A Palestinian resistance activist was killed and 3 others were wounded by Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.

IOF have continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

3 Palestinian civilians and an Israeli human rights defender were wounded.

IOF arrested 6 civilians, including two journalists and 3 international human rights defenders.

The Israeli Navy has continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

IOF conducted 61 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.   

IOF arrested 43 Palestinians, including 3 children.

IOF waged a campaign of arrests against members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Hamas, and raided the office of Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in Tulkarm.

Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

Israeli soldiers arrested 9 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, at various checkpoints in the West Bank.

Israeli has continued efforts to create a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.

IOF deported PLC Member Ahmed Attoun from Jerusalem to Ramallah.

IOF demolished 3 houses and forced two Palestinian civilians to demolish their houses by themselves. 

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

IOF demolished two houses and a factory in Qalqilya.

Israeli settlers attacked an old Palestinian man and fired at a shepherd to the east of Nablus.

Israeli settlers set fire at the entrance of a mosque in Brouqin village near Salfit.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (01 – 07 December 2011):

Shooting:

During the reporting period, IOF killed a member of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 3 others seriously on the Gaza Strip.  They also wounded 3 Palestinian civilians and an Israeli human rights defender in peaceful protests in the West Bank. 

In the Gaza Strip, on 07 December 2011, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a number of activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in the east of Gaza City.  As a result, an activist was killed and two others were seriously wounded.  On the same day, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a 4^th activist in the southeast of Gaza City.  He was seriously wounded. 

During the reporting period, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials, at farmers who were working on their lands and at shepherds in the north and south of the Gaza Strip.  No casualties were reported.  Israeli gunboats also fired at Palestinian fishing boats, but no casualties were reported.

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, 3 Palestinian civilians and an Israeli human rights defender were wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF also arrested 6 civilians, including two journalists and 3 international human rights defenders.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 61 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 43 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.     

During the reporting period, IOF waged an arrest campaign that targeted leaders, activists and supporters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian on the eve of the 44^th anniversary of its establishment.

IOF also stormed the offices of PLC Members from the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas in Tulkarm, and confiscated some of its contents.

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 Stri, 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 53 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

During the reporting period, IOF demolished 3 Palestinian houses in East Jerusalem, claiming that they were built without licenses.  They also forced two Palestinians to demolish their houses by themselves. 

On 06 December 2011, IOF deported PLC Member Ahmed Mohammed Attoun, 43, from Jerusalem to Ramallah.  PCHR considers that IOF’s decision to deport Attoun amounts to forcible displacement. The deportation of protected persons is prohibited under Article 49 of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. PCHR notes that this measure is part of the continued deportation of PLC members who were elected by the Palestinian people in the elections of 2006.

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 03 December 2011, Israeli settlers violently beat an old Palestinian civilian near Nablus.  He sustained bruises.  They also fired at a Palestinian shepherd, but he was not hurt. 

On 05 December 2011, IOF demolished two houses al-Ramadin village, south of Qalqilya, and a factory in 'Azzoun village, east of the town. 

On 07 December 2011, Israeli settlers set fire to the gate of a mosque in Brouqin village.  They also burnt a car and a digger in the village.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (01 – 07 December 2011)

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

Thursday, 01 December 2011

At approximately 00:45, IOF moved into Marah As’ad neighborhood in the southeast of Jenin.  They surrounded a house belonging to 'Abdul Nasser 'Abdul 'Afu 'Abdul 'Aziz (Nasser 'Aziz), 55, Member of the Central Committee of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Acting Chairman of the General Union of Palestinian Studnets.  They knocked the door and ordered residents of the house to get out.  When 'Abdul 'Aziz opened the door, Israeli soldiers questioned him shortly, and then arrested him.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Marah neighborhood.  They raided a 3-storey apartment building belonging to the al-Zughaibi family.  They then ordered Silah Khalil al-Zughabi, 51, to get down from his flat on the last floor.  When he did, they arrested him.  IOF raided also a nearby house belonging to 'Abdullah 'Afif Zakarna, 48, and arrested him. 

At the same time, IOF raised a house belonging to Ahmed Yousef Abu al-Haija, 37, in al-Jabriyat neighborhood.  His wife opened the door for them and told them that her husband suffers from a 70% physical handicap.  They entered his room and ordered his wife to change his clothes.  They then arrested him.  It should be noted that Abu al-Haija was wounded by an explosive bullet fired by an Israeli tank in 2002, which caused a partial physical handicap to him. 

