OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
P.O. Box 38712 East Jerusalem
Phone: (972) 2 – 5829962 / 5825853, Fax: (972) 2 – 5825841
Protection of Civilians – Weekly Briefing Notes
26 October – 1 November2005
• Violence continued to escalate this week resulting in a sharp increase in Palestinian and Israeli casualties; including a suicide bombing in Israel and IAF aerial strikes targeting Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
• For the last Friday Prayers in Ramadan, IDF and Israeli Border Police further increased movement restrictions into Jerusalem compared to previous Friday prayers during October.
• 26 October: A 19-year-old Palestinian from Qabatyia village, Jenin, conducted a suicide attack in Hadera city in Israel killing 5 Israelis and injuring approximately 30 others. The Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility for the attack.
• 26 October: Israeli settlers from Kiryat Arba’ severely beat one Palestinian man from Wad Al Huseen neighbourhood of the H2 area of Hebron city.
• 26 October: Three Palestinian boys (aged 10, 13, and 16 years old) were injured in the Palestinian town of Yatta, Hebron, after IDF soldiers during a search an arrest campaign responded to stone and bottle throwing by firing live bullets.
• 27 October: Israeli settlers from the outpost of Tel Rumeida, Hebron, injured 3 members of a Palestinian family (42 and 48-year-old parents and their 13-year-old daughter) in the H2 area of Hebron city.
• 27 October: Seven Palestinians, including 3 children aged 14 and 15 years old (2), were killed and another 19 bystanders wounded, including two seriously, in an IAF targeted missile strike on a vehicle in Jabalia camp, the Gaza Strip.
• 27 October: A Palestinian youth stoned an Israeli vehicle near Silwad village, Ramallah. One Israeli was injured.
• 28 October: One Palestinian militant was killed and another injured when the vehicle they were traveling in was targeted by IAF helicopter missiles in Beth Hanoun, the Gaza Strip.
• 30 October: A 30-year-old Palestinian man was shot and injured when the IDF opened fire in the direction of the evacuated northern settlement area in Al Seafa, the Gaza Strip.
• 30 October: Four Palestinian boys (aged 9, 13, 15, and 16 years old ) were injured by the IDF in the Palestinian town of Dura, Hebron. The confrontation took place when the IDF detained a group of local Palestinian residents. The IDF fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets toward a group of Palestinian stone throwers, injuring four of them.
• 30 October: Two Palestinian gunmen were killed (aged 22 and 29 years old) and another 8 Palestinians injured after an exchange of fire between the IDF and Palestinian gunmen when the IDF surrounded a house in Qabatyia village, Jenin.
• 30 October: A group of Israeli settlers from Elon Moreh, Nablus, injured a 73-year-old Palestinian shepherd from Beit Dajan village while he was grazing his sheep in fields east of the settlement.
• 1 November: Palestinians threw explosive devices at the IDF in Jenin city, Jenin, during a search and arrest campaign. One IDF soldier was injured. Two Palestinians were also injured during the clashes.
• 1 November: Two Palestinians were killed and five injured in an IAF targeted missile strike on a vehicle traveling in Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip.
• No incidents to report.
Other shelter/property related incidents:
• 27 October: A bridge in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip, was damaged by an IAF missile strike
• 28 October: The main electricity former was damaged north of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, when IAF fired two missiles into uninhabited areas.
• 28 October: A group of Israeli settlers from Kedumim settlement occupied an empty Palestinian house in Jit village, Qalqiliya, for several hours.
Land levelling/Requisitions/Tree Uprooting1
Nablus, Jenin and Tubas Governorates:
No incidents to report.
Ongoing incidents:
– Land levelling around Avnei Khefets and Enav settlements continues for the construction of a new fence around the settlements.
Ongoing incidents:
– The IDF continues levelling land near Immatin village and between ‘Azzun and Kafr Thulth for the construction of the Barrier.
Ongoing incidents:
– Israeli contractors continued levelling land north of Salfit city, Iskaka and Deir Istiya villages and south of Marda and Kifl Haris villages around Ari’el settlement and near Az Zawiya village for the construction of the Barrier.
Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:
27 October: The IDF handed out a land requisition order, T/70/05, for 180.5 dunums (18.5 hectares) from Beitillu village for military requirements in the area.
27 October: The IDF handed out a military order to a Palestinian farmer from ‘Abud requesting him to stop work and evacuate his 40 dunums (4 hectares) of land which islocated near Ofarim Settlement.
Ongoing incidents:
– Land levelling for construction of the Barrier continues between Budrus to the south of al Midya, and between Kharbatha Bani Harith, Bil’in and Saffa villages (all west Ramallah). Land levelling for Barrier construction also continues between Beituniya and Beit ‘Ur al Fauqa, between At Tira and Beit Duqqu, south of Beit Liqya and north and south of Rantis checkpoint.
