OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes – OPT (31 August – 6 September 2005) – OCHA report

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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

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Protection of Civilians – Weekly Briefing Notes

26 August  – 6 September 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 school year started on 3 September. Palestinian children and teachers in the Hebron area are subject to delays; and attacks from Israeli settlers on their way to and from schools (see Sections 1 and 5).

1. Physical Protection

Casualty Incidents Include:

• 31 August: Confrontations between the IDF and local Palestinians took place in Bal’a village, Tulkarm. The IDF fired live ammunition injuring one Palestinian.

• 1 September: An 11-year-old Palestinian boy was critically injured when he was hit by an IDF jeep in Al Mawassi west of Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip.

• 2 September: There was a demonstration against Barrier construction in Bil’in, Ramallah, after which the IDF entered the village and fired tear gas and stun grenades at a building. Clashes broke out between the IDF and Palestinians. Nine Palestinians and three journalists, including one French and two Palestinian reporters, were injured.

• 2 September: Two Palestinian men were injured when the IDF opened fire in their direction near the Israeli evacuated settlement area of Netzer Hazani, the Gaza Strip.

• 3 September: An exchange of fire took place between the IDF and Palestinian militants following an IDF search campaign in Askar refugee camp, Nablus. One Israeli soldier was injured.

• 3 September: A 12-year-old Palestinian girl from Cordoba elementary school was injured when a group of Israeli settlers attacked her near the school in the Old City of Hebron.

• 6 September: One Palestinian man was killed and three were injured when the IDF opened fire in their direction near the evacuated Israeli settlement area of Neve Dekalim, the Gaza Strip.

• 6 September: An IDF soldier was injured when a hand grenade was thrown over the fence line on the Rafah border, the Gaza Strip.

2. Shelter and Property

Incidents:

• 4 September: The IDF handed seven demolition orders for seven inhabited houses in the area of Jabal Jawhar H2, Hebron city. The houses are shelter for eight families with a total of 46 people of which 25 are minors. The structures received demolition orders for being built without permits in Area C.

• 6 September: The IDF demolished one building material shop in ‘Attil village, Tulkarm.

Other shelter/property related incidents

• 31 August: The IDF occupied three houses in Bizzariya village, Nablus, during the night and used the houses as observation posts. The IDF left in the morning

• 5 September to date: The IDF occupied one uninhabited house in Bizzariya village.

3. Natural Resources

Land levelling/Requisitions/Tree Uprooting¹

Nablus Governorate:

• 20 August: (Not reported previously). The IDF handed over requisition order T/146/05 to the residents of Qaryut village; 1.35 dunums (0.135 hectares) are confiscated until 31 December 2007. The purpose of the orders is for the building a military post (observation tower) near the village.

• 31 August: The IDF handed requisition order T/144/05 to the residents of ‘Azmut and Deir Al Hatab villages; 608 dunums (60.8 hectares) are confiscated.

• 6 September: The IDF started to level 2.9 dunums (0.29 hectares) of land west of Sarra village to establish a military post.

Jenin and Tubas Governorates:

• No incidents to report.

Tulkarm Governorate:

• 31 August: IDF issued order T/91/05 requisitioning 1.8 dunums (0.18 hectares) of land and started land levelling in Far’un village to upgrade an agricultural road.

• Ongoing incidents:

– Land levelling and construction of a tunnel, by Israeli contractors, continue on Road 57 near Kafriat checkpoint to connect Tulkarm city with the villages to the south.

– Land levelling around Avnei Khefets settlement continues for the construction of a new fence around the settlement.

Qalqiliya Governorate:

• Ongoing incidents:

– The IDF continued levelling land near Immatin village, Qalqiliya, for Barrier construction.

– The IDF continued levelling land north east of Jayyus village to construct a new road that connects Jayyus with Falamya Barrier gate.

Salfit Governorate:

• 31 August: The IDF resumed land levelling near Deir Ballut checkpoint, Salfit, for the expansion of the checkpoint which started on 15 August.

