OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes – OPT (20 – 26 Oct. 2004) – OCHA report

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 (20 – 26 October 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: 29; Injured: 71 (approximate)

Israelis: Deaths: 1; Injured: 3 (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): 2

Shooting/Damage to Ambulance: 0

Gaza:

Denial of access: 0

Delay (30 minutes): 0

Shooting/Damage to Ambulance: 0

• Since 21 October, male Palestinians aged 16 to 35 including medical patients and those with metal implants have been allowed to travel out of the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Terminal. However, the actual numbers of those allowed are few and prior coordination with the IDF is still required.

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:

• 21 October: Early in the morning, IDF bulldozers demolished two houses in Qalqiliya town belonging to families of two arrested persons. One family was allowed to remove personal belongings before the IDF demolished the house, the other family was not. Post demolition assistance was subsequently provided by the ICRC.

• 26 October: The IDF threw sound bombs after a search campaign which sparked a fire in a workshop in the Abu Kteila neighbourhood, Hebron city. All machinery was destroyed and the workshop burned.

Gaza:

• 21 October: One house was demolished in Orayba area north of Rafah.

• 21 October: One house was demolished and two other houses were damaged in Orayba north Rafah.

• 22 October: One house was damaged in the southern side of Beit Lahia when it was hit by an IAF missile.

• 24 October: Twenty-five houses were demolished and another house was damaged in Al Baten Al Sameen area, southern Khan Younis.

• 25 October: Two houses were partially destroyed in Al Zaitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City.

Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA

5. Land levelling/Requisitions¹

West Bank:

• 21 October: Sixty-two petitioners from the western villages of Deir Samit, Beit Awwa, Sikka and Deir al 'asal at Tahta and al Fauqa, Hebron district, obtained a court order to stop the construction of the Barrier in the area until a final decision is reached.

Gaza:

• 21 October: Nine dunums (.9 hectares) planted with tomatoes were levelled in the Orayba area north of Rafah.

• 21 October: Five dunums (.5 hectares) planted with vegetables were levelled in Orayba, north of Rafah.

• 22 October: Seven dunums (.7 hectares) of greenhouses planted with vegetables were destroyed in Orayba, north of Rafah.

• 24 October: Twenty-two dunums (2.2 hectares) of greenhouses were demolished in addition to one agricultural store and two water pumps in the northern part of Beit Hanoun.

• 25 October: Thirty to 40 dunums (3 to 4 hectares) of land were levelled in the Al Baten Al Sameen area, southern Khan Younis.

• 25 October: Twenty dunums (2 hectares) planted with fig trees were levelled in Al Zaitoun neighbourhood in Gaza City.

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 restricted movement on the local populations by manning all parts of the Kafriat checkpoint. Only residents of Jbara and Shufa were able to cross the checkpoint in their own vehicle without needing a special permit.

• In Qalqiliya Governorate, the IDF maintained the restricted movement on the local population in Qalqiliya town. The tunnel between Habla and Qalqiliya town has been closed. The DCO checkpoint has been manned and everyone has been carefully checked when leaving Qalqiliya town. Vehicles are also checked. The movement into Qalqiliya town has been less restrictive.

• 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.

• Barrier gates: no gates have been reported closed, however the opening hours of the gates remain erratic, which is somewhat due to the fact that the same military jeep personnel is responsible for opening multiple gates with the same opening hours. Despite three announced opening hours, the IDF rarely opens the gate at the announced midday hours unless farmers are waiting.

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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:

• 22 to 26 October: The IDF closed Tayasir checkpoint east of Tubas to all Palestinians, including permit holders, from 8am to 3pm.

• 23 October: Major delays occurred at Zaatara (Tappouah) as the IDF delayed Palestinian cars at the checkpoint.

• 24 October: Flying checkpoints were erected south of Jenin near Qabatyia and Kufeirit towns.

• 25 October: A flying checkpoint was erected near Al Lubban ash Sharqiya (Nablus) on Road 60.

• 25 October: Four flying checkpoints were erected around Tubas City on the northern entrance, southern entrance, near El Far'a Camp, and near Tammun village.

