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Israeli violations of international & humanitarian law (03 – 09 June 2010)

Israeli violations of international & humanitarian law (03 – 09 June 2010)
12-06-2010,08:53

During the reporting period, IOF killed 1 Palestinian civilian and 5 activists of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 2 civilians and 1 resistance activist in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF and 2 children were wounded by an Israeli settler. 4 journalists also sustained bruises when they were beaten by IOF.

In the Gaza Strip, on 07 June 2010, 1 Palestinian civilian and 5 activists of the Palestinian resistance were wounded by IOF in the sea off the coast of the al-Zahraa' beach, southwest of Gaza City. 

On the same day, an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a Palestinian resistance activist in the northern Gaza Strip, wounding him with shrapnel. Also on June 7th, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at workers who were collecting construction aggregate. 

In the West Bank, on 03 June 2010, 2 Palestinian children were wounded by an Israeli settler at the entrance of al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. 

During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall and settlement activities. At least 4 civilians, including a child, were wounded. 4 journalists sustained bruises and others suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 11 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 16 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children. They also arrested 6 human rights defenders, including 3 Israeli ones.  

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 1 limited incursion into Palestinian areas, during which they leveled previously razed areas of land. Israel had continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over two and a half years. The illegal Israeli-imposed siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  

  • On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently and to allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, citing security reasons. 
  • 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement and the right to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.
  • The principle concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain basic necessities: food, medicine, water and electricity supplies.
  • Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than 2 and a half years.
  • Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip since 10 December 2008, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.
  • The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened on only a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.
  • Israel had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.
  • Israel has imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. Israel has prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.
  • Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated as levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
  • At least 800 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than 2 and a half years. 
  • IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza Strip.

West Bank

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

  • IOF have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
  • There are approximately 630 permanent roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60 - 80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by IOF every week.
  • When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the Wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.
  • At least 65% of the main roads that lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF (47 out of 72 roads).
  • There are around 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF; these permits are extremely difficult to obtain.
  • IOF continue to harass and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall.
  • Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF. IOF have continued to take measures at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem

During the reporting period, IOF canceled the permanent residence in occupied Jerusalem of 4 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), from the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas, and expelled them from the city to the West Bank. The 4 PLC Members are: Mohammed Abu Tair; Ahmed 'Atwan; Mohammed Toutah; and Eng. Khaled Abu 'Arafa. All 4 became PLC Members following the January 2006 Palestinian legislative elections; they were arrested by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) following the capture of an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, in the Gaza Strip in 2006. 

The 4 PLC members were released after serving their prison sentences. The cancellation of their permanent residence was based on a decision by former Israeli Interior Minister, Ron Bar'oun, under allegations of "breaking loyalty to the state" and participating in the Palestinian legislative elections.

On 06 June 2010, IOF closed Wad Hilwa Street in Silwan village to the south of the old city of Jerusalem for vehicles. Israeli bulldozers conducted work on the road, which caused cracks and collapses. An Israeli plan for Silwan village includes the establishment of a network of tunnels under the village. 

On 03 June 2010, IOF stormed Beit Hanina Club, searching it without a judicial warrant. It should be noted that IOF had repeatedly attempted to close the Club, claiming that it hosted organizational meetings to plan activities sponsored by the Palestinian Authority. 

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