• Ongoing incidents:

– Israeli contractors continued levelling land north of Salfit city, south of Marda village around Ari’el settlement and near Az Zawiya village for Barrier construction.

Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:

• Ongoing incidents:

– Land levelling for Barrier construction 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 and south of Beit Liqya and north and south of Rantis checkpoint. Fencing (“road protection”) is also being erected at several locations along bypass Road 443.

Hebron Governorate:

• 31 August to date: Following the 28 August suicide bombing in the Israeli city of Beer Sheva’, the IDF has accelerated work on the Barrier installing the final layer of posts, fences and electrical cameras westward of the Palestinian villages of Sikka, Beit ‘Awwa, Al Majd and Deir al ‘Asal at Tahta, Hebron Governorate.

• Ongoing incidents:

– Land levelling for Barrier construction is ongoing along the southern section of the Green Line, east of Shani settlement and on the western side of Idhna.

Bethlehem Governorate:

• 1 September: The IDF issued requisition orders T/154/05 and T/155/05 which combined cover 43 dunums (4.3 hectares) of agricultural land belonging to Palestinian farmers from Khallet an Nu’man village and Beit Sahur town, Bethlehem Governorate. The land will be used to build a crossing point including a commercial terminal between the West Bank and Jerusalem.

• Ongoing incidents:

– Construction of the Barrier is ongoing in Khallet an Nu’man. Construction on Za’tara bypass road reached the Israeli settlement of Tko’a from the south and Khallet an Nu’man from the north.

– Land levelling and housing construction continues in the settlements of northern Efrat, western Neve Daniel, Giv’at Ha Tamar, El’azara, Har Gilo and Betar Illit B.

Jerusalem Governorate:

• Ongoing incidents:

– The IDF continued levelling land between Har Adar settlement and Beit Surik. Levelling also continues in the area between Qatanna and Kharayib Umm al Lahim villages, between Beit Ijza and Biddu and between Biddu and Beit Iksa villages.

– Construction of the Barrier continued along Road 60 between Qalandiya and Ar-Ram checkpoints. Land levelling to construct a new checkpoint/terminal located south of the current checkpoint is ongoing.

– Construction and land levelling continued east and west of Qalandiya checkpoint for construction of DCL offices, a parking lot and a road.

– Land levelling and construction of the Barrier continued alongside the road between Jaba’, Hizma and Anata.

– Land levelling is ongoing near the Coptic housing project and in Wadi Ayyad near Neve Yaakov settlement, as well as on the northern side of ‘Anata town.

– Barrier construction is ongoing on the eastern and southern sides of the village and in Sheikh Sa’d.

Jericho Governorate:

• No incidents to report.

The Gaza Strip:

• No incidents to report.

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¹ 4 dunums = 1 acre; 10 dunums = 1 hectare

4. Access for Medical Assistance

West Bank:

• 4 September: A PCRS Ambulance was denied access at two separate checkpoints near Jenin, Barta’a and Umm ar Rihan.

5. Access and Movement for Civilians

a) Curfew

• No incidents to report.

b) Access to Education

The new school year started on 3 September.

Qalqiliya:

• 3 September to date: School teachers experienced delays when crossing ‘Azzun ‘Atma gate due to the long lines of residents going to work in the morning.

Hebron:

• 31 August: Palestinian teachers from Cordoba elementary school in the Old City of Hebron were attacked by a group of Israeli settlers on their way back home from school. The settlers (four adults and three teenagers) threw stones and garbage toward the teachers and a group of international activists. A complaint was filed at the Israeli police station in Kiryat Arba.

• 1 September to date: With the beginning of the new school year, IDF escorts for students walking from Tuba to their school in At Tuwani, south Hebron Governorate, have resumed. The escorts are needed to protect the students from potential attacks carried out by Israelis from the Ma’on settlement.

• 1 September to date: The Palestinian communities of Susya, Qawawis, and Mantiqat Shi'b al Batin in south Hebron have leased a tractor and trailer to transport their children to school in At Tuwani. The trip is, however, longer because secondary dirt roads are used to avoid encountering Israeli settlers along Road 317.

