[News] Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the occupied Palestinian territories

Anti-Imperialist News news at freedomarchives.org
Tue Dec 23 10:56:59 EST 2014


  PCHR Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the oPt (11- 17
  December 2014)

author Tuesday December 23, 2014 03:32author by PCHR-Gaza
*http://www.imemc.org/article/70089*

    Israeli forces have continued with systematic attacks against
    Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian
    territories (oPt) for the reporting period of 11- 17 December 2014.

*_Shootings:_*


During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian 
civilian in excessive use of force in Qalandya refugee camp, north of 
occupied Jerusalem. They also wounded 9 Palestinian civilians in the 
West Bank and Gaza Strip, including 2 children; 5 of whom were wounded 
in the West Bank and 5 others were wounded in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, 
6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and 2 women, were wounded 
due to the explosion of a suspicious object, north of the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, in excessive use of force, on 16 December 2014, a 
Palestinian civilian was killed in Qalandya refugee camp, north of 
occupied Jerusalem, when Israeli forces moved into the camp to arrest 
Palestinians.

Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful protests 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, a 14-year-old child 
sustained a bullet wound to the chest and a 16-year-old one sustained a 
bullet wound to the leg.

In the Gaza Strip, on 12 December 2014, 4 Palestinian civilians were 
wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of 
Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of 
civilians, who were present around.

In the context of explosions of suspicious objects of the Israeli 
military remnants in the Gaza Strip, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 
3 children and 2 women, sustained moderate wounds, due to the explosion 
of a suspicious object in the north of the Gaza Strip.

*_Incursions:_*

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 29 
military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 
During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 54 
Palestinians, including 8 children and 2 women. Thirty-one of these 
Palestinians, including 6 children and a woman, were arrested in Jerusalem.

In the Gaza Strip, on 16 December 2014, Israeli forces moved about 150 
meters into the east of al-Fokhari village, southeast of Khan Yunis in 
the southern Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along the border fence for 
few hours and withdrew later.

Furthermore, Israeli forces station along the border fence, east of 
al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, arrested 2 Palestinian 
children who attempted to sneak into Israel through the border fence.

*_Restrictions on movement:_*

Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe 
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip 
and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened 
since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and 
economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose 
measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs 
for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial 
products to be exported. For 8 consecutive years, Israel has tightened 
the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, 
including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This 
resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights 
and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people. The 
Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as 
the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its 
control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a 
complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. During the reporting period, 
Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian patient who obtained a permit to 
travel to the West Bank for medical treatment, while another civilian 
accompanying his father was arrested while the father was denied travel 
for medical treatment.

_*Efforts to create a Jewish demographic majority in occupied East 
Jerusalem:*_ Israeli municipality issued more house demolition notices. 
On 14 December 2014, they handed notices to demolish a number of houses 
in Silwan village under the pretext of lacking construction permits. 
Most of the houses were established 15 years ago. They also handed 
notices to destroy numerous houses in ‘Ain al-Foqa neighborhood.

_*Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian 
civilians and property:*_

On 14 December 2014, Israeli forces moved into al-Koum village, south 
west of Hebron and handed 6 residents notices to demolish their houses 
under the pretext of illegal construction in Area “C”.

On 15 December 2014, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north 
of Hebron, and handed two residents notices to demolish their houses 
under the pretext of illegal construction in Area “C”.

On the aforementioned day, Israeli forces moved into Tqou’ village, 
southeast of Bethlehem, and handed 4 residents notices to demolish their 
houses under the pretext of illegal construction in Area “C”.

*_Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting 
settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall:_*

During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used excessive force 
against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians, 
international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the 
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the 
West Bank. As a result, 3 demonstrators were wounded.

In the same context, 2 Palestinian children were wounded during 2 other 
protests organized against the Israeli forces' and settlers' attacks in 
al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

*/(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded in fear of being arrested by the 
Israeli forces within its policy to oppress the peaceful protests and 
prevent Palestinian civilians from participating)./*

_Demonstrations against the construction of the annexation wall and 
settlement activity_

· Following the Friday prayer, on 12 December 2014, dozens of 
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights 
defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of 
Ramallah, in protest at the killing of Minister Ziad Abu 'Ain, Director 
of the Palestinian Authority Commission against the Annexation Wall and 
Settlement Activity. The demonstrators took the streets raising the 
Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the 
annexation wall. Early in the morning, Israeli forces closed all 
entrances to the city to prevent Palestinian civilians and international 
and Israeli human rights defenders from participating in the protests. 
Protestors marched by the annexation wall and tried to cross the fence. 
Israeli soldiers stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a 
large number of soldiers deployed along it, fired live bullets, tear gas 
canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and wastewater at 
them and chased them into the olive fields. As a result, a protestor was 
hit by a gas canister to the head and another was hit by a gas canister 
to the leg. Moreover, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas 
inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

· On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a peaceful 
demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in 
protest at the killing of Minister Ziad Abu 'Ain, Director of the 
Palestinian Authority Commission against the Annexation Wall and 
Settlement Activity. The demonstrators took the streets and headed to 
the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with 
barbwires and prevented the demonstrators from crossing to the land 
behind it before they responded by throwing stones. Israeli soldiers 
fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear 
gas canisters at the civilians, and chased them into the village. As a 
result, a protestor sustained a bullet wound to the thigh. Moreover, 
many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises 
as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

· Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and 
international human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration 
in al-Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah, in protest at the 
killing of Minister Ziad Abu 'Ain, Director of the Palestinian Authority 
Commission against the Annexation Wall and Settlement Activity. The 
demonstrators made their way in the streets raising the Palestinian 
flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the 
Palestinian unity resistance, and then they headed to the lands that the 
settlers are trying to rob by force near “Halmish” settlement. Israeli 
forces had closed all the entrances of the village since the morning to 
prevent Palestinian and international activists and journalists from 
participating in the demonstration. When they arrived at the 
aforementioned land, demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas 
canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water and 
were chased into the village. As a result, many demonstrators suffered 
tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat 
them up.

· Also at approximately 13:20, Palestinian civilians and international 
solidarity activists organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum 
village, northeast of Qalqilya, heading to the eastern entrance of the 
village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of 
al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. The demonstrators threw stones at 
Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in 
response. As a result, many demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation 
and other sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

_Other Demonstrations_

· On Thursday afternoon, 12 December 2014, dozens of Palestinian young 
men gathered in the center of Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron, in 
protest at Israeli policies and the killing of Minister Ziad Abu 'Ain, 
Director of the Palestinian Authority Commission against the Annexation 
Wall and Settlement Activity. They headed to al-Daher and Safa areas 
near "Karmi Tsour" settlement, west of the village. Once they approached 
there, Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and 
rubber-coated metal bullets in response. As a result, a 14-year-old 
child sustained 2 bullet wounds to the chest and leg. He was then taken 
to the village's medical compound for medical treatment.

· Also on Friday afternoon, dozens of Palestinian youngsters gathered in 
the southern neighbourhoods of Hebron to protest at Israeli policies and 
the killing of Minister Ziad Abu 'Ain, Director of the Palestinian 
Authority Commission against the Annexation Wall and Settlement 
Activity. Israeli forces fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and 
rubber-coated metal bullets at the demonstrators. As a result, 
35-year-old Abdul Razaq Abdul Hay Abu Turky and 15-year-old Taleb Ghaleb 
Taha were wounded.

· On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered at the 
western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on 
Selwad-Yabroud road near street (60) to organize a protest against 
Israeli policies. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and 
empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who fired live ammunition, 
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in 
response. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas 
inhalation, and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

*_Continued closure of the oPt:_*

Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe 
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip 
and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

_Gaza Strip_

Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and 
close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the 
sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable 
for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and 
distance from markets.

Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to 
tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total 
control over the flow of imports and exports.

