Limited Israeli Incursion East of Gaza valley ”Johr Al-Deek”

Al Mezan

30-4-2013

At approximately 9:00 pm on 30^th April 2013, Israeli bulldozers, accompanied with 8 tanks, moved from the separation fence east of the Gaza valley (Johr Al-Deek) westwards and crossed a distance of 200 meters before they moved southwards along the separation fence for 2 kilometers. At that point, the Israeli bulldozers leveled the area. the IOF bulldozers withdrew to the separation fence in the evening of the same day.

Medics: Israeli forces shoot 17-year-old in Gaza

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian teenager was shot by Israeli forces in Jabaliya refugee camp, medics said.

Jameel Heesha, 17, was shot in his left foot near the northern border of Gaza Strip.

He was taken to a nearby hospital with moderate injuries.

An Israeli army spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

On Thursday, Israeli gunboats opened fire toward Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of the Gaza Strip, a local official said.

Israeli forces opened fire at the boats off north-west Gaza as the fishermen as approached the three-mile limit Israel imposes along the coastline, said Mahfouth Kabariti, head of a federation for fishermen and water sports. No injuries were reported.

Israel's army announced in February that the fishing zone for Palestinians in Gaza would be reduced from six to three miles following a rocket attack.

The zone had been extended to six miles as part of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that ended an eight-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in November.

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Al Mezan

26-4-2013

IOF Opens Fire at Palestinian Civilians East of Jabaliya, One Person Injured

At approximately 5:30 pm on Friday 26 April 2013, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened heavy sporadic fire at a group of Palestinians who were east of the Islamic Cemetery near the separation fence between Gaza Strip and Israel east of Jabaliya. They were between 50 and 300 meters away from the separation fence when the IOF opened fire at them.  As a result, Jamel Wael Resha, 16, sustained a bullet wound in the right leg. Medical sources descried his injury as moderate.

Locals say Israeli tanks, bulldozers enter Gaza

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli military forces entered the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday morning, locals said.

Eight bulldozers were accompanied by tanks, entering approximately 100 meters into farming land east of Khan Younis, witnesses said.

No clashes were reported.

An Israeli military spokeswoman did not immediately return a request for comment.

On Wednesday, witnesses reported a similar incident east of Beit Hanoun. At the time, an Israeli army spokeswoman said there was "routine activity adjacent to the security fence," without providing further details.

Israel imposed a military no-go zone around the Gaza Strip's borders, known as the buffer zone. Palestinians are barred from accessing the land in the buffer zone or building in the area. According to the Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights, the area contains most of Gaza's valuable arable land.

Limited IOF Incursion East of Beit Hanoun

Al Mezan

22-4-2013

At approximately 7:00 am on Monday 22 April 2013, eight Israeli tanks accompanied by armored bulldozers moved under sporadic covering fire about 300 meters into the Al Ahmar, Al Omma, and Ash-Sha’fa areas east of Beit Hanoun.  At around midday, the IOF withdrew from the area. No casualties or injuries were reported but farmers were terrified to go to their lands. 

IOF Opens Fire at Palestinian Farmers North of Beit Hanoun

Al Mezan

22-4-2013

At approximately 11:45 am on Monday 22 April 2013, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened fire at a number of Palestinian farmers who were near the solid waste dump area near the separation fence north of Beit Hanoun. No casualties or injuries were reported but farmers were terrified and abandoned their work.

Official: Israeli forces shoot Palestinian in Gaza Strip

Published Tuesday 16/04/2013 (updated) 18/04/2013 10:09

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Tuesday shot a 34-year-old Palestinian in the chest in the eastern Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health said.

Israeli soldiers in a watchtower shot Mohammad Abu Issed in the chest near the border east of al-Buraij refugee camp, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said.

Abu Issed was taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

An Israeli military spokeswoman had no immediate comment on the incident.

