OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes - OPT (14-20 January 2004) - OCHA report

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OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes

Update for oPt (14 – 20 January 2004)

INSIDEINSIDE: Casualties — Incidents involving ambulances — Curfew — House demolition — Land levelling/confiscation — Checkpoints/roadblocks/Separation Wall/restrictions on movement — Access to Schools — Labour movement to Israel — Other incidents

1. Casualties

Palestinians: 2 deaths, 34 injured
Israelis: 4 deaths, 10 injured

2. Incidents involving ambulances and medical teams

Denial of access: 1 incident
Delay (40 — 210 min.): 10 incidents

3. Curfews

Curfews were reported in the following locations: Tulkarm Refugee Camp, Deir Abu Mishal, Beituniya, Jit and al Mawasi Rafah (1 day).

4. House demolitions/Demolition Orders

DATE	LOCATION	Completely Demolished	Partially Demolished
14/01/2004	Rafah	2	1
15/01/2004	Deir al Balah	4	2
15/01/2004	Tulkarm Refugee Camp	2	0
16/01/2004	Rafah	3	0
17/01/2004	Rafah	10 (including a 4-storey building)	0
18/01/2004	Rafah	2	0
19/01/2004	Rafah	0	3
19/01/2004	Yatta	1	0
20/01/2004	Rafah	21 and 1 mosque	14
TOTAL		45 (including a 4-storey building) & 1 mosque	20

5. Land levelling/confiscation

Palestinian residents of Anata and Shufat Refuge camp received a confiscation order from the Israeli Ministry of Defence for about 110 dunom (27.5 acres) for the construction of the wall. The Wall will cut off the Anata Refugee Camp in the Jerusalem municipality boundaries from east Jerusalem. The total number of affected population by the Wall is estimated at more than 20,000.

Gaza:

Date	Area	(dunums)	Acres	Crop
17/01/2004	Rafah	15	3.75	Green houses with cucumbers and tomatoes.
TOTAL		15	3.75

6. Checkpoints/roadblocks/Separation Wall/restrictions on movement

– Tulkarm/Qalqiliya governorates:

Last week continued to see a relative relaxation in the movement with no major restrictions imposed on the local population in both Tulkarem and Qalqilya governorates. All checkpoints have been operational and in general only few military operations took place. However, restrictions in the movement were enforced twice this week in selected areas following "security alerts", where numerous flying checkpoints were established on road 55 in Qalqilya governorate on 19 January.
15 January: The two road gates at Baqa Ash Sharqiya and Qaffin were reported closed for approximately five hours on between 16:00 and 21:00 following a "security alert". According to the Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network, more than 400 people were prevented from reaching their homes during this time of closure. This is the first time these two gates have been closed for a period of this length. Apart from the ongoing construction through Nazlat Isa, no other concrete steps have been taken on the ground to continue or alter the route of the wall in conjunction with the third phase. According to the DCL Office in Qalqilya no military orders have yet been issued. For the same reason, the DCL confirmed this week that further construction of the wall south of Masha in Salfit district has been suspended pending a political decision on its further direction.
The following agricultural gates have been reported closed during the week; Qalqilya south, Zeita south, Attil, Salman, Isla, Jayyous south and Izbat Jalud. These gates remain the same as reported closed previously. The opening hours of the other agricultural gates remain the same as previously reported.

– Nablus/Jenin/Tubas governorates:

The majority of check points in the Nablus governorate have been closed for Palestinians since 27 December 2003. Since 09 January Palestinians over 40 years old were to cross the checkpoints, however with significant delays. A new check point was established at the entrance of Salem, Deir Al Hatab and ‘Azmut villages prohibiting Palestinians less than 35 years old from crossing the check point. Flying checkpoints were erected at the junction between Qabatiya, Jenin and Birqin, and on Haifa Street all week
17.1 IDF entered Tubas city and closed its southern entrances with check points, preventing the movement of Palestinians. No arrests, clashes or injuries were reported.

