In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 31 May– 06 June 2012, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights found that Israeli forces launched 10 air strikes on the Gaza Strip, killing 3 members of the Palestinian resistance and wounding 3 others. 10 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children, were also injured.A number of animal farms, a factory of dairy products, a workshop, a well, 3 agricultural rooms and a greenhouse were destroyed. 8 houses and a company were damaged.
A Palestinian civilian was seriously wounded by Israeli forces in Hebron. Israeli forces use force to disperse peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. 9 demonstrators, including a child, were wounded.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 01 June 2012, Israeli forces killed a member of the Palestinian resistance during an armed clash to the east of Khan Yunis. During this confrontation, Israeli aircraft opened fired at Palestinian agricultural areas in the east of the village. Later, Israeli forces declared that an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian gunman were killed. The Palestinian gunman was identified as Ahmed Ahmed Nasser Abu Nasser, 19, from ‘Abassan village. Israeli forces delivered his body to the Palestinian side at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing at approximately 17:30 on the same day.
The Israeli airforce also killed another two members of the Palestinian resistance by an air strike that targeted a motorcycle.
During the reporting period, Israeli warplanes launched 10 air strikes against the Gaza Strip, during which they fired at least 19 missiles. As a result, of these air strikes, a number of animal and bird farms, a factory of dairy products, a workshop, a well, 3 barns and a greenhouse were destroyed, and 8 houses and a company were damaged. Ten Palestinian civilians, including 7 children, were also lightly injured.
In one example of this week’s ten airstrikes, on Sunday, 03 June 2012, at approximately 01:10, Israeli warplanes fired 3 missiles at a 470-square-meter animal farm belonging to Faraj Hussein Abu Rabee’, 42, in Nasser Project in the northern Gaza Strip. The farm is located nearly 900 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip. The farm was completely destroyed. A water well of the Municipality of Beit Lahia and two rooms were also destroyed. Additionally, an electricity generator was damaged and 29 sheep and 5,350 chicks were killed.
During the reporting period, Israeli gunboats attacked opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern and central Gaza Strip. Israeli naval troop abducted 3 Palestinian fishers, including a child, and confiscated 3 fishing boats.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Over the last week, Israeli forces conducted 74 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 25 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a journalist. This number includes 4 Palestinian farmers who attempted to stop an attack by Israeli settlers on a Palestinian shepherd.
Over the last week Israeli forces wounded 9 demonstrators, including two children, during the dispersion of peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and on the 45th anniversary of the beginning of the Israeli occupation. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.
On 04 June 2012, Israeli forces seriously wounded a Palestinian civilian in Hebron, claiming that he stabbed an Israeli soldier near the Ibrahimi Mosque.
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 31 May 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Yakir” settlement, northwest of Salfit, razed areas of land in Wadi Qana area to the west of Deir Estia village, and transported the sand to the above settlement.
On 01 June 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Eddi Aad” settlement in the east of Turmos’iya village, north of Ramallah, uprooted 75 almond trees.
On 02 June 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Avihal” settlement, south of Hebron, uprooted 65 olive trees in Yatta village.
On 05 June 2012, Israeli forces moved into al-Maita area near Wadi al-Maleh village in the northern Jordan village, northeast of Tubas. They handed notices to 5 Palestinian families in the area to remove their tents. Later, Israeli forces, accompanied by a bulldozer, arrived at the area again and tore down the 12 tents, and 6 animal farms:
On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from “Sham’a” settlement, south of Hebron, set fire to Palestinian agricultural areas planted with wheat and parleys in al-Zahiriya village. At least 20 dunums of agricultural land were burnt.
On the same day, 4 Israeli settlers from “Eitamar” settlement, which stands on the lands of Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus, attacked a Palestinian shepherd when he was grazing animals. Immediately, a number of Palestinian farmers intervened and the two parties clashed. Soon after, a guard of the above settlement arrived at the area and fired into the air. Israeli forces then arrived at the area and abducted the shepherd and 3 farmers.
Israeli attacks on nonviolent demonstrations:
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, 7 demonstrators, including a child, were wounded, and dozens of others suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Following the Friday Prayer on 01 June 2012, 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 and. They raised the Palestinian flag and called for ending political division. They then moved towards areas of annexation wall. They called through megaphones on Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land. 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 hit by a tear gas canister to the right hand, and a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 01 June 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. As a result, 3 demonstrators, including a child, were wounded. Additionally, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 13:15 also on Friday, 01 June 2012, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village. Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, 3 demonstrators were hit by tear gas canisters and a number of others suffered from tear gas inhalation. Additionally, 4 olive trees belonging to Waleed ‘Ali were burnt.
On Tuesday noon, 05 June 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails organized a peaceful demonstration near ‘Ofar Prison, southwest of Ramallah, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Israeli forces fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, two demonstrators were wounded, and other suffered from tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 14:30 also on Tuesday, dozens of Palestinian civilians from Ramallah and al-Bireh gathered near Qalandya refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem. They organized a peaceful demonstration to mark the 45th anniversary of the 1967, which marked the beginning of the Israeli occupation. They moved towards Qalandya checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah. Immediately, Israeli forces closed the checkpoint. The demonstrators set fire to tires at threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli forces. Immediately, Israeli forces fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the 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 PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and urge their governments to bring the perpetrators to justice.
In addition, PCHR calls upon the European Union to 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 Occupied Palestinian Territories.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
