Israeli Forces Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

· Israeli forces continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

- Seven civilians, including two children and a journalist, were injured.

- Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

- Israeli forces arrested two solidarity activists.

· Israeli forces continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in border areas of the Gaza Strip and fishermen at sea.

- Two children were injured, one of them at sea and the other while collecting raw construction materials.

· Israeli forces conducted twenty-one incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

- Israeli forces arrested twenty-three Palestinian civilians, including seven children.

· Israel has continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem.

- Israeli forces forced a Palestinian civilian to demolish his house.

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

- Thirteen tents and one inhabited hut were destroyed in the Northern Valley.

· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Str4ip from the outside world.

- Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank arrested two Palestinian civilians.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (01 – 06 July 2010):

Shooting: During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded nine civilians, including four children, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  

In the West Bank, Israeli forces used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities. As a result, seven civilians, including two children and a journalist, were wounded. Israeli forces also violently beat a number of demonstrators. 

On 02 July 2010, three Palestinian civilians, including two children, sustained shrapnel wounds in a peaceful demonstration in "Wadi Rahhal" village, south of Bethlehem. In the same demonstration, eight demonstrators, including three international solidarity activists suffered from tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten by the Israeli forces.

On 04 July 2010, four demonstrators, including a child and a journalist, sustained wounds in the weekly peaceful demonstration in Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem.  A girl also suffered from tear gas inhalation and a number of participants in the demonstration sustained bruises as they were severely beaten by the Israeli forces.

In the Gaza Strip, on 05 July 2010, the Israeli forces wounded two children and killed a horse in two separate incidents.

At approximately 10:30, Israeli gunboats positioned at sea near the Gaza port, west of Gaza city, fired at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing approximately two miles off Gaza shore.  'Allam Naser Fadel Bakr, 14, from al-Shati refugee camp, was wounded as a result by two bullets in the abdomen.  The boat on which 'Allam and his father and brother were onboard was struck by two bullets in its hull.

At approximately 13:00, Israeli forces positioned on observation towers near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian workers who were collecting raw construction materials. On of the workers, Ahmed Nafez Khader Hamdan, 13, from Beit Hanoun, was wounded by a bullet in the abdomen as a result.  Ahmed was approximately 700 meters far from the borders when he was wounded.  In addition, the horse that transported Ahmed to the area was killed.

In other firing and bombarding incidents, on 01 July 2010, an Israeli F16 fighter fired a missile at Abu Jarad site near Netsarim intersection in al-Zeitoon neighborhood, east of Gaza city. The site was previously used by the National Security and is currently used by al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas armed wing). The attack caused damages to the gate and the western wall of the site and no casualties were reported.

On 02 July 2010, an Israeli F16 fighter fired a missile at Gaza International airport, southeast of Rafah.  The missile hit the runway and no casualties were reported.

Incursions: During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least twenty-one military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested twenty-three Palestinian civilians, including seven children.

During the reporting period, Israeli forces arrested two international solidarity activists who were participating in a peaceful demonstration in "Wadi Rahhal", south of Bethlehem.  The two activists suffered bruises throughout the body after they were severely beaten by the Israeli forces.  They were transported to "Kfar Etzion" settlement, south of Bethlehem, where they were held for six hours before being released.

Through PCHR documentation of violations committed by the Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians and their property in the West Bank, it is clear that the Israeli forces are deliberate in their maltreatment of Palestinians, terrorizing them while raiding their houses and causing damages to their houses.

On 01 July 2010, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters at Palestinian houses and at their surroundings.  Three civilians, including a child who suffers from leukemia, suffered from tear gas inhalation.  Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, activist in the Popular Committee against Settlement, told the PCHR fieldworker that the Israeli forces deliberately fired a tear gas canister into a house belonging to Ahmed Mohammed Abu Maria.  Three people in the house suffered from gas inhalation as a result and were taken to a medical center for treatment.  The child suffering from leukemia was transferred later to a hospital in Hebron because his conditions deteriorated.

