OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
P.O. Box 38712 East Jerusalem
Phone: (972) 2 – 5829962 / 5825853, Fax: (972) 2 – 5825841
OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes
Update for oPt (23 – 30 March 2004)
INSIDEINSIDE: Casualties — Incidents involving ambulances — Curfew — House demolition — Land levelling/confiscation — Checkpoints/roadblocks/Barrier/restrictions on movement — Education — Labour movement to Israel — Appendix
Palestinians: 12 deaths, 85 injured
Israelis: 0 deaths, 2 injured
2. Incidents involving ambulances and medical teams
• 26 March: IDF detonated an explosive belt and causing damages to an ambulance after preventing the ambulance driver to remove the vehicle.
• 26 March: Two ambulances were held at Huwwara checkpoint for 3 hours. Medical staff was forced to search Palestinians crossing the checkpoint.
Denial of access: 3 incidents
Delay (45 mins – 5 hours): 19 incidents
Abuse of medical staff: 1 incident
Curfews were reported in the following locations: Huwwara and Hebron H2 (2 days), Beir Ummar, Tuqu, al Yamun, Tura al Gharbiya, Silat adh Dhaher and Sabastiya (1 day)
4. House demolitions/Demolition Orders
• 24 March: IDF occupied a two-storey house in Huwwara to be used as an observation point.
• 27 March: an IDF bulldozer destroyed a shelter made of iron sheets in Oryba area in Khan Yunis.
• 28 March: The IDF handed 11 orders to stop construction of their houses to Palestinians from Arab Al Hathalin in Khashem al Karem south east of Yatta, Hebron District, due to lack of permits. This will affect 130 persons in the area.
• 29 March: 7 houses in Qatanna adjacent to Har Adar settlement received demolition orders.
5. Land levelling/confiscation1
• While Barrier construction has been halted in Ni'lin, Al Midya and Beit Sira pending a decision in the Israeli High Court of Justice, the IDF continues land levelling in Beit Liqya.
• 29 March: Land levelling and tree uprooting started between the Beir Ur al Fuqa and Beitiniya lands on the nortern side of Beir Khoron settlement in Ramallah governorate.
• 28 March: The IDF handed a confiscation order to the head of Husan village council, in Bethlehem District. The confiscated land, which stretches for 2.3 km along the northern side of the 375 bypass road, is apparently going to be used to erect a fence to protect settlers' vehicles
• 01 April: Settlers from the settlement of Efrat cut fruit and grape trees and destroyed the fences in 4 dunums of land near the eastern side of the settlement in the area of Al Khadr, Bethlehem District.
• 29 March: Settlers from the settlement of Kharsina cut 300 grape trees in the area of Al Buwera, Hebron city.
• 24 March: IDF bulldozers destroyed 70 dunums of olive and palm trees in the eastern quarter of Al Qarara area in Khan Younis.
• 25 March: 20 dunums of olive trees were levelled by an IDF bulldozer supported by two tanks in the southern area, east of Qissufim road.
6. Checkpoints/roadblocks/Separation Barrier/Restrictions on movement
Tulkarm/Qalqiliya governorates:
• In both governorates there was increase in the number of flying checkpoints. Villagers/farmers in both governorates reported major delays in the opening hours of the agricultural gates.
• The village of Ramin in Tulkarm governorate was (together with Shufa – as reported last week) closed by the IDF with earth mounds on that road that leads to Anabta. The villagers are now resorted to use small dirt roads when going to Tulkarm. Israeli DCO stated that they are looking into the matter.
• A new agricultural gate was constructed between Nazlat Isa and Qaffin as part of the new Barrier through Nazlat Isa. The vast majority of land behind the Barrier belongs to farmers from Qaffin who cultivate rain fed olives. However, the DCL in Tulkarem stated that the gate will only become operational during the harvest season.
• Additional movement restrictions were placed on the checkpoint in Nazlat Isa that also affected international organisations. According to DCL no Palestinians are permitted to cross regardless of their work affiliation and permit status. Currently, traffic is being redirected through Barta checkpoint in Jenin.
• Construction of the tunnel between Habla and Qalqilya town is ongoing.
• Opening statistics of Barrier gates are listed below in the table. The announced opening hours of the agricultural gates have not been strictly adhered to by the IDF. There were frequent delays.
Nablus/Jenin/Tubas governorates:
• 23 March: IDF totally closed Beit Furik checkpoint east of Nablus. All Palestinians were denied access.
• 24 March: Hundreds of Palestinians were delayed at Tappuah checkpoint south of Nablus for several hours.
