PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories	No. 05/2005 03 - 09 Feb. 2005
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

 

 

 

• 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed by IOF.

• IOF conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

• Houses were raided and at least 10 Palestinian civilians were arrested.

• Continued shelling of residential areas, and 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were injured.

• Construction of the “annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued and flooding from rain has damaged Palestinian houses and property near the wall in the north of the West Bank.

• IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing to the east of Gaza,  Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border was reopened but Palestinians aged 16-35 have been prevented from traveling, and IOF positioned at checkpoints arrested a number of Palestinian civilians.  
   

Introduction

Despite ongoing understandings between the Israeli and Palestinian sides on a ceasefire, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have launched more attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).  This week, 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed by IOF.  Human rights violations perpetrated by IOF included incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling and total closure imposed on Palestinian communities. IOF have also continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.

In the Gaza Strip, 3 Palestinian civilians were killed by IOF, and a child died from a previous injury.  On 3 February 2005, a Palestinian child from an injury he had sustained last month when IOF fired an artillery shell at fields in Beit Lahia. This attack left 7 children dead, including 3 of the victim's brothers.  On 4 February 2005, IOF Killed 2 Palestinian civilians near the border with Israel, east of Beit Hanoun, when they were apparently attempting to infiltrate into Israeli to search for jobs.  On 9 February 2005, one day following the Sharm al-Sheikh Summit, in which the Palestinian and Israeli sides signed a ceasefire agreement, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian in Rafah, when they opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood.  IOF also continued to open fire at Palestinian residential areas.  This week, 2 Palestinian civilians, including a 3-year-old child, were injured in Rafah. 

This week, IOF moved twice into al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis, which has been under a strict siege since the beginning of the current Intifada. They raided and searched houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians. 

In the West Bank, IOF conducted 11 incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they arrested 11 Palestinians. They also arrested 5 other Palestinians at military checkpoints.  Moreover, two Palestinian children were injured when Israeli military jeeps ran them down in al-Fara'a refugee camp near Jenin and Dura village near Hebron. IOF also moved into a secondary school in al-Khader village near Bethlehem and terrified students.  Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. IOF have continued to confiscate areas of Palestinian land for settlement activities. This week, an Israeli settler ran down a Palestinian civilian

IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank Territory.  On Tuesday, 8 February 2005, the Israeli High Court issued two decisions regarding the construction of the wall.  According to the first decision, the construction of the wall to the northwest of Jerusalem will be resumed.  In the second decision, the court obligated Palestinian civilians from Kherbat al-No'man village, northeast of Bethlehem, to negotiate the route of the wall to the east of the village with IOF.  This week, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the construction of the wall.

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. 

In the Gaza Strip, contrary to Israeli official claims regarding easing measures of closure imposed on the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to completely or partially close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip, and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians.  They have also continued to close a number of roads inside the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada.  

In the West Bank, IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities.  They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  This week, they erected a number of military checkpoints and arrested a number of Palestinian civilians.  On Tuesday morning, IOF closed all military checkpoints at the entrances to Nablus and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians for no apparent reason.     

 

Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property

Thursday, 3 February 2005

At midnight, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that 17-year-old Mohammed Kamel Ghaben, from Beit Lahia, died from an injury he had sustained last month.  According to PCHR's documentation, Ghaben and 13 other children were injured by shrapnel from an artillery shell fired at them by IOF on 4 January 2005.  This attack had left 7 children, including Ghaben's three brothers and his nephew, dead.  The victim had received medical treatment at an Israeli hospital until his death. 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Qarioun area in the old town of Nablus.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 18-year-old Tariq 'Adnan al-Samhan and arrested him. 

At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into the Israeli-controlled al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis, which has been under a strict siege since the beginning of the current Intifada. They raided a number of houses belonging to the families of al-Najjar, Hannoun, al-Sha'er and Khudair and forced the male residents out.  They searched these houses.  They also interrogated the male residents until 19:00.  When IOF left the area, they arrested 18-year-old Hussam Farid Khudair. 

