OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes – OPT (24-30 Nov. 2004) – 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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OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes

Update for oPt (24 – 30 November 2004)

INSIDEINSIDE:   Casualties — Incidents involving ambulances — Curfew — House demolition/Demolition orders/People displaced — Land levelling/Requisitions — Closures/restrictions on movement — Access to schools — Labour movement to Israel — Other — Appendix

1. Casualties

Palestinians: Deaths: 10; Injured: 28 (approximate)

Israelis: Deaths: 0; Injured: 4 (approximate)

Sources: OCHA FCU, PRCS, UNRWA, IDF website, Israeli MoFA.

2. Incidents involving ambulances and medical teams

West Bank:

Denial of access: 0

Delay (30 minutes): 3

Shooting/Damage to Ambulance: 0

• 30 November: A Palestinian woman gave birth inside a PRCS ambulance while waiting at Huwwara checkpoint, Nablus District.

Gaza:

Denial of access: 0

Delay (30 minutes): 0

Shooting/Damage to Ambulance: 0

Sources: OCHA FCU, PRCS, Palestinian MoH

3. Curfews

Curfew was reported in the following locations:

Sources: OCHA FCU, Village Councils, UNRWA, Palestinian DCL

4. House demolitions/Demolition orders/People displaced

West Bank:

• 22 November (Not reported last week): The Israeli Border Police demolished a house in Beit Jala in Wadi Ahmed, following earlier notification, for being built on expanded Jerusalem Municipality boundaries. At least six members of the Palestinian family residing there lost accommodation.

• 24 November: Two houses were demolished in Aqbat Jaber refugee camp, Jericho, under the pretext of being built in area C.

• 24 November: Israeli Border Police demolished 15 Bedouin shacks in Arab Al-Jahalin east of Al ‘Eizariya, Jerusalem district. Twelve families, 68 people, were made homeless.

• 24 November: Israeli Border Police demolished several (exact number not available) Bedouin shacks near Jaba’, Jerusalem District.

• 26 November: The IDF demolished a two-storey building where three alleged Hamas militants were hiding in Hebron city, after an exchange of fire.

• 27 November: The IDF destroyed the internal walls of an apartment in Al Hawouz area, Hebron city. The apartment allegedly belonged to a Palestinian involved in planning a suicide attack in Jerusalem.

• 29 November: A four-storey building, consisting of four apartments, was demolished in Anata town, Jerusalem District, under the pretext of being built without a permit. Twenty-five people were made homeless.

• 29 November: One house, consisting of two apartments, was demolished in Anata, Jerusalem District, under the pretext of being built without a permit. Two families, 15 people, were made homeless.

• 29 November: Approximately 20 Bedouin shacks were demolished in Anata, Jerusalem District.

• 30 November: A five-storey building, consisting of 10 apartments, was demolished in Bet Hanina, Jerusalem District, under the pretext of being built without a permit.

Gaza:

• 25 November: Five houses were demolished in Al Attatra, a Palestinian area north of Rafah.

• 26 November: Two buildings were demolished, two houses were partially destroyed and another seven nearby houses sustained damages in As-Salam area in Rafah.

Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA

5. Land levelling/Requisitions¹

West Bank:

• 24 November: The IDF issued a number of stop construction orders and demolitions orders, which included a livestock shade, to the Bedouin community of Wadi Qana in Qalqiliya Governorate.

• 28 November: The IDF started levelling land (usually used for grazing) behind the Barrier near the village of Jayyous in Qalqiliya Governorate.

• Settlers from Male Shameron, Qalqilya District have, since mid-November, been uprooting olive trees (approximately 150) in the vicinity of the settlement. During the week, some 10 caravans were established on the ground where the trees had been uprooted.

Gaza:

No incidents reported.