• 25 October: Major delays occurred on Zaatara (Tappouah) as the IDF delayed Palestinian cars and settler cars.

Ramallah/Al Bireh governorate:

• 20 October: The IDF reinforced the earth mound on the main road between Umm Safa and Deir as Sudan after Umm Safa villagers had partially opened it. There is now no vehicular access into the village. According to the Palestinian DCL, who raised the issue with the Israeli DCL, the earth mound will remain until the Israeli side is given a guarantee that no stones or Molotov cocktails will be thrown at IDF patrols in the area.

• 21 October: The IDF erected four half earth mounds on the road between An Nabi Salih and Beit Rima in order to slow down Palestinian traffic.

• 24 October: At about 1pm, the Israeli Border Police and IDF set up a checkpoint between Beit ‘Ur at Tahta and Kharbatha al Misbah causing long delays

• 24 to 25 October: The IDF established checkpoints at An Nabi Salih gate on both days from around mid-day to about 6pm to 7pm at night causing long delays for people returning home for the Ramadan “iftar”, breaking of the fast.

• 25 October: The IDF searched cars and checked IDs at Atara checkpoint at around 7am and again from 3pm to 6pm. Many Palestinian commuters were unable to reach home in time for the “iftar”.

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.

• After the construction of the Barrier started northwest of ‘Anata village, Jerusalem district, the Israeli Border Police have on almost a daily basis operated a checkpoint inside the village.

• 22 October: West Bank Palestinian males older than 60 years and females older than 40 were allowed entrance to Al Aqsa for the second Friday prayer of the month of Ramadan. Any other West Bank Palestinian needed a permit.

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 Mt. 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.

Hebron/Bethlehem governorates:

Restrictions on access of Palestinians even with permits to Israel/Jerusalem from Bethlehem district remain tight.

Restrictions were applied at the beginning of the Jewish holidays on 11 September.

• 22 October: The Israeli Border Police closed the road between An Nu'man village, Bethlehem district, and Jerusalem with an earth mound.

• 22 October: Access for Muslim worshippers travelling to the Al Aqsa Mosque on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan at Gilo and Tunnels checkpoints was allowed for Palestinians older than 60 years of age without Jerusalem permits and for those older than 40 with permits. An initial agreement with the Palestinian DCL was supposed to allow women of all ages to cross without the requirement for permits – on 22 October, this was not respected. Men also within the accepted age group were also rejected without explanation.

• 24 October: The IDF placed an additional earth mound on the road leading from At Tuwani village into Al Karmil, Hebron District, preventing the vehicular movement of Palestinians from Masafer/Yatta to the urban area of the governorate.

• 25 October: Family visits to Palestinian relatives imprisoned in Israeli jails resumed through Tarqumiya checkpoint for both the Governorates of Hebron and Bethlehem. The visits had been stopped after the Be‘er Sheva bombing on 31 August.

• 25 to 26 October: Gilo checkpoint is closed to all traffic due to the large influx of Jewish worshippers celebrating the anniversary of the matriarch at Rachel’s Tomb. At the same time, the IDF has kept the Beit Jala DCO checkpoint open for 24 hours.

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.

• 22 to 24 October: The gate was closed; no entry or exit was permitted to anyone, including the 24 students living in the area.

• 25 October: The gate was opened one time only for 45 minutes from 10.40am until 11.25am – as a result students were not able to reach their schools.

• 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 ID 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 in and out of the area and the IDF erected a fence around the area. Movement is restricted by the IDF with the entryexit 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.

• Rafah Terminal: Since 21 October, approximately 50 Palestinian males aged 16 to 35 years old have been allowed to exit the Gaza Strip through Rafah Terminal. However, prior coordination with the IDF is required.

Source OCHA FCUs and UNRWA

7. Olive Harvest incidents

Tulkarm/Qalqiliya/Salfit:

• An agreement was reached between the Israeli DCL and its Palestinian counterpart that farmers will now be allowed to enter their olive groves behind the settlement boundaries of Oranit and Qarne Shameron in Qalqiliya Governorate. The agreement allows the farmers to enter 24 to 30 October between 8am and 4.30 pm.

