muhib Mohammed Asaad al-Barghouthi, 46, photographer of al-Hayat al-Jadida Newspaper, sustained wounds by two bullets to the feet. Al- Barghouthi was transferred to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah for treatment. Also Mohammed Ateya al-Tamimi, cameraman of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Nabi Saleh village, sustained wounds by a tear gas canister to the right foot. A third Palestinian demonstrator also sustained wounds by a bullet to the right leg. PCHR fieldworker was unable to get the personal information of the third wounded person as he came from another village and he was not transferred to any hospital or medical center for treatment. On 31 January, Imad Ahed Khalil Abu Hashem, 21, sustained shrapnel wounds by a sound bomb when IOF used excessive force against a peaceful demonstration in Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. Additionally, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders participating in peaceful demonstrations suffered from tear gas inhalation.



In the Gaza Strip, on 31 January 2012, IOF stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Shujaiya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, opened fire at Munther Rashad Saleh al-Nakhala, 44, wounding him by a bullet to the left foot. He was hunting birds with friends with his near the building of the Energy Authority. He was nearly 500 meters from the border.



On 26 January 2012, IOF stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip opened fire at farms and residential areas in the east of Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. Palestinian farmers were forced to flee their farms. IOF continued the sporadic firing for approximately one hour. Neither casualties nor damage to property were reported.



On 29 January 2012, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of al-Shujaiya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City fired two artillery shells at Palestinian houses. One of the shells landed on a house belonging to Abdul Ra'ouf Hamed Mardi Hajjaj, 27. The shell opened a hole in the sealing of the kitchen in Hajjaj's house and caused slight damages to the contents of the house. The other shell landed in a farm belonging to Hamed Mardi Hajjaj, 74.



IOF also fired two artillery shells and opened fire from apaches at open areas in the north of the Gaza Strip.



Incursions:



During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 56 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 12 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a university professor.



In the Gaza Strip, on 29 January 2012, IOF, backed by military vehicles and apaches, moved into Gaza International Airport, in the far southeast of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip amid indiscriminate firing. IOF arrested Hajjaj Yousif Ehmeid al-Soufi, 21, who is a university student and Ahmed Hussein Awad Abu Athra, 20, who is a member of the Palestinian National Security Service. Al-Soufi and Abu Athra are from al-Shouka village in the east of Rafah.



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.



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 commercial purposes in terms of its distance 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 shut off. 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 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.


The cooking gas crisis which has erupted last November has continued to affect the Gaza Strip. This crisis was created when the Israeli occupation authorities totally closed, on 04 January 2010, Nahal Oz crossing, which used to be dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza, and shifted fuel and cooking gas supplies 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 alimentary aid provided by UNRWA and other relief agencies, rates of families who are living below poverty line have continued to be on the rise and approximately 40% of Gaza's manpower has continued to suffer from permanent unemployment as a result of shutting down the majority of Gaza's economic establishments.


IOF have continued to impose a total ban on the exportation of Gaza's products, especially industrial products, leading to undermining any real chances to rerun 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 prolong 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 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, including long hours of waiting in the majority of 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 and 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.


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 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, 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



On 05 January 2012, IOF moved into al-'Eizariya village, east of occupied Jerusalem. They demolished a 100-square-meter workshop of stone cutting belonging to Sameer Mohammed Taqatqa. They destroyed stones whose value is 30,000 ILS, and confiscated stones whose value is 95,000 ILS. IOF demolished also a 30-square-meter workshop of stone cutting belonging to Mohammed 'Ayad. They destroyed stones whose value is 15,000 ILS. Additionally, IOF demolished a 200-square-meter shop of junks belonging to Majed Abu Ghalia, a 30-square-meter fence and parking yard belonging to Ibrahim Abu Dhaim.


On 10 January 2012, IOF razed large areas of Palestinian land in the southeastern part of al-'Eissawiya village in occupied East Jerusalem, to establish a biblical garden. According to local sources, IOF confiscated hundreds of dunums[1] of land in al-'Eissawiya and al-Tour villages to establish a biblical garden. By the establishment of the garden, al-'Eissawiya village would be completely isolated by Israeli settlements.



Rasem Ubeidat, a Palestinian writer and journalist from east Jerusalem, headed to "al-Maskoubeya" interrogation center in Jerusalem to appear before the Israeli intelligence service which delivered Ubeidat an order issued by the Shabak Israel Security Agency presevnting him from having access to the West Bank.



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 27 January 2012, IOF distributed a military order to close a dirt road leading to four Palestinian communities in the south of Yatta, in the far south of Hebron. According to data available to PCHR, IOF distributed the said military order to a number of Palestinians in Kherbat Jebna. The order requires the closure of the said dust road which is linked with the settlement road no. 317 and which leads to four Palestinian communities in Kherbat Bir al-Ad, Kherbat Jebna, Kherbat al-Markaz and Kherbat Halawa. Approximately 320 Palestinians who mainly depend on grazing sheep and goats live in these four communities. It should be noted that the population in the four affected communities live in caves and cottages. They were subjected before to forcible transfer by IOF under the pretext that they are present in zones used by the Israeli army for training purposes. In addition, the population in the area was repeatedly subjected to attacks by the Israeli settlers who seek to have control over their lands. The closure of the said road is aimed at transferring the local population from the affected area in order to expand 11 surrounding Israeli outputs.



Also on 27 January 2012, IOF delivered two notices requiring Palestinians to stop construction works in two houses in al-Ma'adsara village, south of Bethlehem, and threatened the owners of these houses under the pretext of lack of construction licenses. The two houses belong to Amjad Khaled Ibrahim Zawahra and Suleiman Mohammed Hussein Zawahra.



On Sunday, 29 January 2012, IOF moved into Hares village, north of Salfit. They headed to five Palestinian houses and delivered 4 Palestinians notices informing them of IOF's intention to demolish their houses.



On 01 February 2012, Myassar Abdul Majid Ibrahim, 61, from Surra village, southwest of Nablus, sustained wounds when three Israeli settlers, near the crossroads near "Yitzhar" settlement, stoned the car in which she was travelling. Myassar sustained wounds as a result in her forehead and she bled. She was transferred to Rafidia Public Hospital for medical treatment. It was founded out that Myassar sustained laceration in the forehead and suffered from hemorrhage in the brain.





Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (26 January- 01 February 2012)



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


Thursday, 26 January 2012



At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Marj Na'aja village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.


At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Saffa village, southwest of Ramlaah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.


At approximately 09:10, IOF moved into Fasayel village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.



At approximately 09:15, IOF stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at farms and residential neighborhoods in the east of Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. Palestinian farmers were forced to flee their farms. IOF continued the sporadic firing for approximately one hour. Neither casualties nor damages to property were reported.


At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.


At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Shaqba village, west 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 Deir Abu Masha'al village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.


At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Beit 'Aur al-Tahta village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.


At approximately 16:20, IOF moved into Kafl Hares village, north of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.


At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into al-Jeftlik village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.


At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Kafl Hares village, north of Salfit, for the second time within two hours. They moved into the village this time to secure Israeli settlers' passage to the village to visit a revered shrine. They withdrew at approximately 00:30 on the following day. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.



Friday, 27 January 2012



At approximately 00:20, IOF moved into Kufor 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 00:30, IOF moved into Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched the house of Hatem Mohammed Halayqa, 58, in the northeast of Shyoukh village. Before they withdrawing, they arrested Halayqa and his son Mohammed, 31, and transferred them to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of Bethlehem.


At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Senjel village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 09:40, IOF moved into Silwad village, north of Ramallah. They proactively patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Dora al-Qare'a village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into al-'Oja village, northeast of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 21:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to in the east of al-Shujaiya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City fired two artillery shells at Palestinian houses. One of the shells landed on a house belonging to Abdul Ra'ouf Hamed Mardi Hajjaj, 27. The two-storey house which measures 180 square meters is located in al-Mansoura Street in al-Shujaiya neighborhood. The shell opened a hole in the sealing of the kitchen in Hajjaj's house and caused slight damage to the contents of the house. The other shell landed in a farm belonging to Hamed Mardi Hajjaj, 74. The farm which measures 700 square meters is adjacent to the house which was hit by the first shell.


It should be noted that the Palestinian police and explosive experts arrived at Hajjaj's house and opened investigations. They took the shell from Hajjaj's house and told the Hajjaj family that the shell was fired by IOF.

At approximately 21:30, IOF moved into Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew at around 21:40. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Also at approximately 21:30, IOF moved into Marda village, north of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew at around 21:50. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.


