The year 2015 was ended, while the occupied Palestinian territory witnessed and still, a systematic attacks, targeting and tightening by the Israeli Occupation Authorities and the herds of the Israeli settlers. The year 2015 was also not much different from the 48 years of the Israeli occupation of the oPt, while it witnessed drastic increase in the Israeli violations in amount and type as well.
In Gaza strip, and from the beginning of the year 2015, the Israeli Occupation Army aimed to breach the truce which was signed between the Palestinian factions in the Strip and the Israeli government and sponsored by Egypt, at the end of the Israeli war against Gaza strip in Summer 2014. The Israeli Army, stationed along side of the borders between Gaza strip and the occupied Palestinian territories in 1948, aimed to open fire, on a daily base, at Palestinians reaching nearby the border fence.
Moreover, the Israeli Authorities still imposing a prolonged air, land and sea blockade over Gaza strip, where the Israeli gunboats spread on Gaza sea, systematically attacked Palestinian fisher men despite the fact that Palestinian boats sealing within the territorial water of the Strip (specifically less than 3 nautical miles).
As for the terminals, which controlled by the Israeli Authorities, it considered as a trap for the Palestinians, where the Israeli Army arrested tens of Palestinians; students, business men, etc, while they were crossing these terminals. Furthermore, the Israeli Authorities still preventing the entering of the construction materials, to re-build what the Israeli war machines destroyed during the Israeli war against Gaza strip in the summer of 2014.
In parallel, and in the occupied West Bank, the clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Army and settlers, which led to a number of martyrs, injuries and prisoners, in addition to thousands of Palestinian properties had been seized, destroyed and attacked .
Israeli settlers’ violation during the Year of 2015
The Israeli settlers attacks against Palestinians, their properties, religious and historic sites has been escalated dramatically during the year of 2015 . The systematic and truculence aspects of these attacks reflects the Israeli settlers’ attempts to capture as much as possible from the Palestinian lands mainly through the physical attacks against the Palestinian residents and their properties to push them toward a voluntary displacement from their own lands.
Indeed, the brutality of the Israeli settlers living in the illegal West bank settlements has no limits, where the killing and burning of a Palestinian family from Duma village in Nablus (Father mother, newborn baby) while the other child still hospitalized until the moment constitute a clear example for their brutality.
From the daily monitoring and reporting of the Israeli settlers attacks in the occupied Palestinian territories during the year 2015, we found that the Israeli settlers attacks raised in the year 2015 in comparison with the previous years. Where in the year of 2013, the Israeli settlers attacks against Palestinians reached to 753 attacks, while in the year of 2014, these attacks reached to 764, while in the year 2015 the Israeli settlers attacks reached to 898 attacks.
Actually , the type and nature of the Israeli settlers attacks during the year of 2015, showed the true face of the Israeli settlers and their terrorism, and lifted the veil on the reality of the Israeli right-wing government, which headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, the government that cover and protect the crimes of the Israeli settlers.
The Israeli settlers violations against Palestinians and their properties which reach to about 898 attacks, escalated gradually since the beginning of the year 2015, to reach its peak on the month of October, where the Israeli settlers attacks exceeds 240 attacks.
On the ground, the most Palestinian Governorate affected by the Israeli settlers attacks, was Jerusalem Governorate, with about 315 attacks recorded during the year of 2015 (35% of the total number of the Israeli settlers attacks during 2015). And in Hebron Governorate, the Israeli settlers attacks reached to 195 attacks.
It’s worth to mention that the reasons why Hebron and Jerusalem Governorates the most affected by the Israeli settlers attacks refer to the sensitive situations in these cities, where the Israeli settlers occupied the heart of Hebron and Jerusalem cities and with a daily friction with the Palestinians, which exposed the Palestinians and their properties to a frequent daily attacks by the settlers and with the protection from the Israeli Army.
In Accordance to the type of the Israeli settlers violations against Palestinians, the Israeli settlers in many incidents endeavored to kill unarmed Palestinian residents in their houses, fields and in the streets. The Israeli settlers attacks against Palestinians, which is to physically assault them (hitting, opening fire, detaining, torturing and killing), reached to more than 275 attacks. While the Israeli settlers attacks against religious and historic sites reached about 265 attacks. And the Israeli settlers attacks against Palestinian properties reached about 231 attacks.
