• Two Palestinians were killed by IOF and two others died of previous injuries sustained in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

• One of the victims was extra-judicially executed by IOF.

• A member of the Palestinian resistance was killed by IOF and a Palestinian civilian in the Gaza Strip died of injuries sustained by IOF.

• Fourty four Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 22 children, a pregnant woman, and an international human rights defender, were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

• IOF warplanes bombarded targets in the Gaza Strip.

• A workshop was completely destroyed and a number of civilian houses were damaged.

• IOF carried out intensive air strikes on the border area between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, forcing local residents to evacuate the area.  

• IOF conducted 28 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

• IOF arrested 42 Palestinian civilians, including three children.

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

• IOF troops arrested a Palestinian civilian at a military checkpoint in the West Bank.

• IOF have continued to take measures aiming at the Judaization of Jerusalem.

• IOF demolished four civilian houses in al-'Eissawiya and Sho'fat.

• IOF demolished commercial facilities in the Jabal al-Tour area.

• IOF declared the completion of infrastructure of the E1 settlement project.

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

• 90 donums[1] of agricultural land were razed in Qalqilya in the West Bank.

• At least 100 olive trees were uprooted in Hebron.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (29 January – 4 February 2009).

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed two Palestinian civilian and wounded 44 others, including 22 children, a pregnant woman, and an international human rights defender in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In addition, two Palestinians died of wounds sustained during the IOF offensive on the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, on 2 February 2009, IOF extra-judicially executed a Palestinian resistance activist and wounded two others. In addition, two children in the vicinity were also injured in the attack. An IOF drone fired a missile at the car in which the activists were traveling.

On 29 January 2009, an IOF drone fired a missile at a Hamas member who was riding a motorcycle near Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. He was injured in the attack, as were seventeen other civilian bystanders, including 11 school children and a pregnant woman.  

During the reporting period, two Palestinians died of wounds sustained during the IOF offensive on the Gaza Strip.

IOF warplanes also launched a series of air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip, including two sites of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, as well as the border area between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, a police station and a workshop.

In the West Bank, on 2 February 2009, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Hebron, claiming that he fired at a military checkpoint.

On 29 January 2009, a man and a woman were wounded when IOF moved into Beit Ummar village and opened fire indiscriminately.

On 30 January 2009, IOF fired at a Palestinian peaceful demonstration in Hebron. As a result, nine Palestinian civilians, including 6 children, were wounded.

On 2 February 2009, a Palestinian child was wounded when IOF troops fired at Palestinian children who threw stones at military vehicles in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah.  

During the reporting period, 10 Palestinian civilians, including two children, and an international human rights defender, were wounded when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall west of Ramallah.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 28 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 42 Palestinian civilians, including three children.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have 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

IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The IOF siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

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

·      The main concern of 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

·      The majority of the civilian population lack access to safe drinking water.

·      Electricity is cut off for 100,000s of civilians from 8-12 hours daily.

·      The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been repeatedly forced to suspend its humanitarian aid program for at least 750,000 Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip.

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

·      IOF have 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.

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

·      Health conditions in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated and all medical facilities been severely affected, especially those which are electrically powered. There are chronic shortages of vital medicines.

·      The lives of newly born babies, whose development in incomplete, are at risk as they require constant monitoring by electrically operated medical equipment.

·      Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment continue to mount.

·      At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visits for more than 16 consecutive months. 

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 the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

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

·      When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the Wall has 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 leads to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF (47 out of 72 roads).

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

·      IOF continue to harass, and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall.

·      Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.

·      During the reporting period, IOF arrested one Palestinian civilian at a checkpoint in the West Bank.

Judaization of Jerusalem: IOF have escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem, in order to force them to leave the city. During the reporting period, IOF demolished four houses and a number of civilian facilities in Jerusalem. IOF also declared the completion of works on the infrastructure of a settlement project known as "E1", and stated they would start to build Jewish settlement neighborhoods that can ensure geographical contiguity between the "Ma'ale Adomim" settlement bloc, east of Jerusalem and the areas of al-'Eissawiya, al-Za'im, Sheikh Jarrah and Jabal al-Tour  

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT have, in violation of international humanitarian law, continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On 3 February, a number of Palestinian civilians from Sa'ir village, northeast of Hebron, were violently beaten by IOF and settlers, when these civilian attempted to confront IOF leveling of their land. IOF and Israeli settlers razed 50 donumms of agricultural land planted with olive trees in al-'Odaisiya area in the southwest of Sa'ir village. In addition, IOF confiscated three fuel tanks belonging to Taj Mohammed Karaja in Halhoul town, northeast of Hebron. They claimed the tanks are illegal. On 4 February, IOF continued to raze large areas of Mas'ha village behind the Annexation Wall, west of Qalqilya, near "Eit Ephraim", "Sha'ri Tikva" and "Alkanah" settlements. According to local sources, the area of this land is estimated at 90 donumms.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (29 January – 4 February 2009)

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

Thursday, 29 January 2009

·      At approximately 00:20, IOF warplanes bombarded a 250-square-meter workshop belonging to Ussama Sa'id Jouda in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. The workshop was destroyed.