• 3 September: Teachers and students from Cordoba elementary school were attacked by the same group of settlers who harassed the teachers two days earlier. The settlers threw stones and empty bottles towards the Palestinian students injuring a 13-year-old girl (This incident is also noted in Section 1).

• 3 September to date: Since the first day of school, children attending the Al Ibrahimmiyye primary school in the Old City of Hebron coming from the south have had to pass through the new metal detector gates set up by the IDF north of the Abu Rish Mosque. The only access route from the south (See Section 5 D).

Gaza Strip:

Students in the Palestinian enclaves in the Gaza Strip have not been able to reach their schools,

with some few exceptions:

• Al Mawassi: Seventy university students are not allowed out.

• As Seafa: Seventeen students were allowed out on 3 September. Six of them were however not allowed to return as they are over 16 years old.

• Al Ma’ani: Forty-nine students are not allowed out.

• South Kissufim: Sixteen students are not allowed out.

• North Kissufim: Eight students are not allowed out.

• Abu Nahia: Forty-four students are not allowed out.

c) Access to Employment

West Bank: On 1 September, Palestinian traders were allowed to enter Israel for the first time since a general closure was imposed on 12 July 2005. Only a limited number of Palestinian workers with permits are allowed entry to Israel. Fifty-six permits were issued for Palestinians workers from Jerusalem villages. In Bethlehem, 100 permits were issued to Palestinian teachers working in Jerusalem. In Jenin and Tubas, four and eight agricultural permits were issued respectively.

September:

The Gaza Strip:

As of 10 August, the total number of Gaza Strip workers permits was 2,017 including 1,958 with overnight stay; 720 permits were issued to Erez Industrial Estate workers. All workers must be 35 or older and married with children. Overnight stay permits are only issued for workers aged 40 and older.

d) Closures/Movement restrictions

On 12 July, following the suicide bombing in Netanya, a general closure on the oPt was imposed by the IDF. The closure is generally still imposed on the West Bank with some easing in movement restrictions. Israeli restrictions during the evacuation of four settlements in the northern West Bank affected access for some Palestinians in the West Bank, particularly in Nablus and Jenin. Movement restrictions are still in place on Road 60 from Shave Shomeron settlement to Araba junction, on Road 585 from Araba junction to Quffin entrance and on the section of Road 60 from Kadim and Gamin settlements to Jalama Barrier gate.

Nablus Governorate:

• Mid July to date: The prohibition is still in effect for residents of Jenin, Tulkarm and Qalqiliya to travel south through Za’atara (Tappouah) checkpoint

• 21 August to date: All the entrances connecting Sabastiya village with Road 60 are blocked by earth mounds.

• Ongoing incidents:

– Shave Shomeron checkpoint remains closed.

Jenin Governorate:

• 21 August to date: The IDF closed all the entrances to Ya’bad village with road blocks and earth mounds. Only one alternative road is open toward Jenin city through Kufeirit village.

• 21 August to date: The IDF closed Road 585 from Arraba junction to Qaffin junction with three checkpoints preventing Palestinians from travelling on the road. Palestinians are using alternative dirt roads to reach Jenin city.

• 21 August to date: The IDF closed Road 60 between Khomesh settlement entrance and Shave Shomeron settlement entrance.

Tubas Governorate:

• 31 August: Lengthy delays occurred at Tayasir checkpoint.

Tulkarm Governorate:

• 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.

Qalqiliya Governorate:

• 31 August to date: Delays occurred at ‘Azzun ‘Atma gate due to the IDF search of residents using a metal detector. Vehicles were searched as well.

Salfit Governorate:

• No major incidents to report.

Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:

• Temporary vehicular and pedestrian arrangements are now in place at Qalandiya checkpoint while new construction there continues. The main road through the old checkpoint is now closed by a roadblock. 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.

Jerusalem Governorate:

• 1 September: Streets in and around Jerusalem city were closed off for several hours as Israeli bodies from cemeteries in evacuated Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip were reburied.