At approximately 07:00, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They surrounded a house belonging to the family of Akram Mutlaq al-Jiawi, 20, and his brother Isma'il, 21, who have been detained by IOF. They forced the 15 residents of the house out and searched it.  At approximately 08:30, IOF planted explosives in a cave near the house and destroyed it. 

At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into al-Fara'a refugee camp, southeast of Jenin.  They took position at the entrances of the camp and stopped and checked dozens of Palestinian civilians.  A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF.  Immediately, IOF fired at the children, wounding 17-year-old Rami 'Essam Jawad with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand.     

  

Friday, 4 February 2005

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata village.  they raided and searched 2 houses in the old town of Nablus and arrested 17-year-old Mohammed Bashir al-Damouni, and 19-year-old Taha Hani al-Qaddoumi. They also raided a house in Balata village and arrested 22-year-old Ahmed Hamada Swaikat. 

At approximately 15:30, IOF positioned at military posts at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Rafah refugee camp.  A Palestinian child, 8-year-old Alaa' Fu'ad Abu Jazar, was injured by shrapnel in the head. 

At approximately 21:30, IOF opened fire at 2 Palestinians near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel near the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.  The two were instantly killed.  IOF informed the Palestinian side that there were 2 bodies in the area, but did not allow ambulances to reach the area until the following morning.  A Palestinian ambulance went to the area and its medical searched for the bodies until they found them at 12:00 a few meters away from the border.  The bodies were evacuated to a hospital in Beit Lahia, where the victims were identified as:

1.     Mohammed Shihda al-Bahri, 19; and

2.     'Emad Joma'a Abu Shallouf, 24, both from Beit Hanoun. 

According to medical sources, the victims were hit by several live bullets throughout their bodies.  The two victims apparently attempted to infiltrate into Israel to search for a job.  IOF admitted that the two victims did not have any weapons or sharp tools. 

 

Saturday, 5 February 2005

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 19-year-old Mohammed Nazmi al-Haddad at al-Salam Street and arrested him. 

At approximately 13:00, IOF positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town.  A Palestinian civilian, 28-year-old Khaled 'Abdul Hadi al-Sha'er, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand, when he was at al-'Awda Square in the center of the town, nearly 800 meters away from the border. 

 

Sunday, 6 February 2005

At approximately 17:30, IOF positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired an artillery shell at al-Nimsawi neighborhood to the east.  The shell hit the cemeteries area, but no casualties were reported. 

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They opened fire at houses. Palestinian civilians escaped to their houses. While 15-year-old Murad Mohammed al-Rajoub was running towards his family home, an Israeli military jeep ran him down.  He sustained injuries and bruises on the back and the legs. 

 

Monday, 7 February 2005

During the day, IOF moved into Rummana village near Jenin, Shaqba village near Ramallah and al-Sawahra village near Jerusalem.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinians. 

 

Tuesday, 8 February 2005

 At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qeffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched 2 houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:

1.     Rabi' Yousef 'Ammar, 24; and     

2.     Ahmed Kittana, 23. 

At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.  They surrounded a secondary school. Then, they raided it and searched its classrooms, but no arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 9 February 2005

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the Israeli-controlled al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Paletsinian civilians:

1.     'Aadel 'Eid 'Ali al-Douji, 25;

2.     'Alaa' Darwish al-Sha'er, 30;

3.     Akram 'Awni al-Shoubaki, 25;

4.     'Eissa Mohammed Saleh al-Lahham, 45;

5.     'Arafat 'Abdul Wahab al-Najjar, 20; and

6.     Majed Khamis Zo'rob, 19. 

At approximately 14:10, IOF positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Rafah Yam" settlement, northwest of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood and Bader camp to the east.  A Palestinian civilian, 20-year-old Ibrahim Fathi Abu Jazar, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen.  He was evacuated to Mohammed Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, but medical efforts to save his life failed and he was pronounced dead at midnight. 

 

Continued Siege on the OPT

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. 

