19 july 2013
Israeli troops detain a father and his 5-year old son, claiming the 5-year old threw a stone
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 11 - 17 July 2013, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces have continued to open fire at Palestinian civilians. A Palestinian child was wounded in the east of Beit Hanoun, and a young man and a child were wounded in al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. Israeli forces detained a 5-year-old child and his father in Hebron, claiming that the child threw a stone at an Israeli settler’s car.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
In the West Bank, 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded when Israeli forces moved into al-Nabi Saleh village, northeast of Ramallah, on 16 July 2013.
During the last week, Israeli forces conducted 17 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. At least 9 Palestinian civilians were abducted.
On 11 July 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by three military vehicles and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into Deir Samet village, in the west of Doura, in the southwest of Hebron. The Civil Administration officer handed 3 civilians notices to halt construction work in the area.
On 13 July 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by a number of military vehicles, moved into the farmlands near Kherbat Uml-Khair area in the east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The soldiers chased Palestinian shepherds of the Hathaleen family and detained 4 of them, including 3 children for a few hours before releasing them.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. 15 Palestinian civilians were abducted by Israeli forces at checkpoints. Of the abducted civilians, there were 8 children, including a 5-year-old child.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 14 July 2013, an 18-year-old civilian was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, northeast of Beit Hanoun, opened fire at a group of workers collecting metal pieces in the landfill, northeast of Beit Hanoun, about 400 metres away from the border fence.
As part of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 17 July 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, opened fire and pumped water at the Palestinian fishing boats.
As a result, a fishing boat sustained damage by 4 bullets.
In the Gaza Strip, on 16 July 2013, Israeli forces moved nearly 200 meters into the east Shuhada' cemetery, east of Jabalia village, in the northern Gaza Strip. They opened fire and levelled lands. No casualties were reported.
Also this week, the Israeli border guard at Beit Hanoun Crossing detained the brother of a deceased man who was accompanying his brother's corpse back to the Gaza Strip for burial. At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 11 July 2013, Israeli authorities stationed at Beit Hanoun Crossing “Erez” in the northern Gaza Strip abducted Mohammed Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Harbid (55) from Martyr Bassem Na’aim Street in Beit Hanoun when he was on his way back to the Gaza Strip. The aforementioned civilian was accompanying his brother, Soliman (58), who died at “Okhlof” Hospital in Israel on the same day morning, and he was questioned about the number of his family members and his relation with Palestinian armed groups.
At approximately 18:15 on the same day, he was released.
Mohammed Abu Harbid Said to a PCHR fieldworker that a tumour was discovered in his brother’s, Soliman, stomach and doctors immediately gave him necessary documents to transfer him into Israel for medical treatment. He got an appointment at “Okhlof” Hospital on 16 June 2013. He added that he accompanied his brother to the hospital, where doctors gave him 5 dozens of chemotherapy, and he remained at the hospital till 28 June 2013, when he came back to the Gaza strip. They got an appointment to see his doctors on 14 July 2013.
Two days after his return to Gaza, his health condition deteriorated as a result of intensive chemotherapy doses he was given. He was then entered into Beit Hanoun governmental hospital and also Shifa Hospital in Gaza but in vain. Doctors recommended transferring him into Israel again. Thus, he was transferred and got an appointment on 08 July 2013.
He added: “At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 08 July 2013, he was taken by an ambulance belonging to the Palestinian Ministry of Health due to his serious condition. When we arrived at Beit Hanoun Crossing “Erez”, an ambulance came from the Israeli side to take us to “Okhlof” Hospital, where doctors said that his health condition is very serious. Thus, he was entered into the Intensive care Unit (ICU), where he was lying till they declared his death at approximately 06:00 on Thursday, 11 July 2013.”
He also said that he immediately completed all needed procedures to deliver the dead body to the Gaza Strip.
At approximately 13:00 on the same day, he handed his ID card and his brother’s as well to the soldiers in a room at Beit Hanoun Gate. One of the soldiers asked him to wait inside the ambulance outside the crossing gate, and he waited for 20 minutes to be allowed then to enter the crossing. They put the ambulance in an isolated place inside the crossing, where 6 persons, including 2 ladies, were standing wearing civilian clothes, and they asked the ambulance staff to uncover the corpse, but the staff refused.
Mohammed Abu Harbid then uncovered his brother’s body, and they then asked him to accompany them. He went with them inside the building, and they walked into a long passage. He was thoroughly searched for 20 minutes and then taken to a room in an underground floor, where he was detained for 4 hours without anyone talking to him.
At approximately 17:00 on the same day, he was taken to a detention centre, where he was questioned about his personal data, some of his family members and if he has any relation with persons affiliated with Hamas or Islamic Jihad. The questioning continued for an hour, during which he was informed that his brother’s body was delivered to the Palestinian side.
At approximately 18:15 on the same day, he came back home to find his sole brother’s body buried by his relatives as they thought that his detention would last longer.
Israeli settlement activity:
Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 14 July 2013, a group of settlers from "Gush Etzion" settlement, which is established on the lands of al-Khader village, in the south of Bethlehem, assaulted Salah Sa'id Shaheen's house, which is located in Ayn Balout area, in the center of "Gush Etzion" settlement compound, with stones and empty bottles.
As a result, Shaheen's family members were traumatized.
On the same day, 3 settlers from "Mitzpe Yair" settlement, which is established on Palestinians' lands in the east of Yatta, south of Hebron, attacked a Palestinian shepherd while he was grazing his sheep in Wad Lugha area, in the west of the village. He sustained bruises and cuts in his head and was taken to Hebron Public Hospital for treatment.
On the same day also, a group of settlers from "Eddie Ad" settlement, which is established on Palestinians' lands in the east of Termis'ya village, north of Ramallah, uprooted 40 seedlings and 40 fruitful olive trees in the east of the village that are 3 kilometers away from the abovementioned settlement.
On 16 July 2013, ten settlers, three of them were masked, from "Bat Ayin" settlement, which is established on Palestinians' lands in the east of Beit Ummar village, in the north of Hebron, attacked a Palestinian farmer who was present at his land, which is located near the afore-mentioned settlement. As the settlers started insulting him and using foul language, he ran away from his land towards the village in fear for his life.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, 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, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises during peaceful protests. Protests were organized on the first Friday of Ramadan in Bil'in, Ni'lin and al-Nabi Saleh villages in Ramallah; Kufor Qaddoum village in the northeast of Qalqilia; and al-Ma'sarah village in the south of Bethlehem.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among them were a recommendation that the international community act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them.
In addition, the 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;
For the full text of the report, click on the link
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 11 - 17 July 2013, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces have continued to open fire at Palestinian civilians. A Palestinian child was wounded in the east of Beit Hanoun, and a young man and a child were wounded in al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. Israeli forces detained a 5-year-old child and his father in Hebron, claiming that the child threw a stone at an Israeli settler’s car.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
In the West Bank, 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded when Israeli forces moved into al-Nabi Saleh village, northeast of Ramallah, on 16 July 2013.
During the last week, Israeli forces conducted 17 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. At least 9 Palestinian civilians were abducted.
On 11 July 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by three military vehicles and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into Deir Samet village, in the west of Doura, in the southwest of Hebron. The Civil Administration officer handed 3 civilians notices to halt construction work in the area.
On 13 July 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by a number of military vehicles, moved into the farmlands near Kherbat Uml-Khair area in the east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The soldiers chased Palestinian shepherds of the Hathaleen family and detained 4 of them, including 3 children for a few hours before releasing them.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. 15 Palestinian civilians were abducted by Israeli forces at checkpoints. Of the abducted civilians, there were 8 children, including a 5-year-old child.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 14 July 2013, an 18-year-old civilian was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, northeast of Beit Hanoun, opened fire at a group of workers collecting metal pieces in the landfill, northeast of Beit Hanoun, about 400 metres away from the border fence.
As part of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 17 July 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, opened fire and pumped water at the Palestinian fishing boats.
As a result, a fishing boat sustained damage by 4 bullets.
In the Gaza Strip, on 16 July 2013, Israeli forces moved nearly 200 meters into the east Shuhada' cemetery, east of Jabalia village, in the northern Gaza Strip. They opened fire and levelled lands. No casualties were reported.
Also this week, the Israeli border guard at Beit Hanoun Crossing detained the brother of a deceased man who was accompanying his brother's corpse back to the Gaza Strip for burial. At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 11 July 2013, Israeli authorities stationed at Beit Hanoun Crossing “Erez” in the northern Gaza Strip abducted Mohammed Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Harbid (55) from Martyr Bassem Na’aim Street in Beit Hanoun when he was on his way back to the Gaza Strip. The aforementioned civilian was accompanying his brother, Soliman (58), who died at “Okhlof” Hospital in Israel on the same day morning, and he was questioned about the number of his family members and his relation with Palestinian armed groups.
At approximately 18:15 on the same day, he was released.
Mohammed Abu Harbid Said to a PCHR fieldworker that a tumour was discovered in his brother’s, Soliman, stomach and doctors immediately gave him necessary documents to transfer him into Israel for medical treatment. He got an appointment at “Okhlof” Hospital on 16 June 2013. He added that he accompanied his brother to the hospital, where doctors gave him 5 dozens of chemotherapy, and he remained at the hospital till 28 June 2013, when he came back to the Gaza strip. They got an appointment to see his doctors on 14 July 2013.
Two days after his return to Gaza, his health condition deteriorated as a result of intensive chemotherapy doses he was given. He was then entered into Beit Hanoun governmental hospital and also Shifa Hospital in Gaza but in vain. Doctors recommended transferring him into Israel again. Thus, he was transferred and got an appointment on 08 July 2013.
He added: “At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 08 July 2013, he was taken by an ambulance belonging to the Palestinian Ministry of Health due to his serious condition. When we arrived at Beit Hanoun Crossing “Erez”, an ambulance came from the Israeli side to take us to “Okhlof” Hospital, where doctors said that his health condition is very serious. Thus, he was entered into the Intensive care Unit (ICU), where he was lying till they declared his death at approximately 06:00 on Thursday, 11 July 2013.”