The total closure of al-Mentar ("Karni") crossing since 02 March 2011 
has seriously affected the economy of the Gaza Strip. Following this 
closure, all economic and commercial establishments in the Gaza 
Commercial Zone were shut off. It should be noted that al-Mentar 
crossing is the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip, in terms of its 
capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision to 
close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions 
resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza 
Strip in the beginning of 2009, and the Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza 
City, which were dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to 
the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.

Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of 
raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and 
quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do 
not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

The cooking gas crisis has fluctuated due to the closure of Karm Abu 
Salem for security claims. According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli 
authorities only allow an average of 98 tons of cooking gas into Gaza 
per day. This limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, 
which is 200 tons per day of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip 
during winter. The crisis has unprecedentedly aggravated for around six 
weeks due to cold weather and overconsumption in addition to the power 
outage and using gas as an alternative in many instances of electricity. 
The lack of diesel and benzene led to the aggravation of the crisis as a 
result of using the gas cylinder for cars or as an alternative for 
benzene to run generators. As a result, the demand for gas further 
increased.

For almost 7 consecutive years, Israeli forces have continued to prevent 
the delivery of construction materials to the Gaza Strip. Two years ago, 
Israeli forces approved the delivery of limited quantities of 
construction materials for a number of international organizations in 
the Gaza Strip. On 17 September 2013, they allowed the entry of limited 
quantities of construction materials for the private sector. However, on 
13 October 2013, they re-banned it claiming that these materials are 
used for constructing tunnels. Last week, Israeli forces allowed the 
entry of construction materials only for UNRWA and UNDP projects. As a 
result, construction works have completely stopped impacting all sectors 
related to construction and an increase in unemployment levels. During 
the 51-day Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, 
Israeli authorities did not allow the entry of any construction 
materials. As a result, vital and infrastructure projects have been 
obstructed so far.

Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza 
Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except 
for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices.

Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing for the 
majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows 
the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting 
in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed 
at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the 
Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel 
or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel denied permission to 
access hospitals via the crossing for new categories of patients from 
the Gaza Strip.

_West Bank_

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:

· Hebron: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on 
the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 07:00 on 
Saturday, 13 December 2014, Israeli forces established two checkpoints: 
one at the entrance of Halhoul and the other at the entrance of Sa’ir 
village. The checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 07:00 on Monday, 15 December 2014, Israeli forces 
established two checkpoints: one at the entrance of Halhoul and the 
other at the entrance of Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. The 
checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported. At approximately 
08:00, another checkpoint was established at the northern entrance of 
the city. All checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.

In the morning hours of Tuesday, 16 December 2014, Israeli forces 
established a number of checkpoints in different areas: the entrance of 
Sair, northeast of the city; the northern entrance of Halhoul, north of 
the city; the northern entrance of the city; and the entrance of 
al-Fawwar, west of the city. All checkpoints were removed and no arrests 
were reported.

· Qalqilya: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions 
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 15:00 on 
Sunday, 07 December 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the 
entrance of Izbat al-Tabib village.at approximately 15:45, another 
checkpoint was established at the eastern entrance of the city. All 
checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.

· Tulkarm: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions 
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 17:30 on 
Friday, 12 December 2014, Israeli forces stationed ‘Annab military 
checkpoint which is established on the road between Tulkarm and Nablus, 
east of the city, tightened their restriction against civilians and 
obstructed their movement. Later that day, he tightening ended and no 
arrests were reported.

· Jenin: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on 
the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 14:00 on 
Tuesday, 12 December 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on 
the road between Kufur Dan and al-Yamoun villages, north of the city. 
Later, the checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.

· Salfit: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on 
the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 17:25 on 
Thursday, 11 December 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint 
under Kasaka Bridge, east of the city. Later, the checkpoint was removed 
and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 17:30 on Friday, 12 December 2014, Israeli forces 
established a checkpoint in the northern entrance of the city. Later, 
the checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 21:35 on Saturday, 13 December 2014, Israeli forces 
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Ballout village, west 
of the city. Later, the checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 23:00 on Sunday, 14 December 2014, Israeli forces 
established a checkpoint under Kasaka Bridge, east of the city. At 
approximately 23:40, they established a checkpoint at the northern 
entrance of the city.

