In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 14– 20 July 2011, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that a Palestinian worker was killed when Israeli warplanes bombarded a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. 9 Palestinians, including 6 civilians, were wounded by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.Israeli warplanes attacked a number of civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank. A Palestinian civilian was wounded, and dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
In addition, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 32 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank this week, during which they abducted 13 Palestinian civilians, including a child.
In one example of this week’s 32 incursions, on Sunday July 17th, at approximately 13:00, Israeli forces moved into Qaryout village, southeast of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and violently beat Yazid Sarham Kassab, 30, who is physically disabled. At approximately 17:00, they stopped two children: ‘Abada Mo’men Mousa, 14; and Hamza Mohammed Mousa, 14. They handcuffed and blindfolded ‘Abada. His mother intervened to prevent them from arresting him, but they told her that they would release him in 10 minutes. However, they later took him away from the area. She and other civilians attempted to stop Israeli soldiers, who immediately fired tear gas canisters at them. Israeli forces released ‘Abada at approximately 23:30 on the same day.
On 18 July 2011, a Palestinian civilian was wounded in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, when Israeli forces fired at Palestinian civilians who were participating in a funeral procession of a dead Palestinian.
On 19 July, gold and jewels whose value is estimated at US$ 7,000 were stolen by Israeli soldiers from a house in Tallouza village. At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces moved into Tallouza village, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and abducted Hussam ‘Abdullah Abu Shaqra, 52, and his son, Rami, 23. They also stolen golden jewels, whose value is estimated at 5,000 Jordanian dinars (approximately US$ 7,000).
Israeli forces abducted one Palestinian civilian at a military checkpoint in the West Bank.
Israeli forces 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.
Israeli forces have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying in the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
In one example of dozens of harassments at checkpoints this week, on Monday afternoon, 11 July 2011, Israeli soldiers stationed at the eastern entrance of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, stopped and beat Anwar Khaled Sabarna, 37; Younis Yousef ‘Allami, 25; and Sufian Mahmoud Bahar, 22. Israeli soldiers held the three civilians for nearly 25 minutes, during which time the beat them with hands, feet and rifle butts. The three civilians sustained bruises.
There are approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian worker in a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. They also wounded 10 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
On 14 July 2011, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a tunnel on the Egyptian border near Saladin Gate in the south of Rafah. The tunnel was destroyed and a worker was missing. Palestinian medical crews were able to find his body on 16 July 2011. Additionally, 5 Palestinians were wounded.
On 16 July 2011, a fighter with the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) was wounded when an Israeli drone fired a missile at him in the northern Gaza Strip.
On 18 July 2011, two fighters with the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) were wounded when an Israeli drone fired a missile at them in the southern Gaza Strip.
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, on 14 July 2011, Israeli gunboats attacked Palestinian fishing boats and an international boat, Olivia, which monitors Israeli attacked against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip. Three fishing boats and Olivia were damaged.
During the reporting period, Israeli warplanes attacked a number of targets throughout the Gaza Strip. As a result of these attacks, 3 training sites of resistance groups and a number of tunnels on the Egyptian border were destroyed.
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 15 July 2011, at least 10 Israeli settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus, set fire to olive trees in al-Khirnaqa area in the south of Bourin village. Palestinian fire fighters were able to extinguish fire, but after at least 3,000 olives trees had been burnt.
On 17 July 2011, bulldozers belonging to Israeli settlers razed large areas of Palestinian land in the east of Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron, for the purpose of expanding “Asfar” settlement to the east of the village. These areas of land belong to the Shalalda family. When owners of the land attempted to stop such attacks on their lands, armed Israeli settlers stopped them and called Israeli soldiers who expelled them from their lands. On Monday and Tuesday, the bulldozers, continued to raze areas of land. The bulldozers razed at least 5 dunums[1] of Palestinian land.
On 18 July 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Maghroun” settlement, southeast of Ramallah, attacked 3 Palestinian shepherds from Mikhmas village. The settlers used stones and sharp tools in their attack. As a result, two shepherds were injured.
On 19 July 2011, Israeli forces moved into al-Baq’a area, east of Hebron. They dismantled irrigation network from Palestinian agricultural plots and confiscated them. According to various sources, Israeli forces dismantled irrigation networks that covered a 25-donum area of agricultural land planted with grapes and vegetables belonging to the al-Rajabi family. This operation has been the fourth of its kind since the beginning of this year in this area, which is located near bypass road #60.
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.
In the West Bank, 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, a Palestinian civilian was wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces also abducted two Palestinian civilians and an Israeli human rights defender.
On Friday morning, 15 July 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, Eyad Mohammed Bernat, 38, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg. Additionally, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 15 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 15 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. Additionally, Israeli forces abducted 3 demonstrators, including an Israeli human right defender: Eyad ‘Abdul Karim Tamimi, 41, who was released on the following day morning; ‘Alaa’Abu Shousha, 21; and Eyala, 35, an Israeli human rights defender. Israeli forces also turned the roof of a house belonging to Yasser Tamimi into a military site. They left the house at approximately 18:30.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 15 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Lufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the entrance of the village by Israeli forces. Israeli soldiers prevented the demonstrators from getting close to the entrance. The demonstrators dispersed at approximately 14:00, and no casualties or arrests were reported.
On Saturday morning, 16 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Iraq Bourin village, south of Nablus, in protest to the confiscation of their lands and attacks by Israeli settlers. The demonstrators moved towards the east of the village, where Israeli forces had confiscated areas of land. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. 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 European Union 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 West Bank.
The 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.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
