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

· 3 members of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades were killed and a civilian pedestrian was wounded by IOF in the central Gaza Strip in a new extra-judicial execution.

· A Palestinian civilian was killed by IOF when approaching the border in northern the Gaza Strip.

· IOF warplanes continued to bombard civilian establishments in the Gaza Strip.

- Plastic recycling workshop was destroyed and a construction materials company and several houses were damaged in the east of Gaza city.

· IOF continued to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the Gaza Strip.

- IOF fired at Palestinian shepherds and farmers in northern the Gaza Strip.

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

- A Palestinian civilian was wounded in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. 

- IOF arrested three Palestinian civilians.

· IOF conducted 51 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  

- IOF arrested 18 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.

- IOF arrested Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Maher Badr, from his house in Hebron.

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

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

- The Israeli municipality in Jerusalem approved the construction of 920 new settlement units in "Gilo" settlement.

- IOF bulldozed lands in Masha village and established 10 settlement units in "Etz Efraim" settlement in the west of Salfit.

- Israeli settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (31 March – 06 April 2011):

Shooting:

During the reporting period, IOF killed 3 members of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and wounded a Palestinian pedestrian in the central Gaza Strip in an extra-judicial execution.  IOF also killed a Palestinian civilian in the northern Gaza Strip.  IOF wounded a Palestinian civilian in the West Bank in a peaceful demonstration against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF extra-judicially executed three members of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and wounded a pedestrian in Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip.  An IOF spokesman announced that the Israeli Air Force implemented this operation jointly with the Internal General Security Service of Israel (Shabak) and the Israeli army against three members of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades.  IOF claimed that the executed Palestinians were planning to kidnap Israelis from Sinai.

 On 05 April 2011, IOF used lethal excessive force to kill a Palestinian who was approximately 80 meters to the west of the border with Israel in the northern Gaza Strip.  The reasons why this Palestinian was in that area have not been known.

On 03 April 2011, IOF positioned in observation towers on the border in the west of Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun town, opened fire at Palestinian farmers and shepherds who were in their farms in the north and northwest of Beit Hanoun.  No casualties were reported.  On 05 April 2011, IOF warplanes bombarded the al-Sourani mountain area in al-Shaaf neighborhood in the east of Gaza city.  The bombardment targeted a plastic recycling workshop. The workshop was totally destroyed and civilian property and objects in the vicinity sustained damages.

In the West Bank, IOF systematically 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. During the reporting period, IOF wounded a Palestinian civilian, and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten by IOF.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 51 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 18 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and Mohammed Maher Badr, 53, PLC Member from the Change and Reform Bloc, who was arrested from his house in Ein Sara neighborhood in the north of Hebron. 

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 totally closed al-Mentar "Karni" crossing in the beginning of March 2011. Al-Mentar crossing is located in the east of Gaza city.  Since its establishment in 2005, the crossing had served as Gaza's major commercial crossing.  It was Gaza's largest border crossing in terms of its capacity to absorb imports and exports.  IOF's decision to totally close the crossing is the culmination of several previous decisions taken by IOF in the context of a plan aimed at tightening the strangulation of the Gaza Strip and making Karm Abu Salem crossing, which is not suitable for commercial purposes, as Gaza's major and sole commercial crossing.

· For approximately one month, imports allowed into Gaza have decreased by less than 23.3% in comparison with daily number of truckloads which used to be allowed into Gaza before mid June 2007 when approximately 570 truckloads were daily allowed into Gaza via different border crossings.

· The above numbers demonstrate that Karm Abu Salrm crossing cannot meet Gaza's needs which used to be delivered to Gaza via four border crossings.  Karm Abu Salem crossing is also unsuitable to receive Gaza's exports because it is not technically equipped to transfer goods and its absorptive capacity is very limited making the crossing unsuitable to receive the same numbers of truckloads which used to be exported via al-Mentar crossing before tightening the siege in June 2007.

· The closure of al-Mentar crossing and the dependence on Karm Abu Salem crossing resulted in the aggravation of the suffering of industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors in the Gaza Strip, created more obstacles in the face of the movement of the limited goods allowed into Gaza and resulted in the increase of the transportation costs which in turn will result in the increase of prices of Gaza's imports and in the infliction of additional costs on Gaza exporters (who export agricultural crops allowed by IOF).

· The cooking gas crisis which renewed four months ago has continued to exist as IOF closed Nahal Oz crossing, which used to be dedicated for the delivery of fuel to Gaza and shifted fuel supplies to Karm Abu Salem crossing which is not technically equipped to receive Gaza's needs of fuel.  IOF banned the delivery of cooking gas to Gaza for 15 days and allowed the delivery of limited quantities of cooking gas for 24 days only.  During the reporting period, IOF allowed the delivery of approximately 4,530 tons of cooking gas to Gaza (less than 116 tons per day in average). This average represents 39% of Gaza's actual daily needs.  During winter, Gaza daily needs 300 tons of cooking gas.

