Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

 

• 7 Palestinians, including 2 children, were killed by IOF.
• 3 of the victims, including a civilian, were extra-judicially executed by IOF.
• A Palestinian worker was run down to death by an Israeli settler.
• 16 Palestinians, including 3 children, a woman and a journalist, were wounded by IOF.
• IOF conducted 27 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 3 ones into the Gaza Strip.
• IOF arrested 37 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, in the West Bank and 4 others in the Gaza Strip.
• IOF razed at least 150 donums[1] of agricultural land Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip.
• IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.
• IOF have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world and a humanitarian crisis has emerged.
• A patient died due to the obstruction by IOF troops at Erez crossing of his access to an Israeli hospital.

 

 
 

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (18 – 24 October 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 5 Palestinians and wounded 31 others, including 8 children, a woman and a journalists, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 5 Palestinians, including 2 children, and wounded 11 others, including a child and a woman.

Three Palestinians were killed and 7 others were wounded in 4 extra-judicial execution attempts carried out by IOF on 20, 21 and 23 October 2007. Two children were killed and 2 civilians, including a woman, were wounded when IOF fired a surface-to-surface missile at a launcher of home-made rockets in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. On 10 October 2007, 2 Palestinian were wounded during an incursion by IOF into al-Shouka village, east of Rafah.

In the West Bank, on 23 October 2007, 2 members of the Palestinian resistance were killed during an exchange of fire by IOF that besieged them. Additinally, 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a journalist, were wounded when IOF used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 27 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 37 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 2,183.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 incursions into Palestinian communities. During those incursions, IOF troops transformed a number of houses into military sites, temporarily arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, wounded 2 civilians and razed 150 donums of agricultural land.

Restrictions on Movement: 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 occupied East Jerusalem.

 

Gaza Strip

IOF have imposed a strict siege on the Gaza Strip. They have closed its border crossings as a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.

IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. IOF had already closed Rafah International Crossing Point following an armed attack against an IOF military post in Kerem Shalom area, southeast of Rafah, on 25 June 2006. The crossing point had been partially reopened for short, sporadic periods to allow few numbers of Palestinian to travel through it. The crossing point has been completely closed since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Palestinian security forces from the crossing point. There are approximately 6,000 Palestinians held at the Egyptian side of the border awaiting to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip. Most of them have run out of money and are living on assistance. In addition, 19 of them have died in Egypt. The bodies were returned to Gaza through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. In addition, thousands of travelers were allowed to return to the Gaza Strip through al-Ojah crossing, 8 kilometers southeast of Rafah. From there, they were transported to Erez Checkpoint to enter the Gaza Strip.  IOF have also closed commercial crossings, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing. IOF have continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling through this crossing. 

 

West Bank

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the city during the Eid al-Futr. IOF have also tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have isolated Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank.

Settlement Activities: Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On 21 October 2007, an Israeli settler ran down a Palestinian worker to death.   On 18 October 2007, Israeli settlers who have been seizing a Palestinian building in al-Ras neighborhood to the west of “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, since 19 March 2007, closed a dirt road used by Palestinian civilians near the building with stones. On 19 October 2007, IOF started to raze and level large areas of agricultural land in the north of Bourqin village, west of Salfit. The affected lands had been already confiscated by IOF to establish new factories for Burkan industrial zone. On 20 October 2007, Israeli settlers from “Shavi Shomron” settlement, northwest of Nablus, attacked a number of Palestinian farmers while they were cultivating olives in Deir Sharaf village near the aforementioned settlement. On 21 October 2007, a number of Israeli settlers from “Beitar” settlement, west of Bethlehem, attacked Ameen Ahmed Hamamra, 33, from the nearby Housan village. He sustained bruises and cuts in the upper part of the body.

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (18 – 24 October 2007)

 

 

1.      Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

 

Thursday, 18 October 2007

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians, claiming that they are members of the Palestinian resistance:

 

1.      Bilal Mustafa Rajab, 30, who was included in the list of amnesties issued by IOF for dozens of members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement); and

2.      ‘Abdul Nasser Ameen al-Swais, 48.

 

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

 

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

 

1.      Ra’ed Sa’di Abu Rmaila, 27;

2.      Eihab ‘Aadel al-Mathbouh, 22;

3.      Ihsan ‘Aadel al-Mathbouh, 24;

4.      ‘Ali Hasan al-Tawil, 24;

5.      Saif ‘Ali al-Najmi, 16;

6.      Mohammed Shaker Abu ‘Ayash, 21; and

7.      Hussein Shaker Abu ‘Ayash, 23.

 

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Eissa Talab Abu Fanous, 31.

 

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Muhannad Kareem Hamdan, 19, and summoned him for interrogation.