The Destruction of 13,670 trees during the year of 2015
During the Israeli operations against Palestinians in the oPt in the year of 2015, the Israeli Occupation bulldozers as well as the Israeli settlers living the illegal Israeli West Bank settlements, destroyed and uprooted thousands of Palestinian trees in several areas in the occupied West Bank.
Where during the year of 2015, the Israeli Army and settlers uprooted in total 13670 trees. It’s worth to mention that only during the month of January 2015, about 5655 trees were uprooted.
The most effected governorate from uprooting was Ramallah Governorate, where 5120 trees were destroyed, and in Tubas Governorate, more than 4150 trees were uprooted of which 1500 trees uprooted from nature reserve area in Tubas Governorate.
In additional to the uprooting of the trees, the Israeli Authorities threatened to uproot in total 3477 trees from Palestinian lands in three Palestinian governorates, where they handed out military orders to evacuate land and uproot the trees planted in the targeted land. These orders distributed as follows: Salfit Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army handed out military orders to uproot 2272 trees, and in Hebron Governorate, the Israeli Authorities issued orders to evacuate land and uproot 682 trees, while in Nablus governorate the Israeli orders targeted 520 trees.
Israeli bulldozes demolish 482 houses and structures during the year of 2015
The Israeli Occupation Authorities pursued the demolition policy against the Palestinian houses and in many cases as a way to punish the Palestinians, by preventing them to expand and to keep pace with their natural growth especially in the areas classified as “Area C”.( According to Oslo Agreement signed in 1995 between Palestine's liberation Organization (PLO) and the Israel, Area C is under the control of the Israeli Authorities.)
During the year of 2015, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 281 houses and 194 structures (animal sheds, agricultural barracks and commercial structures). In Tubas Governorate, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 115 houses and 37 structures. Noted that the Palestinian communities located in the northern of Jordan valley have been suffering from the Israeli systematic demolition campaigns throughout the years.
While in Jerusalem Governorate, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 98 houses and 65 structures. It’s worth to mention that the demolition campaign targeted the areas in the eastern occupied part of the city and within what is so-called “Israeli Jerusalem Municipal Boundary”.
Israeli Demolition Orders targeted 629 houses and structures in the occupied West Bank during the Year 2015
The Israeli Occupation Authorities moved steadily with its targeting of the Palestinian houses and structures whereas usually, the Israeli Authorities claimed that the targeted houses were built without the permits from the Israeli Civil Administration.
During the year of 2015, the Israeli Civil Administration issued orders to demolish 629 houses and structures. Where in Hebron Governorate, the Israeli authorities issued orders to demolish or stop the construction of 211 houses and structures. While in Jerusalem Governorate, the demolition orders targeted about 180 houses and structures. And in Bethlehem Governorate, the Israeli Civil Administration issued orders to demolish 64 houses and structures.
Israel confiscated 3670 dunums of Palestinian lands during the year of 2015, to benefit the Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank
The Israeli Occupation Authorities issued a number of military orders to confiscate more Palestinian lands, where in total, and during the year of 2015, the Israeli Authorities confiscated 3670 dunums of lands in several areas in the occupied West Bank, and under several and illegal pretexts.
In Hebron Governorate, the Israeli Authorities issued orders to confiscate 853 dunums of Palestinian land. These orders came with several illegal claims such as: military uses, security matters, wall, state land, closed military areas, etc.
While in Ramallah Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Authorities declared the confiscation of 820 dunums of land. And in Bethlehem Governorate, the Israeli Authorities confiscated 790 dunums of land.
Closures…. An Old-New Israeli Policy escalated during the year of 2015
During the year 2015, the Israeli Occupation Authorities seek to impose blockage at Palestinians in several areas in the occupied West Bank included Jerusalem city. Where during the year 2015, the Israeli Army closed several Palestinian main roads in several areas in the occupied West Bank, these roads link the Palestinian villages and towns with each other, and link to the Israeli bypass roads which used by the Israeli settlers. These policies had significantly contributed in strangulating the Palestinians in their communities and excessing their prolonged suffering.
