P.O. Box 38712 East Jerusalem
Phone: (972) 2 – 5829962 / 5825853, Fax: (972) 2 – 5825841
OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes
Update for oPt (07 – 13 January 2004)
INSIDEINSIDE: Military operation in Tulkarm Refugee Camp — Casualties — Incidents involving ambulances — Curfew — House demolition — Land levelling/confiscation — Checkpoints/roadblocks/Separation Wall/restrictions on movement — Access to Schools — Labour movement to Israel — Other incidents
1. Military operation in Tulkarm Refugee Camp
12-13 January: At around 11:00 on 12 January, the IDF launched an extensive search and arrest campaign in Tulkarm refugee camp (with approximately 35 tanks). During the entire operation, the refugee camp was placed under strict curfew. Immediately after the incursion, the IDF ordered people to gather in the UNRWA compound, erected observation points on top of houses and established physical barriers around the camp. Around 500 people were gathered in the UNRWA compound until 18:00 where after approximately 50 people were transferred to the UNRWA health clinic until 09:30 the following day. Some 200 people were reported arrested. The majority were reported released after interrogation at the DCL office in Tulkarm. Between 12 and 20 persons are still detained to date.
Clashes between the IDF and the local residents have taken place regularly throughout the military operation.
Three houses were reported destroyed on 12 January by fire as a result of sound bombs. On 13 January around 13:00, another house was set on fire caused by another sound bomb. The IDF denied the fire department access to the camp, and instead ordered the fire truck to use its water cylinders against the refugees to disperse to crowd. All firemen have had their ID cards confiscated and one fireman has been detained by the IDF. The fire was extinguished by the heavy rain.
Palestinians: 7 deaths, 29 injured
Israelis: 1 death, 3 injured
3. Incidents involving ambulances and medical teams
Denial of access: 1 incident
Delay (up to 140 min.): 4 incidents
Abuse/Attack on medical crew: 2 incidents
Detention of medical crew: 1 incident
Damage to ambulance: 1 incident (settlers threw stones at ambulance)
Curfews were reported in the following locations: al Khadr, Rafidiya, and al Quds Street in Nablus, Jenin city and
Jenin Refugee Camp, ‘Anza, al ‘Ezarriya and Abu Dis (1 day)
5. House demolitions/Demolition Orders
6. Land levelling/confiscation
• The levelling and uprooting of olive trees in Faroun village south of Tulkarm city has been completed. Between 80 and120 olive trees covering an area of some 100 dunums (24.71 acres) of land have been uprooted. The villagers of Faroun have been informed by the contractors that the land has been levelled for the building of building a civil administration compound.
• 12 January: IDF bulldozed land near Kharsina settlement, Hebron, which local residents believe it will be part of the Wall.
• 12 January: The IDF has started to level land on the hill in front of the Jordanian cemetery, where the Wall path turns north towards Abu Dis. Local residents believe that this area is likely to become a new base for the Border Police.
• 13 January: Land levelling, which started on 21 December, continues around Gilo checkpoint for what is believed to be both a section of the Wall as well as an area destined to commercial back – to back.
7. Checkpoints/roadblocks/Separation Wall/restrictions on movement
– Tulkarm/Qalqiliya governorates:
• The past week continued to see a relative relaxation in the movement with no major restrictions imposed on the local population in both Tulkarm and Qalqilya districts. All checkpoints have been operational and in general only few military operations took place.
• Ongoing construction of the wall between Zeita and Qaffin through Nazlat Isa and almost completed pending the construction of an entrance between Nazlat Isa East and West and some minor foundation work.
• In Masha in Salfit district, the construction of the wall has been suspended for approximately a month now. The current construction stretches some 500 m south of Masha towards the village of As Sawiya.
• On 13 January, the IDF bulldozers began construction of the tunnel between Habla and Qalqilya. The tunnel will be 734 m long approximately 20 m wide. As earlier reported, the IDF confiscated 367 dunums of land for that purpose. On this occasion, the IDF today closed road 55 prohibiting all movement around the construction area
• The following agricultural gates have been reported closed during the week; Qalqilya south, Zeita south, Attil, Salman, Isla, Jayyous south and Izbat Jalud. These gates remain the same as reported closed previously. The opening hours of the other agricultural gates remain the same as previously reported.
• As previously reported, the number of Arab-Israelis now travelling to Tulkarm for shopping purposes has decreased significantly over the past month following the newly introduced movement restriction placed on Israeli citizens. Due to the incompletion of the wall in Nazlat Isa, Arab-Israelis have been able to access Tulkarm relatively easy through Baqa Ash Sharqiya gate. However, the enforced requirement to obtain special permits to enter Tulkarm has over the past week now also proven its effect at Baqa Ash Sharqiya gate, and according to PDCL, this has caused a further drop to an average of 5-10 per day against 50-60 people per day a couple of weeks ago.