• Despite ongoing efforts to coordinate between Israeli and Palestinian DCLs, farmers from Kfur Qaddum have still not been able to harvest inside Quedumin settlement in Qalqiliya Governorate. Also farmers from Jit are still not able to reach their land near a settlement outpost in the absence of a coordinated agreement.

• Farmers from An Nabi Elyas in Qalqiliya Governorate continue to encounter difficulties in reaching their land behind the Barrier despite having valid green permits for the Zufin gate. In order to reach their land, farmers have requested permission to travel on the military road along the Barrier. This has been rejected by the IDF.

• In Isla and Kfur Thulth, farmers are still not allowed to bring tractors through the Barrier gates, according to the Palestinian DCL.

Hebron/Bethlehem:

• 25 October: The IDF prevented farmers, supported by 50 internationals and 70 persons from governmental and national organisations, from collecting olives from Beer Oneh, next to Beit Jala city, Bethlehem district, claiming the land belongs to the Jerusalem Municipality and therefore requires a special permit to access it.

Nablus/Jenin/Tubas:

• 26 October: An 18-year-old Palestinian was shot dead by an Israeli settler. The circumstances around the incident are not clear. According to the IDF DCL office in Nablus, the Palestinian tried to enter an Israeli outpost linked to Yits’har settlement and was shot dead by a settler as the Palestinian was running away. According to the office of the governor of Nablus and the head of the village council of ‘Urif, the Palestinian was shot in the abdomen while picking olives near his village of ‘Urif, Nablus district, by an Israeli settler from nearby Yits’har settlement. His body was found in the outskirts of the village of ‘Urif .

Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA, Palestinian DCL

8. Access to schools:

West Bank:

• Due to the current UNRWA staff strike, all classes in UNRWA West Bank schools are suspended.

• Hundreds of students from Abu Dis and Al ‘Eizariya, Jerusalem district, are experiencing difficulties in crossing the gate in the Barrier near Ras al ‘Amud to reach their schools in East Jerusalem each day. The gate is manned by Israeli Border Police and only Palestinians with valid permits or Jerusalem IDs are allowed to cross. Schools in several Palestinian Jerusalem neighbourhoods are becoming overcrowded because many students have been forced to change schools due to Barrier construction.

• 23 October: The IDF prevented the students of 'Asira ash Shamaliya, Nablus district, from reaching their schools (three) while search campaigns were carried out in the village.

• 25 October: The IDF forced the students of two schools in Silat adh Daher, Nablus district, to leave their schools at the beginning of the school day.

Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA, UNICEF, Palestinian DCL

Gaza:

• 22 to 25 October: The 24 students living in As-Seafa were not able to reach their schools since the gate was closed.

• 25 October: As a result of IDF shooting towards Rafah refugee camp, a window was broken at UNRWA’s Rafah Preparatory “A” Boys’ School.

• 25 October: As a result of the IDF incursion into Khan Younis, schooling in most UNRWA and governmental schools in the town and refugee camp was severely disrupted.

• 24 October: As a result of IDF shooting at Tel Es-Sultan quarter in Rafah, a bullet hit a window at UNRWA’s Tel Es-Sultan Elementary “D” Girls’ school in Rafah. Six students and a teacher sustained minor injuries from the flying glass.

Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA, UNICEF

9. Labour movement to Israel

Tulkarm/Qalqiliya/Salfit governorates:

• Over the week, the IDF lifted the movement restrictions into Israel proper allowing Palestinian workers and traders to cross the Green Line and resume their work. However, Palestinian DCL in Qalqiliya reports that on a number of occasions during the week Palestinian workers have been denied access to enter Israel proper through Jaljoulia checkpoint in spite of having a valid permit.

Nablus/Jenin/Tubas governorates:

•  According to Nablus chamber of commerce, industry and agriculture, no permits have been issued to the merchants of Nablus since 9 September 2004.

Jericho governorate:

•  The IDF has decreased the limit of trading permits, valid for three months, from 600 to 70.

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, no workers and/or traders were allowed to enter.

Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA, UNSCO, Palestinian DCL

10. Other:

Nablus/Jenin/Tubas

• 21 October: Two Palestinians were injured in Nablus city during clashes with IDF.

