In its Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory for the week of 18-24 march 2010, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank. 22 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and a woman, were wounded.Also this week, Israeli forces used excessive forced against peaceful Palestinian demonstrations in the West Bank. 16 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, and two Israeli peace activists were wounded by Israeli gunfire. Israeli warplanes bombarded a number of civilian targets in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in the West Bank.
On 20 March 2010, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian civilians, including a child, in cold blood in Iraq Bourin village, south of Nablus. Israeli forces intentionally fired at the two civilians from a close range.
Less than 24 hours later, Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinian civilians from ‘Awarta village, southeast of Nablus, while they were farming their land.
During the reporting period, 16 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, and two Israeli peace activists, were wounded when Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 10 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Israeli forces abducted 19 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and a woman.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, 22 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and a woman, were wounded, when Israeli warplanes bombarded civilian targets and Israeli troops fired at workers and farmers near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Also in the Gaza Strip this week, Israeli forces conducted 3 limited incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they leveled areas of land that they had previously razed, and abducted 22 Palestinian workers, including 4 minors.
On Friday, March 19th, at approximately 01:00, Israeli warplanes fired five missiles at Saladin Gate, Yebna refugee camp and Block J, all of which are located in the south of Rafah, near the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, allegedly to destroy tunnels. As a result of the strike, Bader ‘Oudet Allah al-Sha’er, 32, was wounded by shrapnel to the face and Salem Hamdan al-Sha’er, 48, sustained a fracture in the right foot. The wounded persons are workers in the tunnels below the Gaza-Egypt border. On the same day, at approximately 01:25, Israeli F-16 fighter jets dropped a bomb on a farm in the east of ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. No casualties or material damage were reported. The Israeli radio claimed that the Israeli Air Force had targeted a tunnel established for infiltration into Israel.
In an attack on a non-violent demonstration, on Thursday March 18th, t approximately 11:30, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, to the east of ‘Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the establishment of a security fence and ‘buffer zone’ along the border. No casualties were reported.
Israeli Annexation Wall:
Israeli forces have continued to construct the Annexation Wall and inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest of the construction of the Wall and the ongoing settlement activities. At least 20 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded, and others sustained bruises or suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 19 March 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall and attempted to access annexed lands behind it. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and some of them sustained bruises.
Also at noon on Friday, 19 March 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with Israeli forces troops positioned near the Wall. Israeli forces troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 19 March 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest against land confiscation in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam, northwest of Ramallah. 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, 11 demonstrators, including two children and two Israeli human rights defenders, were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets, and another one was hit by tear gas canisters. They ranged in age from 15 to 65. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 19 March 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israel human rights defenders and peace activists organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Budros village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the Annexation Wall. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs, and beat a number of demonstrators. As a result, Mohammed Mansour Yousef, 20, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand. A number of other demonstrators sustained bruises or suffered from tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces also detained 3 Palestinian civilians, including two journalists, for more than 3 hours: Sa’adat Sha’ban ‘Awadh, 27; Haroun Yousef ‘Amaira, 26, a reporter for Palestine Television; and Najeeballah Hassan Sharwana, 21, a cameraman for Palestine Television.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 19 March 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a demonstration near Qalandiya checkpoint, south of Ramallah. They set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli troops stationed at the checkpoint. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the demonstrators. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded
In a pre-emptive raid against non-violent activists in the lead-up to the weekly protests, on Friday, March 19th, at approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to activists of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements. They threatened those activists of detention. No arrests were reported.
Israeli 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 18 March 2010, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem approved a construction plan in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. According to Israeli radio sources, licenses were issued for the construction of 20 housing units for settlers.
Also on 18 March 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from ‘Elli’ settlement uprooted 25 olive trees in Qaryout village, southeast of Nablus.
On 19 March 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from ‘Beit ‘Ain’ settlement, north of Hebron, attempted to burn wooded areas in Safa village. A number of trees were burnt, but locals were eventually able to extinguish the fire.
On 21 March 2010, the Israeli daily Ha’aretz reported that the Israeli forces have declared a plan to seize 49.2 donums of land in the town of Bitounia, west of Ramallah, to implement new security arrangements on road #443 before opening it to Palestinian movement two months and a half later. Israeli forces plan to establish a checkpoint at Ofer crossing, west of Ramallah, and Palestinian vehicles will be allowed to travel on road #443 between Macavim checkpoint and the new checkpoint, in accordance with an Israeli High Court ruling.
On 23 March 2010, Israeli settlers from ‘Elli’, ‘Shilo’ and ‘Ma’ale Levoni’ settlements attacked dozens of Palestinian farmers in Senjel village, north of Ramallah, and prevented them from farming on their lands. The settlers threw stones at the farmers and attempted to take over a number of tractors. Israeli forces arrived at the area and closed it off.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made a number of recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community 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 reiterated 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:
