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<h1 class="article-title">PCHR Report on Israeli Human Rights
Violations in the oPt (26 February - 04 March 2015)</h1>
<div class="article-subtitledetails">
<span class="article-details">
<span class="article-detail"><img class="icon"
src="cid:part1.07080205.08070300@freedomarchives.org"
alt="author"> Tuesday March 10, 2015 02:08</span><span
class="article-detail"><img class="icon"
src="cid:part2.08090807.02060000@freedomarchives.org"
alt="author"> by PCHR-Gaza<br>
<b><small><small><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.imemc.org/article/70856">http://www.imemc.org/article/70856</a></small></small></b></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="article-intro">Israeli forces have continued with
systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and their
property in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) for the
reporting period of 26 February - 04 March 2015.</blockquote>
<p class="article"><b><u>Israeli attacks in the West Bank &
Gaza:</u></b><br>
<br>
<u>Shootings:</u><br>
<br>
During the reporting period, a Palestinian civilian was killed and
his brother was wounded due to the explosion of an object of the
Israeli forces' remnants left during the latest Israeli offensive
on the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces also wounded 14 Palestinian
civilians, including 5 children and 2 photojournalists, in the
West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to chase
and target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea.<br>
<br>
In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued the use of excessive
and systematic force against peaceful protests organized by
Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international solidarity
activists against the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 4 Palestinian
civilians, including a child and 2 photojournalists, were wounded.<br>
<br>
In the same context, 9 Palestinian civilians, including 4
children, were wounded during other protests organized at the
southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp and Silwad village
near Ramallah, and in Hebron.<br>
<br>
On 03 March 2015, a 20-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound
to the right leg when Israeli forces moved into Qabatya village,
south of Jenin.<br>
<br>
In the Gaza Strip, on 28 February 2015, a 21-year-old civilian was
killed and his 17-year-old brother was seriously wounded due to
the explosion of an object of the Israeli forces' remnants left
during the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip. They found
that object while transporting sand from a street near their house
to the house by a motor cart in the east of Rafah in the south of
the Gaza Strip.<br>
<br>
In the context of targeting fishermen, Israeli navy forces opened
fire 4 times at Palestinian fishermen and fishing boats in the
Gaza Strip sea on 26 and 27 February and 02 and 04 March 2015. As
a result, the fishermen were frightened and sailed back to the
shore, but neither casualties nor material damage were reported.<br>
<br>
<u>Incursions:</u><br>
<br>
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 56
military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank
and 9 ones in East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli
forces arrested at least 32 Palestinians, including 11 children.
Thirteen of these Palestinians, including 4 children, were
arrested in Jerusalem.<br>
<br>
On 02 March 2015, Israeli forces raided the house belonging to
Mohammed Hashayka (23) in Beitounia village, west of Ramallah, to
arrest him. They used sniffer dogs and attacked his family.<br>
<br>
<u>Restrictions on movement:</u><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.
<br>
<br>
<u><b>Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against
Palestinian civilians and property:</b></u><br>
<br>
On 26 February 2015, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles
and accompanied with a vehicles belonging to the Construction and
Organization Department in the Israeli Civil moved into Kherbet
al-Majaz area in the eastern area of Yata, south of Hebron. The
Civil Administration officer handed 2 civilians 2 notices to stop
the construction work in 2 residential tents.<br>
<br>
On 28 February 2015, Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers
from reclaiming their lands in al-Sahlat area, south of Qaryout
village, southeast of Nablus. They claimed that that these lands
are located in "C" areas according to the Oslo accords.<br>
<br>
On 03 March 2015, Israeli forces accompanied with a vehicle from
to the Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli
Civil raided a stone-pet belonging to Jamil Khalil al-Tarwah on
the Hebron-Jerusalem Road, 300 meters to the north of Beit Ummar
village. The Civil Administration officer claimed that the Israeli
authorities handed a notice to the aforementioned civilian not to
construct and expand the work in the stone-pet in 1998.<br>
<br>
On 26 February 2015, the teaching staff of 'Oarif High School for
Boys, southeast of Nablus, was surprised with the attack on the
school by a group of settlers expected to be from "Yatsahar"
settlement and writing slogans against Arabs in addition to
drawing David Star at the main entrance of the school.<br>
<br>
On 28 February 2015, a group of settlers from "Metsbi Ya'ir"
established on the Palestinian lands confiscated from southeast of
Yata, south of Hebron uprooted and cut down 180 olive seedlings
belonging to Houshiyah family.<br>
<br>
<b><u>Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations
protesting settlement activities and the construction of the
annexation wall:</u></b><br>
<br>
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, 4 Palestinian civilians,
including a child and 2 photojournalists, were wounded.<br>
<br>
In the same context, 9 Palestinian civilians, including 4
children, were wounded during protests at the southern entrance of
al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, Silwad village,
northeast of the city, Hebron, and the eastern entrance of Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilya.<br>
<br>
During the reporting period, Israeli forces arrested and/or
detained for hours 7 protestors, including 2 Israeli solidarity
activists, member of Hebron Defense Committee and a fieldworker of
al-Haq.<br>
<br>
<b><i>(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).</i></b><br>
<br>
<u>Demonstrations against the construction of the annexation wall
and settlement activity</u><br>
<br>
At approximately 14:15 on Thursday, 26 February 2015, a protest
organized by Palestinian civilians and international solidarity
activists headed from Ezbet al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya, to
the eastern side of the village, which is threatened to be
confiscated, near the main street (55). The protestors chanted
slogans against settlement activities. Once they reached the
abovementioned area, Israeli forces fired sound bombs, and tear
gas canisters. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear
gas inhalation. Israeli forces also detained Alaa Mohammed
al-Dweiri (20) and Ehab Lo'ay Taha (18) for an hour and a half.<br>
<br>
Following the Friday prayer, on 27 February 2015, in spite of the
bad weather, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and
Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration
in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The
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, 2 Palestinians, including a child, were
wounded and then taken to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah.
Moreover, Israeli forces arrested 4 protestors, including a woman
and 2 Israeli solidarity activists. The two Palestinians were
taken to Ofer detention facility, southwest of the city, while the
2 Israeli activists were taken to an unknown destination. A
17-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the right knee and a
39-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the head. The
detainee were identified as: Abdullah Radhi (40) and Hanan Shalabi
(30).<br>
<br>
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a
peaceful demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of
Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall
and settlement activities. The demonstrators took the streets and
headed to the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of
the wall with barbwires and prevented the demonstrators from
crossing to the land behind it before they responded by throwing
stones. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
civilians, and chased them into the village. As a result, a number
of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained
bruises as they were beaten up.<br>
<br>
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 Annexation Wall and Settlement Activities. The
demonstrators made their way in the streets raising the
Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation, 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.<br>
<br>
Also following the Friday prayer, at approximately 12:20,
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, 2 photojournalists were
wounded:<br>
1. Abdul Rahim Omer Quosini (47), who works for Reuters news
agency. He was hit by a gas canister to the neck.<br>
2. Nidal Sahfiq Taher Ishtaya (41), who works for a Chinese news
agency. He was hit by 3 sound bombs to the right leg, left leg and
back. He also sustained a bullet wound to the thigh.<br>
<br>
At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 27 February 2015, a protest
organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli
solidarity activists in the center of Ezbet al-Tabib village, east
of Qalqilya, to the eastern side of the village, which is
threatened to be confiscated, to plant olive seedlings. After the
protestors had planted about 30 seedlings, Israeli forces started
firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters. They also detained 2
Israeli activists for 2 hours and released them after the Israeli
police arrived. <br>
<br>
<u>Other demonstrations</u><br>
<br>
At approximately 11:15 on Thursday, 26 February 2015, a protest
organized by Palestinian civilians to mark the launch of the
Democratic Front headed from Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, to
the eastern gate of the village that has been closed since 1994.
They chanted slogans calling for reopening the gate. Israeli
forces immediately fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and
rubber-coated metal bullets. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians
sustained bullet wounds. A 19-year-old civilian sustained 2 bullet
wounds to the right hand and back, an 18-year-old civilian
sustained a bullet wound to the left leg and another 18-year-old
civilian sustained a bullet wound to the right leg.<br>
<br>
Following the Friday prayer, on 27 February 2015, dozens of
Palestinians gathered at the western entrance of the Silwad
village, northeast of Ramallah, on the road between Silwad and
Yabroud villages, near Bypass road (60), in protest at the Israeli
policies. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and
Molotov Cocktails at the aforementioned road and Israeli soldiers.
