Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (16 – 22 May 2013)

Jerusalem
– A house belonging to the Abu Snaina family which was demolished by Israeli
forces in Jabal al-Masharef neighborhood

 

Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians
and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

 

 

 

3 Palestinian civilians were wounded during incursions
in the West Bank.

 

 

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

 

14 protesters, including 12 children, were wounded
during peaceful protests at the entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of
Ramallah.

Israeli forces used a new weapon against protesters
under the pretext that it is less dangerous.

 

 

Israeli forces conducted 65 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank.

 

32 Palestinian civilians,
including 2 children and 2 women, were arrested in the West Bank.

 

Israel continued its efforts to create Jewish majority
in the occupied East Jerusalem.

Israeli forces demolished 8 houses, a man was obliged
to demolish his own house and 84 civilians became homeless.

 

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

Israeli forces established dozens of
checkpoints in the West Bank.

3 Palestinian civilians were arrested at checkpoints
in the West Bank.

 

 

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

2 fishermen were arrested and their boat was
confiscated in the north of the Gaza Strip.

Fishermen were pursued and their fishing equipment was
confiscated off Deir al-Balah shore.

 

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

 

40 dunums were levelled in ‘Aqraba village, southeast
of Nablus.

5 civilian facilities in eastern Barta’a village, west
of Jenin, were demolished.

Irrigation pipes were removed and confiscated in
al-Baq’a area, east of Hebron.   

The settlers threw Molotov cocktails at Palestinian
vehicles; a taxi was completely burnt. 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
16 – 22 May 2013.

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 17
Palestinian civilians, including 12 children.
3 civilians were wounded during incursions in the Palestinian
communities, while 14 others, including 12 children, were wounded in peaceful
protests in al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah.

 

On 17 May 2012, 3 Palestinian civilians were
wounded.  The first one was wounded when
Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, while the other
two ones were wounded by the newly-employed Tutu bullets when Israeli forces
moved into al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, as Israeli
forces have recently resumed using snipers to disperse Palestinian
demonstrations using Tutu rifles, which are sniper rifles with a small barrel.

 

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, dozens of protesters suffered
tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were attacked by
Israeli soldiers.  Of the wounded was
Rasila Mahmoud Awad (60), who fainted and was taken to Palestine Medical
Complex in Ramallah.

 

In the same context, the Palestinian civilians
organized many peaceful protests in support with the Palestinian prisoners in
the Israeli jails, especially those on hunger strike.  Israeli forces used excessive force to
disperse these protests.  As a result, 14
civilians, including 12 children, were wounded.
On 17 May 2013, 9 civilians, including 8 children, were wounded in
protests at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of
Ramallah.  On 19 May 2013, 3 others,
including 2 children, in protests in the same area.  On 21 May 2013, 2 children were
wounded during a peaceful protest in the abovementioned area.  According to Maariv newspaper, the Israeli
army has recently resumed using snipers to disperse Palestinian demonstrations;
this technique was used at the end of last week near the settlement of Beit El
in eastern Ramallah, using Tutu rifles, which are sniper rifles with a small
barrel (0.22 inch caliber bullets).

 

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli navy forces continued to
pursue the Palestinian fishermen in the sea.
On 19 May 2013, Israeli forces arrested 2 fishermen and confiscated
their fishing boat off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, in the north of
the Gaza Strip.  On 20 and 22 May 2013,
Israeli gunboats opened fire at the Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing
within the 6 nautical mile limit off al-Waha resort, in the north of the Gaza
Strip.  Neither casualties nor material
damage were reported.

 

On 21 March 2013, the Israeli authorities allowed the
Palestinian fishermen to sail up to 6 nautical miles instead of 3 as had been
enforced since 21 March 2013 as a form punishment against the Palestinian
civilians.  This decrease constitutes a
violation to the agreement between Hamas and the Israeli authorities following
the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.  

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 65 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 32 Palestinians, including 2
children and 2 woman.

 

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 illegal closure has
not only caused a humanitarian crisis, but also a human rights crisis and the
erosion of human dignity for the people of the Gaza Strip. Recently-declared
measures to ease the closure are vague, purely cosmetic, and fail to deal with
the root causes of the crisis. The root causes can only be addressed by an
immediate and complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban
into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports. Palestinians in Gaza may
no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods but, as long as the closure is
allowed to continue, they will remain economically dependent on Israel, unable
to care for themselves, and socially, culturally, and academically isolated
from the rest of the world.

 

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.

 

During the reporting
period, Israeli forces completely closed the commercial border crossings
between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They closed Karm Abu Salem crossing for 4
consecutive days because of Jewish holidays. This closure negatively affected
the entry of goods, construction materials and medical consignments in the Gaza
Strip. It also has a detrimental impact on the living conditions of Palestinian
civilians. As a result, thousands of Palestinian workers were denied access to
their work in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem. Moreover, Palestinian traders
were denied access to Israel and/or travel via the border crossings between the
Gaza Strip and West Bank.

 

Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in the occupied
East Jerusalem

 

On Saturday, 17 May
2013, Nader al-Sherif destroyed his own house, in the occupied East Jerusalem,
in order to avoid being sent to jail or paying the destruction fees and other
fines that the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem would impose on him.  The house, made of bricks and tin, is of 45
square metres and is occupied by a family of 11 members.

 

On Monday, 20 May 2013,
Israeli forces demolished a part of Taiser Abdul-Rahman Sabbah Abu-Snaina’s
(53) house, located in al-Masharef mountain in the northern side of the
occupied East Jerusalem, in Karm Louis area near Sho’fat military
checkpoint.  The house is of 27 square
metres in area, established in 1963, and it was occupied by a family of
12.  On the same day, Israeli forces bulldozed
the al-Joulani car showroom in al-Shaikh Jarrah neighbourhood.

 

On Tuesday, 21 May
2013, Israeli forces bulldozed 3 residential buildings and 61 civilians became
homeless.

 

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.

 

Violations committed by Israeli forces

 

On Thursday, 16 February 2013, Israeli forces razed
more than 40 dunums of farmlands which are planted with approximately 700
olive, fig and grape seedlings that are between 1 – 3 years in ‘Aqraba village,
southeast of Nablus.  They also
demolished a water well of 200 cubic metres, used to irrigate the crops, and
destroyed the fence surrounding the plot of land, which is the property of
Ayham Seirya.  Israeli forces claimed
that these lands are closed military areas.

 

On Monday, 20 May 2013, Israeli forces moved into
al-Buq’a area, east of Hebron, imposed a curfew on Palestinian civilians and
opened a dirt road leading to the farmlands of al-Jaber family, uprooted a
water irrigation system and confiscated it.
The bulldozed lands are property of Mohammed Aref Darwish al-Rajbi and
Badawi Fawaz Arief al-Rajbi.

