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

· IOF shot and killed a Palestinian worker in the northern West Bank.

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

- Four international human rights defenders and one Palestinian photojournalist were injured.

- IOF arrested twenty-one civilians, including twelve international human rights defenders, one of whom is Luisa Morgantini.

· IOF continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in border areas of the Gaza Strip.

- One Palestinian civilian was seriously wounded in the northern Gaza Strip.

· IOF bombarded tunnels and civilian property in the Gaza Strip.

- IOF destroyed a plastic and iron pipe store in the central Gaza Strip.

· IOF conducted twenty-five incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and five limited incursions into the Gaza Strip.

- IOF arrested thirteen Palestinian civilians.

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

- Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank arrested nine Palestinian civilians, including six children and one woman.

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

- The Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem has continued to chase and confiscate goods of Palestinian street vendors. 

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

- IOF ordered the halt of construction works n six houses in Ethna village near Hebron.

- Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (22 – 28 July 2010):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian worker and wounded three international human rights defenders, including one from Israel, and a Palestinian photojournalist in the West Bank. They also seriously wounded a Palestinian civilian in the Gaza Strip. 

In the West Bank, on 22 July 2010, IOF killed a Palestinian worker from Qalqilya, near "Burkan" settlement, west of Salfit. Israeli military sources claimed that "a military unit observed two Palestinians, one of whom was armed, when they attempted to cross the settlement's fence. When the two Palestinians did not obey orders to stop, the soldiers fired at them, killing the unarmed one and wounding the armed one, who was able to escape." Investigations conducted by PCHR refute this claim and confirm that none of the targeted persons were armed and that the two men were looking for jobs.

During the reporting period, IOF 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, three international human rights defenders, including one from Israel, and a Palestinian photojournalist were injured. IOF also violently beat a number of demonstrators. IOF also arrested twelve Israeli and international human rights defenders, including Luisa Morgantini, Former Deputy Speaker of the European Parliament, four photojournalists and five Palestinian civilians, including a woman.

In the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian civilian was shot and seriously wounded by IOF while on a tract of land belonging to his grandfather.

On Monday morning, 26 July 2010, Israeli warplanes bombarded tunnels along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. They also bombarded and destroyed a plastic and iron pipe store in the central Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least twenty-five military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested thirteen Palestinian civilians.

Restrictions on Movement: 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 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.  

· On Friday, 01 January 2010, Israeli forces decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently and to divert the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, citing security reasons. 

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

· The principle concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain basic necessities: food, medicine, water and electricity supplies.

· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two and a half years.

· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip since 10 December 2008, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.

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

· Israel had 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.

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

· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated as levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

· At least 800 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than two and a half years. 

· Israeli forces have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza Strip.

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: IOF have continued to take measures at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem. During the reporting period, officials of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem, accompanied by officials of the Property Tax Department, waged a wide-scale campaign against Palestinian stores in Shu'fat village, northeast of Jerusalem. They searched stores and verified their licenses and documents, creating significant tension in the area. Also during the reporting period, officials of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem waged a campaign against Palestinian street vendors. Dozens of officials, accompanied by the Israeli police, were deployed in the streets and they attacked streets vendors and confiscated their goods. It is worth noting that the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem wages repeated campaigns against streets vendors in an attempt to exert economic pressure on Palestinian civilians in the city. 

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 26 July 2010, IOF moved into Ethna village, northwest of Hebron. They handed written notices issued by the Higher Organization Council of the Israeli Civil Administration to Palestinian civilians ordering a halt on construction works for six houses and an agricultural barrack. 

On the same day, dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, moved into the east of Nablus. They conducted Jewish rituals in Joseph Tomb. They left the area at approximately 05:00.

Also on 26 July 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers from "Brakha" settlement, south of Nablus, attacked Palestinian houses in the northwest of Bourin village, south of the city. They threw stones at houses and set fire to the area surrounding the homes. A group of olive trees were burnt and windows of a number of houses were broken. 

Also on the same day, dozens of Israeli settlers from "Yits'har" settlement, south of Nablus, attacked Palestinian houses in the west of Hawara village, south of Nablus and threw stones at the houses. No injuries were reported.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (22 – 28 July 2010)

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

Thursday, 22 July 2010

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Mazra'a al-Gharbiya village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· In the early morning, IOF killed Bilal Ibrahim Abu Libda, 27, from Qalqilya, near "Burkan" settlement, west of Salfit. Israeli military sources claimed that "a military unit observed two Palestinians, one of whom was armed, when they attempted to cross the settlement's fence. When the two Palestinians did not obey orders to stop, the soldiers fired at them, killing the unarmed one, and wounding the armed one, who was able to escape."