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Al Mezan

17-4-2013

IOF Opens Fire at Eastern Parts of Al Bureij Refugee Camp, Shepherd Injured

At approximately 3:30 pm on Tuesday 16 April 2013, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of shepherds who were east of Makboula area southeast of Al Biureij refugee camp. The firing which lasted for about 10 minutes scared the shepherds who left the area immediately.
At approximately 5:40 pm on the same day, the IOF opened fire at another group of shepherds. As a result, Mohammed Mahmoud Abu Is’ayyed, 32, was injured while he was taking care of his sheep. He was about 400 meters away from the separation fence between Gaza Strip and Israel east of Al Bureij refugee camp when he was injured. He was admitted to Al Aqsa Hospital where his injury was described as moderate.

Limited IOF Incursion East of Al Qarara Village

Al Mezan

11-4-2013

At approximately 9:00 am on Thursday 11 April 2013, Israeli tanks accompanied by armored bulldozers moved under sporadic covering fire about 150 meters into the eastern parts of the Al Qarara village in Khan Younis. Bulldozers leveled lands that had been frequently razed before. At approximately 1:45 pm on the same day, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) withdrew from the area.

Limited IOF Incursion East of Khan Younis

Al Mezan

9-4-2013

At approximately 6:00 am on Tuesday 9 April 2013, Israeli tanks accompanied by armored bulldozers moved under sporadic covering fire about 200 meters into the eastern parts of Khuza’a village east of Khan Younis. The bulldozers leveled lands that had been frequently razed before. At approximately 1:00 pm on the same day, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) withdrew from the area.

IOF Opens Fire at Palestinian Men and Shepherds East of Deir Al Balah

Al Mezan

7-4-2013

At approximately 6:00 pm on Sunday 7 April 2013, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian men and shepherds who were in the eastern parts of Deir Al Balah. They were about 400 meters away from the separation fence when the IOF opened fire at them. The firing lasted for about 10 minutes. No casualties or injuries were reported.

IOF Opens Fire at Palestinian Civilians East of Jabaliya, One Person Injured

Al Mezan

5-4-2013

At approximately 5:30 pm on Friday 5 April 2013, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened sporadic fire at a group of Palestinians who were east of the Islamic Cemetery east of Jabaliya in North Gaza district. They were between 20 and 400 meters away from the separation fence when the IOF opened fire at them. As a result, Yazeed Mohammed Abu Khader, 16, sustained a bullet wound in the right leg. Medical sources at Shifa Hospital described his injury as moderate. the firing lasted for about three hours.

Limited IOF Incursion East of Beit Hanoun

Al Mezan

4-4-2013

At approximately 8:00 am on Wednesday 24 April 2013, about 14 Israeli tanks accompanied by armored bulldozers moved under sporadic covering fire between 200 and 400 meters into the Al Fourtta area east of Beit Hanoun. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) then moved to Al Ahmar, Al Sha’fa, Wadi Ad-Douh, and Demra areas northeast of Beit Hanoun. At approximately 3:00 pm on the same day, the IOF withdrew from the areas. No casualties or injuries were reported but farmers were terrified and abandoned their work.