• 26 October: One Palestinian was injured in Al Yamun village west of Jenin during clashes with the IDF.

• IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place during the week in Nablus city and Askar Camp (Nablus). Four Palestinians were reported arrested.

Tulkarm/Qalqiliya/Salfit

• 25 October: One member of Hamas was reported arrested by the IDF in Tulkarm town.

Ramallah /Al Bireh

• IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place during the week in Qarawat Bani Zeid, Al Bireh, Kafr Ni’ma, Deir Ghassana, Beituniya, Qalandiya and At Tira. Fifty-one Palestinians were arrested.

• 22 October: At about 7pm, the Ramadan evening prayers were disrupted when an IDF patrol fired sound and light bombs while searching one house in Deir Ghassana. Throughout the week, almost on daily basis, the IDF carried out military activities, including house searches and arrest campaigns, in the village.

• 23 to 24 October: The IDF detonated explosives in a cave in the centre of the village near the olive press claiming that “wanted” Palestinians used it to hide in.

• 25 October: Four Palestinians were arrested at about 3am.

• 25 October: In Qarawat Bani Zeid, an IDF patrol fired sound bombs around the mosque at about 7pm, thus disrupting the Ramadan evening prayers. The patrol had surrounded a house in the village, and arrested one Palestinian.

Jerusalem/Jericho governorates:

• IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place during the week in Abu Dis, Jerusalem district, and in Aqbat Jaber camp, Jericho. Four Palestinians were arrested.

• 24 October: Palestinians threw stones at a passing Israeli plated vehicle on Road 60 south, between Jerusalem and Hebron. One Israeli was lightly injured.

Hebron/Bethlehem

• 20 October: Sixteen shops were allowed to reopen on the new Shalala street, Hebron city. The shops were closed by military order three years ago. The shops were reopened after negotiations between the Hebron Chamber of Commerce and the IDF because of the improvement in area security.

• 20 October: The IDF imposed curfew on Husan village, Bethlehem district, after some Palestinians stoned settlers' vehicles passing on the bypass Road 375.

• 22 October: Thirteen thousand Muslim were allowed access to the Al Ibrahimi Mosque, Hebron city, for Friday prayers. Following an agreement between the IDF and the Palestinian Authority, the site (including the Jewish side) was opened to worshippers, as was the external garden. The arrangement also allows for Muslims to visit the holy site for evening prayers during Ramadan: a daily average of 2,000 entries has been recorded so far.

• 24 October: Palestinians hurled a burning tire with six explosive devices at an Israeli bus passing on bypass Road 60 near Al 'Arrub camp, Hebron district. Three explosives exploded and the IDF detonated the others, no injuries were reported.

• 24 October: A group of settlers from the outpost of Havat Ma'on stoned students from Tuba, while they were on their way to school – on the only access road available- in At Tuwani village, Hebron district. No injuries were reported.

• 20 October to date: Search and arrest campaigns took place in Hebron city, Yatta, Dura, Ad Dhahiriya, Al Burj, Al 'Arrub camp, Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Al Khadr and Al Ma'asra with 26 Palestinians arrested in total.

• Since the beginning of the UNRWA local employee strike in the West Bank on 11 October, all service provision to refugees in education, health and relief and social services has been stopped. In Hebron and Bethlehem, at least 100,000 refugees are affected by the strike with 30,000 students in 21 UNRWA school losing already 14 school days. In the health sector, clinics servicing about 2,000 refugees per day have not been opened; outpatients have instead been accessing governmental facilities. Inside the camps, where UNRWA provides sanitation services, no garbage collection has been carried out since the beginning of the strike. About 80% of the refugees have not been able to claim food rations, cash assistance and many other relief services provided. Similar situations have been reported in other West Bank areas.

Gaza:

• 21 October: A senior leader in the military wing of Hamas and his assistant were killed in an IAF air missile attack on Gaza City.

• 21 October: One IDF soldier was killed when a roadside bomb went off under an IDF tank patrolling the border fence on the Philadelphia corridor.

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

Human Rights, IDF

END