Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (13 – 19 June 2013)

A Palestinian farmer was wounded in the east of the central Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the
West Bank.

2 protesters were wounded during a peaceful protest in Bil’in
village, west of Ramallah. A civilian was wounded and 3 vehicles
were burnt during the protest of “returning to the destroyed villages” in Ramallah.

Israeli forces conducted 82 incursions into Palestinian communities
in the West Bank.

32 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were arrested.
4 civilians were arrested in the Gaza Strip while attempting to cross the border into Israel.
Israeli forces harassed a family from al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, and severely
attacked a mentally disabled young man.

Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the oPt and has
isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

IsIsraeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.
6 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli forces tortured a young man from al-Aroub refugee camp and dumped him at Kfar Etzion intersection, south of Bethlehem.

Israeli navy forces have continued to target
Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea.

Israeli navy forces opened fire at the Palestinian
fishing boats off Deir al-Balah shore in the central Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces have continued to support settlement
activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.

About 300 olive trees were burnt in Fara’ta and Imatin
villages, east of Qalqilia.

The settlers continued their systematic attacks
against the Palestinian civilians and their property.  

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
13 – 19 June 2013.

Shooting:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 4
Palestinian civilians.  3 civilians were
wounded in the West Bank while the fourth one was wounded in the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued the
systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian,
Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation
wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  As a result, 2 civilians were wounded during a
peaceful protest in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah.

On 15 June 2013, hundreds of Palestinians and
international activists organized peaceful protests titled “Bridge of
Return,” heading to al-Latroun evacuated villages (Amwas, Beit Nouba and Yalou)
that were destroyed by the Israeli forces in 1967.  Israeli forces used force to deny the
protestors access to these villages. As a result, a 20-year-old civilian was
wounded by a bullet to the chest and a bus and 2 other civilian vehicles were
burnt.  

In the Gaza Strip, on 14 June 2013, Israeli forces
stationed on watchtowers along the border fence, southeast of Deir al-Balah in
the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at a farmer and wounded him in the thigh.

In the same context, on 13 June 2013, Israeli forces
stationed on watchtowers along the border fence, east of Abassan village, east
of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at al-Sanati area,
northeast of the village.  As a result,
partial damage was caused to a house belonging to Mohammed Hussein Abu Salah.

As part of the Israeli navy forces’ attacks on
Palestinian fishermen, on 18 June 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed off Deir
al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at the Palestinian fishing
boats that were sailing within the 6 nautical mile limit. As a result,
fishermen were forced to sail backwards fearing of arrest or injury.  

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 82 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 32 Palestinians, including 3
children.

On 19 June 2013, Israeli forces harassed a family in
al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.
They raided their house and attacked them, especially a mentally
disabled member of the family.

In the Gaza Strip, on 16 June 2013, Israeli forces
stationed along the border fence in “Kissufim”,
east of al-Salqa valley in the central Gaza Strip, arrested 4 civilians who
attempted to cross the border into Israel.

Restrictions on movement:

Israel continued to impose a tightened 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
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 7
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 a grave violation of the economic,
social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7
million people.  The Israeli authorities
has 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 that
has been aggravating for years due to the shortage of imports.  They also aim at imposing a complete ban on
the Gaza Strip’s exports. 

Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank,
including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

Settlement activities:

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, 15 June 2013, a group of settlers, coming
from “Havat Gilad”
settlement, which is established on Palestinians’ lands in Fara’ta and Imatin
villages, northeast of Qalqilia, set fire to 50 dunums of olive trees. As a
result, 300 olive trees were damaged.

On Sunday, 16 June 2013, a group of settlers from
“Carmiel” settlement, which is established on Palestinian civilians’
lands east of Yatta, South of Hebron, moved into lands in the area surrounding
Kherbat Um al-Khair area and patrolled them.
A number of the settlers started planting olive trees in the lands of the
Hathaleen family as a prelude to seize it.

On Tuesday, 18 June 2013, a group of settlers from
“Susya” settlement, established on Palestinians’ lands in the east of
Yatta, south of Hebron, let huge dogs attack farmers and shepherds from Ghaith
family while they were working on their lands in between Yatta and al-Samou’
villages.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
13– 19 June 2013

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks
on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

Thursday, 13 June 2013

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
Awarta village, southeast of Nablus.
They patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses, from which
they arrested 4 civilians, including 2 brothers:

1. Mohammed Fawwaz Awwad (22);

2. Omar Yusef Awwad (21);

3. His brother Lo’ay (23); and

4. Mohammed Walid Qawariq (21).

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Doura,
southwest of Hebron.  They raided a house
belonging to the family of Hussein Mostafa Amr (60) and arrested him.     

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They
raided a house belonging to the family of Ra’ed Ahmed Adi (40) and arrested
him.