He also said that he immediately completed all needed procedures to deliver the dead body to the Gaza Strip.
At approximately 13:00 on the same day, he handed his ID card and his brother’s as well to the soldiers in a room at Beit Hanoun Gate. One of the soldiers asked him to wait inside the ambulance outside the crossing gate, and he waited for 20 minutes to be allowed then to enter the crossing. They put the ambulance in an isolated place inside the crossing, where 6 persons, including 2 ladies, were standing wearing civilian clothes, and they asked the ambulance staff to uncover the corpse, but the staff refused.
Mohammed Abu Harbid then uncovered his brother’s body, and they then asked him to accompany them. He went with them inside the building, and they walked into a long passage. He was thoroughly searched for 20 minutes and then taken to a room in an underground floor, where he was detained for 4 hours without anyone talking to him.
At approximately 17:00 on the same day, he was taken to a detention centre, where he was questioned about his personal data, some of his family members and if he has any relation with persons affiliated with Hamas or Islamic Jihad. The questioning continued for an hour, during which he was informed that his brother’s body was delivered to the Palestinian side.
At approximately 18:15 on the same day, he came back home to find his sole brother’s body buried by his relatives as they thought that his detention would last longer.
Israeli settlement activity:
Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 14 July 2013, a group of settlers from "Gush Etzion" settlement, which is established on the lands of al-Khader village, in the south of Bethlehem, assaulted Salah Sa'id Shaheen's house, which is located in Ayn Balout area, in the center of "Gush Etzion" settlement compound, with stones and empty bottles.
As a result, Shaheen's family members were traumatized.
On the same day, 3 settlers from "Mitzpe Yair" settlement, which is established on Palestinians' lands in the east of Yatta, south of Hebron, attacked a Palestinian shepherd while he was grazing his sheep in Wad Lugha area, in the west of the village. He sustained bruises and cuts in his head and was taken to Hebron Public Hospital for treatment.
On the same day also, a group of settlers from "Eddie Ad" settlement, which is established on Palestinians' lands in the east of Termis'ya village, north of Ramallah, uprooted 40 seedlings and 40 fruitful olive trees in the east of the village that are 3 kilometers away from the abovementioned settlement.
On 16 July 2013, ten settlers, three of them were masked, from "Bat Ayin" settlement, which is established on Palestinians' lands in the east of Beit Ummar village, in the north of Hebron, attacked a Palestinian farmer who was present at his land, which is located near the afore-mentioned settlement. As the settlers started insulting him and using foul language, he ran away from his land towards the village in fear for his life.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, 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, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises during peaceful protests. Protests were organized on the first Friday of Ramadan in Bil'in, Ni'lin and al-Nabi Saleh villages in Ramallah; Kufor Qaddoum village in the northeast of Qalqilia; and al-Ma'sarah village in the south of Bethlehem.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among them were a recommendation that the international community act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them.
In addition, the 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;
For the full text of the report, click on the link
17 july 2013
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rounded up 20 Palestinian children over the past couple of weeks, an official Palestinian report said on Wednesday. The report by the children information department in the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah said that the IOF targeting of Palestinian children had escalated as of late.
It pointed out that dozens of Palestinian children were treated for gas suffocation as a result of the IOF use of teargas grenades against West Bank marches protesting confiscation of land and settlement activity.
It pointed out that dozens of Palestinian children were treated for gas suffocation as a result of the IOF use of teargas grenades against West Bank marches protesting confiscation of land and settlement activity.
Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) in Ramallah said that Israeli forces arrested 97 Palestinians during June and July in Ramallah.
It also said the arrests were carried out in several villages including al-Mazra'a ash-Sharqiya, where 25 Palestinians were arrested, and the village of Ein Yabroud, where 9 Palestinians were arrested, in addition to, 20 Palestinians were arrested in Budrus village.
Prisoners Society added that along with the arrest campaign, Israeli forces destroyed houses and assaulted the detainees and their families.
It also said the arrests were carried out in several villages including al-Mazra'a ash-Sharqiya, where 25 Palestinians were arrested, and the village of Ein Yabroud, where 9 Palestinians were arrested, in addition to, 20 Palestinians were arrested in Budrus village.
Prisoners Society added that along with the arrest campaign, Israeli forces destroyed houses and assaulted the detainees and their families.
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) announced in a press release, its semiannual report on media freedoms status in Occupied Palestine, during a press conference this morning at MADA's [PDF] headquarters in Ramallah.
The press conference was opened by the general director of MADA Mousa Rimawi:
"Media freedoms status in Occupied Palestine still raises concerns in terms of the numbers and types of violations committed against Palestinian journalists. Violations against Palestinian journalists are one of the highest globally, and are life-threatening, where the Palestinian journalists are concerned for their life and safety, especially those who cover peaceful demonstrations and the popular resistance activities against the occupation, settlement, and the apartheid wall. Regardless of the threat, Palestinian journalists never back down and continue to exercise their profession and duty, and they have earned many appreciations and awards".
Rimawi added that Violations during the first half of 2013 have increased comparing to the same period in 2012, where MADA monitored 113 violation an increase of 11 violation comparing to 2012, Israel committed 78, and the Palestinian sides committed 35 violations.
Rimawi noted that the Israeli Occupation violations embodied five forms, namely: physical abuse, arrest, detention, prevention from coverage, and prosecution. And as usual physical assault on journalists formed the largest percentage of violations of the occupation with 43 attacks (54.4%).
Rimawi reassured that "The Israeli Occupation insistence to continue its attacks on media freedoms is due to its desire to blur the truth and hide its constant attacks on the Palestinian people's rights is a main reason for the increase of its violations against media freedoms during the past years. Another reason for this increase is the official International community forgiving attitude towards the continues and rising Israeli violations against media freedoms"
As for the Palestinian Violations, MADA monitored 35 Palestinian violations of media freedoms during the first half of 2013, where arresting journalists was the leading type of violation with 16 cases of arrests, which is a higher number of arrests comparing to 2012.
Rimawi followed up on this, saying that "although the numbers of Palestinian violations in the past three years show a significant decline in this area, but the nature of the violations are still of concern, and indicates a problem with the lack of depth of the right to freedom of expression as a fundamental human right".
Rimawi noted that most Palestinian violations have occurred in the Gaza Strip by 25 violations, approximately 71% of the whole. It should also be noted that the most were committed in the month of January, where the internal security services of Hamas government in Gaza arrested and interrogated 12 journalists.
Rimawi added: "In the West Bank MADA has touched an extent of improvement in the case of media freedoms, with an emphasis on the continuing patterns of troubling violations of impeding the evolution of the development of media freedoms, such as internet censorship and sentencing journalists to prison, as it happened in the case of Mamdouh Hamamrah, and the arrest of journalist George Canawati, for publishing or using Facebook". Pointing out that the threat of murder of journalists by an unknown person raises the utmost concern, where the Palestine Public TV crew was threatened with murder and a bomb was placed outside the house of one of the crew members".
Rimawi added: "What raises our concerns is resorting to torture of a number of journalists during their detention in the Gaza Strip, especially during January, returning to a method prohibited by international laws, the return to this style of torture is not only worthy of condemnation, but also to hold those responsible accountable. This type of violation disappeared during the past few years according to MADA's reports".
Rimawi stressed that the other factor that still leaves a negative impact on media freedoms is the lack of a legal environment appropriate to the work of the media in Palestine. Palestine lacks laws governing the work of the media, except for Press and Publications Law of 1995, which requires amendment so it can become appropriate to the developments that have occurred on the local media scene and the world, and to become in line with international standards. In addition the Jordanian Penal Code that is enforced in the West Bank since 1960 allows for the imprisonment of journalists and forms a burden on media freedoms and an obstacle to its development.
Rimawi added Palestinian media still faces many difficulties because of the absence of Access to Information law, which MADA recently drafted a law that is compatible with international standards, after hard work during the past two years.
At the end Rimawi thanked The Open Society Foundations for its support for this report, and thanked all Arab and International Organizations who stood by the Palestinian journalists, and supported his right to exercise his profession freely and safely.
The press conference was opened by the general director of MADA Mousa Rimawi:
"Media freedoms status in Occupied Palestine still raises concerns in terms of the numbers and types of violations committed against Palestinian journalists. Violations against Palestinian journalists are one of the highest globally, and are life-threatening, where the Palestinian journalists are concerned for their life and safety, especially those who cover peaceful demonstrations and the popular resistance activities against the occupation, settlement, and the apartheid wall. Regardless of the threat, Palestinian journalists never back down and continue to exercise their profession and duty, and they have earned many appreciations and awards".
Rimawi added that Violations during the first half of 2013 have increased comparing to the same period in 2012, where MADA monitored 113 violation an increase of 11 violation comparing to 2012, Israel committed 78, and the Palestinian sides committed 35 violations.
Rimawi noted that the Israeli Occupation violations embodied five forms, namely: physical abuse, arrest, detention, prevention from coverage, and prosecution. And as usual physical assault on journalists formed the largest percentage of violations of the occupation with 43 attacks (54.4%).
Rimawi reassured that "The Israeli Occupation insistence to continue its attacks on media freedoms is due to its desire to blur the truth and hide its constant attacks on the Palestinian people's rights is a main reason for the increase of its violations against media freedoms during the past years. Another reason for this increase is the official International community forgiving attitude towards the continues and rising Israeli violations against media freedoms"
As for the Palestinian Violations, MADA monitored 35 Palestinian violations of media freedoms during the first half of 2013, where arresting journalists was the leading type of violation with 16 cases of arrests, which is a higher number of arrests comparing to 2012.
Rimawi followed up on this, saying that "although the numbers of Palestinian violations in the past three years show a significant decline in this area, but the nature of the violations are still of concern, and indicates a problem with the lack of depth of the right to freedom of expression as a fundamental human right".