In response, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired live
ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at the protestors. As a result, a 17-year-old child
sustained a bullet wound to the head and an 18-year-old civilian
sustained a bullet to the head too. Both of them were taken to
Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah.<br>
<br>
Also following the Friday prayer, dozens of children and young men
gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp,
north of Ramallah. They were about 300 meters away from the fence
of "Beit Eil" settlement. Israeli forces stationed in the area
fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs
and tear gas canisters. As a result, a 16-year-old male sustained
a bullet wound to left thigh, a 16-year-old child sustained a
bullet wound to the left leg and a 17-year-old child sustained a
bullet wound to the right thigh. They were taken to Palestine
Medical Compound in Ramallah.<br>
<br>
On the same day, dozens of Palestinians and international and
Israeli solidarity activists gathered near Ali mosque, south of
Hebron, to protest against settlement activities, to mark the
massacre committed in the Ibrahimi Mosque and to demand reopening
al-Shuhada street. They made their way in the streets raising the
Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation.
Once they reached al-Zahed area, Israeli soldiers deployed in the
area and started pushing the protestors and firing sound bombs.
The protestors disperse while some youngsters threw stones at the
soldiers, who fired Toto bullets in response. As a result,
32-year-old Palestinian sustained a bullet wound to the right
knee. He was taken to al-Ahli hospital, where he underwent a
surgery. Moreover, Israeli forces detained Hesham al-Sharabti, a
fieldworker of al-Haq, for 2 hours.<br>
<br>
At approximately 13:00 on Saturday, 28 February 2015, dozens of
Bir Zeit university students gathered near Attarah checkpoint,
north of Birzait village, north of Ramallah, to be in solidarity
with Lina Hattab. They proceeded to the checkpoint, but Israeli
forces closed it to prevent the protestors from heading to Oyoun
al-Haramiya Street that is used by settlers. Israeli soldiers
started firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters under the
pretext stones were thrown at them. As a result, a number of
protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and other sustained
bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.<br>
<br>
<b><u>Continued closure of the oPt:</u></b><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
<u>Gaza Strip</u><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
<u>West Bank</u><br>
<br>
<b>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:</b><br>
<br>
· Hebron: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 26 February 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Hebron.
Later, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.<br>
<br>
At approximately 07:00 on Friday, 27 February 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ethna village, west of
Hebron. At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces established another
checkpoint at the southern entrance of Halhoul, north of Hebron.
Later, both checkpoints were removed, and no arrests were
reported.<br>
<br>
At approximately 07:00 on Saturday, 28 February 2015, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ethna village,
west of Hebron. Around the same time, another checkpoint was
established at the northern entrance of Dura. At approximately
17:00, a checkpoint was established at the entrance of Beit 'Awa
village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron. Later, the
checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.<br>
<br>
At approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 01 March 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Hebron
(al-Fahs). Later, the checkpoint was removed and no arrests were
reported.<br>
<br>
At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 02 March 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Sa'ir village, east of
Hebron. Around the same time, another checkpoint was established
at the northern entrance of Yata, south of the city. Later, both
checkpoints were removed, and no arrests were reported.<br>
<br>
At approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 03 March 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at al-Samou'a village, south of Hebron.
At approximately 07:30, Israeli forces established a similar
checkpoint at the entrance of al-'Aroub refugee camp, north of the
city. Later, both checkpoints were removed, and no arrests were
reported.<br>
<br>
At approximately 07:30 on Wednesday, 04 March 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Halhoul,
north of Hebron. Later, the checkpoints were removed and no
arrests were reported.<br>
<br>
· Ramallah: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 06:30 on Thursday, 26 February 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Bitello village;
meanwhile, they established another one at the entrance of 'Ein
Ayoub area, west of Ras Karkar village, northwest of Ramallah. At
approximately 16:30, Israeli forces established a checkpoint under
the bridge of 'Ein Yabrud village, northeast of Ramallah. At
approximately 19:00, a similar checkpoint was established on
al-Mo'arajat Road between Jericho and Ramallah. All checkpoints
were removed and no arrests were reported.<br>
<br>
At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 27 February 2015, Israeli forces
closed the iron gate of eastern entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah, and prevented civilians from passing.
