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
OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes
Update for oPt (6 – 12 April 2005)
INSIDE: Physical Protection – Deaths and Injuries — Shelter and Property – People displaced/House demolition/Demolition orders — Natural Resources – Land levelling/Requisitions/Tree Uprooting — Facilitation of Humanitarian 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
1. Physical Protection
Deaths and Injuries
Palestinians: Deaths: 5; Injured: 89 (approximately)
Israelis: Deaths: 0; Injured: 3
Internationals: Deaths: 0; Injured: 0
Selected incidents:
• 6 April: The IDF opened fire on a Palestinian vehicle in Kafr Ni’ma injuring three Palestinians who were then arrested.
• 6 to 10 April: Demonstrations, including those against Barrier construction and a planned Israeli march at al-Aqsa mosque, took place throughout the oPt. In several incidences, the IDF used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber-coated metal bullets to disperse crowds often resulting in the injury of Palestinians; at least 65 Palestinians were reported injured. Several Palestinians were also arrested.
• 7 April: The IDF fired in the direction of Block O and Al Kasas area in Rafah injuring one Palestinian.
• 8 April: Clashes occurred at Qalandiya checkpoint between the IDF and Palestinian youths when the youths were prohibited access into Jerusalem for the Friday prayers. Two Palestinians were shot with live ammunition.
• 9 April: The IDF shot and killed three Palestinian unarmed youths near the border fence with Egypt in Rafah.
• 10 April: An 18-year-old Palestinian from the Gaza Strip died of wounds he had sustained from IDF gunfire in January 2005.
• 11 April: At 4am, 15 IDF vehicles entered Nablus City, surrounded two buildings in the Jabal Shamali neighborhood and evacuated the residents into the street. At 7.30am school children throwing stones clashed with the IDF near the schools in the area. Six Palestinians were injured during the clashes. At noon, the IDF withdrew from the city after arresting 12 Palestinians.
Sources: OCHA FCU, PRCS, UNRWA, WHO, IDF website, Israeli MFA, offices of governors.
2. Shelter and Property
People displaced/House demolitions/Demolition orders
Total houses/structures demolished: 6
Total residents affected: At least 83
Total partially-built houses/structures demolished: 0
West Bank:
• 6 April: The Israeli Civil Administration demolished one animal pen and three buildings in Bir Naballah: a two-storey building, two apartments in a three-storey building and one house with one apartment stating lack of building permits. In total, 58 Palestinians were made homeless, 41 of them children.
• 6 April: The Israeli Civil Administration demolished a two-storey building containing two apartments in Al ‘Eizariyya. In total, 25 Palestinians, including 17 children, were made homeless.
• 6 April: The Israeli Civil Administration demolished a water well used for irrigation in Beir Ijza.
• 10 April: The IDF occupied a furnished vacant house in Umm Safa village, north Ramallah, stating that the house served as a base to throw Molotov cocktails onto bypass Road 465.
The Gaza Strip:
• No incidents to report
Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA
3. Natural Resources
Land levelling/Requisitions/Tree Uprooting1
Total dunums requisitioned this week: 2,332 (233.2 hectares)
Nablus/Jenin/Tubas Governorates:
• No incidents to report
Qalqiliya Governorate:
• 6 April: The IDF issued a land requisition order (T/74/05) for 8.6 dunums (0.86 hectares) of land between Falamya and Jayyous villages to build a road for the farmers from Jayyous to use Falamya agricultural gate.
Salfit Governorate:
• No incidents to report
Tulkarm Governorate:
• 9 April: The Palestinian DCL received from the IDF two land requisition orders: No. T/68/05 requisitioning 134.7 dunums (13.47 hectares) in Kafr al Labad, Ramin and Beit Lid and No. T/77/05 requisitioning 144.6 dunums (14.46 hectares) in Shufa and Kafr al Labad (Tulkarm) for the construction of a security fence around the Israeli settlements of Avnei Khefets and Enav. Two other military orders, No. 378/05 and No. 393/05 were also issued preventing Palestinians from building on land located between the settlements and the fence.
Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:
• 6 to 12 April: The Palestinian DCL received the following IDF land requisition orders, all for military purposes: T/66/05 for 430.9 dunums (43.09 hectares) in Beit Liqya and Kharbatha al Misbah and Beit Annan (Jerusalem); T/50/05 for 1,123 dunums (112.3 hectares) in Deir Ibzi’, Beit ‘Ur al Fauqa and Beit ‘Ur at Tahta; and an amendment to T/105/03 for 354.9 dunums (35.49 hectares) in Beit Liqya, Beit Sira and Beit Nuba.
Hebron Governorate:
• 11 April: The IDF issued military order T/69/05 to requisition 45.5 dunums (4.55 hectares) of land in an area between Halhul and Beit Ummar and near the Israeli settlement of Karmei Tsur for the creation of a military buffer zone.