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Daheriya village, south of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and deployed between the houses.  They also damaged the doors of 2 stores
belonging to Khalil Reba’ anf Yusef al-Battat.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces deployed between the houses and
raided 2 houses belonging to the families of Saif Hashem Qaisiya and Mohammed
Ayed Abu Sharekh.   

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Kharsa village to the south of Doura, west of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and raided 2
houses from which they arrested Omar Yassir Atbeish (21) and Suhaib Ibrahim
al-Sabbar (23).  A number of boys
gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired sound
bombs, and tear gas canisters.  As a
result, a barbershop belonging to Wesam Hantash was burnt as a bomb fell
inside.  Moreover, a number of boys
suffered tear gas inhalation.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
Budrus village, west of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses, from which they arrested
Mos’ab Sami Awad (21) and Yusef Mohammed Shaheen (20).  In addition, 7 civilians were summoned by the
Israeli intelligence service at Ofer detention facility, southwest of the
city.  The summoned were:

1. Mohammed Ahmed Morrar (53);

2. Asem Mohammed Morrar (24);

3. Sami Mostafa Awad (52);

4. Mostafa Sami Awad (28);

5. Belal Sami Awad (52);

6. Hatem Rashid Rashid (18); and

7. Mohammed Rashid Rashid (21).

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Zaif
area, to the east of Yatta, south of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and raided 3 houses from which they arrested 3
civilians:

1. Jebril Mousa ‘Amer;

2. Alaa Mohammed Ghaith; and

3. Mohanned Fawzi Morr.

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ruq’a area, to the west of Yatta, south of Hebron.  They raided a house belonging to the family
of Gabriel Mousa al-‘Emour (32) and arrested him.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Kofur
Qoud village, west of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

At approximately 06:00, Israeli forces stationed along
the border fence, east of Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis, in the southern
Gaza Strip, opened fire at al-Sanati area, northeast of the said village.  As a result, partial damage was caused to a
house belonging to the family of Mohammed Hussein Abu Salah (33), while his
wife, who is pregnant, and children were frightened.

At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces moved into
Arraba village, southwest of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

At approximately 10:30, Israeli forces moved into
Karbatha al-Musbah village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Tabaqa village to the south of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They arrested Anas Nasser Abu Atwan (22) and
took him to an unknown destination.

At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces moved into
Imraihiya village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time
and withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

At approximately 22:45, Israeli forces moved into
Azzoun village, east of Qalqilia.  They
patrolled the streets, detained a number of civilians on the street and
questioned them on the spot and released them later.

Friday, 14 June 2013

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Taramah
village to the southeast of Doura, west of Hebron. They raided a house
belonging to the family of Ghannam and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
Jericho.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  No arrests
were reported.

At approximately 01:55, Israeli forces moved into
Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.  

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Majour neighbourhood, southwest of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into
Qabatiya village, south of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging to the family of Belal Mostafa
Kmail (24) and arrested him.

At approximately 05:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir
al-Sudan village, north of Ramallah.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

At approximately 09:30, Israeli forces moved into
Fasayel village, north of Jericho.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

At approximately 11:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit
‘Our al-Tahta, southwest of Ramallah.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.   

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Ein
Ayoub area, to the west of Ras Karkar village, northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

At approximately 12:10, Israeli forces moved into
Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia, for the second time within few
hours.  They patrolled the streets and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces moved into
Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets, where a number of boys gathered and threw stones at the
Israeli soldiers, who in response fired sound bombs and tear gas
canisters.  As a result, dozens of
civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

At approximately 17:30, Israeli forces moved into
Kharsa and al-Tabaqa villages, southwest of Hebron. They positioned themselves
at the entrances of the villages until the next day, when they moved into
al-Tabaqa village again.  They raided a
house belonging to the family of Wasef Abdul Jalil al-Raj’i (37) and climbed on
top of it.  They also kept its occupants
inside a room and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Marj Na’jah village, north of
Jericho.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  No arrests
were reported.

At
approximately 19:00, Israeli forces positioned along the border fence, east of
al-Salqa valley, southeast of Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, opened
fire at farmlands.  As a result, Omar
Gayad Abu Mohareb (47), a farmer, was wounded by a bullet to the right thigh
while he was irrigating his land that is about 400 meters away from the border
fence.  He was taken by a civil vehicle
to the village and then by an ambulance to al-Aqsa Martyrs’ hospital in Deir
al-Balah.  He was admitted to the
operation room.  His wound was described
as moderate.