Gaza Strip: Attacks in the border areas and their consequences

PCHR

Thursday, 04 April 2013 00:00

PCHR Fact Sheet  March 2013 Following disengagement from the Gaza Strip in September 2005, Israel unilaterally and illegally established a so-called “buffer zone”, an area prohibited to Palestinians along the land and sea borders of the Gaza Strip. The precise area designated by Israel as a “buffer zone” is not clear and this Israeli policy is typically enforced with live fire. The establishment of the ‘buffer zone’ is illegal under both Israeli and international law. Preventing Palestinians from accessing their lands and fishing areas violates numerous provisions of international human rights law, including the right to work, the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to the highest attainable standard of health. Enforcing the “buffer zone” through the use of live fire often results in, inter alia, the direct targeting of civilians and/or indiscriminate attacks, both of which constitute war crimes. Following the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in November 2012, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian armed groups was brokered by the Egyptian government, which included terms related to access to land and sea. In an online statement on 25 February 2013, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) declared that fishermen could now access the sea up to six nautical miles offshore, and that farmers could now access lands in the border area up to 100m from the border fence. However, both references have since been removed from the statement. Then, on 21 March 2013, the Israeli forces’ spokesperson announced re-reducing the fishing area allowed for Palestinian fishermen from 6 nautical miles to 3 nautical miles. Nonetheless, the COGAT Monthly Report for November 2012 still states: “Following operation "Pillar of Defense" (November 14-21), a ceasefire was agreed upon; as a part of it and [sic] the fishing area in Gaza was increased from 3 miles to 6.” Regarding access to land, in correspondence with Gisha, on 11 March 2013, an Israeli spokesperson declared that “the residents of Gaza are required not to approach within 300m of the security fence”. These conflicting messages about the parameters of the “buffer zone”, particularly on land, have resulted in an increase of risk for the safety of civilians and their property in the border areas.                                                                                                                                  Dimensions On land, inside Palestinian territory Distance from the border fence, up to which access is permitted: · Second Intifada (2000): 150 metres · According to Israel (2010) : 300 metres · 22 November 2012: unclear parameters · 25 February 2013: 100 metres · 11 March 2013: 300 metres In reality, attacks against civilians take place anywhere up to approximately 1.5 kilometres inside the border fence. This constitutes approximately 17% of the total territory of the Gaza Strip. At sea, off the coast of the Gaza Strip Distance from the shore, up to which access is permitted: · Oslo Accords (1994): 20 nautical miles (nm) · Bertini Commitment (2002): 12 nm · October 2006: 6 nm · End of 2007 : 3 nm · 22 November 2012: 6 nm In addition, access is consistently denied in the following areas: · 1.5 nm in the north along the maritime boundary with Israel · 1 nm in the south along the maritime boundary with Egypt Impact On land · Approximately 27,000 dunums, 35% of the Gaza Strip's agricultural land, can only be accessed under high personal risk, as Israeli attacks may result in injury or death of civilians. · 95% of the restricted area is arable land. · After the evacuation of settlements (2005) and ‘Operation Cast Lead’ (2008-2009), the majority of Palestinian families living in the border areas abandoned their land and homes. At sea · Palestinians are completely prevented from accessing 85% of the Palestinian maritime areas recognised in the 1994 Gaza Jericho Agreement. · Approximately 3,700 fishermen work under high personal risk every day at sea. · Approximately 8,200 persons work in the fishing industry. · Approximately 65,000 persons, including individuals who work in the fishing industry and their dependents, are affected by the “buffer zone” restrictions at sea. · The area near the coast is markedly over-fished. Attacks March 2013 Attacks Total “Buffer zone” on land “Buffer zone” at sea Shelling 0 0 0 Shooting 16 7 9 Incursions 4 4 0* Land levelling 0 0 0 Detention incidents 3 3 0 Total incidents 23 14 9 * These numbers do not represent all the incursions into Palestinian waters by Israeli naval forces, only the reported incidents. More often, the reported incidents involve shooting, injury and/or killing. Consequences of attacks a. Deaths and injuries March 2013 Consequences Total “Buffer zone” on land “Buffer zone” at sea Death of persons 0 0 0 Minors 0 0 0 Women 0 0 0 Injury of persons 5 5 0 Minors 0 0 0 Women 0 0 0 b. Property related violations April 2013 Consequences Total “Buffer zone” on land “Buffer zone” at sea Property damaged 0 0 0 Property confiscated 0 0 0 Dunums razed 0 0 0 c. Detention March 2013 Consequences Total “Buffer zone” on land “Buffer zone” at sea Detention incidents 3 3 0 Total persons detained 3 3 0 Minors detained 3 3 0 Women detained 0 0 0