At the same time, IOF raided a two-storey apartment building belonging to the Abu Sakha family in Nazareth Street in the north of Jenin, after blowing up its gate.  They arrested Zaher Nafez Abu Sakha, 45.

Also at the same time, IOF moved into al-Sikka neighborhood in the south of Jenin.  They raided a house belonging to Mazen Mohammed al-Zuraiqi, 46, Director of Handicapped Rehabilitation Society in Qabatya village, and arrested him.  It should be noted that al-Zuraiqi’s mother had passed away two days earlier. 

At the same time, IOF moved into al-Bassatin neighborhood in the north of Jenin.  They raided and searched a house belonging to Zuhair 'Abdul Ra’ouf Zughaibi, 61, and arrested him.

At the same time, IOF moved into the old town of Jenin.  They raided and searched a house belonging to Fadaa’ 'Abdul Ra’ouf Zughaibi, 44, and arrested him. 

At the same time, IOF moved into Kharrouba neighborhood in the north of Jenin.  They raided a house belonging to Samah 'Abdulllah al-Zughaibi, 44, and arrested him. 

Also at the same time, IOF moved into al-'Arma neighborhood in the north of Jenin.  They raided and searched a house belonging to 'Alam Sami Masad. 42, and arrested him.

Also at approximately 00:45, IOF moved into 'Arbouna village, north of Jenin.  They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Saleh Abu Hassan, 70, and arrested him.

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. Sajed 'Abdul Latif Mlaitat, 40;

2. Ayman 'Aaref Hajj Mohammed, 44; and

3. Mohammed Yousef Abu Ghilmi, 38.

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tubas.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ashraf Mohye al-Din Hamama, 35, and arrested him.

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah.  They raided and searched a house belonging to Mustafa Kamel Badarna, 47, who was released from Israeli jails in the context of the latest swap deal of prisoners, and summoned him for interrogation.

Approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Doha village, south of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Aatef Abu 'Aker, and arrested his child, 15-year-old Mohammed.

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Zaid Mohammed al-Harimi, 17, and arrested him. 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched house belonging to 'Abdul Hai 'Abdul 'Aziz Shousa, 40, and his brothers, Ibrahim and Mahmoud, 40 and 30 respectively, and arrested the three brothers.

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Jericho and the neighboring 'Ein al-Sultan refugee camp.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 08:40, IOF moved into Deir Estia village, north of Salfit.  They established a checkpoint at the entrance of the village.  They withdrew later, and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Deir Ghassana village, northwest of Ramallah.   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 Beit Siera village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Bidya village, northwest of Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 15:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, traveling in a civilian vehicle.  The vehicles stopped near a coffee shop belonging to Shihab Hussein Mizher, 35.  Israeli soldiers stepped down and arrested Mizher.  Soon after, IOF military vehicles moved into the camp to secure the withdrawal of the undercover unit. 

At approximately 16:30, IOF moved into 'Arrana village, north of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 18:00, 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 18:30, IOF moved into al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya village, north of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, north of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Faqqou’a village, northeast of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Friday, 02 December 2011

At approximately 00:0, IOF moved into Kufol 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 01:00, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. Jameel Ibrahim Badrasawi, 64;

2. Haitham Jameel Badrasawi, 25; and

3. Yasser Ibrahim Badrasawi, 47.

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Qadhi area, south of Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Abdul 'Aadel 'Awni Abu Mayala, 22, and arrested him.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Yousef Da’dou’, 21, and arrested him.

At approximately 06:30, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and no casualties were reported.

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  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 Budros village, west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Khrabtha al-Misbah village, west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 16:30, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of bird hunters nearly 300 meters away.  The hunters were forced to leave the area and no casualties were reported.

Saturday, 03 December 2011

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Tirah neighborhood in the southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Shawawra village, east of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud 'Eissa Rabai’a, 23, and summoned him for interrogation.

At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Deir Abu Da’if village, east of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Also at approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Um al-Tout village, southeast of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Saffa village, west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Beit 'Aur al-Tahta, west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Also at approximately 17:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Rafah opened fire at a number of Palestinian fishermen near Gaza International Airport in the southeast of Rafah.  No casualties were reported.

At approximately 18:30, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and no casualties were reported.

Also at approximately 18:30, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Rafah beach in the southern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats.  Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the beach and no casualties were reported.

At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, north of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 23:50, IOF moved into Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Sunday, 04 December 2011

At approximately 00:35, 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 09:30, IOF moved into Jafna village, north of Ramallah.  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 Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 10:15, IOF moved into Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Deir Jarir village, nor