Also at approximately 21:30, IOF moved into Ein al-Dyouk village, northeast of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 22:05, IOF moved into Kafr al-Dik village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew at around 23:30. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-Jaroushiya village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 23:15, IOF moved into Rafat village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew at around 23:30. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 23:40, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.




Saturday, 28 January 2012



At approximately 00:05, IOF moved into Deir Ballout village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.


At approximately 12:25, IOF moved into al-Zawya village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.


At approximately 09:10, IOF moved into Jifna village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.


At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Berham village, northwest 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 Deir al-Sudan village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.


At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, northwest 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 al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets for some time and then drove southwards. They moved into al-Ama'ari refugee camp and patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.



Sunday, 29 January 2012



At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.


Also at approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Artah suburb, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also at approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Artah suburb, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Abwin village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Beitllo village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.


Also at approximately 09:30, IOF moved into al-Zbeidat village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets and held a number of workers for some time. They withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Beit Sira village, southwest 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 Far'on village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the area for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the area for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported. It should be noted that this was the second incursion into Tulkarm within 24 hours.

Also at approximately 18:00, 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 20:30, IOF, backed by military vehicles and apaches, moved into Gaza International Airport in the far southeast of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip amid indiscriminate firing. IOF arrested Hajjaj Yousif Ehmeid al-Soufi, 21, who is a university student and Ahmed Hussein Awad Abu Athra, 20, who is a member of the Palestinian National Security Service. Al-Soufi and Abu Athra are from al-Shouka village in the east of Rafah.

The family of al-Soufi reported that on Monday morning, 30 January 2012, they received a phone call from someone who introduced himself as a member of the Israeli Intelligence Service and who told them that IOF arrested al-Soufi and his friend Abu Athra and transferred them to Ashkelon Prison in Israel. According to the family of al-Soufi, the two men were walking to a house of a friend of theirs when they were arrested.

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Jinsafout village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the area for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 22:40, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.


At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Bitonia, west of Ramallah. They provocatively patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

Also at approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

Monday, 30 January 2012


At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Habla village, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. Then they raided a house and delivered a notice to Mohammed Reda Yousif Kharroub requiring him to appear before the Israeli Intelligence Service. IOF withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Beit 'Aur al-Tahta village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Khrebtha al-Mesbah 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 Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They held a child, Yousif Haitham Matar, 13, who was near the annexation wall by that time. IOF claimed that Matar had a knife. After intervention from the Palestinian Liaison Office, IOF released Mattar at around 21:15.

At approximately 21:00, 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 11:00, IOF moved into Ramon village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 31 January 2012


At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched Hayat Nablus Tourist Resort in Tunisia Street in the west of Nablus. They destroyed the door of the administration's office. Before withdrawing, they confiscated surveillance cameras, 2 hard desks used by the financial management and many other hard desks and documents.

Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided the house of Adnan Na'im Khrousha, 29, in the center of Balata refugee camp. The soldiers knocked at the door of the house. As Khrousha got out of his house, they questioned him and transferred him to the military detention center in "Howara", southeast of Nablus.


Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Nablus. They raided the house of Nawwaf Nayef Ateya Bani Odeh, 37. The soldiers knocked at the door of the house. As Bani Odeh got out of his house, they questioned him and transferred him to an unknown destination.

Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses. They destroyed two iron gates attached to two of the raided houses. Before withdrawing, IOF arrested 4 Palestinians:


Ali Fathi Jum'a, 21;
Abdul Latif Jamal Ubeid, 18;
Majed Farouq Ubeid, 24; and
Uqba Abdullah Ubeid, 29.


At approximately 11:00, IOF stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Shujaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza, opened fire at Munther Rashad Saleh al-Nakhala, 44. Al-Nakhalla sustained wounds by a bullet to the left foot as a result. He was hunting birds with friends with his near the building of the Energy Authroity. He was nearly 500 meters from the fence. Eyewitnesses reported that IOF fired three bullets at bird hunters.


At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Zabouba village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. In the meanwhile, Palestinian boys gathered and stoned IOF which replied by firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters. IOF withdrew later and no further incidents were reported.



Wednesday, 01 February 2012


At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jalabon village, east of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses. Before withdrawing, they arrested three Palestinians including two children:

Hamza Yousif Mohammed Awad, 17;
Muayad Jawad Suleiman Bahar, 17; and
Muath Jamal Mahmoud Alqam.

