In Gaza, 11 houses were demolished in five separate military incursions in the border areas of Khan Yunis and Rafah. The number of persons displaced as a result of these demolitions is as yet unknown.

Although no homes were demolished in Palestinian communities located within Israeli-controlled Area C during the reporting period, there is considerable concern regarding the hundreds of stop-work and eviction orders currently being processed within the legal system; all of which could lead to actual demolitions in Palestinian communities within Area C. During the reporting period, 30 additional stop-work and eviction orders were issued to residential structures in East Jerusalem and Palestinian communities within Area C across the West Bank. The southern part of Hebron district has been notably targeted during May and June 2008: ten demolition orders were issued in the Palestinian village of Idhna alone, as well as in At Tuwani, Khirbet Al Jawaya and Umm Faggarah.

In addition, 207 persons in the community of Arab ar-Ramadin, which already has many outstanding demolition orders (the latest demolitions occurring in March 2008), were threatened with forced eviction by the Israel military in early June. The reason cited was that the community needed to move to the other side of the barrier for which construction is currently taking place in the area.

Attacks on educational facilities

The number of attacks on schools saw a sharp increase from previous months – a total of nine incidents affecting at least 14 schools were recorded in May-June. This compares to three attacks in April and eight recorded for the period February to March.

Seven attacks occurred in the West Bank. This included the IDF occupying the roof of an UNRWA boy’s school in El Fara Camp to use as a shooting position which resulted in injury to one child.

Settlers attacked schools on two occasions during the reporting period, one of which targeted the Ibrahimi boys' school in Hebron, a frequent target of settlers in the H2 area of Hebron, resulting in injury to a teacher and a student.

The IDF attacked and forcibly broke into three schools in Nablus, damaging the main doors of the schools.

The three remaining attacks occurred in Gaza. Two of these targeted Christian institutions: unknown perpetrators detonated a bomb in one incident and in another incident, broke into a school, physically assaulted the school guards and stole property. This school, the El Manara School was previously targeted by unknown gunmen on 21 February 2008. The IDF also broke into and raided a secondary school in central Gaza during a military incursion on 22 May 2008. [OCHA; PCHR] 

Attacks on medical facilities

On 20 June the IDF raided and damaged equipment in a medical centre in Beit Ummar (Hebron).

Raids and closures of Islamic charities

During the reporting period, the Israeli Defense Forces continued the targeting of Islamic charities under the pretense of affiliation with Hamas.

On 5 June, the IDF conducted raids on two Islamic charities associated with the Islamic Charitable Society and issued three-year closure orders to both of them.  Both charities are located in Hebron, one in Al Shuyukh and the other in Beit Ula. In both incidents, computers and files were confiscated and furniture was damaged extensively.

The Al Shuyukh location oversees one school and one kindergarten, which are attended by 400 children. Al Shuyukh also supports 500 orphans with free education, clothing and food. The Beit Ula location manages two schools and three kindergartens, which are attended by 930 children, and supports 400 orphans. 

The closure orders do not clarify whether the three schools and four kindergartens managed by the organisations, are affected.

Access to education

Fewer disruptions to education were recorded in May-June than in preceding months. However, on 1 and 3 May, schools in the West Bank village of Azzun were closed as a result of curfews imposed by the Israeli military. Also in Azzun, on 12 May, only a limited number of students were able to attend school following a curfew imposed during the day.

Minimum number of schools with at least one day of disruption

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Total
WB	15	19	43	11	1	0	89
GS	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Total	15	19	43	11	1	0	89

Note: The school year ended in June and the Palestinian Ministry of Education cancelled all government-sponsored summer camps citing financial difficulty

In addition, the IDF blockade on the village of Ni'lin (imposed after villagers protested the requisitioning and isolation of 2,500 dunums of their land for construction of the wall) prevented children from reaching their schools on 29 May.

Access to health care

Two children were reported to have died after delay in access to vital health care during the reporting period.

In Gaza, a 13 year-old-girl with brain cancer received the approval of the Israeli authorities to receive life saving treatment in Israel on 28 March 2008. However on the day of her exit, she was denied passage through Erez as the ambulance that was to transport her did not clear the coordination procedure. The girl died on 5 May 2008.

A 17-year-old girl with brain cancer received the approval of the Israeli authorities to receive life saving treatment in Israel on 9 March 2008. After waiting for four hours at the Erez crossing to be interviewed by a security officer her companion was denied access. The girl returned to Gaza and applied for another permit this time to go to Egypt. The girl received approval to enter Egypt for the same life saving treatment. She died on 17 June after being unable to cross the closed Rafah border [WHO].

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