Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and Continue to Impose a Total Siege on the Gaza Strip
A Palestinian farmer was killed by IOF, and two civilians, including a child, died of previous injuries.
17 Palestinian civilians, including four children and two international journalists were wounded by IOF in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
IOF conducted 32 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
IOF arrested 64 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, including 15 children.
IOF transformed a house in Battir village near Bethlehem into a military site.
IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.
The Gaza Strip is completely isolated from the outside world.
IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child.
IOF have continued to take measures towards the Judaization of Jerusalem.
IOF demolished two houses in Jerusalem, making 53 people homeless.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (22 — 28 January 2009):
Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 17 others, including four children, and two international journalists in the West Bank. Two Palestinian civilians, including a child, also died of injuries they had sustained during the IOF offensive on the Gaza Strip.
On 27 January, IOF opened fire at a number of Palestinian farmers east of Khan Yunis, killing one of them.
On 22 and 23 January, medical sources confirmed that two Palestinian civilians, including a child, had died of injuries sustained during the IOF offensive on the Gaza Strip.
During the reporting period, seven Palestinians were injured by IOF gunfire in the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, ten Palestinian civilians, including two children, and two international journalists, were injured by IOF gunfire.
Two Palestinian civilians were injured by IOF during an IOF incursion into al-Fara’a refugee camp, south of Tubas.
During the reporting period, eight Palestinian civilians, including two children, and two international journalists, were injured when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall.
Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 32 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 64 Palestinian civilians, including 15 children. IOF also transformed a house in Battir village near Bethlehem into a military site.
Restrictions on Movement: IOF have 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
IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The IOF 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.
· 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..
· Hundreds of thousands of civilians in the Gaza Strip are facing power cuts for 8-12 hours per day, which is severly affecting their quality of life and access to basic facilities incuding light and heat, and also impacts on their access to drinking water, as electric pumps are frequently not working.
· The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been repeatedly forced to suspend it humanitarian aid program for at least 750,000 Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, due to consistent obstructions in aid delivery and the risks facing its staff.
· Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for only a few days for a limited number of patients who were permitted to receive medical treatment abroad and subsequently needed to return home to Gaza. The corssing remains closed for all other Palestinians.
· IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to all Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or to visit family, relatives and friends.
· IOF have imposed additional restrictions on access to Gaza for international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers. They have prevented representatives of international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip to carry out humanitarian work.
· Health conditions in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated, and all medical facilities are being affected by the chronic power shortages.
· The lives of premature babies continue to be at risk as they depend on medical equipment in neonatal units that are electrically powered.
· Standards of living arcoss Gaza have seriously deteriorated, whilst poverty and unemployment levels have sharply increased.
· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails continue to be deprived of all family visits. The viist were first suspended sixteen months ago, in June 2007.
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 the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
· There are approximately permanent 630 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 leads 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.
· During the reporting period, IOF arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including one child, at various checkpoints in the West Bank.
· IOF have escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem aimed at forcing them to leave the city. During the reporting period, IOF demolished two houses in Jerusalem, making fifty three Palestinians homeless.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (22- 28 January 2009):
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 22 January
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Maher Jameel Khamaisa, 19.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Eyad Ahmed Khader, 26.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Taqqou’ village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Ahmed Kayed Jebril, 29;
2. Tariq Mousa Jebril, 29;
3. Akram Mousa Jebril, 26.
· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed Khader Masalma, 21.
· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Mo’taz Kayed Abu Khalaf, 20;
2. Shaher ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Salman, 31.
· At approximately 16:00, medical sources in Egypt confirmed that ‘Eid ‘Ayada Abu Rabee’, 56, from al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City, had died of injuries sustained on 4 January 2009 during the IOF offensive on the Gaza Strip.
Friday, 23 January
· At approximately 01:00, medical sources confirmed that ‘Abdullah Mohammed Hamdan Abu Touk, 17,m from Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, died at an Egyptian hospital of injuries sustained when IOF shelled his village on 11 January, 2009.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian civilians who were checking the destruction of their houses in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. As a result, Nabeel Ibrahim al-Najjar, 40, was wounded by shrapnel from a gunshot to the left hand.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kufor Qallil village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Sanad Subhi Mansour, 22;
2. Diaa’ Ra’d Mansour, 22;
3. ‘Abdullah Ref’at ‘Aamer, 17;
