OPT: Protection of civilians – OCHA Weekly report (9-15 April 2008)

OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS

P.O. Box 38712, East Jerusalem, Phone: (+972) 2-582 9962 / 582 5853, Fax: (+972) 2-582 5841 ochaopt@un.org, www.ochaopt.org

Protection of Civilians Weekly Report

9 – 15 APRIL 2008

Of note this week

Gaza Strip:

· The IDF killed 21 Palestinians and injured 56 others. These include six Palestinians killed (including three children) and 24 injured (including four children) by tank shells during the IDF incursion into east of Al Bureij CamP between 11 and 12 April.

· One IDF soldier was killed and four others were injured by Palestinian militants’ gunfire. In addition, two Israelis employed at Nahal Oz fuel crossing were killed when Palestinian militants infiltrated into the crossing and opened fire at them.

· The Israeli authorities closed Nahal Oz fuel crossing one day following an attack by Palestinian militants. This resulted in additional fuel shortages affecting all aspects of daily life in Gaza.

· Israeli patrol boats opened fire on two occasions towards Palestinian fishing boats, forcing them to return to shore.

· The Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out 12 air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

· Twenty-four rockets and 67 mortars were fired towards Israel and 148 mortars were fired at IDF soldiers inside the Gaza Strip.

West Bank:

· Out of eight Palestinians injured by the IDF, seven were injured in clashes between the IDF and Palestinian stone throwers at ‘Azzun Atma barrier checkpoint when the IDF attempted to search school children returning home from a school trip. In addition, three Palestinians were injured by Israeli settlers in the Nablus and Qalqiliya governorates.

· One Israeli man was injured by a stone thrown by Palestinians at a bus near Hizma village (Jerusalem) and one Israeli activist was injured by the IDF in an anti-Barrier demonstration in the Ramallah governorate.

· Armed Palestinians opened fire at the convoy of the Governor of Nablus in Balata refugee camp. Four Palestinians were injured in clashes between the armed men and Palestinian Security Forces and the governor’s vehicle was burnt down (Nablus).

· Twelve students at Hebron University were injured in unarmed clashes between Fatah and Hamas supporters.

· Two houses were demolished by the Israeli authorities in ‘Anata and Beit Hanin (Jerusalem) due to the lack of building permits, resulting in the displacement of 17 Palestinians, including nine children.

· The IDF prevented the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (a local NGO) from rehabilitating 70 dunums of agricultural land in Al Jamrourah area, near the town of Beit Ula, claiming that the land is “state land” (Hebron).

· Sixty-three flying checkpoints, 128 search operations and 79 arrests/detentions were reported.

Full report: