OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
P.O. Box 38712 East Jerusalem
Phone: (972) 2 – 5829962 / 5825853, Fax: (972) 2 – 5825841
ochaopt@un.org, www.ochaopt.org
Protection of Civilians – Weekly Briefing Notes
15 – 21 June 2005
Protection – Deaths and injuries . Shelter and Property – People displaced, House demolitions, Demolition orders . Natural Resources – Land levelling, Requisitions, Tree Uprooting . Restrictions on Medical Assistance – Incidents involving safety and movement of ambulances, medical teams, humanitarian organisations . Access and Movement for Civilians – Curfews, Access to education, Access to employment, Closures/Movement restrictions . Additional Protection Issues
Of note this week:
• The incidents of violence increased this week, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinians and two Israelis.
• A total of 37 homemade rockets, mortar shells and anti tanks missiles were fired from different locations in the Gaza Strip toward Israeli settlements and nearby Israeli towns, IDF installations and Karni (see section 6).
• On several occasions, Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian agricultural land. In two cases, a total of approximately 400 trees were destroyed (see section 3).
1. Physical Protection1
Selected Incidents:
• 17 June: One male Palestinian was injured when the IDF opened fire from the direction of Rafah passengers’ terminal at people gathered at the Palestinian area of the terminal.
• 17 June: A 70-year-old Palestinian woman from Al ‘Aza refugee camp died while trying to reach Al-Maqased hospital in East Jerusalem, near the Gilo checkpoint, north of Bethlehem. The woman, who had no permit to enter Jerusalem, fell sick and died of heart failure. Details about the nature of the incident have yet to be confirmed (This death has not been included in the total; statistics and further details will be updated as evidence merits).
• 16 to 21 June: Demonstrations against the Barrier were held throughout the week including in Bil’in, Ramallah; Marda village, Salfit; and Imneizil, south Hebron. In total 10 Palestinians, three internationals and two Israeli activists were reported injured.
• 18 June: One Palestinian militant was killed and one injured after they fired at the Israeli settlement Kfar Darom, the Gaza Strip, and IDF forces returned fire. In a separate incident, one IDF soldier was injured when two mortar shells were fired by Palestinian militants in the direction of Gadid settlement in Khan Younis.
• 18 June: A group of Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians living in the Al Mawassi area, the Gaza Strip. Three Palestinians were injured, one by a bullet.
• 19 June: Palestinian militants fired homemade anti-tank rockets from the direct of Rafah toward the Israeli base in Zurub area on the Philadelphi Corridor. One IDF solider was killed and two were injured. One of the Palestinian militants was killed when the IDF returned fire.
• 20 June: IDF troops shot at two Palestinian youths attempting to cross into Israel east of Al Buraij refugee camp. One of the Palestinians was killed and the other was injured.
• 20 June: Palestinian militants opened fire on an Israeli vehicle near Baqa ash Sharqiya village, Tulkarm. One Israeli settler from Hermesh settlement was shot dead and another settler was injured.
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1 Two Israelis were injured by the IDF during Barrier demonstrations.
2. Shelter and Property
• 15 June: A three-story building, containing eight apartments, on the Mount of Olives; and a two-storey building, containing two apartments in Ath Thuri, Jerusalem, were demolished on the grounds that they did not have building permits. The buildings were not inhabited.
• 18 June: Settlers from Kiryat Arba occupied a shoe factory along the “Prayers Road” of H2- Hebron and used it as a site of worship.
• 19 June: The IDF issued four demolition orders for lack of a building permit for homes, tents, barracks and animal pens in the Bedouin area of Um Al Kher-Al Faqir, in south Hebron. The demolition orders cover five structures hosting four families (33 persons) and some 250 sheep.
• 19 June: The IDF issued a stop-building order for lack of permit for a house (not inhabited) in Sikka village. Another order was issued for house hosting a family of eight persons in the village of Deir Al’Asal Al Fauqa, in Hebron Governorate.
• 21 June: Two tents belonging to two Bedouin families were destroyed by the IDF because they were in a military closed area, east of ‘Arab ar Rashayida village, Bethlehem.
3. Natural Resources
Land levelling/Requisitions/Tree Uprooting2
Nablus Governorate:
• 19 June: Settlers from Yits’har settlement destroyed infrastructure and construction material for a water spring that was being built and belongs to Madama village.
Jenin and Tubas Governorates:
• No incidents to report.