 

Also on Monday, 20 May 2013, Israeli forces,
accompanied by a number of military vehicles and two bulldozers, moved into the
eastern Bart’a village, which is isolated from its surroundings because of the
annexation wall in the west of Jenin, and destroyed 5 shops.  The destroyed shops are 5 barracks used by
their owners for business, and they were destroyed under the pretext of being
in area (C).

 

On Monday, Israeli forces, accompanied by 3 military
vehicles and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into Arab
al-Hathaleen area, which is adjacent to the Khurbat Uml-Khair, in the east of
Yatta, in the south of Hebron and placed notices to halt construction work for
7 establishments.

 

Violations committed by settlers

 

On Thursday, 17 May 2013, engineering teams coming
from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, established on Palestinian civilians’
lands in the east of Hebron, under the protection of Israeli forces, surveyed a
dirt road that Palestinians use to access their lands in al-Husaine valley
area, in the east of the city, to pave the way for establishing a new road for
settlers that leads to the Ibrahimi Mosque, in the center of the old city of
Hebron.

 

On Saturday, 18 May 2013, a group of settlers from
“Beit El” settlement, in the north of Ramallah, threw stones and
Molotov cocktails at Palestinian vehicles while passing through the main road
to al-Jazloun refugee camp, which is adjacent to the afore-mentioned
settlement.  As a result, a 2001 Mercedes
taxi burnt out after it was hit by a Molotov cocktail.

 

On Monday, 21 May 2013, a group of settlers from
“Havat Gilad” settlement, north of Qalqilya, set fire to lands which
belong to Palestinians from Tal village, southwest of Nablus, near Amateen and
Far’ta villages in the north of Qalqilya.
Israeli forces also arrested 18-year-old Nash’at Emad Sowan, from
Amateen village, while standing near his house and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Israeli violations documented during the reporting period
16– 22 May 2013

 

1. Incursions into Palestinian areas, and attacks
on Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

 

 

Thursday, 16 May 2013

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
Tubas.  They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Sireen Khaled Rashid Sawaftah (24), a student at the
al-Quds Open University. They arrested the aforementioned person and
confiscated her laptop.   

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Hanina area to the south of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the
streets and positioned themselves in al-‘Abaher neighbourhood.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Walid Khaled Amro (23) and arrested him. 

 

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

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Tabaqa village to the south of Doura, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and deployed
between the houses.  They also raided a
house belonging to the family of Mohammed Salem al-Hreibat (62) and arrested
his two sons: Ibrahim (20) and Saddam (19).
Hreibat said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Israeli forces surrounded his
house and searched it using sniffer dogs.

 

At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
‘Our al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Ummar, north of Hebron.  They deployed in
the security fence area and arrested Mohammed Jamal Mahmoud ‘Alqam (22) and his
brother Ma’moun (15).  They transferred
them to “Karmi Tsour” settlement.
Mohammed ‘Awad said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Israeli soldiers fired
sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the famers while working on their lands
near the abovementioned settlement.  As a
result, the farmers were forced to leave their farms.

 

At approximately 17:20, Israeli forces moved into
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 18:30, Israeli forces moved into
Jalaboun village, east of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 19:30, Israeli forces moved into
Silet al-Daher village, south of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets and positioned themselves on the previously
evacuated settlement of “Homesh”.
Meanwhile, a number of boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli
forces that in response fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters to disperse
the stone throwers. Israeli forces withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Khader village, southwest of Bethelehm.
A number of boys gathered in the Old Town and threw stones at the
Israeli vehicles. Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters at the protesters; as
a result, a number of them suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 21:15, Israeli forces moved into
‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilia.  They
patrolled the streets and detained 3 civilians, including a child, but released
them later.  The arrested civilians were:

1. Ahmed Isma’il Saleh Sweidan (17);

2. Abdul Karim Saleh Isma’il Sweidan (18); and

3. Qais Zahran Ibrahim Sweidan (19).

 

At
approximately 23:00, 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 23:20, Israeli forces moved into ‘Arraba
village, southwest of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Hani Ahmed
Sa’id Abu Sarah (49), an Imam in ‘Araba mosque.
They handed him a notice for his sons Ahmed (22) and Ibrahim (20) to
refer to the Israeli intelligence service in Salem detention facility,
northwest of the city.  Israeli forces
withdrew later.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Sanjal
village, north of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

Friday, 17 May 2013

 

At approximately 00:15, Israeli forces moved into
Sanour village, south of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses to question their
occupants.  Israeli forces withdrew
later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Yatta, south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging
to the family of Rateb al-Jbour (52), coordinator of the Popular Committee against
Settlement Activities.  They handed him a
notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh
Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
Jaba’ village, south of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

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

 

At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces moved into
Raq’a area to the west of Yatta, south of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Jebril al-‘Emour.  They handed him a notice to refer to the Israeli
intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of
Bethlehem.  They withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 13:00, Israeli forced moved into Beit Ummar village, north of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and
stationed themselves in Beit Za’tah and Asida areas.  Some boys gathered and threw stones and empty
bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired sound bombs, tear gas
canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets.
As a result, a 19-year-old young man was wounded by a bullet to the left
hand.  He was taken by a Palestine Red
Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance to Hebron governmental hospital. Mohammed
‘Awad said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Israeli forces deployed between the
houses and arrested Qutaiba Nasser Hussein Sabarna (15) while he was around the
house of his family.  A quarrel erupted
between the Israeli forces and Sabarna’s family to prevent his arrest.  He added that Israeli forces fired tear gas
canisters into abovementioned house and transferred Sabarna to “Gosh
Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub
refugee camp, north of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets and then stationed themselves at the entrance of the camp.  Dozens of boys and young men gathered and
threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who in response randomly fired Tutu bullets,
sound bombs and tear gas canisters.  As a
result, a 22-year-old civilian was wounded by 3 Tutu bullets to the back of the
head, back and left jaw, and sustained a fracture in the jaw and damage in the
arteries.  Additionally, another
21-year-old civilian was wounded by a Tutu bullet to the right elbow.  The 2 wounded civilians were taken by a
Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance to Hebron governmental hospital.
Israeli forces withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.   

 

At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into
Jabal Jawhar neighbourhood, south of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Saturday, 18 May 2013

 

At
approximately 19:00, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to the family of
Zulaikha Rasem al-Mohtaseb (50) on al-Shuhada’ Street, which has been closed
for 12 years, in the center of the Old Town of Hebron.  They arrested the abovementioned person under
the pretext that she threw stones at the settlers.

