Ref:
134/2003

The
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights expresses grave concern over the deterioration
of humanitarian conditions in the town of Jenin and its refugee camps as a
result of the ongoing Israeli imposed curfew.  PCHR further condemns
collective punishment measures practiced by Israeli military forces against
Palestinian civilians in Jenin as well as in its refugee camps.  These
Israeli actions strictly abrogate article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of
1949 on the protection of civilians in time of war.  PCHR calls on the
international community to intervene immediately to alleviate the suffering of
Palestinian civilians facing dire humanitarian circumstances in Jenin and
around the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). Furthermore, PCHR reminds
the high contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of their
obligations to the convention, and their responsibility to ensure its
application by Israel in the OPT.

For the
seventh successive day, Israeli occupying forces have imposed a strict curfew
on Jenin and its refugee camps, prohibiting Palestinian civilians from
obtaining food supplies, and abrogating their rights to movement, education and
medical attention.  Israeli forces moved into Jenin and its refugee camps
after learning of the identity of a Palestinian bomber in Haifa on Saturday 4
October 2003. 

According
to PCHR’s investigations, the Israeli incursion into Jenin and its refugee
camps took place on Sunday 5 October 2003.  At that time, Israeli forces
immediately imposed a curfew on Palestinian residents of the town. 
Israeli occupying forces continue to patrol Jenin’s streets and enforce the
curfew, only allowing residents to leave their homes once in the past week for
the duration of two hours.  This was insufficient time for Palestinian
civilians to obtain much needed supplies and many residents are in desperate need
of food and other goods.

Israeli
arbitrary measures have also prevented dozens of Palestinian patients from
reaching health facilities.  Thousands of workers and employees have been
unable to reach their work places, and thousands of students and teachers have
been prevented from reaching their schools.  PCHR’s fieldworker reported
that approximately 22 thousand students from Jenin and its refugee camps have
been deprived of 16 school days between the beginning of the school year on 1
September 2003 and the date of this release.

Israeli
occupying forces continue to impose additional siege measures on all
Palestinian residential areas in the occupied West Bank.  On Tuesday, 7
October 2003, Israeli forces extended a resolution concerning an indefinite continuation
of the comprehensive siege imposed on the OPT.  Israeli occupying forces
also simultaneously issued a military order on Tuesday prohibiting the movement
of Palestinian vehicles between Palestinian areas in the West Bank.  The
past 48 hours have witnessed additional Israeli imposed measures preventing
Palestinian civilians from moving outside their residential areas.  Such
measures are an example of collective punishment

PCHR’s
fieldworkers reported that Israeli occupying forces intensified their presence
throughout the West Bank this week and prohibited the movement of vehicles on
many streets.  Israeli forces informed vehicle owners that the prohibition
would continue until further notice.  Meanwhile, they stopped and
interrogated individuals who attempted to use secondary roads and access routes
between Palestinian towns and cities.  It should be noted that 30% of
Palestinian residential areas in the West Bank lack water networks and rely
completely on purchasing water in tanks for water supplies.  Israeli
imposed road closures make it impossible for water trucks to access needy areas
and result in the rapid depletion of much needed water supplies.

The
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights strongly condemns the war crimes
perpetrated by Israeli forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
(OPT).  PCHR calls upon the international community to break its silence
and immediately intervene to put an end to these crimes.  Furthermore,
PCHR reminds the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of
1949 of their legal obligations, not only to respect the Convention, but also
to ensure respect for it, and consequently to take crucial steps to stop the
grave breaches of the Convention perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces. 
PCHR considers the silence of the international community on this matter a
measure of utmost seriousness.  Such silence can only encourage Israeli
occupying forces to commit further crimes.