Rimawi noted that most Palestinian violations have occurred in the Gaza Strip by 25 violations, approximately 71% of the whole. It should also be noted that the most were committed in the month of January, where the internal security services of Hamas government in Gaza arrested and interrogated 12 journalists.
Rimawi added: "In the West Bank MADA has touched an extent of improvement in the case of media freedoms, with an emphasis on the continuing patterns of troubling violations of impeding the evolution of the development of media freedoms, such as internet censorship and sentencing journalists to prison, as it happened in the case of Mamdouh Hamamrah, and the arrest of journalist George Canawati, for publishing or using Facebook". Pointing out that the threat of murder of journalists by an unknown person raises the utmost concern, where the Palestine Public TV crew was threatened with murder and a bomb was placed outside the house of one of the crew members".
Rimawi added: "What raises our concerns is resorting to torture of a number of journalists during their detention in the Gaza Strip, especially during January, returning to a method prohibited by international laws, the return to this style of torture is not only worthy of condemnation, but also to hold those responsible accountable. This type of violation disappeared during the past few years according to MADA's reports".
Rimawi stressed that the other factor that still leaves a negative impact on media freedoms is the lack of a legal environment appropriate to the work of the media in Palestine. Palestine lacks laws governing the work of the media, except for Press and Publications Law of 1995, which requires amendment so it can become appropriate to the developments that have occurred on the local media scene and the world, and to become in line with international standards. In addition the Jordanian Penal Code that is enforced in the West Bank since 1960 allows for the imprisonment of journalists and forms a burden on media freedoms and an obstacle to its development.
Rimawi added Palestinian media still faces many difficulties because of the absence of Access to Information law, which MADA recently drafted a law that is compatible with international standards, after hard work during the past two years.
At the end Rimawi thanked The Open Society Foundations for its support for this report, and thanked all Arab and International Organizations who stood by the Palestinian journalists, and supported his right to exercise his profession freely and safely.
More than half of Arab citizens of Israel support the call by a member of the Knesset (parliament) for an Intifada (uprising) in Israel in protest to the planned relocation of Bedouins living in Israel's southern desert of Negev, a survey shows.
According to a phone survey conducted June 18 to 20 by Haifa University on 1,504 Israeli Arab adults, 58 percent of the respondents said they throw their weight behind an Intifada.
Forty-one percent of those surveyed said they are opposed to the call, while 1% had no idea.
During the heated debate in the Knesset on June 24 over the law which legalizes displacement of Bedouin people from the Negev Desert and their resettlement in nearby towns, Afou Agbaria got up to the podium and denounced the bill.
"I am in favor of a new Intifada, because you are causing a new Nakba in the Negev," he said.
Palestinians refer to the May 15, 1948 occupation of Palestine as the "Nakba Day", which means the Day of the Catastrophe in Arabic, to mark the expulsion of more than 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland in 1948.
The opinion poll also found that 63 percent of Israeli Arabs support Iran's nuclear energy program, while 35 percent oppose with two percent having had no idea.
The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that the Iranian nuclear program has been diverted toward military objectives.
According to a phone survey conducted June 18 to 20 by Haifa University on 1,504 Israeli Arab adults, 58 percent of the respondents said they throw their weight behind an Intifada.
Forty-one percent of those surveyed said they are opposed to the call, while 1% had no idea.
During the heated debate in the Knesset on June 24 over the law which legalizes displacement of Bedouin people from the Negev Desert and their resettlement in nearby towns, Afou Agbaria got up to the podium and denounced the bill.
"I am in favor of a new Intifada, because you are causing a new Nakba in the Negev," he said.
Palestinians refer to the May 15, 1948 occupation of Palestine as the "Nakba Day", which means the Day of the Catastrophe in Arabic, to mark the expulsion of more than 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland in 1948.
The opinion poll also found that 63 percent of Israeli Arabs support Iran's nuclear energy program, while 35 percent oppose with two percent having had no idea.
The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that the Iranian nuclear program has been diverted toward military objectives.
15 july 2013
Palestinian patient prisoners in Israeli jails suffer deliberate Israeli medical negligence and lack of medical care where they risk death at any moment. Riad al-Ashqar, prisoners’ ministry media director, stated that the number of patient prisoners has escalated in Israeli jails due to the Israeli medical negligence and the bad detention conditions in addition to the continued pressures and repression.
About 1700 prisoners out of 4600 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails suffer health problems including 75 prisoners suffer chronic diseases.
The liberated prisoner Omar al-Bardawil (29) who was released recently, stated that the Palestinian patient prisoners' health situation is getting worse as part of the Israeli Prison Administration's policy to liquidated them.
Al-Bardawil, who served 8 years behind Israeli bars, pointed out that the patient prisoners are facing death at any moment due to the Israeli harassments and medical negligence particularly the hunger strikers.
He called for a real and firm position behind the patient prisoners in Israeli jails who suffer shortage of medicines and medical care.
Jordanian prisoners in Israeli jails have declared hunger strike since early May protesting their difficult detention condition where their health situation has deteriorated in Ramle prison in light the Israeli deliberate medical negligence.
Meanwhile, Fidaa group to support prisoners in Israeli jails denied Israeli claims that the hunger striker Abdullah Barghouthi is clinically dead.
Anas Abu Khudair, Fidaa group's director, confirmed that Barghouthi is still alive however he suffers sharp health deterioration due to his hunger strike since more than 70 days.
He pointed out that Barghouthi is kept alone in Afula prison, while the 4 other Jordanian prisoners are held in Soroka Hospital.
Jordanian prisoner in Israel Abdullah Barghouthi is serving the longest term in the world as he was sentenced to 67 life terms. He has been in jail for 10 years after he was arrested by Israel when he entered the West Bank to visit relatives there.
On May 2, six Jordanians began their own "battle of empty stomachs" following Palestinian peers who managed to secure their freedom and attracted worldwide attention to their plight over the past months.
About 1700 prisoners out of 4600 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails suffer health problems including 75 prisoners suffer chronic diseases.
The liberated prisoner Omar al-Bardawil (29) who was released recently, stated that the Palestinian patient prisoners' health situation is getting worse as part of the Israeli Prison Administration's policy to liquidated them.
Al-Bardawil, who served 8 years behind Israeli bars, pointed out that the patient prisoners are facing death at any moment due to the Israeli harassments and medical negligence particularly the hunger strikers.
He called for a real and firm position behind the patient prisoners in Israeli jails who suffer shortage of medicines and medical care.
Jordanian prisoners in Israeli jails have declared hunger strike since early May protesting their difficult detention condition where their health situation has deteriorated in Ramle prison in light the Israeli deliberate medical negligence.
Meanwhile, Fidaa group to support prisoners in Israeli jails denied Israeli claims that the hunger striker Abdullah Barghouthi is clinically dead.
Anas Abu Khudair, Fidaa group's director, confirmed that Barghouthi is still alive however he suffers sharp health deterioration due to his hunger strike since more than 70 days.
He pointed out that Barghouthi is kept alone in Afula prison, while the 4 other Jordanian prisoners are held in Soroka Hospital.
Jordanian prisoner in Israel Abdullah Barghouthi is serving the longest term in the world as he was sentenced to 67 life terms. He has been in jail for 10 years after he was arrested by Israel when he entered the West Bank to visit relatives there.
On May 2, six Jordanians began their own "battle of empty stomachs" following Palestinian peers who managed to secure their freedom and attracted worldwide attention to their plight over the past months.
14 july 2013
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rounded up 63 Palestinians in the West Bank over the past week, statistics issued by Hamas movement said. The movement said that the soldiers storm local homes in various West Bank cities, villages, and refugee camps on daily basis.
It said that Al-Khalil topped the list with 19 citizens nabbed in the district followed by 16 in Ramallah and six in Jerusalem.
Five were detained in each of Nablus, Jenin, and Bethlehem while four were taken from Tulkarem and three from Qalqilia.
The report underlined that one of the detainees was a Hamas leader, Falah Nada, from Ramallah, adding that the arrestees included university students and liberated prisoners.
It said that Al-Khalil topped the list with 19 citizens nabbed in the district followed by 16 in Ramallah and six in Jerusalem.
Five were detained in each of Nablus, Jenin, and Bethlehem while four were taken from Tulkarem and three from Qalqilia.
The report underlined that one of the detainees was a Hamas leader, Falah Nada, from Ramallah, adding that the arrestees included university students and liberated prisoners.
13 july 2013
Israel has completed approximately 62 percent of the segregation wall's route, a further 10 percent is under construction and 28 percent is intended for construction, according to a report issued by the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in the occupied Palestinian lands (OCHA). The wall's total length (constructed and projected) is approximately 720 kilometers, more than twice the length of the 1949 armistice (green) line.
The wall consists of concrete walls, fences, ditches, razor wire, sand paths, surveillance systems, patrol roads, and a buffer zone.
The report affirmed that some 85 percent of the wall's route runs inside the West Bank, rather than along the green line, and if it was to be completed as planned, the wall would isolate about nine percent of the West Bank, including east Jerusalem.
The wall consists of concrete walls, fences, ditches, razor wire, sand paths, surveillance systems, patrol roads, and a buffer zone.
The report affirmed that some 85 percent of the wall's route runs inside the West Bank, rather than along the green line, and if it was to be completed as planned, the wall would isolate about nine percent of the West Bank, including east Jerusalem.
12 july 2013
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) warned of occupation authorities' intention to apply a law that will allow the authorities force-feed prisoners on hunger strike, which forms a real danger on the lives of captives. The center said in a press statement on Thursday "The imposition of force-feeding on the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails is a ready recipe to kill because it is really dangerous to the lives of the prisoners."
The statement pointed out that the Israeli government, in the coming weeks, plans to approve the law proposed by the ministries of justice and internal security in cooperation with the Shin Bet and the prison administration.
