IOF use force to disperse peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.

16 Palestinian civilians, including 3 journalists, were wounded in peaceful protests organized in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

30 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded in peaceful demonstration organized on the 64^th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.  

Dozens of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

IOF arrested 5 demonstrators, including a Polish human rights defender.

IOF conducted 41 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.   

IOF arrested 13 Palestinian civilians, including two children.

IOF continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

IOF arrested two 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.

IOF arrested two Palestinian civilians at various checkpoints in the West Bank.

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

Israeli settlers uprooted 15 grape saplings and seized 6 dunums of agricultural land in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.

Israeli settlers uprooted 14 trees in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (10 – 16 May 2012):

Shooting:

During the reporting period, IOF wounded 46 Palestinian civilians, including 3 journalists and 4 children, during the dispersion of peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and on the 64^th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba – the uprooting of the Palestinian people from their lands in 1948.  Dozens of civilians also suffered from tear gas inhalation.  IOF also arrested 5 demonstrators, including a Palestinian woman and a female Polish human rights defender.

In the Gaza Strip, on 10 May 2012, Israeli naval troops arrested two Palestinian fishermen in the northern Gaza City, but released them later.  IOF also confiscated the fishing boat. 

Incursions:

During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 41 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  During these incursions, IOF arrested 13 Palestinian civilians, including two children.  

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.

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. 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.

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.

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 11 May 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from "Eli’azer" settlement uprooted 150 grape saplings belonging in al-'Absiya area in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. 

On 12 May 2012, Israeli settlers stormed a plot of land belonging to Mohammed Mustafah Ghunaim whose area is 6 dunums in 'Ein al-Qissis area in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.  When Ghunaim went to his land to farm it, the settlers expelled him and informed him that they confiscated it. 

On 13 May 2012, an Israeli settler from "Karmi Tsur" settlement to the south of Bethlehem attacked a Palestinian farmer when he was on his land.  The settler ordered the farmer to leave his land, and when he refused, the settlers threw stones at him and beat him.  The settler threw stones also at a bulldozer that was working on the land.  Soon, IOF arrived at the area and attacked the farmer.  They destroyed the windows of his car and of the bulldozer. 

On the same day, Israeli settlers from "Beit 'Ain" settlement to the north of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, uprooted 14 trees.   

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (10 – 16 May 2012)

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

Thursday, 10 May 2012

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bourin village, south of Nablus.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians:

1. Bashar Dakhil 'Eid, 41;

2. Ibrahim Jaber al-Najjar, 40;

3. Hammam Raghdan al-Najjar, 26;

4. Hamdan Waleed 'Eid, 21;

5. 'Alaa’ Mohammed Qadous, 24;

6. Qussai Jamal Qadous, 19; and

7. Ashraf Suleiman Qadous, 20.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including two children:

1. Aysar 'Abdul Rahman Badawi, 18;

2. Mohammed Mahmoud al-Sabatin, 17;

3. Ahmed 'Azmi al-Titi, 17; and

4. Mohammed Khalil 'Adarba, 20.

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sufian Ghassan al-Hassasna, 21, and arrested him.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Bireh.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 05:30, an Israeli gunboat stopped a fishing boat nearly 500 meter off Beit Lahia shore in the northern Gaza Strip.  Jiahd and Zaher Mohammed al-Sultan, 44 and 20 respectively, were on board the boat.  Israeli naval troops opened fire at the boat and ordered the fishermen to take their clothes off, jump into the water and swim towards an Israeli gunboat.  The naval troops arrested the two fishermen and transported them to Ashdod Harbor inside Israeli.  The two fishermen were released at approximately 16:30 on the same day after having been interrogated by IOF.  However, the fishing boat and tools were confiscated.

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Deir Dibwan village, northeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Also at approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Kufor Ne’ma village, west 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 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 11:50, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They raided a house belonging to the family of 'Abdullah Mousa Barham, 22, and summoned him for interrogation. 

At approximately 15:10, IOF moved into Marda village, north of Salfit.  They raided a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Bassam Ebdah, 18, and summoned him for interrogation.

At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into al-'Ouja village, north of Jericho.  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-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Jalboun village, east of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 19:50, IOF moved into al-Zawia village, west of Salfit.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 22:40, IOF moved into Jericho.  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 Beit Qad village, east of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported. 

Friday, 11 May 2012

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Jericho.  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 Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Najeeb Mohammed Murshed, 19, and arrested him.