Bethlehem Governorate:
• No incidents to report
Jerusalem Governorate:
• 6 April: The IDF handed over military order No. 51/05/T to the Palestinian DCL in Ar Ram, requisitioning 91 dunums (9.1 hectares) of land in Beir Duqqu and Beit Ijza to upgrade an existing road between the two villages.
North West Jerusalem villages:
• 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.
North Jerusalem
• Barrier construction continues along the main road, Road 60, between Qalandiya and Ar-Ram checkpoints. Construction and land levelling are taking place in the area of the current Qalandiya checkpoint. Land levelling and construction of the Barrier are also taking place alongside the road between Jaba’, Hizma and Anata.
East Jerusalem
• 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 Shufat Refugee camp and ‘Anata town.
South/Southeast Jerusalem
• Barrier construction is nearly finished from Al ‘Eizariyya to Sur Bahir where construction is ongoing on the eastern and the southern sides of the village.
Jericho Governorate:
• No incidents to report
The Gaza Strip:
• No incidents to report
Sources: OCHA FCU, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, UNRWA, Palestinian DCL, Village Council
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1 4 dunums = 1 acre; 10 dunums = 1 hectare
4. Facilitation of Humanitarian Assistance
Incidents involving safety and movement of ambulances and medical teams
West Bank:
Denial of access: 0
Delay (more than 30 minutes): 3
Shooting/Damage to Ambulance: 1
• 12 April: A Palestinian male died inside a PRCS ambulance at Beit Iba checkpoint, Qalqiliya, after a 20-minute delay. PRCS medics tried to revive the man, who was being transported to a hospital in Nablus, but were unsuccessful.
The Gaza Strip:
Denial of access: 0
Delay (more than 30 minutes): 3
Shooting/Damage to Ambulance: 0
• 6 April: A PRCS ambulance was delayed for one hour at Al Tuffah checkpoint in Khan Younis while transporting a woman in labour from Al Mawassi to Naser hospital.
Sources: OCHA FCU, WHO, PRCS, Palestinian MoH
5. Access and Movement for Civilians
A. Curfews
• 10 April: A curfew was imposed on al ‘Asa’asa village, Jenin, for six hours.
• 11 April: A curfew was imposed on Huwwara village, Nablus, for two days.
Sources: OCHA FCU, Village Councils, UNRWA, Palestinian DCL
B. Access to Education
West Bank:
• 7 April: Six schoolchildren from Al Aroub refugee camp, Hebron, were detained by the IDF while on their way to the secondary school in Beit Ummar.
• 9 April: The IDF entered the premises of the Khilat Hadour kindergarten in the city of Hebron and kept the 60 pupils inside. The IDF left the premises a few hours later. The institution is affiliated to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
• 10 April: Two female Palestinian students were detained by IDF soldiers at Atara Bridge checkpoint, Ramallah, and taken into the military observation tower. The students were released after the Palestinian DCL contacted their Israeli counterparts.
• 10 April: The IDF entered al ‘Asa’asa elementary school, Jenin, and forced the students to leave the school. One school day was lost due to a curfew that was imposed on the village.
The Gaza Strip:
• 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.
Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA, UNICEF, Palestinian DCL
C. Access to Employment
West Bank:
The Gaza Strip:
• On 11 April, the total number of permits issued to Palestinian workers was 5,143 for labourers and merchants. A total of 808 permits were issued for workers to enter Erez Industrial Zone. Workers and merchants must be 35 and older and married with children, according to the PMG.
Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA, UNSCO, Palestinian DCL
D. Closures/Movement Restrictions:
Jenin Governorate:
• 6 and 7 April: The IDF put up flying checkpoints near Sanur village.
Nablus Governorate:
• 6 and 9 April: The Shave Shomeron checkpoint was re-manned for several hours.
• 8 April: The IDF removed an earth mound at the western entrance of Sabstiya village. A new earth mound was erected at the southern entrance of the village.
• 12 April: The IDF allowed Palestinian buses to enter through Beit Iba checkpoint between 8am and 3pm without checking individual passengers.
• 12 April: The IDF held three Palestinians near Hamra checkpoint for several hours.
• Flying checkpoints were reported near Deir Sharraf village and near Yits’har junction on Road 60 and at the western entrance of ‘Asira ash Shamaliya village.
• 12 April: At 5pm, Huwwara checkpoint was closed for three hours after the IDF stopped a 15-year-old Palestinian from Balata refugee camp who was carrying homemade pipe explosives. The boy was arrested.
Tubas Governorate:
• 9 and 11 April: Major delays occurred at Tayasir checkpoint.
Qalqiliya Governorate:
• 11 April: Israeli Settlers from Kdumim settlement prevented farmers from Kafr Qaddum from cultivating their land.
• 11 April: The IDF closed Habla Tunnel and‘Azzun ‘Atma gates and deployed several flying checkpoints on the roads between Habla and ‘Isbat Salman, ‘Azzun and Kafr Thulth and at the entrance of Kafr Qaddum, carrying out Palestinians ID checks and car searches.