Issa Amr
said that a number of settlers are the ones who threw stones at the al-Mohtaseb’s
house and requested the Israeli forces and police to come to area under the
pretext that the woman had thrown stones at them.   

 

At
approximately 20:00, 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.

 

At
approximately 20:35, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village, southwest of
Bethlehem.  They patrolled the streets
and positioned themselves in the east of the village.  They stopped a vehicle, arrested all the
passengers and transferred them to an unknown destination.  The arrested passengers were:

1. Ahmed Mahmoud
Salah (24);

2. Shadi Hussein Salah (33); and

3. Mohammed Ali Salah (22).

 

At
approximately 22:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aboud village, northwest of
Ramallah.  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 Kofur Qaddoum, northeast of
Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets,
collected the burnt tyres that were set to fire by a number of Palestinian
civilians during a demonstration protesting against closing the eastern
entrance of the village and threw the tyres’ remnants by the doors of
Palestinian houses.  At approximately
00:30, Israeli forces withdrew.  Neither
house raids nor arrested were reported.

 

Sunday, 19 May
2013

 

At
approximately 01:15, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets and raided and
searched a number of houses from which they arrested Mahmoud Essam Sa’id Dawood
(21).  They confiscated his laptop and
cell phone as well.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Silet al-Harethiya, north of
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 Zaita village, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
This incursion is the second of its kind in few hours.  

 

At
approximately 03:15, Israeli forces moved into Bir Zeit village, north of
Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets and
raided a house belonging to the family of Fadi Hamad Ahmed Ghanem (29).  They arrested the aforementioned person and
withdrew at 03:30.

 

At
approximately 09:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest
Jenin.  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 and
raided a number of houses.  They handed
their residents notices to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in Salem
detention facility, northwest of the city.
Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests were reported.  The summoned persons were: Iyad Khaled Salim
al-Nawahda (44); Mahmoud Khaled Salim al-Nawahda (46); Salama Bassam Salama
Khamaysa (40); and Shaher Rajeh Taher Zaid (28).  

 

At
approximately 18:40, 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 19:00, Israeli gunboats opened fire at the Palestinian fishermen
while they were sailing in the 3 nautical mile limit off Deir al-Balah
shore.  Israeli soldiers confiscated the
fishing equipment belonging to 4 fishermen.

 

In his
testimony to PCHR’s fieldworker, Mohammed Ahmed Ayyash (42) said, “At
approximately 07:00 on Sunday, 19 May 2013, my brother and I sailed and reached
the 3 nautical mile limit.  There were a
number of fishing boats around.  We threw
our fishing net, when suddenly an Israeli gunboat approached us.  I heard a soldier shouting through a
loudspeaker and ordering us to leave the boat. Meanwhile, there was firing in
the air.  I went 600 meters away, but a
second gunboat opened fire at the fishing boats around.  I saw the Israeli soldiers pulling the
fishing net.  I hurried to the other end
of the net in an attempt to pull it until I got closer to the gunboat.  I cut the part of the fishing net that I
pulled and fled for fear of arrest.  I sailed
approximately 1,000 meters and stayed in the water until 23:00, hoping to get
the net back.  Meanwhile, I saw an
Israeli gunboat using spotlights and pulling the fishing net.  I returned to the shore with 2 pieces of the
fishing net.  The Israeli soldiers
confiscated the rest of fishing nets in the sea.  I learnt later that 3 fishermen had lost 12
pieces of fishing nets that were confiscated by the Israeli navy forces.”

 

At
approximately 20:50, Israeli forces moved into Beit Sahour town, east of
Bethlehem.  They patrolled the streets
and positioned themselves in the centre of the town.  They raided a house belonging to the family
of Majd Nedal Mahmoud Salama (21) and handed him a notice to refer to the
Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement.  Dozens of boys threw stones at the Israeli
forces during withdrawal.  In response,
the Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters, but no casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 21:00, Israeli gunboats surrounded a Palestinian fishing boat
that was boarded by Mahmoud Mohammed Zayed (25) and his brother Khaled (20),
who were sailing 70 meters off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the
north of the Gaza Strip.  Israeli forces
opened fire around the fishing boat to oblige it not to escape.  They ordered the fishermen to take their
clothes off, jump into the water and swim towards the Israeli gunboat.  Both fishermen were released
at 11:30 on Monday, 20 May 2013.

 

Mahmoud Mohammed Zayed (25), from
al-Salateen neighbourhood in Beit Lahia, said to PCHR’s fieldworker:

“At approximately 21:00 on Sunday, 19
May 2013, my brother Khaled (20) and I sailed off al-Waha resort, in the north
of the Gaza Strip.  Some fishing boats
were around.  Suddenly, 2 Israeli
gunboats approached; I saw the Israeli soldiers opening fire at us.  As a result, we quickly jumped into the water,
but returned on board the boat later.  My
brother suffered a psychological trauma and fainted. I tried wake him up, but
an Israeli gunboat sailed towards us.
Israeli soldiers arrested us and took us on board the gunboat.  We were handcuffed and blindfolded when we
were taken to Ashdod seaport.  An Israeli
officer questioned us and took our phone numbers.  A soldier photographed us and we remained in
custody until 11:30 on Monday, 20 May 2013.”     

 

Monday, 20 May 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
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 Kofur
al-Labad village, east 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 Rummana
village, northwest 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 Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets and positioned themselves in the centre of the
village.  They deployed between the
houses using sniffer dogs.  They raided a
house belonging to the family of Jamal Hassan Za’aqiq (38), searching for his 2
sons: Rabee’ (17) and Malek (15).  They
handed the father a notice for his sons to refer to the Israeli intelligence
service in “Gish Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem. At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to the family of
Yasser Mohammed Za’aqiq (48), searching for his son Ahmed (22).  They handed the father a notice for his son
to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh”Etzion”
settlement.  At approximately 02:30,
Israeli forces deployed between houses around “Karmi Tsour”
settlement.  However, they withdrew later
and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
Kofur Qalil village, southeast of Nablus.
They raided and searched a number of houses from which some civilians
were arrested.  The arrested civilians were:
Saleh Sa’di Ibrahim al-‘Amer (22), a student of the Shari’a department
at an-Najah National University; and Mohammed Nader ‘Adel (25).