It added that resorting to such law clearly shows the occupation's inability in dealing with prisoners on hunger strike, and the failure of policy of pressure and intimidation to force the hunger strikers to stop their strike.
"This has put the occupation government in a state of permanent confusion, unable to face this strong weapon used by prisoners and which has achieved positive results and pushed the Israeli authorities to meet some of the prisoners' demands", PCHR said.
It pointed out that the method of force-feeding caused the deaths of three Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails throughout the history of the captive movement.
Ahrar: Israel Violates International Laws by Legalizing Law to Force-Feed Hunger Strikers
Director of Ahrar Center for Prisoners Studies and Human Rights, Fuad Al-Khuffash, condemned Thursday the Israeli government's decision to pass a bill that will allow the Prisons authorities force-feed prisoners on hunger strike "legally".
He said that this law violates the international laws, and the occupation is working on passing such laws, while the international community is silence against its crimes.
The occupation previously approves laws that violate the international laws such the law of preventing lawyers from visiting the prisoners and Shalit's law.
Al-Khuffash pointed that the occupation feels worry by the increasing number of hunger striker detainees, who forced the occupation to pass such a law.
The statement pointed out that the Israeli government, in the coming weeks, plans to approve the law proposed by the ministries of justice and internal security in cooperation with the Shin Bet and the prison administration.
It added that resorting to such law clearly shows the occupation's inability in dealing with prisoners on hunger strike, and the failure of policy of pressure and intimidation to force the hunger strikers to stop their strike.
"This has put the occupation government in a state of permanent confusion, unable to face this strong weapon used by prisoners and which has achieved positive results and pushed the Israeli authorities to meet some of the prisoners' demands", PCHR said.
It pointed out that the method of force-feeding caused the deaths of three Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails throughout the history of the captive movement.
Ahrar: Israel Violates International Laws by Legalizing Law to Force-Feed Hunger Strikers
Director of Ahrar Center for Prisoners Studies and Human Rights, Fuad Al-Khuffash, condemned Thursday the Israeli government's decision to pass a bill that will allow the Prisons authorities force-feed prisoners on hunger strike "legally".
He said that this law violates the international laws, and the occupation is working on passing such laws, while the international community is silence against its crimes.
The occupation previously approves laws that violate the international laws such the law of preventing lawyers from visiting the prisoners and Shalit's law.
Al-Khuffash pointed that the occupation feels worry by the increasing number of hunger striker detainees, who forced the occupation to pass such a law.
Protesters wounded by Israeli troops in Um al-Kheir, near Hebron
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 04 - 10 July 2013, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank, wounding 4.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 4 civilians were wounded during peaceful protests in Ramallah and Qalqilia on 05 July 2013. On 07 July 2013, a fourth civilian was wounded during a peaceful protest in Ramallah against attacks by settlers in Deir Qeddis and Shabtin villages, northwest of the Ramallah.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 58 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted at least 62 Palestinians, including 3 children.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. 12 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were abducted at checkpoints in the West Bank.
On 04 July 2013, Israeli forces issued 3 notices to halt work in the Maghayer al-Abeed area, south of Hebron. The notices included 2 residential tents and solar panels funded by the EU.
On 05 July 2013, Israeli forces issued a notice to halt work in a tin-made barrack in Kherbet Janaba, south of Hebron.
On 07 July 2013, Israeli forces demolished an artesian well in al-Baqi'a valley near Atouf village, southeast of Tubas. It should be noted that Israeli forces did not send a prior notice to the well owner to halt work in this well.
On 08 July 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by officers of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into al-Ra's al-Ahmer and al-Hadidiya areas in the northern Jordan Valley, east of Tubas. They demolished a number of residential, livestock and fodder storage tents.
On 08 July 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by officers of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into al-Deirat village to the east of Yatta, south of Hebron. A Civil Administration officer handed 6 civilians notices to halt construction works in houses and a facility under the pretext of not obtaining licenses.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 05 July 2013, dozens of settlers, from settlements established on Palestinians' lands in the east of Yatta, south of Hebron, organized a demonstration in front of the villages to the east of the city: al-Twany, al-Baraka and al-Rakyz villages. The settlers chanted religious and racist slogans demanding the expulsion of Arabs from their lands.
On the same day, 4 settlers from "Havat Maon" settlement moved into farmlands surrounding Kherbat Touba area in the east of Yatta. The settlers attacked a civilian with stones while razing his sheep. As a result, he sustained minor bruises.
On 05 July 2013, a group of settlers, coming from "Susya" settlement, raided Palestinian civilians' lands in the southeast of Yatta, in the surroundings of al-Karmel village. The settlers, who were accompanied by Israeli forces, performed Talmudic rituals near one of the Roman archeological sites and chanted anti-Arab slogans.
On 06 July 2013, a group of settlers, coming from "Carmiel" settlement, which is established on the lands of Kherbat Um al-Khair area in the east of Yatta, attacked Palestinian farmers and shepherds while in their lands, which are located in the south of the area.
On 07 July 2013, a group of settlers from "Beitar Illit" settlement, which is established on the western countryside of Bethlehem governorate, pumped waste water into Ayn Madyq area, in the south of Wad Foquin village, in the west of Bethlehem.
On 08 July 2013, a group of settlers leveled agricultural lands in Wad al-Rakhim area to the southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron. These lands belong to al-Halis family and are located near the security fence of "Susya" settlement.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 08 July 2013, Israeli forces conducted 2 limited incursions in the southern Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along the border fence and withdrew later.
Israel continued to impose a tightened closure, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported.
For 7 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in a grave violation of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7 million people.
The Israeli authorities has established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy that has been aggravating for years due to the shortage of imports. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Following the Friday Prayer, 05 July 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil'in village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activity. The demonstrators marched through the streets of the village, chanting slogans calling for national unity, raised Palestinian flags and made their way towards the lands adjacent to the annexation wall. Israeli forces had closed all entrances to the village since early morning to prevent Palestinians, journalists, and international activists from joining the protest.
The demonstrators walked along the wall and attempted to breach it. Israeli forces stationed behind the western side of the wall, and dozens of soldiers who were deployed along the route of the wall, fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, tear gas canisters, and waste water at the demonstrators, and chased them across olive fields.
As a result, a 20-year-old sustained a metal bullet in the right arm and a 37-year-old was hit in the right hand with a tear gas canister. Also, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.
Also, following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators made their way towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the wall gate with barbed wire and, when the demonstrators attempted to access the lands behind the barbed wire, they were stopped by Israeli soldiers. The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who responded with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, and chased them across fields of olive trees as far as the outskirts of the village.
As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Around the same time on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians, Israeli and international human rights activists gathered at the Martyrs Square in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to hold a weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The protesters walked towards Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby "Halmish" settlement are trying to seize. From the morning, Israeli forces had closed all entrances to the village to prevent Palestinians, international activists, and journalists from joining the demonstration. Upon their arrival in the area, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, chased the demonstrators into the village and sprayed them and civilian houses with waste water.
As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Following Friday Prayer, dozens of civilians in al-Ma'sara 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, which was titled "Water." It started outside Shomou' Cultural Centre in the centre of the village; and while on their way to the wall, Israeli forces, backed-up by Israeli police and border guards, fired tear gas canisters at them in order to disperse them. Many demonstrators suffered due to tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 13:10 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 the demonstrators' arrival to the afore-mentioned gate, Israeli forces had set up ambushes for them and started chasing them, firing rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canister at them.
As a result, a 40-year-old sustained wounds in his eye after a tear gas canister exploded near him and shrapnel scattered around.
At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 07 July 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights activists gathered near 'Ayn Ayoub area, in the northwest of Ramallah for a demonstration in protest to the daily settlers' attacks against Palestinian civilians, and the Israeli government's discrimination and settlement expansion policies and confiscation of lands for the expansion of "Nili" settlement, which is established on Deir Qedis and Shabtin villages, in the northwest of Ramallah.
The demonstration was organized by Popular Committees against the Wall and Settlement Activity in Ramallah and al-Bireh. The demonstrators gathered in the centre of the main street, which is used by settlers, leading to traffic jam in the area. The participants held Palestinian flags; immediately, Israeli forces, stationed in the area, fired rubber-coated metal bullets to the air, tear gas canisters and sound bombs and attempted to disperse them with force.
As a result, Jamil al-Barghouthy (43) was hit in the chest with a tear gas canister, and was taken to Palestine Health Complex for treatment; also, dozens of civilians suffered due to tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. Furthermore, Israeli forces detained 3 civilians, including the wounded civilian, for half an hour at the scene.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community and the United Nations 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;
The PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international protection to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially the Gaza Strip
For the full text of the report, click on the link
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 04 - 10 July 2013, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank, wounding 4.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 4 civilians were wounded during peaceful protests in Ramallah and Qalqilia on 05 July 2013. On 07 July 2013, a fourth civilian was wounded during a peaceful protest in Ramallah against attacks by settlers in Deir Qeddis and Shabtin villages, northwest of the Ramallah.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 58 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted at least 62 Palestinians, including 3 children.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. 12 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were abducted at checkpoints in the West Bank.
On 04 July 2013, Israeli forces issued 3 notices to halt work in the Maghayer al-Abeed area, south of Hebron. The notices included 2 residential tents and solar panels funded by the EU.
On 05 July 2013, Israeli forces issued a notice to halt work in a tin-made barrack in Kherbet Janaba, south of Hebron.
On 07 July 2013, Israeli forces demolished an artesian well in al-Baqi'a valley near Atouf village, southeast of Tubas. It should be noted that Israeli forces did not send a prior notice to the well owner to halt work in this well.
On 08 July 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by officers of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into al-Ra's al-Ahmer and al-Hadidiya areas in the northern Jordan Valley, east of Tubas. They demolished a number of residential, livestock and fodder storage tents.
On 08 July 2013, Israeli forces, accompanied by officers of the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into al-Deirat village to the east of Yatta, south of Hebron. A Civil Administration officer handed 6 civilians notices to halt construction works in houses and a facility under the pretext of not obtaining licenses.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 05 July 2013, dozens of settlers, from settlements established on Palestinians' lands in the east of Yatta, south of Hebron, organized a demonstration in front of the villages to the east of the city: al-Twany, al-Baraka and al-Rakyz villages. The settlers chanted religious and racist slogans demanding the expulsion of Arabs from their lands.
On the same day, 4 settlers from "Havat Maon" settlement moved into farmlands surrounding Kherbat Touba area in the east of Yatta. The settlers attacked a civilian with stones while razing his sheep. As a result, he sustained minor bruises.
On 05 July 2013, a group of settlers, coming from "Susya" settlement, raided Palestinian civilians' lands in the southeast of Yatta, in the surroundings of al-Karmel village. The settlers, who were accompanied by Israeli forces, performed Talmudic rituals near one of the Roman archeological sites and chanted anti-Arab slogans.
On 06 July 2013, a group of settlers, coming from "Carmiel" settlement, which is established on the lands of Kherbat Um al-Khair area in the east of Yatta, attacked Palestinian farmers and shepherds while in their lands, which are located in the south of the area.
On 07 July 2013, a group of settlers from "Beitar Illit" settlement, which is established on the western countryside of Bethlehem governorate, pumped waste water into Ayn Madyq area, in the south of Wad Foquin village, in the west of Bethlehem.
On 08 July 2013, a group of settlers leveled agricultural lands in Wad al-Rakhim area to the southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron. These lands belong to al-Halis family and are located near the security fence of "Susya" settlement.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 08 July 2013, Israeli forces conducted 2 limited incursions in the southern Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along the border fence and withdrew later.
Israel continued to impose a tightened closure, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported.
For 7 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in a grave violation of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7 million people.
The Israeli authorities has established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy that has been aggravating for years due to the shortage of imports. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Following the Friday Prayer, 05 July 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil'in village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activity. The demonstrators marched through the streets of the village, chanting slogans calling for national unity, raised Palestinian flags and made their way towards the lands adjacent to the annexation wall. Israeli forces had closed all entrances to the village since early morning to prevent Palestinians, journalists, and international activists from joining the protest.
The demonstrators walked along the wall and attempted to breach it. Israeli forces stationed behind the western side of the wall, and dozens of soldiers who were deployed along the route of the wall, fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, tear gas canisters, and waste water at the demonstrators, and chased them across olive fields.
As a result, a 20-year-old sustained a metal bullet in the right arm and a 37-year-old was hit in the right hand with a tear gas canister. Also, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.
Also, following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators made their way towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the wall gate with barbed wire and, when the demonstrators attempted to access the lands behind the barbed wire, they were stopped by Israeli soldiers. The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who responded with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, and chased them across fields of olive trees as far as the outskirts of the village.
As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Around the same time on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians, Israeli and international human rights activists gathered at the Martyrs Square in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to hold a weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The protesters walked towards Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby "Halmish" settlement are trying to seize. From the morning, Israeli forces had closed all entrances to the village to prevent Palestinians, international activists, and journalists from joining the demonstration. Upon their arrival in the area, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, chased the demonstrators into the village and sprayed them and civilian houses with waste water.
As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Following Friday Prayer, dozens of civilians in al-Ma'sara 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, which was titled "Water." It started outside Shomou' Cultural Centre in the centre of the village; and while on their way to the wall, Israeli forces, backed-up by Israeli police and border guards, fired tear gas canisters at them in order to disperse them. Many demonstrators suffered due to tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 13:10 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 the demonstrators' arrival to the afore-mentioned gate, Israeli forces had set up ambushes for them and started chasing them, firing rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canister at them.
As a result, a 40-year-old sustained wounds in his eye after a tear gas canister exploded near him and shrapnel scattered around.
At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 07 July 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights activists gathered near 'Ayn Ayoub area, in the northwest of Ramallah for a demonstration in protest to the daily settlers' attacks against Palestinian civilians, and the Israeli government's discrimination and settlement expansion policies and confiscation of lands for the expansion of "Nili" settlement, which is established on Deir Qedis and Shabtin villages, in the northwest of Ramallah.
The demonstration was organized by Popular Committees against the Wall and Settlement Activity in Ramallah and al-Bireh. The demonstrators gathered in the centre of the main street, which is used by settlers, leading to traffic jam in the area. The participants held Palestinian flags; immediately, Israeli forces, stationed in the area, fired rubber-coated metal bullets to the air, tear gas canisters and sound bombs and attempted to disperse them with force.
As a result, Jamil al-Barghouthy (43) was hit in the chest with a tear gas canister, and was taken to Palestine Health Complex for treatment; also, dozens of civilians suffered due to tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. Furthermore, Israeli forces detained 3 civilians, including the wounded civilian, for half an hour at the scene.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community and the United Nations 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;
The PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international protection to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially the Gaza Strip
For the full text of the report, click on the link
11 july 2013
Palestinian official statistics indicated that the number of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip had reached 4.4 million by mid 2013. The Palestinian central statistics department said in a report on the occasion of the international population day falling today Thursday 11/7 that 2.7 million live in the West Bank and 1.7 million live in the Gaza Strip.
The report pointed out that the unemployment rate reached 23.9% while the poverty rate reached 25.8%.
The report pointed out that the unemployment rate reached 23.9% while the poverty rate reached 25.8%.
The importance of the CRC observations is multi-faceted. Not only do they expose Israel’s colonial tactics, racist policies and violation of human rights, but they also expose the ways in which Israel falsely claims an exceptional status in the Middle East. Israel claims to be exceptionally progressive, democratic and advanced in social, religious, political, and economic matters. The CRC observations, however, unmask these myths.
Analysis of the concluding observations on the second to fourth periodic reports of Israel adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child at its sixty-third session (27 May – 14 June 2013).
In its sixty-third session, held from May 27 to June 14 of this year, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) made its concluding observations on Israel’s second to fourth periodic reports. These observations deal a powerful blow to the myths propagated by Israel about its own political processes and prowess, myths that Israel uses to reinforce its self-proclaimed identity as “the only democracy in the Middle East,” an oasis of progress in a desert of brutality.
The underlying message is that Israel’s exceptionalism is a falsehood; in short, it is a discriminatory nation, no more socially or politically advanced than the many countries (both within and beyond the Arab world) over which it claims superiority.
The CRC’s many criticisms, distributed through the 79 points that constitute the concluding observations, can be sorted into four major categories: Israel is inherently a colonialist state; many of its policies are built on institutionalized racism; it is a flagrant violator of child rights; and it is, despite its insistence to the contrary, far from a democratic state.
Colonialism
The CRC emphasizes Israel’s colonial agenda, condemning “the illegal long-lasting occupation of Palestinian territory and the Syrian Golan Heights, the continued expansion of unlawful settlements and construction of the Wall into the West Bank as well as land confiscation, destruction of houses and livelihood of Palestinians” as forces that “feed the cycle of humiliation and violence and jeopardize a peaceful and stable future for all children of the region” (section III, point 7). The CRC’s subsequent request is not simply for Israel to end the occupation – an appeal that has been made in many prior documents of this nature. Rather, the CRC goes on to urge Israel to withdraw all illegally constructed settlements and cease the transfer of its population into the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights. It then proceeds to criticize Israel for declining to submit information regarding children living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as per the CRC’s own observations and requests (section IV, point 8). The CRC’s emphasis on the illegality of the occupation, the ways in which it is imposed, and its consequences are a resounding condemnation of the colonial injustices to which Palestinians are subjected at the hands of the Israeli state.
Racism
The CRC criticizes Israel for practicing racism against its own citizens. This racism is not simply an attitude; it is manifested through concrete and visible state policies. The observations express the CRC’s concern that “the average spending per child in the Arab localities is estimated to be more than a third lower than in Jewish localities;” further, Israel “fails to take into account the unequal level of resources provided to the two health systems to explain the persistent disparities in relation to health indicators between the Arab and Jewish children” (section IV, point 13).
While racism practiced against Palestinian families is systematic and egregious, the CRC observations accurately point out that Palestinians are not the only target of such treatment. In urging Israel to ensure that budgetary allocations no longer discriminate against Palestinian citizens of Israel, it makes the same demand on behalf of “children of migrant workers and asylum seekers” (section IV, point 14, article c.), as well as condemning the adoption of numerous discriminatory laws over the reporting period, “which affect primarily Palestinian children in all aspects of their life but also Arab Israeli, Bedouins, and Ethiopian children as well as children of migrant workers and asylum seekers” (section IV, part C, point 21).
The CRC continues to stress Israel’s widely practiced racism against Palestinians in the OPT, expressing deep concern over “the establishment of separate means of transport and road services as well as the implementation of two separate legal systems and institutions,” all of which amount to “de facto segregation” and “inequality between Israeli and Palestinian children in the enjoyment of their rights” (section IV, part C, point 21).
Indeed, the overarching conclusion is that Israel imposes racist policies and practices against virtually all communities it views as “other.” These policies and practices are not only entrenched in the military occupation of the OPT, but also implemented against Palestinian citizens of Israel, Bedouins, and other communities. In short, racism runs throughout Israel’s legal and social infrastructure.
Child Rights’ Violations
All criticisms discussed thus far – all criticisms related to colonialism and racism – violate the rights of both adults and children. But the CRC also goes on to state that Israel has violated, in the broadest possible terms and without exception, the four main principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These principles are the right to non-discrimination (section III, part C, point 21 and section III, part D, points 29, 30, 49, 61 (b. and c.)); the best interests of the child (section III, point 23); the right to life, survival and development (section III, point 25), and the right to participation (section III, point 27). This paints a dismal picture of Israel’s respect for child rights – a picture that refutes Israel’s own image as a bastion of progress and conscience.