At approximately 22:30, IOF stationed at the border in the northeast of Beit Hanoun in the north of the Gaza Strip fired two artillery shells. The shells landed on a land in the northeast of Beit Hanoun.


At approximately 22:40, IOF apaches opened intensive fire for 10 minutes at the northeast of Beit Hanoun. Children and women in the area were in panic as a result. No casualties were reported.


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 in the West Bank, and in protest to the establishment of a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip. As a result, Muhib Mohammed Asaad al-Barghouthi, 46, photographer of al-Hayat al-Jadida Newspaper, sustained wounds by two bullets to the feet. Al- Barghouthi was transferred to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah for treatment. Also Mohammed Ateya al-Tamimi, cameraman of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Nabi Saleh village, sustained wounds by a tear gas canister to the right foot. A third Palestinian demonstrator also sustained wounds by a bullet to the right leg. A PCHR fieldworker was unable to get the personal information of the third wounded person as he came from another village and he was not transferred to any hospital or medical center for treatment. On 31 January, Imad Ahed Khalil Abu Hashem, 21, sustained shrapnel wounds by a sound bomb when IOF used excessive force against a peaceful demonstration in Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. Additionally, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders participating in peaceful demonstrations suffered from tear gas inhalation.



Following the Friday Prayer on 27 January 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and support for efforts to achieve national reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah movements. They raised the Palestinian flag and called for ending the political division. They then moved towards areas of Palestinian land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian owners. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, Muhib Mohammed Asaad al-Barghouthi, 46, photographer of al-Hayat al-Jadida Newspaper, sustained wounds by two bullets to the feet. Al- Barghouthi was transferred to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah for treatment. Additionally, a number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.


Also following the Friday prayer on 20 January 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. 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 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, Mohammed Ateya al-Tamimi, cameraman of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Nabi Saleh village, sustained wounds by a tear gas canister to the right foot. Another Palestinian demonstrator also sustained wounds by a bullet to the right leg. A PCHR fieldworker was unable to get the personal information of the third wounded person as he came from another village and he was not transferred to any hospital or medical center for treatment. Additionally, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.


Also following the Friday Prayer, on the same day, 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 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, at approximately 12:20 on the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest against closing the eastern entrance of the village. The demonstrators headed towards that entrance. Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them, due to which, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.


At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 31 December 2012, a Palestinian civilian sustained shrapnel wounds by a sound bomb and another two Palestinian civilians and an Israeli media worker sustained fractures and bruises in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, when IOF used excessive force against a peaceful demonstration. The demonstration was organized in commemoration of Yousif Fakhri Ekhlil who was killed one year ago by settlers when he was in a farm belonging to his family.


Dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international solidarity activists participated in the demonstration. They walked towards the eastern entrance of Beit Ummar village. As the demonstrators arrived near the checkpoint erected near the eastern entrance of Beit Ummar, IOF extensively fired sound bombs. Israeli soldiers used clubs and gun butts to beat the demonstrators. As a result, Imad Ahed Khalil Abu Hashem, 21, sustained shrapnel wounds by a sound bomb to his face. He also sustained bruises throughout the body. Another two Palestinian civilians and an Israeli media worker sustained fractures and bruises as IOF soldiers attacked them. The wounded were transferred to Hebron Public Hospital and to the medical center in Beit Ummar for treatment. The other three wounded persons are:


Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, 46, who sustained fractures in a finger in his left hand and bruises in the head;
Yousif Abdul Hamid Abu Maria, 41, who sustained wounds and fractures in his nose; and
A media worker for Channel 10 (Israel), who sustained bruises in the face and the shoulder.


At approximately 11:35 on Tuesday, 31 January 2012, IOF positioned along the border in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire a at a group of Palestinian and international demonstrators, who were walking near Beit Hanoun crossing. They protested the imposition of the buffer zone along the borders. There were approximately 60 demonstrators, including 6 international activists and 10 journalists.


In his testimony, the Beit Hanoun Local Initiative Coordinator, Saber al-Za'aneen, said that at approximately 11:15 on that day, the demonstrators headed towards the border area. When they were approximately 50 meters from the fence, IOF opened fire at the demonstrators who were obliged to get out of there. IOF continued firing for around five minutes. No casualties were reported.




3. Continued Closure of the OPT


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 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.



Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:



Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

25 – 31 January 2012



Day

Date

Traveling abroad

Coming into Gaza

Returned into Gaza

Wednesday

25 January 2012

Closed

4 Palestinian and the body of a dead Palestinian

--

Thursday

26 January 2012

739

1,061

35

Friday

27 January 2012

Weekend

--

--

Saturday

28 January 2012

920

1,043

61

Sunday

29 January 2012

854

797

51

Monday

30 January 2012

816

745

54

Tuesday

31 January 2012

708

810

45



Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

25 – 31 January 2012



Imports:



Date

Imports

Category

Amount

Tons

Number

Liters

23 January 2012

Foodstuffs

757

Agricultural materials

440

Various goods

Cartons of clothes

Cartons of shoes

cars

Refrigerators

Glass sheets

1,270

722

1,120

20

1,03

1,060

Humanitarian aid

3,346

Cooking gas

92.560

24 January 2012

Foodstuffs

527

Agricultural materials

1,682

Various goods

Cartons of clothes

Cartons of shoes

Refrigerators

Glass boards

Car tires

1,432

1,161

303

118

520

400

Humanitarian aid

4,475

Cooking gas

91.220

25 January 2012

Foodstuffs

696

Agricultural materials

1,578

Various goods

Cartons of clothes

Ovens

Refrigerators

Cartons of shoes

1,614

1,204

1,344

332

1,210

Humanitarian aid

5,053

Cooking gas

136.490

26 January 2012

Foodstuffs

1,015

Agricultural materials

1,841

Various goods

Cartons of clothes

Cars

refrigerators

Glass boards

Washing machines

Car tires

Tanks

Oxen

1,637

622

23

263

1,060

220

250

208

448

Humanitarian aid

4,213

Cooking gas

160.550

29 January 2012

Foodstuffs

612

Agricultural materials

1,479

Various goods

Cartons of clothes

Refrigerators

Washing machines

Glass boards

ovens

1,302

737

177

82

1,40

132

Humanitarian aid

3,806

Cooking gas

68.440

30 January 2012

Foodstuffs

769

Agricultural materials

1,505

Various goods

Cartons of clothes

Cars

Refrigerators

Glass boards

Tanks

Glass boards

1,015

1,651

20

88

520

112

520

Humanitarian aid

4,620

Cooking gas

68.890

Diesel





111,900

31 January 2012

Foodstuffs

760







Agricultural materials

868







Various goods

Cartons of clothes

Washing machines

Refrigerators

Glass boards

Cartons of shoes

Boxes of manufacturing machines

Boxes of biscuits manufacturing machines

Car tires

1,200

















2,702

97

245

1,040

768

8

13

1,442



Humanitarian aid

3,236





Cooking gas

185.670





Diesel





101,990

Benzene





35,000











Exports:



On Monday, 23 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 2.6 tons of strawberries.

On Wednesday, 15 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 3.4 tons of strawberries.

On Thursday, 26 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 2.3 tons of strawberries and 158,000 flowers.

On Sunday, 29 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 116,000 flowers, 2.1 tons of strawberries and 7.6 tons of tomatoes.

On Monday, 30 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 2.6 tons of strawberries.

On Tuesday, 31 January 2012, IOF allowed the exportation of 100,000 flowers.


Notes:


On Monday, 23 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 126 tons of cement, 2,800 tons of construction aggregate and 65 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 273 tons of wheat.


On Tuesday, 24 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 324 tons of cement, 3,290 tons of construction aggregate and 76 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. IOF also allowed the entry of 120 tons of cement, 210 tons of construction aggregate and 69 tons of construction steel for UNDP and 350 tons of construction aggregate for USAID. They also allowed the entry of 1,521 tons of fodders.


On Wednesday, 25 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 400 tons of cement, 2,380 tons of construction aggregate and 57 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. IOF also allowed the entry of 420 tons of construction aggregate for USAID and 980 tons of construction aggregate for the French Cultural Center. They also allowed the entry of 1,482 tons of wheat.


On Thursday, 26 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 120 tons of cement, 3,360 tons of construction aggregate and 76 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,677 tons of fodders.


On Sunday, 29 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 482 tons of cement and 2,660 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,365 tons of wheat.


On Monday, 30 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 552 tons of cement, 2,800 tons of construction aggregate and 100 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,365 tons of fodders.



On Tuesday, 31 January 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 433 tons of cement, 2,520 tons of construction aggregate and 120 tons of construction steel for UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 780 tons of wheat.