In his testimony to PCHR’s fieldworker, Abu Mohareb
said:

“At
approximately 19:00 on Friday, 14 June 2013, I was irrigating my squash crop on
my land in Wadi al-Salqa, 400 meters away from the fence.  I heard gunshots coming from Israeli site of “Kissufim”
that is 400 meters away from my land.  I
suddenly felt something hitting me in the right thigh and it was painful. I hurried
50 meters westwards and then fell onto the ground. I realized I was wounded. I
shouted asking my sons to help me.  My
brother Jamal (42) and my cousin Hammad Abu Muhareb (22) came for help.  When they saw me bleeding, they carried me to
a vehicle and drove away. An ambulance met us on the way to the hospital and
took me to al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah.  I was admitted to operation room. My wound
was described as moderate.  I still have
shrapnel in my thigh.  I was discharged
on Sunday, 16 June 2013.”  

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into many villages, west of Doura, southwest of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and
intimidated the residents. Israeli forces fired sound bombs and tear gas
canisters in Deir Samet village.  As a
result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.  The Israeli forces withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Kreisah neighbourhood in the north of
Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled
the streets, where some boys gathered and threw stones at the soldiers, who in
response fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters.  As a result, dozens of civilians suffered
tear gas inhalation.

At
approximately 20:30, Israeli forces moved into Beitin village, northeast of
Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.       

Saturday, 15 June 2013

At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into
Na’lin village, west of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.     

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilia.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported. 

At
approximately 20:45, Israeli forces moved into Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilia, for the second time.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

Sunday, 16 June
2013

At
approximately 00:45, Israeli forces moved into Kofur al-Deek village, west of
Salfit.  They patrolled the streets and
submitted Mohammed Rateb al-Deek (28) a notice to refer to the Israeli
intelligence service.

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Zawiya village, west of
Salfit.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and positioned themselves in the southern
neighbourhood.  They also raided a house
belonging to the family of Rami Mostafa al-Haimouni (30).  Besides, they raided a store for PC spare
parts belonging to al-Haimouni.  The
Israeli soldiers smashed some devices and confiscated others.  Meantime, the Israeli forces arrested the
aforementioned person and withdrew later.
It should be noted that al-Haimouni’s house furniture was completely
damaged.     

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Hajjah village, east of Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Shweika suburb, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

At
approximately 07:00, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

At
approximately 09:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun village, northwest of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

At approximately
10:00, Israeli forces moved into Ertah village, south of Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Hajjah village, east of Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

At
approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into Karbatha Bani Hareth village,
west of Ramallah.  They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later.
No arrests were reported.

At
approximately 11:05, Israeli forces moved into Azzoun Etmah village, southeast
of Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At
approximately 17:00, Israeli forces moved into Barqa village, northeast of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

At approximately
18:00, Israeli forces moved into Bruqin village, west of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

At
approximately 22:00, Israeli forces moved into the eastern Baqa village, north
of Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence in
“Kisuvim” area, east of al-Salqa valley, east of Deir al-Balah, in
the Central Gaza Strip, arrested 4 civilians, who attempted to cross the border
into Israel:

1. Khaled Nasser Abu Muhareb (21);

2. Walid Khaled Abu Muhareb (18);

3. Hamzah Salamah Abu Swaiween (20); and

4. Salman Msallam Abu Swaiween (18).

They are all from al-Salqa valley.

Nasser Gayyad Abu Muhareb (45), father of
Khaled, said that at approximately 22:00, he heard gunshots and saw flash bombs
in the sky near “Kissufim” area that is over 1,000 meters away from
his house.  Meanwhile, he asked about his
son Khaled. Residents of the eastern area near the border fence said that they
saw him with 3 others approaching the fence.
Relatives of the other arrested persons were looking for their sons as
well.  They were told that their sons
headed towards the fence and Israeli forces opened fire while arresting them.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arqa village, west of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalamah village, north of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

At
approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into Zaita village, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Qad village, east of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets and stopped some
by passers, who were questioned on the spot on the political situation in the
West Bank.  Israeli forces withdrew
later.  Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Maythaloun village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Faqou’a village, northeast of Jenin. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into the southern Mazra’ah village,
northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew
later.  No arrests were reported.

At
approximately 23:45, Israeli forces moved into al-Jdaidah village, south of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.    

Monday, 17 June 2013

At approximately 00:15, Israeli forces moved ‘Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilia.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and fired flare bombs. At approximately 00:45,
they withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets,
where some boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who in
return fired sound bombs.  Israeli
withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Siris
village, south of Jenin.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Abu Da’if village, southeast of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into
Rafat village, west of Salfit.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

At approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Jabriyat suburb near Jenin refugee camp, south of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

At approximately 00:35, Israeli forces moved into
Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew at 04:00.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

At approximately 02:45, Israeli forces moved into
Azzoun village, east of Qalqilia.  They
patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging to the family of Abdul Salam
Basem Hussein (20) and arrested him.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
al-Roush village, to the west of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Amr.  They
arrested Ahmed Amr (25) and Saher Amr (15).