Undemocratic Nature
The CRC observations highlight the undemocratic nature of Israel: lack of transparency, various harmful practices, corporal punishment and violence against children, religious Halacha or Jewish laws, poverty, and consequences of the privatization of services and infrastructure. The CRC makes the following comments and criticisms in this regard:
Disengaging with Israel’s myth-making
The importance of the CRC observations is multi-faceted. Not only do they expose Israel’s colonial tactics; racist policies; severe and numerous violations of human rights (including and especially children’s rights); and denial or restriction of transparency, civil liberties, equitably distributed resources, and so on – but they also expose the ways in which Israel falsely claims an exceptional status in this region of the world. It claims to be exceptionally progressive, exceptionally democratic, and exceptionally advanced in social, religious, political, and economic matters; “a villa in a jungle,” as former Prime Minister Ehud Barak once famously said. The CRC observations are yet another voice – as strong, loud and clear as any recently heard from a UN body – speaking up to unmask these myths.
In this sense, the CRC observations are crucial for another reason as well: they show that, on the international stage, it is becoming increasingly unacceptable to participate in, justify, or ignore Israel’s myth-making.
*Rifat Odeh Kassis is the General Commissioner of the Middle East and North Africa region at Defense for Children International, an independent worldwide child-rights organization, and General Director of its Palestine section. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
Analysis of the concluding observations on the second to fourth periodic reports of Israel adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child at its sixty-third session (27 May – 14 June 2013).
In its sixty-third session, held from May 27 to June 14 of this year, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) made its concluding observations on Israel’s second to fourth periodic reports. These observations deal a powerful blow to the myths propagated by Israel about its own political processes and prowess, myths that Israel uses to reinforce its self-proclaimed identity as “the only democracy in the Middle East,” an oasis of progress in a desert of brutality.
The underlying message is that Israel’s exceptionalism is a falsehood; in short, it is a discriminatory nation, no more socially or politically advanced than the many countries (both within and beyond the Arab world) over which it claims superiority.
The CRC’s many criticisms, distributed through the 79 points that constitute the concluding observations, can be sorted into four major categories: Israel is inherently a colonialist state; many of its policies are built on institutionalized racism; it is a flagrant violator of child rights; and it is, despite its insistence to the contrary, far from a democratic state.
Colonialism
The CRC emphasizes Israel’s colonial agenda, condemning “the illegal long-lasting occupation of Palestinian territory and the Syrian Golan Heights, the continued expansion of unlawful settlements and construction of the Wall into the West Bank as well as land confiscation, destruction of houses and livelihood of Palestinians” as forces that “feed the cycle of humiliation and violence and jeopardize a peaceful and stable future for all children of the region” (section III, point 7). The CRC’s subsequent request is not simply for Israel to end the occupation – an appeal that has been made in many prior documents of this nature. Rather, the CRC goes on to urge Israel to withdraw all illegally constructed settlements and cease the transfer of its population into the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights. It then proceeds to criticize Israel for declining to submit information regarding children living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as per the CRC’s own observations and requests (section IV, point 8). The CRC’s emphasis on the illegality of the occupation, the ways in which it is imposed, and its consequences are a resounding condemnation of the colonial injustices to which Palestinians are subjected at the hands of the Israeli state.
Racism
The CRC criticizes Israel for practicing racism against its own citizens. This racism is not simply an attitude; it is manifested through concrete and visible state policies. The observations express the CRC’s concern that “the average spending per child in the Arab localities is estimated to be more than a third lower than in Jewish localities;” further, Israel “fails to take into account the unequal level of resources provided to the two health systems to explain the persistent disparities in relation to health indicators between the Arab and Jewish children” (section IV, point 13).
While racism practiced against Palestinian families is systematic and egregious, the CRC observations accurately point out that Palestinians are not the only target of such treatment. In urging Israel to ensure that budgetary allocations no longer discriminate against Palestinian citizens of Israel, it makes the same demand on behalf of “children of migrant workers and asylum seekers” (section IV, point 14, article c.), as well as condemning the adoption of numerous discriminatory laws over the reporting period, “which affect primarily Palestinian children in all aspects of their life but also Arab Israeli, Bedouins, and Ethiopian children as well as children of migrant workers and asylum seekers” (section IV, part C, point 21).
The CRC continues to stress Israel’s widely practiced racism against Palestinians in the OPT, expressing deep concern over “the establishment of separate means of transport and road services as well as the implementation of two separate legal systems and institutions,” all of which amount to “de facto segregation” and “inequality between Israeli and Palestinian children in the enjoyment of their rights” (section IV, part C, point 21).
Indeed, the overarching conclusion is that Israel imposes racist policies and practices against virtually all communities it views as “other.” These policies and practices are not only entrenched in the military occupation of the OPT, but also implemented against Palestinian citizens of Israel, Bedouins, and other communities. In short, racism runs throughout Israel’s legal and social infrastructure.
Child Rights’ Violations
All criticisms discussed thus far – all criticisms related to colonialism and racism – violate the rights of both adults and children. But the CRC also goes on to state that Israel has violated, in the broadest possible terms and without exception, the four main principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These principles are the right to non-discrimination (section III, part C, point 21 and section III, part D, points 29, 30, 49, 61 (b. and c.)); the best interests of the child (section III, point 23); the right to life, survival and development (section III, point 25), and the right to participation (section III, point 27). This paints a dismal picture of Israel’s respect for child rights – a picture that refutes Israel’s own image as a bastion of progress and conscience.
Undemocratic Nature
The CRC observations highlight the undemocratic nature of Israel: lack of transparency, various harmful practices, corporal punishment and violence against children, religious Halacha or Jewish laws, poverty, and consequences of the privatization of services and infrastructure. The CRC makes the following comments and criticisms in this regard:
- Israel must “[e]nsure transparent and participatory budgeting through public dialogue, especially with children and for proper accountability by local authorities” (section IV, point 14, article b.) – a factor necessary for democratic governance.
- The CRC is concerned that “non-governmental organizations are not systematically involved in planning policies and laws for children,” that “Palestinian non-governmental organizations and international human rights organizations working in the OPT are increasingly perceived as a threat to national security and are subject to, among others, harassment, arrest and denial of work permits,” and about “the denial of work permits to foreign nationals working for humanitarian organizations in the OPT and about the tightened control of foreign funding of non- governmental organizations when they cooperate with United Nations fact-finding missions” (section IV, point 17). These troubling restrictions are common in repressive regimes that exclude and even persecute civil society.
- Israel is urged to “ensure that religious laws be brought in line with the Convention and do not contain derogatory language against children born out of wedlock” (section IV, point 32).
- The CRC expresses concern about “reported short and long-term complications arising from some traditional male circumcision practices” (section IV, point 41).
- The CRC is also concerned that “poverty among children has risen over the years, and that one out of three is living under the poverty line or on the edge of it” and about the privatization of social services and the limited access to free services which increase the difficulties that children and their families in need are facing” (section IV, point 57)
- The observations condemn multiple situations related to the unjust distribution of natural resources, e.g. “[t]he critical water shortage faced by Palestinian children and their families and by Bedouin children in the Negev due to prohibitions of access to natural resources, restrictions on water utilization and destruction of water services including traditional cistern-based water infrastructure essential for maintaining the Bedouin people’s nomadic and agricultural way of life” and Israel’s “opposition to the creation of waste water treatment facilities in East Jerusalem and to providing access to safe drinking water to Bedouin families and their children living in so-called ‘unrecognized villages’ even in cases where the Supreme Court has ruled that villages should be connected” (section IV, point 59).
- The CRC recommends that Israel “[t]ake the necessary measures to effectively enforce the Compulsory Education Law and ensure that education remains free by discontinuing the practice of requesting that parents pay fees and other non-official contributions for the education of their children” (section IV, point 62).
- The observations criticize the “extensive militarization of the educational system” and the “removal of significant information on Palestinian history, heritage, flag and cities from school textbooks distributed in 2011 to all private and public schools in East Jerusalem” (section IV, point 65), clear tactics of repression.
- The CRC’s condemnation of “the Anti-Infiltration Law enacted in January 2012, which allows for the prolonged detention of children, including child victims of exploitation, torture and trafficking who migrate illegally to the State party” (section IV, point 69), points to a tyrannical type of state.
- The CRC makes it clear that Israel lags behind many other countries by not ratifying numerous important conventions – “namely the third optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communication procedure, the Convention on Enforced Disappearances as well as the optional protocols of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” (section IV, point 75) – and urges it to do so.
Disengaging with Israel’s myth-making
The importance of the CRC observations is multi-faceted. Not only do they expose Israel’s colonial tactics; racist policies; severe and numerous violations of human rights (including and especially children’s rights); and denial or restriction of transparency, civil liberties, equitably distributed resources, and so on – but they also expose the ways in which Israel falsely claims an exceptional status in this region of the world. It claims to be exceptionally progressive, exceptionally democratic, and exceptionally advanced in social, religious, political, and economic matters; “a villa in a jungle,” as former Prime Minister Ehud Barak once famously said. The CRC observations are yet another voice – as strong, loud and clear as any recently heard from a UN body – speaking up to unmask these myths.
In this sense, the CRC observations are crucial for another reason as well: they show that, on the international stage, it is becoming increasingly unacceptable to participate in, justify, or ignore Israel’s myth-making.
*Rifat Odeh Kassis is the General Commissioner of the Middle East and North Africa region at Defense for Children International, an independent worldwide child-rights organization, and General Director of its Palestine section. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
9 july 2013
A Palestinian human rights activist accused the occupation authorities of targeting Jerusalemite children as they have arrested since the beginning of the year 2013 more than 170 children. Professor of International Law Dr. Hanna Issa said in a press statement on Tuesday: "The detention of children and the house arrest imposed on them represents the first Israeli plans to kill childhood."
"The arrests of Jerusalemite children have turned the child who is looking for and defending his rights to a child completely deprived of his rights and homeland. The child starts to suffer from psychological problems, hair loss and psychological trauma caused by the circumstances of his arrest, amid his parents' inability to protect him", Issa explained.