Sources: OCHA FCU, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, UNRWA, Palestinian DCL, Village Council

6. Closure²/Restrictions on movement

Tulkarm/Qalqiliya/Salfit governorates:

• In Tulkarm Governorate, the IDF maintained the eased movement restrictions both within the governorate and to other governorates. Although all parts of Kafriat checkpoint remained manned during the week, no restrictions were imposed on vehicular traffic. Access for Arab-Israelis into Tulkarm town remained relatively easy, although yellow-plated vehicles were not permitted access.

• In Qalqiliya Governorate, no restrictions were imposed on the local population. The tunnel between Qalqiliya town and Habla remained open the entire week. Access for Arab-Israelis into Qalqiliya town remained relatively easy.

• In Salfit District, the movement between the villages continues to be hampered by the existence of road blocks and earth mounds and the restrictions to travel on the main roads.

• 29 November: The IDF put back in place the road block in the outskirt of Yasuf. The road block was temporarily removed some two months ago to facilitate access for heavy materials in conjunction with the upgrading of the road between Salfit town and Iskaka. The road block has a serious impact on the movement of ambulances to and from Nablus.

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

² For a reference West Bank checkpoint map please check the following link: http://www.reliefweb.int/hicopt/maps/Closure/mar/checkpoints_july04.pdf

Nablus/Jenin/Tubas governorates:

• 24 November: Major delays occurred at the Shavei Shomron checkpoint (Nablus).

• 27 November: Four minors were arrested at Huwwara checkpoint (Nablus).

• 27 to 30 November: Flying checkpoints were operating in Tubas at the road to ‘Aqqaba and Tammun.

• 29 November: Huwwara checkpoint (Nablus) was temporarily closed after a settler hit two Palestinian women while driving near the checkpoint.

Ramallah/Al Bireh governorates:

• A dirt track that Palestinians from Deir Ammar, Deir Ammar camp, Jammala and Beitillu have been using for more than a year in order to circumvent the roadblock at the ‘Ain Ayoub junction with Road 455 to reach Ramallah was closed by the IDF in early November. The only access road now to Ramallah for these communities is the much longer route via the ‘Atara checkpoint and Bir Zeit.

• The IDF has removed the earth mounds on the road between Yabrud and Silwad.

• 24 to 30 November: A flying checkpoint was operating most days on bypass Road 455 below Ras Karkar and Al Janiya villages.

Jerusalem/Jericho governorates:

• IDF mobile checkpoints function on a daily basis at the entrance to Al ‘Eizariya-Ma’ale Adumim settlement resulting in long lines of cars waiting to pass.

• IDF mobile checkpoints at the junctions of Road 1-Road 437 and Al ‘Eizariya-Ma’ale Adumim have stopped Palestinian vehicular movement on Road 1 for several hours every Saturday after Shabath.

Jerusalem Envelope Barrier:

• North: Construction of the Barrier is continuing along Road 60, the main road, between Qalandiya and Ar-Ram checkpoints. Land levelling for the Barrier is also taking place alongside the road between Hizma and Anata villages.

• East: Construction of the Barrier is continuing in Ash Sheikh Sa’ad, Sawahriya ash Sharqiya, Abu Dis, and Al ‘Eizariya. Construction is nearly completed from the Mount of Olives to the hill just south of Al Quds University in Abu Dis. Barrier construction in Sur Bahir is halted.

• Northwest: Construction of the Barrier is ongoing in Bet Duqqu, Qatanna and Kharayib Umm Al Lahim. In Biddu, Bet Ijza, Al Qubeiba and Bet Surik, construction is halted. New military requisition orders, for eastern and western sections of Bet Surik, were handed to Bet Surik village council on 4 November.

Hebron/Bethlehem governorates:

• 24 November: The IDF opened the concrete blocks at Rachel's Tomb, Bethlehem city, to allow passage for the Christian Guard for the Holy Land to reach the Church of Nativity for the preparation of Christmas.

• 28 November: The IDF set up flying checkpoints around the old city of Hebron (H2 area) and intensified security checks on Palestinians moving in the area.

