Israeli forces have continued with systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) for the reporting period of 07 – 14 January 2015.Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli navy forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea.
In the West Bank, on 10 January 2015, Palestinian child and youngster from Burin village, south of Nablus, were wounded when a number of children and youngsters went to al-Sabe’ Mount, east of Burin village, south of Nablus, to play with snow, but settlers protected by Israeli soldiers attacked them.
On the abovementioned day, a Palestinian child from al-Raihya village, south of Hebron, sustained a bullet wound as a settler fired at him. The child went with his brothers and relatives to check on their olive trees, north of the village, when the settler fired at them.
In the Gaza Strip, in the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea, on 11 January 2015, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 1.5 nautical miles off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. As a result, a fishing boat sustained damage, but no casualties were reported.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 50 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 82 Palestinians, including 18 children and 2 women. Twenty-six of these Palestinians, including 11 children and 2 women, were arrested in Jerusalem.
Restrictions on movement:
Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 8 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people. The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. During the reporting period, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian patient who obtained a permit to travel to the West Bank for medical treatment, while another civilian accompanying his father was arrested while the father was denied travel for medical treatment.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property:
On 10 January 2015, Israeli settlers chopped the branches of 40 olive trees and 4 30-year-old almond trees with saws, southeast of Yatta. Around the same time, a number of settlers form “Sousia” settlement” uprooted and chopped 150 olive trees, southeast of Yatta. Furthermore, settlers from “Sidi Buiz” settlement planted lands in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, with olive and oak trees and expanded the water network in them.
On 11 January 2015, the residents of Yasouf village were informed that the settlers of “Tafuh” settlement attacked the lands of al-Teen al-Shami area. It turned out that the settlers chopped 38 olive trees with an electric saw.
Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall:
During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up.
(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded in fear of being arrested by the Israeli forces within its policy to oppress the peaceful protests and prevent Palestinian civilians from participating).
Demonstrations against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activity
· Following the Friday prayer, on 09 January 2015, despite the cold weather, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation wall. Early in the morning, Israeli forces closed all entrances to the city to prevent Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders from participating in the protests. Protestors marched by the annexation wall and tried to cross the fence. Israeli soldiers stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it, fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and wastewater at them and chased them into the olive fields. As a result, As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up.
· Around the same time and despite the cold weather, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbwires and prevented the demonstrators from crossing to the land behind it before they responded by throwing stones. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the civilians, and chased them into the village. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up.
· Also following the Friday prayer, Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, heading to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. The demonstrators threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response.
Continued closure of the oPt:
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
The total closure of al-Mentar (‘Karni’) crossing since 02 March 2011 has seriously affected the economy of the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all economic and commercial establishments in the 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 capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision to close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip in the beginning of 2009, and the Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which were dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
The cooking gas crisis has fluctuated due to the closure of Karm Abu Salem for security claims. According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli authorities only allow an average of 98 tons of cooking gas into Gaza per day. This limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is 200 tons per day of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during winter. The crisis has unprecedentedly aggravated for around six weeks due to cold weather and overconsumption in addition to the power outage and using gas as an alternative in many instances of electricity. The lack of diesel and benzene led to the aggravation of the crisis as a result of using the gas cylinder for cars or as an alternative for benzene to run generators. As a result, the demand for gas further increased.
For almost 7 consecutive years, Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of construction materials to the Gaza Strip. Two years ago, Israeli forces approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations in the Gaza Strip. On 17 September 2013, they allowed the entry of limited quantities of construction materials for the private sector. However, on 13 October 2013, they re-banned it claiming that these materials are used for constructing tunnels. Last week, Israeli forces allowed the entry of construction materials only for UNRWA and UNDP projects. As a result, construction works have completely stopped impacting all sectors related to construction and an increase in unemployment levels. During the 51-day Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, Israeli authorities did not allow the entry of any construction materials. As a result, vital and infrastructure projects have been obstructed so far.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel denied permission to access hospitals via the crossing for new categories of patients from the Gaza Strip.