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

25 – 31 January 2012



Date

25 January

26 January

27 January

28 January

29 January

30 January

31 January

Patients

31

32

5

Nil

33

38

37

Companions

33

31

7

Nil

31

35

36

Arabs from Israel

9

4

6

Nil

28

2

Nil

Diplomats

8

9

2

Nil

Nil

Nil

4

International Journalists

Nil

6

Nil

Nil

3

2

Nil

International Workers

25

58

23

Nil

6

25

13

Travelers abroad

Nil

4

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

1

Business People

93

97

41

Nil

100

100

100

Economic Meetings

3

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

2

Nil

Security Interviews

2

2

Nil

Nil

1

Nil

2

VIP's

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

1

Nil

Ambulances to Israel

2

3

2

Nil

1

2

2

Ambulances from Israel

Nil

3

1

Nil

Nil

3

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.



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.

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 26 January 2012, IOF re-established their presence at 'Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. At approximately 10:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah. At approximately 17:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint under 'Ein Yabroud Bridge, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 08:30 on Friday, 26 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 10:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, southwest of Ramallah. At approximately 10:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ne'lin, south of Ramallah. At approximately 15:00, IOF established a checkpoint the entrance of Beit 'Aur al-Fouqa village, southwest of Ramallah. At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 28 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Shaqba village, west of Ramallah. Also at the same time, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Deir Abu Masha'al village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 10:00, IOF established a checkpoint near the crossroads of Beit 'Aur al-Tahta, southwest of Ramallah. At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 29 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge, west of Ramallah. At approximately 10:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Termes'ia village, north of Ramallah. At approximately 17:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beitin village, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 30 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Mazra'a al-Sharqeya, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 10:40, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah. At approximately 11:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 15:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Mughir village, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 09:30 on Tuesday, 31 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint the entrance of Beit 'Aur al-Fouqa village, southwest of Ramallah.

Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 26 January 2012, IOF established 3 checkpoints around Qalqilya. IOF established the first checkpoint at around 14:25 at the crossroads of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya. This checkpoint was removed at around 18:15 on the same day. At approximately 18:15, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Hajja village. At approximately 19:05, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kafr Laqef village. Also at approximately 19:05, IOF established a checkpoint at the crossroads of Jinsafout village. At approximately 21:05on Friday, 27 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the crossroads of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya. On Saturday, 28 January 2011, IOF established 6 checkpoints around Qalqilya. IOF established the first checkpoint at approximately 10:10 at the crossroads of Hajja village; the second crossroads at 10:15 at the entrance of Kafr Qaddoum village; the third checkpoint at around 14:40 near the crossroads of Jinsafout village; the fourth at approximately 18:00 at the crossroads of Kafr Laqef village, the fifth at approximately 18:30, at the crossroads of Jeet village; and the sixth at around 19:50 at the crossroads of Azzoun village. On Sunday, 29 January 2012, IOF established 7 checkpoints around Qalqilya. IOF established the first checkpoint at approximately 08:00 at the entrance of Azzoun village. IOF established a checkpoint again at the entrance of Azzoun village at approximately 14:10. This checkpoint was removed at approximately 14:55 on the same day. At approximately 12:15, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ematin village. At approximately 12:45, thye established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya. At approximately 16:45, IOF established a checkpoint at the crossroads of Hajja village. They established a second checkpoint also at the crossroads of Hajja village at 19:45. At approximately 18:00, IOF established a checkpoint between al-Fonduq village and Jinsafout village. On Monday, 30 January 2012, IOF established 5 checkpoints around Qalqilya. IOF established the first checkpoint at approximately 10:10 near Jinsafout village and re-established the checkpoint at approximately 18:45 on the same day. At approximately 11:30, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Azzoun village. At approximately 19:45, IOF established a checkpoint at the crossroads of Jeet village. At approximately 20:00, they established a checkpoint between Fara'ta village and Ematin village.

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 26 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin. At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 27 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint on the road between al-Tarm village and Kfireet village, southwest of Jenin.

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 27 January 2012, IOF positioned at 'Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinians. At approximately 16:30 on Tuesday, 31 January 2012, IOF positioned at 'Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinians. At approximately 15:30 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint on the road between Tulkarm and Qalqilya, near the gate of Jbara village which is isolated from the surroundings by the annexation wall.

Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 26 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Dyouk al-Tahta village, west of Jericho. At approximately 10:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho. At approximately 01:30 IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zbaidat village, north of Jericho. At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 29 January 2012, they established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-'Oja village, northeast of Jericho. At approximately 11:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Ein al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho. At approximately 11:30 on Monday, 30 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho. At approximately 15:00, IOF established a checkpoint on the road between Ramallah and Jericho. They established a checkpoint at approximately 15:30 near the entrance of Fasayel village.


Arrests at Military Checkpoints



At approximately 20:00 on Thursday, 26 January 2012, IOF stationed at the crossroads of Kfar Etzion-Beit Fajar on the main road between Hebron and Bethlehem, arrested Khalil Ibrahim Hassan Qattoush, 45, from al-Dheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. Qattoush was searched by IOF, handcuffed and transferred to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of Bethlehem. IOF claimed that Qattoush had a knife and he wanted to use it to "stab Israeli soldiers." It should be noted that Qattoush suffer from cancer and need intensive medical care.


At approximately 19:10 on Saturday, 28 Janury 2012, IOF stationed in the center and the south of Hebron arrested Farid Hmeidan Farid al-'Awiwi, 22, while on his way to his house. IOF claimed that al-'Awiwi did not obey the soldiers' orders and he is suspected of throwing stones at IOF. He was transferred to the Israeli police station near "Kryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron. The following day, al-'Awiwi was transferred to "Kfar Etzion" detention center, southwest of Bethlehem.




At approximately 16:30 on Tuesday, 31 January 2012, IOF established a checkpoint near "Yitzhar" settlement in the south of Nablus. They stopped a car driven by Mohammed Said Mohammed Khweiled, 26, from al-Shweika suburb, north of Tulkarm. Mohammed Ahmed Said Salah, 26, also from al-Shweika suburb, north of Tulkarm, was travelling in the same car. Khweiled and Salah were on their way from Ramallah to their houses. IOF searched the car and confiscated a sum of 4,700 ILS from Salah. IOF arrested the two men and transferred Salah to "Howara" detention center while they transferred Khweiled to "al-Jalama" prison in Israel.


4. 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 in the city.



At approximately 06:30 on Monday, 30 January 2012, IOF moved into al-Ashqareya neighborhood in Beit Hanina, north of occupied Jerusalem. They surrounded a house belonging to Mohammed Samara and they started to take the furniture from the house and throw it in the outdoors. The bulldozer then demolished the 72-square-meter house which was dwelled by a family of 7 members. IOF also beat and arrested Mohammed Abu Gharbeya, 21, who is Samara's nephew.

Samara reported that his Israeli lawyer told him that he reached a settlement with the Israeli Municipality. According to this settlement, the plan to demolish Samara's house was cancelled and Samara was required to pay the sum of 18,000 NIS. So far, Samara has paid 3,000 NIS and he wanted to make more payments. It should be noted that Samara is a bleacher and he suffers from a disease in his brain.

Later on the same day, IOF bulldozed a structure annexed to the house of Fawwaz Mohammed Jamal Hassouna in Shu'fat neighborhood, north of occupied Jerusalem. The structure was annexed to the house which was build before the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967. In 2011, officers from the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem came and photographed the house. The Municipality claims that the officers stuck a demolition order on the door of the house on 26 January 2012. The Hassouna family refuted this claim and stated that they were surprised when crews from the Municipality arrived to demolish the mentioned structure. It should be noted that the said structure measured 80 square meters.

On Sunday morning, 29 January 2012, IOF closed Silwan Charity and a kindergarten belonging to the Charity and Silwan Islamic Club in the south of the old city of occupied Jerusalem. This measure was taken based on a decision signed by the Inspector General of the Israeli Police Major General Yohanan Danino to close these establishments for a period of 30 days under the pretext that these establishments receive funding from Hamas.


Luba Samri, a police spokeswoman for Arabic media, stated that: "Upon an order signed by the Inspector General of the Police, detectives and investigators from the Minorities Division in the Central Unit of the Shabak Israel Security Agency, backed by forces from the Border Police, closed two institutions in Silwan neighborhood for 30 days." Samri claimed that the closed institutions were funded by Hamas and used for the movement's covert activities. Samri said that the closure order can be appealed.