Around the same time, they established another checkpoint under
the bridge of 'Ein Yabrud village, northeast of Ramallah. At
approximately 11:00, Israeli forces established a similar
checkpoint at the entrance of Nil’in village, west of Ramallah. At
approximately 18:00, a similar checkpoint was established at the
entrance of Deir Abu Mesh'al, northwest of Ramallah. All
checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.<br>
<br>
At approximately 19:30 on Saturday, 28 February 2015, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh
village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 13:00, Israeli
forces reestablished their existence at ‘Attarah checkpoint on the
northern entrance of Beir Zeit, north of Ramallah. Around the same
time, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of 'Ein
sinya village, north of Ramallah. At approximately 17:30, they
established another checkpoint under the bridge of Kherbtha
al-Mesbah village, southwest of the city. At approximately 20:00,
a similar checkpoint was established near the intersection of
"'Ofrah" settlement, north of Ramallah. Later, all checkpoints
were removed and no arrests were reported.<br>
<br>
At approximately 10:30 on Monday, 02 March 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit 'Oar al-Foqa,
southwest of Ramallah. At approximately 14:30, another checkpoint
was established on the road to al-Jalazone refugee camp, north of
Ramallah near "Beit Eil" settlement under the pretext of training
in the area. At approximately 16:30, a similar checkpoint was
established near the intersection of Beit 'Oar al-Foqa village,
southwest of Ramallah. Later, all checkpoints were removed and no
arrests were reported.<br>
<br>
· Jericho: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 09:30 on Friday, 27 February 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance Fasayel village, north of
the city. At approximately 20:00, another checkpoint was
established near the entrance of al-Nwei'amah village, north of
the city. Later, both checkpoints were removed and no arrests were
reported.<br>
<br>
· Tulkarm: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 26 February 2015, Israeli forces
stationed at ‘Annab military checkpoint which is established on
the road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of the city, tightened
their restrictions against civilians and obstructed their
movement. Later that day, the tightening ended and no arrests were
reported. The tightening renewed at approximately 13:00 and 19:00
on Sunday, 01 March 2015.<br>
<br>
At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 27 February 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Far'on village, south
of Tulkarm. The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were
reported.<br>
<br>
At approximately 20:00 on Sunday, 01 March 2015, Israeli forces
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.<br>
<br>
· Salfit: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 11:20 on Friday, 27 February 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint between the villages of Kafr al-Deek and
Deir Balut. At approximately 13:25, the checkpoint was removed,
and no arrests were reported.<br>
<br>
<b><u>Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints</u></b><br>
<br>
· At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 26 February 2015, Israeli
forces stationed at al-Jalameh checkpoint between Jenin and
Israel, northeast of Jenin, arrested Mohammed 'Asri Fayyad (16)
from Jenin when he was passing through the checkpoint. The
Palestinian Military Liaison later intervened, so he was released.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 21:15 on Saturday, 28 February 2015, Israeli
forces stationed near "Arayel" settlement, north of Salfit
arrested Thaer Taysir Ya'qoub Naji (25) from Kafr al-Deek village,
west of the city. He was then taken to an unknown destination.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 28 February 2015, Israeli
forces stationed at the electronic gates of al-Ibrahimi Mosque in
the center of the Old City in the center of Hebron arrested 'Emad
Sabri al-Rajabi (19) under the pretext of disobeying the Israeli
soldiers' orders. He was then taken to an unknown destination.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 13:00 on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces
stationed at Abu al-Rish checkpoint arrested Saqer Bajes Abu
Hamdiyah when he was on his way back from his school that is near
the aforementioned checkpoint. He was taken to al-Ibrahimi Mosque
police station and was released after a while.<br>
<br>
· On Monday morning, 02 March 2015, Israeli forces arrested 5
civilians from Kisan village, east of Bethlehem, while collecting
'Aqoub (Gundelia) from a Palestinian land near "al-Fardis"
settlement. They detained them for a while and then took them to
"Gosh 'Etzion" settlement bloc, south of the city. The detainees
were identified as 'Ayesh 'Abayat (24); 'Omer 'Ayesh 'Abayat (21);
Subeih Hasan 'Abayat (25); Mahmoud 'Awad 'Abayat (24); and Salman
Mohammed 'Abayat (21).<br>
<br>
· At approximately 07:30 on Tuesday, 03 March 2-15, Israeli forces
stationed at Abu al-Rish checkpoint established in the southern
side of the old city in Hebron arrested 4 children when they were
on their way to their schools. The four children were released
later and handed to the Palestinian Military Liaison. The children
were identified as Nizar Naser Fayez Ghuneimah (14); Isma'il
Sho'ayb Maharmah (14); Ahmed Sa'di al-Rajabi (14) and Baraa'
Khaled al-Madhoun (16).<br>
<br>
· Around the same time, Israeli forces deployed in the old city in
Hebron arrested Ihab Maher Abu Mayalah (13) when he was on his way
to his school near al-Ibrahimi Mosque under the pretext of having
a geometric compass. He was taken to "Karyat Arabaa'" settlement,
east of Hebron.<br>
<br>
<u>Arrests at Beit Hanoun "Erez" Crossing in the northern Gaza
Strip</u><br>
<br>
· At approximately 20:00 on Sunday, 01 March 2015, Israeli forces
stationed at Beit Hanoun "Erez" crossing in the northern Gaza
Strip Tariq Ziyad Murtaga (39) from al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza
City. The aforementioned civilian works in his father's company,
Ziyad Murtaga Company for Electrical Appliances and Mobile Phones.
