On January 22, dozens of Palestinians stormed the Rafah crossing on January 22, protesting the siege of Gaza, and trying to gain entrance into Egypt. The following day, Hamas personnel exploded parts of the barrier, and hundreds of Gazans poured into Egypt seeking to buy gas, soap, and other consumer goods that have been cut off from the Strip since June.
Five Palestinians, including a 50-year-old civilian farmer, were killed by the IDF in Northern Gaza. Three, including one child, were killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
On the 24th of January, two Palestinian men infiltrated the Gush Ezion, and stabbed two settlers there, wounding them both. The Palestinians were later caught and killed by other Israeli settlers. On the same day, an Israeli Border Police Officer was shot and killed at the Shufat refugee camp checkpoint.
Israeli bulldozers levelled 350 dunams of olive and citrus trees in Beit Hanun, north-east Gaza, on January 23. On the same day, the IDF returned 200 olive trees to a Palestinian farmer in Qaryut, Nablus Governorate, after Israeli settlers stole 300 trees from him in June. The IDF also promised to return the remaining trees.
The IDF issued six demolition orders in Huwwara, Nablus Governorate. A total of 30 Palestinian houses and structures were damaged during the week, though none were entirely demolished.
OCHA reported a total of 55 flying checkpoints, 14 of which were in the Qalqilya district, which is almost entirely engulfed by the wall. 99 searches of Palestinian buildings and homes were conducted, of which 24 were in Qalqiliya, 21 in Jenin, and 15 in Hebron. 89 Palestinians, including 25 in Rafah, were arrested.
Sources: Reuters, OCHA oPt
Weekly Reports - 2008
Negotiations
