Report

Israeli forces injure at least 370 Palestinians in demonstrations commemorating An Nakba day in the West Bank. In addition, at least 8 Palestinians were injured in the Gaza Strip. Also in the West Bank, settlers injure two Palestinians and damage over 430 trees. Israeli authorities demolish seven livelihood structures. Power cuts remain as high as 12 hours per day in Gaza, disrupting daily activities and hindering fishing industries. Also in this report, one truckload of textiles leaves Gaza for the first time since 2007.

During the month, 150 Palestinian civilians were injured by Israeli forces, there has been a 25 % increase compared to the equivalent figure in 2011. April 2012 registered 84 such demolitions, the highest figure in a given month since the beginning of the year, resulting in the displacement of 116 people, including 55 children. In the northern and central parts of the West Bank access improved for tens of thousands of residents in villages to their nearest service centers.

Israeli forces injure at least 160 Palestinians in various demonstrations protesting prisoners conditions throughout the West Bank. Settlers injure another Palestinian and damage 55 trees. Also this week, Israeli forces bulldozed two roads and damaged two Palestinian-owned structures. In Gaza, Israeli restrictions on access to land and sea continue. Shortages of power and fuel continue disrupting the daily lives of 1.6 million people. Exports from Gaza remain barred.

Israeli forces injure 40 Palestinians in the West Bank; a farmer was also injured in the Gaza Strip. Also in the West Bank, Settlers injure four Palestinians and vandalize over 250 olive trees. Israeli authorities forcibly evict Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem, and demolish 25 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C. In Gaza, power cuts of 12 hours per day continue to disrupt delivery of services and daily life.

This publication will examine how the various subsidies provided to settlements reinforce the numerous Israeli limitations placed on Palestinians living in the same area, creating a segregated, dichotomous population based on overt discrimination. MA’AN Development Center interviewed six Israeli settlers, including members of the Jordan Valley Regional Council as well as members of local municipalities, and 30 Palestinians, including members of village councils. Interviews were conducted from August 2011 to February 2012.

This week, Israeli forces kill a Palestinian civilian and injure around 190 others in protests throughout the oPt commemorating the 36th anniversary of Land Day. Israeli forces kill another two Palestinians in Gaza. Also, a Palestinian died of wounds he sustained by Israeli fire in the West Bank last week. Israeli forces demolish 16 Palestinian-owned structures, including seven residences. In Gaza, three children reportedly died in an electricity-related incident; one killed and two injured in tunnel-related incidents; four injured by UXOs.

Israeli forces injure 29 Palestinians in the West Bank. In Gaza, three Palestinians, including two children, killed in incidents related to reckless use of weapons and another four injured in tunnel-related incidents. Also in the West Bank, Israeli authorities demolish 20 Palestinian-owned structures. Power cuts of up to 18 hours per day and cooking gas shortages continue in Gaza, disrupting the daily life.

February’s incidents and trends highlight instability and insecurity affecting living conditions of Palestinians in the oPt. In the West Bank, greater numbers of Palestinians are being displaced this year due to home demolitions, and there are increasing pressure from settler organizations on the Israeli authorities to implement outstanding demolition orders. In Hebron City (H2), there are increasing reports of harassment of Palestinians by Israeli forces. In Gaza electricity cuts of up to 18 hours per day continue due to the disruption fuel supplies.

In recent years, Israeli settler activity in the West Bank has significantly impaired Palestinian access to, and use of, a growing number of water springs. Springs are the single largest source of water for irrigation in the West Bank and an important coping mechanism for communities not connected to a water network, or poorly supplied, to meet domestic and livelihood needs. The main methods used by settlers to that end have been intimidation and threats, and the erection of fences around the targeted areas.

The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated territories in the world, with some 1.5 million Palestinians living in an area of 40km by 10km. More than 1 million are UN-registered refugees, with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) administering all refugee-related issues including housing, health and education, while the remaining half million are formally under the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority (PA).