West Bank
· Hebron: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 14:00 on Wednesday, 07 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Samet village, southwest of Doura, south of Hebron. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 12 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’ir village, east of the city. Around the same time, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ezzna village, west of the city. The checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 13 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Koum village, west of Doura, southwest of the Hebron. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 14 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Arroub refugee camp, north of the city. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
· Ramallah: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 16:30 on Sunday, 11 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the intersection of Beit Ore al-Foqa, southwest of Ramallah. At approximately 22:30, they established a similar checkpoint under Ain Yabroud Bridge. All checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 12 January 2015, Israeli forces reestablished their existence at ‘Attarh checkpoint on the northern entrance of Bir Zeit, north of the city. At approximately 11:00, they established a checkpoint at the entrance of Nilin village, west of the city. The checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
· Jericho: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:30 on Sunday, 11 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance Fasail village, north of the city. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
· Qalqilya: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 18:15 on Thursday, 08 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint between Izbat Jaloud and Ras ‘Attyya villages, east of the city. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 11:30 on Friday, 09 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of the city. At approximately, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of ‘Azzoun village. The checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 20:50 on Saturday, 10 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Jeet village. At approximately 11:454, another checkpoint was established on the road between Izbat Jaloud and Ras ‘Atyya villages. At approximately 16:30, another checkpoint was established between Jius and Azzoun. All checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 12:30 on Sunday, 11 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of the city. At approximately 18:00, a similar checkpoint was established at the entrance of Seer village while another checkpoint was established under Jius Bridge on the road between Qalqilia and Tulkarm at approximately 18:15. At approximately 19:30, a similar checkpoint was established at the entrance of Azzoun village. At approximately 19:50, a similar checkpoint was established at the entrance of Izbat al-Tabib village, east of the city. All checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 12 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint between Izbat al-Tabib and Asala villages. They detained Muhammad Khaled Tabib (17) and Thaer Byan Tabib, an officer at the General Intelligence, then released them. At approximately 17:10, another checkpoint was established t the entrance of Azzoun village.
· Tulkarm: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 08 January 2015, Israeli forces stationed ‘Annab military checkpoint which is established on the road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of the city, tightened their restriction against civilians and obstructed their movement. Later that day, the tightening ended and no arrests were reported. The tightening renewed on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
· Jenin: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 22:30 on Friday, 09 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road between Jenin and Tulkarm and Nablus, near the intersection of Arraba village. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 09:30 on Saturday, 10 January 2015, Israeli forces stationed at the “Mofodatan” checkpoint which is established on the bypass between Jenin and the northern towns of Tulkarm. Later the tightening ended and no arrests were reported.
· Salfit: At approximately 19:00, on Monday, 12 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint between Hares and Kuful Hares villages, north of the city. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
Arrests and Maltreatment of Palestinian Civilians at Military Checkpoints:
· At approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 14 January 2015, Israeli forces arrested Muhammad Abdel Jawwad Ekhlil (22) from Beit Amer village, north of Hebron, after he was stopped at “Gosh Itsion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.
Efforts to create Jewish demographic majority in occupied East Jerusalem:
· At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 08 January 2015, Israeli forces moved into the neighborhoods of the Old City in Jerusalem after they closed al-‘Amoud, al-Sahira, and al-Asbat gates under the pretext of looking for a person who stabbed an Israeli settler in the evening of the aforementioned day. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 civilians, including two children: Muhammad Naser Miswedeh (21); Muhammad Ali Hijazi (20); Khaled Ahmed al-Qawasmi (24); Muhammad Akram Abu Rmeila (17|); and Wael Samir Kilghassi (17).
· At approximately 01:00 on Friday, 09 January 2015, Israeli forces arrested Muhammad Hani Matuq (16) when he was at al-‘Amoud gate in the Old City in Jerusalem. He was taken to an unknown destination.
· At approximately 20:00 on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces arrested two Palestinian children after chasing them near al-‘Amoud gate area, east of the Old City in Jerusalem, when they were playing with the snow. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces arrested Abdel Rahim Musa Barbar (16); and Hussam Abdullah al-Khatib (17) after chasing dozens of children who were playing with the snow near the Jewish cemetery. Israeli forces claimed that the children were throwing snowballs at Israeli settlers who were in the area.
