An Israeli soldier prevent a number of Palestinian civilians from going homes in the center of Hebron
PCHR, December 23, 2009
Israeli
Occupation Forces Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
and Continue to Impose a Total Closure on the Gaza Strip
Israeli occupation forces used
forced to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized to protest the
construction of the Annexation Wall in the West Bank.
Israeli forces conducted 20
incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
Israeli forces arrested 23
Palestinian civilians, including 7 children.
Israeli naval troops have continued
to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has continued to impose a
total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the
outside world.
Israeli troops positioned at
military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 5 Palestinian
civilians, including one child.
Israel has continued measures aimed
at creating a Jewish demographic majority in occupied East
Jerusalem.
Israeli occupation forces ordered
the demolition of a mosque and 9 houses in Jabal al-Mukabber
village.
Israel has continued settlement
activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to
attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Summary
Israeli violations of international
law, and international humanitarian law in the OPT continued during
the reporting period (16 – 22 December 2009):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, Israeli
occupation forces used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations
organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli
human rights defenders, to protest the construction of the
Annexation Wall in the West Bank.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli
occupation forces conducted at least 20 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Israeli forces arrested
23, including 7 children. During the reporting period, Israeli
troops stationed in the center and south of Hebron attacked members
of the Abu Haikal family in Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood. Five
members of the family were injured, and Israeli occupation forces
arrested 4 others.
In the Gaza Strip, on 10 December
2009, Israeli occupation forces moved into al-Sikka Street in the
north of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip. They arrested
two Palestinian children, as they were collecting stones and iron
from destroyed buildings, approximately 500 meters away from the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Israeli forces violently
beat and interrogated the two children, and released them at
approximately 21:30 on the same day.
Restrictions on Movement:
Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure 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
continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more
than two and a half 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.
·
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.
·
Israel has
continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into
the Gaza Strip for more than two years.
·
Israel has
not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited
amounts of cooking gas, since 10 December 2008.
·
The
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.
·
Israel has
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian
civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israel for medical
treatment, trade or social visits.
·
Poverty and
unemployment rates stand at approximately 80% and 60% respectively
in the Gaza Strip.
·
Israel has
continued to prevent the entry of spare parts form water networks
and sewage systems. Losses incurred to this sector are estimated at
US$ 6 million.
·
Israel has
imposed access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists
and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have
prevented representatives of several international humanitarian
organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.
·
Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously
deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment are among the
highest in the world.
·
At least 900
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been denied family
visitation rights for more than two and a half years.
·
Israeli
occupation forces have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen
along the Gaza Strip coast.
West Bank
Israeli
occupation forces 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
·
Israeli
occupation forces 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, and 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
Israeli forces 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 occupation forces (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 Israeli occupation forces. These permits are
extremely difficult to obtain.
·
Israeli
occupation forces continue to harass, and assault demonstrators who
hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation
Wall.
·
Palestinian
civilians continue to be harassed by occupation forces in Jerusalem,
and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and
searched in the streets.
Measures
Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem:
On 17 December 2009, officials from the Israeli Municipality of
Jerusalem and Ministry of Interior handed demolition notices to
owners of 9 houses in Jabal al-Mukabber neighborhood in the south of
Jerusalem. They also posted an order to demolish the neighborhood
mosque within 10 days.
On the same day, Israeli occupation
forces attacked and violently beat Palestinian civilians
participating in a public gathering at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem.
Three children and one woman sustained bruises. The gathering marked
the conclusion of celebrations for Jerusalem as the capital of Arab
culture in 2009. Israeli forces also arrested 6 Palestinian
civilians; they were released on the following day. Israeli forces
also surrounded the French Cultural Center in Saladin Street. They
checked identity cards of people entering and exiting the center,
claiming that they were searching for persons responsible fore
releasing balloons with the colors of the Palestinian flag.
Additionally, Israeli forces handed notices to 6 schools ordering
them not to participate in these celebrations.
Settlement
Activities: Israel has
continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of
international humanitarian law and Israeli settlers have
continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 16 December
2009, Israeli settlers from "Shilo" settlement, north of Ramallah,
attacked a number of Palestinian farms who were working on their
lands. According to eyewitnesses, dozens of Israeli settlers,
escorted by Israeli occupation forces, attacked the farmers and
prevented them from farming their lands. Israeli forces then forced
the farmers away from the area.
On 19 December
2009, dozens of Israeli settlers from "Shilo" settlement, north of
Ramallah, gathered at the entrance of the settlement on the
Nablus-Ramallah road and threw stones at Palestinian civilian
vehicles traveling on the road. Israeli troops were present in the
area and did not intervene to stop the attack.
On the same
day, an Israeli settler from the "Gush Etzion" settlement bloc,
southwest of Bethlehem, fired at 5 Palestinian farmers who were
working on their lands in Safa village, north of Hebron. Israeli
troops arrived at the area, but did not intervene to stop the
settler. It is worth noting that Israeli settlers attempt to seize
more areas of Palestinian land in the village to be annexed to
nearby Israeli settlements.
Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (16 – 22 December
2009)
1.
Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on
Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
·
At
approximately 00:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into al-'Arroub
refugee camp, north of Hebron. They rauded and searched a number of
houses and arrested Tariq Khalil Ghawanma, 18.
·
At
approximately 02:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into N'elin
village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of
houses and arrested Hamed Sa'adat Sorour, 18.
·
At
approximately 03:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into Burqa
village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of
houses and arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including two children:
1.
Ghaith
Ghassan Abu 'Omar, 18;
2.
Islam 'Aadel
Ghannam, 17;
3.
Molhem
Waleed Abu 'Omar, 17;
4.
Ahmed Yousef
Abu 'Omar, 19;
5.
Maher
Mahmoud Hijja, 20;
6.
Rabee'
Yousef Salah, 20;
7.
'Ammar
Mohammed Saif, 19;
8.
'Abdullah
Mohammed Saif, 21.
Israeli occupation forces also
raided a house belonging to Khaled Rushdi Daghlas in order to arrest
his child, 17-year-old Rushdi, who was not home. The father was
forced to hand his child over to Israeli forces the following
morning.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
·
At
approximately 01:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into Jayous
village, northeast of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number
of houses, but no arrests were reported.
·
At
approximately 02:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into al-Duhaisha
refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number
of houses, but no arrests were reported.
·
At night,
Israeli occupation forces moved into Rummana village, west of Jenin.
They patrolled near the Annexation Wall and arrested two Palestinian
children who were near the Wall:
1.
Majd Waleed
al-Ahmed, 16; and
2.
Mohammed
Tayseer Abu Hammad, 16.
Friday, 18 December 2009
·
At
approximately 02:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into Ethna
village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of
houses and arrested Ziad Ahmed al-Masri, 23.
·
At
approximately 14:30, Israeli occupation forces besieged two houses
belonging to 'Abdul 'Aziz and 'Imad Rateb Abu Haikal in Tal al-Rumaida
neighborhood in the center of Hebron. They raided the house of the
latter and violently beat members of the family. When residents of
the other house came to check what was going on, they were violently
beaten by Israeli troops. Five members of the two families were
injured: 'Abdul 'Aziz Rateb Abu Haikal, 66; Samah 'Abdul 'Aziz Abu
Haikal, 37; Salam 'Abdul 'Aziz Abu Haikal, 27; Majd 'Abdul 'Aziz Abu
Haikal, 22; and Ghadeer 'Imad Abu Haikal, 17. Israeli occupation
forces also arrested 4 members of the two families, including one
child:
1.
'Abdul 'Aziz
Rateb Abu Haikal, 66;
2.
Fahed 'Abdul
'Aziz Abu Haikal, 24;
3.
'Imad Rateb
Abu Haikal, 49; and
4.
Sami 'Imad
Abu Haikal, 17.
Israeli occupation forces released 3
of the detainees on bail, but kept the fourth, 'Imad Abu Haikal, in
custody.
Saturday,
19 December 2009
·
At
approximately 02:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into Tubas
town. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests
were reported.
·
Also at
approximately 02:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into Qabatya
village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of
houses, but no arrests were reported.
Sunday, 20
December 2009
·
At
approximately 02:30, Israeli occupation forces moved into Bal'ein
village, west of Ramallah. They raided two houses belonging to
Mohammed 'Ali Yassin and 'Abdul Fattah Bernat and forced the two
families out. They searched the two houses and asked about Ibrahim
Bernat and Yassin Yassin who were not at home at the time. Israeli
troops confiscated portraits made by Ibrahim Bernat from
rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs used
by occupation forces against demonstrations in the village. Israeli
forces have been searching for the two civilians for more than 5
months for participating in peaceful demonstrations against the
construction of the Annexation Wall.
·
At
approximately 22:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into al-'Arroub
refugee camp, north of Hebron. A number of Palestinian children
gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Israeli
troops chased the children and arrested one of them, 14-year-old
Mohammed Yasser Jawabra.
Monday, 21 December 2009
·
At
approximately 01:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into Beit Ummar
village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of
houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1.
Muntasser
Mohammed Ebraighaith, 19; and
2.
Mohammed
Sa'id Abu 'Ayash, 24.
·
At
approximately 01:30, Israeli occupation forces moved into Balata
refugee camp, east of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and
opened fire. They withdrew later and no casualties or arrests were
reported.
·
At
approximately 02:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into Jalboun
village, east of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested Yousef Tawfiq Abu al-Rub, 45.
·
Also at
approximately 02:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into Rummana
village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of
houses, but no arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 22
December 2009
·
At
approximately 00:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into Yatta
village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of
houses, but no arrests were reported.
·
At
approximately 01:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into Qalqilya.
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Isma'il
'Abdullah 'Abdul Hafez, 27, and arrested him.
2.
Continued Siege on the OPT
Israel has 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
continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more
than two 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.
·
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 the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic
needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.
·
Israel has
continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into
the Gaza Strip for more than two years.
·
Israel has
not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited
amounts of cooking gas, since 10 December 2008.
·
The
Rafah International Crossing Point
has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received
medical treatment abroad and needed to retur
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