He noted that the neighborhoods of Tur, Issawiyya, Silwan and the Old City have witnessed many cases of child arrests, noting that the arrests are always carried out at night by the special forces, which deliberately break into the child's house in a brutal way.
Issa also pointed out that the Israeli forces expose the children to psychological and physical torture during the investigation in order to force them to confess to throwing stones.
He added that the occupation authorities impose house arrest for long periods on dozens of Palestinian children in the occupied Jerusalem, noting that this procedure puts the child and his family in a hard situation and deprives the child from going to school.
"The arrests of Jerusalemite children have turned the child who is looking for and defending his rights to a child completely deprived of his rights and homeland. The child starts to suffer from psychological problems, hair loss and psychological trauma caused by the circumstances of his arrest, amid his parents' inability to protect him", Issa explained.
He noted that the neighborhoods of Tur, Issawiyya, Silwan and the Old City have witnessed many cases of child arrests, noting that the arrests are always carried out at night by the special forces, which deliberately break into the child's house in a brutal way.
Issa also pointed out that the Israeli forces expose the children to psychological and physical torture during the investigation in order to force them to confess to throwing stones.
He added that the occupation authorities impose house arrest for long periods on dozens of Palestinian children in the occupied Jerusalem, noting that this procedure puts the child and his family in a hard situation and deprives the child from going to school.
Yediot Ahranot Israeli newspaper reported on Tuesday that Israel held at least one other prisoner under the same conditions under which former Mossad agent Ben Zygier, known as "Prisoner X," was held.
It's worth mentinoing that Zygier has committed suicide in an Israeli top-security prison in 2010 and whose case was made headlines in early 2013.
The second man was also held in a private cell in the Ayalon prison, Yediot Ahranot added.
No other details of the man's circumstances were revealed yet.
It's worth mentinoing that Zygier has committed suicide in an Israeli top-security prison in 2010 and whose case was made headlines in early 2013.
The second man was also held in a private cell in the Ayalon prison, Yediot Ahranot added.
No other details of the man's circumstances were revealed yet.
Nine years later, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion that deemed Israel's apartheid wall illegal and called for its removal has yet to be implemented. Israel and members of the international community, including the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council, respectively, have the responsibility of ensuring compliance, PLO Department of Culture and Information said in a press statement.
According to the July 9, 2004 ICJ ruling, "Israel is under an obligation to terminate its breaches of international law," and "to cease forthwith the works of construction of the wall being built in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, to dismantle forthwith the structure therein situated..."
It further affirms that Israel must "make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem," the statement added.
However, Israel has failed to commit or to adhere to any of its obligations as outlined in the ICJ Advisory Opinion. Israel's apartheid wall which separates Palestinians from Palestinians and occupied East Jerusalem from the rest of Palestine constitutes an immoral assault and a humanitarian tragedy that has inflicted great pain and suffering on the Palestinian people. For example, according to a 2012 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report, "the agricultural livelihoods of approximately 150 communities have been severely undermined" and Palestinians are forced to "obtain visitors permits or perform prior coordination" to access their areas.
The statement concluded, it is therefore incumbent upon the United Nations and all its members to take immediate action, to rectify Israeli's ongoing breach of international and humanitarian law and to end Israeli impunity once and for all. As stated in the ICJ Advisory Opinion, 'all States parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 have in addition the obligation, while respecting the United Nations Charter and international law, to ensure compliance by Israel with international humanitarian law as embodied in that Convention.' Now is the time to uphold the integrity of the global rule of law and to bring Israeli violations and the occupation of Palestine to an immediate end.
According to the July 9, 2004 ICJ ruling, "Israel is under an obligation to terminate its breaches of international law," and "to cease forthwith the works of construction of the wall being built in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, to dismantle forthwith the structure therein situated..."
It further affirms that Israel must "make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem," the statement added.
However, Israel has failed to commit or to adhere to any of its obligations as outlined in the ICJ Advisory Opinion. Israel's apartheid wall which separates Palestinians from Palestinians and occupied East Jerusalem from the rest of Palestine constitutes an immoral assault and a humanitarian tragedy that has inflicted great pain and suffering on the Palestinian people. For example, according to a 2012 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report, "the agricultural livelihoods of approximately 150 communities have been severely undermined" and Palestinians are forced to "obtain visitors permits or perform prior coordination" to access their areas.
The statement concluded, it is therefore incumbent upon the United Nations and all its members to take immediate action, to rectify Israeli's ongoing breach of international and humanitarian law and to end Israeli impunity once and for all. As stated in the ICJ Advisory Opinion, 'all States parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 have in addition the obligation, while respecting the United Nations Charter and international law, to ensure compliance by Israel with international humanitarian law as embodied in that Convention.' Now is the time to uphold the integrity of the global rule of law and to bring Israeli violations and the occupation of Palestine to an immediate end.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) is deeply concerned for the deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, especially in light of the closure of Rafah International Crossing Point, which has been the sole outlet for the movement of the population of the Gaza Strip to the outside world.
This situation reveals again the reality of the situation in the Gaza Strip under the policy of collective punishment and the closure of all border crossings by Israeli authorities for more than six years.
PCHR calls upon the Egyptian Government to reconsider the decision to close the crossing point in order to end the suffering of thousands of Palestinians who have been stuck in the Gaza Strip, Egypt, Cairo International Airport and other countries.
PCHR further calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to pressurize the Israeli authorities to reopen all border crossing, lift the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and stop the policy of collective punishment they practice against the civilian population.
The current situation in the Gaza Strip brings to mind the hardest early years of the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip when Israel had closed all crossings of the Gaza Strip since June 2007, which had led to deterioration of living conditions of the civilian population.
That dire situation had continued for three successive years, and it was relatively eased by the Egyptian decision to open Rafah International Crossing Point in June 2010 to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and to allow a limited number of people to move to and from the Gaza Strip.
This measure partially eased the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, entering basic needs into the Gaza Strip through tunnels established at the Palestinian-Egyptian border further eased the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip as Israeli authorities had banned the entry of goods.
Goods imported into the Gaza Strip through tunnels, especially foodstuffs, medicines, fuel, construction materials and cars, have spared the Gaza Strip the breakdown of all vital sectors.
In the latest development resulted from the internal Egyptian crisis and the deterioration of the security situation in North Sinai, the Egyptian authorities decided on 05 July 2013 to close Rafah International Crossing Point.
Before this closure, restrictions had been imposed on imports through tunnels. Such measures have proved that all Israeli claims concerning easing the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip are false.
According to PCHR’s observations, the Gaza Strip has suffered shortages in most basic goods, fuel and some construction materials. According to PCHR’s statistics, the goods allowed by Israel into the Gaza Strip do not meet the minimum of the Gaza Strip’s needs.
In June 2013, the Israeli authorities allowed 5,424 truckloads (181 truckloads daily) into the Gaza Strip. This number constitutes only 31.7% of the number of truckloads that had been allowed into the Gaza Strip daily before the closure was imposed, which was 570 truckloads daily.
PCHR has observed that most kinds of fuel have run out in the Gaza Strip. Cooking gas has run out in all gas stations in the Gaza Strip due to limited quantities allowed by the Israeli authorities into the Gaza Strip.
In June, 3,160 tons of cooking gas were allowed into the Gaza Strip (105.3 tons daily), which constitute 52.6% of the population’s actual daily needs, which is 200 tons.
It should be noted that cooking gas cylinders imported into the Gaza Strip through tunnels have partially met the population’s needs over the past years.
As a result of stopped supplies of diesel and benzene through tunnels, the quantities that were available in fuel stations have run out, so most fuel stations have been closed, excluding a few ones that have depended on fuel exported from Israel.
In June 2013, the Israeli authorities allowed 371,000 liters of diesel and 578,800 liters of benzene into the Gaza Strip.
These quantities are very limited in comparison with the Gaza Strip’s needs, which had amounted before the Israeli decision to reduce the quantities of fuel supplied to the Gaza Strip to about 350,000 liters of diesel and 120,000 liters of benzene daily.
Over the past two weeks, there has been a sharp increase in the prices of all construction materials, and some of them have disappeared from the markets as their supplies through tunnels have been stopped.
According to PCHR’s statistics, only 6,574 tons of cement and 504 tons of construction steel were entered into the Gaza, which constitute less than 0.8% and 0.9% respectively of the actual monthly needs.
Due to the continued ban imposed by Israel on imports of construction materials, the population of the Gaza Strip has depended for their construction projects over the past years on construction materials entered into the Gaza Strip from Egypt through tunnels.
As such supplies have been stopped, all construction projects, including housing ones, in the Gaza Strip are expected to be stopped.
As a result of the closure of Rafah International Crossing Point, which has been the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world as Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing has been closed for more than six years, 1.7 million Palestinians have been denied their right to freedom of movement to and from the Gaza Strip.
According to PCHR’s observations, hundreds of Palestinians, including dozens of patients, Palestinian families living in other countries and university students who study abroad, have been stuck in Egypt waiting to be allowed to travel back to the Gaza Strip.
This human tragedy is doubled by the continuous detention of dozens of Palestinians by the Egyptian authorities at Cairo International Airport in the so-called “trander room” waiting for the Rafah International Crossing Point to be reopened in order to be transferred to the Gaza Strip.
These Palestinians are held under inhuman conditions and there are concerns that they may catch infections.
Additionally, hundreds of Palestinians in various countries around the world have been denied traveling to Egypt on their way to the Gaza Strip, including more than 900 ones who had traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Omra (the lesser pilgrimage).
In the Gaza Strip, thousands of Palestinians, including hundreds of patients who need advanced medical treatment that is not available in the Gaza Strip and persons who work in other countries, have not been able to travel abroad.