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 approximately three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed 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.  

· During the reporting period, the Israeli authorities announced the alleviation of the siege imposed on the
Gaza Strip. This siege constitutes a form of collective punishment illegally imposed on the civilian population. The Israeli policies must be radically changed in order to terminate this crisis. PCHR emphasizes that the announced steps do not constitute sufficient change and that the situation will remain the same.

· The illegal siege of the Gaza Strip has created a humanitarian crisis as well as a crisis of human rights and human dignity of Gaza civilians. The recent announcements about the alleviation of the siege are vague and ambiguous, and the measures can not terminate the crisis.  To alleviate the ongoing crisis, the siege—including the restrictions on the movement to and from the Gaza Strip and the ban on the movement of exports—must be immediately and totally lifted.  PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy aims at pushing the Gaza Strip towards a new stage of unjust siege, which may be internationally accepted.  Under this stage, Palestinians may not endure the same suffering with regard to the shortage of goods; however, they will continue to be economically dependent; they will continue to be unable to run their own affairs, and they will remain socially, culturally and academically isolated from the world.

· Increasing the number of items allowed to enter Gaza does not legitimize this recently announced policy, which is not consistent with Israel's legal obligations as an occupying power and with its other legal obligations under international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which was ratified by Israel.  The Quartet stated that the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip are not acceptable and can not be solved through the provision of humanitarian aid.  The International Committee of the Red Cross stressed that the permanent solution requires total and immediate termination of the siege.

· Facts collected by PCHR from the field refute the Israeli allegations regarding alleviation of the siege on the Gaza Strip and reduction of restrictions imposed on the delivery of goods.  No significant change has been observed with regard to the movement at commercial crossings.  A total ban has continued to be imposed on the export of products from Gaza while the Israeli forces have continued to ban the delivery of the majority of basic goods necessary for the civilian population.  Major General Eitan Dangot, Coordinator of the Israeli Government Activities in the Territories, announced last week that 150 truckloads would be allowed to enter Gaza daily.  He also announced that electrical appliances, material required for house reparation and wood furniture would be allowed to Gaza.  However, the local market has not witnessed any changes in this regard.

· The Israeli announcement regarding the entry of new items (such as soft drinks, juices, canned fruits, salads, biscuits, potato chips and mayonnaise) into Gaza and the subsequent announcement regarding the Israeli intention to allow the delivery of electrical appliances, material required for house reparation and wood furniture are attempts to delude the international community.  The items allowed to enter Gaza do not meet the minimal basic needs of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

· The Head of Goods Delivery Coordination Committee of the Palestinian Authority announced that the items allowed by the Israeli authorities to enter Gaza do not exceed 135 items, including 92 commercial items, 33 agricultural items and 10 types of grains.  Before mid June 2007, approximately 9,000 items were allowed to enter Gaza.  It should be noted that the local market in Gaza does not need the items which were allowed to enter Gaza recently as these items are brought in large quantities from Egypt through tunnels.

· Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of construction materials, especially cement, iron bars and aggregate, to the Gaza Strip in spite of the pressing need to reconstruct thousands of houses and public facilities which were destroyed during the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.  Construction works on housing units and in al-Quds Hospital, which are overseen by UNRWA, continue to be suspended due to the shortage in construction materials.  The Israeli authorities allowed the delivery of limited quantities of aggregate and base course for UNRWA projects, totaling 1,380 tons and 1,140 tons respectively.  The Israeli authorities allowed the delivery of 17% of the construction materials required for the implementation of two housing projects.  Gaza needs 3,000 tons of cement, 2,500 tons of aggregate and 2,000 tons of iron bars daily.  The Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Gaza announced that Gaza needs the immediate delivery of 1.1 million tons of cement, 2.5 million tons of aggregate and 1,000 tons of iron bars in order to reconstruct Gaza and the infrastructures of the housing sector.

