OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes – OPT (8 – 14 June 2005) – OCHA report

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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

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Protection of Civilians – Weekly Briefing Notes

8 – 14 June 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:

• 8 June: The IDF issued five demolition orders for lack of a building permit for tents, barracks and animal pens in the Bedouin area of Hathaleen, Dkika, in south Hebron. The demolition orders cover 12 structures housing five families (60 persons) and some 600 sheep (see section 2).

• 12 June: Israeli Border Police fired teargas canisters and shock grenades inside the compound of UNRWA Shufat elementary school, East Jerusalem. Several students suffered from gas inhalation (see section 5).

• During the week, a total of 56 homemade rockets, mortar shells and antitank missiles were fired from different locations in the Gaza Strip toward Israeli settlements and nearby Israeli towns, IDF installations and Karni. IAF aircrafts fired missiles on two occasions at Palestinian militants preparing to launch rockets and attack Israeli targets. No injuries were reported (see section 6).

1. Physical Protection¹

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¹ One Palestinian fatality was due to Palestinian militant attacks.

Selected Incidents:

• 8 June: A Palestinian minor stabbed and injured an Israeli policeman in West Jerusalem. The Palestinian was arrested.

• 8 June: A Palestinian worker from Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip, died of the wounds he suffered 7 June as a result of mortar and homemade rocket attacks fired toward Gani Tal settlement.

• 8 June: Five homemade rockets were fired toward Neveh Dekalim settlement, the Gaza Strip. One IDF soldier was injured.

• 9 June: A 14-year-old Palestinian was injured due to open fire in the Oraibah area, north Rafah in the Gaza Strip, from the IDF outpost near Morag settlement.

• 9 and 10 June: A total of 13 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were injured during demonstrations against the construction of the Barrier in Marda, Salfit. Two Israelis and one international activist were detained. In addition, 25 Palestinians suffered from gas inhalation (These injuries are not included in the above total). On 10 June, four Palestinians and two international activists were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets during a demonstration against the Barrier construction in Bil’in, Ramallah.

• 12 June: A Palestinian was injured when the IDF opened fire in Seida village, Tulkarm, during a search campaign.

• 12 June: A 56-year-old Palestinian man from Khirbet Jubara, Tulkarm, died at Kafriat checkpoint in a private car while waiting to cross the checkpoint on his way to the hospital (This death is not included in the above total).

• Additional reports: These reports are also not included in the above casualty total: on 10 June, a Palestinian died of injuries he suffered on 29 May when a bomb he was preparing went off in Shejayeh quarter in Gaza City; on 12 June, a Palestinian woman was injured when a bomb went off in her house in Khan Younis; and on 13 June, a Palestinian was seriously injured and later announced dead as a result of an explosion in a house in Beach Camp in Gaza city.

2. Shelter and Property

• 8 June: The IDF issued five demolition orders for lack of a building permit for tents, barracks and animal pens in the Bedouin area of Hathaleen, Dkika, in south Hebron. The demolition orders cover 12 structures housing five families (60 persons) and some 600 sheep.

3. Natural Resources

Land levelling/Requisitions/Tree Uprooting²

Nablus and Tubas Governorates:

• No incidents to report.

Jenin Governorate:

• 12 June: The IDF levelled approximately 1 dunum (0.1 hectare) of Palestinian land near Mevo Dotan settlement.

Tulkarm Governorate:

• Ongoing incidents:

– Land levelling and construction of a tunnel, by Israeli contractors, continue on Road 57 near Kafriat checkpoint to connect Tulkarm city with the villages to the south.

Qalqiliya Governorate:

• Ongoing incidents:

– The IDF continued levelling land northeast of Jayyus village to construct a new road that connects Jayyus with Falamya Barrier gate.

Salfit Governorate:

• Ongoing incidents:

– Israeli contractors continued levelling land north of Salfit city, south of Marda village around Ari’el settlement and near Az Zawiya village, for Barrier construction.

Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:

• Ongoing incidents:

-Land levelling for Barrier construction continues between Budrus to south of al Midya, and between Kharbatha Bani Harith, Bil’in and Saffa villages (all west Ramallah). Land levelling for Barrier construction also continues between Beituniya and Beit ‘Ur al Fauqa, between At Tira and Beit Duqqu and south of Beit Liqya.

Hebron Governorate:

• Ongoing incidents:

– Land levelling for Barrier construction is ongoing along the southern section of the Green Line, east of Shani settlement, and on the western side of Idhna.

Bethlehem Governorate:

• 8 June: In Khallet an Nu’man, the Barrier contractor started to work on a new security road located between the bypass road and the village.

• 9 June: Fifty-nine peach trees and 340 grape vines belonging to three Palestinian farmers from Khallet Zakariya were cut down on agricultural land adjacent to Alon Shvut settlement. The owners of the land filed a complaint with the Israeli Police.

• Ongoing incidents:

– Construction of the Barrier is ongoing in Khallet an Nu’man. On 25 May, contractors opened an alternative road for the resident Palestinian community, who continue to find it too steep for regular vehicular access.

– Construction on the bypass road in the southern part of Bethlehem Governorate has reached Tko’a settlement. The northern section, Za’tara-Beit Sahur, has been paved, while work is ongoing in the southern section toward the settlement of Tko’a.

– Land levelling and construction are taking place in the settlements of Efrat (in the northern outposts), Neve Daniel, Har Gilo and Betar Illit B in Bethlehem District.

Jerusalem Governorate:

• Ongoing incidents:

– The IDF continued levelling land between Har Adar settlement and Beit Surik. Levelling also continues in the area between Qatanna and Kharayib Umm al Lahim villages and between Beit Ijza and Biddu villages.

– Construction of the Barrier continued along Road 60 between Qalandiya and Ar-Ram checkpoints. Land levelling to construct a new checkpoint/terminal located south of the current checkpoint is ongoing.

– Construction and land levelling continued east and west of Qalandiya checkpoint for construction of DCL offices, a parking lot and a road.

– Land levelling and construction of the Barrier continued alongside the road between Jaba’, Hizma and Anata.

– Land levelling is ongoing near the Coptic housing project and in Wadi Ayyad near Neve Yaakov settlement, as well as on the northern side of ‘Anata town.

– Barrier construction is ongoing on the eastern and southern sides of the village and in Sheikh Sa’d.

Jericho Governorate:

• No incidents to report.

The Gaza Strip:

• No incidents to report.

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

4. Restrictions on Medical Assistance

West Bank:

• 9 June: A PRCS ambulance went to Tal Al Rabea’a, Tulkarm, to attend to an injured person.  When the team reached the scene, Israeli soldiers were standing next to the injured person. The crew administered emergency treatment but was not allowed by the soldiers to transport the injured to a hospital. The soldiers told the PRCS team to follow them and transport the injured to Al Kafriyat checkpoint south of Tulkarm where an Israeli ambulance was waiting. The injured was transferred to the Israeli ambulance and taken to an unknown location.

• 11 June: In Bethlehem, Israeli settlers threw stones at a PRCS ambulance transporting a patient. The ambulance was damaged.

The Gaza Strip:

• 8 June: A Ministry of Health (MoH) ambulance transporting the body of a dead Palestinian and on its way back from Israel to the Gaza Strip was delayed for about 10 hours at Erez crossing. The ambulance driver was taken by the IDF and interrogated.

• 8 June: The MoH was informed by Palestinian patients from the Gaza Strip that the Israeli authorities were informing them that they would not be allowed into Israel before 10am, starting 8 June.

5. Access and Movement for Civilians

a) Curfew

b) Access to Education

West Bank:

• 12 June: Israeli Border Police fired teargas canisters and shock grenades inside the compound of UNRWA Shufat elementary school, East Jerusalem. Several students suffered from gas inhalation.

The Gaza Strip:

• 10 June: Palestinian militants fired homemade rockets toward Neve Dekalim settlement. One of the rockets landed in the yard of UNRWA Khan Younis elementary school.

c) Access to Employment

West Bank: May 2005³

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³ Number of permits will be updated as information becomes available.

The Gaza Strip:

As of 13 June, the total number of Gaza Strip workers permits was 5,551 including 1,953 with overnight stay; 835 permits were issued to Erez Industrial Zone workers. All workers must be aged 35 or older and married with children. Overnight stay permits are only issued for workers aged 40 and older.

d) Closures/Movement restrictions

A general closure was imposed on the oPt throughout the Jewish Shavuot holiday period, effective on 12 and 13 June. Traders and workers with valid permits were not allowed to enter Israel during this period.

Nablus Governorate:

• 7 to 11 June: The IDF imposed a permit system on all Palestinians going through Hamra and Tayasir checkpoints; previously, Palestinians from Frush Beit Dajjan, Al Jiftlik, Bardala, Kardala, Ein Shibli, Al Nassaria and Al Aqrabania, Al Malih, ‘Ein el Beida, Bardala and Kardala villages were let through. As a result, hundreds of Palestinians were denied access at the checkpoints. On 11 June residents of villages east of the checkpoints were let through without obtaining permits.

• 10 to 14 June: In conjunction with the Jewish holiday Shavuot, the IDF imposed restrictions on the movement in the northern West Bank; the IDF closed Za’atara (Tappuah) checkpoint for Palestinians residence of the northern West Bank travelling south.

• 11 to 14 June: The IDF closed Awarta commercial checkpoint from 12am on 11 June until 6am 14 June.

• 9, 12 to 14 June: Shave Shomeron checkpoint was manned.

• 14 June: The IDF closed a section on Road 60 between Yits’har settlement junction (Nablus) and Jit Sarra junction for three hours in connection with Israeli settlers’ ceremonies in the area.

Jenin Governorate:

• No major incidents to report.

Tubas Governorate:

• No major incidents to report.

Tulkarm Governorate:

• 11 June: At 3.30pm, the IDF closed Kafriat checkpoint south of Tulkarm, for three hours due to a suspicious object.

• Ongoing incidents:

-The IDF continues to prevent Palestinians with Israeli IDs from entering Palestinian controlled areas unless they have relatives living in Tulkarm.

– Since the handover of Tulkarm to the PA and the consequent removal of the road gate, the IDF has established, on almost a daily basis, a flying checkpoint at the Enav junction on Road 57 location.

Qalqiliya Governorate:

• 12 June: The IDF closed all the entrances of ‘Azzun village with flying checkpoints and prevented residents from going in or out of the village for several hours.

Salfit Governorate:

• No major incidents to report.

Ramallah / Al Bireh Governorate:

• 9 June: The IDF opened the road gate on the eastern entrance to Umm Safa village. Villagers were able to directly access bypass Road 465 in vehicles for the first time in four years. However, the gate was closed again on 14 June.

Jerusalem Governorate:

• 10 June: Israeli security forces were deployed in large numbers on Friday around the Old City of Jerusalem. Only Palestinian males older than 45 years with Jerusalem ID cards were allowed to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers. No restrictions were placed on Palestinian women.

Jericho Governorate:

• Ongoing incidents:

– Palestinian West Bank non-Jericho Governorate residents were denied access at Yitav checkpoint near Road 449, north Jericho. Since 1 May, Jericho residents travelling north have been denied access; and access to Al ‘Auja is not possible.

Hebron Governorate:

• 8 June: The IDF installed a second gate along Road 354, south of Beit Awwa checkpoint

Bethlehem Governorate:

• 7 to 10 June: For four days, the IDF opened the gate next to the Talitha Kumi school allowing Palestinians additional access to Beit Jala. The gate was closed thereafter.

West Bank: Reported flying checkpoints

The Enclosed Areas in the Gaza Strip:

As-Seafa:

• Since 13 February 2005, the IDF has permitted Palestinians aged 30 and older residing in As-Seafa to pass in and out without any prior coordination; males and females aged between 16 and 30 are still required to have 48-hours prior coordination. The gate is open two times daily (irregularly) at 7.30am and 2pm. No vehicles are permitted to enter or exit. Coordination for international organisations to enter the area has been problematic. The IDF requires prior coordination in order to bring goods into the area; people are still facing difficulties getting their belongings into and/or out of the area, despite approved coordination.

• During the week, two to three persons each day were prevented from entering the area despite having proper documentation. About nine women are always denied access travelling outside despite having prior coordination.

• Since 30 May, the IDF has not allowed full cooking gas bottles or empty ones into the area.

• 13 and 14 June: No people were allowed into the area in the morning, and goods were not allowed out.

Al-Mawassi:

• IDF restrictions remain, with the entry-exit gate at Al Tuffah checkpoint generally open twice daily for limited numbers of Al Mawassi ID holders – from approximately 8am to 1pm, and 2.30pm to 5pm. Males aged 16 to 25 years who are Al Mawassi ID holders are required prior coordination to pass though Al Tuffah checkpoint. Vehicles are not allowed to pass, with some exceptions given for international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF.

• Tel Es-Sultan checkpoint has remained closed since 14 January 2004.

• 13 June: The IDF opened the checkpoint at 11am; 60 persons were allowed to enter Al Mawassi while about 60 persons were allowed out.

Al-Ma’ani:

• Since 20 July 2002, the IDF has prevented all vehicular movement in and out of the Palestinian area adjacent to the Kfar Darom settlement. The IDF has also erected a fence around the area. The area remains a closed military zone, following a suicide attack on 27 February 2004.

• Movement is restricted by the IDF with the entry-exit gate generally open 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 problematic.

Abu Nahiya:

• A fence was placed around the Abu Nahiya area, south of Kfar Darom settlement, in the corner of Kissufim Road and Salah Eddin Street. Approximately 16 families reside in the area. No vehicles are allowed in or out of the area. The fence is open 24 hours for residents.

Abu al-Ajin Area:

• Several Palestinian families live isolated and fenced in north and south of Kissufim Road in the Abu al-Ajin area. The families have their own keys to the gate in the fence; however, their movement is restricted to opening hours three to four times daily. The area is unreachable by vehicles.

6. Additional Protection Issues

• During the week, a total of 56 homemade rockets, mortar shells and antitank missiles were fired from different locations in the Gaza Strip toward Israeli settlements and nearby Israeli towns, IDF installations and Karni. IAF aircrafts fired missiles on two occasions at Palestinian militants preparing to launch rockets and attack Israeli targets. No injuries were reported.

• 8 June: At midnight, two IDF jeeps and one Armored Personnel Carrier entered the Palestinian area northwest of Netzarim junction, the Gaza Strip. IDF soldiers searched houses in the area for four hours. No arrests or damages were reported.

• 8 June: Two IDF bulldozers escorted by two tanks moved from Kfar Darom settlement (the Gaza Strip) and entered Gaza city about 150 metres north of the settlement. Sand barriers were erected outside the outer northern side of the settlement.

• 11 June: Settlers threw stones at Palestinian homes and damaged properties in areas close to the settlements in the Old City of Hebron.

• 12 June: In the Old City of Hebron, settlers from Beit Hadassa outpost dropped heavy stones and sand sacs on Old Al-Shallalah Street creating a hole in the wire netting, erected to protect Palestinians walking below.

• 12 June: The IDF installed a barbed wire fence south of Netzarim Road and next to Mughraqa village, the Gaza Strip.

• 13 June: Settlers from Elkana settlement threw stones at the Palestinian house behind the Barrier in Mas-ha village, Salfit. The IDF and Israeli police forced the settlers to leave the area.

Searches/Arrests/Detentions

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