During the year of 2015, the Israeli Occupation Army doubled the number of the obstacles in the West Bank, where at the beginning of the year 2015 the number of the Israeli checkpoints/obstacles were about 514 obstacles, and by the end of the year the number of these checkpoints/obstacles reached to 607.
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Israeli checkpoint/obstacles in the occupied West Bank (2015) |
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|
Number |
Type |
|
61 |
Checkpoints |
|
26 |
Partial Checkpoints |
|
149 |
Earthmound |
|
68 |
Roadblock |
|
104 |
Road Gate |
|
8 |
Trench |
|
416 |
Total |
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In addition to 78 Barrier in H2 and 113 wall gate |
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Targeting of the Palestinian Radio Stations
In addition to the closure of the roads and imposing more obstacles on the movemnet of the Palestinians, the Israeli Occupation Authorities issued military orders to close a numebr of radio stations in Hebron and Jenin Governorates. The Israeli Occupation Authorities claimed that the targeted stations broadcast “incitement materials” against the Israeli settlers.
In Jenin Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army handed out the workers in “Nass” Radio in Jenin city ,a military order to close the station and confiscate all of its broadcast equipment.
While in Hebron Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army invaded the headquarter of “Freedom” Radio in Hebron city, destroyed and confiscated the broadcast equipment and handed out the director of the radio station a military orders to close the radio. Also, the Israeli Authorities issued a military order to close “Hebron” Radio, where they handed out the order to the director of the radio after storming the headquarter and confiscating the broadcast equipment. Furthermore, the Israeli Occupation Army stormed the headquarter of “One” Radio station in Hebron city and confiscated all the broadcast equipment after they handed out the workers a military order to close the radio station.
Israeli Authorities published tenders and approved plans to construct 7843 housing units in the Israeli Settlements in the oPt
As a matter of fact , the existing of the Israeli settlements and outposts in the occupied Palestinian territory, impeded the “Peace process” between the Palestinians and Israelis, based on “Two State Solution”.
The Israeli right-wing government headed by the leader of Likud party “Benjamin Netanyahu” published tenders and approved plans to construct in total 7843 housing units in the Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem. More than that , the Israeli related authorities approved an additional plans to lease Palestinian lands inside the border of the illegal Israeli settlements to build commercial buildings, gas stations, schools, and industrial areas, which in total aimed to benefit the Israeli settlers living in these illegal settlements.
During the year 2015, the Israeli settlement expansion focused on the Israeli settlements located west of the Israeli Segregation Wall, and specifically, in the Israeli settlements located between the path of the Israeli Segregation Wall and the Green Line (Armistice line of 1949).
Moreover, the Israeli Authorities published tenders and approved plans to construct 4904 housing units the settlements located in the Western Segregation Zone (64% of the total number of housing units), while in the Israeli settlements located at the eastern part of the Israeli Segregation wall, the Israeli Authorities published tenders and approved plans to construct 2939 housing units.
To Sum up
Obviously, the Palestinian Territory in the year 2015 had witnessed a swelling colonial steps toward fortifying the Israeli dominance over the Palestinian Territory. The Israeli occupation authorities side by side with the Israeli settlers had escalated their targeting and attacks against the Palestinians and their livehood in all of its aspects.
In light of absence of an influent and crucial International intervention ,and without any significant restrictions or deterrent, Israel will move forward and steadily with its colonial and expansionist plans in the oPt.
The Israeli targeting of the Palestinian residents and their properties in all parts of the oPt constitute a grave breach of the International law rules and conventions:
Articles 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention indicated that: Extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly. is a grave breach of the Convention.
Art. 23 of the Hague Convention of 1907 also provides: In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden to destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war;.
Article 53 of the same convention provides that 'any destruction by the Occupying power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or other public authorities or social or cooperative organizations is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.'
Article 147 of the convention considers 'extensive destruction and appropriate of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly' as a grave breach of the Convention and thus constitute a war crime.
Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of, December 10, 1948, Article 17 reads: 'No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.' Which means it bans Israel from destroying or confiscating the property of the Palestinians at any case.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 13: Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
Article 12' of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 19 December 1966: Everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence.
Prepared by
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