• 29 November: The IDF closed the Zif gate the entrance into Yatta, Hebron District, preventing the movement of Palestinians in and out of Yatta.

The enclosed areas in the Gaza strip:

• As Seafa: Since 22 April 2004, the IDF has allowed only three to four people with As-Seafa IDs to go in and out on foot, for one time only, with prior coordination, to bring food in. These people are permitted to exit and enter through the gate at two irregular periods: approximately 6.30am to 8.30am and from approximately 2pm to 4.30pm. No vehicles are permitted to enter or exit. Coordination for international organisations to enter the area has been extremely problematic.

• 29 and 30 November: About 14 tons of citrus products were not permitted out.

• Al Mawassi: IDF restrictions remain, with the entry-exit gate at Al Tuffah checkpoint generally opening twice daily for limited numbers of Al Mawassi ID holders from approximately 8am to 1pm and from approximately 2.30pm to 5pm. Since 10 May 2004, males aged below 30 years who are Al Mawassi ID holders have been required to have prior coordination to pass though Al Tuffah checkpoint. Since 6 June 2004, prior coordination has been required for unmarried females with Al Mawassi IDs who are between the ages of 18 and 25. Vehicles are not allowed to pass, with some exceptions given for international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF.

• Al Tuffah checkpoint was open all week.

• Tel As-Sultan checkpoint remained closed during the week.

• Kfar Darom: The Palestinian area adjacent to Kfar Darom settlement was declared a closed military area following a suicide attack on 27 February 2004. Since 20 July 2002, no vehicular movement has been allowed into and out of the area and the IDF erected a fence around the area. Movement is restricted by the IDF with the entry-exit gate generally opening 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 extremely problematic.

Source OCHA FCUs and UNRWA

7. Olive Harvest

Ramallah/Al Bireh governorates:

• Al Mughayyir farmers are unable to access their olive groves near Shvut Rakhel settlement. The settlers claim the land belongs to them and not to al Mughayyir villagers. The Palestinian and Israeli DCLs are investigating the issue.

Tulkarm/Qalqiliya/Salfit governorates:

• A total of five families from Kfar Qaddum in Qalqiliya Governorate have, during the week, been denied access to their farmland near Quedumin settlement. They were prevented from completing the harvest. According to the farmers, the IDF had instructed them to obtain special permits before being allowed access. However, permits in this area are not needed.

Hebron/Bethlehem governorates:

• 3 November: The IDF prevented Palestinians from Battir village, Bethlehem District, from collecting olives near the railway on the Green Line.

8. Access to schools:

West Bank:

• Hundreds of students from Abu Dis and Al ‘Eizariya, (East Jerusalem) are experiencing difficulties reaching schools within Jerusalem Governorate. The gate near Ras al ‘Amud has been closed since 1 November. Schools in several Palestinian Jerusalem neighbourhoods are becoming overcrowded because many students have been forced to change schools due to Barrier construction.

• 24 November: The IDF surrounded three schools in the urban area of Yatta, Hebron District, in the early morning hours. Three Palestinians were injured while trying to reach their schools.

• 24 November: The IDF gathered teachers from schools in Silat adh Dhahr (Jenin) and called for them to instruct the school children not to throw stones at the IDF. The following day, the IDF gathered the teachers again and threatened to close the schools if stone throwing continued.

• 25 November: UNICEF reported that school children were delayed in the morning on the way to their classes in Habla in Qalqiliya Governorate due to the presence of a flying checkpoint in the area.

Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA, UNICEF, Palestinian DCL

Gaza:

• During the reporting period, the 24 pupils living in As-Seafa were not able to reach their schools on time. They were delayed leaving through the As Seafa gate until late morning. Upon return, the pupils were delayed for four hours before being permitted to re-enter through the gate at 3:30pm.

