IOF killed 17 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

5 of the victims are civilians, including two children and a physician.

3 workers we missing when Israeli warplanes bombarded a tunnel in Rafah.

A Palestinian resistance activist died of a previous wound in Gaza City.

14 Palestinians, including 5 children and two women, were wounded by IOF the Gaza Strip.

Israeli warplanes launched 41 air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip.

A number of civilian buildings and 6 training sites of Palestinian resistance groups were destroyed or damaged.  

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

A Palestinian civilian was wounded and dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

IOF conducted 27 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  

Two Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF in Hebron and Bethlehem.

IOF arrested 77 Palestinians, including a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, two journalists, academics and social figures. .

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

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on access of Palestinians to Jerusalem during Ramadan Month.

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

Israeli settlers set fire to two cars and bear two children near Ramallah.

Israeli settlers uprooted 52 fruitful trees in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron.

Summary

During the reporting period, IOF launched a new military offensive on the Gaza Strip, which continued for 3 days. They bombarded civilian facilities and training sites of Palestinian resistance groups, and targeted a number of activists of resistance groups. A number of Palestinian civilians, including children and women, were killed were wounded, and a number of civilian facilities were damaged.  This offensive came a few hours following armed attacks in the southern Israeli city of Eilat near the Egyptian border, which left 8 Israelis and 7 attackers killed, and injured a number of other Israelis, according to Israeli media reports. 

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (18 – 24 August 2011):

Shooting:

During the reporting period, IOF killed 17 Palestinians, including 5 civilians (two children, a physician, a worker and a farmers), in the Gaza Strip. They also wounded 20 Palestinians, including 6 children and two women in the Gaza Strip, and 3 others in the West Bank. Additionally, an activist of the Palestinian resistance died of a previous wound in the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, a few hours following the armed attack in Eilat, on Thursday evening, IOF extra-judicially executed 5 members of the Popular Resistance Committees and the child of one of them in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. 

On Friday, 19 August, IOF launched a series of air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip. As a result of these attacks, 5 activists of the Palestinian resistance, a physician and a child were killed and 5 Palestinians, including two children and two women, were wounded.

On Saturday, 20 August 2011, 7 Palestinians, including a woman and a child, were wounded by Israeli attacks. 

On Sunday, 21 August 2011, a Palestinian child was wounded and a number of civilians sustained bruises.

On Wednesday, 24 August 2011, IOF extra-judicially executed a leader of the Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in Rafah. A passing child was wounded. On the same day, IOF killed a farmer in al-Boreij refugee camp. They also killed a resistance activist in Gaza City. On the same day, a worker was killed and 4 others were wounded when IOF bombarded a tunnel in Rafah. 

In the context of such escalation against the Gaza Strip, IOF launched at least 41 air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip. They destroyed or damaged a number of civilian buildings and 6 training sites of Palestinian resistance groups.

Additionally, on 19 August 2011, a resistance activist died from a previous wound he sustained by IOF in Gaza City. 

In the West Bank, two Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF during incursions into Hebron and Bethlehem. 

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, a Palestinian civilian was wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.  

Incursions:

During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 27 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 77 Palestinian civilians. Most of the detainees were arrested in Hebron.  

In conjunction with the current escalation in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched in the early morning of Sunday, 21 August 2011, a large-scale military campaign against many neighbors and streets and dozens of houses in Hebron.  During this campaign, IOF arrested at least 53 Palestinians, mostly members and activists of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), including a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, two journalists, some academics and members of charitable associations.

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 Soafa 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 48 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.

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 19 August 2011, many armed Israeli settlers from "Beit Eil" settlement, north of Ramallah, stormed al-Banabee’ area in Dawar Al-Qare’ village to the north of the settlement. They set fire to two cars belonging. Palestinian civilians were able to extinguish fire in one of the cars, but the other one was completely burnt. 

On 20 August 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from "Ramat Magron" settlement, which stands on the lands of Mikhmas village, southeast of Ramallah, violently beat a Palestinian child, while he was grazing animals with another child. He was injured in the head. 

On 23 August 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from "Bat Ain" settlement in the north of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, uprooted dozens of fruitful trees belonging to the Slaibi family in Wadi Abu al-Reesh area. They uprooted 5 olive trees, 25 grape trees and 22 plum trees.  