4. Tariq Diab al-Hourani, 18.
· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into al-‘Eissawiya village, northeast of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 17 Palestinian civilians, including 10 children:
1. Mohammed Khader Abu al-Hummos, 18;
2. Ra’ed Taha, 19;
3. Ahmed ‘Arafat Mustafa, 19;
4. Ahmed Mousa Mustafa, 20;
5. Anas Riad Hamdan, 18;
6. Hussein Maher Muhaisen, 18;
7. ‘Aassem ‘Obaid, 19;
8. Rami ‘Obaid, 15;
9. Farahat ‘Obaid, 16;
10. Rami ‘Obaid, 16;
11. Mohammed Jamal ‘Obaid, 16;
12. Eihab ‘Olayan, 17;
13. Ahmed Ra’ed Muhaisen, 15;
14. Mohammed Faisal ‘Obaid, 15;
15. ‘Aaref Hamayel, 17;
16. Kareem al-Masri, 16;
17. Bassel ‘Obaid, 16.
Saturday, 24 January
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Muhannad Fat’hi Hanaisha, 32;
2. Mohammed Yousef Khuzamia, 18;
3. Mohammed Ahmed Abu Zaid, 18;
4. Ussama Mahmoud Abu Zaid, 19;
5. Ahmed Mo’men Abu Zaid, 16;
6. Hamad Rafeeq Abu ‘Eisha, 19.
Sunday, 25 January
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including two children:
1. Hussein Mohammed al-Atrash, 30;
2. Wissam Mustafa al-Rajabi, 31;
3. Isma’il Fayez Abu Hussein, 21;
4. Sameh Mohammed al-Sharbati, 26;
5. Mahmoud Yousef Abu Turki, 17;
6. Ahmed Sa’id al-Sammak, 20;
7. ‘Ali ‘Abdul Muttaleb Ahmed, 16.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Yousef Ghassan Su’aifan, 20.
· At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus. They stormed the local market searching for children who allegedly threw stones at military vehicles. Before leaving the area, IOF troops arrested ‘Abed Rabbu Zaid Abu al-Radah, 28.
· At approximately 16:00, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at houses and streets in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. As a result, Subhi Tafesh Qudaih, 55, was wounded by a gunshot to the back.
Monday, 26 January
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Abdul Ghani Nihad Bader, 18.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Amjad Mohammed Qazzaz, 26.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinians:
1. Mohammed Jamal Jaber, 20;
2. Yasser Rushdi Nada, 24, a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Tayseer Mohammed Sammar, 25.
· At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Battir village, west of Bethlehem. They raided a house belonging to Ibrahim al-Sagheer and transformed the second floor into a military site. IOF troops informed the owner that the house would be seized for several days for “security purposes.”
· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Budros village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Ahmed Hassan Khalil, 40, a member of the local council;
2. Jebril Ahmed ‘Abdul Karim, 24;
3. Yousef Mohammed Shaheen, 23.
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Aayesh Ibrahim Nawawra, 24.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-‘Azza refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Maher Mohammed Zabboun, 18.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Dajan village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Fara’a refugee camp, south of Tubas. They raided a local market in the center of the camp. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at these boys. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. ‘Emad Waleed Abu Tayeh, 20, wounded by a gunshot to the leg;
2. Jamal Jalal Eshtaiwi, 18, wounded by a gunshot to the right hand.
· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Zaher village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a number of Palestinian farmers who were farming agricultural land belonging to the Abu Daqqa clan, nearly 600 meters away from the border. The farmers lay down to avoid being shot. When the shooting stopped, the farmer stood up to leave the area, but IOF troops opened fire at them. One of them, 26-year-old Anwar Zayed al-Buraim, was killed by a gunshot to the neck.
· At approximately 15:00, IOF heavy military vehicles moved nearly 500 meters into the east of Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land. At approximately 19:00, IOF troops opened fire at houses in the areas. As a result, Mohammed Salama al-Ma’ni, 21, was wounded by a gunshot to the left thigh. IOF military vehicles moved 200 meters back, but continued to patrol the area.
· At approximately 16:40, an IOF drone fired a missile at a Palestinian who was riding a motorcycle in al-‘Aqqad area in Khan Yunis. He was seriously wounded. He was identified as Hussein Fayez Shamiya, age 25. Two children in the vicinity were also wounded by shrapnel throughout their bodies: Ahmed Wa’el Sirdah, 5, and Mahmoud Mohammed Abu Tawq, 13.
· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Mubdi Mahmoud Maqalda, 18;
2. Hussein Abu Zaytoun, 19;
3. Sa’id Mohammed Jaradat, 19;
4. Tha’er Bassam Maqalda, 19;
5. Mohammed ‘Emad ‘Amarna, 18;
6. ‘Abada Fudail Zughol, 18;
7. Hussein Mohammed ‘Atatra, 16;
8. Hassan Mohammed ‘Atatra, 19.
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Isma’il Hamed Hassasna, 21.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Khaled Mohammed al-Battat, 40.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF warplanes bombarded tunnels along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. A number of houses in the area were damaged, but no casualties were reported.
Continued Siege on the OPT
IOF have 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
IOF continue to impose a siege on the 1.5 million civilians of the Gaza Strip. The border crossings of the Strip have been closed for more than two years as part of IOF’s policy of collective punishment, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of civilians and goods. As a result, the territory is unable to secure basic foods, medicine, and other supplies, and the poverty rate now stands at more 80%.
The continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies has led to the paralysis of the educational sector. Healthcare facilities have registered a drop in clients due to the transport crisis, and hundreds of healthcare professionals have been unable to reach their work places.
The tightened siege has led to the collapse of the Gaza Strip economic sectors. Most production facilities have ceased to operate due to the siege and restriction on movement of goods and individuals.
With regard to Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the Egyptian authorities started to open on a limited basis for some patients.
IOF allow a very limited number of seriously ill patients and staff of international organizations to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing..
The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF also continue to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including at least 3,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords permit Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles from the Gaza coastline.
During the twenty two day IOF offensive in the Gaza Strip, the civilian population suffered a massivie deterioration in the overall humanitarian situation. The resulting acute humanitarian crisis is increasingly impacting on all aspects of civilians life, and Palestinian civilians continue to be denied their economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights.
The overall deterioration of health services in the Gaza Strip has been exacerbated due to the overwhelming number of fatalities and casualties caused by the IOF military offensive. All medical institutions in the Gaza Strip continue to be affected, including hospitals, primary healthcare centers and mental health service providers. Health institutions cannot meet the demand for their services.
Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
14 — 27 January 2009
Date
Details
14 January 2009
104 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
15 January 2009
65 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
16 January 2009
73 containers of humanitarian aid were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
17 January 2009
52 containers of humanitarian aid were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
18 January 2009
97 containers of humanitarian aid were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
19 January 2009
108 containers of humanitarian aid for international humanitarian organizations and of goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
20 January 2009
118 containers of humanitarian aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
21 January 2009
71 containers of humanitarian aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
22 January 2009
99.5 containers of humanitarian aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
23 January 2009
65 containers of humanitarian aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
24 January 2009
Closed.
25 January 2009
118 containers of humanitarian aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
26 January 2009
118 containers of humanitarian aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
27 January 2009
Closed.
Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point
14 — 27 January 2009
Date
Details
14 January 2009
29 Palestinians who were injured by IOF, accompanied by 29 of their relatives, were allowed to travel to Egypt. 33 Arab physicians, 4 Palestinians, the bodies of two Palestinians who had died of their wounds, 14 trucks of medicines and medical equipment and 24 ambulances were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
15 January 2009
3 Palestinians who were injured by IOF, accompanied by 3 of their relatives, were allowed to travel to Egypt. 7 Arab physicians, 60 international journalists and 4 trucks of medicines and medical equipment were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
16 January 2009
16 Palestinians who were injured by IOF, accompanied by 16 of their relatives, were allowed to travel to Egypt. 6 international physicians, 5 international journalists, 20 Palestinians, 20 trucks of medicines and medical equipment and 3 ambulances were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
17 January 2009
37 Palestinians who were injured by IOF, accompanied by 37 of their relatives, were allowed to travel to Egypt. 24 Arab physicians, 15 internationals, 7 Palestinians, the body of a Palestinian who had died of his injuries and 10 trucks of medicines and medical equipment were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
18 January 2009
40 Palestinians who were injured by IOF, accompanied by 40 of their relatives, were allowed to travel to Egypt. 48 Arab and international physicians, 60 international journalists, 5 Palestinians, the body of a Palestinian who died of his wounds, 15 trucks of medicines and medical equipment and 11 ambulances were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
19 January 2009
75 Palestinians who were injured by IOF, accompanied by 75 of their relatives, and 259 Arabs and internationals were allowed to travel to Egypt. 27 Arab physicians, 50 Palestinians, 28 trucks of medicines and medical equipment and 3 ambulances were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
20 January 2009
40 Palestinians who were injured by IOF, accompanied by 40 of their relatives, and 186 Arabs and internationals were allowed to travel to Egypt. 27 Arab and international physicians, 50 Palestinians, 28 trucks of medicines and medical equipment and 3 ambulances were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
21 January 2009
66 Palestinian patients and 128 Arabs and internationals were allowed to travel to Egypt. 42 Palestinians, 107 Arabs and internationals and 10 trucks of medicines and medical equipment were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
22 January 2009
80 Palestinian patients and 150 Arabs and internationals were allowed to travel to Egypt. 200 Palestinians, Arabs and internationals, 12 trucks of medicines and medical equipment and 15 ambulances were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
23 January 2009
41 Palestinian patients, 20 physicians, 15 journalists, 20 Egyptians and a delegation of Hamas were allowed to travel to Egypt. 50 Palestinians and a Kuwaiti delegation were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
24 January 2009
29 Palestinian patients and 95 Arabs and internationals were allowed to travel to Egypt. 11 Palestinians, 83 Arabs and internationals, 10 trucks of medicines and medical equipment and 10 ambulances were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
25 January 2009