• Flying checkpoints were reported on Road 55 and at the entrance of Qalqiliya and Habla tunnel.
Salfit Governorate
• 11 April: The IDF opened an earth mound at Yasuf Road and erected a road gate at the same location with opening hours from 5am to 7pm daily.
Tulkarm Governorate:
• 10 April: The IDF closed Kafriat checkpoint for two hours.
Hebron Governorate:
• A new gate has been placed by the IDF on an access road to Yatta from Road 60 in the area of Deir Razih. The gate is open and replaces earth mounds previously blocking the road. The gate on the access road to Adh Dahiriya on the western side of Road 60 was opened. These new entry points are used almost exclusively by Palestinians on public transportation or by Palestinian-plated commercial vehicles.
Bethlehem Governorate:
• No incidents to report
Ramallah/Al Bireh Governorate:
• No significant incidents to report
Jerusalem Governorate:
• 7 April: The IDF removed road blocks on the Jaba’ underpass. An earth mound on the bridge connecting Ar Ram and Jaba’ was also removed.
• 9 April: Access to al-Aqsa was restricted to Palestinians with Jerusalem IDs above 40 years of age.
• 9 April: Delays were reported at the checkpoints of Qalandiya, Ar Ram and Bir Nabala.
• 10 April: Israeli Police set up roadblocks and checkpoints barring all private vehicles from entering the area of the Old City following increased tensions from planned Israeli marches on the al-Aqsa mosque.
Jericho Governorate:
• No incidents to report
The Enclosed Areas in the Gaza Strip:
• 13 February: The IDF permits Palestinians aged 30 and older residing in As-Seafa to pass in and out with out 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.
• During the last week, two to three Palestinians were daily prevented from entering the area despite having proper documentation.
• Since 3 April no cooking gas and batteries were allowed to be taken into As-Seafa.
• 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. 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 remained closed
• 12 April: Although Al Tuffah checkpoint was open, a very small number of Palestinians were allowed into Al Mawassi.
• Since 20 July 2002, no vehicular movement has been allowed in 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 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 extremely problematic.
Source: OCHA FCUs and UNRWA
6. Additional Protection Issues
• During the week, more than 80 homemade rockets and mortar shells were fired by militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the direction of the Israeli settlements and the nearby Israeli towns.
• 6 April: Palestinian shepherds from At Tuwani, south Hebron, found pellets in the valley between the village and the Israeli settlement of Ma’on. (The area covered spans from Road 317 and stretches south toward the eastern side of the Palestinian village.) Preliminary analysis by Birzeit University has shown the pellets to be another type of rodenticide (Brodifacoum), less strong than the one found on the 22 March (based on 2-fluoroacetamide). The Israeli Police have collected samples. According to the village council, 22 sheep are dead and 76 are sick from the poisoning. The shepherds are forced to dispose of the milk and have been told not to eat the meat of any of the animals.
• 12 April: Palestinian shepherds from Yasuf village, Salfit, found pink-coloured cereal seeds hidden under bushes in their fields. The Israeli police was notified, came and collected the seeds.
Searches/Arrests
Nablus/Jenin/Tubas
• Throughout the week, IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in Nablus city, Salim and Jamma’in villages (Nablus), and Al Yamun and Arraba villages (Jenin); 29 Palestinians were reported arrested.
Tulkarm/Qalqiliya/Salfit
• Throughout the week, IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in ‘Illar and Baqa ash Sharqiya (Tulkarm), in Qalqiliya city and in Marda and Deir Ballut (Salfit); 12 Palestinians were reported arrested.
Ramallah /Al Bireh
• Throughout the week, IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in An Nabi Saleh and Kafr Ni’ma. One Palestinian was reported arrested. A number of IDF patrols were also reported in Al Bireh and Ramallah.
Hebron/Bethlehem
• Throughout the week, IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in Idhna, Surif, Al Fawar, in H2–Hebron, Zif, As Samu’ and Dura in the Governorate of Hebron; nine Palestinians were detained. In Bethlehem Governorate, searches took place in Al Khadr, Nahhalin, Aida refugee camp and Beit Jala; four Palestinians were detained by the IDF.
Jerusalem/Jericho
• 8 April: Eight Palestinians were arrested following clashes with Israeli security forces in Jerusalem in protest of planned Israeli marches on the al-Aqsa mosque.
Jericho:
• One Palestinian was reported arrested.
The Gaza Strip
• 5 April: IDF troops arrested two unarmed Palestinians attempting to enter Israel, north of Kissufim.
• 9 April: IDF troops arrested three unarmed Palestinians attempting to enter Israel from south of Sufa crossing.
Sources: OCHA FCUs, UNRWA, UNSECCORD, UNSCO, Palestinian DCLs, Palestinian Governors’ offices, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, IDF
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Subject: Economic issues, Incidents, Palestine question, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem
Publication Date: 12/04/2005