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Be'r al-Mahjar neighborhood in the northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed Khalil al-Qawasmi, 18;

2.      Mahmoud Khalil al-Qawasmi, 18;

3.      Younis 'Abdul 'Aziz al-Qawasmi, 19.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:40, medical sources confirmed that Adham Khamis Mohammed Nussair, 35, from Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, died of wounds he sustained on 4 January 2009 during the IOF offensive on the Gaza Strip. Nussair had been receiving medical treatment at an Egyptian hospital.

·      At approximately 14:30, IOF troops positioned at the eastern border of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of local volunteers and members of the International Solidarity Movement and Free Gaza, when they were providing assistance to Palestinian civilians whose houses had been destroyed in al-Amal quarter. No casualties were reported, but the volunteers and solidarity activists were forced to leave the area. 

Friday, 30 January 2009

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed 'Aadel 'Alawna, 20;

2.      Fat'hi 'Imad Hanaisha, 22;

3.      'Abdul Rahim Mahmoud Nazzal, 21;

4.      Ahmed Mohammed Hamamda, 22.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Hijja village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinians:

1.      Zakaria Masalha, 23;

2.      Khader Ma'zouz Masalha, 19;

3.      'Aassem Ma'zouz Masalha, 33;

4.      Mohammed Ma'zouz Masalha, 24;

5.      Samer Hamed Noufal, 24;

6.      Mohammed 'Abdul Hamid rabe', 18;

7.      Zakaria Mofeed Masalha, 20; and

8.      Tha'er Mohammed Masalha, 19.

·      Following the Friday Prayer, Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in the south of Hebron in protest at the IOF offensive and siege on the Gaza Strip. IOF troops fired live ammunition and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. Clashes subsequently erupted between IOF troops and Palestinian civilians. During these clashes, which continued until the afternoon, 9 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children, were wounded:

1.      Firas Hafez al-Rajabi, 18, wounded by a gunshot to the left foot;

2.      'Omar Salah Abu Snaina, 13, wounded by a gunshot to the left foot;

3.      'Alaa' Mudar Abu Turki, 18, wounded by 4 gunshots to the hands and feet;

4.      Yahia Khaled Abu Snaina, 12, wounded by a gunshot to the left foot;

5.      Haitham Sameer al-Rajabi, 14, wounded by a gunshot to the left foot;

6.      Mos'ab 'Arafat Abu Turki, 16, wounded by a gunshot to the right foot;

7.      Anas Rebhi Abu Qwaider, 15, wounded by a gunshot to the left foot;

8.      Isma'il Noah al-Jamal, 16, wounded by a gunshot to the left thigh;

9.      Tariq 'Abdul Mahdi Qaffisha, 33, wounded by a gunshot to the left foot.

IOF troops also arrested Nafez Fawzi al-Razem, 18.

Saturday, 31 January 2009

·      At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Ahmed Majed Warasna, 25;

2.      Mahmoud Nadi al-Halaiqa, 22;

3.      Sameer Salama 'Ayaida, 27.

Sunday, 1 February 2009

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-'Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Braiza'a village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into the center of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Jala town. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 22:10, an IOF warplane bombarded a police station located approximately 100 meters away from Gaza Valley Bridge in the central Gaza Strip. The station was heavily damaged, but no casualties were reported.

·      At approximately 23:00, IOF warplanes dropped six bombs on tunnels along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. The bombs penetrated deep into the ground, causing heavy explosions and earth tremors. PCHR notes that IOF relayed thousands of automated telephone messages over the course of three days to Palestinian civilians in Rafah, ordering them to evacuate their houses near the border. As a consequence thousands of Palestinian civilians fled their homes in the area.