Jericho Governorate:

• Ongoing incidents:

– Palestinian West Bank residents from areas outside of the Jericho Governorate are denied access at Yitav checkpoint near Road 449, north Jericho. Jericho residents can cross the checkpoint from south to north to go to Al Auja. Travel on Road 90 north of Al Auja is not allowed unless Palestinians have a special permit from the IDF. Only approximately five Palestinian villages in the north of Jericho District are allowed to travel on Road 90 north of Yitav checkpoint without a permit.

Hebron Governorate:

• 1 September: The IDF installed two new metal detector gates in the Old City of Hebron (in H2). The first facility was constructed on Al Shohada Street in the area near Beit Hadassah settlement, while the other one was installed in the Abu Rish area. This new addition reinforces the closure around the Jewish settlements and reduces access to the area of the Al Ibrahimi Mosque, subjecting those wishing to pray, local Palestinian residents and schoolchildren from the Al Ibrahimmiyye school, to a physical inspection and delays.

• Ongoing incidents:

– In Imneizil the construction of the Barrier continue to close the main road which leads to the village and people are still using difficult and insecure roads to enter the village elsewhere.

– The IDF continues to patrol the area of H1 of Hebron city and to perform random checks on Palestinians in violation of the Hebron Protocol.

Bethlehem Governorate:

• 1 September to date: The IDF is no longer manning the Beit Jala DCO checkpoint.

• In August, 25,500 tourists entered the city of Bethlehem. The movement of tourists has increased by 20% compared to the last month. In August 2004, a total of 10,480 tourists entered Bethlehem. But the August 2005 figure is still two and half times less than for the same month pre-intifada (August 1999).

• Ongoing incidents:

– The alternative secondary access road which was created by the IDF for the people from the village of An Nu’man has deteriorated and has become difficult to use.

West Bank: Reported flying checkpoints

The Gaza Strip:

• 23 July: (Ongoing) Due to the restricted opening hours at Abu Holi junction, there is heavy traffic congestion.

• 5 and 6 September: The IDF dismantled and removed the observation posts of Al Barahma, Oraybeh, Salah Edien in Rafah and Al Tufah in Khan Younis.

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.

• 16 August to date: The IDF declared the area a closed military zone; Palestinian residents of the area are not allowed in or out.

• 1 September: The IDF allowed four people to leave at 7am and return at 12pm to bring food in for the community.

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.

• 5 August to date: Al Tuffah checkpoint was closed in both directions for all Palestinians.

• 2, 3 and 4 September: Al Tuffah checkpoint was open from 8am to 1pm to allow agricultural products out. However no entry was allowed. Some students were also allowed to exit on 3 and 4 September.

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 Ma’ani 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.

• 3 September: At 7am Al Maani checkpoint was opened for departures and people were allowed to leave the area. It was opened again at 12.30pm for arrivals. The IDF allowed people to bring goods and water inside. The 49 students living inside were not allowed out.

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.

• 3 September: The IDF opened the gates south and north of the Kissufim road to allow people living in the enclosed areas to leave at 7am and return at 12.30pm.

6. Additional Protection Issues

• During the week, a total of four homemade rockets, mortar shells and anti tank missiles were fired from different locations inside the Gaza Strip toward Israeli-controlled areas and nearby Israeli towns, IDF installations and Karni.

• 1, 2 and 4 September: One Palestinian died (in Khan Younis) and three were injured in two separate incidents (in Khan Younis and Gaza City) after explosives (mortar shells and bombs) they were handling prematurely exploded (These figures have not been included in the weekly casualty numbers).

• 4 September: Twenty-two Palestinians, policemen included, were injured in clashes between unemployed Palestinians and PA police in Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip.(These figures have not been included in the weekly casualty numbers).

• 5 September: Four Palestinians were killed and another 40 were injured when a bomb exploded in a Palestinian house in Shuja’ia area in Gaza City. Four houses were destroyed and several nearby houses damaged in the blast exploded (These figures have not been included in the weekly casualty numbers).

Searches/Arrests/Detentions

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