In light of these recent developments, which unequivocally prove that the Israeli closure imposed on the Gaza Strip is still ongoing, PCHR:
• Calls upon the Egyptian Government to reopen Rafah International Crossing Point to end the suffering of thousands of Palestinians who have been stuck in the Gaza Strip, Egypt, Cairo International Airport and other countries.
• Calls upon the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, to remind Israel, as the occupying power in the Gaza Strip, of its obligation towards the civilian population under Article 55 of the Convention, which states: “To the fullest extent of the means available to it, the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population; it should, in particular, bring in the necessary foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate….”
• Calls upon the international community to pressurize the Israeli authorities to stop the policy of collective punishment against the population of the Gaza Strip and immediately open all border crossing to put an end to the serious deterioration of the humanitarian conditions of the civilian population.
• Calls upon the Israeli authorities to comply with the international humanitarian law, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention, including finding a prompt solution to ensure the freedom of movement of Palestinian civilians through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing regularly and safely, and to establish a clear system ensuring the freedom of movement of the population of the Gaza Strip and safe passage and flow of the population’s needs through commercial crossings.
This situation reveals again the reality of the situation in the Gaza Strip under the policy of collective punishment and the closure of all border crossings by Israeli authorities for more than six years.
PCHR calls upon the Egyptian Government to reconsider the decision to close the crossing point in order to end the suffering of thousands of Palestinians who have been stuck in the Gaza Strip, Egypt, Cairo International Airport and other countries.
PCHR further calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to pressurize the Israeli authorities to reopen all border crossing, lift the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and stop the policy of collective punishment they practice against the civilian population.
The current situation in the Gaza Strip brings to mind the hardest early years of the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip when Israel had closed all crossings of the Gaza Strip since June 2007, which had led to deterioration of living conditions of the civilian population.
That dire situation had continued for three successive years, and it was relatively eased by the Egyptian decision to open Rafah International Crossing Point in June 2010 to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and to allow a limited number of people to move to and from the Gaza Strip.
This measure partially eased the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, entering basic needs into the Gaza Strip through tunnels established at the Palestinian-Egyptian border further eased the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip as Israeli authorities had banned the entry of goods.
Goods imported into the Gaza Strip through tunnels, especially foodstuffs, medicines, fuel, construction materials and cars, have spared the Gaza Strip the breakdown of all vital sectors.
In the latest development resulted from the internal Egyptian crisis and the deterioration of the security situation in North Sinai, the Egyptian authorities decided on 05 July 2013 to close Rafah International Crossing Point.
Before this closure, restrictions had been imposed on imports through tunnels. Such measures have proved that all Israeli claims concerning easing the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip are false.
According to PCHR’s observations, the Gaza Strip has suffered shortages in most basic goods, fuel and some construction materials. According to PCHR’s statistics, the goods allowed by Israel into the Gaza Strip do not meet the minimum of the Gaza Strip’s needs.
In June 2013, the Israeli authorities allowed 5,424 truckloads (181 truckloads daily) into the Gaza Strip. This number constitutes only 31.7% of the number of truckloads that had been allowed into the Gaza Strip daily before the closure was imposed, which was 570 truckloads daily.
PCHR has observed that most kinds of fuel have run out in the Gaza Strip. Cooking gas has run out in all gas stations in the Gaza Strip due to limited quantities allowed by the Israeli authorities into the Gaza Strip.
In June, 3,160 tons of cooking gas were allowed into the Gaza Strip (105.3 tons daily), which constitute 52.6% of the population’s actual daily needs, which is 200 tons.
It should be noted that cooking gas cylinders imported into the Gaza Strip through tunnels have partially met the population’s needs over the past years.
As a result of stopped supplies of diesel and benzene through tunnels, the quantities that were available in fuel stations have run out, so most fuel stations have been closed, excluding a few ones that have depended on fuel exported from Israel.
In June 2013, the Israeli authorities allowed 371,000 liters of diesel and 578,800 liters of benzene into the Gaza Strip.
These quantities are very limited in comparison with the Gaza Strip’s needs, which had amounted before the Israeli decision to reduce the quantities of fuel supplied to the Gaza Strip to about 350,000 liters of diesel and 120,000 liters of benzene daily.
Over the past two weeks, there has been a sharp increase in the prices of all construction materials, and some of them have disappeared from the markets as their supplies through tunnels have been stopped.
According to PCHR’s statistics, only 6,574 tons of cement and 504 tons of construction steel were entered into the Gaza, which constitute less than 0.8% and 0.9% respectively of the actual monthly needs.
Due to the continued ban imposed by Israel on imports of construction materials, the population of the Gaza Strip has depended for their construction projects over the past years on construction materials entered into the Gaza Strip from Egypt through tunnels.
As such supplies have been stopped, all construction projects, including housing ones, in the Gaza Strip are expected to be stopped.
As a result of the closure of Rafah International Crossing Point, which has been the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world as Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing has been closed for more than six years, 1.7 million Palestinians have been denied their right to freedom of movement to and from the Gaza Strip.
According to PCHR’s observations, hundreds of Palestinians, including dozens of patients, Palestinian families living in other countries and university students who study abroad, have been stuck in Egypt waiting to be allowed to travel back to the Gaza Strip.
This human tragedy is doubled by the continuous detention of dozens of Palestinians by the Egyptian authorities at Cairo International Airport in the so-called “trander room” waiting for the Rafah International Crossing Point to be reopened in order to be transferred to the Gaza Strip.
These Palestinians are held under inhuman conditions and there are concerns that they may catch infections.
Additionally, hundreds of Palestinians in various countries around the world have been denied traveling to Egypt on their way to the Gaza Strip, including more than 900 ones who had traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Omra (the lesser pilgrimage).
In the Gaza Strip, thousands of Palestinians, including hundreds of patients who need advanced medical treatment that is not available in the Gaza Strip and persons who work in other countries, have not been able to travel abroad.
In light of these recent developments, which unequivocally prove that the Israeli closure imposed on the Gaza Strip is still ongoing, PCHR:
• Calls upon the Egyptian Government to reopen Rafah International Crossing Point to end the suffering of thousands of Palestinians who have been stuck in the Gaza Strip, Egypt, Cairo International Airport and other countries.
• Calls upon the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, to remind Israel, as the occupying power in the Gaza Strip, of its obligation towards the civilian population under Article 55 of the Convention, which states: “To the fullest extent of the means available to it, the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population; it should, in particular, bring in the necessary foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate….”
• Calls upon the international community to pressurize the Israeli authorities to stop the policy of collective punishment against the population of the Gaza Strip and immediately open all border crossing to put an end to the serious deterioration of the humanitarian conditions of the civilian population.
• Calls upon the Israeli authorities to comply with the international humanitarian law, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention, including finding a prompt solution to ensure the freedom of movement of Palestinian civilians through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing regularly and safely, and to establish a clear system ensuring the freedom of movement of the population of the Gaza Strip and safe passage and flow of the population’s needs through commercial crossings.
6 july 2013
The escalating restrictions imposed by Israel on access to land along Gaza’s perimeter fence and to fishing areas along Gaza’s coast undermine the security and livelihoods of Palestinians, the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territories stated in a recent report. According to the report, Israel has tightened its restrictions on the Gazans' access to the sea and to land located near the fence since September 2000 at the pretext of security concerns.
Up to 35 percent of Gaza’s agricultural land and as much as 85 percent of its fishing waters have been affected at various points, the report said.
The Palestinian access to farming land within 300 meters of the perimeter fence separating Gaza from the 1948 occupied lands is largely prohibited and risky.
Fishermen are currently allowed to access less than one third of the fishing areas allocated under the Oslo accords, about six out of the specified 20 nautical miles from the coast.
There are currently 3,500 registered fishermen in Gaza and 2,000 people work in fishing-related industries, the report noted.
The fish catch lost as a result of access restrictions between 2000 and 2012 is estimated at approximately 1,300 metric tonnes per year.
The report pointed out that these Israeli restrictions caused 95 percent of Gaza fishermen to receive regular international aid.
Prior to November 2012, access restrictions resulted in a loss of approximately 75,000 metric tonnes of agricultural produce, valued at 50.2 million dollars per year.
12 percent of the homes destroyed during operation Cast Lead in 2008/2009 was located in access restricted areas.
13 schools with 4,800 students and staff are located within 1,500 meters from the fence and have had class sessions disrupted due to Israel's enforcement of access restrictions.
Since June 2007, 214 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 127 civilians, and 825 injured, including at least 761 civilians, in the access restricted areas.
During the same period, five Palestinian fishermen were killed and 25 others were injured when the Israeli naval forces opened fire at them to enforce access restrictions.
Up to 35 percent of Gaza’s agricultural land and as much as 85 percent of its fishing waters have been affected at various points, the report said.
The Palestinian access to farming land within 300 meters of the perimeter fence separating Gaza from the 1948 occupied lands is largely prohibited and risky.
Fishermen are currently allowed to access less than one third of the fishing areas allocated under the Oslo accords, about six out of the specified 20 nautical miles from the coast.
There are currently 3,500 registered fishermen in Gaza and 2,000 people work in fishing-related industries, the report noted.
The fish catch lost as a result of access restrictions between 2000 and 2012 is estimated at approximately 1,300 metric tonnes per year.
The report pointed out that these Israeli restrictions caused 95 percent of Gaza fishermen to receive regular international aid.
Prior to November 2012, access restrictions resulted in a loss of approximately 75,000 metric tonnes of agricultural produce, valued at 50.2 million dollars per year.
12 percent of the homes destroyed during operation Cast Lead in 2008/2009 was located in access restricted areas.
13 schools with 4,800 students and staff are located within 1,500 meters from the fence and have had class sessions disrupted due to Israel's enforcement of access restrictions.
Since June 2007, 214 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 127 civilians, and 825 injured, including at least 761 civilians, in the access restricted areas.
During the same period, five Palestinian fishermen were killed and 25 others were injured when the Israeli naval forces opened fire at them to enforce access restrictions.
