In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 28 July– 03 Aug. 2011, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that two Palestinian civilians were killed and a third one was wounded by Israeli forces in Qalandya refugee camp, south of Ramallah.In addition, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. Israeli warplanes bombarded a tunnel at the Egyptian border in the southern Gaza Strip and a training site in the north.
Israeli forces continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank. 3 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded. Israeli forces abducted 3 international human rights defenders.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian civilians and wounded 4 others, including two children, in the West Bank, and conducted 44 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
In one invasion, on Monday, 01 August 2011, at approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Qalandya refugee camp, south of Ramallah. They surrounded two houses belonging to the families of al-Khatib and Manasra in ‘Antar area to arrest two civilians. Soon, a number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli forces. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs, and brought backups. At least another 40 masked soldiers arrived at the area and joined the original force. They raided a house belonging to Mohammed Sa’id Zayed.
At approximately 02:30, a vehicle carrying 5 Palestinian civilians arrived in the area. These civilians were surprised by the presence of Israeli forces in the area. They stepped out of the vehicle and attempted to flee. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at them. As a result, ‘Ali Hassan Khalifa, 27, was seriously wounded by a bullet to the abdomen. Medical efforts to save his life failed. Additionally, Ma’moun Hassan ‘Awad, 24, was wounded by a bullet to the right shoulder. Local resident Mo’tassem ‘Eissa ‘Edwan, 22, came out of his house to check what was going on, but he was instantly killed by a bullet to the head. Before their withdrawal from the camp, Israeli forces abducted 3 Palestinian civilians, including two children.
Also this week, Israeli forces abducted 21 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. On August 2nd, at approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Tubas. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khaled Hamad Abu Tous, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council from the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas, and abducted him. They also confiscated a computer set and some documents.
Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 30 July 2011, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli soldiers stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israeli opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who were collecting straw.
On 02 August 2011, Israeli warplanes bombarded a tunnel at the Egyptian border in the southern Gaza Strip, and a training site in the north. No casualties were reported.
Israel has continued to impose a total siege and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. 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.
Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces only allow the movement of limited groups amidst severe restrictions, including long hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israeli forces have also continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Israeli forces denied new categories of Gazan patient permission to have access to hospitals via the crossing.
Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip.
For approximately 48 months, Israeli forces have continued to deny approximately 700 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 settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 29 July 2011, about 100 Israeli settlers, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, moved from “Karmi Tsur” settlement to the south of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, into nearby Palestinian areas. The settlers carried maps with them. They damaged some trees and conducted religious rituals. During this tour, which continued until 12:30, Israeli soldiers fired into the air to prevent photographing.
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, 3 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. Israeli forces also abducted 3 international human rights defenders.
Following the Friday Prayer on 29 July 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. 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 and fire broke out in some olive fields.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 29 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.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 29 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. Israeli forces also abducted 3 international human rights defenders.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 29 July 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor 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 and fired at them. As a result, 3 demonstrators, including two children, were wounded. Additionally, a number of Palestinian civilians 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 High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
The PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with their legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