26 October: In area adjacent to the western entrance of the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba, Israeli settlers erected tents over land belonging to Palestinian farmers from Wad Al Hussen area, H2 area Hebron city. The IDF evicted the settlers and demolished their temporary constructions. Later, settlers from Kiryat Arba settlement attacked Palestinians living in the area and threw stones and bottles toward their houses. One Palestinian was injured (reported in Section 1) and three houses were moderately damaged (windows broken etc).
Ongoing incidents:
– Land leveling for construction of the Barrier is ongoing along the southern section of the Green Line. The contractors are paving the security road running along the Barrier to the south of Shani settlement. In the western section the Barrier has reached Ar Ramadin, as well as along the western side of Idhna. Israeli contractors are also leveling land for a new terminal along the last section of Road No. 60 before crossing into Israel.
Ongoing incidents:
– Contractors for the construction of the Barrier fenced in the area around Khallet an Nu’man. The main road from Al Khas is open with high presence of the IDF in the area. The local community is facing problems in accessing the main internal road on wet days as the quality of the road has deteriorated during the construction of the Barrier.
– Land levelling and new housing construction continues in the settlements of Efrat and its two northern outposts (Givat Hatamar and Givat Hadagan), as well as northeast of Neve Daniel, and in Har Gilo and Betar Illit.
– Construction of the Barrier is ongoing in the last section of the Barrier around Rachel’s Tomb north of the building hosting the Al Waqf.
Ongoing incidents:
– The construction of the Barrier is ongoing all along the projected route in the Jerusalem governorate; exceptions to this are northeast of Al ‘Eizariyya
towards Ma’ale Adumim settlement and the Bir Nabala planned enclave.
No incidents to report.
26 October: The IDF informed the Palestinian DCO that eastern parts of Beit Hanoun had been declared a closed military zone.
Ongoing incidents:
– Construction continues on a concrete wall north of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia.
1 4 dunums = 1 acre; 10 dunums = 1 hectare
4. Restrictions on Medical Assistance:
• 23 October (previously not reported): A PRCS ambulance trying to transport an injured person at Beit Furik checkpoint, Nablus, to hospital was denied access to the patient and returned to the base.
• 25 October (previously not reported): A PRCS ambulance was delayed by the Israeli Border Police at Allenby bridge checkpoint for 30 minutes while on route to transport a patient from the Border Crossing to Jericho city.
• This week, 7 out of 112 Palestinian medical referrals were denied access at Erez crossing for treatment in Israel.
5. Access and Movement for Civilians:
• No incidents to report.
• 27-30 October: The IDF closed Beit Furik checkpoint for all persons except residents of Beit Dajan village. About 60 teachers from other villages were unable to reach schools in the area and schools were forced to close.
• 27 October-1 November: About 300 students from Beit Furik village were unable to attend schools and universities in Nablus city because of the closing Beit Furik checkpoint.
• 29 October: The IDF closed Khirbet Jubara Barrier gate prohibiting the school bus from collecting the students from Khirbet Jubara village west of the Barrier.
• 29 October: Teachers and students from Cordoba elementary school in H2 area of Hebron city were attacked by a group of Israeli settlers from the settlement of Beit Hadassah. The settlers threw stones and empty bottles towards the Palestinian students.
• 30 October: The Israeli military escort resumed for the Palestinian students who travel from Tuba to attend their classes in At Tuwani School, south Hebron. The escort had been suspended since the 16 October. The escort has been provided since 2004 to protect the students from attacks carried by Israeli settlers from the Ma’on settlement.
– Teachers coming from the Palestinian towns of Yatta and Samu’ are still facing problems in reaching Imneizil elementary school as IDF soldiers deny them
access at Beit Yatir checkpoint.
– Children attending the Al Ibrahimmiyye primary school in the H2 area of Hebron city who approach it from the south continue to have to pass through metal
detector gates set up by the IDF north of the Abu Rish Mosque.
This week, the IDF and Border Police continued to impose external closure on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; workers and traders with valid permits were not allowed to enter Israel. This closure has been in place since 24 September.
Special permits were issued for workers in the agricultural sector and large traders.
d) Closures/Movement restrictions
The external closure imposed on the oPt since 24 September is still in place. Permits previously issued are no longer valid and only in some limited humanitarian cases was access facilitated to Israel.
19-29 October: The IDF prohibited Palestinian private vehicles from crossing Za’atara checkpoint in both directions. Only public transportation and commercial trucks were allowed through.
29 October: The IDF prohibited any vehicle carrying agricultural produce from crossing Hamra checkpoint in both directions.
29 October: The IDF closed Road No. 57 near Badhan village for all Palestinians for several hours.
27 -30 October: The IDF closed Beit Furik checkpoint except for residents of Beit Dajan village.
31 October: The IDF prohibited male residents under 30 years old from using Beit Furik checkpoint.
1 November: The IDF prohibited Palestinians residents of Tulkarm and Qalqiliya cites from entering Nablus through the checkpoints around the city.
Ongoing incidents:
– Shave Shomeron checkpoint remains closed.
– All entrances connecting Sabastiya village with Road No. 60 remain blocked by earth mounds.
– Hamra checkpoint remains closed for all Palestinian non-residents of the Jordan Valley. Medical personal and teachers are allowed through.
Ongoing incidents:
– All entrances to Ya’bad village are closed by the IDF with road blocks and barbed wire. Only one alternative road towards Jenin city is open through Kufeirit village.
– Road No. 585 from Mevo Dotan settlement entrance to Khermesh settlement entrance is closed with two checkpoints.
– The metal gate at a road leading from Ya’bad town and the two checkpoints on Road No. 585 near Mevo Dotan and Khermesh settlements entrances are hindering Palestinian movements in the area. Palestinian are using dirt roads to reach there charcoal factorises and olive groves in the area
29 October: The IDF prohibited all vehicles carrying agricultural produce from crossing Tayasir checkpoint in both directions.
Ongoing incidents:
– Tayasir checkpoint remains closed for all Palestinians non residents of the Jordan valley. Medical personal and teachers are allowed through.
26 October: The IDF closed the tunnel under Road No. 557 near Kafriat checkpoint preventing all Palestinian movements for several hours.
29 October: The IDF closed a road connecting Bal’a with Al ‘Atara villages with earth mounds.
29 October: The IDF closed Khirbet Jubara Barrier gate for all Palestinians denying access for residents of Khirbet Jubara village west of the Barrier.
30 October: The IDF closed a road connecting Dihinnaba with Kafr Al Labad villages with earth mounds.
Ongoing incidents:
– The IDF continues to prevent Palestinians with Israeli IDs from entering Palestinian controlled areas unless they have relatives living in Tulkarm.
– The ‘Anabta gate remained closed for Palestinian vehicular movement.
– The IDF is still manning a checkpoint west of ‘Anabta village on the junction to Bizzariya village.
No major incidents to report.
Ongoing incidents:
– The IDF continued to close the entrance of Deir Istiya with an earth mound and closed the gate at the entrance of Kafr ad Dik.
Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:
26 October: The IDF removed the restriction on Palestinian movement on bypass Road No. 465 and 60 which was in place since 16 October. Palestinian vehicles were allowed to drive on both roads.
26 October: In the late afternoon, the IDF removed the earth mound that had been erected at the main entrance to Turmus’ayya on 19 October; Palestinian vehicles were allowed to drive on bypass Road No. 60 in this area.
26 – 28 October: The IDF closed An Nabi Salih gate. Palestinians from Bani Zeid village cluster were forced to use a long alternative road via ‘Abud to avoid the gate. The gate was reopened on 29 October.
28 October: At around 9 am, a few thousand Palestinians from all West Bank governorates were stranded at Qalandiya check point after being prohibited from entering Jerusalem to attend the last Friday prayers in the Al Aqsa mosque during Ramadan. Palestinians above 45 years old were allowed entrance to Jerusalem after 10am.
Ongoing incidents:
– Temporary vehicular and pedestrian arrangements are now in place at Qalandiya checkpoint while construction of the new checkpoint continues. The main road through the old checkpoint is now closed. Traffic is being rerouted to a new road to the east that joins the main road between Qalandiya and Jaba'. A temporary fenced walkway is in place for pedestrians.
Hebron and Bethlehem Governorates:
Movement restrictions remain in place for private Palestinian vehicles on Road No. 60; only Palestinian taxis and buses were allowed to move between Zif junction (Road No. 317) and Al Khadr (Road No. 60, in Bethlehem). Entrance into Bethlehem is possible through the Beit Jala DCO checkpoint.
Hebron
26 October: The IDF relaxed the closures around Yatta and As Samu’ towns by opening Al Fawwar junction for Palestinian public transport. The gates and road blocks were opened both from Dura and Al Fawwar entrances. The IDF has set up road blocks and checkpoints on the junction monitoring movement in all directions.
26 October: The IDF reopened the Adh Dhahiriya junction from Road No. 60. No public Palestinian transportation is travelling to the south of that junction.
31 October: The IDF re-opened Halhul-Sa’ir junction for Palestinian public transport. Taxis and buses were allowed to access Road No. 60. Private and commercial vehicles with valid permits were also allowed to travel along Road No. 60. The checkpoint which was erected two weeks ago remains manned by IDF soldiers.
31 October: The IDF reopened the gates at the Idhna – Tarqumiya junction (across Road No. 35).
31 October: The Israeli Border Police denied the access of Palestinian vehicles travelling from Al Karmil to At Tuwani by crossing Road No. 317.
Ongoing incidents:
– The IDF continue to close Zif gate from Road No. 317.
– The IDF continued to close with earthmounds Yatta gate from Road No. 60.
– In the village of Imneizil the construction of the Barrier continues to close the main road which leads to the village forcing residents to use a difficult and insecure road to enter the village from the nearby bypass road.
Bethlehem
28 October: The IDF restricted Palestinian movement to Jerusalem including Palestinians with valid Jerusalem permits preventing access to the Al Aqsa Mosque for last Friday Prayers during Ramadan. Limited humanitarian cases were the exception. The IDF and Border Police erected a flying checkpoint on the main roads from the southern West Bank to control the flux of people toward Jerusalem. People coming from Hebron were denied access at the Etzion checkpoint between 6:30 – 11:30 am. An Israeli Border Police flying checkpoint was also deployed along Wadi Nar preventing all movement (vehicle and pedestrian) towards the north, except for residents of Abu Dis and nearby villages.
1 November: The IDF reopened the Beit Jala DCO checkpoint for all vehicles in both directions. The checkpoint is open from 6am to 10 pm.
26 October- 1 November: The tight closure at checkpoints around Jerusalem was of note during the reporting period and numerous flying check points were visible throughout East Jerusalem. All Palestinian males with West Bank IDs aged between 16 to 45 years old were not granted access into Jerusalem even with an Israeli permit.
28 October: During the morning, the IDF closed all the checkpoints around Jerusalem and prevented access of West Bank Palestinians to attend Ramadan last Friday prayers. Palestinian crowded near Ar Ram and Anata checkpoints and the IDF fired tear gas canisters at them; no serious injuries were reported. At around 10am, the IDF allowed Palestinians above 45 years old to access the checkpoints to Jerusalem.
28 October: The IDF closed the road leading from Qalandiya checkpoint to Atarot checkpoint. Barrier construction is taking place in the area with the aim to continue the section of the Barrier near Qalandiya and Al Ram area for the new arrangements at Qalandiya checkpoint.
Ongoing incidents:
– Palestinian West Bank residents from areas outside of the Jericho Governorate are denied access at Yitav checkpoint near Road No. 449, north of Jericho. Jericho residents can cross the checkpoint from south to north to go to Al Auja. Travel on Road No. 90 north of Al Auja is not allowed unless Palestinians have a special permit from the IDF. Residents from approximately five Palestinian villages in the north of Jericho District are allowed to travel on Road No. 90 north of Yitav checkpoint without a permit.
• 26 October: The IDF denied the access of international volunteers and Palestinian farmers from the Palestinian village of Karma from reaching their olive trees in area adjacent to the Israeli settlement of Otni’el, Hebron.
• 29 October: Israeli settlers from Susya settlement, Hebron, denied the access of Palestinian farmers to their olive trees. The settlers entered the Palestinian olive groves and harvested around 40 trees. IDF and Israeli police arrived to the area and detained three of the settlers.
• 29 October: IDF closed all Barrier gates in Qalqiliya governorate for all Palestinians. Farmers were unable to reach there fields and olive groves west of the Barrier.
• 31 October: IDF closed Mas-Ha Barrier gate in Salfit governorate for all Palestinians. Farmers were unable to reach there fields and olive groves west of the Barrier.
7. Additional Protection Issues:
• 25 October – 1 November: Palestinian militants fired 54 home made rockets and 2 mortar shells from the Northern Gaza Strip towards the southern Israeli town of Sderot. IAF aircrafts fired 29 missiles into open areas east of Beit Hanoun and IDF ground forces stationed at the Green Line fired artillery shells 45 times at various locations east of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia and eastern Khan Younis.
• 25 October – 1 November: IAF F16s produced some 25 sonic booms by flying at a low altitude and breaking the sound barrier across the Gaza Strip.
• 26 and 29 October: Settlers from the Israeli settlement of Beit Hadassah, Hebron, threw stones and empty bottlers toward the houses of the Palestinians living along Shohada street, H2 area of Hebron city.
• 28 October: Palestinian and international protesters held a demonstration against the Barrier construction in Bil’in, Ramallah. The protesters stoned IDF jeeps and soldiers responded by firing rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. At least 13 people were affected by the gas inhalation.
• 30 October: The IDF destroyed 50 metres of the main water pipe which supplies water for the Palestinian town of Idhna, Hebron. The destruction took place when the IDF bulldozers reinforced the closure near the entrance of the town from Road No. 35.
• 1 November: The prisoners’ family visits to Israeli prisons in West Bank resumed being suspended since 24 September 2005.
