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
17 – 23 August 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:
• 17 August: The IDF issued four military requisitions orders for Barrier construction near and around Ma’ale Adumim settlement. Approximately 1,600 dunums of land was requisitioned. (See section 3).
• Israeli forces continued and completed the evacuation of Israeli settlers from 25 settlements in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank; some restrictions in access reported this week were linked to the evacuation process.
Casualty Incidents Include:
• 17 August: Four Palestinian workers were shot and killed by an Israeli settler from Shvut Rakhel settlement in Ramallah Governorate.
• 17 August: The IDF injured two Palestinians in Bal’a village, Tulkarm.
• 17 August: Four Palestinian brothers (three of them children) from Halaweh, in the area of Masafer Yatta south Hebron Governorate, were injured by Israeli unexploded ordinances in an area near their village. The injured youth were taken to an Israeli military base and later to a hospital in the Israeli city of Beer Sheeva.
• 18 August: The IDF injured two Palestinians in Rafat village, Salfit.
• 18 August: One Palestinian was injured when IDF stationed near the border fence opened fire in the direction of northern of Beit Hanoun, the Gaza Strip.
• 18 August: One IDF soldier was injured in a Palestinian Qassam rocket attack against Netzarim settlement.
• 21 August: One IDF soldier was wounded when Palestinian gunmen opened fire in the direction of an IDF outpost near Neveh Dekalim settlement in Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip.
• 21 August: An Israeli settler opened fire and injured one Palestinian farmer who was working on his field near the main road between Habla and Qalqiliya.
• 21 August: IDF soldiers injured one Palestinian at a flying checkpoint near Burin village, Nablus.
• 23 August: The IDF entered Qabatiya village, Jenin. Clashes broke out between the IDF and Palestinian stone throwers. The IDF opened fire at the stone throwers injuring three. Two additional Palestinians were injured by the IDF.
Selected Incidents:
• 17 August: The IDF demolished three structures citing a lack of building permits in the Palestinian village of Idhna.
• 17 August: The IDF handed over 20 eviction orders for structures (tents and animal pens) belonging to Palestinian families from ‘Arab ar Rashayida, Bethlehem Governorate, stating that they were built illegally within the bounders of a nature reserve. According to the orders, the Palestinians have 10 days to evacuate the area.
• 17 August: The IDF demolished a Palestinian house in the Al Mawassi area of Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip. The inhabitants were provided tents by the ICRC.
• 22 August: Six structures, including three animal pens and three tents, were destroyed in ‘Arab ar Rashayida. Six Palestinian families used these structures as seasonal shelter for their animals. Demolition orders were issued for the structures for being built illegally without permits in a nature reserve.
Other shelter/property related incidents
• 16 August: (Not reported last week). A group of Israeli settlers from Khomesh settlement entered two houses in Burqa village, Nablus, and forced the residents of the houses out. After four hours, the IDF and police arrived and removed the settlers.
• 17 August: The IDF occupied a house near Sabastiya village, Nablus, and used it as observation post for several hours.
• 17 August: The IDF occupied three houses in Bizzariya, Nablus, and two houses in Silat adh Dhahr village, Jenin.
• 22 August: The IDF occupied houses in ‘Ajja, ‘Arraba and ‘Anza villages, Jenin.
• 22 August: For 24 hours, the IDF occupied an inhabited house in the Palestinian town of Dura, Hebron Governorate, and used it as an observation post.
• 23 August: The IDF occupied a house in Ya’bad village, Jenin, and used it as observation post.
3. Natural Resources
Land levelling/Requisitions/Tree Uprooting1
Nablus Governorate:
• No incidents to report.
Jenin and Tubas Governorates:
• No incidents to report.
Tulkarm Governorate:
• Ongoing incidents:
Qalqiliya Governorate:
• 18 August: Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian greenhouse near the main road in An Nabi Elyas.
• Ongoing incidents:
Salfit Governorate:
• 15 August: (Not reported last week) The IDF started land levelling near Deir Ballut checkpoint for expansion of the checkpoint.
• Ongoing incidents:
Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:
• Ongoing incidents:
Hebron Governorate:
• 17 August: Palestinian shepherds from Mantiqat Shi'b al Batin, south Hebron, found pellets in the grazing grounds around the village. The pellets are of the same colour and substance used in previous poisoning attempts by settlers in the area. A complaint was filed with the police who came to collect samples and remove some of the pellets.
• 22 August: IDF bulldozers started levelling agricultural land belonging to Palestinian farmers from H2, Hebron, around the Israeli settlements of Kiryat Arba and Kharsina. The levelled land is farmed with grapes and provides the main source of income for 12 Palestinian families living in the area. According to a previous requisition order, the land will be used to enlarge the security zone around the two Israeli settlements.
• Ongoing incidents:
Bethlehem Governorate:
• 17 August: Local Palestinians from Khallet An’man found a confiscation order for an area of land located in the southeast part of the village. According to the order and the attached map, the confiscated land will be used to build a commercial terminal between the West Bank and Israel.
• Ongoing incidents:
Jerusalem Governorate:
• 17 August: The IDF issued four military requisitions orders for Barrier constructions near and around Ma’ale Adumim Settlement; T/150/05 requisitioning 87, T/151/05 requisitioning 477 dunums, T/152/05 requisitioning 809 dunums and T/153/05 requisitioning 212 dunums.
• 21 August: The IDF started Barrier construction at Qalandiya main junction.
• Ongoing incidents:
Jericho Governorate:
• No incidents to report.
The Gaza Strip:
• No incidents to report.
___________
1 4 dunums = 1 acre; 10 dunums = 1 hectare
4. Access for Medical Assistance2
Selected Incidents:
5. Access and Movement for Civilians
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.
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. People are still facing significant difficulties getting their belongings into or outside the area.
• 16 August: The IDF announced the area as a closed military zone; Palestinian residents of the area are not allowed in or out.
• 21 August: The IDF told the village leader that four people would be allowed out between 8am and 10am to bring in food.
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: (Ongoing) Al Tuffah checkpoint was closed in both directions for all Palestinians. On 14 August, Al Tuffah checkpoint was opened from 12pm to 7pm for arrivals.
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.
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.
• 19 and 20 August: People in the temporarily closed areas north and south of Kissufim road were allowed to move in and out of the area during the day from late Friday until Saturday evening.
• 23 August: The IDF allowed one Palestinian to exit for medical treatment; access has been denied for all others since 15 August.
• During the week, a total of 14 homemade rockets, mortar shells and anti tank missiles were fired from different locations inside the Gaza Strip toward Israeli settlements and nearby Israeli towns, IDF installations and Karni.
• 17 August: A group of Israeli settlers from Sanur settlement destroyed a water pipeline at a Palestinian gas station near the settlement, Jenin.
• 19 August: The IDF dug 8-metre deep trenches around the evacuated Gush Qatif settlements in the Gaza Strip to prevent Palestinians from reaching the settlement area prior to evacuation.
• 21 and 22 August: Settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles along Road 60 and tried to enter the villages of Silat adh Dhaher, Al Fanaqumiya, Al Asa’asa and Ajja (Jenin).
• 22 August: A French journalist who was kidnapped in Gaza city on 14 August was released.
• 17 to 23 August: Throughout the week, settlers from Tel Rumeida and Kiryat Arba settlements threw stones at Palestinian homes and pedestrians in H2 of Hebron city.
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Subject: Economic issues, Incidents, Palestine question, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem
Publication Date: 23/08/2005