At approximately 03:25, Israeli forces moved into
al-Mudawar village, south of Qalqilia.
They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of
Anas Hosam Ghuraba (19).  They arrested
the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader
village, south of Bethlehem.  They raided
a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Abdul Karim Salah (24) and arrested
him.

At approximately 04:20, Israeli forces moved into
Marah Rabah village, south of Bethlehem.
They patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging to the family of
Ali Mahmoud al-Sheikh (29) and arrested him.

At approximately 20:30, Israeli forces moved into
Jaba’ village, south of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

At approximately 21:20, Israeli forces moved into the
eastern Baqa village, north of Tulkarm.
They patrolled the streets and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Allar
village, northeast of Tulkarm.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

At approximately 11:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Abu Da’if village, southeast of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

At approximately 12:30, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 18:30, Israeli gunboats opened fire
at fishing boats that were sailing less than 4 nautical miles off Deir
al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip.  As
a result, the fishermen were forced to sail backwards fearing of arrest or
injury.

At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Aroub
refugee camp, north of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Daheriya village, south of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

Wednesday, 19 June 2013

In the early morning, Israeli forces moved into Arraba
village, southwest of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging to the family of Kamal Mazen
Bustah (33) and questioned its occupants.
Israeli forces raided another house belonging to the family of Baker
Mohammed Abu Ebeid (25) and questioned its occupants as well.  However, no arrests were reported.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin.  They raided a house belonging to
the family of Mo’taz Awni Abu Alya (20) and arrested him.  They also raided another house belonging to
the family of Mohammed Akram al-Sabe’ (21) and arrested him.  Moreover, Israeli forces raided and searched
dozens of commercial stores in the industrial zone and withdrew later.

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.
They raided a house belonging to Helmi Mohammed Abu Ghazi, detained its
occupants in a room and attacked them.
The main door of a house belonging to his son Mohammed (34) was broken
by the Israeli soldiers. Meantime, they attacked Abu Ghazi’s son, Adam (20),
who suffers from a mental disability, with clubs before the eyes of his
family.  They also took him to the
Israeli military vehicle.  In addition,
they arrested 4 civilians, including 2 children:

1. Ezz al-Din Abu Sham’ah (16);

2. Ashraf Jawabrah (16);

3. Ammar al-Jundi (20); and

4. Mohammed al-Daghaghma (20).

Adam’s father said to a PCHR fieldworker:

“At approximately 03:00 on Wednesday, 19 June
2013, about 8 Israeli soldiers raided our 3-storey house in al-Aroub refugee
camp, north of Hebron.  They first raided
the apartment of my son Mohammed.  They
entered into his bedroom where they kept him, his wife and 8-year-old daughter
Ro’a and questioned them. The soldiers then moved to the second floor and kept
all my family members in a single room.
The soldiers kept yelling and pointing guns at us.  A soldier ordered one of my sons to bring ID
cards of the family. He kept Adam’s ID card (20) with him and told us that he
wanted to arrest him although he is mentally disabled.  Meanwhile, Adam held his mother and screamed ‘I
do not want to go with you.’  An Israeli
soldier punched him in the face and pushed his mother (54) to the ground.  When his brother Ibrahim tried to help him
and tell the soldier that he suffers from a mental problem. The soldier hit
Ibrahim and took Adam out of the house.
Four soldiers severely attacked him with clubs.  They pulled him for about 10 meters away from
the house, where he screamed “Mom, Mom”. The soldiers attacked him
again with clubs and carried him then to an Israeli vehicle.”

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Anin
village, northwest of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Ali
Mohammed Yassin (20). They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to
an unknown destination.

2. 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 organised 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, two demonstrators
sustained wounds in the Bil’in weekly demonstrations, west of Ramallah.  The first one, a 33-year-old male, was hit by
a tear gas canister in his abdomen and the other one, an 18-year-old male sustained
a bullet wound to the right leg.

In the same context and during the reporting period,
Palestinian civilians organized demonstrations in protest at the Israeli
violations and policies committed in the oPt. On 15 June 2013, a demonstration
was organized under the title of “Bridge of Return.”  Hundreds of Palestinians and international
activists headed to al-Latroun depopulated villages (‘Amwas; Beit Nuba; and
Yalo villages) which were destroyed in 1967.
Israeli forces used force in order to deny demonstrators access to the
destroyed villages.  As a result, a
20-year-old civilian was shot by a bullet in the chest, and a large public bus
and two civilian cars were completely burnt.