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Yamoun village, northwest of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging to the family of
Tha’er Ali Jamil Zayed (22) and handed him a notice to refer to the Israeli
intelligence service in Salem detention facility, northwest of the city.  They then raided a house belonging to the
family of Adeeb Mostafa Ibrahim Samoudi (26) and handed him a similar
notice.  Israeli forces withdrew later
and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
Ethna village, west of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and positioned
themselves in the centre of the village. They raided a house belonging to the
family of Jebril Hussein al-Jiyawi (54). They arrested his son Hamza (19) and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem.
They patrolled the streets, raided a house belonging to the family of
Mahmoud Mohammed Salah (21) and arrested him.

 

At approximately 08:30, Israeli forces moved into
Qebya village, west of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30, Israeli forces moved into
Beitellu village, northwest of Ramallah.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 14:30, Israeli forces moved into
‘Etil village, north of Tulkarm.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Yusef
Tawfiq Shaheen (22).  They handed him a
notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in the Israeli liaison
office, west of Tulkarm.  They withdrew later
and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:00, 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 18:45, 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 19:30, Israeli gunboats stationed off
al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip, opened
fire at the Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing in the 3-nautical-mile
limit.  The fishermen were terrified and
fled back to the shore.  Neither
casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

At approximately 20:00, 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.

 

At approximately 21:30, Israeli forces moved into
Kherbatha al-Musbah village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Tabaqa village, southwest of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and positioned themselves in Abu Atwan
neighbourhood.  They raided and searched
a house belonging to the family of Ekhman Mousa Abu Atwan (45).  They later withdrew and no arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 23:40, Israeli forces moved into
Sarta village, west of Salfit.  They
patrolled the streets and withdrew at 01:30 on the following day.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.     

 

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

 

At approximately 00:40, Israeli forces moved into
Bedya village, west of Salfit.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew at 02:00.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
Qabatya village, south of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses.  They handed their occupants summon notices to
refer to the Israeli intelligence service in Salem detention facility.  They withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.  The summoned persons were:

1. Hussein Mohammed Zakarna (29);

2. Maher Fayez Zakarna (60);

3. Ezz el-Deen Mohammed ‘Ewidat (24);

4. Alaa al-Deen Ahmed Abu al-Rub (29);

5. Nasser Mohammed Zakarna (43);

6. Hosni Mohammed ‘Ewidat (29); and

7. Abdul Karim Helmi Kmeil (26).

 

· At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Nablus.  They patrolled the streets and
raided a number of houses.  They withdrew
later and no arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Balata
refugee camp, east of Nablus.  They
raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 civilians:

 

1. Abdul Fattah Nassar ‘Eisha “al-Sunono” (24);

2. His brother Adham (22);

3. Khaled Mhamoud al-‘Assi (21), an officer of the
Palestinian National Security Forces; and

4. Khalil Tayseer al-‘Assi (21).

 

At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces moved into
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets,
raided a house belonging to the family of Hamza Walid Mohammed Haloub (18) and
arrested him.  It should be noted that Haloub
was wounded by a bullet in the chest that was fired by an Israeli sniper on
Thursday, 14 March 2013, when the former was on Natanya Street.  Israeli forces then raided a house belonging
to the family of Abdul Baset Essam Shreiteh (21), a member of the Palestinian
People Party, and arrested him.  They
also raided a third house belonging to the family of Yasser ‘Ammar Zaidan (21),
who was not at home because he had been arrested by the Palestinian security
services one hour before the Israeli raid. Israeli forces wanted to arrest him
under the pretext of writing slogans marking the Palestinian Nakba.  Israeli forces withdrew later.

 

Wednesday, 22 May 2012

 

In the early
morning, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm.  They raided a house belonging to the family
of Emad Mostafa al-Najjar (22) and arrested him.

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest
of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip, opened sporadic fire and water hoses
at the Palestinian fishing boats that were in the 6 nautical mile limit.  The fishermen were frightened and fled back
to the shore fearing of getting arrested or wounded.  Neither casualties nor material damage were
reported.  It should be noted that on 21
May 2013, the Israeli authorities allowed the Palestinian fishermen to sail in
the 6 nautical mile limit instead of 3 after it was previously decreased on 21
March 2013 in violation of the agreement between Hamas and Israel following the
latest Israeli offensive.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They raided a house belonging to the family
of Jebril al-Jiyawi (62) and arrested his 3 sons: Hazem (27); al-Mo’tasem
Bellah (24) and al-Mo’taz Bellah (23).

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Tamoun village, south of
Tubas.  They raided a number of houses
and arrested Nawwaf Fahd Bani ‘Ouda (24).

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Aroub refugee camp, north of
Hebron.  They raided a number of houses
and arrested Ehab Jehad al-‘Adawi (21) and Abdullah Mohammed Abu Raiya (21).

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and positioned
themselves in the west of the village.
They raided a house belonging to the family of Khaled Yusef Ikhlail
(39).  At approximately 02:30, they moved
towards al-Baq’a neighbourhood and raided a house belonging to the family of
Mohammed Abdul Jawad Ikhlail (44).  They
handed the aforementioned person a summon notice for his son Amir (17) to refer
the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south
of Bethlehem.  Around the same time,
Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Nasser Mohammed Ikhlail
(33). Skirmishes erupted between Israeli forces and some boys in Mothallath
al-Ein area.  The Israeli soldiers fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters.  As a result, dozens of civilians suffered
tear gas inhalation.  However, no arrests
were reported.

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Doura, southwest of Hebron.  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 al-Burj village, southwest of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and
positioned themselves in front of al-Burj high school for boys.  They deployed around the school.  They stopped the teachers on their way home,
checked their ID cards and questioned them on the spot.  They handed one of the teachers, Amir
al-Takhman, a notice to refer to the Israeli intelligence service.  Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests
were reported.     

 

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, dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises
after being beaten by Israeli soldiers.

 

Palestinian civilians also organised peaceful
demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails,
particularly those on hunger strike, and in protest against the Israeli
violations and policies in the occupied territory.  Israeli forces used excessive force against
these demonstrations. As a result, 14 civilians, including 12 children,
sustained wounds.  Dozens more civilians
suffered from tear gas inhalation; others sustained bruises.

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

 

At noon on Friday, 17 May 2013, dozens of Palestinian
civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders, and civilians from
Silwad and Deir Jarir villages gathered in al-Shakara agricultural area, in the
northeast of Ramallah.  The Muslim
members of the group performed the Friday Prayer on lands which are threatened
with confiscation for the expansion of “Ofra” settlement, which is established
on the lands of ‘Aiyn Yabroud village.
Afterwards, the crowd made their way towards the Khelat al-Sultan area,
adjacent to the al-Shakara area, where settlers have occupied two old houses
known as al-Kousour, which belong to inhabitants of Silwad village.  Upon arrival in the area, Israeli forces
fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and
sound bombs at the demonstrators and chased them into the entrance of
Silwad.  As a result, a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises
after being beaten by Israeli soldiers.

