Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (17 June 2004)
Israeli Forces Perpetrate More Crimes
in the OPTs
· 8
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed by Israeli forces
· 4
of the victims were killed in 2 extra-judicial assassinations
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· 315
donums[1]
of agricultural land were razed and 12 houses were demolished in the Gaza Strip
· 2
houses were destroyed in Bethlehem by Israeli troops in the context of
retaliatory measures against families of Palestinian activists
· Israeli
forces continued to shell Palestinian residential areas, injuring a number of
Palestinian civilians
· Construction
of the “Annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued and more areas of
Palestinian land were seized
· Israeli
occupying forces have continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs
Introduction
Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more
violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Human rights violations perpetrated by
Israeli occupying forces included extra-judicial and willful killings,
incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling and house
demolitions. Israeli occupying forces have also continued construction of
the “Annexation Wall” inside the West Bank and have continued to impose a tight
siege on the OPTs. This week, 8
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed by Israeli troops.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted
14 military incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they destroyed razed
315 donums of Palestinian agricultural land and 12 houses. They also arrested 4 Palestinian civilians in
the central Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces launched a
series of attacks against Palestinian civilians. Eight Palestinians, including a child, were
killed by Israeli troops. Four of the
victims were killed in 2 extra-judicial assassinations perpetrated by Israeli
troops in Nablus and Jenin on 14 and 16 June 2004. Israeli troops also arrested dozens of
Palestinians throughout the West Bank. They
also demolished 2 houses in Bethlehem on 15 June 2004 in the context of a
continuous retaliatory campaign against families of Palestinian activists.
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the annexation wall inside the West Bank, especially around Jerusalem. Israeli occupying forces continued to level
large areas of Palestinian land for the purpose of the construction of the
wall. They have isolated the northern
suburbs of the city. They plan to
construct a section of the wall to the west of these suburbs, which will
eventually isolate them from Jerusalem. The construction of the wall in the area will isolate dozens of
institutions and markets. In the same
context, Israeli troops demolished 5 houses to the south of Ramallah.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
tightened siege on the OPTs and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have
continued to close most border crossings.
In the West Bank, the spokesperson for the Israeli
occupying forces claimed that his troops had dismantled 42 out of 150
checkpoints throughout the West Bank, and lifted the siege imposed on
Palestinian communities, excluding Nablus. PCHR’s field workers reported that they had reopened entrances to a
number of villages and a number of roads, but many checkpoints remained in
place. Israeli troops continued to impose restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. This claim
contradicts with another statement by an Israeli military spokesman on 9 March
2004, when they talked about only 29 checkpoints being enforced throughout the
West Bank.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 10 June 2004
At approximately 00:00, an
infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved from "Netzarim"
settlement, south of Gaza City, approximately 1000 meters into Palestinian
agricultural areas in Sheikh Ejlin neighborhood. Israeli troops raided an uninhabited house
owned by Taleb Jamil al-Tanani, who lives abroad. They transformed the house into a military
site and made holes in the walls. A few
hours later, more Israeli military reinforcements were brought to the
area. Israeli troops demolished the
fence of the house. Then, they razed 10
donums of agricultural land planted with vegetables, grapes and palms and
destroyed agricultural equipments belonging to the Shamallakh family.
At approximately 01:30, an
infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 400 meters into
Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli troops raided a 200-square-meter,
4-storey house owned by Yousef ‘Awad Muhaisen. They forced the 13 residents out of the house and searched it. They used the owner as a human shield while
searching the house. Then, Israeli
troops held all residents in one room on the third floor and took a position on
top of the house. Israeli troops
prevented the owner’s sons: Hassan and Mohammed, 18; and Ihsan, 14, from going
to schools to attend their final exams. Israeli troops left the house at approximately 01:30 on Friday, 11 June
2004.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli
troops moved into Qalqilya and arrested 5 Palestinians:
1. Fadi Jamal Nazzal, 21;
2. Mahmoud ‘Eissa Abu Lebda, 19;
3. Amjad Jamal Sa’sa’, 25;
4. Tamer Ahmed Shuraim, 18; and
5. Mohammed Ahmed Qara’an, 21.
At approximately 02:20, Israeli
troops moved into al-Sikka neighborhood in Jenin. They surrounded Yousef Abu al-Hassan
al-Zar’eini’s house. They knocked on the
door. The owner’s son, Ma’moun, 27,
looked through the window. When he
noticed that the house was surrounded by Israeli troops, he attempted to escape
through a back door. As soon as he
exited, Israeli troops fired at him, without warning, from a distance of less than 10 meters. He was instantly killed. According to medical sources, he was hit by
10 live bullets throughout the body. Israeli
troops also arrested 3 Palestinians, including one of the victim’s brothers:
1. Mo’tassem Yousef Abu al-Hassan al-Zar’eini, 25;
2. Shadi Mohammed ‘Arram, 18; and
3. Fadi Mohammed ‘Arram, 24.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli
troops moved into Deir Abu Da’if village near Jenin and arrested 2
Palestinians:
1. Baker Mohammed ‘Olayan, 24; and
2. ‘Aaref Khaled ‘Olayan, 23.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli
troops moved into Tulkram and arrested Shadi Riad Jazmawi, 19.
Also at approximately 04:00,
Israeli troops moved into Ramin village near Tulkarm and arrested ‘Abdul Rahman
Busais, 30.
At approximately 04:15, Israeli
troops moved into Kharas village near Hebron and arrested Ibrahim ‘Abdul Halim
Halahla, 25.
At approximately 04:30, Israeli
troops moved into al-Walaja village near Bethlehem and arrested 4 Palestinians:
1. Hassan Saleh al-‘Aa’raj, 33;
2. Mousa ‘Abed al-Sheikh Abu Subait, 73;
3. Ahmed Khalil Shehada, 45; and
4. ‘Abdul Qader Daoud Rabah, 53.
Also at approximately 04:30,
Israeli troops moved into Nablus and arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. ‘Alaa’ al-Jayousi, 21; and
2. Bassem ‘Arafat, 31.
At approximately 04:45, Israeli
troops moved into Beit Rima village near Ramallah and arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Mohammed Mubtassem al-Rimawi, 32; and
2. Islam Mubtassem al-Rimawi, 20.
At approximately 05:00, Israeli
troops moved into Rantis village near Ramallah and arrested 5 Palestinians:
1. Fakher ‘Aahed Khalaf, 20;
2. Mo’taz ‘Emara Whdan, 19;
3. Mohammed Jamil al-Sheikh, 19;
4. Nazeeh Jasser Khalaf, 18; and
5. Islam ‘Abdul Karim Whdan, 18.
Also at approximately 05:00,
Israeli troops moved into Bitounia village near Ramallah and arrested ‘Omar
Hamdan, 66.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli
troops moved approximately 400 meters into al-Ahmar area in the east of the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. Throughout this 3-day incursion, they razed around 200 donums of
Palestinian agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed agricultural
equipment and 5 houses that served as summer resorts.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli
troops, accompanied by a military bulldozer, moved approximately 250 meters
into Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They razed 13 donums of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with olives, vegetables and wheat and destroyed
irrigation networks belonging to the families of Muhareb and Abu
Mughassib.
At the same time, Israeli
troops, accompanied by 2 military bulldozers moved around 400 meters into
al-Sumairi and Abu Haddaf neighborhood in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan
Yunis. They razed 16 donums of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with olives belonging to the families of al-Sumairi
and Abu Haddaf. Israeli troops also
demanded that the Palestinian National Security Force dismantle a security site
in the east of al-Qarara village, around 600 meters to the west of the border
between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
At approximately 19:00, Israeli
troops moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They started to provoke passing Palestinian
civilians. Dozens of children and young
men gathered and threw stones at those troops. Israeli troops raided Hussein ‘Ali Rashed Deiriya’s house, held its
residents on the first floor and transformed the second floor into a military
site, from which they fired at the stone throwers. At approximately 21:20, those troops fired at
Shaher ‘Awni Ahmed Taqatqa, 21, wounding him with 3 live bullets in the
chest. A number of civilians tried to
offer him, but Israeli troops fired at them. Around 10 minutes later, a number of civilians were able to reach
him. They transferred him to a doctor’s
house in the village, but he was dead on arrival. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops
fired at the victim from a distance of approximately 250 meters, even though he
did not participate in the clashes.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli
troops moved into Nablus through its western entrance. They moved forward towards the old town
opening fire at houses. A number of
Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones at those troops. Immediately, those troops fired at the young
men, wounding Ahmed Mustafa Killab, 25, with a rubber-coated metal bullet in
the left thigh. At approximately 21:40,
more Israeli troops entered the city through its southern entrance. They moved towards Ras al-‘Ein neighborhood
and opened fire at houses. A passing
Palestinian child, Hani Mahmoud Qandil, 14, was wounded by a live bullet in the
head. He died on the way to the
hospital. According to eyewitnesses,
Israeli troops fired at the child from a distance of less than 20 meters.
Friday, 11 June 2004
At approximately 03:30, Israeli troops moved into Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 6 Palestinians:
1. Ussama
Mohammed Zakarna, 27;
2. Mahmoud
‘Atiya al-Qara’awi, 31;
3. Ahmed
Mahmoud al-Sa’di, 19;
4. Mustafa
Ahmed ‘Atiq, 17;
5. Mohammed
Mhamoud ‘Atiq, 21; and
6. Ussama
Mohammed al-Ahmed, 20.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli troops moved around
150 meters into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They demolished a number of rooms made from
tin, whose 95 residents (25 families) had already left upon orders by these
troops on 28 May 2004. UNRWA has set up
a number of tents for these families inside the village.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli troops positioned in
a military posts along the "Kissufim" settler road, northeast of Khan
Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and agricultural areas in al-Qarara
village, to the south of the aforementioned road. A Palestinian woman, Sa’da Ibrahim ‘Abdul
Rahim al-Tabash, 53, was wounded by 2 live bullets in the chest and the abdomen,
when she was approximately 1000 meters away from the source of fire.
At the same time, Israeli troops moved around 400
meters into Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They razed 10 donums of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with olives, almonds and vegetables owned by the
families of Abu Gharaba and Nattat.
Saturday, 12 June 2004
At
approximately 03:30, Israeli troops moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp near
Hebron. They arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Ahmed
Khamis al-Badawi, 19; and
2. Shadi
Mohammed Jawabra, 24.
At approximately
04:00, Israeli troops moved into Kufor Malek village near Ramallah and arrested Anas ‘Abdul Hafez Hamayed, 36.
Sunday,
13 June 2004
At
approximately 02:00, Israeli troops moved into Jenin town and refugee
camp. They opened fire at houses. A number of members of the Palestinian
resistance exchanged fire with Israeli troops. In the exchange of fire, one member of the resistance, Yamen Faisal
‘Abdul Wahab, 20, was wounded by a live bullet in the shoulder. According to Palestinian sources, this
Israeli military operation aimed at assassinating Zakaria ‘Abed al-Zubaidi, 24,
the leader of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement, in
Jenin. However, an Israeli military
spokesman claimed that an exchange of fire took place during an ordinary
incursion into the area.
At
approximately 02:30, Israeli troops moved into Jenin refugee camp and arrested
Faisal ‘Ersan Qaranin, 45.
At
approximately 04:00, Israeli troops moved into al-Bireh and arrested Hussein
Mohammed Qara’an, 24.
Also at
approximately 04:00, Israeli troops moved into Hebron and arrested 2
Palestinians:
1. Islam
Mohammed Abu Raheb, 27; and
2. ‘Adnan
Ayoub ‘Asfour, 25.
At
approximately 09:00, Israeli troops, accompanied by a military bulldozer, moved
around 200 meters into al-Ja’farawi area in the southeast of Deir
al-Balah. They razed a 1.5-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus and grapes owned by Fadel Hussein Hammouda. They also destroyed the gate of his house and
the telephone network of the area.
At
approximately 10:30, Israeli troops moved around 300 meters into al-Qarara
village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They
demolished a 130-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Mohammed Salama
al-Sumairi, in which 13 people live. They also razed 65 donums of agricultural land planted with wheat and
olives belonging to the families of al-Sumairi and Abu Khashan.
At
approximately 13:00, Israeli troops on tanks positioned at the Egyptian border,
south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town. A number of live bullets and shrapnel hit
areas in al-Shaboura refugee camp, around 1200 meters away from the
border. An infant, Malak Hani Mustafa
Jaber, 9 months, was wounded by a live bullet in the left knee. The same live
bullet also hit her uncle Sa’id, 20, who was carrying her, in the groin.
Also at
approximately 13:00, hundreds of Palestinian civilians and dozens of
international and Israeli peace activists demonstrated on the lands of al-Zawia
village, southeast of Qalqilya, in protest against the construction of the
annexation wall in the area. Israeli
troops fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered form tear
gas inhalation. In addition, Ja’far
Zahed Eshtayeh, 36, a cameraman of France Press, was hit by a tear gas canister
in the back. A South African solidarity
activist, David Silverman, 27, was also hit by a tear gas canister to the head. Israeli troops also arrested an American
solidarity activist, Ron Daron.
Monday, 14 June 2004
At approximately 01:00, Israeli troops moved into Housan
village near Bethlehem. They arrested 4
Palestinians:
1. ‘Esmat
Tariq Hamamra, 22;
2. Ahmed
Ya’qoub Hamamra, 19;
3. Tayseer
Jamil Hamamra, 32; and
4. Tariq
Isma’il Hamamra, 28.
At approximately 03:00, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved around 400 meters into al-Mughraqa village, south of
Gaza City. Israeli troops raided a
3-storey house owned by Suleiman ‘Ali al-Deirawi, in which 22 people (3
families) live. They forced these
residents to leave the house and searched it. Then, they held the families on the second floor and transformed the
third floor into a military site. They
left the house at approximately 23:30.
Also at approximately 03:00, Israeli troops moved
into Bethlehem. They arrested 2
Palestinians:
1. Firas
‘Abdul Ghani Salhab, 22; and
2. Mahmoud
Khalil Abu Hulayel, 24.
3. Asa’ad
al-Shu’aibi, 82;
At approximately 03:15, Israeli troops moved into
Jenin town and refugee camp. They
arrested 7 Palestinians, including 3 brothers:
1. Kamal
Hussam al-Toubasi, 25;
2. Badi’
Khaled Masharqa, 21;
3. Jawad
Khaled Masharqa, 23;
4. Jouda
Khaled Masharqa, 25;
5. Amjad
Khader al-Noubani, 19;
6. Taleb
Tawalba, 32; and
7. Nawras
Ghawadri, 18.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli troops moved into
Yatta village and arrested Samir Badi’ Abu Qubaita, 40.
At approximately 03:45, Israeli troops moved into
‘Askar refugee camp near Nablus and arrested Nizam al-Salhi, 25.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli troops moved into
Qalqilya and arrested 4 Palestinians – a man, his two sons and his brother:
1. Bassam
Tawfiq Walwil, 50;
2. Ahmed
Bassam Tawfiq Walwil, 21;
3. Tawfiq
Bassam Tawfiq Walwil, 23; and
4. Bassem
Tawfiq Walwil, 40.
Also at approximately 04:00, Israeli troops moved
into Ramallah district. They arrested 5
Palestinians:
1. Walid
Najeh Sari, 30, from Bittin village;
2. Nawaf
‘Abdul Jaber Mufleh, 44, from Bittin village;
3. Saleh
Mahmoud al-Habal, 41, from Kharabtha al-Misbah village;
4. Bassam
‘Abdul Rahim, from Silwad village; and
5. ‘Awni
‘Abdul Ghani Fares, 36, from Silwad village.
At approximately 08:00, Israeli troops moved into
al-Duha village near Bethlehem. They
arrested 4 Palestinians:
1. Ma’ath
Abu Hussein Abu Sunaina, 24, from Hebron;
2. Ibrahim
‘Atiya Abu Sunaina, 25, from Hebron;
3. Ahmed
Mohammed Ja’afra, 45, from Tarqoumia village near Hebron; and
4. Fadel
Mahmoud al-Nawaj’a, 45, from Yatta village near Hebron.
At approximately 12:30, Israeli troops arrested ‘Abul
Hamid Abu Sunaina, 35, in Hebron.
At approximately 17:50, Israeli troops moved around
150 meters into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They demolished 3 houses belonging to the
Farawana family, in which 14 people (2 families) lived.
Tuesday, 15 June 2004
At approximately 02:00, Israeli troops moved into Jenin
and opened fire at houses. A Palestinian
child, Nadia Ahmed Hantouli, 16, was injured by shrapnel in the left leg. Israeli troops also raided a number of houses
and arrested 7 Palestinians:
1. Fu’ad
Khader ‘Eghbaria, 20;
2. Amjad
Khader Eghbariya, 23;
3. Anas
Sami Qa’qour, 18;
4. Sa’id
As’ad Saba’na, 18;
5. Mohammed
As’ad Saba’na, 19;
6. Yousef
Ahmed ‘Arqawi, 50; and
7. Ahmed
Yousef Ahmed ‘Arqawi, 18.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli troops moved into
‘Aaida refugee camp near Bethlehem and arrested Eyad Mohammed Rawhi, 23.
Also at approximately 03:00, Israeli troops moved
into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps. They opened fire at houses. A
Palestinian woman, Aamena ‘Ali Bakir, 27, was wounded by a live bullet in the
left thigh. Israeli troops also arrested
2 Palestinians:
1. Ra’ef
Mahmoud al-‘Eker, 30; and
2. Rawhi
Ibrahim ‘Ouda, 27.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli troops moved around
300 meters into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City. They raided and searched Kamal Hamdi
al-Hilu’s house. Israeli troops forced
one of the owner’s sons, Khamis, 20, to get out of the house and used him a
human shield while raiding 2 neighboring houses belonging to Selmi ‘Ouda Abu
Shallouf and Yousef ‘Abdul Karim al-‘Aaidi. They arrested Tariq Abu Shallouf, 19, and Adham al-‘Aaidi, 18. They also beat Samira Mohammed Abu Shallouf,
37, 4 months pregnant, when she tried to prevent them from arresting her son
Tariq. Israeli troops withdrew from the
area approximately 45 minutes later.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli troops moved into
Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. A
number of Israeli soldiers took position on top of a number of houses. A number of Palestinian children and young
men gathered in the center of the camp and threw stones at Israeli troops,
which immediately fired at them. At
approximately 15:30, an Israeli sniper positioned on top of a house belonging
to the al-‘At’out family fired a live bullet at Salah Saleh Ibrahim al-Lahwani,
18, who was looking through the door of his house, around 150 meters away. Al-Lahwani was wounded in the back. Medical efforts to save his life failed and
he was pronounced dead at approximately 16:00. Three other civilians, including a woman and child, were also wounded by
the Israeli gunfire:
1. Amani
Mohammed Ya’ish, 38, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back;
2. ‘Ezziddin
Hassan Marshoud, 12, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head; and
3. Ihsan
Fawzi ‘Adawi, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the neck.
Also at approximately 15:00, Israeli troops moved
into ‘Anabta village near Tulkarm and arrested ‘Alaa’ Adib Rafiq, 31.
At approximately 19:25, during the funeral procession
of al-Lahwani, Israeli troops surrounded ‘Abed al-Rahman mosque in Balata
refugee camp. A number of children and
young men threw stones at these troops, which immediately fired at them. Five Palestinian civilians, including 2
children and an ambulance driver, were wounded:
1. Eyad
Sa’id Mahmoud, 24, wounded by shrapnel in the back;
2. Ahmed
Mohammed ‘Qattawi, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen;
3. Ibrahim
Mohammed al-Masri, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the shoulder;
4. Firas
al-Bakri, 24, an ambulance driver, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in
the head; and
5. Aseed
Hajjaj, 10, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullets in the head.
Wednesday, 16 June
2004
At approximately 01:00,
Israeli troops moved into the old town of Nablus. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. A Palestinian child, Nayef Ahmed Mahroum, 12,
was injured by shrapnel in the head. Israeli troops blew up the doors of a
number of houses and shops, damaging 8 houses, 53 shops and a mosque.
At approximately 03:00,
Israeli troops moved into Bourqin village near Jenin. They arrested 7 Palestinians:
1. Ziad
Ahmed Shadouf, 21;
2. Hani
Barakat Khalaf, 23;
3. ‘Omar
‘Arman Sabbah, 24;
4. Mohammed
Khaled Abu Ghanem, 21;
5. Hilal
Lufi Khallouf, 24;
6. Khaled
Walid Ghanem, 22; and
7. Fahed
‘Arman, 26.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli
troops moved into Jenin. They arrested 5
Palestinians:
1. Mohammed
Tawfiq Qarini, 16;
2. Rabi’
‘Abdul Latif al-Sa’di, 28;
3. Eyad
Hassan Sabaya, 22;
4. Tahreer
‘Ali Barakat, 32; and
5. Mohammed
Qurainawi, 35.
Also at 03:30, Israeli
troops moved into Kufor Dan village near Jenin. They arrested 2 Palestinian brothers:
1. Mujahed
Ahmed Salah, 19; and
2. Jandal
Ahmed Salah, 23.
At approximately 04:00,
Israeli troops moved into Nablus. They
arrested 4 Palestinians, including 2 girls:
1. Nasser
al-Kukhon, 45;
2. Majd
Nasser al-Kukhon, 15;
3. Ameen
al-Hindi, 50; and
4. Aseel
Ameen al-Hindi, 15.
Also at approximately
04:00, Israeli troops moved into al-‘Azza refugee camp near Bethlehem. They arrested 2 Palestinian brothers:
1. Nihad
‘Abdul Hadi al-‘Azza, 30; and
2. Majed
‘Abdul Hadi al-‘Azza, 33.
Also at approximately
04:00, Israeli troops moved into Deir ‘Ammar refugee camp near Ramallah. They arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Yousef
Mohammed ‘Ouda, 28;
2. Ibrahim
Mahmoud ‘Ouda, 32; and
3. Nasser
Mohammed ‘Omar, 21.
At approximately 05:00,
Israeli troops moved into al-Ram village near Jerusalem. They arrested 7 Palestinians:
1. Nemer
Hassan Ramiya, 24;
2. Mohammed
Bassam Hammouda, 24;
3. ‘Abed
Sami Hammouda, 24;
4. Ziad
Nayef Ghazawna, 32;
5. Ramzi
‘Abdul Latif Rayan, 23;
6. Sufian
Yousef Ghazawna, 23; and
7. Ibrahim
Abu Gharbiya, 31.
At approximately 09:00,
Israeli troops moved into al-Bireh and arrested ‘Abdul Rahman Mohammed
al-Tarman, 21.
At approximately 12:50,
Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire
at Palestinian houses in Block J in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, Ahmed Mousa Abu
Mar’ei, 22, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 15:30,
Israeli troops moved into Abu Sha’ar area in Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast
of Deir al-Balah. They surrounded 3
Palestinian houses, in which 24 people (3 families) live. They used megaphones to order the residents
to leave the houses. They arrested 2
brothers: ‘Abdullah Tawfiq al-Kurd, 21; and ‘Abdul Rahman Tawfiq al-Kurd,
15. Then, Israeli troops searched the
houses and ordered women to remove the furniture in 30 minutes. At approximately 20:00, they demolished the
three houses.
Extra-Judicial Execution
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
execution officially adopted by the Israeli political and military
establishments in violation of international law and humanitarian law, this
week, Israeli occupying forces committed 2 extra-judicial executions in the
West Bank.
On Monday evening, 14 June 2004, Israeli occupying
forces launched an aerial attack on a moving vehicle in Nablus, leaving 2
Palestinians dead. One of the victims
was Khaled Marshoud, described by Israeli occupying authorities as one of the
prominent leaders of the military wing of Fatah movement in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories (OPTs). The
other victim was a taxi driver. Israeli
occupying forces admitted responsibility for this attack, and claimed that they
launched it after all efforts to arrest Marshoud had failed.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately
21:25, Khalil Mohammed Zuhdi ‘Araishi (Marshoud), 25, from Balata refugee camp,
east of Nablus, was traveling back to the camp from Nablus in a taxi driven by
‘Awad Hassan Ahmed Abu Zaid, 35, from ‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus. When they arrived at the northern entrance to
the camp, an Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at the vehicle. The missile struck the vehicle, destroying
it. Marshoud and the driver were
instantly killed. The driver’s brother,
Yousef Abu Zaid, had been killed by Israeli troops in April 2002.
In addition, 2 passing civilians were injured by
shrapnel throughout the body:
1. Bhaa’
Rebhi Mustafa Mawqedi, 20; and
2. Mohammed
Safwat al-‘Aassi, 22.
On Wednesday, 16 June 2004,
Israeli occupying forces assassinated a Palestinian in Jenin refugee camp. A taxi driver was also killed by the Israeli
gunfire in the same attack.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately
06:30 on Wednesday, 16 June 2004, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying
forces moved into Jenin using a civilian car, a grey Toyota, which had a
Palestinian registration. The vehicle moved into the road leading to Dr.
Khalil Suleiman Hospital. It stopped near the al-Fahmawi
restaurant. Immediately, 4 armed persons in civilian clothes got out of
the vehicle, opening fire. Majed al-Sa’di, who is also known as Majed
al-Safouri, was killed by 10 live bullets in the head, the chest and the
legs. Israeli occupying forces claim that al-Sa’di was wanted for his
activities in al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah
movement. A worker in the restaurant, Mohammed Tawfiq Qarini, 16, was
wounded and arrested. In addition, Mohammed Mustafa Kumayel, 30, was
seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen, when he was 200 meters away
from the restaurant.
Continued Siege on the
OPT
This week, Israeli occupying forces have
continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPTs and imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
tightened siege on the Gaza Strip for the 11th consecutive week. Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians at Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints to
the north of Khan Yunis. They have also
imposed severe restriction at Rafah Terminal. In addition, they have continued to close Erez crossing in the northern
Gaza Strip, denying access of Palestinian workers to their work places inside
Israeli. They have also continued to
impose a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip and other
Palestinian areas located near Israeli settlements.
On Thursday morning, 10 June 2004, Israeli troops closed
al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints. They held and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles in between.
At approximately 06:00 on Sunday, 13 June 2004,
Israeli troops closed the two checkpoints. They stopped and searched a number of vehicles in between and arrested 3
Palestinians. At approximately 14:00 on
the same day, Israeli troops held and searched a number of Palestinian vehicles
in between for 5 hours.
At approximately 15:00 on Monday, 14 June 2004,
Israeli troops closed the two checkpoints and held and searched a number of
Palestinian vehicles. They also opened
fire at Palestinian vehicles that were waiting at the two checkpoints, but no
casualties were reported.
On Tuesday morning, 15 June 2004, Israeli troops
closed the two checkpoints under security claims, separating between the north
and south of the Gaza Strip. They
reopened the two checkpoints at approximately 20:00, allowing thousands of
Palestinian civilians to travel back home. Israeli troops fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at Palestinian
civilians who were waiting at Abu Houli checkpoint. Israeli troops positioned at al-Matahen
checkpoint fired at Maher ‘Ali Abu Sharar, 25, from Khan Yunis, who is mentally
handicapped, when he got out of a car and moved towards the checkpoint. He was wounded by a live bullet in the left
foot. Israeli troops held him for one
hour, until they were certain that he was mentally handicapped. A Palestinian ambulance evacuated him to
Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.
At approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 16 June 2004,
Israeli troops closed the two checkpoints and held and searched a number of
Palestinian vehicles in between.
For the 11th consecutive week, Israeli
occupying forces have continued to close most border crossings between the Gaza
Strip and Israel. Even though Israeli
occupying forces partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing to
the east of Gaza City, they imposed severe restrictions on the flow of goods
through the crossing.
On Monday morning, Israeli troops reopened the Erez
industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip, but under severe restrictions. Only 400 Palestinian workers were allowed to
enter the zone under strict conditions. In the meantime, Israeli troops have continued to close the Erez
crossing, denying access of thousands of Palestinian workers to their work
places inside Israel.
In violation of the right of health, Israeli
occupying forces have imposed restrictions on access of Palestinian patients
from the Gaza Strip to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank to receive medical
care.
Although Israeli forces reopened Rafah Terminal on
Tuesday, 25 May 2004, they imposed severe restrictions on travel, sharply
decreasing the number of travelers. Since
18 April 2004, Israeli occupying forces have continued to prohibit Palestinians
between the ages of 16 and 35 from traveling through Rafah Terminal on the
Egyptian border.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have
continued to close Tal al-Sultan checkpoint at the entrance to the area in
Rafah and impose restrictions on movement of Palestinian civilians through
al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to the area in Khan Yunis. Israeli
troops reopened al-Tuffah checkpoint, but did not allow Palestinians whose ages
are between 16 and 30 to cross.
Israeli forces have also continued to impose a tightened
siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. In the same
context, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians living in al-Ma’ni area near “Kfar
Darom” settlement in the central Gaza Strip.
At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 13 June 2004,
Israeli troops closed the road leading to al-Matahen company in al-Qarara
village, north of Khan Yunis, with sand barriers. At approximately 18:00 on the following day,
Israeli troops put more sand barriers on the road. As a result, 40 workers have not been able to
reach the company, which produce 180 ton of flour daily.
The West Bank
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. On Monday, 14
June 2004, an Israeli military spokesman claimed that his troops had dismantled
42 out of 150 checkpoints throughout the West Bank, and lifted the siege
imposed on Palestinian communities, excluding Nablus. PCHR’s field workers reported that they reopened
entrances to a number of villages and a number of roads, but many checkpoints
remained in place, and Israeli troops continued to impose restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. This
statement contradicts another statement
by an Israeli military spokesman on 9 March 2004, when he talked about only 29
checkpoints existing throughout the West Bank. The figure of 150 checkpoints, constitutes only 25% of the real number
of checkpoints erected throughout the West Bank.
Jerusalem
This week, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected more checkpoints around the city in the context of continued
construction of the annexation wall, which will isolate the city from the rest
of the West Bank.
Ramallah
Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
erected more checkpoints around the town. They obstructed the movement of Palestinian vehicles for long
hours.
Hebron
Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. They
have continued to impose a curfew on the old town. On Thursday morning, 10 June 2004, Israeli
troops forced Palestinian traders in the center of the old town to close their
shops.
Nablus
Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. They forced Palestinian civilians and vehicles to wait for long hours at
military checkpoints. Israeli forces
have also continued to prevent Palestinians under 35, excluding a few who have
permits, from crossing military checkpoints erected around the city.