 

Gaza Strip

Contrary to Israeli official claims regarding easing measures of closure imposed on the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to completely or partially close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip, and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians. 

With regard to internal movement, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), even though they have increased the hours of opening the two checkpoints. They often close the two checkpoints and hold and check Palestinian civilians in between.  At approximately 19:00 on Thursday, 3 February 2005, following an armed attack by a Palestinian in the area, IOF closed the two checkpoints and held and interrogated dozens of Palestinian civilians until the following morning.  The two checkpoints remained closed until 16:00 on Saturday, 5 February 2005.  As a result, thousands of Palestinian civilians, including students, were not able to go back to their homes.  

IOF have also continued to impose a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip.  On Thursday morning, 3 February 2005, IOF reopened al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance of the area, but under severe conditions.  Male Palestinians aged 16-35 have been prohibited from crossing the checkpoint. At approximately 14:00 on Saturday, 5 February 2005, IOF positioned at the checkpoint opened fire at Palestinian civilians who were waiting at the checkpoint.  A Palestinian civilian, 41-year-old Nasser Mohammed 'Elwan, was injured by shrapnel in the neck.  On Monday morning, 7 February 2005, IOF closed the checkpoint in the face of Palestinian civilians wishing to enter al-Mawasi area.   

IOF have also continued to close a number of roads inside the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada, such as the western Rafah – Khan Yunis road in the southern Gaza Strip, Abu al-'Ajeen road between the villages of al-Qarara and Wadi al-Salqa in the central Gaza Strip and Salah al-Din Street at "Netzarim" and "Kfar Darom" junctions in the central Gaza Strip. Furthermore, IOF have continued to prohibit Palestinian civilians from using "Kissufim", "Morag" and al-Mentar roads in the southern and central Gaza Strip, which have been devoted for the movement of IOF and settlers.  While Palestinians hopes that military checkpoints inside the Gaza Strip will be dismantled, PCHR is concerned that IOF may establish a new military checkpoint on the coastal road, south of Gaza City, as they established a sand hill, which is 6 meters high, only 50 meters away from the coastal road, which may be a prelude for establishing a huge military post in the area similar to an existing one near al-Matahen checkpoint. This new development poses a serious threat to the lives of Palestinian civilians as an Israeli tank is always positioned in the area.  Recently, IOF have repeatedly closed the coastal road. 

IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities located near Israeli military posts and settlements, particularly al-Sayafa area between "Dogit" and "Elli Sinai" settlements in the northern Gaza Strip and al-Ma'ni area near "Kfar Darom" settlement in the central Gaza Strip.  IOF have continued to control the movement of Palestinian civilians through two iron gates established at the entrances to the two areas.  IOF allow only 4-5 persons to leave these areas daily following coordination between 07:00 and 14:30. 

Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip has been closed.  A number of patients who suffer from serious diseases are sometimes allowed to enter Israel, but following prior coordination and under inhuman conditions.  Patients have to wait for long hours before they are forced to wall or move on wheel chairs to be checked.  Only patients who suffer from serious diseases are allowed to travel in ambulances, while other patents have to travel in taxis after passing through checking.   

On Tuesday, 8 February 2005, IOF reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City, following a 4-week closure, which created shortages of basic goods in the Gaza Strip. 

Even though IOF reopened Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, they have continued to impose severe restrictions on travel. The crossing point is opened from 09:00 to 17:00 everyday.  Palestinians aged 16-35, including students and patients, have been prevented from traveling through the crossing point. The crossing point has been the only outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world since the beginning of the current Intifada.

 

The West Bank

IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.

 

Ramallah

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  According to eyewitnesses, IOF positioned at an iron gate at the entrance of "Halmish" settlement, northeast of Ramallah, have continued to stop and check Palestinian civilians.  On Sunday afternoon, 6 February 2005, IOF positioned at Qalandya checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem held dozens of Palestinian civilians after checking their identity cards and forced some of them to travel back to Ramallah.  On Monday evening, 7 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance to Surda village, north of Ramallah.  They stopped and searched hundreds of Palestinian civilian vehicles.   

