In its Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory for the week of 10-16 March 2011, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces killed two Palestinians this week, and Israeli settlers escalated attacks on Palestinian civilians and property following the murder of an Israeli settler family – allegedly by a Palestinian perpetrator.The PCHR documented 40 attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, many of which were claimed to be in retaliation for the murder of an Israeli family in their beds on March 11th, including a baby and two small children, allegedly by a Palestinian.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
On 16 March 2011, Israeli forces warplanes fired 3 missiles at a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces south of Gaza City. As a result, a guard of the site and a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) were killed. Two workers of the Palestinian Ministry of Public Works, who were working nearly 20 meters away from the site, were wounded. Additionally, three buildings on the site were also destroyed.
On the same day, Israeli forces wounded a Palestinian fisherman in the northern Gaza Strip.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted a limited incursion into al-Boreij refugee camp, during which they leaved areas of Palestinian land.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 47 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 66 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children. The widest incursion was into ‘Awarta village, southeast of Nablus, during which Israeli forces abducted 52 Palestinian civilians.
In one example of the 47 incursions this week, on Thursday 10 March, at approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses and abducted 5 Palestinian civilians, including two children.
On Saturday, 12 March 201, at approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into the agricultural areas located between al-Zababda village and Sanour and Masliya villages, southeast of Jenin. They searched the area and fired flash bombs. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 07:00, following the deaths of a family of 5 Israeli settlers, including a baby and two small children, in ‘Itamar’ settlement, which stands of lands of ‘Awarta village, southeast of Nablus, Israeli forces moved into the village and imposed a curfew. They, raided, searched and damaged a number of houses and beat a number of Palestinian civilians. They also abducted 20 Palestinian civilians
At least 65% of the main roads that lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by Israeli forces.
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 a permit issued by the Israeli forces. These permits are extremely difficult to obtain.
Israeli Settlement Activities:
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the West Bank in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 16 March 2011, Israeli forces moved into al-Tyour are in the east of Beit Dajan village, east of Nablus. They uprooted 400 olives trees from an orchard belonging to Jamal Mohammed Can’an. They transported the uprooted trees outside the area.
Following the deaths of 5 Israeli settlers in ‘Itamar’ settlement, southeast of Nablus, Israeli settlers launched a series of attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property throughout the West Bank.
Hebron: PCHR documented 6 attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and property. Windows of a Palestinian fire engine was broken, a car was burnt, a flower nursery was damaged, and 10 Palestinian civilians sustained bruises or suffered from tear gas inhalation used by Israeli forces that escorted the settlers.
Nablus: PCHR documented 6 attacks, during which 4 houses, a citrus nursery and a car were damaged, and a Palestinian civilian was injured.
Qalqilya: PCHR documented 20 attacks, during which a car and a tractor were burnt, 4 cars were damaged, and 5 Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation used by Israeli forces that escorted the settlers.
Salfit: PCHR documented 3 attacks, during which a Palestinian civilian suffered from tear gas inhalation used by Israeli forces that escorted the settlers.
Ramallah: PCHR documented 5 attacks, during which two cars were burnt and a house was damaged.
Israeli Annexation Wall:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. Israeli forces also abducted two international human rights defenders.
Following the Friday Prayer on 11 March 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 11 March 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 11 March 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 also suffered from tear gas inhalation. Additionally, Israeli forces abducted two international human rights defenders. Israeli forces also turned a house belonging to a Helmi Tamimi into a military site, and held Mustafa Mahmoud Tamimi, 12, for an hour.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights made several recommendations to the international community, including a recommendation that 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.
In recognition of the International Committee of the Red Cross as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