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

Following the Friday Prayer, 14 June 2013, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activity.  The demonstrators marched through the streets
of the village, chanting slogans calling for national unity, raised Palestinian
flags and made their way towards the lands adjacent to the annexation
wall.  Israeli forces had closed all
entrances to the village since early morning to prevent Palestinians,
journalists, and international activists from joining the protest. The
demonstrators walked along the wall and attempted to breach it. Israeli forces
stationed behind the western side of the wall, and dozens of soldiers who were
deployed along the route of the wall, fired live ammunition, rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs, tear gas canisters, and waste water at the
demonstrators, and chased them across olive fields.  As a result, two demonstrators sustained
injuries in the Bil’in weekly demonstrations, west of Ramallah.  The first one, a 33-year-old male was hit by
a tear gas canister in his abdomen and the other one (18) sustained a bullet
wound to the right leg.  Furthermore,
dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained
bruises.

(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded persons)

Also, following the Friday Prayer, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.
The demonstrators made their way towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces
closed the wall gate with barbed wire and, when the demonstrators attempted to
access the lands behind the barbed wire, they were stopped by Israeli soldiers.
The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who responded with live
ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters,
and chased them across fields of olive trees as far as the outskirts of the
village. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and
others sustained bruises.

Around the same time on Friday, dozens of Palestinian
civilians, Israeli and international human rights activists gathered at
the Martyrs Square in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to hold a
weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activities. The protesters walked towards Palestinian lands that
Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halmish” settlement are trying to
seize.  From the morning, Israeli forces
had closed all entrances to the village to prevent Palestinians, international
activists, and journalists from joining the demonstration.  Upon their arrival in the area, Israeli
soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs, and tear
gas canisters, chased the demonstrators into the village and sprayed them and
civilian houses with waste water. As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffered
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.  The firing of the tear gas canisters caused a
fire in a tract of land which is planted with olive trees. 

Following Friday Prayer, dozens of
inhabitants of al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, international and
Israeli human rights activists, and activists of the Popular Resistance
Committees gathered for the weekly peaceful demonstration against the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.  The demonstration was also organized in
protest to the construction of a school for settlers in the south of
Bethlehem.  It started outside Shomou’
Cultural Centre in the centre of the village.
The participants carried Palestinian flags, roamed the streets of the
village.  Upon their arrival at the
village’s entrance, Israeli forces, backed-up by Israeli police and border
guards, fired tear gas canisters at them in order to disperse them.   Many
demonstrators suffered due to tear gas
inhalation.  Later that day, Palestinians
organized a car rally from the centre of the village to “Daniel” settlement,
which is established on al-Khader village’s lands, south of Bethlehem, and then
to the southern entrance of the village “al-Nashash checkpoint,” where they
organized a sit-in.

At approximately 13:25
on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights
defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kufor Kadoum
village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest at the continuous closure of the
eastern entrance of the village which has been ongoing since the outbreak of
al-Aqsa Intifada. Israeli soldiers denied them access to the gate and fired
sound bombs and tear gas canisters; as a result, many demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation.  Israeli forces
detained 10-year-old Mohammed ‘Abdullah ‘Ali after chasing demonstrators; he
was released later on after the intervention of Palestinian Military Liaison.

At approximately 14:30
on Saturday, 15 June 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians, international and
Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the centre of Beit Nuba Complex,
which is established on the lands of Beit Loqya village, southwest of Ramallah
to organize a demonstration under the title of “Bridge of Return” for
al-Latroun depopulated villages (‘Amwas; Beit Nuba; and Yalo), which were
destroyed in 1967.  The demonstrators
made their way towards the annexation wall where Israeli forces were stationed
behind cement blocks in the area.
Israeli forces closed the wall gate with barbwires, and when the
demonstrators attempted to access the destroyed villages, Israeli soldiers
fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at them.  As a result, a
20-year-old man was wounded by a bullet in the chest and was then transferred
to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.
Furthermore, dozens of demonstrations suffered due tear gas inhalation
and others sustained bruises; they received medical treatment on the spot.  Farmlands that are adjacent to the wall
caught fire, also, a public bus and 2 civilian cars were burnt due to the
firing of tear gas canisters.
Palestinian Civil Defence crews arrived at the scene and extinguished
the fire after it had completely damaged the vehicles.

The burnt vehicles are as follows:

1. A 1999 MAN public bus, which is the property of
al-Waha Company for private transportation;

2. A 2000 Peugeot civilian car, which is the property of
Mohammed Jarallah ‘Asi (22); and

3. A 1995 Toyota civilian car, which is the property of
Attya Abu Safia (55).

3. Continued closure of the oPt

Israel has continued to
impose a tightened 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 tightens the closure of the Gaza Strip and closes 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 was 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,
which erupted last November, has continued to affect the Gaza Strip due to the
closure of Karm Abu Salem for long periods per month and also due to limited
quantities recently allowed by the Israeli authorities.  According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli
authorities only allow around 98 tonnes of cooking gas into Gaza per day.  This limited quantity is less than half of
the daily needs, which is 200 tonnes per day, of the civilian population in the
Gaza Strip during the winter.