• 24 March: IDF closed Jannat checkpoint south of Jenin for several hours denying access for Palestinians.
• 25 March: IDF installed a flying checkpoint near Odala village south of Nablus preventing trucks from reaching Awarta back to back yards for several hours.
• 27 March: IDF denied access for trucks at Hammra checkpoint east of Nablus. IDF requested all the trucks to obtain special permits to cross the checkpoint.
Ramallah/al-Bireh/Beituniya governorates:
• IDF and Border Police are establishing a checkpoint in the underpass below route 443 on the road that connects the village with Beir Ur at Tahta. This access road is now the only route to Ramallah for all the villages south of route 443 in the Beit Liqya area and the Qattana cluster. The delays have particularly affected teachers.
• Long delays, ID and car checks were experienced at an Nabi Saleh gate, where a semi-permanent checkpoint operates.
• 25 March up to date: A checkpoint has been in operation at the entrance of Rantis village.
Jerusalem/Jericho governorates:
• Israeli security forces were on high alert throughout the week and on 30 March in particular in conjunction with the Land Day. Numerous flying checkpoints were observed.
• Construction of the Barrier is continuing in different sections from Khallet an Nu’man northwards near Har Hommah settlement, Ash Sheikh Sa’ad, Sur Baher, Sawahriya ash Sharqiya, Abu Dis and Al ‘Eizariya.
• The construction of the Barrier in Al ‘Eizariya east towards Mount of Olives near Beit Fagi monastery is moving rapidly. The Barrier is in the form of 8m concrete slabs, which will close the remaining section of the passage from Al ‘Eizariyah to the Mount of Olives.
• The construction of the Barrier opposite Al Quds University is moving rapidly. The Barrier is in the form of 8m concrete slabs.
• The construction of the Barrier ongoing opposite az Za'yem Checkpoint with land levelling east of the valley towards Ma’ale Adumim settlement.
• Land levelling for the construction of the Barrier in the north western villages of Beit Surik, Biddu Beit Duqqu and Bet Ijza is on halt due to the Israeli High Court issued on 18 March. Land levelling in Qattana started again on 27 March. The levelling now stretches for approximately 2 km.
• Land levelling for the construction of the Barrier is continuing in the north western village of Beit Duqqu.
• IDF continued throughout the week to install concrete wall slabs in the middle of the road between Dahiet al Barid and Qalandiya checkpoint. The stretch of the slabs is now 600m long.
• 25 March: The new established checkpoint at Nabi Samual was again relocated back to its former place some 800m south east by the road leading to Bet Iksa. At the same time, the roadblocks put in place on the road leading to Beit Iksa, were removed.
• The back-to-back checkpoint in Jericho was closed on 22 March following clashes that erupted between Palestinian youngsters and IDF. The checkpoint has been closed since resulting in losses from agricultural revenues. Residents of Jericho have been denied leaving the city since 22 March.
Bethlehem/Hebron governorates:
• 23 March – to date: Contractors have started installing a concrete wall in the area north of Ayda camp, Bethlehem District, extending the route of the Barrier already built in that area towards the Gilo checkpoint.
• The implementation of closure in the southern part of the West Bank has restricted further movement for Palestinians and made access for humanitarian aid problematic, compounding, particularly in the District of Bethlehem, the already existing difficulties.
The most significant developments since the imposition of total closure have been:
– The closure of the town of Yatta and its environs, restricting movement for close to 100,000 persons, as all crossing points on the bypass roads surrounding it have been closed.
– The fragmentation of the District of Hebron in enclaves soon after 22 March by closing and locking gates along the main routes used by Palestinians for vehicular traffic within the District and between Hebron and Bethlehem. The closure of route 356, in the area of Wadi Sair, is still in place.
– Significant increase in the number of flying checkpoints in the two Districts. IDF patrols have prevented Palestinians from crossing in or out of Bethlehem at the Al Khadr – Husan junction, across route 60, compounding the isolation of the villages in the western part of the District of Bethlehem cause by the continued closure of the Beit Jala DCO checkpoint (since March 3);
– Palestinians have been prevented to enter Jerusalem or to cross into Israel at checkpoints along the Green Line
• 23 – 27 March: The IDF closed the gates on Halhoul Bridge, Hebron district preventing movement of Palestinians between the urban area of Hebron and Halhoul.
• 23 – 27 March: The IDF closed the gates at the Sair – Halhoul crossing preventing movement of Palestinians across bypass road 60.
• 23 March: The IDF closed the gate at Zif on bypass road 317, eastern entrance to the town of Yatta-Hebron District.
• 23 March: The IDF closed the gate at the entrance of Dura and put an earth mound at the entrance of Al Fawwar Camp, Hebron District.