· At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 10 January 2015, an Israeli settler opened fire at a number of merchants in the Bazaar market in the Old City in Jerusalem after a wrangle and a clash erupted between the settler and the merchants. According to an eyewitness, an Israeli settler in the Bazaar market opened fire at the civilians without wounding anyone. He added that the settler lives in one of the settlements of the Old City. Furthermore, he is known for his constant provocation attempts. The Bazaar merchants explained that Israeli police arrived at the place and arrested Anwar Muna (24) and established checkpoints at the gates of Old Jerusalem.
· At approximately 19:00 of the aforementioned day, Israeli forces stormed the African neighborhood near al-Majles gate in the Old City in Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Nasri Bachir al-Firawi (13).
· At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces raided the Central neighborhood of Silwan village, south of the Old City in Jerusalem, after a settler’s car caught on fire in the aforementioned area. They deployed in the streets and established a checkpoint on al-Ain Street. They arrested 8 civilians, including two children: Mahmoud Kamal Jaber (20); Muhammad Mustafa Shiwyyat (20); Hamza Anwar Jaber (20); Hamdi Anwar Jaber (14); Khaled Kastiro (20); Fares Abu Nab (19); Khalil al-Rashq (15); and Murad Kasterro (21).
· At approximately 06:00 on Monday, 12 January 2014, Israeli forces moved into al-Isawia village, north of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 children: Muhammad Yousif Abu al-Hims (13); Qusai Dari (14); and Nadim Zahra (14).
· At approximately 12:00, Israeli forces arrested Misbah Abu Sbeih (45) and his son Sbeih (19) when they were attending the trail of Izz al-Din, the son of the aforementioned person. They were taken to al-Maskubyya investigation center.
· At approximately 13:30, Israeli forces arrested two Palestinian women near Hatta gate, one of the gates of al-Aqsa mosque, in the Old City of Jerusalem. They were taken to al-Maskubyya investigation center. They were identified as: Sanaa Dweik (34) and ‘Ayda al-Deesi (31).
· At approximately 05:00 on Tuesday, 13 January 2014, Israeli forces moved into al-Khilla area in al-Tour neighborhood, east of the Old City in Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 civilians: Abdullah Muhammad al-Hidra (19) and Ayyoub Yousif Abu al-Hawa (21).
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property:
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
· On Saturday, 10 January 2015, Israeli settlers cut off the branches of 40 olive trees and 4 30-year-old almond trees with saws, southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron. The trees belong to Jibreel Abu ‘Arram and Khaled Musa Abu ‘Arram. The land which was attacked is located in ‘kherbat Abu Qwawis, southeast of Yatta, near bypass road (317), between “Mitssibeh Yair” and “Sousia” settlements.
· Around the same time, Israeli settlers from ‘Sousia” settlement, southeast of Yatta, uprooted 150 olive trees belonging to Shatat family. The owners of the lands found out about the both attacks after the weather improved. Israeli police investigated the incidents.
· At approximately 09:30 on Saturday, Palestinian youths went to al-Saba’ mountain on the eastern sides of Burin village, south of Nablus, to play with the snow. After they reached the area, settlers from “Jifat Runim” backed by Israeli soldiers attacked the children and youths and chased them towards the town. After the village residents heard of the attack they headed to secure the comeback of their children. They threw stones at the settlers and Israeli soldiers immediately opened fire. As a result a child and a young man were wounded. They child (15) sustained a bullet wound to his leg while the young man (18) sustained a bullet wound to his right leg. They were both moved to Rafidia Hospital for treatment. Their wounds were described as moderate.
· At approximately 11:00 on the same day, Ibrahim Isa Suleiman Tubasi (14) from al-Reihya village, south of Hebron, sustained a bullet wound to his left thigh. He was shot by a settler form “Beit Hajjai”. The child was wounded when he was with his relatives trying to check out their olive trees after the area had witnesses a polar low. The aforementioned was taken to al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron and went under a surgery. His medical condition was described as stable.
Suleiman al-Tubasi, brother of the wounded child, told PCHR:
“Our family owns dozens of acres of lands cultivated with olive trees in the northern areas of al-Rihya village. After the area witnessed a polar low, I headed with my brother Ibrahim and a number of our relatives to check our lands in 10 January 2014.at approximately 11:00, we saw a white SUV near the military tower, which was established on our lands. The vehicle left later on and minutes later a black SUV arrived in the area and stopped by the military tower. A man wearing black and holding a gun got off the car. He was approximately 500 meters away from us. Minutes later, we heard two gun shots. We started running away when I heard my cousin Isa al-Tubasi screaming and saying that Ibrahim was wounded. I ran towards then and saw Ibrahim bleeding on the ground. I was very frightened. Isa carried him and we headed towards the village. One of the men called the ambulance and some of the village residents. After we took the shortest way towards al-Fawwar refugee camp, we met one of our relatives who was driving a jeep. He took us to al-Fawwar refugee camp and later I went home. I was informed that Ibrahim was taken to al-Ahli hospital where it turned out that he sustained a bullet wound to his left thigh. His medical condition is currently stable.”
· On the aforementioned Saturday, two settlers form “Sidi Buiz” settlement planted lands in al-Khader area, south of Bethlehem, with olive and oak trees and extended the water network. Ahmed Salah, the coordinator of the Settlement and Annexation Wall Committee, said that Hassan Musa was surprised when he entered his land in Ain al-Qissis area, west of the village, to see his land planted with 20-year-old oak trees and dozens of olive trees. Moreover, he found out that the water network in his land was extended. Salah mentioned that the attacked land has an area of 20 acres. He added that such attacks aim to serve as a strategy to facilitate the expansion of “Sidi Boiz” settlement and connecting it with “Navi Danielle” settlement.
· At approximately 15:00 on Sunday, 11 January 2014, the residents of Yasouf village, east of Salfit, were informed of an attack carried out by the settlers of “Tfuh” settlement in al-Teen al-Shami lands, north of the aforementioned village. Upon their arrival to the area, they found out that the settlers chop 38 olive trees with an electric saw. The owners of the lands received phone calls from other farmers who went to check their lands after the snow stopped and found out that the trees in plot no. 10 were chopped. It should be noted that the owners of the aforementioned lands are not allowed to enter their properties without security coordination. Moreover, no vehicles are not allowed to enter area because there is no road for vehicles except that which is only used by the military and the settlers. Car traces were found which means that the settlers are involved in the attack. The aforementioned lands belong to: Muhammad Sail Hussein ‘Itani; Mahmoud Mustafa al-Haj Hassan; Saed Salim Yasin; and Shaher Muhammed Deeb.
Muhammad Sail Hussein ‘Itani told PCHR,
“At approximately15:00 on Sunday, 11 January 2014, I received a phone call from our neighbors in al-Teen al-Shami area who went to their lands to check the damage that the polar low might have caused. They noticed that 10 of my olive trees were chopped by electric saws in addition to 28 trees from the lands of my neighbors Mahmoud Mustafa al-Haj Hassan; Saed Salim Yasin; and Shaher Muhammad Deeb. I must note that we are not allowed into the area without the necessary security coordination. We are also not allowed to enter our vehicles into the area since there is not even a road for vehicles except that which is only for the military and settlers’ usage. We informed the village counsel and the Israeli police arrived into the area and took our affidavits and took pictures of the attack.”
Recommendations to the International Community:
PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR stresses that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.
In light of continued arbitrary measures, land confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the continued aggression against civilians in the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act according to the following recommendations:
1. PCHR calls upon the international community and the United Nations to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine;
2. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;
4. PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned committees;
5. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;
6. PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals;
7. PCHR calls upon the international community to act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;
8. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute;
9. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on the expense of human rights;
10. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel it to remove them;
11. PCHR calls upon the international community, in light of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of hostilities launched by Israel which directly targeted the civilian infrastructure;
12. PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;
13. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violations and crimes against Palestinian civilians;
14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to international human rights law and humanitarian law instruments.
Full, detailed document, including info on patrols and border crossings available at the official PCHR website.