*_Arrests and Maltreatment of Palestinian Civilians at Military 
Checkpoints:_*

· On Thursday morning, 11 December 2014, Israeli forces stationed at the 
Container checkpoint arrested Qutaiba Salah Qassem (28) from Hindaza 
mountain area in Bethlehem, and Mahmoud Karim Ayyad (30) from al-Dheisha 
refugee camp, south of the city, and took them to an unknown destination.

· On the aforementioned day, Israeli forces stationed at the Container 
checkpoint arrested Osama Shahin(26) from Doura, southwest of Hebron, 
and took him to an unknown destination.

· On aforementioned day, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of 
Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, arrested Jihad Khalil Hamad 
al-‘Allami (19) and Bilal Habes Hamdan al-Allami (19) and took them to 
an unknown destination.

· On Sunday morning, 14 December 2014, Israeli forces arrested Asmaa 
Jawdat Jamil Balhawi (38) when she was entering “Kisaout” prison in 
Negev Desert in a visit to her husband Salah Balhawi, who is sentenced 
to 4 years in Israeli prisons, and took them to an unknown destination.

· On the aforementioned day, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of 
Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, arrested Rami Fahmi Abdul Latif 
Bahar (34) and took him to an unknown destination.

· At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces arrested Musab Hasan Balasma 
(22), from Salfit, when he was crossing Howara checkpoint, south of 
Nablus and took them to an unknown destination.

*_Efforts to create Jewish demographic majority in occupied East 
Jerusalem:_*

_Bulldozing Activities_

· At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 14 December 2014, Israeli 
municipality staffs, guarded by Israeli special forces, handed notices 
to demolish residential buildings in Silwan village under the pretext of 
not having construction permits. According to Hani Gaith, Israeli 
special forces moved into is older brother’s house, ex-prisoner Adnan 
Ghaith, the secretary of Fatah movement in Jerusalem, in the central 
neighborhood in Silwan. They handed the family an administrative order 
prescribing that their house, which was established 25 years ago, would 
be destroyed. He added that the Israeli soldiers verbally abused the 
family, particularly his 65-year-old father. The verbal clash finally 
led to the arrest of his brother Bilal (37).

Furthermore, Israeli municipality staffs handed Muhammad Tawfiq Ghaith 
notices to destroy his house in Silwan, where he and his wife reside. 
They also handed administrative orders to 3 houses belonging to Ahmed 
al-‘Abbasi and his sons in Ain al-Louza neighborhood. The houses were 
established on an area of 300 square meters, 20 years ago. The 
municipality staff also handed notices to destroy houses in Ain al-Foqa 
neighborhood.

· At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 15 December 2014, Israeli 
municipality staffs and Israeli special forces moved into a house 
belonging to Mu’taz Hijazi in al-Thaouri neighborhood in Silwan. They 
handed the family a notice to destroy their house. It should be noted 
that Mu’taz Hijazi was killed on 30 October 2014 by Israeli special 
forces under the pretext of shooting at Rabbi Yehuda Glick.

· At approximately 16:00 on the aforementioned day, Israeli municipality 
handed Jamal ‘Amro a notice to destroy his house in al-Souana 
neighborhood in the Old City in Jerusalem under the pretext of not 
having a construction permit. The aforementioned civilian told PCHR that 
the house was established in 1945 and it consists of two floors and 
resided by 19 persons. He added that the decision to destroy the house 
is purely political aiming to punish the family. The aforementioned 
person’s wife was arrested more than once, and his eldest son who works 
in the Islamic Waqf was also arrested.

_Arrests and Incursions_

· At approximately 04:00 on Thursday, 11 December 2014, Israeli forces 
moved into al-Thouri neighborhood, east of the Old City in Jerusalem. 
They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 residents: 
Muhammad Nour al-din al-Tawil (26); Ahmed Amin al-Juba (23); Muhammad 
Naser ‘Alawat (19); and Ahmed Faraj Taha (19).

