In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 16– 22 June 2011, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that a Palestinian was wounded and abducted by Israeli forces in Qalqilia, and 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in non-violent anti-Wall demonstrations, and 12 Palestinian civilians.In addition, Israeli warplanes bombarded a chicken farm in the central Gaza Strip, killing 3,500 chicks. In the West Bank, Israeli forces abducted 6 international human rights defenders from non-violent demonstrations.
Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip. Two fishing boats were damaged.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 38 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank this week, during which they abducted 14 Palestinian civilians, including two children – twelve in nighttime raids of their homes, and two at checkpoints.
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday afternoon, 17 June 2011, Israeli soldiers positioned at the southern entrance of Beit Ummmar town, north of Hebron, attacked Palestinian civilians during the funeral procession of a dead Palestinian civilians. They fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the participants and chased them. Fire broke out in a wheat farm and about 20 almond trees. On Sunday evening, 19 June 2011, Israeli forces moved into the southwest of Hebron. The established a checkpoint in the area and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday morning, 20 June 2011, Israeli forces prevented a number of religious and public figures from having a tour in the old town of Hebron, claiming it was a closed military zone.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 16 June 2011, fire broke out in agricultural plots planted with olives belonging to the families of ‘Abbadi and al-Kilani to the southwest of Jenin. According to eyewitnesses, who accused Israeli forces of responsibility for the incident, at least 30 dunums of land planted with olives were burnt. Palestinian civilians rushed to the area attempting to extinguish fire, but their attempts failed.
Also on 16 June 2011, Israeli forces moved into Kufor Hares village, north of Salfit, escorting a number of Israeli settlers who were visiting a religious site. The settlers remained in the village until the following day. They threw stones at two houses breaking their windows. They also threw stones at a car belonging to Jalal Mahmoud As’ad, damaging it heavily.
On 18 June 2011, 15 Israeli settlers from “Beit Hadasa” settlement intercepted Anas Hashem Abu al-Halaw, 21, a university student, when he was on his way back to his house in Qub Janeb neighborhood, which overlooks al-Shuhada Street that has been closed by Israeli forces. The settlers violently beat Abu al-Halawa for two minutes before he was able to flee. When he arrived near Cordoba School, the same settlers attacked him again. They violently beat him, while Israeli soldiers were present in the area. He bled from the shoulder and the arm. The settlers then escaped. Israeli soldiers gathered around him, but they did not offer him any help. A Palestinian ambulance evacuated him to the hospital.
On 20 June 2011, Israeli forces moved into Khirbat Beer al-‘Abed village to the east of Yatta town, south of Hebron. They forced Palestinian civilians to vacate their houses and tents. They then demolished 8 houses and subordinate tents, in which 50 people live. They also damaged some crops. Additionally, Israeli forces detained a female student for some time, claiming that she was banned from living in the area.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted two limited incursions into Palestinian areas in the central Gaza Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land.
During the reporting period, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip in 3 separate incidents. In one of these attacks, two Palestinian fishing boats were damaged.
On 22 June 2011, Israeli warplanes bombarded a chicken farm in the central Gaza Strip. The farm was damaged and 3,500 chicks were killed. Israeli forces claimed that a tunnel was dug under the farm.
The siege on the Gaza Strip has continued, and has had a sever impact on the population of Gaza. For approximately 46 months, Israeli forces 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.
Israeli Annexation Wall:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces 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, 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded, and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces also abducted 6 international human rights defenders.
Following the Friday Prayer on 17 June 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall. James Shimos, a US director; Nassif al-Dik and Salah al-Khawaja, leaders of the Palestinian National Initiative; and members of Freedom Theater in Jenin participated in the demonstration. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 3 demonstrators, including an 11-year old child, were wounded. Additionally, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 17 June 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the annexation wall. They clashed with Israeli troops positioned near the Wall. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 17 June 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near ‘Halmish’ settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 10:00 am on Saturday, 18 June 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, in protest to Israeli settlement activities. They moved towards Palestinian land, which are closed by Israeli forces, near “Karmi Tsur” settlement, south of the town. Israeli soldiers attacked the demonstrators and violently beat a number of them. They also detonated sound bombs. As a result, Rateb Yusri al-Jbour, 50, and his child, 15-year-old Lu’ai, sustained bruises throughout the body.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that 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 Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The 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 process or agreement must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