On 31 January 2012, Rasem Ubeidat, a Palestinian writer and journalist from east Jerusalem, headed to "al-Maskoubeya" interrogation center in Jerusalem to appear before the Israeli intelligence service which delivered Ubeidat an order issued by the Shabak Israel Security Agency to prevent him from having access to the West Bank. This order is valid until 09 July 2012 and can be appealed.

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.



On Friday morning, 27 January 2012, IOF distributed a military order to close a dirt road leading to four Palestinian communities in the south of Yatta, in the far south of Hebron.


According to data made available to PCHR, IOF distributed the said military order to a number of Palestinians in Kherbat Jebna. The order requires the closure of the said dirt road which is linked with the settlement road no. 317 and which leads to four Palestinian communities in Kherbat Bir al-Ad, Kherbat Jebna, Kherbat al-Markaz and Kherbat Halawa. Approximately 320 Palestinians who mainly depend on grazing sheep and goats live in these four communities.

Uthman Jabarin, member of the Local Committee in Msafer Yatta area, reported that the targeted road which is nearly 4 kilometers long had been closed previously for 10 years by the settlers who were backed by IOF. The road was reopened based on a decision issued by the Israeli High Court one year ago in response to appeals filed by Palestinians. Jabarin noted that works to rehabilitate the said road were completed just one month ago to enable the local population to drive trucks smoothly on the road.

It should be noted that the population in the four affected communities lives in caves and cottages. They were subjected before to forcible transfer by IOF under the pretext that they are present in areas used by the Israeli army for training purposes. In addition, the population in the area was repeatedly subjected to attacks by the Israeli settlers who seek to have control over their lands. The closure of the said road is aimed at transferring the local population from the affected area in order to expand 11 surrounding Israeli outputs.

On Friday afternoon, 27 January 2012, IOF delivered two notices requiring Palestinians to stop construction works in two houses in al-Ma'adsara village, south of Bethlehem, and threatened the owners of these houses that they would demolish the houses.


According to investigations conducted by PCHR, IOF raided Shaab al-Eida area in the southwest of al-Ma'adsara village. IOF stuck two military orders on two houses requiring the owners of the two houses to stop the construction works in the targeted houses. IOF also told the owners in the orders that they would demolish the two houses under the pretext of the lack of construction licenses. The two houses belong to:

1. Amjad Khaled Ibrahim Zawahra. Amjad's one-storey house measures 200 square meters and it was supposed to be dwelled by a family of 5 members, including 3 children.
2. Suleiman Mohammed Hussein Zawahra. Suleiman's one-storey house measures 150 square meters and it was supposed to be dwelled by a family of 4 members, including 2 children.


Mohammed Ahmed Hassan Breijeyeh, a Palestinian activist against settlement activities, reported that the two targeted houses are located in a residential neighborhood and they are around 700 meters far from the main road. Breijeyeh noted that these measures taken by IOF are aimed at exerting pressure on the residents of the area to stop their popular resistance and at expanding settlement activities.


At approximately 10:15 on Sunday, 29 January 2012, IOF moved into Hares village, north of Salfit. They headed to five Palestinian houses and delivered 4 Palestinians notices informing them of IOF's intention to demolish their houses. These Palestinians are:



Asaad Mustafa Asaad Souf;
Saber Fawwaz Fayez Dawood;
Fares Fawwaz Dawood; and
Yasser Hussein Saleh Kleib.


In addition, IOF delivered a notice to a fifth Palestinian, Ahmed Mustafa Asaad Souf, requiring him to stop construction works in house under the pretext of the lack of a construction license. IOF withdrew from the area at around 10:45 on the same day.


At approximately 14:00 on Wednesday, 01 February 2012, Myassar Abdul Majid Ibrahim, 61, from Surra village, southwest of Nablus, travelling with her husband in a car driven by her son-in-law Kamal Tayseer Shahin to Ramallah tbecause she wanted to be with her daughter who was delivering her baby in a hospital in Ramallah. Myassar was in the back seat while her husband was in the front passenger seat. As they came close to the crossroads near "Yitzhar" settlement, south of Nablus, they met three settlers who stoned their car. The stones penetrated the glass and hit Myassar's forehead. Myassar sustained wounds as a result in her forehead and she bled. Her son-in-law immediately fled to Nablus where he called an ambulance that transferred Myassar to Rafidia Public Hospital for medical treatment. It was founded out that Myassar sustained laceration in the forehead and suffered from hemorrhage in the brain.




………………………………………………………



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.








…………………………………………………………

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