Monthly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Gaza Strip

 (1 January - 31 January 2013)

Introduction

Israeli Occupation Forces IOF continued hostilities and attacks against the Palestinian people throughout January 2013. Many Israeli human rights breaches took place in the period (1 January to 31 January 2013), that violate rules of international humanitarian law and Geneva Conventions. IOF targeted civilians, women, children and civilian property as well as fishing boats within the territorial water of the besieged Gaza Strip.

IOF targeted Palestinian farmers and tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip in violation of the international humanitarian law and human rights treaties.

The following report conducts violations of IOF in the Gaza strip, depending on what the field research unit at Hemaya Center for Human Rights HCHR documented throughout January 2013.

During January 2013, violations and attacks of IOF on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip left two Palestinians killed and eight others moderately and seriously wounded.

Moreover, the report reviews violations of IOF against defenseless civilians in the border areas of the Gaza Strip and frequent Israeli incursions in the contact areas that used to be called "buffer zone".

The report also conducts the increasing Israeli attacks on Gazan fishermen in Gaza territorial water, which is an obvious violation of the signed agreements and international conventions. Furthermore, the report sheds lights on Israeli policy of collective punishment that includes tightening the suffocating siege and continuous closure of crossings in violation of international humanitarian law and the world Declaration of Human Rights that ensured freedom of movement and right of decent life for everyone, with no limitation or condition.

The report concluded with demands and recommendations raised to the concerned bodies entrusted to implement the international humanitarian law and to prevent violation of its rules as well as trialing violators of such laws before national and international courts, including the ICC.

Note: Data of the report is documented at HCHR and accessible.

No.

Assault

2

Martyrs

8

Wounded

12

Arrested

4

Incursion limited inside the Gaza Strip