• 10 January: Two young boys (age 12 and 13) from the village of Jayyous in Qalqilya district were denied access through the northern gate without any reasons as they were trying to bring their sheep to the meadows on the other side of the wall. Both had valid permission to cross the gate. Both youths were threatened at point gun.
– Nablus/Jenin/Tubas governorates:
• The majority of check points in the Governorate of Nablus have been closed for Palestinians since 27 December. Since 09 January, Palestinians over 35 years old were allowed to cross the checkpoints, but with significant delays.
• 08 January: A flying check point was erected in the western part of Nablus, between Zawata and Beit Iba.
• 09 January: IDF started digging a trench between the hills north of Bardala Village to the edges of the Jordan River. The village council claims the digging is a part of the Wall.
• 11 January: At noon the IDF closed Zaatara / Tappuah check point for all Palestinians. A peaceful demonstration by Palestinians took place at the check point.
• Flying checkpoints were erected at the junction between Qabatiya, Jenin and Birqin all week.
• The majority of check points in the Governorate of Nablus were closed for Palestinians since 27 December.
• Flying check points were erected at the junction between Qabatiya, Jenin and Birqin.
– Ramallah/al-Bireh/Beituniya governorates:
• 10 January: A checkpoint was established at the entrances of Silwad and Yabrud for few hours and soldiers inspected Palestinian cars and IDs.
• 10 January: IDF Closed Abud dirt road by establishing a checkpoint, claiming that the Israeli water network station in that area was attacked by Palestinians.
• 11 January: A checkpoint was established in Surda in the morning hours, as two jeeps were blocking the road between Ramallah and Surda. Vehicles were allowed to go from Ramallah to Surda but not visa versa 24 hours.
• 13 January: A checkpoint at An Nabi Saleh gate was inspecting Palestinian cars entering and exiting Bani Zeid villages.
Jerusalem/Jericho governorates:
• 12 January: Israeli Border police imposed curfew in Abu Dis and AL Eizariya in the morning until afternoon and ordered shops to shut down in order to provide “security” for the construction of the Wall. The 2-meter concrete blocks which were installed earlier, were dismantled and are being replaced by 9-meter concrete blocks. The number of people in this area is about 35,000, whom will be completely blocked without access to East Jerusalem for daily life services as health, education and employment and have to depend on Bethlehem as an urban city which is about 18-20 Km far to the south, where they have to cross the container checkpoint.
• Ongoing construction of the Wall in different sections in Khallet a Nu’man and north near Har Hommah , Ash Sheikh Sa’ad.and Sour Baher
• The construction of the Wall in as Sawahriya ash Sharqiya, Abu Dis and Eizariya east of the Mount of Olives near Beit Fagi monastery is rapidly progressing in terms of installing a 9-meter concrete blocks to close the remaining section of the passage from Eizariyah to Mount of Olives.
• Wall Construction also started opposite az Zayem Checkpoint levelling the land down to the east in the valley to be completed to Maaly Adoumim.
Bethlehem/Hebron governorates:
• 10 January: the IDF placed an earth mound at the turn for Tarqoumia, Hebron, on route 35, consolidating it on 13 January following the attempts by local residents to remove it.
• 11 January: Border Police dug three ditches on the road connecting the village of Al-Walaja to the monastery of Cremisan and further on to Beit Jala. Residents are obliged to walk approximately 500 metres between the ditches to reach transportation to Bethlehem.
• 11 January: IDF blocked the internal roads with earth mounds in Idhna, Hebron.
• 12 January: the IDF placed an earth mound on the road leading to the north pumping station in Beit Sahour preventing access for regular and needed maintenance work.
• 12 January: Border Police arrested two field workers from a local NGO found taking pictures of the contractors working on the Wall in the area of An Nau’man. The two were released later in the day following intervention of the Israeli DCL prompted by the protest of European Commission representatives. Work on the Wall continues at great speed. However, activities on a stretch of 400 meters frozen due to a pending case in the Supreme Court hearing. Since December 2003, over 600 olive trees on the course of the bypass road have been uprooted and taken away by the IDF.
• 13 January: The total number of valid permits for buses of the Hebron National Bus company is 32, of which 24 for public transport between Hebron and Bethlehem and 8 for movement between Hebron and Jericho.
• The trip from Hebron to Bethlehem by bus on road 60 takes now about 15 minutes, no searches or delays are experienced this week at Gush Etzion CP.
