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

· IOF used excessive force against peaceful Palestinian demonstrations in the West Bank.

· 17 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and 3 journalists, were wounded by Israeli gunfire.

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

· IOF arrested 3 Palestinian fishermen from the Gaza Strip and confiscated their boat.

· IOF conducted 18 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

· IOF arrested 14 Palestinian civilians, including two children. 

· IOF stormed a school in 'Azzoun village near Qalqilya.

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

· IOF arrested a Palestinian businessman at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing and detained him for several days.

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

· The Israeli government approved the construction of 1,712 housing units in Israeli settlements in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

· IOF ordered the demolition of civilian property in the West Bank.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (04 – 10 March 2010):

Shooting: During the reporting period, 40 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and 3 journalists, were wounded when IOF used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. 

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 18 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  IOF arrested 14 Palestinian civilians, including two children. IOF also stormed a school in 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.

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 more than two and a half 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, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently, and to allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons. 

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

· The main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, 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, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, since 10 December 2008.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for 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. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

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

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

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

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 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 IOF 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 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF (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 the IOF. These 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 and Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

On 06 March 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers from "Brakha'' settlement, escorted by IOF, stormed Iraq Bourin village, southeast of Nablus. A number of Palestinian civilians gathered at the entrances of the village and threw stones at the settlers. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs at them. As a result, 4 civilians, including a child, were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets.

On the same day, IOF delivered demolition notices to Palestinian civilians living in Fasayel village, north of Jericho, ordering the demolition of their houses, barnyards and barracks, claiming that they had been built without the necessary permits. 

Also on the same day, IOF handed notices to 3 Palestinian civilians living in al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho, ordering the demolition of barnyards and barracks belonging to them. 

Also on the same day, the Israeli government approved the construction of 112 housing units in the settlement of "Beitar Illit", west of Bethlehem. 

Also on the same day, a young Israeli settler intercepted two Palestinian children in the center of Hebron. The young settler attempted to run down the two children with his bicycle. He also broke a birdcage, which the two children were carrying. The settler's hand was injured when he attempted to pull at the birdcage. Immediately, Israeli troops intervened and arrested the two Palestinian children. They released the children on bail.

On 09 March 2010, the Israeli Ministry of Interior approved the construction of 1,600 housing units in East Jerusalem. The Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported that the new housing units would be constructed in the "Ramat Shlomo" neighborhood, expanding it in the east and the south. 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (04 – 10 March 2010)

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

Thursday, 04 March 2010

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Bitounia, west of Ramallah, and patrolled in the streets. Soon, a number of Palestinian boys set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the boys. IOF withdrew from the town later and no casualties or arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into 'Obwin village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Fareed Murshed Khayat, 20, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mos'ab Ahmed Za'oul, 21, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the town and refugee camp of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Taybeh village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 'Othman 'Ali Zayed, 25.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Nasser 'Adnan 'Aabed, 20. 'Aabed was released a few hours later, having been interrogated by IOF.

· At approximately 15:20, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast of Beit Hanoun opened fire at Palestinian houses located approximately 800 meters from the border. The gunfire continued sporadically for 20 minutes. No casualties or damage were reported.

Friday, 05 March 2010

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Ymoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Tamer Suleiman Abu Toul, 21.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into 'Aanin village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed 'Awadh Mansour, 26.

· At approximately 03:00, Israeli naval troops opened fire at a small Palestinian fishing boat 500 - 700 meters from Rafah beach in the southern Gaza Strip. They then surrounded the boat and forced the fishermen on board to take off their clothes and swim towards the gunboat. Israeli naval troops arrested the fishermen and confiscated the boat. The fishermen were released at approximately 16:30 on the same day. They are: Nafez Mohammed al-Aqra', 39; Mohammed Nabeel al-Aqra', 22; and Mohammed Mohammed al-Aqra', 20.

· At approximately 11:00, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who were collecting bricks and iron bars from the debris of buildings of the former Industrial Zone. The civilians fled and no casualties were reported.

Saturday, 06 March 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Muntasser Diab 'Awadh, 21, and arrested him.

Sunday, 07 March 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into 'Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, west of Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Til village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Bassel Yousef Ramadan, 18.

Monday, 08 March 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Sheikh quarter in the center of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses. They arrested Islam 'Abdul Latif al-Harbawi, 19, and confiscated his mobile phone and computer set.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Anata refugee camp near Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mousa Ibrahim Salama, 24, and summoned him for interrogation.

· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They stormed Yasser 'Arafat School in the west of the village, claiming that students had thrown stones at their vehicles. They attempted to arrest a student, and debate erupted between the forces and the school headmaster. IOF withdrew from the area two hours later, following the intervention of the Israeli-Palestinian liaison department. No arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 09 March 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into 'Ein Sarah and al-Zahed neighborhood in Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. 'Allam Mohammed Dandis, 27; and

2. Bassam Robin al-Adhami, 28.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian children:

1. Hamza 'Abdullah Shousha, 16; and

2. Muntasser Mohammed Za'oul, 17.

Wednesday, 10 March 2010

· At approx