· At approximately 09:00 on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces 
raided a house belonging to al-Shaloudi family the family intends to 
reconstruct after Israeli forces destroyed it on 19 November 2014 in 
al-Bustan neighborhood, south of the Old City in Jerusalem. It should be 
noted that Abdel Rahman al-Shaloudi was killed on 22 October 2014 by the 
light train guards in al-Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood claiming that he ran 
down a group of settlers.

· At approximately 04:30, on Friday, 12 December 2014, Israeli forces 
moved into Jabal al –Mukabber neighborhood, southeast of Jerusalem. They 
raided and searched a number of houses and arrested: Ali Ahmed Oweisat 
(18); Said Ibrahim Abu Jamal (37); Rifat Muhammad Khaiyat (34); and 
Younis Samih Eliyan (27).

· At approximately 04:40, on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces 
moved into a house belonging to Sharif Abdu in Wadi al-Jouz 
neighborhood. They arrested his son Abdullah (17) and took him to an 
unknown destination.

· At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces moved into a house belonging to 
Muhammad Dandis in Ras al-Amoud neighborhood, east of the Old City in 
Jerusalem. They arrested his son Abdul Rahman (23).

· At approximately 06:00, on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces 
moved into al-Isawiah. They raided and searched a number of houses and 
arrested 3 residents: Ahmed Haid Mahmoud (28); Tareq Ziad Darwich (24); 
and Ali Muhammad Darwich (22).

· At approximately 13:00, on Saturday, 13 December 2014, Israeli forces 
moved into al-Tour neighborhood, east of the Old City in Jerusalem after 
dozens of Palestinians threw stones at an Israeli settler’s vehicle. 
They fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. They 
arrested Imran Rabaia (18) and Fadi Talal al-Sayyad (21).

· At approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 14 Decmber 2014, Israeli forces 
moved into Bab Hatta neighborhood. They raided and searched number of 
houses and arrested 3 children: Tawfiq Najeeb (16); Zakarya Izz al-Din 
al-Bakri (16); and Mustafa Isamil Abu Sneina (15).

· At approximately 02:00 on Monday, 15 December 2014, Israeli forces 
raided a house belonging to Omar Shalabi (30) former secretary of Fatah 
movement in Jerusalem. They confiscated a number of computers and 
attacked the family members. They arrested the aforementioned and took 
him to an unknown destination.

· At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to 
ex-prisoner Fawzi Omar Mheisin (30) in Shufat refugee camp. They 
arrested him and confiscated his computer and mobile phone.

· At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces arrested Diala Ali (25) when 
she was leaving through al-Silsila gate in Jerusalem.

· At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces arrested the head of Fatah 
Youth Movement Ibrahim Abu Ghariba (39) when he was in Beit Hanin 
village, north of the city. According to Muhammad al-Sharbati, Israeli 
forces arrested Abu Ghariba after he was stopped at a checkpoint then he 
was taken Nabi Yaqoub police station.

· At approximately 14:00 on Tuesday, 16 December 2014, Israeli forces 
arrested Yazan Imad al-‘Abbasi (11) and Ahmed Abdul Hadi al-‘Abbasi (11) 
in Ain al-Louza neighborhood. According to eyewitness testimonies, the 
children were arrested when they were heading home from school.

*_Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian 
civilians and property:_*

Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, a direct 
violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have 
continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

· On Sunday morning, 14 December 2014, Israeli forces accompanied by a 
vehicle belonging to the Construction and Organization Department in the 
Israeli Civil Administration Department moved into al-Kou village, 
southwest of Hebron. They stationed at Firjas and Qisteen areas. They 
handed 6 residents notices to stop construction in their houses under 
the pretext of not having a construction permit in area C. The residents 
of the houses were identified as:
- Abdul Rahman Ahmed Ali al-Rujoub, a house under construction with an 
area of 160 square meters;
- Ismail Ahmed Ali al-Rujoub, a house under construction with an area of 
160 square meters;
- Arafat Ahmed Ali al-Rujoub, a house under construction with an area of 
160 square meters;
- Muhib Yaqoub Taim al-Rujoub, a house under construction with an area 
of 130 square meters, and;
- Ramadan Hasan Mustafa al-Rujoub, two houses under construction; each 
of them has an area of 150 square meters.