• Palestinians are still able to travel with their own private vehicles from Yatta to Bethlehem without a permit.
Gaza crossings/checkpoints
• 6 January: IDF has erected a 200- meter barbed wire across the 2 sides of Kissufim road. IDF forced a Palestinian family to evacuate the house since it’s lined on the new security zone.
• Al Seafa: remains restricted by the IDF with the entry-exit gate opening twice daily for Al Seafa ID holders from 07.00 to 09.00 and 14.30 to 17.00. Motor vehicles are not allowed to enter since November 2000, with the exception of international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF.
• Al Mawasi: Al Mawasi. IDF imposed restrictions remain, with no passage possible for male Al Mawasi ID holders aged 15-23 without prior coordination. Youths aged below 15 must be accompanied by a guardian. Motor vehicles are not allowed to enter, with the exception of international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF.
8. Labour movement to Israel
• A total of 100 trader permits were issued this week for Tulkarm and 250 for Qalqilya.
• In Hebron, 19 new workers’ permits were issued this week for a total number of 72valid ones; around 570 permits were issued for traders. In Bethlehem district no workers’ permits were released while another 39 traders’ permits were issued this week.
• Three new West Bank bypass road permits were issued to private vehicles by the Hebron DCL. The total valid now is 53.
• A limited number of trade permits was issued. According to the Palestinian DCL report; only 40 trade permits out of 290 applications handled by the Palestinian DCL were approved by the Israeli authorities.
• Permits to enter Israel have now been issued to 14,364 Palestinian agricultural and construction workers and 1,602 merchants.
• According to the IDF, 15,000 Permits was granted for the Gaza strip workers and additional 4,000 Permits were granted for traders.
Nablus/Jenin/Tubas governorates
• Nightly incursions and arrests continued almost on a daily basis. Although the large military operations inside the old city, in the city center of Nablus and in the Balata camp – have been ongoing in increased force since 15 December 2003 – seemed less intensive, the situation remained tense.
• 07 January: IDF entered the Ras al Ain district in Nablus with seven armoured vehicles at 0400 surrounding the Al Qassas Building, forcing residents to leave the building. IDF entered the building shooting inside, and arrested seven Palestinians at 06:00. Two Palestinians one from Deir Sharaf and the other from Nablus city were found shot dead, both totally riddled with bullets having penetrated every part of their bodies and fired on at a very close range.
• 08 January: A special Israeli unit wearing civilian clothes driving a Palestinian plated car shot Asaad Salih Khalilieh (31) when he was driving his car into the southern entrance of Jenin. Khalilieh died immediately after several bullets went through his body.
• 11 January: A Palestinian from Nablus blew up as his explosive belt exploded in Jinsafout, Qalqiliya (he was the brother of a Palestinian who was killed by IDF during clashes on 31 January.
• Arrests and incursions continued in the governorate, although the week was calmer than previous weeks.
• 11 January: IDF announced a curfew on the village of ‘Anza south of Jenin. This action took place after several bullets hit a settler vehicle on the main road near the village. No injuries were reported.
• 12 January: An IDF bulldozer carved up the road leading to ‘Anza village. The village water network was also destroyed.
Ramallah/Al-Bireh/Beituniya governorates:
• Search and arrest campaigns took place during the week in the Ramallah governorate.
• 09 January: A peaceful demonstration was organized by Budrus village residents against the construction of the Wall, few internationals (whose staying in the village) participated in the demonstration. No retaliation by the IDF.
Hebron/Bethlehem governorates:
• 8 January: Settlers from Kharsina settlement at night destroyed about five dunums of agricultural land owned by Palestinians near the settlement by cutting the wire nets and vine arches
• 11 January: Settlers attacked the houses of the residents in Wadi An-Nasara, Hebron city, damaging the windows.
• 11 January: The IDF damaged the connections for water, telephone and electricity in Idhna, Hebron.
• 11 January: Incursion in An-Nu’man by the IDF specifically targeting the house of the village leader, actively involved in contesting the route of the Wall in the area.
• During the last week: 25 mortars, 15 homes made rockets and 7 anti tanks missile have been fired towards the Israeli settlements and northern towns of, Negev, Sederot, Neve Dekalim, Dugit, Netzarim, and Gadid. No injuries were reported.
• 13 January: Israeli authorities provided the Palestinian Ministry of Civil Affairs a list of 386 pilgrims from the Gaza, stating that the names appeared will be not be allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia through Rafah Terminal on the grounds of security reasons.
(Source: OCHA field units, UNRWA, UNSCO, PRCS, MoH, UHHC, Governors’ office, Israeli MoFA & IDF web sites, Al Mizan, PCHR)