Tulkarm Governorate:
• 17 June: About 1,500 dunums (150 hectares) of agricultural land were burnt in the seam zone area. The land belongs to Palestinian farmers from ‘Akkaba and Qaffin villages. The cause of the fire is unknown.
• Ongoing incidents:
Qalqiliya Governorate:
• 15 June: Israeli settlers from Kdumim settlement set fire to agricultural land belonging to Palestinian farmers from Kafr Qaddum village. About 100 olive trees were destroyed.
• Ongoing incidents:
Salfit Governorate:
• 15 June: Israeli settlers from Ali Zahav settlement set fire to agricultural land belonging to Palestinian farmers from Kafr ad Dik village. About 300 olive trees were destroyed.
• Ongoing incidents:
Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:
• 15 June: Settlers from Ateret bulldozed a small amount of land near Umm Safa. When Palestinians from Umm Safa approached, a fight erupted between the Palestinian land owners and the Israeli settlers. The bulldozer was removed and the work has stopped since then.
• 19 June: The IDF handed over to the Palestinian DCL two military land requisition orders: Beitilu (No. T/70/5) confiscating 29.6 dunums (2.96 hectares), and in Al Mazra’a al Qibliya (No. T/87/05) confiscating 0.4 dunums (0.04 hectares).
• Ongoing incidents:
Hebron Governorate:
• 19 June: In Wadi Hussain area (H2), 15 olive trees were cut down and 15 plum trees were harvested in Palestinian agricultural land adjacent to the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba.
• 15 June: Barrier construction started between the Israeli settlement of Beit Yatir and the Palestinian village of Imneizil. Land levelling is taking place between Road 316 and the main entrance of the village and is likely to cut off the only access point to the village.
• Ongoing incidents:
Bethlehem Governorate:
• Ongoing incidents:
Jerusalem Governorate:
• Ongoing incidents:
Jericho Governorate:
• No incidents to report.
The Gaza Strip:
• No incidents to report.
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2 4 dunums = 1 acre; 10 dunums = 1 hectare
4. Access for Medical Assistance
West Bank:
The Gaza Strip:
• No incidents to report.
5. Access and Movement for Civilians
a) Curfew
• 20 June: The IDF imposed curfew on Baqa ash Sharqiya village, Tulkarm, for a day and a half after the killing of an Israeli settler on the road between the village and Khermesh settlement. The curfew affected the village of Nazlit ‘Isa since the only access road is through Baqa ash Sharqiya.
b) Access to Education
West Bank:
• 18 June: In the Old City of Hebron, 20 high school students (Tawjihi) from Tariq Bin Ziad School, were delayed by an IDF flying checkpoint for 40 minutes as they were travelling to take their final examines.
• 20 June: High school students in Baqa ash Sharqiya, Tulkarm, and teachers from other areas were delayed for 30 minutes on the day of general examination test (Tawjihi) due to curfew on the village.
The Gaza Strip:
• No incidents to report.
c) Access to Employment
West Bank: May 20053
The Gaza Strip:
As of 20 June, the total number of Gaza Strip workers permits was 6,511 including 2,473 with overnight stay; 835 permits were issued to Erez Industrial Zone workers. All workers must be 35 or older and married with children. Overnight stay permits are only issued for workers aged 40 and older.
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3 Number of permits will be updated as information becomes available.
d) Closures/Movement restrictions
Nablus Governorate:
• 15 to 17June: The IDF closed Za’atara (Tappuah) checkpoint for Palestinians residence of the northern West Bank travelling south.
• 19 June: The IDF closed Huwwara checkpoint for 50 minutes after a 15-year-old Palestinian boy was caught at the checkpoint carrying several bullets.
Jenin Governorate:
• No major incidents to report.
Tubas Governorate:
• 20 June: The IDF closed Tayasir checkpoint for Palestinians.
Tulkarm Governorate:
• 20 June: The IDF closed all dirt roads leading to Baqa ash Sharqiya and Qaffin villages with earth mounds and conducted an extensive search campaign after the killing of an Israeli settler in the area.
• Ongoing incidents:
Qalqiliya and Salfit Governorates:
• No major incidents to report.
Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:
• Significant changes on the closures have occurred in the Ramallah/Al Bireh Governorate during the reporting period.
• 18 June: The gate across the eastern road to Umm Safa was opened, but has not been removed. In Al Mughayyir, a new gate has been installed at the eastern entrance to the village.
Jerusalem Governorate:
• No major incidents to report.
Jericho Governorate:
• Ongoing incidents:
Hebron Governorate:
• No major incidents to report.
Bethlehem Governorate:
• Two earth mounds were removed near Dar Salah village enabling farmers to reach agricultural land. However, further access toward Jerusalem is currently restricted by Barrier construction in the area.
West Bank: Reported flying checkpoints
The Enclosed Areas in the Gaza Strip:
As-Seafa:
• Since 13 February 2005, the IDF has permitted Palestinians aged 30 and older residing in As-Seafa to pass in and out without any prior coordination; males and females aged between 16 and 30 are still required to have 48-hours prior coordination. The gate is open two times daily (irregularly) at 7.30am and 2pm. No vehicles are permitted to enter or exit. Coordination for international organisations to enter the area has been problematic. The IDF requires prior coordination in order to bring goods into the area; people are still facing difficulties getting their belongings into and/or out of the area, despite approved coordination.
• During the week, two to three persons each day were prevented from entering the area despite having proper documentation. Nine women are always denied access exiting the area despite prior coordination.
• Since 30 May, the IDF has not allowed full cooking gas bottles or empty ones into the area.
• 16 to 20 June: All women were denied access into the area and goods were not allowed out.
• 19 June: The gate was closed.
• 20 June: the gate opened for only once from 3pm to 5.30pm, very strict searches where in place.
Al-Mawassi:
• IDF restrictions remain, with the entry-exit gate at Al Tuffah checkpoint generally open twice daily for limited numbers of Al Mawassi ID holders – from approximately 8am to 1pm, and 2.30pm to 5pm. Males aged 16 to 25 years who are Al Mawassi ID holders are required prior coordination to pass though Al Tuffah checkpoint. Vehicles are not allowed to pass, with some exceptions given for international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF.
• Tel Es-Sultan checkpoint has remained closed since 14 January 2004.
• 15 to 18 June: Lengthy delays were reported; about 60 to 80 persons were allowed into Al Mawassi daily, while about 100 persons were allowed out.
Al-Ma’ani:
• Since 20 July 2002, the IDF has prevented all vehicular movement in and out of the Palestinian area adjacent to the Kfar Darom settlement. The IDF has also erected a fence around the area. The area remains a closed military zone, following a suicide attack on 27 February 2004.
• Movement is restricted by the IDF with the entry-exit gate generally open four times daily for Al Maa’ni ID holders only from 6.30am to 7.30am, 10.30am to 11.30am, 1pm to 2pm, and 4pm to 5pm. Access for international organisations into the area remains problematic.
Abu Nahiya:
• A fence was placed around the Abu Nahiya area, south of Kfar Darom settlement, in the corner of Kissufim Road and Salah Eddin Street. Approximately 16 families reside in the area. No vehicles are allowed in or out of the area. The fence is open 24 hours for residents.
Abu al-Ajin Area:
• Several Palestinian families live isolated and fenced in north and south of Kissufim Road in the Abu al-Ajin area. The families have their own keys to the gate in the fence; however, their movement is restricted to opening hours three to four times daily. The area is unreachable by vehicles.
6. Additional Protection Issues
• During the week, a total of 37 homemade rockets, mortar shells and anti tanks missiles were fired from different locations in the Gaza Strip toward Israeli settlements and nearby Israeli towns, IDF installations and Karni.
• Palestinian residents of Qira, Salfit, have suffered from lack of water for almost 20 days after the Israeli water company (Mekorot) stopped the water supply to the village.
• 15 June: Settlers threw stones at homes and damaged properties in the areas close to the settlements in the Old City of Hebron.
• 15 June: Trucks with semi–trailers evacuated 12 mobile homes used as a temporary housing for settlers in Netzarim settlement, the Gaza Strip.
• 20 June: A Palestinian woman with an explosive belt was arrested by the IDF at Erez crossing, the Gaza Strip. The belt was safely detonated by the IDF.
• 20 June: Israeli police arrested a Palestinian youth who attempted to stab an Israeli student in west Jerusalem.
• 21 June: An IAF plane fired two air-to-ground missiles toward targets in Beth Lahia and Beth Hanoun. No injuries or damages were reported.
Searches/Arrests/Detentions
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Subject: Economic issues, Incidents, Palestine question, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem
Publication Date: 21/06/2005