In its Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 08 – 14 Sep. 2011, Israeli forces continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, wounding two and abducting 8, including 3 children.Israeli forces abducted and interrogated 8 fishermen, including two children, but released them all later. Israeli forces continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 51 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Israeli forces abducted 23 Palestinians, including 10 children.
Israeli forces abducted at least 3 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
On 11 September 2011, two Israeli gunboats surrounded two Palestinian fishing boats, on board of which were 8 Palestinian fishermen, including two children, opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli naval troops opened fire at the boats wounding two fishermen slightly. Israeli naval forces then abducted the eight fishermen, but released them several hours later.
During the reporting period, Israeli gunboats fired at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.
Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian civilian communities, but no casualties were reported.
On 10 September 2011, Israeli forces abducted 3 Palestinian children from the Gaza Strip who attempted to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs. They interrogated the children and released them several hours later.
Israel has continued to impose a total siege and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
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 08 September 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Rachel” settlement to the south of Yatma village, south of Nablus, wrote slogans in Hebrew meaning “cultivation of fruits” on the door and walls of Yatma Mosque.
On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus, uprooted 17 olive trees in a plot belonging to Ahmed ‘Awadh ‘Ouda al-Lahaf area nearly one kilometer away from Hawara village.
On 09 September 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Yish Kodesh” settlement to the southeast of Qasra village, southeast of Nablus, uprooted and cut 45 trees in Ras al-Nakhil area.
On 12 September 2011, many armed Israeli settlers from “Maghroun” settlement, which stands on the lands of Burqa and Mikhmas villages, southeast of Ramallah, moved into Burqa village. They set fire to two Palestinian civilians vehicles belonging to Sayel Ibrahim Canaan . Members of the Canaan family were able to extinguish fire. The settlers also attempted to break into Canaan’s house and broke its windows.
On the same day, Israeli forces handed notices to 8 Palestinian civilians in Beit Oula village, northwest of Hebron, ordering them to evacuate their farms located to the east of the annexation wall, under security claims.
On the same day, at least 1,000 Israeli settlers gathered in “Gilad” settlement, east of Qalqilya, to organize a demonstration in the area. They threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on Qalqilya-Nablus road near Jeet intersection. They then moved towards the bypass road near “Yits’har” settlement and threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles there. Immediately, Israeli forces closed the road for nearly 5 hours.
On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from “Karmi Tsur” settlement, north of Hebron, uprooted 160 grape trees belonging to Ahmed Mahmoud ‘Aqel, from Haloul, nearly 170 meters away from the settlement’s fence.
On 13 September 2011, Israeli forces, accompanied by a bulldozer, surrounded an 80-square-meter house under construction at Hebron-Bethlehem road. They demolished the house. It should be noted that the owner obtained a license to build the house 16 years ago, but Israeli forces later ordered him to stop the construction.
On the same day, Israeli forces demolished a car parts shop belonging to Saber Zamel Abu Maria in the same area. According to Abu Maria, his loss is estimated at about 25,000 NIS.
On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers set an ambush for Palestinian civilian vehicles near “Gilad” settlement at the bypass road linking Nablus-Qalqilya road with Nablus-Ramallah road. An armed settler stood in the street. When he saw Palestinian civilian vehicles coming, he pointed to the other settlers who immediately threw stones at the vehicles. As a result of this attack, a Palestinian civilian was injured below the right eye.
Israeli Annexation Wall:
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, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.
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 suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Following the Friday Prayer on 09 September 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. They moved towards areas of Palestinian land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian owners. The demonstrators also used megaphones to call on Israeli settlers living in “Mitityaho Mizrach” settlement to leave it. 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 09 September 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 09 September 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.
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 PCHR call 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.
The PCHR calls for the immediate implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