At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into Beit 'Aur al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah.  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 Khirbat Abu Falah village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 09:45, 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 15:00, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of Jericho.  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 Turmos’iya village, north of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Saturday, 12 May 2012  

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Beit Qad village, east of Jenin.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Beer al-Basha village, south of Jenin.  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 Marj Ne’ma village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 14:30, IOF moved into al-Teera village, southwest 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 al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Also at approximately 17:00, IOF moved into al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Sunday, 13 May 2012

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into al-Mazra’a al-Qibliya village, northwest of Ramallah.  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 Beit 'Aur al-Tahta village, west of Ramallah.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Monday, 14 May 2012

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron.  They raided two houses and summoned two Palestinian civilians for interrogation: Mo’taz Nasser 'Awadh, 20; and Yahia Adam Ekhlil, 23.

At approximately 22:20, IOF moved into Jainsafout village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

At approximately 11:15, IOF moved into Janisafout village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 11:40, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 20:25, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  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 Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests 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 solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike.  As a result, 16 Palestinian civilians, including 3 journalists, were wounded, and dozens of others suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

Following the Friday Prayer on 11 May 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 in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike.  The demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag and portraits of a number of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails and called for ending the political split.  They then moved towards areas of annexation wall.  Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 11 May 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.  The demonstrators moved towards areas of the annexation wall.   Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Also following the Friday prayer on 11 May 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike.  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, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

At approximately 13:15, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village.  The demonstrators moved towards the entrance.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them.  As a result, 10 Palestinian civilians, including 3 journalists.  Additionally, some areas of agricultural land were burnt by tear gas canisters, and IOF obstructed extinguishing fire by fire engines.   The journalists who were wounded are:

1. Ajwad Jaradat, 25, a reporter of Palestine Television, hit by a tear gas canister to the right foot;

2. Ja’far Eshtayeh, 42, a cameraman of France Press, hit by a tear gas canister to the abdomen; and

3. 'Alaa’ Badarna, 42, a freelance journalist, hit by a tear gas canister to the abdomen.  

On Saturday noon, 12 May 2012, IOF attacked dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders who organized a peaceful demonstration in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and attempted to reach the area located neat "Karmi Tsur," protesting plans to expand the settlement.  They also violently beat a 3 Palestinian journalists: Tha’er Faqqousa, a cameraman of Palestine Television; Ma’moun Wazwaz, a cameraman of Reuters; and 'Aamer 'Aabdin, a photographer of Palmedia.

Other Peaceful Demonstrations

Following the Friday Prayer on 11 May 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in 'Aaboud village, northwest of Ramallah, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who had been on hunger strike.  They moved towards the eastern entrance of the village.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers positioned in the area fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstration.  As a result, a demonstrator was wounded by several rubber-coated metal bullets throughout the body, and another one was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right eye (PCHR keeps their names).  IOF also arrested Ahmed Mohammed 'Abdul Majid, 20, but released him at approximately 03:00 on the following day.

At the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians, including families of Palestinians prisoners in Israeli jails demonstrated near Oufar Prison, southwest of Ramallah, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike.  Israeli soldiers fired at the demonstrators, wounding one of them with a tear gas canister to the face (PCHR keeps his name). 

Demonstration Marking the 64^th Anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba

IOF used force to disperse demonstrators, who participated in peaceful demonstrations in the West Bank on the 64^th anniversary of Nakba – the uprooting the Palestinian people from the land in 1948 – on Tuesday, 15 May 2011. As a result, 30 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were wounded.  IOF also arrested 3 demonstrators, including a woman and a Polish human rights defender.  The woman and the human rights defender were released later.

At approximately 09:30 on Tuesday, 15 May 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration near Ne’lin checkpoint, west of Ramallah on the 64^th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.  IOF closed the checkpoint and attacked the demonstrators.  They arrested 3 demonstrators, including a woman and a female Polish human rights defender.  They released the two women, but kept the third demonstrator, Naji Mohammed Tamimi, 50, in custody. 

At approximately 11:30 also on Tuesday, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration near Qalandya refugee camp, south of Ramallah.  They moved towards Qalandya checkpoint at the northern entrance of Jerusalem.  They set fire to car tires and threw stones at IOF.  Immediately, IOF fired at them.  Four demonstrators, including a child, were wounded (PCHR keeps their names).  Additionally, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

On Tuesday noon, dozens of Palestinian civilians, including students from Bir Zeit University, organized a peaceful demonstration near Oufar Prison, southwest of Ramallah.  They moved towards the gate of the prison.  Immediately, IOF closed the gate and fired at the demonstrators.  As a result, 26 demonstrators, including 3 children, were wounded (PCHR keeps their names).

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 nearly 5 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.

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.

For approximately five consecutive years, IOF have continued to ban the delivery of construction materials