Monday, 2 February 2009

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into 'Askar refugee camp, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Sahour town. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Rami Sameer Jabi, 23, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Rummana village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 09:15, an IOF infantry unit positioned near a hill in al-Tabaqa area to the south of Yatta village, south of Hebron, opened fire at a civilian car that was traveling near the hill towards the border between the West Bank and Israel. As a result, the driver, Tayseer Shihda 'Ali Manasra, 27, from Bani Na'im village southeast of Hebron, was killed by 6 gunshots to the neck, the chest and the abdomen. IOF closed the area, detained the victim's body and held a number of Palestinian workers for several hours. An IOF spokesman claimed that a Palestinian had fired at soldiers positioned at a military checkpoint and the soldiers had returned fire. No eyewitnesses were present in the area to deny or confirm this claim. At noon, IOF raided and searched Manasra's house in Bani Na'im village and arrested his brother Mohammed, 28. Later, IOF delivered Manasra's body to his family.

·      At approximately 15:00, an IOF infantry unit moved into Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the unit. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the children, wounding sixteen year old Mohammed Nabil Abu Rahma.

Tuesday, 3 February 2009

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed Tharwat al-Jammal, 21.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, east of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ibrahim Subhi 'Aabed, 31.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian children:

1.      Salama Mohammed Taqatqa, 17;

2.      Majdi Majed Taqatqa, 15;

3.      Ra'fat Ibrahim Taqatqa, 15.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 05:00, IOF gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats opposite to Rafah seashore. No casualties were reported.

·      At approximately 17:30, IOF warplanes bombarded the border strip between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, south of Rafah. The bombardment continued until 18:35 targeted tunnels and vacant fuel tanks. No casualties were reported.

·      At approximately 17:40, IOF warplanes bombarded a site of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in Ma'an village, east of Khan Yunis. The site was destroyed, but no casualties were reported. This site has been repeatedly bombarded by IOF in the past few weeks.

·      At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Marda village, north of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

Wednesday, 4 February 2009

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Haitham Hamdan Abu Rahma, 26;

2.      'Ali Hamdan Abu Rahma, 18;

3.      Hussam Mohammed Hamad, 30;

4.      Qassem Hassan Hamad, 22;

5.      Fahed Jalal al-Khatib, 24.

·      In the early morning, IOF moved into Um al-Dalia and Abu Hadid neighborhoods in the south of Hebrpn. They raided, searched and photographed a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 07:00, medical sources confirmed that Mithqal Jamal 'Ata al-Radee', from Beit Lahia town, had died at an Egyptian hospital of wounds sustained on 16 January 2009 during the IOF offensive on the Gaza Strip. 

2.      Extra-Judicial Executions

During the reporting period, IOF carried out two extra-judicial execution operations in the southern Gaza Strip. The targeted person in the first attack survived the attack, but was wounded together with 17 civilian bystanders, including 11 school, children. The targeted person in the second attack was killed and four civilian bystanders, including two children, were also wounded.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR:

·      At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 29 January 2009, an IOF drone fired a missile at Mohammed 'Ouda al-Sumairi, 25, while he was riding a motorcycle in the Sea Street opposite to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Al-Sumairi was seriously wounded. Shrapnel from the missile that dispersed in the area also wounded 17 civilian bystanders, including 11 school children and a pregnant woman:

1.      Huda 'Abdul Nasser al-Kazemi, 11;

2.      'Ola 'Amara al-Farra, 10;

3.      Yahia 'Amara al-Farra, 11;

4.      Rawan Ghassan Abu Hatab, 10;

5.      Iman Ghassan Abu Hatab, 7;

6.      Haitham Mahdi al-Shemari, 6;

7.      Raghda Ghassan Gannan, 36;

8.      Salema Salah Abu Hatab, 11;

9.      Saleh Hisham al-Zaqzouq, 14;

10.  Inshirah Nihad 'Elwan, 8;

11.  Mohammed Ahmed al-Jahjouh, 16;

12.  'Abdul Majid Mahmoud al-Zaqzouq, 13;

13.  Nidal Ibrahim al-Najjar, 31;

14.  Jamal Hamada Abu Bakra, 49;

15.  Sami Ahmed al-Buraim, 33;

16.  Mohammed 'Aayesh al-Agha, 29;  

17.  Nabeel Ahmed Abu Rabee', 51.

·      At approximately 11:40 on Monday, 2 February 2009, an IOF drone fired a missile at a civilian car, in which three members of the Salah al-Din Brigades (the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees) were traveling in Airport Street in the al-Junaina neighborhood east of Rafah. The missile hit the car directly and wounded the three passengers seriously. One of them, 28-year-old Ayman Shihada Abu Jazar, died of his wounds two hours later. In addition, two passing school children were moderately wounded:

1.      Sumaya 'Aadel al-Sha'er, 16;

2.      'Abeer Haidar al-Sha'er, 16.

