A/HRC/13/53 most directly affected by the wall have tried to interfere with and object to, and to the extent possible, prevent its construction, relying almost totally on non-violent tactics. These acts of resistance are continuing at present. Israel has been charged with use of excessive force, causing several deaths and injuries in dealing with anti-wall demonstrations and activists, among whom are Palestinians, Israelis and peace activists from foreign countries. Witnesses and human rights groups have reported use of live ammunition on several occasions, as well as tear gas and rubber bullets.54 Weekly demonstrations continue at the wall sites in the Palestinian villages of Bi’lin and Ni’lin.55 In December 2009, Abdallah Abu Ramah, high school teacher and coordinator of Bil’in Popular Committee, was arrested in his home at 2 a.m. in the presence of his wife and children, while the house was surrounded by seven military jeeps, surely a terrifying and humiliating experience that served no security purpose.56 Mr. Abu Ramah was charged with the unlawful possession of arms which, incredibly, turned out to be a collection of used Israeli tear gas canisters that had been shot by the Israeli security forces at the protestors. Similarly, the internationally respected human rights figure, leader of the Stop the Wall Coalition and known for his advocacy of non-violent tactics, Jamal Juma, was arrested on 16 December 2009 and charged with the crime of “incitement”. The manifest absurdity of such charges strongly suggests that Israeli intention is to demoralize the anti-wall campaign by criminalizing the non-violent human rights activism, a pattern that should be a matter of grave concern to the Human Rights Council. Additional night raids on anti-wall activists have been carried out by Israeli security forces in Nablus on several recent occasions.57 V. The blockade of Gaza 30. One year after Operation Cast Lead, the humanitarian situation in Gaza not only remains deplorable, but has worsened. The total blockade of the Gaza Strip remains in full effect, having lasted now for nearly three years, contributing to deteriorating physical and mental health for 1.5 million persons. A series of recent deaths from swine flu have caused fears of an onslaught of the disease against a population whose resistance has been reduced due to an inadequate diet and medical care, and otherwise living under constant threat.58 Further, the sanitation system continues to deteriorate, not only adding to the hazards of life in Gaza, but resulting in the dumping of 40–50 million litres per day of partially treated or untreated sewage into the Mediterranean Sea, as well as contaminating parts of the water supply in Gaza and endangering the fish in coastal waters.59 After the end of hostilities in Gaza last January, States gathered at a donor conference in Sharm el-Sheikh pledged $4.5 billion in funds for the reconstruction of Gaza. However, Israel has extended its blockade to include virtually all building materials, thereby preventing efforts to rectify the extensive damage wrought by Operation Cast Lead. 31. Electricity is also only partially available to the population. The latest figures released by the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDO) show that electricity 54 55 56 57 58 59 14 See for instance “Eight Palestinians wounded near Jerusalem, dozens suffer tear gas attacks in Nil’in, demonstration in support of Swedish initiative in Bil’in”, Al Jazeerah Info, 4 December 2009. See for instance “Non-violent protests against West Bank barrier turn increasingly dangerous”, The Guardian, 27 April 2009. See for instance http://freedetainees.org/category/abdullah-abu-rahma or http://www.indymedia.org. uk/en/2009/12/443605.html. More information is available at the Stop The Wall Campaign, http://www.stopthewall.org/news/. “Swine flu cases confirmed in Gaza”, Maan News Agency, 6 December 2009, available at http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=244570. According to Gaza Gateway at http://www.gazagateway.org/. GE.10-10260