For almost 6
consecutive years, Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of
construction materials to the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, Israeli
forces approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials
for a number of international organisations in the Gaza Strip.  Israeli forces also continued to impose
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.

For around a year,
Israeli forces have allowed Palestinian detainees’ families to visit their sons
in the Israeli jails according to special and unfair conditions after more than
5 years of deprivation in violation of international humanitarian law.

The Egyptian
authorities allow the population of the Gaza Strip to travel via Rafah
International crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip with the outside
world.  Only limited and specified
categories are allowed, including patients, students, persons that hold
residencies in Egypt or abroad, men over 40 years, females in all ages,
children under 18, persons who hold Arab and foreign nationalities, and members
of Arab and international humanitarian delegations.  It should be mentioned that the crossing
opens seven days a week.

Movement at Erez (Beit Hanoun crossing)

05 – 11 June 2013

Movement at Erez (Beit Hanoun crossing)

12 – 18 June 2013

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

12 – 18 May 2013

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (“Kerem Shalom”) crossing

12 – 18 June 2013

Imports:

Exports:

On Tuesday, 18 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the export of 180 kilograms of mint and 450 kilograms of chives.

Other
Imports:

On Wednesday, 12 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 980 tonnes of construction aggregates for the private
sector; 4,410 tonnes of construction aggregated for UNDP; and 1,820 tonnes of
construction aggregates for the Water Authority.  They also allowed the entry of 429 tonnes of
fodders and 312 tonnes of wheat.

On Thursday, 13 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 980 tonnes of construction aggregates for the private
sector; 3,640 tonnes of construction aggregates, 120 tonnes of white cement,
and 36 tonnes of construction steel for UNRWA; and 19 tonnes of construction
steel for the German Development Bank (GDB).
They also allowed the entry of 390 tonnes of fodders and 546 tonnes of
wheat.

On Sunday, 16 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 220 tonnes of cement, 28 tonnes of construction steel and
1820 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; and 980 tonnes of wheat for
the private sector.  They also allowed
the entry of 468 tonnes of fodders and 429 tonnes of wheat.

On Monday, 17 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 278 tonnes of cement, 31 tonnes of construction steel and
1190 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; 770 tonnes of construction
aggregated for the private sector; and 420 tonnes of construction aggregates
and 72 tonnes of cement for UNDP.  They
also allowed the entry of 546 of fodders and 429 tonnes of wheat.

On Tuesday, 18 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 510 tonnes of cement, 40 tonnes of construction steel and
2520 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; and 1050 tonnes of
construction aggregates for the private sector.
They also allowed the entry of 702 tonnes of fodders and 546 tonnes of
wheat.

Empty Plastic
Containers Returned to Israel via Karm Abu Salem

On Wednesday, 12 June 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 2 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On Thursday, 13 June 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 2 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On Sunday, 16 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed 2 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm Abu
Salem.

On Monday, 17 June 2013, Israeli forces
allowed 2 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm Abu
Salem.

On Tuesday, 18 June 2013, Israeli
forces allowed 1 truckload of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

Israel has
imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli
forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians:

Ramallah: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 18:30 on Thursday, 13 June 2013,
Israeli forces re-established at the
entrance of Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

At approximately 10:30 on Friday, 14 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh
village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 19:30, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Loqaya village, southwest of
Ramallah.  The two checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 16 June 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Beit Loqaya
village, southwest of Ramallah.  The
checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 22:30 on
Monday, 17 June 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint under the bridge
of ‘Ein Yabroud, northeast of Ramallah.
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

Hebron: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 14 June 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ezna village, west of
Hebron.  At approximately 18:30, Israeli
forces established another checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp,
south of the city, and closed the camp entrance, which is connected with bypass
road (60) by an iron gate.  As a result,
they prevented people from passing.  At
approximately 23:30, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 19:30, Israeli forces
established checkpoints at the entrances of the Dura western villages,
including al-Koum, Deir Samet, Beit ‘Awwa, al-Majd and Tarousa.  In the early morning on Saturday, 16 June 2013,
all checkpoints were removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces
established another checkpoint on Senjar Road between Dura and Hebron.  They deployed along the main road, placed steel
screws on the road, and prevented people from moving.  At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 16 June
2013, the checkpoint was removed, and people were forced to take bumpy bypass
roads in order to reach their houses.
Around the same time, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance
of Kharsa village, south of Dura, southwest of the city.  They detained a number of civilians, who were
passing by, near al-Hejaz for a couple of hours before they were later
released.  At approximately 05:00, the
checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 15 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint in al-Hawawer area at the entrance of
Halhoul, as this entrance is connected with Bypass Road (60), north of
Hebron.  At approximately 08:00, they established
another checkpoint on the road between Hebron and Joret Buhlos.  At approximately 10:00, they established a
similar checkpoint on Sanjar Road between Hebron.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

Qalqilya: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 16 June 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  At approximately 08:25,
another checkpoint was established at the intersection Jeet village, northeast
of the city.  At approximately 16:25,
they re-established the aforementioned checkpoint.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests
were reported.

