OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes – OPT (2 – 8 Mar 2005) – 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 (2 – 8 March 2005)

INSIDE:   Physical Protection – Deaths and Injuries — Shelter and Property – People displaced/House demolition/Demolition orders — Natural Resources – Land levelling/Requisitions/Tree Uprooting — Facilitation of Humanitarian 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

1. Physical Protection

Deaths and Injuries

Palestinians: Deaths: 2; Injured: 18 (approximate)

Israelis: Deaths: 0; Injured: 7 (approximate)

Internationals: Deaths: 0; Injured: 0

Selected incidents:

• 2 March: A 13-year-old boy was injured by IDF gunfire near Rafiah Yam settlement in Rafah, Gaza.

• 2 March: Two Israelis were injured near Ofra settlement, northeast of Ramallah, when unknown Palestinians threw two firebombs at their vehicle while they travelling on bypass Road 60 near the settlement.

• 2 March: A settler shot a Palestinian injuring his hand in Ramin, Tulkarm.

• 3 March: Three settlers were injured when Palestinians stoned Israeli vehicles on Road 443 near Saffa village, west of Ramallah.

• 4 March: The IDF fired plastic–coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at Palestinian demonstrating against the construction of the Barrier and levelling of agricultural land. Sixteen people were reported injured.

• 5 March: Palestinian residents who recently returned to their cave dwellings in the village of Qawawis, south Hebron in the Masafer Yatta area, were attacked by a group of Israeli settlers who then occupied their houses for a few hours. The IDF and the police, called to the scene, asked all the Palestinians to leave the area except for the heads of four households. The Palestinians were allowed by court order to return to their caves last week.

• 5 March: An elderly Palestinian farmer from Yasuf, Salfit, was injured and transferred to Rafedia hospital in Nablus after he reportedly was attacked by six Israeli settlers.

• 5 March: Palestinian militants shot dead a Palestinian alleged collaborator in Ramallah city.

• 6 March: One Palestinian was shot dead by a Palestinian policeman during a clash in Ramallah city.

• 7 March: Two Palestinian women and one man from Al Karmil were injured after being stoned and beaten by masked settlers trying to remove them from the area where they were grazing their flock. The attack took place in south Hebron in an agricultural area just north of Road 317 close to the settlement of Ma’on.

• 7 and 8 March: The IDF used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters demonstrating against Barrier construction in the Bil’in village area, west of Ramallah. Thirteen Palestinians were reported injured, including three children.

Sources: OCHA FCU, PRCS, UNRWA, WHO, IDF website, Israeli MoFA, offices of governors.

2. Shelter and Property

People displaced/House demolitions/Demolition orders

West Bank:

3 March: The IDF occupied a building at the eastern entrance of Nablus city and used it as an observation point for several hours. Residents of the building were not allowed to leave the building during the period.

3 March: The IDF occupied several buildings in Salim village east of Nablus city and used them as observation points for several hours. Movement of the building residents was restricted during the period.

3 March: Bedouins living near Az Zawiya, Salfit, were told to leave the area as it is considered "state land". The Bedouins left the area after a 24-hour verbal warning was given.

3 March: The IDF handed over a demolition order for a house belonging to a Palestinian family in Wadi Fukin, Bethlehem Governorate, giving the owner a one-month deadline to carry out the demolition. The house, inhabited by five persons (including 3 children) is to be demolished because it is built on “state land” according to the IDF. The owner will have to carry out the demolition himself or bear the costs incurred by the IDF if the latter will undertake it.

The Gaza Strip:

•  No incidents reported.

Sources:  OCHA FCU, UNRWA

3.  Natural Resources

Land levelling/Requisitions/Tree Uprooting1

West Bank:

2 to 8 March: Levelling of land near Kafriat checkpoint, Tulkarm, continued in preparation for a new tunnel under Road 557.

3 March: A group of Israeli settlers disrupted water rehabilitation work at Beita, Nablus.

3 March: The IDF issued four requisition orders covering nearly 1,400 dunums (140 hectares) of land in south Hebron for the construction of the Barrier. The four orders cover a stretch of land running from the southern part of Ar Ramadin toward the Israeli settlement of Beit Yatir mostly along the West Bank side of the Green Line.

6 March: Settlers from Susya, south of the city of Hebron, have fenced in and planted on 40 dunums (4 hectares) of agricultural land on the eastern side of the settlement. The land belongs to two Palestinian Bedouin families from Yatta who have been prevented from accessing their lands for the past two months. No military requisition orders have been issued for the land.

7 and 8 March: In Ramallah Governorate, Israeli contractors resumed land levelling west of Bil’in village heading south toward Saffa village for the construction of the Barrier.