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 04:00, Abu Libda, his cousin, Mohammed 'Izziddin Abu Libda, 27, and Ameen Anwar 'Enaya, 27, attempted to enter the industrial zone of "Burkan" settlement, west of Salfit, without work permits. Israeli troops guarding the settlement noticed them and opened fire at them. As a result, Bilal Abu Libda was killed when he was struck by two bullets, while the other two persons fled. The victim was married two months ago and was killed while looking for a job. IOF refused to deliver his body to his family before identifying him, as he did not possess an identity card. They transferred the body to a forensic medical institute and requested the Palestinian liaison department to send one of his relatives to identify him. The other two persons who accompanied Abu Libad testified before the Palestinian Preventive Security Service. They were then summoned by the Palestinian police and were detained for 24 hours for interrogation. When they were released, they refused to provide a PCHR field worker with any information. IOF delivered the victim's body to the Palestinian side at 12:00 on Friday, 23 July 2010. According to Palestinian medical sources, the victim was hit by an explosive bullet to the head and a bullet to the chest. They estimated the range of shooting at the victim at 30 meters. They attributed his death to the explosive bullet that struck his head. 

· At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into 'Anata village, northeast of Jerusalem. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Saturday, 24 July 2010

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of Qaqlilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mamdouh Ibrahim Abu Rabee', 20, and arrested him.

· At approximately 15:10, IOF moved into 'Allar and Baqa al-Sharqiya villages, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported. 

· In the evening, IOF moved into the town of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Sunday, 25 July 2010

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Ethna village, south of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bani Na'im village, northeast of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Sa'ir village, northeast of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nouba village, northwest of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Oula village, northwest of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.  

· In the evening, IOF moved into the town of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

Monday, 26 July 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Shawawra village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed 'Eissa Hamdan, 30, and summonsed him for interrogation.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Zawia village, west of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to Sa'id Mohammed Fares, 48, and arrested him.

· At approximately 03:40, Israeli warplanes dropped a bomb on tunnels along the Egyptian border near al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah. Five minutes later, they dropped another bomb on the area. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 04:20, Israeli warplanes dropped a bomb on tunnels along the Egyptian border near al-Sho'ut area in the south of Rafah. No casualties were reported. An Israeli military spokesman claimed that the Israeli Air Force targeted two tunnels along the Egyptian border in response to a projectile fired at an Israeli community near Gaza during the weekend.

· At approximately 05:00, Israeli warplanes dropped a bomb on a 200-square-meter plastic and iron pipe store belonging to 'Othman Ibrahim al-Hattab, to the northeast of Nussairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The store was completely destroyed and electricity was cut off in al-Zahraa' town and al-Zayoun neighborhood in the south of Gaza City. No casualties were reported. 

· At approximately 09:45, IOF moved into 'Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported. They then moved into the nearby Kufor al-Labad village and patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 27 July 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided a four-storey building belonging to the al-Tanib family. They searched the first floor of the building, which serves as an office for al-Tanib Bus Company. They then went upstairs to the third floor and arrested Ussama Fakhri al-Tanib, 49.  

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a two-storey house belonging to Ma'rouf Mohammed Zahran, Undersecretary of the Palestinian Ministry of Civil Affairs, when he and his wife were on a vacation in Turkey. After searching and damaging the contents of the first floor, they held Zahran's sister and his daughter, 19-year-old Hadeel, in a room on the first floor. They then accompanied Zahran's son, 18-year-old Adam, to the second floor, where they searched and damaged its contents. Two female Israeli soldiers conducted personal searches of Zahran's sister and his daughter. Israeli troops then searched the house again and finally arrested Adam.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They raided an apartment building belonging to the Na'alwa family and arrested Ra'ed and Fadi Raslan Na'alwa, 34 and 26, respectively.  

Wednesday, 28 July 2010

· At approximately 00:40, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported..

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested seven Palestinian civilians:

1. Eyad Jameel Houshiya, 40;

2. Khalil Jameel Houshiya, 25;

3. Mohammed 'Eissa al-Jundi, 20;

4. Wasfi Nasser Nassar, 20;

5. Ahmed Saleem Esrai', 20;