– Ramallah/al-Bireh/Beituniya governorates:

Ongoing construction of the Wall in Rantis towards Budrus.
14 January: Ras Karkar, Al Janiya, Kafr Ni’ma, Bil’in and Ni’lin are closed off following the killing of an Israeli settler close to Talamon settlement on 13 January.
14 January: Two road blocks were re-installed closing off vehicle traffic between Beitunia and ‘Ain Arik causing further restrictions on movement.
18 January: IDF closed Abud dirt road from road 465 following the shooting towards an Israeli settler close to Khalamish settlement.

– Jerusalem/Jericho governorates:

Ongoing construction of the Wall in different sections in Khallet a Nu’man and north near Har Hommah , Ash Sheikh Sa’ad.and Sour Baher
The construction of the Wall in as Sawahriya ash Sharqiya, Abu Dis and Eizariya east of the Mount of Olives near Beit Fagi monastery is rapidly progressing in terms of installing a 9-meter concrete blocks to close the remaining section of the passage from Eizariyah to Mount of Olives.
Ongoing Wall construction opposite az Zayem Checkpoint, where land levelling down to the east in the valley to Maaly Adoumim to be completed.
In Abu Dis junction IDF declared an area of about 100 m2 close to the Wall a closed military zone.

– Bethlehem/Hebron governorates:

Movement of al Walaja continue to deteriorate as the checkpoint at the entrance to the village, and the only access road available to cars, continues to pose movement restrictions despite clarifications from the commander of the checkpoint, who confirmed that no permits are required. This has serious implications for the movement of emergency services after Beit Jala DCO opening hours as the only other route to the village from Bethlehem is via route 60, Efrata bypass and up north, through the Noqedim checkpoint.
Villagers in Idhna and Tarqoumia continue to open the earth mounds placed on the access roads from route 35. There is now a regular pattern of placement of mounds and removal from locals which is accompanied by frequent incursions in the village by Border Police vehicles. It appears that the heightened activity in this area is related to concerns by the Border Police over shootings taking place at Israeli-plated vehicles travelling on route 35.
Movement between Hebron and Bethlehem governorates continues to be possible along secondary roads where Palestinian-plated vehicles do not require permits.
Ongoing construction of the new “security road” on the northern side of Kiryat Arba, Hebron, continues.
16 January: Israeli contractors started levelling land on the western side of the main road between Gilo check point and Rachel’s Tomb for the construction of the Wall. Land levelling on the eastern side has not stopped since 21st of DecemberWork continues on the section of the Wall turning north at the Jordanian cemetery, near the village of An Nu’man, Bethlehem district. The total number of valid permits for buses of the Hebron national bus company is 32, of which 24 for public transport between Hebron and Bethlehem and 8 for movement between Hebron and Jericho. No new permits were issued this week and part of these permits will finish on 23 January and the rest will finish on 29 January.
Thirteen new West Bank bypass road permits were issued to private vehicles by the Hebron DCL. The total valid now is 66.
Palestinians are still able to travel with their own private vehicles from Yatta to Bethlehem without the need for a permit.

Gaza crossings/checkpoints:

6 January: IDF has erected a 200- meter barbed wire across the 2 sides of Kissufim road. IDF forced a Palestinian family to evacuate the house since it’s lined on the new security zone.

The enclosed areas:

Al Seafa: Movement remains restricted by the IDF with the entry-exit gate opening twice daily for Al Seafa ID holders from 07.00 to 09.00 and 14.30 to 17.00. Motor vehicles are not allowed to enter since November 2000, with the exception of international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF.
Al Mawasi: IDF imposed restrictions remain, with no passage 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. Since 15 January Tel as-Sultan checkpoint in (RAFAH) was completely closed while at-Toffah checkpoint in (KHAN YOUNIS) has only been open for men from 08:00 -16:00. Women are not permitted to cross.

7. Labour movement to Israel

West Bank:

No new work permits were issued in the governorates of Tulkarm and Qalqiliya since 25 December. However, a further total of 134 trader permits were issued this week for Qalqilya.
In Hebron, 16 new workers’ permits were issued this week for a total of 88 valid ones; around 570 permits were issued for traders last week but no new permits this week. In Bethlehem district no workers’ permits were released while another 20 traders’ permits were issued this week for a total of 59 valid ones.