 

Following the Friday Prayer, 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 demonstration came in the time
Palestinians were commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Nakba (The
uprooting of the Palestinian people from their land).  The demonstrators marched through the streets
of the village, chanting slogans calling for national unity, raised Palestinian
flags and pictures of prisoners, 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 in the area, 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, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others
sustained bruises.  Furthermore, the
firing of tear gas canisters at the demonstrators caused a fire in some
farmlands planted with olive trees.

 

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, settlement activities and
in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike inside Israeli
jails. 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, and 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 with
waste water. As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffered from tear gas
inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Following Friday Prayer, dozens of inhabitants of
al-Mas’ra village, south of Bethlehem, international and Israeli human rights
activists, and activists in the Popular Resistance Committees gathered for the
weekly peaceful demonstration against the construction of the annexation wall
and settlement activity, and in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Nakba.  The demonstration started outside Shomou’
Cultural Centre in the centre of the village.
The participants carried Palestinian flags and roamed the streets of the
village. Israeli soldiers, who were backed-up by members of the border guards
and Israeli special police, intercepted the demonstrators, prohibited them from
accessing the wall, and fired tear gas canisters at them; as a result, dozens
of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

At approximately 13:30 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. Upon
their arrival in the area, Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas
canisters; as a result, many demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

At approximately 17:00, dozens of civilians gathered
by the wall area, established on the lands of Budrus village, west of Ramallah
and al-Bireh governorate, in protest at the confiscation of their lands. The
demonstrators threw stones at Israeli forces, that were stationed behind the
wall. The latter responded with live ammunition, tear gas canisters, and sound
bombs, and chased the demonstrators into the village.  As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
from tear gas inhalation, including a 60-year-old woman, Rasila Mahmoud Awad
who fainted and was transported to Palestine Health Complex in Ramallah for
treatment.

 

At approximately 17:30 on Saturday, 18 May 2013,
dozens of Palestinian young men gathered by the wall area, established on the
lands of Budrus village, west of Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate, in protest
at the confiscation of their lands. The demonstrators threw stones at Israeli
forces, which were stationed behind the wall. The latter responded with live
ammunition, tear gas canisters, and sound bombs, and chased the demonstrators
into the village; they also targeted civilians and houses with tear gas
canisters.  As a result, dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained
bruises.  Also, a 1998 Renault caught on
fire after a tear gas canister was shot at it; the car is property of Mousa
Ahmed Mohammed Abdul-Karim (49).

 

Other Peaceful Demonstrations

 

At noon on Friday, 17 May 2013, dozens of Palestinian
boys and teenagers gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jazloun refugee
camp, north of Ramallah, behind the UNRWA Camp School for Boys.  The boys
were 300 meters from the fence surrounding “Beit El”
settlement.  The boys threw stones at the settlement’s fence; in response,
Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas
canister and sound bombs at them.  As a result, 9 civilians, including 8
children, sustained wounds and were taken to Palestine Health Complex in
Ramallah for treatment.  8 of them were
hit with rubber bullets to their lower limps.
Eyewitnesses told a PCHR fieldworker, that they saw an Israeli soldier
taking out a rifle from a bag he was carrying and then used it to fire at the
demonstrators; he later put it back in the bag and retreated with the
forces.  Later on, an Israeli newspaper,
Marriv, revealed on Sunday that the Israeli army has recently resumed using
snipers units to disperse Palestinian demonstrations; this technique was used
at the end of last week near the settlement of Beit El in eastern Ramallah, using
Tutu rifles, which are sniper rifles with a small barrel (0.22 inch caliber
bullets).

(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded civilians)

 

At noon on Sunday, 19 May 2013, dozens of Palestinian
boys and teenagers gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jazloun refugee
camp, north of Ramallah, behind the UNRWA Camp School for Boys.  The boys
were 300 meters from the fence surrounding “Beit El”
settlement.  The boys threw stones at the settlement’s fence. In response,
Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas
canister and sound bombs at them.  As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians,
including 2 children, sustained wounds.
The children, both 17-year-old males, sustained bullet wounds to the
face and the right thigh; and the third civilian, a 19-year-old male, sustained
a bullet wound to the right knee.  All
wounded civilians were transported to the Palestine Health Complex.

(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded civilians)

 

At noon on Tuesday, 21 May 2013, dozens of Palestinian
boys and teenagers gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jazloun refugee
camp, north of Ramallah, behind the UNRWA Camp School for Boys.  The boys
were 300 meters from the fence surrounding “Beit El”
settlement.  The boys threw stones at the settlement’s fence. In response,
Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas
canister and sound bombs at them.  As a result, 2 Palestinian children
sustained wounds.  The wounded children
are: 12-year-old Atta Mohammed Atta Sabbah, who sustained a bullet wound to the
abdomen, and the bullet went out his back.
Sabbah was taken to Palestine Health Complex and underwent a surgery
there as he suffered an internal bleeding; he was later transferred to Hadassah
Medical Centre in Jerusalem.  Also, a
17-year-old boy sustained a bullet wound to the right foot.

 

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

 

Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to
the Gaza Strip for more than 5 years. The illegal Israeli-imposed 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.

 

Israeli forces have tightened the closure
of the Gaza Strip, 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 at preventing economic development in the Gaza Strip, 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. This crisis started on 04
January 2010, when Israeli authorities completely closed the Nahal Oz crossing,
which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas supplies to Gaza.
They then shifted the transport of fuel and cooking gas supplies to the Karm
Abu Salem crossing, which is not equipped to receive enough quantities of fuel
to meet Gaza needs. The Karm Abu Salem crossing, when operating at full
capacity, can receive only 200 tonnes of cooking gas per day.

 

Approximately 80% of the people living in
the Gaza Strip continue to depend on humanitarian aid provided by UNRWA and
other relief agencies. The number of families who are living below the poverty
line has continued to increase. Approximately 40% of Gaza’s manpower continues
to suffer from permanent unemployment as the majority of Gaza’s businesses have
closed down.

 

Israeli forces have continued to impose a
total ban on the export of products from the Gaza Strip, especially industrial
products, undermining any real chance of reopening businesses. The situation
has been aggravated since the Karm Abu Salem crossing was designated as Gaza’s
sole commercial crossing; the repeated closure of this crossing negatively
affects the quantity of products which are allowed to be exported from the Gaza
Strip.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Israel has imposed
additional access restrictions on traders, international diplomats,
journalists, and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip.

