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OPT: Protection of civilians weekly report, 02 - 08 Sep 2009

Attachments

Latest development since Tuesday, 8 September 2009

- 9 September: Israeli security forces demolished an outpost, west of the Palestinian community of Susiya. In response, settlers from the nearby settlement of Susiya attacked the Palestinian community and caused body injuries (bruises) to 15 Palestinians. During the night, the settlers re-constructed the evacuated outpost.

- 9 September: The Israeli High Court of Justice issued a decision on four petitions (dealt with jointly) against the route of the Barrier on the section between Tulkarm and Qalqiliya cities. The decision establishes that the current route causes a disproportionate harm to Palestinians and orders the relocation of part of this section along an alternative route proposed by the state. Despite the improvement, the new route keeps thousands of dunums of agricultural land behind the Barrier.

West Bank

Military activities affecting civilians

During the week, Israeli forces injured eight Palestinians throughout the West Bank, down from ten the previous week and a weekly average of 18 since the beginning of 2009. In addition, one Palestinian child was injured by UXO (unexploded ordnance).

Five of the injuries, including two boys, occurred during the weekly anti-Barrier demonstrations in the villages of Ni'lin and Bil'in (Ramallah), three of which were caused by rubber-coated metal bullets and the other two by tear gas canisters. Several other demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. Since the beginning of 2009, a total of 284 Palestinians have been injured in anti-Barrier demonstrations held every week in these two villages, as well as in the Al Ma'sara village (Bethlehem). In addition, an eight year-old boy from Ni'lin was injured after an unexploded sound grenade he picked up next to his school, previously fired by Israeli forces during an anti-Barrier demonstration, exploded in his hands.

The remaining three Palestinians were injured as a result of physical assault by Israeli security forces; two in the course of a demolition in Hebron (see below) and one during an incident at a checkpoint into Qalqiliya City. As part of a series of measures aimed at easing Palestinian movement implemented by the Israeli authorities in June 2009, this checkpoint was turned into a ?partial checkpoint?, staffed only occasionally; most of the checkpoint's infrastructure remained intact.

Disclaimer

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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