· 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.  Facts on the ground refute IOF's allegation that they daily allow the exportation of 10 truckloads of agricultural products.

· Recently, IOF allowed the exportation of very limited quantities of Gaza's agricultural products, including flowers and tomatoes, to European markers.

· IOF allowed the weekly delivery of 20 small cars to the Gaza Strip. In July 2010, IOF declared that they would allow the delivery of 60 cars to Gaza every week.

· 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 to international organizations. As part of what IOF call the easing of the siege which was declared in July 2010, IOF allowed the delivery of approximately 70,000 tons of construction aggregate, 3,250 tons of cement and 1,315 tons of iron bars for UNRWA, UNDP, ANERA and Coastal Municipalities Water Utility.

· 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 45 months,  IOF have continued to deny approximately 710 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, further confiscating 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 a permit issued by the 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.

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 April 2011, IOF continued bulldozing works in Beit Abu Zreiq area in the west of Masha village which is located behind the annexation wall in the west of Salfit. The bulldozing works were conducted to expand "Etz Efraim" settlement . Chairman of the local council of Masha village stated to PCHR that IOF recently constructed 10 settlement units, including six completed units and 4 ones under construction.

On Monday, 04 April 2011, the Israeli "Organization and Construction Committee" in occupied Jerusalem approved a plan to establish 942 new settlement units on an area measuring 270 donums in "Gilo" settlement between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The Israeli radio quoted sources from the Israeli occupation municipality in Jerusalem as saying that "During the last four decades, no changes have been made to the policy of the Israeli government and municipality. There is broad consensus among Israelis to continue the construction works in Jerusalem."

Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank in violation of the International Humanitarian Law have continued to commit systematic crimes against Palestinian civilians and their property. These crimes are usually committed in full view of IOF which provide consistent protection to settlers and ignore opening investigations into complaints submitted by Palestinian civilians against settlers who attack them.

On 31 March 2011, approximately 20 settlers from "Kiryat Arba" settlement acted provocatively while passing on the road connecting "Kiryat Arba" settlement and the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old town of Hebron. A number of them beat Basem Bassam Jaber, 28, who sustained bruises to the upper part of his body. The settlers then attacked 3 small shops on both sides of the road in a trial to terrorize the Palestinian owners and attack them.

On 01 April 2011, a number of settlers from "Beit Hadassah" settlement located on al-Shuhada street which is blocked by IOF in the face of Palestinians poured incendiary materials on sunshades installed in front dozens of shops with the aim to set these shops alight.

 Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (31 March – 06 April 2011)

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

Thursday, 31 March 2011

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses in al-Jelda, Eisa and Abu Kteila neighborhoods.  They withdraw at approximately 03:00. Before withdrawing, they arrested three Palestinians and transferred them to "Kfar Etzion" detention center northern Hebron and then to "Ofer" prison in the southwest of Ramallah. The arrested Palestinians are:

1. Munir Izzat Mohammed Dofash, 21, who is a student at Palestine Polytechnic University;
2. Mohannad Mohammed Hasan Syaj, 24, who is owner of a shop; and
3. Tamer Hafez Karim al-Haymouni, 28, who is a taxi driver.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF who have been blocking the entrances of Beit Ummar village in the north of Hebron and imposing military siege on the village for the ninth consecutive day stormed the village again.  They raided and searched many houses and checked the ID cards of local civilians.  Before withdrawing, they arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. Nedal Husni Husein Zaaqiq , 19;

2. Mohammed Husni Husein Zaaqiq, 16; and

3. Shehda Jaafar Yousef Adi, 18.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Dheisheh refugee camp, south of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a house in the Eastern Neighborhood and arrested Munir Maarouf Abdul Hamid Amr, 18.

· At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no house raids or arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Faroun village, south of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no house raids or arrests were reported.

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Ein Sara neighborhood in the north of Hebron.  They raided a house belonging to Mohammed Maher Badr, 53, PLC Member from the Change and Reform Bloc, and arrested him.

· At approximately 10:15, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no house raids or arrests were reported.

· At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghsoun village, north of Tulkarm.  They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no house raids or arrests were reported.

· At approximately 11:45, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no house raids or arrests were reported.

Saturday, 02 April 2011

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and raided a Barrack. They delivered a notice to Zeyad Saleh Quraan requiring him to appear before the Israeli Intelligence. Later, they withdrew and no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into the open farms between Brouqin village and Kafrit village, southwest of Jenin. They scanned the area.  They withdrew later and no incidents or arrests were reported.

· At approximately 10:50, IOF moved into Kafr Addik village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no house raids or arrests were reported.

· At approximately 10:55, IOF moved into Brouqin village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no house raids or arrests were reported.

· At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Jbara village which is isolated from its surroundings as it is located behind the annexation wall