 

Bethlehem

On Saturday evening, 5 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint on the road leading to al-Khader village, south of the town.  They stopped dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles and forced Palestinian civilians to get out of them and wait for long hours.  On Sunday morning, 6 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint on the road leading to schools inside al-Khader village. On the road between Hebron and Bethlehem and disrupted traffic in the area. They stopped dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles and forced Palestinian civilians to get out and checked them.

 

Hebron

On Saturday morning, 5 February 2005, IOF erected a number of checkpoints in the west and south of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and checked hundreds of Palestinian civilians.  IOF also erected a checkpoint at the northern entrance of al-Zahiriya village, west of the town, and another one at al-Burj crossroads to the west of Dura village.  

 

Nablus

On Saturday morning, 5 February 2005, IOF erected a number of checkpoints on the main roads leading to the city.  They erected a checkpoint at Jeet crossroads, west of Nablus.  They stopped dozens of Palestinian vehicles that were traveling to Ramallah and conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians.  IOF also erected a checkpoint at the crossroads of "Yitshar" settlement, south of the city. They stopped dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians. Contrary to Israeli claims regarding easing restrictions imposed on the freedom of movement, IOF positioned at stable checkpoints around the city have continued to impose severe restrictions on the freedom of movement. On Tuesday morning, 8 February 2005, IOF closed all checkpoints and the entrances of the city for no apparent reason.

 

Jenin

On Thursday morning, 3 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians.  They also closed the road leading to the neighboring 'Aqaba village and branch road leading to al-Hurj area in the northwest of Tubas village.  On Saturday morning, 5 February 2005, IOF imposes more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  According to eyewitnesses, IOF positioned at al-Hamra and Tayaseer checkpoints in the Jordan Valley prevented Palestinian trucks loaded with vegetables from crossing the two checkpoints.  On Sunday afternoon, 6 February 2005, IOF erected 2 checkpoints at the entrances of Tubas village.  According to eyewitnesses, IOF held dozens of Palestinian vehicles under the rain. On Tuesday morning, 8 February 2005, IOF imposed a comprehensive siege on the northern and central Jordan Valley, east and southeast of Jenin.  According to eyewitnesses, IOF closed Tayaseer and al-Hamra checkpoints.      

 

Tulkarm

On Thursday morning, 3 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at Artah crossroads, south of Tulkarm.  They stopped dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians.  On Friday morning, 4 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint near Zeita village, north of the town.  They stopped dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles for long hours.  On Saturday morning, 5 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Salam square, south of Tulkarm.  On Sunday morning, 6 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bala'a crossroads, east of the town. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians.

 

Qalqilya

On Tuesday, 8 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint near Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya.  They stopped all Palestinian vehicles that were traveling on the main road that links Qalqilya with other Palestinian communities. 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

On Thursday evening, 3 February 2005, IOF positioned at the eastern entrance to Qalqilya arrested 'Alaa' 'Abdul Hadi Eshtaiwi, 23, from Qalqilya. 

On Saturday afternoon, 5 February 2005, IOF positioned at a military checkpoint at 'Allar crossroads, north of Tulkarm, arrested 2 Palestinian children:

1.     Baker Nizar Shadid, 17; and

2.     Mohammed Burhan Shadid, 17, both from 'Allar village. 

On Sunday evening, 6 February 2005, IOF positioned at a military checkpoint at Tammoun crossroads, southeast of Jenin, arrested 2 Palestinians. 

On Monday, 7 February 2005, IOF prevented two Palestinians from traveling to Jordan through al-Karama International Crossing Point on the Jordanian border. 

 

Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall

On Friday noon, 4 February 2005, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in protest of the confiscation of hundreds of donums of land in Kharas village, west of Hebron, for the purpose of the construction of the wall.  IOF fired tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a result, 4 demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

The heavy rain and resulting floods cause severe damage to Palestinian residential and agricultural areas located near the annexation wall in the north of the West Bank.  According to sources of Qalqilya Municipality, 300-400 donums of agricultural land were covered by floods as the pipelines of rain water disposal located under the wall were closed. The floods also covered a number of houses and animal and chicken farms.  According to eyewitnesses, many people were trapped inside their houses and many animals and at least 6000 birds were killed. According to eyewitnesses, the floods affected the villages of Beit Amin, Sneeria, Flamia and Jayous near Qaliqlya. IOF had already established part of the wall 8-meters-high to the west of Qalqilya. 

Floods also trapped at least 200 Palestinian civilians in Zabbouba village, west of Jenin.  According to the local council of the village, 33 houses, where at least 200 civilians live, were trapped on Sunday, 6 February 2005, between al-Ghar Valley and the annexation wall.  These houses were isolated from the rest of the village as the valley crosses through the center of the village. 

On Tuesday, 8 February 2005, the Israeli High Court issued two decisions regarding the construction of the wall.  According to the first decision, the construction of the wall to the northwest of Jerusalem will be resumed. This new decision cancelled a court ruling that was issued 3 weeks ago stopping the construction of the wall in the area.  In the second decision, the court obligated Palestinian civilians from Kherbat al-No'man village, northeast of Bethlehem, to negotiate the route of the wall to the east of the village with IOF.

  

Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilian and Property

Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. IOF have continued to confiscate areas of Palestinian land for settlement activities. 

At approximately 07:40 on Friday morning, 4 February 2005, an Israeli civilian vehicle driven by a settler ran down Nidal 'Abdul Rahim Hassan Yamin, 34, from Jeet village to the east of Qalqilya, when he was walking on the roadside of Nablus –Qalqilya road.  Soon, an Israeli police vehicle, a Palestinian ambulance and an Israeli ambulance arrived at the area.  The victim was evacuated by the Israeli ambulance to an Israeli hospital.  According to the victim's family, he sustained fractures in the right leg and the shoulder and bruises in the back. 

On Thursday, 3 February 2005, IOF issued military orders confiscating at least 130 donums of agricultural land in the villages of Ematin and Deir Estia, south of Nablus, to establish a 100-meter-wide strip along the neighboring "Emanuel" settlement.  These areas of land belong to 23 Palestinian farmers. 

On Friday, 4 February 2005, a number of Israeli settlers from "Male Gilbou" settlement in the northern Jordan Valley, escorted by IOF, seized at least 400 donums of land in Qa'oun area to the north of Bardala village, east of Jenin.  They surrounded these areas with a metal fence and brought cows to the land. 

On Saturday morning, 5 February 2005, dozens of armed Israeli settlers from "Afar" settlement, northeast of Hebron, seized nearly 1000 donums of Palestinian agricultural land near the settlement.  They tents and other equipment to the land and planted olive trees after having surrounded the land with barbwire.  The settlers also chased and threatened Palestinian farmers and prevented them from reaching their land. 

On Tuesday morning, 8 February 2005, IOF issued a military order confiscating 2 donums of agricultural land in the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron.  The order, which was signed by the Head of the Israeli Military Central Command Moshe Keblinsky gave the owner 10 days to appeal against the confiscation. According to local sources, IOF seek to establish a settlement post in the area for a number of settlers who live in a tent. 

 

***

 

Recommendations to the International Community

1.     PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  PCHR believes the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as a state above law and continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

2.     PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPTs and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3.     PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4.     PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and solidarity groups to participate in the process of searching for Israeli war criminals and to urge their governments to bring these war criminals to justice.

5.     PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel.  PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPTs.

6.     PCHR calls upon European governments to change their positions towards the Palestinian cause at UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human Rights. 

7.     PCHR welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution, which referred the issue of the Separation Wall inside the OPTs to International Court of Justice to give its Advisoryt Opinion.  There is no doubt that the wall is illegal, which obligates the international community to take steps that amount to the level of the expected decision by the court.

8.     In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPTs, including for facilitating family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

9.     PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and solidarity groups, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPTs and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10. In light of the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access of international solidarity groups to the OPTs, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal the same way with Israeli citizens. 

11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

 

“END”

 

Public Document