• 26 November: Two windows of an UNRWA school in Rafah were broken as a result of IDF shooting toward Rafah refugee camp.

• 27 November: A 14-years-old UNRWA schoolgirl was shot and injured when she was on her way home from her school in Rafah.

Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA, UNICEF

9. Labour/trade movement to Israel

Hebron/Bethlehem governorates:

• At the beginning of November in Hebron District, 122 workers’ permits were issued and 150 permits for traders.  In Bethlehem District, 70 workers' permits were issued and 185 permits for traders. However, all permits have been frozen since 10 November when Israel put all of the West Bank under closure after the death of the Yaser Arafat.

Gaza:

• A total of 5,166 permits have been issued for workers and 226 permits for traders aged 35 and older including 2,000 permits to stay overnight. However, only a small number of traders were permitted to enter.

Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA, UNSCO, Palestinian DCL

10. Other:

Nablus/Jenin/Tubas

• 26 November: The IDF entered 'Asira ash-Shamaliya damaging several water tanks.

• 29 November: The IDF entered the old city of Nablus, and Camp No. 1 (Nablus), injuring one minor, critically.

• 29 November: Two Palestinian women were hit by a settler driving near Huwwara checkpoint (Nablus). The settler also fired in the air. Both women were hospitalised after the incident.

• 30 November: A 17-year-old Palestinian student was hit by a settler driving in Huwwara village (Nablus). The student was taken to Rafidia hospital in Nablus.

• 30 November: The head of the Youth Student Movement (Fatah) in An Najah University was shot and killed at the entrance of Balata camp (Nablus).

• 24 to 30 November: IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in Nablus city, ‘Asira ash-Sharqiya, Bet Furik, Askar refugee camp, Balata refugee camp, Till and Osarin (all Nablus Governorate). A total of three Palestinians were arrested.

Tulkarm/Qalqiliya/Salfit

• 24 to 30 November: IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in Tulkarm town (including Schweika), Tulkarm refugee camp, Qalqilya town, and Marda (Salfit). A total of 27 people were arrested, most of them have been released.

Ramallah /Al Bireh

• 22 November (not reported last week): An IDF patrol shot at and damaged a household water tank in Kafr ‘Ein village.

• 24 to 30 November: IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in Budrus, Rantis, Al Jalazun camp, Beitin, An Nabi Salih, Silwad, Rammun, Beituniya, and Beit Rima. One Palestinian man was arrested.

Jerusalem/Jericho

• 24 to 30 November: IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in Jericho, Bir Nabala and Sawahriya ash Sharqiya. A total of three Palestinians were reported arrested.

• 30 November: Palestinians threw stones at an Israeli bus travelling near Pisgat Ze'ev settlement, north Jerusalem. One Israeli female was lightly injured.

Hebron/Bethlehem

• 26 November: Two alleged Palestinian militants were killed and one was injured in Hebron city when the IDF demolished the house they were in after they refused to surrender.

• 24 to 30 November: IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in Beit Jala, Ad Duheisha, Ad Doha and Beit Sahur city in Bethlehem. A total of five Palestinians were arrested. In Hebron, search-and-arrest campaigns took place in the city of Hebron, Bani Na'im, Dura, Surif and Al 'Arrub camp. A total of 22 Palestinians were arrested.

Gaza:

• 24 November: The IDF discovered 1,500 rounds of ammunition at Karni crossing.

• 24 November: The IDF has dismantled a newly established IDF base in the Abu Safia area southeast of Beit Hanoun.

• 28 November: The IDF has permitted some of the factories owners through to Erez industrial zone. Two-hundred Palestinians were also permitted to enter to renew their magnetic cards.

• 29 November: One IDF officer was killed and another one injured when the tunnel they were in collapsed in Rafah.

Sources: OCHA FCUs, UNRWA, UNSECCORD, UNSCO, Palestinian DCLs, Palestinian Governors’ offices, Al Mezan Center for

Human Rights, IDF

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