Continued Siege on the OPT

IOF have 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

The continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for civilian life in the Gaza Strip has led to the paralysis of the educational sector. Healthcare facilities have registered a drop in clients due to the transport crisis, and hundreds of healthcare professionals have been unable to reach their work places.

The tightened siege has led to the collapse of the Gaza Strip economic sectors. Most production facilities have ceased to operate due to the siege and restriction on movement of goods and individuals.

With regard to Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the Egyptian authorities open it on a very limited basis for a small umber of patients.

IOF allow a very limited number of seriously ill patients and staff of international organizations to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. IOF have also prevented families of at least 900 Palestinians detained in Israeli jails from visiting them since 6 June 2007.

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their rights to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords permit Palestinian fishermen to fish up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.

The overall deterioration of health services in the Gaza Strip has been exacerbated due to the overwhelming number of fatalities and casualties caused by the IOF military offensive. All medical institutions in the Gaza Strip continue to be affected, including hospitals, primary healthcare centers and mental health service providers. Health institutions cannot meet the demand for their services.

Movements at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

28 January – 3 February 2009

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

28 January – 3 February 2009

Movement at Nahal Ouz Crossing

28 January – 3 February 2009

Movement at al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing

28 January – 3 February 2009

The West Bank

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

·      Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently assault Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque.

·      Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 2 February, IOF erected a number of checkpoints to the east and northeast of Nablus. They also stationed near al-Sairafi Park at the northeastern entrance of the city. On Tuesday morning, 3 February, IOF suddenly closed all military checkpoints around Nablus. According to eyewitnesses, two IOF helicopters were seen flying over the area, transporting a number of senior IOF officers.  

·      Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 1 February, IOF erected a checkpoint near al-Shuhada Triangle village, south of Jenin, another at the entrance of Sanour village, southeast of the town, and a third between al-Shuhada Triangle and Bourqin villages. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday morning, 2 February, IOF erected a checkpoint between Rummana and Zabbouba villages, west of Jenin. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On the same day, IOF erected a checkpoint on Jenin-Haifa road, west of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

On Monday morning, 2 February, IOF troops arrested Ibrahim Fayez al-Tahal, 18, from Jenin, when he was on his way to Jordan through al-Karama International Crossing Point to receive medical treatment.

3.     Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the Wall.

·      Following the Friday Prayer on 30 January 2009, scores of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall and threw stones at IOF troops positioned in the area.  Immediately, IOF troops fired gunshots, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, two Palestinian civilians and two international journalists were wounded. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.

·      Also following the Friday Prayer on 30 January, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest at the construction of the Wall in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards areas of land which are scheduled to be confiscated for the purpose of the construction of the Wall. IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 10 Palestinian civilians, including two children, and a Swedish human rights defender, were wounded:

1.      Mohammed 'Atallah 'Amira, 19, wounded by a gunshot to the right leg;

2.      Mustafa 'Awadh 'Amira, 19, wounded by a gunshot to the left leg;

3.      Sabti Mahmoud al-Khawaja, 20, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand;

4.      Mohammed Ibrahim Sorour, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the shoulder;

5.      Ibrahim Khalil Sorour, 16, hit by a tear gas canister to the right leg;

6.      Majdi Salah 'Amira, 28, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

7.      Jamal Mustafa Khawaja, 30, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the shoulder;

8.      Barakat 'Ali Khawaja, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand;

9.      Sa'adat Ibrahim 'Amira, 21, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg;

10.  Khamis 'Abdullah 'Amira, 24, hit by a tear gas canister to the back;

11.  Erika, a Swedish human rights defender, wounded by a gunshot to the right thigh.  

4.      Judaization of Jerusalem

IOF has recently escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem to force them to leave the city. PCHR has devoted this section of the report for the purpose of reporting about violations of human rights perpetrated by IOF against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.

·      On Sunday, 1 February, IOF declared the completion of work on the infrastructure of a settlement project known as "E1", and also announced they would start to build Jewish settlement neighborhoods that can ensure geographical contiguity between "Ma'ale Adomim" settlement bloc, east of Jerusalem and the areas of al-'Eissawiya, al-Za'im, Sheikh Jarrah and Jabal al-Tour. According to Israeli media sources, the municipality of "Ma'ale Adomim" settlement bloc plan to construct 3,500 housing units. IOF has already annexed E1 area to "Ma'ale Adomim" settlement bloc. This settlement plan was approved in 1999 during the transitional period between the governments of Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak, but the plan was frozen under US pressure. In May 2008, a number of facilities were established in the area, including a police station and a number of roads, at an estimated costs of NIS 100 million. A bypass road was also established between Hazma and al-Za'im villages for Palestinian transportation. The project plan includes the construction of a new settlement, whose construction has already started, on a 12,442-donum area of Palestinian land in al-'Eizariya, al-Za'im, al-Tour and al-'Eissawiya villages. This settlement would include 3,500 housing unit designed for at least 14,500 settlers. E1 plan and the "Ma'ale Adomim" settlement bloc would ensure Israel's control over all roads linking the north and south of the West Bank. E1 plan would also disrupt Palestinian development in these areas, and undermine the possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