· The Israeli authorities have continued to impose a total ban on the export of products from Gaza to the outside world, including the West Bank and Israel.  This ban has inflicted heavy losses on all sectors of the economy in the Gaza Strip, especially those who were dependent on marketing their products in the West Bank and Israel.  The majority of these establishments have been forced to close as a result.

· Al-Mentar "Karni" crossing which was dedicated for the export of products from the Gaza Strip to Israel, the West Bank and aboard has been closed since 13 June 2008.  It was operational for brief periods to deliver limited quantities of grains and fodders to Gaza.  Before the closure of the crossing, 80% of the Palestinian external trade was with Israel, and 90% of exports from Gaza were directed to Israel and the West Bank.  Since June 2007, the Israeli authorities allowed—only after an intervention from the Israeli Supreme Court—the export of 20% of flowers produced in Gaza for export and 4% of strawberries.  According to the estimates of the Agricultural Cooperative of Strawberry, Vegetable and Flower Farmers, Gaza produces approximately 60 million flowers and 1,500 tons of strawberries for the external market annually.  The continued economic and social strangulation of more than 1.5 million civilians has increased poverty and unemployment in Gaza to unprecedented levels.

· Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing has remained closed during the reporting period for Palestinians.  The Israeli authorities have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of the limited categories of persons allowed to travel via the crossing, which include: Palestinian patients seeking medical treatment, international journalists and employees of international organizations, all of whom are subjected to complicated security measures.

· Rafah International Crossing Point remained exceptionally opened during the reporting period.  Thousands of Palestinian civilians, mostly patients, students enrolled in international universities, holders of work permits abroad and holders of foreign nationalities, were allowed to leave Gaza via the crossing.  According to the Palestinian Crossings and Borders Commission, 9,900 civilians were allowed to leave Gaza and 8,800  others were allowed to enter Gaza via Rafah crossing.

West Bank

Israel has 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 forces have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

· There are approximately 630 permanent 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 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 have 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 lead to eighteen Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by Israeli 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 forces; these permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

· Israeli 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 Israeli forces in Jerusalem and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by Israeli forces.

Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem: Israeli forces have continued to take measures at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem. 

During the reporting period, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem forced Nayef Hamdi Kastero to demolish his house in the old city of Jerusalem, claiming it was built without license.  Mr. Kastero who has a family of five members, including three children, built his house in 2002.  Previously, Mr. Kastero was forced by to pay a 35,000 NIS fine to the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem.

On Monday, 05 July 2010, and Tuesday, 06 July 2010, the Israeli authorities launched a campaign to collect taxes in al-Mesrara market in occupied East Jerusalem.  Eyewitnesses stated to the PCHR fieldworker that the Israeli police and income tax officers raided many shops in al-Masasra market, seizing records an documents and preventing the owners of the shops from moving.  

Settlement Activities: Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law. Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

During the reporting period, Israeli forces moved into al-Ras al-Ahmar, north of Tammoun village, and 'Atouf, southeast of Toubas.  There they destroyed thirteen tents and an inhabited hut. Earlier on 06 June 2010, the Israeli forces delivered notices to the residents in the two areas demanding them to leave the areas. The notices claimed that the two areas are closed military zones. It should be noted that the destroyed tents and hut are used by Palestinian farmers who come from distant areas.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (01 – 06 July 2010)

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

Thursday, 01 July 2010

· At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia city, where they raided and searched a number of houses and arrested eight Palestinian civilians:

1. Walid Sweilem, 23;

2. Ahmed Abdul Razeq Meskawi, 26;

3. Ashraf Abdul Razeq Meskawi, 24, from Kafr Saba;

4. Nemr Mohammed Nemr Zeid, 32, from Zeid al-Shamali neighborhood in Qalqilia;

5. :: Article nr. 67748 sent on 09-jul-2010 02:54 ECT