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
Protection of Civilians – Weekly Briefing Notes
14 – 20 September 2005
Protection – Deaths and injuries . Shelter and Property – People displaced, House demolitions, Demolition orders . Natural Resources – Land levelling, Requisitions, Tree Uprooting . Restrictions on Medical 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
Of note this week:
• The withdrawal of Israeli soldiers resulted in a major improvement in internal access throughout the Gaza Strip, in particular the enclaves of As Seafa, Al Mawasi, Al Ma’ani, Abu Nahia and Abu al Ajin.
1. Physical Protection1
Casualty Incidents:
2. Shelter and Property
3. Natural Resources
Land levelling/Requisitions/Tree Uprooting2
Nablus and Tubas Governorates:
• No incidents to report.
Jenin Governorate:
• 20 September: The IDF paved and surrounded with barbed wire an area of approximately 30 dunums (3.0 hectares) west of the Barrier near Dhaher al Malih village.
Tulkarm Governorate:
• Ongoing incidents:
Qalqiliya Governorate:
• 15 September: The Israeli High Court of Justice ruled that Israel must reconsider an alternative route for the Barrier around the Alfei Menashe settlement after a petition was submitted by the residents of five Palestinian villages located inside the closed area.
• Ongoing incidents:
Salfit Governorate:
• 14 September: The Palestinian DCL received two land requisition orders: T/163/05 for 23.5 dunums (2.35 hectares) in Bruqin and No 321/5729/1969 for 0.4 dunums (0.04 hectares) in Haris. Both requisition orders are for the purpose of erecting military observation towers.
• Ongoing incidents:
Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:
• Ongoing incidents:
Hebron Governorate:
• 15 September: IDF bulldozers started levelling agricultural land belonging to Palestinian farmers from H2 area, Hebron city, around the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba. The land is used for vineyards and provides the main source of income for six Palestinian families living in the area. According to a previous requisition order the land will be used to create a security road.
• Ongoing incidents:
Bethlehem Governorate:
• 15 September: 31 fruit trees belonging to a Palestinian farmer from Khallet Zakariya were cut down adjacent to Alon Shvut settlement.
• 15 September: The IDF issued requisition order, T/157/05, for 21 dunums (2.1 hectares) of agricultural land belonging to Palestinian farmers from the towns of Al Khadr and Beit Jala. The land is to be used to expand the Tunnel checkpoint on Road No. 60.
• Ongoing incidents:
Jerusalem Governorate:
• 16 September: Israeli contractors carried out excavation work under Palestinian houses located near the Al Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem Old City.
• Ongoing incidents:
Jericho Governorate:
• No incidents to report.
The Gaza Strip:
• 18 September: IDF bulldozers supported by IDF armored vehicles entered approximately 200 metres into the Palestinian area east of Beit Hanoun near the border fence with Israel. The bulldozers started to establish what is believed to be a new buffer zone along the security fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
____________
1 Not included in the total for the reporting period.
2 4 dunums = 1 acre; 10 dunums = 1 hectare
4. Access for Medical Assistance
West Bank:
5. Access and Movement for Civilians
a) Curfew
• 16 September: The IDF announced curfew on Zububa village, Jenin, for 11 hours during a search campaign.
b) Access to Education
Hebron:
• 14- 20 September: Teachers coming from the Palestinian towns of Yatta and Samu’ were unable to reach Imneizil elementary school as IDF soldiers managing Beit Yatir checkpoint denied them access and detained them for several hours. The teachers had previously been denied entry at this checkpoint on 7 and 8 September 2005 for not holding the correct permits and the school was closed for these two days.
• 15 September: Teachers and students from Cordoba elementary school in the H2 area, Hebron city were attacked by group of settlers from the Israeli settlement of Beit Hadassah. The settlers threw stones and empty bottles towards the Palestinians.
• Ongoing incidents:
c) Access to Employment
West Bank:
September
The Gaza Strip:
As of 9 September, the total number of Gaza Strip workers permits was 278 including 124 with overnight stay. All workers must be 35 or older and married with children. Overnight stay permits are only issued for workers aged 40 and older.
d) Closures/Movement restrictions
Israeli restrictions during the evacuation of four settlements in the northern West Bank continued to affect access for some Palestinians in the West Bank, particularly in Nablus and Jenin. Movement restrictions are still in place on Road No. 60 from Shave Shomeron settlement to Araba junction, on Road No. 585 from Araba junction to Quffin entrance and on the section of Road No. 60 from Kadim and Gamin settlements to Jalama Barrier gate.
Nablus Governorate:
• 17 September: The IDF withdrew from the Khomesh settlement as part of the Israeli disengagement plan.
• 21 August to date: All the entrances connecting Sabastiya village with Road No. 60 are blocked by earth mounds.
• Ongoing incidents:
• 20 September: The IDF withdrew from Sa Nur settlement as part of the Israeli disengagement plan.
• 21 August to date: The IDF closed all the entrances to Ya’bad village with road blocks and earth mounds. Only one alternative road is open towards Jenin city through Kufeirit village.
• 21 August to date: The IDF closed Road No. 585 from Arraba junction to Qaffin junction with three checkpoints preventing Palestinians from travelling on the road. Palestinians are using alternative dirt roads to reach Jenin city.
Tubas Governorate:
• Ongoing incidents:
Tulkarm Governorate:
• 17 September: The IDF closed the Kafriat tunnel under Road No. 57 for several hours and prevented Palestinian vehicular movement between Tulkarm and the southern villages.
• Ongoing incidents:
Qalqiliya Governorate:
• No major incidents to report.
Salfit Governorate:
• No major incidents to report.
Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:
• Approximately 500 permits were issued to Christians from Ramallah to access Jerusalem for religious ceremonies in the city.
• Ongoing incidents:
Jerusalem Governorate:
• No major incidents to report.
Jericho Governorate:
• Ongoing incidents:
Hebron Governorate:
• 14 September: The IDF has constructed a new permanent checkpoint on the main entrance to the Palestinian village of Ar Ramadin. The IDF soldiers check and search Palestinians travelling to and from Palestinian villages around Ar Ramadin area (approximately 4,000 Palestinian residents). The checkpoint also restricts the movement of Palestinians and Arab Israelis on Road No. 325.
• 15 September: The IDF relocated concrete road blocks from the entrance of the New Al – Shallalah Street to the H1 – H2 area border on the same street. New road blocks were installed on the entrance of the Old Al – Shallalah Street in H2 area, Hebron city.
• Ongoing incidents:
Bethlehem Governorate:
• Ongoing incidents:
West Bank: Reported flying checkpoints
The Gaza Strip:
• 14 September: The IDF announced that Israeli citizens and people permanently residing in Israel, including Palestinians with Jerusalem IDs, are prohibited from entering the Gaza Strip via the Erez crossing.
6. Additional Protection Issues
• 15 September: Three armed Israeli settlers entered a Palestinian area near ‘Ein ad Duyuk, Jericho and were escorted out by the IDF after liaison through the Palestinian DCL.
• 19 September: A South African journalist was abducted in Gaza city. After a police chase the kidnappers pushed him out of the car and escaped.
Searches/Arrests/Detentions
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Subject: Access and movement, Closures/Curfews/Blockades, Economic issues, Fence, Incidents, Protection, Separation barrier, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem, Wall
Publication Date: 20/09/2005