8 March: Settlers from Kiryat Arba, in Hebron, have continued working on a new road connecting a secondary entrance of the settlement to “Prayers Road”. According to the office of the governor in Hebron, electricity poles erected last week have now been connected with electrical wiring. The IDF confirmed that there is no military order issued to confiscate the land on which the road is being built.

_____________

1 4 dunums = 1 acre; 10 dunums = 1 hectare

Jerusalem Barrier:

North West Jerusalem Villages:

2 to 8 March: Land levelling continued throughout the week southwest of Beit Surik. A number of trees were also uprooted. Levelling also continued between Har Adar settlement near Beit Surik and Beit Liqya in the West.

North Jerusalem:

2 to 8 March: Land levelling continued for the construction of the new terminal checkpoint located south of the current Qalandia checkpoint and west of the Barrier. Construction and land levelling also continued east of Qalandia checkpoint for the construction of new Israeli DCL offices, a parking lot and a road to connect Road 60 from the Qalandia area to Ar Ram Jaba Road. Land levelling and construction also continued alongside the road between Jaba and Hizma and Anata.

East Jerusalem:

2 to 8 March: Land levelling continued east of Ar Ram near the Coptic housing project and Wadi Ayyad near Neve Yaakov settlement, and on the northern side of Anata and Shufat refugee camp.

3 March: The IDF issued a requisition order covering 2 dunums (0.2 hectares) for Barrier construction in Eizariyeh.

The Gaza Strip:

• No incidents reported.

Sources: OCHA FCU, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, UNRWA, Palestinian DCL, Village Council

4.  Facilitation of Humanitarian Assistance

Incidents involving safety and movement of ambulances and medical teams

West Bank:

Denial of access: 2

Delay (30 minutes): 1

Shooting/Damage to Ambulance: 0

3 March: A medical team from the Ministry of Health was denied access to Salim village, Nablus, as the area was declared a closed military area.

The Gaza Strip:

Denial of access: 1

Delay (more 30 minutes): 3

Shooting/Damage to Ambulance: 0

7 March: Two MOH ambulances were delayed at Erez crossing for four hours and then denied access while transporting a patient from the Gaza Strip to Israel.

8 March: A group of six cancer patients was delayed for six hours at Erez crossing; they decided to return to the Gaza Strip.

Sources: OCHA FCU, WHO, PRCS, Palestinian MoH

5. Access and Movement for Civilians

A. Curfews

2 March: The IDF placed Abu Dis, Sawahra Sharqiya and Izariya under curfew for several hours and Al Quds University students were held inside the campus for several hours.

7 March: The IDF placed the old city of Hebron under curfew around noon. The curfew was lifted at 2pm the following day.

Sources: OCHA FCU, Village Councils, UNRWA, Palestinian DCL

B. Access to Education

West Bank:

3 March: Students of Salim village, Nablus, were not allowed to reach their schools in the village due to IDF presence in the area.

5 March: Students from Sarra, Tell and Qusin villages were denied access to An Najah University due to a flying checkpoint on the road that connects the three villages to Nablus city.

6 March: The IDF entered Zeita, Tulkarm, and detained three pupils in the elementary school for three hours.

The Gaza Strip:

• During the reporting period, the 24 pupils living in As-Seafa continued to reach their schools late because they were delayed at the As Seafa gate. Upon return, the pupils were again delayed for several hours and were not allowed to enter the area before approximately 3.30pm.

Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA, UNICEF, Palestinian DCL

C. Access to Employment

West Bank: (most recent figures listed below)

Bethlehem: As of 1 March there are 1,472 active permits for workers and 1,081 for traders in Bethlehem Governorate (according to the Israeli DCL).

Hebron: No figures were available from the Israeli DCL in Hebron.

Nablus district: A total of 700 permits for traders and 509 for workers have been issued for the period 1 to 28 February.

Jenin: A total of 290 permits for traders have been issued for the period 1to 28 February.

Tubas: A total of 150 permits for traders and 102 for workers have been issued for the period 1 to 28 February.

Ramallah/Al Bireh: A total of 1,100 permits for traders and 1,269 for workers have been issued for the period 1 January to 1 March.

Tulkarm: A total of 1,307 permits for workers have been issued for the period 1 to 28 February.

Qalqiliya: A total of 387 permits for workers have been issued for the period 1 to 28 February.

Salfit: A total of 531 permits for workers have been issued for the period 1to 28 February.

The Gaza Strip:

2 March: Israeli authorities issued 1,126 permits for Palestinian workers and 423 permits for merchants aged 35 years and older.

D. Closure/Movement Restrictions

In addition to flying the checkpoints noted below, at least 15 others were set up during the week for various amounts of time.

Tulkarm Governorate:

6 March: The IDF set up flying checkpoints on the main road from Tulkarm city to Qaffin in the north.

Qalqiliya Governorate:

2 to 8 March: Since last week’s suicide attack in Tel Aviv, residents of the five communities around Alfe Menashe settlement have not been allowed to the cross the Barrier gate near Ras Atiya in their own vehicles. The prohibition has not been applied to four taxi owners that are licensed (green permits) to enter the closed area.

Nablus Governorate:

3 March: Shepherds from Salim village were denied access to their sheep’s grazing fields when the village was declared a closed military area.

Ramallah/Al Bireh Governorate

7 March: Palestinian farmers from Sinjil village, north Ramallah, were able to plough their lands near Eli settlement after liaison between Palestinian DCL and Israeli DCL.

Jerusalem Barrier:

2 March: The IDF was placed on high alert for eight hours following reports of a possible attack inside Jerusalem. The checkpoints at Qalandia, Ar Ram and Wadi Nar were closed and Palestinians were denied access for several hours. The IDF also deployed several flying checkpoints on the main road in the Jerusalem area.
2 to 8 March: The IDF closed the main road at Ar Ram because of Barrier construction between Qalandiya and Ar Ram checkpoints and near ARram Bir Nabalah junction.
South Jerusalem Sur Bahir
2 to 8 March: Barrier construction continued on the eastern side and on the southern side of the village.

Bethlehem Governorate:

The ministry of tourism in Bethlehem said a total of 9,556 tourists visited Bethlehem in February.

Hebron Governorate:

8 March: The IDF increased the closures along Road 317 in the south of Hebron to prevent Palestinian vehicular movement across the road, which is used mostly by settlers to commute to Israel. Earth mounds and new trenches have been built along the road in the area of Al Kharaba. Further east, villagers from At Tuwani are still prevented from crossing Road 317 in front of their village by a continuous wall of earth mounds and rocks.

The Enclosed Areas in the Gaza Strip:

As-Seafa
On 13 February, the IDF started to allow Palestinians aged 30 and older residing in As-Seafa to pass in and out of the area without prior coordination. Males and females aged between 16 and 30 years are still required to have 48-hour prior coordination. The gate opens two times a day: 7.30am and 2pm. No vehicular movement is permitted. Coordination for international organisations to enter the area has been extremely problematic.
4 to 5 March: The IDF opened the gate for one hour only.
5 to 8 March: The IDF has not been allowing residents of As Seafa to bring in any commodities.
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. Women are now allowed in and out with no age restrictions. Vehicles are not allowed to pass, with some exceptions given for international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF. On 4 February, the IDF reopened the checkpoint for all Palestinians except males aged between 16 and 35 years who need prior coordination. Tel Es-Sultan checkpoint remained closed.
Al Maa’ni
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 into and out of the area and the IDF erected a fence around the area. Movement is restricted by the IDF with the entry-exit 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.

Source: OCHA FCUs and UNRWA

6. Additional Protection Issues

Searches and Arrests

Nablus/Jenin/Tubas
2 to 8 March: IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in Silat adh Dhahr , Jenin City (Jenin), Ein el Beida (Tubas), Qabatiya, Nablus City (Nablus). In total, 21 Palestinians were reported arrested including to youths, 16 and 17 years of age.

Tulkarm/Qalqiliya/Salfit
2 to 8 March: IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in Attil, Illar, Bal’a, Anabta (Tulkarm), Jayyous, Azzun, Qalqiliya City (Qalqiliya). In total, 11 Palestinians were reported arrested.

Ramallah /Al Bireh
2 to 8 March: IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in Ramallah city, Kafr Ni’ma, Silwad and near Ofra settlement, six Palestinian males were reported arrested.

Jerusalem/Jericho
3 March: Five Palestinian were detained in Beit Surik following demonstrations against land levelling for Barrier construction.

Hebron/Bethlehem
2 to 8 March: IDF search-and-arrest campaigns took place in Yatta, Dura and the old city of Hebron, four Palestinians were reported arrested. In Bethlehem, two Palestinians were arrested.
6 March: The IDF entered the PRCS medical centre in Yaffa in Hebron and searched the premises. Meanwhile, the staff were detained and interrogated for approximately one hour and 45 minutes.
7 to 8 March: The IDF carried out a search campaign in the old city of Hebron after two Israeli Border Police soldiers were injured in a shooting incident near the Tomb of the Patriarchs. The IDF detained 50 Palestinian males including school students from the area, most were released in the evening after the arrest of one Palestinian.

The Gaza Strip
5 March: Three Palestinians were apprehended by the IDF near the security fence east of Abu El Ajeen in the central Gaza Strip.

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

END



2019-03-12T19:19:28-04:00

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