 

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Mo’tassem Mohammed Zakarna, 24;

2.      Yasser Arafat Zakarna, 25;

3.      Mohammed ‘Ali Zakarna, 20; and

4.      Aysar Tawfiq Zakarna, 23.

 

·      At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Tayaseer village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

 

·      At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Sarra village, southwest of Nablus. They fired sound bombs. A number of boys who were attending a wedding party threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the boys. No casualties or arrests were reported.

 

Friday, 19 October 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Aaref Haitham al-Hermi, 25.

 

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Abdul Qader Ahmed Abu Srour, 27.

 

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

 

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Bassel al-Afandi, 26.

 

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Taffouh village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Radwan Khalil al-Heresh, 45.

 

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah. They raided two houses belonging to Ramadan Abu Shousha and Ayman al-Qarra and transformed them into military sites. During this incursion, IOF arrested 3 bird hunters and held them inside the aforementioned two houses: Tamer ‘Aqel, 42; ‘Abdul Rahman Salah al-‘Arja, 25; and Fayez Najeeb al-Akhras, 18. At approximately 07:00, IOF took the three bird hunters and Abu Shousha to Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing and then to Erez crossing. The four civilians were released at approximately 17:30 on the same day after having been interrogated by IOF. During the incursion, a Palestinian civilian, 30-year-old Nasser ‘Ali al-Hwaiti, was wounded by a gunshot to the left shoulder. A member of the Palestinian resistance was also wounded.

 

·      At approximately 18:00, IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into al-Hawouz area in the northeast of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. They remained in the area until approximately 17:00 on the following day.

 

·      At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Mas’ha village, west of Salfit. They fired at Palestinian civilians and property and detonated sound bombs near a number of civilians.

 

Saturday, 20 October 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and shops, but no arrests were reported.

 

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Rummana village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

 

·      At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Majdi ‘Abdul Latif Fetyan, 26;

2.      Eyad Shafiq Hashash, 21;

3.      Mohammed ‘Abdul Rahman Bana, 23;

4.      Ra’ed ‘Aqeel al-Jouhari, 18; and

5.      Khaled ‘Abdul Khaliq Darwaza, 35, whose family’s house was destroyed by IOF on 23 September 2007.

 

Sunday, 21ctober 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Dura town, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Abdul Rahman al-‘Awawda, 34, and summoned him for interrogation.

 

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

 

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Til village, south of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported. 

 

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

 

·      Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahran Raja Saif, 21, and arrested him.

 

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

 

·      Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into ‘Aaroura village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

 

·      At approximately 03:15, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Fadel Abu Qare’, and summoned his brother Tha’er, 22, for interrogation.

 

·      At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into the Tunnels neighborhood in the northwest of Beit Jala. They raided and searched houses and verified the identities of their residents. They registered the numbers of identity cards and car plates of the residents.

 

·      At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They opened fire into the air and at the electricity network, claiming that stones were thrown at their vehicles. The electricity network was damaged and electricity was cut off.   

 

Monday, 22 October 2007

·      At approximately 02:45, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Muntasser Mahmoud al-Masri, 17; and

2.      ‘Omar Jamal al-Meenawi, 18.

 

Tuesday, 23 October 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, a special unit of IOF moved into Sabah al-Kheir suburb, northeast of Jenin. IOF troops besieged a house belonging to Mohammed Abu Ghali. They ordered residents of the house to get out and they did. Two members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), who were apparently hiding inside the house, got out of the house and hid in nearby greenhouses. IOF troops noticed and besieged them. An exchange of fire erupted between the two sides, which continued until 04:00. The two activists were killed in the exchange of fire:

 

1.      Khaled Hussein Rayiq, 25, from Nour Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm; and

2.      Mohammed Mahmoud Jawabra, 22, from Kufor Ra’ei village near Jenin.

 

IOF also raided and searched houses and arrested 11 Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      ‘Abdul Fattah Saleh Turkman, 31, who was released later;

2.      Ashraf Saleh Turkman, 25;

3.      Mohammed Saleh Turkman, 27;

4.      Zaki Saleh Turkman, 42;

5.      Sa’id al-Shinnawi, 35;

6.      Salah ‘Obaidi, 26;

7.      Mohammed Abu Ghali, 25, the owner of the affected house;

8.      Yousef Abu Ghali, 18;

9.      Mohammed Abu Ghali, 19; and

10.  Wassim Abu Ghali, 21.

 

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian children:

 

1.      Eyad Kayed Hashash, 17;

2.      Mahmoud Sa’ad al-Saqqa, 16; and

3.      ‘Aameed Ahmed al-Madani, 17.

 

·      At approximately 11:00, IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. They razed at least 150 donums of agricultural land planted with citrus belonging to the heirs of Ahmed Helmi ‘Abdul Baqi, and destroyed a well, a 120-square-meter store and a fuel tank. IOF withdrew from the town at approximately 16:00.

 

Wednesday, 24 October 2007

·      At approximately 17:55, IOF troops positioned to the southeast of Gaza City fired a surface-to-surface missile at a launcher of home-made rockets in the northeast of Sheikh Zayed housing project in Beit Lahia town. The missile fell near 2 Palestinian children who were in the area, killing them: Mohammed ‘Atiya Kalloub, 17; and ‘Abdul Fattah al-Sayed Sukkar, 14. Two civilians were also wounded: Na’el Nemer Abu Jarad, 24, wounded by shrapnel to the ear; and Ikhlas Mustafa Felfel, 22, wounded by shrapnel to the chest.

 

2.      Extra-Judicial Executions

During the reporting period, IOF carried out 4 extra-judicial executions in the Gaza Strip, in which 3 Palestinians were killed and 7 others were wounded, including a child.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR:

·      At approximately 16:45 on Saturday, 20 October 2007, IOF troops positioned near Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip fired a surface-to-surface missile at 3 members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas) who were in al-Barrawi Street in the center of Beit Lahia. The missile went astray and the targeted persons were able to escape. However, 3 civilian bystanders were wounded:

 

1.      Hasan Mohammed al-Barrawi, 13, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

2.      Nahidh Mustafa al-Fairi, 33, wounded by shrapnel to the feet; and

3.      Khairi Mustafa al-Barrawi, 23, wounded by shrapnel to the pelvis and the feet.

 

In addition, 2 houses and a car were damaged.

 

·      At the same time, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a fishing boat. Two Palestinian lifesavers, one of whom is a member of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), were on board. The missile hit the boat, killing the two Palestinians who were identified:

 

1.      Nizar Sameer Abu Arab, 29, a member of the al-Quds Brigades, from al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City; and

2.      Ra’ed ‘Abed Younis Shamallakh, 28, from Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood in Gaza City. 

 

·      At approximately 11:40 on Sunday, 21 October 2007, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northeast of Beit Hanoun, fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas), who were nearly 2,500 meters away from the border. The missile fell near them and wounded 4 of them, including Yasser al-Rantissi, 22, whose legs were amputated.

 

·      At approximately 15:00 on Tuesday, 23 October 2007, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a civilian vehicle that was traveling on the costal road to the west of Nusairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The missile hit the vehicle and killed the driver, Mubarak ‘Abdullah al-Hassanat, 37, from Deir al-Balah, an activist of Salah al-Din Brigades (the armed wing of the Palestinian Resistance Committees).

 

3.      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 Occupied East Jerusalem.

 

Gaza Strip

OF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip for nearly 16 months. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian population. Moreover, the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have further tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, and the living and economic conditions of Palestinian civilians have further deteriorated. During the reporting period, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “an enemy entity,” which implies imposing more restrictions and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population. 

·      Rafah International Crossing Point: Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. The crossing point has been closed since 25 June 2006. During the reporting period, the crossing point was not reopened.  There are approximately 6,000 Palestinians held at the Egyptian side of the border awaiting to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip. Most of them have run out of money and are living on assistance. In addition, 19 of them have died in Egypt. The bodies were returned to Gaza through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. In addition, thousands of travelers have allowed to return to the Gaza Strip through al-Ojah crossing, 8 kilometers to the east of Rafah International Crossing Point. From there, they were transported to Erez Checkpoint to enter the Gaza Strip.  Hundreds Palestinian civilians who have residencies in other countries were allowed to travel out of the Gaza Strip the same way.

 

·      Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have completely closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which links the Gaza Strip with Israel and the West Bank.  Before this latest closure, IOF had prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.  Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip had been prevented from traveling through this crossing.  IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing.  With this closure, few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. IOF have allowed nearly 400 traders to pass through the crossing. IOF have also continued to prevent members of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Hamas from traveling to the West Bank and Jerusalem. According to Palestinians who traveled through the crossing, IOF impose the same restrictions on their movement as in the past. IOF have decreased the number of patients allowed to travel through the crossing for alleged security claims, even though those patients do not pose any threat to the security of Israelis and they are badly in need for advanced medical treatment. Patients who are allowed to pass through the crossing are forced to wait for long hours to undergo complicated passage and security procedures. They are thoroughly checked in a humiliating manner. Patients are also forced to pay additional financial expenses to use Israeli ambulances to transport them from the crossing to hospitals since Palestinian ambulances are banned from transporting patients. Approximately 50 patients are allowed to pass daily. On 23 October 2007, Nemer Mohammed Salim Shuhaiber, 77, from al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City, died as his passage through the crossing to received medical treatment at an Israeli hospital was obstructed by IOF for several hours. Shuhabier was admitted into the ICU at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on 21 October 2007 as he was suffering from an acute heart attack. Since he was in a serious condition, the Palestinian Ministry of Health decided to transfer him to an Israeli hospital.