 

Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing, in the north
of the Gaza Strip, is dedicated for the movement of individuals, and links the
Gaza Strip with the West Bank.

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing

16 – 21 May 2013

 

 

 

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

15 – 21 May 2013

 

Note:  On Friday, 17 May 2013, Egyptian
soldiers and security forces closed Rafah crossing point between Egypt and the
Gaza Strip in protest against the abduction of 7 Egyptian soldiers by
unidentified gunmen on Thursday, 16 May 2013, near al-‘Arish in Sinai Peninsula.  The soldiers gathered in front of the
crossing gate and prevented travelers from crossing in both directions.  The crossing was completely closed during the
reporting period.  As a result, hundreds
of travelers got stuck in both sides and obstructed people’s affairs,
especially patients.  On Wednesday, 22
May 2013, the crossing was re-opened following the release of soldiers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

16-21 May 2013

Imports:

 

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

 

 

Exports:

On Thursday, 16 May 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the export of 60,000 flowers, 75 kilograms of tarragon, and 75
kilograms of mint

On Sunday, 19 May 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the export of 3 truckloads of plastic containers.

On Monday, 20 May 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the export of 5 truckloads of plastic containers.

On Tuesday, 21 May 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the export of 4 truckloads of plastic containers.

 

Other
Imports:

 

On Thursday, 16 May 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 524 tonnes of cement, 88 tonnes of construction steel and
2,240 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; 840 tonnes of construction
aggregates for the private sector; and 1,260 tonnes of construction aggregates
for the German Development Bank (GDB).
They also allowed the entry of 1014 tonnes of fodders and 429 tonnes of
wheat.

On Sunday, 19 May 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 521 tonnes of cement, 33 tonnes of construction steel and
1,820 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; and 980 tonnes of
construction aggregates for the private sector.
They also allowed the entry of 585 tonnes of fodders and 351 tonnes of
wheat.

On Monday, 20 May 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 360 tonnes of cement and 1960 tonnes of construction
aggregates for UNRWA.  They also allowed
the entry of 624 tonnes of fodders and 429 tonnes of wheat.

On Tuesday, 21 May 2013, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of 500 tonnes of cement, 54 tonnes of construction steel and
1,820 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNRWA; 980 tonnes of construction
aggregates for the private sector; and 88 tonnes of cement, 30 tonnes of
construction steel, and 1,120 tonnes of construction aggregates for UNDP.  They also allowed the entry of 780 tonnes of
fodders and 468 tonnes of wheat.

 

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 10:00 on Thursday, 16 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint near the entrance of Beit Loqaya village, west
of Ramallah. The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were
reported.  At approximately 19:00, they re-established at ‘Atara checkpoint at the
northern entrance of Birzeit, north of the city. They later withdrew, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 17 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 20:30, they established another
checkpoint at the intersection of “Ofrah” settlement, north of the city.   At approximately 20:20, they re-established at ‘Atara checkpoint at the
northern entrance of Birzeit, north of the city. They later withdrew, and no
arrests were reported.  All
checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 04:00 on Saturday, 17 May 2013, Israeli
forces closed the western entrance of Deir Jarir village, as this entrance
connects the north-eastern villages of Ramallah with the city.  This road is between Jericho and Ramallah.
At approximately 11:30, they established another checkpoint at the
entrance of Budrus village, west of the city.  At
approximately 20:30, they established another checkpoint under the bridge of
Kherbtha al-Mesbah village, southwest of Ramallah. The two checkpoints were
later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:00 on
Sunday, 17 May 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road
between Ramallah and al-Bireh and north-eastern villages near “Beit Eil”
settlement around 1 kilometre away from the entrance of al-Jalzone refugee
camp.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 10:30 on
Monday, 18 May 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of
Budrus village, west of Ramallah.  At
approximately 18:30, they established another checkpoint at the entrance of
Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately 20:30, they established a
checkpoint under the bridge of ‘Ein Yabroud village, northeast of the
city.  All checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Hebron: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 16 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint on Tarousa Road between Dura and its western
villages, southwest of Hebron.  At
approximately 15:30, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of
Karza village, southeast of Dura, southwest of the city.  At approximately 17:00, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, as this entrance
is connected with Bypass Road 60, north of Hebron.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:00 on Friday, 17 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Yatta village,
south of Hebron.  At approximately 15:30,
another checkpoint was established at the northern entrance of Hebron, as this
entrance is connected with Bypass Road 60, south of the city.  At approximately 16:00, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’air village, east of Hebron.  At approximately 17:00, they established a
similar checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp, as this entrance
is connected with Bypass Road 60, south of the city.  All checkpoints were later removed and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 15:00 on Monday, 20 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north
of Hebron.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 21 May 2013, most
of the villages along Bypass Road 60 witnessed heavy presence of Israeli forces
that had closed all the entrance of those villages for long hours.  Israeli forces prevented Palestinian people
from entering or leaving their villages forcing them to trek rough terrains in
order to get to their workplaces and houses.
Those measures included searching farmlands that surround the following
villages: al-Samou’a; Bani Na’aim; Sa’air; Beit ‘Aynoun; Taramah; Deir Razeh;
and al-Hejrah.  At approximately 13:00,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Ummar village,
north of Hebron.  At approximately 14:00,
they established another checkpoint at the entrance of al-Jalajel, east of the
city.   The two 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 10:30 on Thursday, 16 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Hajah, east of
Qalqilya.  At approximately 12:55,
another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Amatin, northeast of the
city.  At approximately 20:55, they
established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya.  The two checkpoints were later removed, and
no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:30 on Saturday, 17 May 2013,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Asaleh village,
east of Qalqilya, and they re-established the same checkpoint at approximately
20:25.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported.

 

Tulkarm: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 17 May 2013, the
Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint, which is established on the main
road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened restrictions
against Palestinians and obstructed their movement.  The tightening ended, and no arrests were
reported.  At approximately 18:30, they
established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus near the
intersection of Beit Leed village in area called “Abu Martein”, east of
Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:00 on Saturday, 18 May 2013, they
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Shofah village, southeast of
Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:15 on Sunday, 19 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulakrm and Qalqilya
near the eastern entrance of Jubarah village.
The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.  It should be noted that Jubarah village had
been isolated from its surroundings since the al-Aqsa Intifada for more than 10
years due to the annexation wall, south of Tulkarm.  However, Israel changed the route of the wall
as it passes now in the west of the village.
As aresult, Jubarah village is again merged with the surrounding
villages.