76 Palestinian patients, 86 Arabs and internationals and delegations of Palestinian factions were allowed to travel to Egypt. 32 Palestinians, 5 internationals and 10 trucks of medicines and medical equipment were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
26 January 2009
20 Palestinian patients and 60 Arabs and internationals were allowed to travel to Egypt. 117 Palestinians, Arab and international delegates and 10 trucks of medicines and medical equipment were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
27 January 2009
94 Palestinian patients, Arabs and internationals were allowed to travel to Egypt. 22 Palestinians, Arab and international delegations and 8 trucks of medicines and medical equipment were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
Movement at Nahal Ouz Crossing
19 — 27 January 2009
Date
Cooking Gas (tons)
Energy Fuel (liters)
19 January 2009
206.160
537,100
20 January 2009
198.900
443,000
21 January 2009
163.840
456,000
22 January 2009
199.680
444,400
25 January 2009
137.880
320,120
26 January 2009
103.880
169,140
27 January 2009
21.160
129,400
Movement at Nahal Ouz Crossing
19 — 27 January 2009
Date
Details
18 January 2009
18 trucks of wheat and 20 trucks of seeds were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
19 January 2009
34 trucks of wheat and 38 trucks of fodder were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
20 January 2009
48 trucks of wheat and 23 trucks of fodder were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
21 January 2009
23 trucks of seeds and 14 ones of fodder were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
22 January 2009
43 trucks of wheat, 37 trucks of fodder and 12 trucks of seeds were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
26 January 2009
102 trucks of wheat, 51 trucks of feeds and 12 trucks of seeds were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
27 January 2009
6 trucks of seeds and wheat were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
The West Bank
IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
· Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently assault Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday morning, 23 January 2009, IOF prevented Palestinian civilians living outside of the Old Town from entering it. They also prevented Palestinian civilians aged below 50 from reaching the al-Aqsa Mosque for the Friday Prayer.
On Tuesday evening, 27 January, IOF troops positioned at the Container checkpoint, east of Jerusalem, arrested Ayman ‘Ali Abu ‘Arqoub, 23, from al-Sammou’ village southwest of Hebron.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday and Saturday, 22 and January, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 25 January, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 26 January, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
At approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 25 January, IOF troops positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested ‘Abdullah Jihad al-Massimi, 17, from Ramallah.
· Ramallah: On Monday evening, 26 January, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint near Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, arrested Ahmed ‘Abdullah Ba’irat, 35, and Ra’ed Suleiman Ba’irat, 28, both from Kufor Malek village east of Ramallah.
2. Construction of the Annexation Wall
IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the Wall.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 23 January, scores of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the IOF offensive on the Gaza Strip. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall and threw stones at IOF troops positioned in the area. IOF troops immediately fired gunshots, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a Palestinian civilian and two international journalists were wounded:
1. Khamis Fat’hi Abu Rahma, 28, hit by a tear gas canister to the head;
2. Kazoki Kairo, 27, a Japanese journalist, hit by a tear gas canister to the hand;
3. A Spanish journalist, 40, hit by a tear gas canister to the thigh.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 23 January, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to the construction of the Wall in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards areas of land which are threatened to be confiscated for the purpose of the construction of the Wall. IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 6 demonstrators, including two children, were wounded:
1. Mohammed ‘Essam al-Khawaja, 20, wounded by a gunshot to the right leg;
2. Firas ‘Abdul Raziq, 32, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;
3. ‘Abdul Qader Mustafa al-Khawaja, 18, wounded by a gunshot to the left leg;
4. Ibrahim Khalil ‘Amira, 28, wounded by a gunshot to the right hand;
5. Mohammed Ibrahim ‘Amira, 17, hit by a tear gas canister to the shoulder;
6. Mohammed Ahmed ‘Amira, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 23 January, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to the construction of the Wall in Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. They moved towards the Wall and attempted to pass through towards their lands, which are isolated by the Wall. IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, Laith ‘Abdul Qader Saleem, 19, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg..
3. Judaization of Jerusalem
OF has recently escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem to force them to leave the city.
· On Wednesday morning, 28 January, IOF moved into Wadi Qaddoum quarter in Silwan village, south of Jerusalem. They demolished the top floor of a three storey house belonging to Talal al-Shwaiki, claiming that it was built without a valid permit.
· Also on Wednesday morning, IOF moved into Tal al-Foul area in Beit Hanina suburb, north of Jerusalem. They demolished a 3-storey house belonging to Mohammed ‘Eid al-Ja’bari, in which 45 people from five families were living. IOF claimed that the house was built without a valid permit.
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Recommendations to the International Community
1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.
2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.
4. PCHR calls for the immediately implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.
5. PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.
6. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.
7. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is – not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
8. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.
11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
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Public Document
For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 — 2825893).