At approximately 10:00, he went to the crossing upon an Israeli
request to have a security interview with him before issuing a
permit that would allow him to pass through Erez Crossing. After
waiting for hours in the crossing, the Israeli soldiers arrested
him for unknown reasons.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 10:30 on Monday, 02 March 205, Israeli forces
stationed at Beit Hanoun Crossing arrested Mohammed Salah Mohammed
Salah (48), a businessman from al-Sheikh Zayed in Beit Lahia. He
also works in the field of electrical appliances. He was arrested
when he was leaving through Erez crossing with his wife, Rubi
Saleh. The arrested person is so far under arrest. His wife said
that she went with her husband, who got a BMC permit in 2011 and
passed via Beit Hanoun crossing dozens of times. His wife was
accompanying him under the name of companion of a trader. She
added that they intended to perform prayers in al-Aqsa Mosque, and
when they arrived at the crossing, Israeli intelligence
offocersasked him for an interview and told the wife to wait. At
approximately 16:30 on the same day, he asked his wife to leave
and go back to Gaza. They also told her that he would be detained
for a while and then released to go back to Gaza. She went back to
the Gaza Strip, and at approximately 18:00 on the same day, she
received a phone call from Ashkelon police telling her that her
husband is arrested and pending investigation for 24 hours.<br>
<br>
<b><u>Efforts to create Jewish demographic majority in occupied
East Jerusalem:</u></b><br>
<br>
· At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 28 February 2015, Israeli
forces moved into al-Shayyah neighborhood, near Ras al-Amoud
neighborhood, east of East Jerusalem, after some Palestinian
youngsters threw Molotov Cocktails at settlers' guard vehicle that
was in the area. They raided and searched a number of houses and
indiscriminately fired sound bombs. Israeli forces withdrew later,
and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 20:00 on the abovementioned day, Israeli forces
moved into al-Helwa area in al-Tour neighborhood, east of East
Jerusalem, after some Palestinian youngsters burnt a vehicle
belonging to a settler. Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and
tear gas canisters at Palestinian houses and civilians. They
withdrew later, and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 04:00 on Sunday, 01 March 2015, Israeli forces
raided and searched a house belonging to Emad Khalil in al-Thawri
neighbourhood, south of the Old City in East Jerusalem. They
arrested his son Khalil (23) and took him to an unknown
destination.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 04:00 on Monday, 02 March 2015, Israeli forces
moved into Bab Hetta neighbourhood, in the Old City of East
Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which
they arrested 3 civilians, including a child: Mansour Ahmed Salim
(16); Khalil Mo'men al-Shawish (23); and Ma'moun Abdullah Gaith
(21).<br>
<br>
· At approximately 05:00 on the same day, Israeli forces moved
into al-Tour neighbourhood, in East Jerusalem. They raided and
searched a number of houses from which they arrested 5 civilians,
including 2 children: Yusef Tawfiq Abu Jom'a (16), Mahdi Hamza
al-Sayyad (16); Mohanned Mohammed Gaith (19); Basel Mohammed
al-Halabi (19); and Kamal Naser al-Alami (20).<br>
<br>
· At approximately 10:00 on the same day also, Israeli forces
accompanied by an undercover unit raided al-Shamela School for
boys in al-Tour neighborhood, in the Old City of East Jerusalem.