• 25 March: The Border Police checkpoint at the entrance to Walaja was removed and placed on the bypass road connecting Har Gilo to Jerusalem via Ein Yalow.
• 25 March: An earth mound was placed on the two secondary roads leading from Walaja village to Bethlehem, via the area of the Cremisan Monastery.
• The number of valid permits for the Hebron national bus company is 34, of which 26 for public transport between Hebron and Bethlehem and 8 for movement between Hebron and Jericho. Buses heading to Jericho have been prevented to cross the "Container" checkpoint during this week.
From 29 March at 6.00 all UN staff was instructed by UN headquarters to no longer cross the Erez terminal by foot when entering and leaving Gaza. With the exception of UN diplomatic passport holders, no UN staff has been able to cross Erez by vehicle since 6 March when Palestinian militias launched an attack.
The enclosed areas in Gaza:
As-Seafa: Movement remains restricted by the IDF with the entry-exit gate opening twice daily for As-Seafa ID holders from 06:30 to 08:30 and 14.00 to 16.00. Motor vehicles are not allowed to enter since November 2000, with the exception of international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF. Since 28 January 2004, IDF started to allow women to get in and out of As-Seafa but movement is subject to body search and with 24 hours prior coordination.
Al-Mawassi: IDF imposed restrictions remain, with the entry-exit gate at Tuffah checkpoint opening twice daily for Al Mawassi ID holders from 07.00 to 09.00 and 14.30 to 17.00.
No passage is possible for male Al Mawassi ID holders aged 15-23 without prior coordination. Youths aged below 15 must be accompanied by a guardian. Motor vehicles are not allowed to enter, with the exception of international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF.
• 24-26 March: At Tuffah and Tal Es-Sultan checkpoints were completely closed.
• 27 March: Tal Es-Sultan and Tuffah checkpoints were reopened.
• 28 March: At Tuffah checkpoint was closed.
• 29 March: Tal Es-Sultan checkpoint was completely closed by Tuffah checkpoint was open for Al Mawasi people leaving only.
• 30 March: Tal Es-Sultan checkpoint was completely closed, meanwhile At Tuffah checkpoint was open for men aged 25 and above to leave and men aged 40 and above to enter. Women were freely moving in and out.
Kfar Darom. The Palestinian area adjacent to Kfar Darom settlement was declared a Closed Military Zone following a suicide attack on 27 February 2004. Since 20/7/2003 no vehicular movement was allowed as the IDF erected a fence around the area.
• Tulkarm/Qalqiliya: Irregular opening hours of Ras Tira gate has affected school children access to the schools in Ras Atiya and Habla.
• Nablus: 26 March: Teachers from Umm ar Riham elementary school in Jenin district were denied access for three days at Umm ar Rihan checkpoint.
• Nablus: All school children were forced to leave schools after IDF imposed curfew on Sabastiya village north of Nablus.
• Jerusalem: Access of students and staff to schools/university has been restricted due to the strict closure imposed on 22 March, especially for those coming from the south of the West Bank to al Quds University in Abu Dis and for non-residential teachers in Jericho.
• Bethlehem/Hebron:
– 23 March: Schools in Beit Ummar, Hebron District, were closed due to the curfew imposed on the village.
– 23 March: Students in the old town of Hebron faced problems in reaching their schools due to curfew in the area.
– 25 March: IDF prevented 30 teachers to reach their schools in south east of Yatta, Hebron District.
– 26 March: IDF searched the students of Al Ibrahimya School in the old town of Hebron before they entered the school.
– 27 and 28 March: IDF prevented teachers from Ar Ramadin and Arab al Fureijat schools, Hebron District, to reach their schools: one of the teachers was beaten and hospitalized.
8. Labour movement to Israel
• Tulkarm/Qalqilya: All work and trade permits have been suspended since 22 March until further notice.
• Jenin: All permits for Jenin residents have been suspended since 22 March.
• Hebron: In Hebron, all permits for traders were frozen up to 29 March, after which 150 new permits were issued: none were released for workers.
In Bethlehem, no permits were issued for traders or workers this month.
Since 22 March 2004, Erez checkpoint was closed for Palestinian workers but partially reopened for some tens of Palestinian traders aged 28 and above, on 28 March. Erez Industrial Zone was reopened for Palestinian workers as of 28 March 2004.
(Source: OCHA field units, UNRWA, UNSCO, PRCS, MoH, Governors' office, Israeli MoFA & IDF web sites, Al Mizan, PCHR)
Appendix: Checkpoints Status 23 – 30 March 2004