Tulkarm
This week, Israeli occupying forces imposed more
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected a number of temporary
checkpoints around the town. They
stopped Palestinian vehicles and checked passengers.
The Jordan Valley
This week, Israeli troops erected a number of
temporary checkpoints on the roads. They
also imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians at
permanent checkpoints. Only Palestinian
civilians who have permits have been allowed to cross Israeli military
checkpoints.
On Thursday, 10 June 2004, Israeli troops positioned
at the iron gate at the entrance to ‘Atma village, south of Qalqilya, prevented
a Palestinian medical crew from entering the village.
On Sunday morning, 13 June 2004, Israeli troops positioned
at the iron gate at the entrance to ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, south of Qalqilya,
arrested Nabeeh Mustafa Mahfouz, 21; and ‘Aa’ed Husni Mara’ba, 23, both from
Kufor Thuluth village, east of Qalqilya. On the same day, Israeli troops at al-Karama Terminal on the Jordanian
border, arrested Mohammed Fawzi al-Khatib, 19, from Hebron, while he was
traveling back to the West Bank from Jordan.
Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall in the
West Bank
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the annexation wall inside the West Bank, especially around Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, Israeli occupying forces continued to
level large areas of Palestinian land for the purpose of the construction of
the wall. They have isolated the
northern suburbs of the city. They plan
to construct a section of the wall to the west of these suburbs, which will
eventually isolate them from Jerusalem.
According to Sa’id Aslan, the executive director of
the local council of al-Ram village, Israeli occupying forces razed large areas
of Palestinian land and destroyed a number of yards, car parks and a section of
the road linking between the village and Qalandya checkpoint. They plan to expand the road linking between
Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint in the south and Qalandya checkpoint in the
north.
Israeli troops set up cement blocks, whose height is
8 meters, and established gates and monitoring facilities, which will isolate
Dahiat al-Barid area and al-Ram village, whose population is around 80,000,
from East Jerusalem.
According to local sources, the construction of the
wall in the area will isolate dozens of institutions and markets. There will be 26 schools, a number of
churches, banks, offices of the European Union and the Christian housing
project on the eastern side of the wall, where a college, a school and a number
of NGOs will be on western side of the wall.
On Sunday, 13 June 2004, the Israeli High Court
issued a temporary injunction stopping the construction of a section of the
wall between Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, and Qalandya
checkpoint, south of Ramallah. However,
the court allowed Israeli troops to continue the establishment of the
infrastructure in the area.
On Friday, 11 June 2004, Israeli occupying forces
issued military orders ordering the demolition of 3 Palestinian houses and a
workshop in Yatta and Ethna villages, south of Hebron, for the purpose of the
construction of the wall.
On Tuesday, 15 June 2004, Israeli troops demolished 5
Palestinian houses in Samiras and Qalandya areas, south of Ramallah, claiming
that they had been built without licenses. As a result, 50 Palestinian civilians have become homeless.
Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted
Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli
Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, in
particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War of 1949, article 33 of which prohibits punishing any protected
person for “an offence he or she has not personally committed,” Israeli forces
took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians
Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against
Israeli targets.
At approximately 02:00 on Tuesday, 15 June 2004, Israeli
troops moved into al-Saf Street in Bethlehem. They sounded a 150-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to the family
of Tha’er and Jihad Ahmed Humaid, who has been detained by these troops. Israeli troops forced the 8 residents of
house to leave it and planted explosives. At approximately 03:00, they destroyed the house.
At the same time, Israeli troops surrounded a
160-square-meter house owned by Yousef Hassan Humaid. They forced the 5 residents of the house to
leave. They planted explosives inside
the house and destroyed it.
*****
Recommendations
to the International Community
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 that the
failure of the international community to fulfill it’s obligations as High
Contracting Parties encourages Israel to act without due regard to
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 their 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 non-governmental organizations participate
in the process of searching for those who have participated in grave breaches
of the Geneva Convention and to urge their governments to bring these individuals
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 vote in keeping with their public statements
to enforce international human rights and humanitarian law at UN bodies,
particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human
Rights.
7. PCHR
welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution, which requested a consultative
opinion on the issue of the “Annexation Wall” inside the OPTs from the
International Court of Justice. PCHR requests that the international community
to immediately take action to halt the building of “Annexation Wall”.
8. In
recognition of the 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 non-governmental organizations, 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 for
international staff to the OPTs, PCHR calls upon European countries to apply
the same entry standards to 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
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For more
information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 –
2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip.
E-mail:[email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org