Mr. Mohammed Abu Ghannam, head of the students' parents committee,
said to PCHR's fieldworker that Israeli forces searched the
classrooms, during which a student panicked. It should be noted
that Israeli forces arrested a group of students, but the school
principal and teachers prevented them from doing so.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 21:30, Israeli forces raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of martyr Samer Sarhan in al-Bustan
neighborhood, in Selwan village, south of the Old City of East
Jerusalem. They arrested his son Mohammed (11) and took him to
Saladin police station to be questioned.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 02:00 on Tuesday, 03 March 2015, Israeli forces
moved into al-'Eizariya village, east of East Jerusalem. They
raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested
Ali Bassam Odwan (32) and Dawood Raja Odwan (35). Moreover,
Israeli forces handed summonses to Hashem Abu Zeyad (51) and their
3 sons: Jamil, Nabil and Ali to refer to the Israeli intelligence
service at al-Zaitouna checkpoint, near the village. It should be
noted that Israeli forces arrested his son, Hamza, 21 months ago.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 10:00 on the same day, Israeli forces moved
into Ein al-Louza in Selwan village, south of the Old City of East
Jerusalem, after some Palestinian youngsters threw stones at
settlers' vehicles. Israeli soldiers immediately fired gas
canisters in response and chased some of the youngsters. As a
result, dozens of Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation. In
the meantime, Israeli forces arrested Hani Mohammed Sarhan (22)
and took him to an unknown destination.<br>
<br>
<b><u>Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against
Palestinian civilians and property:</u></b><br>
<br>
· At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 26 February 2015, Israeli
forces backed by military vehicles and accompanied with a vehicles
belonging to the Construction and Organization Department in the
Israeli Civil moved into Kherbet al-Majaz area in the eastern area
of Yata, south of Hebron. The Civil Administration officer handed
2 civilians 2 notices to stop the construction work. The notices
included:<br>
1. A 30-square-meter residential tent belonging to 'Omer 'Ali
Khalil No'aman Abu 'Aram; and<br>
2. A 40-square-meter residential tent belonging to Yaser 'Ali
Khalil No'aman Abu 'Aram.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 28 February 2015, Israeli
forces prevented Palestinian farmers from reclaiming their lands
in al-Sahlat area, south of Qaryout village, southeast of Nablus.
They claimed that that these lands are located in areas "C"
according to the Oslo accords.<br>
<br>
Bashar Qaryouti, member of the village council and who was
accompanying the farmers, said to a PCHR fieldworker that:<br>
"At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 28 February 2015, I arrived
with a group of farmers and volunteers at al-Sahlat area,
southeast of Nablus, to reclaim around 200 dunums of the lands
funded by the French Consulate. These lands are located in front
of 'Shillo' settlement established on the village lands, and there
is an Israeli plan to confiscate and seize these lands. On 17
February 2015, we started working on this project and stopped for
2 days due to the weather depression. At the aforementioned hour,
we came back to work taking with us a digger which we brought from
Qasrah village. As soon as we started working, we were surprised
by a number of Israeli vehicles accompanied with a Liaison officer
in the area to prevent us from working. They forced us to leave
the area without saying the reasons and asked us not to come back
and work in the land."<br>
<br>
· At approximately 14:00 on Tuesday, 03 March 2015, Israeli forces
accompanied with a vehicle from to the Construction and
Organization Department in the Israeli Civil raided a stone-pet
belonging to Jamil Khalil al-Tarwah. The stone-pet is located on
Hebron-Jerusalem Road 300 meters to the north of Beit Ummar
village. The Civil Administration officer claimed that the Israeli
authorities handed a notice to the aforementioned civilian not to
construct and expand the work in the stone-pet in 1998. The
Israeli soldiers confiscated a DAF truck belonging to Khalaf
Shaladah and loaded with boxes filled with stones and took it to
"Gosh 'Etzion" settlement, south of Bethlehem. It should be
mentioned that its owner was told that the truck is under custody.<br>
<br>
· At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, the teaching staff of 'Oarif
High School for Boys, southeast of Nablus, was surprised with the
attack on the school by a group of settlers expected to be from
"Yatsahar" settlement and writing slogans against Arabs in
addition to drawing David Star at the main entrance if the school
from the northern side of the school. It should be mentioned that
the aforementioned school and its students have always been
subjected to frequent attacks by "Yatsahar" settlers.<br>
<br>
· On Saturday, early morning, 28 February 2015, a group of
settlers from "Metsbi Ya'ir" established on the Palestinian lands
confiscated from southeast of Yata, south of Hebron uprooted and
cut down 180 olive seedlings, which were planted only 30 days ago.
Those seedlings belonging to Houshiyah family are located in
al-Swid area, southeast of Yata, and were planted in 20 dunums of
the family lands.<br>
<br>
<b><i>Recommendations to the International Community:</i></b><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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:<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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;<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
<i><a
href="http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10889:weekly-report-on-israeli-human-rights-violations-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-26-feb-04-mar-2015&catid=84:weekly-2009&Itemid=183"
target="_blank">Full, detailed document</a>, including info on
patrols and border crossings available at the official PCHR
website.</i> </p>
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