 

At approximately 10:30 on Monday, 20 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qofein village, north of
Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Jenin: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 19 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the intersection of al-Zawyah 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, 16 May
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, 17 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint near the entrance of al-Zbeidat village, north
of Jericho.  At approximately 17:00, they
established another checkpoint near the southern entrance of the city.  The two checkpoints were later removed, and
no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 19 May 2013, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fasayel village, north of
Jericho.  At approximately 15:30, another
checkpoint was established at the southern entrance of the city.  At approximately 19:30, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint near the entrance of Marj Na’ajah village, north of
Jericho.  All checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Salfit: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
11:10 on Monday, 20 May 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
entrance of Kafr Haris village, north of Salfit.  The checkpoint was removed at approximately
12:30, and no arrests were reported.  At
approximately 16:30, they established another checkpoint at the intersection of
Marda village, north of the city.  The
checkpoint was removed at approximately 17:30, and no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests at military
checkpoints

 

At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 16 May
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on al-Bazan Road near al-Seirafi
Park, northeast of Nablus.  While
Mohammed Sati Jawdat Daraghmeh (20) was travelling in his car through the
checkpoint, he was forced to get out of it, arrested and transferred to an unknown
destination.  The checkpoint was later
removed and no further incidents were reported.

 

At approximately 18:00 on Monday, 20 May
2013, Israeli forces stationed at Za’atarah checkpoint, south of Nablus,
arrested Montaser Walid ‘Amer (24) from Kafr Qalil village, southeast of the
city.  Eyewitnesses said that Israeli
soldiers stopped ‘Amer’s car and forced him to get out.  They then transported him to an unknown
destination.

 

At approximately 06:00 on Wednesday, 22 May
2013, an Israeli undercover unit sneaked in the main road between Jenin and its
southern villages in a civilian car with a Palestinian registration plate.  When Shojaa’ Feisal ‘Arsan Qarini (22) from
Jenin refugee camp was passing by his workplace “ Zahret al-Fenjan garbage
dump”, the unit’s vehicle stopped and Israeli soldiers arrested him taking him
to an unknown destination.

 

4. Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in the occupied East Jerusalem

 

In the early morning hours on Saturday, 17 May 2013, Nader al-Sherif
destroyed his own house, in occupied East Jerusalem, in implementation of a
decision taken by the court of the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem in order
to avoid being sent to jail or paying the destruction fees and other fines that
the Municipality would impose on him.
According to PCHR’s investigations, al-Sherif started demolishing his
family residence, located in Salah al-Din Street, by himself at early morning
hours, in implementation of the court’s decision.  The house, made of bricks and tin, is of 45
square metres and is occupied by a family of 11 members.  Al-Sherif family added two rooms, a kitchen
and a bathroom to their already established house in 1995 – 1996.  In 1997, the Municipality’s court ordered
that the annexed building be destroyed as it was built without a license from
the municipality; the court’s decision has been postponed several times
throughout the past years, but gave the al-Sherif family a deadline to
implement the demolition decision on the afore-mentioned Saturday.

 

In the early morning on Monday, 20 May 2013, Israeli forces demolished a
part of Taiser Abdul-Rahman Sabbah Abu-Snaina’s (53) house, located in
al-Masharef mountain in the northern side of the occupied East Jerusalem, in
Karm Louis area near Sho’fat military checkpoint.  According to Abu-Snaina, his family has lived
in this house, 27 square metres in area, since 1963.  He added that Israeli authorities demolished
his house for the first time in 1983 and that this is the second time that his
house was demolished by Israeli forces, making 12 members of his family homeless.  Abu-Snaina also said that Israeli authorities
tried several times to get him out of his land, but he continued to resist.

 

In the early morning on Monday too, Israeli soldiers bulldozed the
al-Joulani car showroom in al-Shaikh Jarrah neighbourhood in the occupied East
Jerusalem.  In his testimony to a PCHR
fieldworker, Mohammed al-Joulani, the owner of the showroom, said that he was
surprised when he received a phone call from an employee at the Israeli
Municipality in Jerusalem at approximately 06:00 who informed him that he ought
to be at the showroom to evacuate all of the cars (65 cars), in order to carry
out the demolition of the showroom facilities, and they are: a caravan used as
an office, a tent for storing the showroom’s equipment, and the tract of land
upon which the showroom is established.
Following the evacuation of the cars, a bulldozer uprooted the
showroom’s gate and razed the barbed wire surrounding the land.

 

In the early morning hours on Tuesday, 21 May 2013, Israeli forces
bulldozed a number of civilian houses in the occupied East Jerusalem under
pretext of not obtaining a permit.  As a
result, 3 residential buildings were bulldozed and 61 Jerusalemite civilians became
homeless. The bulldozing took place in al-Mukaber mountain and al-Tour
neighbourhood, and were as follows:

 

1. A building that includes two apartments, each of 180
square metres in area, property of Sha’lan family in Khlat al-‘Ayn area in
al-Tour neighbourhood; occupied by two families (8 persons).

2. An apartment of 100 square metres, which is the property of Abdul-Baset
Abu Ermila, and is occupied by a family of 5 members.  The apartment is located in al-Farouq
neighbourhood in al-Mukaber Mountain in the east of the occupied East
Jerusalem.

3. A building that includes 4 apartments which is the property of
Abul-Dab’at family.  Each apartment is of
120 square metres in area and used to shelter four families (48 individuals),
located in the afore-mentioned al-Farouq neighbourhood.

 

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

 

Violations committed by Israeli forces

 

In the early morning on Thursday, 16 February 2013,
civilians of ‘Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus, were surprised when Israeli
bulldozers began to raze their farmlands in the eastern side of the
village.  According to PCHR’s
investigations and eyewitness statements, Israeli forces razed more than 40
dunums of farmlands which are planted with approximately 700 olive, fig and
grape seedlings that are between 1 – 3 years.
They also demolished a water well of 200 cubic metres, used to irrigate
the crops, and destroyed the fence surrounding the land, which is the property
of Ayham Seirya.  Israeli forces claimed
that these lands are closed military areas.

 

At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 20 May 2013, Israeli
forces, accompanied by a number of military vehicles, 3 vehicles of the Israeli
Civil Administration, a bulldozer and a grabber, moved into al-Buq’a area, in
the east of Hebron.  The soldiers were
deployed in the farmlands, imposed a curfew on Palestinian civilians and the
bulldozer began to open a dirt road leading to the farmlands of al-Jaber
family, uprooted a water irrigation system and confiscated it.

The operation included:

1. Confiscation of an irrigation network, used to
irrigate approximately 900 tomato seedlings that were planted in a tract of
land of 2 dunums, which are the property of Mohammed ‘Aref Darwish al-Ragbi.  The loss was estimated at approximately 19
thousand Israeli shekels.

