In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 29 Sep. – 05 Oct. 2011, 3 Palestinians, including a child, were wounded by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian was wounded when Israeli forces attacked a non-violent protest in the West Bank.Israeli forces launched a number of air strikes against civilian facilities and training sites in the Gaza Strip, damaging two houses and a warehouse of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 01 October 2011, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. As a result, two Palestinians were wounded by shrapnel. An elderly woman also sustained bruises. Israeli forces claimed that they targeted a number of Palestinians who intended to launch home-made rockets into Israeli towns.
On 03 October 2011, a Palestinian child was wounded when Israeli forces fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting iron and aluminum in Juhor al-Dik (Gaza Valley) village in the central Gaza Strip.
On 30 September 2011, an Israeli warplane bombarded a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
On 05 October 2011, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.
Also this week in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted a limited incursion into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian agricultural land.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. Israeli forces have continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the strangulation of the commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
The total closure of al-Mentar ‘Karni’ crossing on 02 March 2011 has created a bitter situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all the economic and commercial establishments in Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off. It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip in terms of its operational capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision of al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions to totally close Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2009, and Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 35 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 3 Palestinians.
In one example of this week’s 35 incursions, on Sunday September 30th, at approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into Bil’in village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, a number of Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Israeli forces uprooted 95 olive trees in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem, for the purpose of the construction of the annexation wall.
Israeli forces razed 15 donums[1] and destroyed some agricultural facilities in Beit Oula village, northwest of Hebron.
Israeli forces ordered stopping the establishment of an agricultural road and demolished 7 agricultural rooms, 5 tents and two water wells in Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit.
Israeli forces declared a plan to establish a new road for settlers on Palestinian agricultural land in Beit Ummr town, north of Hebron.
Israeli settlers uprooted 50 olive trees and took over 150 sheep south of Hebron.
Israeli settlers burnt 50 olive trees in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.
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, a Palestinian civilian was wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 30 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 raised the Palestinian flag and chanted slogans calling for ending the occupation and annexation wall and release of all Palestinian prisoners. Moreover, the demonstrators raised banners calling the world for the recognition of the State of Palestine and carried the Libyan uprising flags and an American flag on which (veto) was written. They then moved towards areas of Palestinian land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian owners. When they reached (Abu Lemon) nature preserve, the demonstrators walked along the wall and released the balloons and kites. 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, and fire broke out in a number of farms.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 30 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 chanted slogans calling for Palestinian reconciliation, adherence to the Palestinian inalienable rights and resistance of the occupation. Additionally, they chanted ‘194 is the State of Palestine’ and other slogans against the American President and his speech at the United Nations that was defended the Israeli occupation. 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 30 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 and settlement activities. They raised the Palestinian flag, chanted slogans against the USA, called for ending the occupation and chanted ‘194 is the State of Palestine’. When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near ‘Halmish’ settlement, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, Nariman Mahmoud Tamimi, 30, was hit by a tear gas canister to the abdomen. A number of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises.
At approximately 13:30, following the Friday Prayer on 30 September 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They moved towards the eastern entrance of the village, in protest against the permanent closure of the entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada. Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. 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 Palestinian Center for Human Rights made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law will only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace process or agreement must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