· On Monday morning, 15 December 2014, Israeli forces accompanied by a 
vehicle belonging to the Construction and Organization Department in the 
Israeli Civil Administration Department moved into Beit Amr village, 
north of Hebron. They stationed in Taghrat al-Shabak area, north of the 
village, near “Gosh Etzion” settlement. They handed two residents 
notices to stop construction in their houses under the pretext of not 
having a construction permit in area C. They were identified as:
- Bassam Khalil Abdel Muhsen al-‘Allami, an inhabited, one floor house, 
which was established on an area of 80 square meters 9 years ago, and;
- Khaled Yousif Abdul Majeed Brighith, a house used for agricultural 
purposes, which was established on an area of 60 square meters 4 years ago.

· In the evening of the aforementioned day, Israeli forces accompanied 
by a vehicle belonging to the Construction and Organization Department 
in the Israeli Civil Administration Department moved into Tqou’ village, 
southeast of Bethlehem. They stationed at Kherbat al-Deir arre, near the 
municipality intersection and handed 4 notices to stop construction in 
houses belongin to: Musa Salem Musa; Ahmed Muhammed Suleiman; Saher Ali 
Hajahija; and Mahmoud ‘Aish Hajahija.

*/Recommendations to the International Community:/*

PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza 
Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under 
Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside 
the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces 
continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, 
which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, 
in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative 
Council. PCHR stresses that there is international recognition of 
Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments 
and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations 
concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva 
Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law 
and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in 
a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for 
victims.

In light of continued arbitrary measures, land confiscation and 
settlement activities in the West Bank, and the continued aggression 
against civilians in the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls upon the international 
community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties 
to the Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of 
their natural obligation to respect and enforce the international law – 
to cooperate and act according to the following recommendations:

1. PCHR calls upon the international community and the United Nations to 
use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their 
right to self-determination, through the establishment of the 
Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with 
a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including 
sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine;

2. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international 
protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence 
of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva 
Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the 
Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;

4. PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human rights 
instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and 
the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize 
Israel to comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to 
incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports 
submitted to the concerned committees;

5. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva 
Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the 
Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in 
order to prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the 
nationality of the perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way 
for prosecuting suspected Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding 
impunity they have enjoyed;

6. PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of universal 
jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal 
jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war 
criminals;

7. PCHR calls upon the international community to act in order to stop 
all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through imposing 
sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;

8. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer the Goldstone 
Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the 
International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the 
Rome Statute;

9. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war 
criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to 
achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be 
built on the expense of human rights;

10. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to 
explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza and the 
annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the 
two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to 
compel it to remove them;

11. PCHR calls upon the international community, in light of its failure 
to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at least fulfil 
its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of 
hostilities launched by Israel which directly targeted the civilian 
infrastructure;

12. PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European Union to express 
a clear position towards the annexation wall following the international 
recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the 
annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;

13. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the 
EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must 
respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between 
the EU states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violations 
and crimes against Palestinian civilians;

14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and accede to the 
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva 
Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the 
United Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to 
international human rights law and humanitarian law instruments.

/Full, detailed document 
<http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10794:weekly-report-on-israeli-human-rights-violations-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-11-17-dec-2014&catid=84:weekly-2009&Itemid=183>, 
including info on patrols and border crossings available at the official 
PCHR website./

Related Link(s): 
http://www.imemc.org/newswire?search_text=pchr&button=S...3E%3E 
<http://www.imemc.org/newswire?search_text=pchr&button=Search+%3E%3E>
-- 
Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415 
863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org
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