2. Confiscation of a plant irrigation network, used to
irrigate approximately 4000 cauliflower seedlings that were planted in a tract
of land of 4 dunums, which is the property of Badawi Fawaz ‘Areif al-Rajbi.

 

At approximately 05:00 on Monday, 20 May 2013, Israeli
forces, accompanied by a number of military vehicles and two bulldozers, moved
into the eastern Bart’a village, which is isolated from its surroundings
because of the annexation wall in the west of Jenin.  The forces were stationed at the southern
entrance of the village and the bulldozers started destroying 5 shops.  The destroyed shops are 5 barracks used by
their owners for business, and they were destroyed under the pretext of being
in area (C).  Furthermore, the forces
gave the owner of a sixth barrack a notice to evacuate his barrack in order to
be demolished.  The forces withdrew later
and no other incidents were reported.

The bulldozed barracks are:

1. A junkyard of 600 square metres, which is the property
of Na’im Othman Ahmed Zidan (47);

2. A mechanic’s garage of 100 square metres, which is the
property of Hassan Ahmed Hussain Qubha (39);

3. A junkyard of 700 square metres, which is the property
of Anwar Ali Mohammed Qubha (52).  This
is the second demolition of this junkyard as it was bulldozed approximately 10
days ago;

4. A junkyard of 500 square metres, which is the property
of Omar Ahmed Sa’id Hendi (46).  This is
the second demolition of this junkyard as it was bulldozed approximately 10
days ago;

5. A mechanic’s garage of 80 square metres, which is the
property of Fares Ahmed Taher Abdul-Ghani (34).

The notified barrack is a marble cutting workshop of
80 square metres, which is the property of Mohammed Ibrahim Qassem Qubha.

 

At approximately 08:00 on Monday, Israeli forces,
accompanied by 3 military vehicles and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil
Administration, moved into Arab al-Hathaleen area, which is adjacent to the
Khurbat Uml-Khair, in the east of Yatta, in the south of Hebron.  The Israeli soldiers were deployed in the
area and an officer of the Civil Administration placed notices to halt construction
work, that included the following:

1. A housing tent of 40 square metres, which is the
property of Khadra Daoud al-Hathaleen;

2. A sheep barn of 50 square metres, made of tin and
wire, which is the property of Ali Mohammed al-Hathleen;

3. A tin-made barrack which is used as house; it is of 50
square metres and is the property of Sheeha Hamdan al-Hathaleen;

4. A water well of 100 cubic metres, which is the
property of Belal Salem’Eid al-Hathaleen;

5. A tin-made barrack that is used as a house; it is of
35 square metres and is the property of Halima Awadallah al-Hathaleen;

6. A sheep barn of 25 square metres, made of tin and
wire, which is the property of Abdallah Salem al-Hathaleen;

7. A house of 60 square metres, which is the property of
Mo’tasem Suliman al-Hathaleen.

 

In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Aziz
al-Hathaleen said that a Civil Administration officer outlined the area in
order to identify any newly constructed buildings and demolish them, in an
attempt to force its residents to leave and confiscate it for settlement
expansion schemes for “Carmiel” settlement.  The notices set 09 June 2013 as the deadline
for challenging the decision and present official ownership papers of these
lands and facilities.

 

Violations committed by settlers

 

At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 17 May 2013, engineering
teams coming from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, established on
Palestinian civilians’ lands in the east of Hebron, under the protection of
Israeli forces, surveyed a dirt road that Palestinians use to access their lands
in al-Husaine valley area in the east of the city to pave the way for
establishing a new road for settlers that leads to the Ibrahimi Mosque, in the
centre of the old city of Hebron.  It
should be mentioned that engineering teams had surveyed the road and put marks
on it, in a primary step to implementing a new settlement scheme to link Jaber
suburb, the old city, and “Kiryat Arba” settlement, as the
engineering teams of the settlement’s security council started working last
year on this street.

 

Late on Saturday, 18 May 2013, a group of settlers
from “Beit El” settlement, in the north of Ramallah, threw stones and
Molotov cocktails at Palestinian vehicles while passing through the main road
to al-Jazloun refugee camp, which is adjacent to the afore-mentioned
settlement.  As a result, a 2001 Mercedes
taxi caught on fire after it was hit by a Molotov cocktail.  In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Feda
Abdallah Sa’id Safi (34) said:

 

“At approximately 23:30 on Saturday, 18 May 2013,
I was driving to my house located in al-Jazloun refugee camp, north of
Ramallah, in my taxi cab, belonging to al-Wafaa’ Taxi Company.  While driving through the main road leading
to the camp, which is adjacent to “Beit El” settlement, precisely by
the steel gate near the military tower, I heard something exploding in the car
and then I saw fire coming out of the right side of the front of the car.  I parked approximately 100 meters from the
gate, got out of the car and tried to put out the fire with the help of another
civilian who stopped by to help me.  However,
another part of the car exploded, and in the meantime I noticed a large group
of settlers standing by the military tower, and they started cheering when they
saw the car catching fire after being hit with a Molotov cocktail. They were
throwing stones with a slingshot at the passing Palestinian vehicles,
accompanied by a military vehicle of the Israeli forces. Approximately 10
minutes later, Palestinian Civil Defence crews arrived and put out the fire
after my car was already burnt down to its core.  Also, my ID card, driver’s license and cell
phone were burnt in the incident.  I went
to the Palestinian police station in Ramallah the next morning and filed an
official complaint.  Additionally, the
worth of the car is estimated at approximately 50000 Israeli shekels.”

 

 

At approximately 14:30 on Monday, 21 May 2013, a group
of settlers from “Havat Gilad” settlement, in the north of Qalqilya,
set fire to lands which belong to Palestinians from Tal village, southwest of
Nablus, near Amateen and Far’ta villages in the north of Qalqilya.  In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker,
Haitham Samir Sowan, chairman of Amateen village council, said that a number of
Palestinians workers, who work in the electricity authority in Amateen village,
were extending the electricity network in the village when they called him and
informed him that a group of settlers were starting a fire in a tract of land
near them.  He added that Israeli forces
and police arrived at the scene shortly afterwards and managed to put out the
fire that broke out and started spreading towards the settlement, after the
fire caused damage to a large part of the wheat fields.  Even though more than 50 civilians witnessed
the settlers starting the fire, Israeli soldiers arrested 18-year-old Nash’at
Emad Sowan, from Amateen village, while standing near his house and took him to
an unknown destination.  It should be
mentioned that two houses, including Sowan’s house, are constantly subjected to
settlers’ attacks, as they are located near the afore-mentioned settlement.

 

 

 

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.