In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory for the week of 07– 13 July 2011, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights found that a Palestinian civilian was killed by Israeli forces in the north of the West Bank.Also this week, a Palestinian woman was wounded by Israeli forces the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli forces continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank, wounding a Palestinian child.
Israeli warplanes attacked a number of civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip. Two industrial workshops and a warehouse of fodders were destroyed and a number of civilian facilities and houses were damaged. A Palestinian woman was injured.
Also this week, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 47 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 12 Palestinian civilians, including a child.
In addition, Israeli forces abducted 4 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli forces demolished a workshop, an animal farm and a garage in al-Jeeb village near Jerusalem.
Israeli forces uprooted and confiscated 600 olive trees in Deir Estia village in the north of the West Bank.
There are approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.
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 permits issued by Israeli forces. Such permits are extremely difficult to obtain.
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 11 July 2011, Israeli forces, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into al-Khalaila area in al-Jeeb village, northwest of Jerusalem. They demolished a grocery shop, a sheep farm, a fence and a garage, claiming that these structures were built with licenses. It is worth noting that these facilities are located between “Givat Ze’ev” and “Giv’on” settlements.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
On 9 June 2011, at approximately 19:30, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towards at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia fired at Tamam Salah Abu Mtair, 31, from al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City, when she got close to the border. As a result, she was wounded by a bullet to the right leg. According to her sister, she suffers from a psychological disorder. She had been missing since 16:00 on the same day. Medical crews found her only 5 meters away from the border.
During the reporting period, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip in two separate incidents. In one of these attacks, a Palestinian fishing boat was damaged.
Israeli warplanes launched a series of air strikes against Palestinian civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip, as a result of which two industrial workshops and a warehouse of fodders were destroyed and a number of civilian facilities and houses were damaged. Additionally, a Palestinian woman was injured by glass fragments.
Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip and practically made Karm Abu Salem crossing as the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip although it is not proper for commercial purposes in terms of its distance and operational capacity.
Israeli forces have continued to prolong the implementation of their decision to allow 60 cars into Gaza weekly although more than 11 months have passed since they announced this decision after three years of ban imposed on the delivery of cars to Gaza. As a result, the prices of cars in Gaza have been on the rise and local markets experience serious shortage in spare parts.
For approximately four consecutive years, Israeli forces have continued to ban the delivery of construction materials to Gaza. During the reporting period, Israeli forces approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations.
Israeli Annexation Wall:
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, confiscating more Palestinian land.
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, a Palestinian child was wounded dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
On Friday morning, 08 July 2011, Israeli forces used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by dozens of Palestinian civilians and a number of international human rights defenders in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in protest to Israeli settlement activities and confiscation of Palestinian land. According to Mohammed Hassan Braijiya, Spokesman of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Bethlehem, Israeli forces closed the main entrance of the village and surrounded the demonstrators in an attempt to prevent them from moving towards the Wall and closed area. They beat a number of demonstrators, including Braijiya who sustained bruises.
Following the Friday Prayer on 08 July 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 annexation wall. Israeli soldiers 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, and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 08 July 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.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 08 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration near the Israeli Crusher, which stands on Palestinian land in the villages of Shaqba, Ne’lin, Qibya, Shabtin and Budros, west of Ramallah. The demonstrators raided the Palestinian flag and moved towards the crusher. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
On Saturday noon, 09 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration at the entrance of Qalandya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstration was also organized to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice concerning the wall, and in solidarity with international human rights defenders who were banned by Israeli forces from entering the West Bank. The demonstrators moved towards Qalandya checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem. Israeli forces closed the checkpoint and fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also on Saturday noon, 09 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice concerning the wall. 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, Wa’d Bassem al-Tamimi, 14, was hit by a tear gas canister to the right foot, and a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
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 the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal, be enforced.
The PCHR recommends that international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and urge their governments to bring the perpetrators to justice.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