·      On Monday morning, 2 February, IOF stormed Rams Khoms area near Sho'fat refugee camp in Jerusalem. At approximately 07:30, They demolished a 400-square-meter, 2-storey, incomplete house belonging to 'Omran Ghaith, claiming that the house is too close to the Annexation Wall that separates the camp from Jerusalem. IOF also demolished a 70-square-meter house belonging to Nabeel Ghaith.

·      At approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 3 February, IOF stormed Jabal al-Tour neighborhood in Jerusalem. They razed a tract of land that serves as a car park for the Net Bus Company and demolished a guardroom, a bathroom and a fence. This was the third time these facilities have been demolished.

·      At approximately 10:00 on 3 February IOF demolished a fuel station belonging to Hassan Dkaidek at the entrance of al-Za'im village in Jerusalem. They also destroyed a fuel tank. Losses are estimated at US$ 8,000.

·      At approximately 10:30 also on Tuesday, IOF demolished a 300-meter-long fence that surrounds a tract of land belonging to Sami Abu Daya at the entrance of al-Za'im village.

·      At approximately 11:00 also on Tuesday, IOF demolished a commercial facility belonging to Jamal 'Eissa 'Owais, which stood on a 1,500-square-meter area of land in Jabal al-Tour neighborhood. They also demolished an 80-square-meter room, a 50-square-meter shed and a 750-meter-long fence.

·      On Wednesday morning, 4 February, IOF forced Khaled Mohammed al-Sayad, 41, to demolish another part of his house in the al-Sahel area in Jabal al-Tour neighborhood. Al-Sayad built the house approximately one year ago on a 120-square-meter area of land and was living in it with his wife and their five children. Nine month ago, the Municipality of Jerusalem court ordered the demolition of a part of the house, claiming that it had been constructed without a license. The family, in an attempt to protect the rest of the house, demolished that 30-square-meter section. However, the Municipality of Jerusalem court ordered the demolition of another part of the house. The family submitted a petition to the Central Court against the order, but the court rejected the petition and ordered the family to demolish the second part by 10:00 on Wednesday, 4 February 2009. The family was forced to demolish the second part of the house, which has now become inhabitable.

·      Also on Wednesday morning, IOF moved into al-'Eissawiya village, northeast of Jerusalem. They demolished a 100-square-meter, under-construction house belonging to Mousa Mohammed Hamdan. IOF also demolished a 120-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to Hatem Hussein Khalil. The same house was demolished in 1998, 2001 and 2004. Later, the Municipality of Jerusalem imposed a 60,000-NIS fine on Khalil, but he did not pay, so he was imprisoned for 8 months. His prison term ended on 15 January 2009.   

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

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

·      On Tuesday morning, 3 February, a number of Palestinian civilians from Sa'ir village, northeast of Hebron, were violently beaten by IOF and settlers, when these civilian attempted to confront IOF leveling of their land. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, IOF and Israeli settlers razed 50 donumms of agricultural land planted with olive trees in al-'Odaisiya area in the southwest of Sa'ir village. A number of Palestinian civilians attempted to confront such IOF land leveling. Immediately, IOF troops fired into the air and beat these civilians. As a result, 6 civilians were injured:

1.      Ghaleb Ameen Jaradat, 50;

2.      Armissan Jaradat, 41;

3.      Ma'arek Jaradat, 48;

4.      Khadra Talab Jaradat, 80;

5.      Hisham Kamel Jaradat, 23;

6.      Nidal Kamel Jaradat, 35.

·      In the same context, IOF confiscated three fuel tanks belonging to Taj Mohammed Karaja in Halhoul town, northeast of Hebron. They claimed that the tanks are illegal.

·      On Wednesday morning, 4 February, IOF continued to raze large areas in Mas'ha village behind the Annexation Wall, west of Qalqilya, near "Eit Ephraim", "Sha'ri Tikva" and "Alkanah" settlements. According to local sources, the area of this land is estimated at 90 donumms belonging to the heirs of Ibrahim Mohammed 'Aamer.

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 its 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 immediately 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 international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people 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 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 agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

Public Document

For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).