 

·      Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened the crossing for several hours on 2 days to allow the entry of some goods.

 

·      Nahal Ouz crossing: The crossing, which is designed for the entry of fuels into the Gaza Strip, witnessed an active movement during the reporting period.    

 

·      Sofa Crossing: During the reporting period, the crossing was opened for a few hours to allow the entry of some goods for local traders.

 

·      Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom): During the reporting period, the crossing was opened for 4 days to allow the entry of some goods.

On Sunday, 21 October 2007, the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced the closure of surgery rooms at hospitals and healthcare centers due to the exhaustion of the nitrous oxide anesthetic as a result of restrictions on the entry of the anesthetic by IOF. The company providing the gas to the Ministry of Health confirmed this and added that on Thursday, 19 October 2007, only 2 canisters of Nitrous Gas were useable out of a total of 44 canisters used by the Gaza Strip’s hospitals. These two canisters were used only at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City; and they ran out in the afternoon of Sunday, 21 October 2007. On Monday, 22 October 2007, IOF allowed the entry of 137 canisters of Nitrous Gaza were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.

 

The West Bank

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

·      Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque.

 

·      Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 18 October 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 21 October, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday, 23 October 2007, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Nablus.

 

On Saturday evening, 20 October 2007, IOF troops beat and humiliated Mohammed Mohammed Mousa, 31, form Zawata village northwest of Nablus, when he was on his way back home together with family after cultivating olives from their land.

 

·      Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 18 October 2007, IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, closed the checkpoint and banned the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Tulkarm. On Friday, 19 October 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Saturday, 20 October 2007, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, for several hours and banned the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday, 23 October 2007, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through the checkpoint. On Wednesday, 24 October 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint from 07:00 to 10:00.

 

4.     Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilian in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, and al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem.

·      Following the Friday Prayer on 19 October 2007, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF troops had placed barbwires in the area to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Wall. The demonstrators attempted to move forward. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, and violently beat them. As a result, 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a journalist, were wounded:

 

1.      Ibrahim Ghazi Bitello, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the thigh;

2.      ‘Abdullah Ahmed Yassin, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the shoulder;

3.      Ibrahim ‘Abdul Fattah Bernat, 25, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg;

4.      Rani Ayoub al-Najjar, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head; and

5.      Ghassan Bannoura, 26, a journalist, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg.

 

·      Also following the Friday Prayer on 19 October 2007, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in protest to the construction of the Wall. The demonstrators moved towards the site of the construction of a section of the Wall near “Efrat” settlement. IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the demonstrators and beat a number of them. Three demonstrators sustained bruises:

 

1.      Mahmoud Mohammed Zawahra, 30;

2.      Mohammed Hasan Braijiya, 33; and

3.      Mos’ab ‘Abdullah Braijiya, 22.

 

 

5.      Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

·      At approximately 09:30 on Thursday morning, 18 October 2007, Israeli settlers who have been seizing a Palestinian building in al-Ras neighborhood to the west of “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, since 19 March 2007, closed a dirt road used by Palestinian civilians near the building with stones. IOF have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the neighborhood.

 

·      On Friday morning, 19 October 2007, IOF started to raze and level large areas of agricultural land in the north of Bourqin village, west of Salfit. According to the mayor of Bourqin, ‘Ekrema Samara, the affected lands had been already confiscated by IOF to establish new factories for Burkan industrial zone. The affected area includes many historical sites. IOF have prevented Palestinian farmers from reaching the area.

 

·      On Saturday morning, 20 October 2007, Israeli settlers from “Shavi Shomron” settlement, northwest of Nablus, attacked a number of Palestinian farmers while they were cultivating olives in Deir Sharaf village near the aforementioned settlement. According to farmers, the settlers, escorted by IOF, attacked them and prevented them from cultivating olives.

 

·      On Sunday morning, 21 October 2007, a number of Israeli settlers from “Beitar” settlement, west of Bethlehem, attacked Ameen Ahmed Hamamra, 33, from the nearby Housan village. He sustained bruises and cuts in the upper part of the body.

 

·      At approximately 14:30 also on Sunday, Kamal Mohammed Hamed ‘Abdul Qader, 40, a worker from Tulkarm, was ran down to death by and Israeli civilian car. According to the victim’s family, he was on his way to his work place inside Israel through Kufor Qassem checkpoint. When he was walking on the road that links Kufor Qassem and “Ariel” settlement, north of Salfit, he was ran down by a settler who was traveling fast in his car. The worker was instantly killed. 

 

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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 Territory.  PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel 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 OPT 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 calls for the immediately implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

 

5.      PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.

 

6.      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 OPT.

 

7.      PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented last year, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. 

 

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 OPT, including the facilitation of 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 NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

 

10.  PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.

 

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.

 

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Public Document

For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).