In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 26 April – 02 May 2012, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that 10 Palestinian civilians were wounded and 34 abducted in 69 separate invasions of the Palestinian Territories this week.
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR recommended to the international community that the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 60 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 29 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children. In addition, Israeli forces abducted two Palestinian civilians at various checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli forces use force to disperse peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. Dozens of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 26 April 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians, including members of the family of Tha’er Halahla, a Palestinian prisoner in Israeli jails who has been on hunger strike, peacefully demonstrated in front of Oufar Prison, southwest of Ramallah, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike. Israeli soldiers fired at the demonstrators, wounding 4 of them. They also abducted ‘Abdullah Abu Rahma, 40, Coordinator of the Public Committee against the Annexation Wall in Bil’ein village, but released him an hour later.
Israeli forces have continued efforts to create a Jewish demographic majority in East Jerusalem. Israeli occupation authorities announced a plan to establish hotels in “Givat Hamatos” settlement neighborhood in Jerusalem. Israeli occupation authorities also ordered the demolition of 7 houses in al-Bustan quarter in Silwan village to the south of the old town of Jerusalem.
On 30 April 2012, Israeli forces moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They handed notices to 7 Palestinian civilians ordering the demolition of 6 houses and a barn, claiming that they were built without licenses.
On 01 May 2012, Israeli forces, accompanied by bulldozers, moved into al-Ballouta area near bypass road #60, east of Hebron. They demolished two cow farms and two rooms belonging to the al-Rajabi family, claiming that they were built without licenses.
On the same day, Israeli forces, accompanied by two bulldozers, moved into ‘Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya. They demolished a home that was under-construction.
At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 01 May 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians, peacefully demonstrated in front of Oufar Prison, southwest of Ramallah, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike. Israeli soldiers fired at the demonstrators, wounding 3 of them. A number of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.
On 02 May 2012, Israeli forces, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into al-Baq’a area, east of Hebron. They destroyed an agricultural watering system. It should be noted that the area is close to “Kiryat Arba” settlement.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted 9 limited incursions into Palestinian communities, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land which they had already razed. In addition, some areas of agricultural land in the southern Gaza Strip were burnt.
In one of the incursions, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian communities in the Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded.
During the past week, two Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces positioned at the border with the Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian areas in the southern Gaza Strip towns of Rafah and Khan Yunis. Also as a result of the Israeli gunfire, some areas of Palestinian agricultural land were burnt.
On 29 April 2012, Israeli naval troops abducted 6 Palestinian fishermen, including a child, and confiscated their boat in the northern Gaza Strip. Five of the fishers were released later, but the sixth one and the boat have remained in custody.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure 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 26 April 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus, escorted by Israeli forces, threw stones at ‘Ourif Secondary School in ‘Ourif village, south of Nablus. Palestinian civilians gathered and attempted to stop the settlers. Immediately, Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters at these civilians.
On the same day, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered near Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus. They closed Nablus-Ramallah road for more than one hour.
On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, stormed agricultural areas in Ematin village, northeast of Qalqilya. Two Palestinian shepherds attempted to stop the settlers. Immediately, Israeli soldiers abducted the two shepherds.
Israeli Annexation Wall:
In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded 10 Palestinian civilian during the dispersion of peaceful demonstrations organized in protest of the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank, and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strikes. They also wounded two Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces also detained Abdullah Abu Rahma, Coordinator of the Public Committee against the Annexation Wall in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, for an hour.
Following the Friday Prayer on 27 April 2012, 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 and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike. The demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag and portraits of a number of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails and called for ending the political split. They then moved towards areas of 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 demonstrator was wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets to the right hand and leg. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 27 April 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators moved towards areas of the annexation wall. Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday prayer on 27 April 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The protesters walked towards the gate erected by Israeli forces near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby ‘Halmish’ settlement are trying to seize. Israeli soldiers who had been extensively deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands. Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters. A result, a demonstrator was hit by a tear gas canister to the abdomen (PCHR keeps his name) and other demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 13:50 also on Friday, 27 April 2012, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest of the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village. Once they moved towards the entrance, Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, We’am Waleed Barham, 18, was hit by a tear gas canister to head. Medical sources described his health condition as serious. Israeli soldiers also attacked Bashar Mahmoud Nazzal, 33, a cameraman of Palestine Television.
On Saturday noon, 28 April 2012, Israeli forces attacked dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders who organized a peaceful demonstration in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and attempted to reach Killat al-Kutla area located neat “Kari Tsur,” protesting plans to expand the settlement. They also violently beat an Israeli human rights defender, when he accused the Israeli government of racism.
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 fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