Tulkarm: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
09:00 on Thursday, 13 June 2013, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint
on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened the
restrictions on movement of the Palestinian civilian through it.  The tightening later ended and no arrests
were reported.  At approximately 11:00,
they established another checkpoint on the road between ‘Ezbet Shofah and
Shofah villages, southeast of Tulkarm.
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 20:30 on Monday, 17 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and
Nablus near the intersection of Bal’aa village, east of Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

At approximately 07:30 on Tuesday, 18 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and
Qalqilya near the eastern entrance of Jubarah.
At approximately 11:30, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Qofein village, north of the city.
The two checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

Jenin: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 17:00 on Thursday, 13 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Jenin and
Tulakrm and Nablus near the intersection of ‘Arrabah village, south of
Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported. 

At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 17 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road that connects Jenin
with Tulkarm and Nablus near the entrance of Qabatia village, south of
Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 11:30 on Tuesday, 18 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road that connects Jenin
with Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of Jab’a village, south of
Jenin.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported.

Jericho: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 13 June
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on al-Mo’arajat Road between
Jericho and Ramallah.  The checkpoint was
later removed, and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 14 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Zbeidat village,
north of Jericho.  At approximately
17:00, they established another checkpoint near the southern entrance of
Jericho.  at approximately 19:30, another
checkpoint was established at the entrance of Marj Na’ajah village, north of
Jericho.  All checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 16 June 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint on al-Fasayel village, north of
Jericho.  The checkpoint was later
removed and no arrests were reported.

Arrests at military
checkpoints

At approximately 21:10 on Sunday, 16 June
2013, Israeli forces dtationed in the area between ‘Aydah refugee camp, north
of Bethlehem, and “Har Jilo” established northwest of the city, arrested 4
children from ‘Aydah Refugee camp as they were in the area.  Israeli forces claimed that the four children
attempted to attack an Israeli policeman in the area.  The arrested were identified as: Muhanned
Ibrahim Abu Sorour (17); Sorour Mohammed Abu Sorour (16); ‘Ali Mahmoud Abu
Sorour (16); and Ihab Faris Hamdan (16).

On Monday evening, 17
June 2013, Israeli forces stationed at al-Karamah international crossing
between the West Bank and Jordan arrested Ibrahim Hamzah Fayez Saba’anah (22),
a student at al-Quds Open University, transferring him to an unknown
destination.  They arrested the
aforementioned civilian when he was on his way back from Jordan.

At approximately 10:30 on Tuesday, 18 June
2013, Israeli forces stationed near Salem Military Court, northwest of Jenin,
arrested Ahmed Mahmoud Soboh (20) from Borqin village, west of the city when he
was in the court in order to attend a hearing for one of his friends.  He was then taken to an unknown destination.

At approximately 22:30 on Saturday, 15 June
2013, Israeli forces stationed on a watchtower established near the entrance of
al-‘Arroub refugee camp, as this entrance leads to bypass road (60), north of
Hebron, stopped a number of Palestinian civilians.  Israeli forces arrested Salamah Khaled
al-Jondi (20) and took him to the detention centre in “Ghosh ‘Atsyon”
settlement, south of Bethlehem.  After
several hours of being arrested and severely beaten, al-Jondi was released and
handed a notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence services in the aforementioned
centre.

In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, the
aforementioned civilian said:

“On 15 June 2013, I was heading with my
Friend, Ibrahim, to a cab stop on the main road to accompany some friends to
our friend’s wedding as they do not know the place.  When we arrived at the entrance of the camp
near the watchtower, an Israeli soldier called us and asked for the IDs.  He then came to tell me that I will go with
him for a couple of hours.  He handcuffed
my hands behind the back as well as my feet with plastic ties and blindfolded
him taking him to the watchtower.  I was
outraged about my arrest and started asking about the reason. An Israeli
soldier strongly hit my chest with the rifle butt and then took me to their
military jeep. He threw me violently on the jeep floor and another soldier then
hit my forehead with the floor.  They
drove me to a former military camp near the south-western entrance of
al-‘Arroub camp and then started kicking my legs with their feet and gun butts.  I passed out after a strong hit on my head.  I then woke up finding the soldiers pouring
water and coke on my head.  I felt nauseous
and severe pains in my left shoulder and started throwing up.  They then put me in the jeep, continued
kicking and insulting me.  They threw me
out with my ID and a notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence after undoing
the ties and the blindfold.  I felt pain
all over my body and not completely conscious.
At that time, I received a call from my mother and told her that the
Israeli soldiers threw him at the intersection of “Kfar ‘Atsyon” and I cannot
stand on my feet to go home.  Relatives
and friends then arrived and took me to Hebron Governmental hospital, where
doctors did medical tests and X-rays that showed bruises all over my body and a
rupture in the left shoulder. At approximately 03:00, I left the hospital, but
I still feel pain all over my body and take painkillers to relieve pain.  I did not respond to the notice that orders
me to refer to the Israeli Intelligence on 16 June 2013 due to my poor health
status.“

5. Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian
civilians and property

Attacks carried out by settlers

At approximately 15:30 on Saturday, 15 June 2013, a
group of settlers, coming from “Havat Gilad” settlement, which is established on
Palestinians’ lands in Fara’ta and Imatin villages, northeast of Qalqilia, set
fire to 50 dunums of olive trees. As a result, 300 olive trees, belonging to
Ahmed Abdul Aziz Taweel from Fara’ta and to heirs of Abdul Hafiz Sawwan from
Imatin, were damaged.  The
above-mentioned settlement is about 500 meters away from the assaulted trees
and the Palestinian civilians are denied access to these lands unless by an
Israeli permit.

Haytham Sawwan, head of Imatin village council, said
to PCHR’s fieldworker:

“At
approximately 15:30 on Saturday, 15 June 2013, I received a phone call from
persons, who saw smoke rising from the nearby mountain.  We hurried up there, as we saw how big the
fire was along the mountain.  We also
brought fire fighters.  However, the settlers
did not allow us to extinguish fire, due to which, all trees had been burning
before us and we could do nothing to stop it.
We were only 5 persons while the settlers were over 30.  Residents of both villages arrived later
after the whole mountain had been burnt. While trying to put out fire, clashes
erupted between the Palestinians and settlers, who threw stones at the
Palestinians.  As a result, Sedqi Abdul
Hafiz Sawwan (54) was hit by a stone to his hand.  He was taken later to the hospital to receive
medical treatment.  The settlers
continued throwing stones until Israeli forces arrived and dispersed
them.” 

At approximately 07:00 on Sunday, 16 June 2013, a
group of settlers from “Carmiel” settlement, which is established on
Palestinian civilians’ lands east of Yatta, in the South of Hebron, moved into
moved into lands in the area surrounding Kherbat Um al-Khair area and patrolled
them.  A number of the settlers started
planting olive trees in the lands of the Hathaleen family as a prelude to seize
it.  A group of Palestinian farmers of
the Hathaleen family gathered to stop the settlers from working in their lands,
a skirmish started between some of the Palestinian farmers and Israeli settlers,
who started throwing stones at the farmers.
In the meantime, Israeli forces and police moved into the farmlands,
declared the area a closed military zone and banned Palestinians from being
present at it.  Before their withdrawal,
Israeli soldiers arrested 72-year-old Suliman Eid Yamin al-Hathaleen, after the
settlers accused him of attempting to assault them.  He was taken to the Israeli police station in
“Kiryat Arba” settlement, in the east of Hebron, for
investigation.  In his testimony to a
PCHR fieldworker, Khalil al-Hathaleen said that a number of settlers attacked
the houses of the Hathaleens, those that are near the security fence of
“Carmiel” settlement with stones and insulted them, under the
protection of Israeli forces and police who did not attempt to stop them.  It should be mentioned that Israeli forces
have attacked farmers and shepherds of the Hathaleen family and banned them
from entering their lands in Kherbart Um al-Khair area, under the pretext that
these lands are confiscated, as the area witnesses an expansion of the
afore-mentioned settlement at the cost of Palestinian lands.

At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 18 June 2013, a
group of settlers from “Susya” settlement, established on
Palestinians’ lands in the east of Yatta, south of Hebron let huge dogs attack
farmers and shepherds from Ghaith family while they were working in their lands
in between Yatta and al-Samou’ villages.
In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Izz Ghaith said that the area of
their land, which is located in Harybat al-Nabi area, is estimated at 1000
dunums, and is used as natural pastures.
He added that the family has title deeds by the Land Department in the
Palestinian National Authority.  The
settlers carry out continued attacks against farmers and shepherds while
present in the area, and he pointed out that one of the settlers brings his
sheep to the farmlands in order to ruin the crops.  It should be mentioned that Israeli
authorities have orally notified Ghaith family to remove the sheep barns they have
established on their farmlands.

Recommendations to the International Community

PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position
that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is still
under the Israeli occupation, in spite of the Israeli military redeployment
outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli force have
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 an 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, especially the latest offensive
that lasted for 8 days in November, 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 and victims;

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 directed 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 violation 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.