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (11 – 17 August 2011)

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

1) Israeli Offensive on the Gaza Strip

On Thursday evening, 18 August 2011, IOF launched a new military offensive on the Gaza Strip, which continued for 3 days. They bombarded civilian facilities and training sites of Palestinian resistance groups, and targeted a number of activists of resistance groups. A number of Palestinian civilians, including children and women, were killed were wounded, and a number of civilian facilities were damaged.  This offensive came a few hours following armed attacks in the southern Israeli city of Eilat near the Egyptian border, which left 8 Israelis and 7 attackers killed, and injured a number of other Israelis, according to Israeli media reports. 

Thursday, 18 August 2011

At approximately 16:50, Israeli warplanes fired two missiles targeting a number of leaders of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and its armed wing, Nasser Saladin Brigades, who were in the garden of a house belonging to Khaled Hamad Sha'at opposite to Ali Ben Abi Taleb Mosque in Block J (al-Sho'ut) area in Rafah refugee camp. As a result of the attack, 5 PRC leaders and a child of one of them were killed:

1- Kamal 'Awadh Mohammed al-Nairab (Abu 'Awadh), 43, PRC Secretary General;

2- 'Emad 'Abdul Karim 'Abdul Khaliq Hammad, 40, the leader of Nasser Saladin Brigades;

3- 'Emad al-Din Na'im Sayed Nasser, 46, a member of Nasser Saladin Brigades;

4- Khaled Ibrahim Salman al-Masri, 26, a member of Nasser Saladin Brigades;

5- Khaled Hamad Sha'at, 32, the leader of manufacturing unit of Nasser Saladin Brigades; and

6- Malek Khaled Hamad Sha'at, 2.

This attack came a few hours following armed attacks in the southern Israeli city of Eilat near the Egyptian border, which left 8 Israelis and 7 attackers killed, and injured a number of other Israelis, according to Israeli media reports. IOF admitted responsibility of the extra-judicial execution; Avichai Adraee, IOF spokesman, stated the IOF targeted senior PRC leaders "as a first step in response to the attack in Eilat." The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated in a press conference he held to comment on Eilat attack that "the leaders of the organization responsible for the attack are no longer alive." He appreciated Israeli military commanders and the Internal Security Services (ISS) who "liquidated senior leaders of the organization responsible for the attack in Eilat," as he claimed. 

Friday, 19 August 2011

At approximately 01:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at an 800-square-meter, 6-storey vacant governmental building to the west of al-Katiba Yard in the west of Gaza City. As a result, the western part of the building was destroyed and at least 23 Palestinians, including 7 children, 6 women and 3 police officers were lightly injured. A number of nearby apartment buildings were also damaged. Additionally, buildings of 4 governmental institutions were damaged: Ministry of Justice; General Personnel Council; Police Command of Gaza City; and the Governmental Media Office. Offices of seven civil organizations were damaged as well: Coastal Municipalities Water Utility; Jawaharlal Nehru Library of al-Azhar University; Future Palestine for Children; Arts Village of the Municipality of Gaza; al-Dameer Association for Human Rights; Palestinian Center for Human Communication; and Applied Future Polytechnic. Moreover, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, 8 shops and Tarazi Fuel Company were damaged.

At approximately 01:30, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired two missiles at a training site of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in the northeast of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. Fire broke out in the site, but no casualties were reported.

Also at approximately 01:30, Israeli warplanes bombarded a space area in al-Najjar quarter in Khuza'a village, east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. The bombardment me a large crater in the area and damaged two tin-made rooms belonging to the al-Najjar family. Additionally, glass of a mosque and a number of houses was broken, and a number of water tanks were damaged.

At approximately 02:05, Israeli warplanes fired at least ones missile at a tunnel in al-Salam neighborhood at the Palestinian-Egyptian border, south of Rafah. Nearly 10 minutes later, they fired a missile at another tunnel in Yibna refugee camp in the south of Rafah. No casualties were reported.

Also at approximately 02:05, Israeli warplanes bombarded al-Qadisiya site of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in the west of Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 07:00, an Israeli drone fired two missiles at al-Zaytoun Clinic road in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. One of the missiles hit the southeastern fence of the roof of a 250-square-meter, 5-storey house belonging to sons of the late Hussein Nemes Sbaih. Thirty five individuals, including 25 children, live in the house. As a result of the attack, the fence was partially destroyed and Bilal Hassan Sbaih, 35; Anas Khaled Sbaih, 4; and Ramez Bilal Sbaih, 5, were shocked. The other missile hit the roof of a 200-square-meter, 3-storey house belonging to Zuhair Khalil al-Ayoubi, 67, in which 25 individuals, including 10 children, live. Two water boilers, 3 water tanks and the roof of the house were damaged.