Gaza

18 January: IDF re-opened Erez crossing but passage was only granted for workers over 35 years old compared to 28 years old earlier. Despite the re-opening of the crossing, only 1,445 Palestinian workers were able to enter Israel as a result of the tight new security checks at Erez.
11,724 permits to enter Israel were issued to Palestinian agricultural and construction workers and 1,325 traders.

8. Other incidents

Tulkarm/Qalqiliya governorates

15 January: The IDF entered Tulkarm Refugee Camp around 2:00 and placed part of the camp under curfew. Two houses were demolished and six people were arrested during the operation. There have been no reports on injuries and casualties. The IDF withdrew from the camp around 09:30.
19 January: A woman, allegedly deaf, was shot by the IDF near the villages of Saniria and Beit Amin and was transported to the hospital in Tel Aviv for treatment after her identity was confirmed. According to the DCL in Qalqilya, the IDF shot the woman following a security alert of a possible suicide attack (after several warning shots).

Nablus/Jenin/Tubas governorates

Nightly incursions and arrests continued almost on a daily basis. Despite this, last week was calmer than any week since 15 December 2003. The Municipality of Beit Furik opened up earth mounds blocking the villages of Beit Furik and Beit Dajjan since 28 December 2003.
14 January: IDF entered Beit Dajjan village east of Nablus shooting randomly. A 50-year old woman, a mother of nine children, was injured in the arm, leg and chest at home. A PRCS ambulance tried to evacuate her from the village but was stopped by the IDF, before an IDF helicopter took her to a hospital in Israel.
14 January: IDF detained a number of Palestinians into the Shave Shomeron settlement till evening hours, while they were trying to cross the Shave Shomeron checkpoint.
14 January: an IDF soldier harassed a Samaritan Rabbi when he was trying to cross at Attur checkpoint.
16 January: a 15-year old youth sustained injuries when IDF shot at him when he was in a taxi near Akraba
17 January: IDF entered Tell village south of Nablus announcing a curfew on the village and surrounded the house of a Palestinian whose daughter is wanted by the IDF. IDF threatened to demolish the house if the daughter did not surrender. The woman was not at home.
19 January: Fifty settlers from the settlement of Homesh rolled rocks from the new fence of the settlement overlooking the village of Burqa; some houses sustained damage as they were hit by the rocks.
Arrests and incursions continued in the Jenin governorate. Jenin city was under strict closure between 15 and 17 January.

Ramallah/Al-Bireh/Beituniya governorates:

Search and arrest campaigns took place during the week in the Ramallah governorate.
17 January: Palestinian gunmen shot at an IDF patrol vehicle close to Silwad village. No injuries reported.
18 January: Palestinian gunmen shot at an Israeli settler car close to Khalamish settlement. One Israeli settler was injured. Following the attack, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians and their property in Beitillu. IDF arrived and put an end to the aggression.

Hebron/Bethlehem governorates:

15 January: According to the Land Defence Committee of Hebron, 3 helicopters belonging to the Israeli Department of Environment sprayed an area of approximately 1,000 dunum with crop-damaging chemicals near Khirbet Qawawis, south east of Hebron.
15 January: Settlers from Ghush Etzion damaged two green houses and uprooted some grape trees in Kherbet Beit Iskarya in Bethlehem District.
16 January: a private kindergarten next to Alia hospital in H1, Hebron city, was broken into and searched by the IDF.

Gaza

14 January: Four Israelis soldiers were killed and ten injured when a 22 years old female suicide bomber blew herself up at the entrance of Erez Industrial Zone.
15 January: Following the suicide bombing at Erez crossing, IDF Sealed off the Gaza Strip and completely blocked Erez checkpoint, Erez Industrial Zone, Sofa crossing and partially Rafah Terminal.
16 January: 2 IDF tanks and 2 bulldozers moved into Oraybah area in Rafah completely demolishing three houses. Later when the families returned to the site, the IDF severely beat 3 people.
19 January: A 27-year old man, was killed when an unexploded mortar shell went off when trying to take it away from his hen house in Khan Yunis.

(Source: OCHA field units, UNRWA, UNSCO, PRCS, MoH, UHHC, Governors’ office, Israeli MoFA & IDF web sites, Al Mizan, PCHR)

END

OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes – OPT (14-20 January 2004) – OCHA report

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OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes – OPT (14-20 January 2004) – OCHA report

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