At approximately 11:20, an Israeli warplane fired two missiles at the sewage treatment plant of the Municipality of al-Nussairat near Gaza Power Plant in the north of al-Nussairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.  The plant was destroyed, two civilian bystanders, included a pregnant woman, were wounded and electricity supplies were cut from al-Nasser Street, al-Mughraqa village and al-Nussairat refugee camp. The wounded are:

1- Asmaa’ Waleed al-Tatar, 25, wounded by shrapnel to the right foot; and

2- Tawfiq Khalil Farajallah, 41, wounded by shrapnel to the head and the right foot.

At approximated 11:30, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a deserted house in the northeast of al-Zawaida village in the central Gaza Strip. The house was destroyed and dozens of nearby houses, but no casualties were reported.

Also at approximately 11:30, Israeli warplanes bombarded a site of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in Ermadia area in Bani Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 12:35, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired two missiles at a training site of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), known as Bader site, in the northwest of Gaza City. No casualties were reported. It fired a third missile at the beach.  It then fired a fourth missile at a car in al-Shamali area in al-Shati refugee camp in the west of Gaza City, but it went astray and the passengers were able to flee out of the car. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 15:50, an Israeli drone attacked two activists of Nasser Saladin Brigades (the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committee), who were traveling on a 3-wheel motorcycle near Malaka intersection in the east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. One of the activists, Mohammed Fayez Mahmoud 'Enaya, 22, from Gaza City, was killed by shrapnel throughout the body, while the other one was seriously wounded. 

At approximately 17:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance near al-Wafa Hospital in the east of Gaza City. As a result, two children living in the area were seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout their bodies: Ibrahim 'Adnan al-Zaza, 14; and Mohammed 'Aatef al- Zaza. 

Also at approximately 17:30, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a space area near Hassanain brick factory in al-Sourani Mount area in al-Tuffah neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 18:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at an activist of the Palestinian resistance who was riding a motorcycle in Quliabo Hill area to the east of Sheikh Zayed town in the northern Gaza Strip. The activist was instantly killed by shrapnel throughout the body. He was identified as Samed 'Abdul Mo'ti 'Aabed, 25, from the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya.

At approximately 19:00, an Israeli drone attacked a number of Palestinians near Dr. 'Abdul 'Aziz al-Rantissi Hospital in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 19:10, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza City fired an artillery shell at a number of Palestinians in al-Mansoura Street in al-Shoja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 20:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in the east of 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 20:45, an Israeli warplane fired two missiles at two activists of the Palestinian resistance who were traveling on a motorcycle on the road linking between al-Boreij and al-Maghazi refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip. The two activists were instantly killed. They were identified as:

1- Anwar Hassan Saleem, 23; and

2- 'Emad Fareed Abu 'Aabda, 23, both from al-Boreij refugee camp.

At approximately 21:55, Israeli tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, fired 4 shells at 'Abassan village. The shells landed on agricultural areas, but no casualties were reported.

At approximately 22:45, an Israeli warplane bombarded a training site of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 22:50, an Israeli drone attacked 3 Palestinians, including a child, who were traveling on a motorcycle in Jamal Abdul Nasser Street in the west of Gaza City.  The three Palestinians were killed: Munther Bassem Hamdan Quraiqe', 32, a physician; Mo'taz Bassem Quraiqe', 29, a leader of al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad); and Islam, 2, the latter's child.  The victims are all from al-Shoja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.  They were on their way back home when they were attacked.  Additionally, 5 bystanders, including a woman, were wounded, and a car was damaged.   

At approximately 23:00, Israeli warplanes bombarded a 150-square-meter barrack belonging to Najia Mohammed Abu Zarifa at 'Abassan road in the east of Khan Yunis. The barrack was destroyed and a nearby carwash shop belonging to 'Ammar 'Ali Abu Daqqa and a house were damaged.  

Saturday, 20 August 2011

:: Article nr. 80806 sent on 26-aug-2011 01:25 ECT