Israeli Troops Continue Attacks in
the OPT
· 7
Palestinians, including a mentally handicapped man and a physician, were killed
by Israeli troops
· Israeli
troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· 8
houses were destroyed in Rafah
· 35
donums[1]
of agricultural land were razed in the Khan Yunis
· 3
houses were destroyed in the West Bank in the context of retaliatory measures
against families of Palestinian activists
· Houses
were raided and dozens of Palestinian civilians were arrested in the West Bank
· Continued
shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities, especially in Rafah
where 13 Palestinian civilians were injured
· Construction
of the “Annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued
· Israeli
troops have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and a number of
Palestinian civilians were arrested at military checkpoints
Introduction
Israeli occupying troops have launched more attacks
against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
(OPT). This week, 7 Palestinians were killed and at least 20 others were
injured by Israeli troops. Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli
occupying troops included willful killings, incursions into Palestinian areas,
indiscriminate shelling, land leveling and total closure imposed on Palestinian
communities.
In the Gaza Strip, 4 Palestinians were killed in
Rafah by Israeli troops. Three of the
victims, including a physician, were killed on 28 November 2004, when Israeli
troops opened fire at residential areas in the town. The fourth victim was killed on 25 November
2004 as he clashed with Israeli troops that moved into al-Salam neighborhood in
the south of the town.
This week, Israeli troops conducted 6 incursions into
the towns of Rafah, Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip.
During these incursions, Israeli troops destroyed 8 houses in Rafah, leaving
107 people (17 families) homeless and razed 34 donums of Palestinian
agricultural land in Khan Yunis and one donum in Deir al-Balah. Israeli troops continued to shell Palestinian
residential areas in Rafah and 13 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children,
were injured. Three of these civilians
are in a serious condition.
In the West Bank, Israeli troops killed 3 Palestinians.
Two of the victims were killed in Hebron on 25 November 2004, when they and a
third Palestinian clashed with Israeli troops that surrounded a house where
they hid. The house was also destroyed. The third victim, who was mentally
handicapped, was killed on 1 December 2004 by Israeli troops positioned at the
entrance of “Benjamin” settlement, northeast of Ramallah.
This week, Israeli troops moved into various areas
throughout the West Bank, injured a number of Palestinian civilians and arrested
dozens of others. They also destroyed 3 houses as a means of collective
punishment against families of Palestinians involved in resistance
activities. In addition, they raided
offices of a number of civil societies and confiscated some of their contents.
Israeli troops have continued to construct the
annexation wall inside the West Bank territory, especially around East
Jerusalem. They have continued to build
cement walls near al-Quds University in Abu Dis village, east of the city. On 28 November 2004, Israeli military
bulldozers razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Deir al-‘Asal
village, southwest of Hebron. On 25
November 2004, Israeli occupation authorities issued a military order, prohibiting
the use of the land located in an area that extends up to 200-300 meters on
both sides of the wall in Jenin in the north of the West Bank.
Israeli troops 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.
Israeli troops have continued to impose a tightened
siege on the Gaza Strip. They have imposed severe restrictions on
internal movement. They have continued to isolate some areas since the beginning
of the current Intifada, which has caused extreme suffering for the Palestinian
civilian population. They have also continued to close all border
crossings of the Gaza Strip either partially or completely. These
measures violate the Palestinian economic, social, cultural, civil and
political rights.
In the West Bank, despite Israeli claims that Israeli
troops would ease the siege imposed on Palestinian communities to facilitate
the Palestinian presidential election, Israeli troops imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They stopped,
checked and humiliated Palestinian civilians while crossing military
checkpoints throughout the West Bank, while this week witnessed a cold weather.
Shelling of, and
Encroachment into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and
Property
Thursday, 25 November 2004
At approximately 02:00,
Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved
into al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah. Under the cover of indiscriminate
shelling, they raided and searched a number of houses belonging to the Ben
Hassan family. They arrested 2 members
of the family: Hamdan Hammad Ben Hassan, 25; and Zayed Salman Ben Hassan. Then, they destroyed one of these houses and
a neighboring house belonging to the Ghanem family. Five neighboring houses were severely
damaged. Israeli military bulldozers
also demolished 2 other houses. As a
result of this destruction, 49 people (11 families) have become homeless. During this incursion, a number of members of
the Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli troops. During these clashes, one member of the
resistance, Mousa ‘Abdul Fattah al-Ghuraiz, 35, was killed.
At approximately 03:00, an
infantry unit of Israeli troops moved nearly 500 meters into Palestinian areas
located to the northwest of “Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast of
Deir al-Balah. Israeli troops raided a
3-storey house owned by Ibrahim Ibrahim Abu Mousa. They held the 19 residents of the house in
one room and transformed it into a military site. At approximately 08:30, Israeli troops left
the house and raided and searched another house owned by Nawaf ‘Abdul ‘Azim
‘Owaimer. They arrested the owner’s son,
Mohammed, 19. They interrogated him
inside the aforementioned settlement. They released him at 11:00.
At approximately 08:00,
Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 500 meters
into Um al-Qurrais area in the north of Rafah near “Morag” settlement. They demolished 4 houses belonging to the Abu
Jazar family. Subsequently, 58 people (6
families) have become homeless.
At noon, Israeli troops
killed 2 Palestinians and seriously wounded a third one, when the three clashed
with those troops when coming to arrest them. Israeli troops also destroyed a house and arrested 12 Palestinians.
According to investigations
conducted by PCHR, at approximately 23:30 on Wednesday, 24 November 2004,
Israeli troops, covered by a drone, moved into al-Jilda neighborhood in the
west of Hebron. They surrounded a house
belonging to the family of Nizar Nizam al-Din Shehada, 35, who has been
administratively detained by Israeli occupation authorities. At midnight, Israeli troops opened fire at
the house. An Israeli officer called
through a megaphone on residents of the house to leave it, otherwise it would
be hit by missiles. When residents of
the house left it, Israeli troops held them. At approximately 01:30 on Thursday, Israeli troops fired heavy caliber
bullets and missiles at the house. This
shelling continued sporadically for several hours. At approximately 06:00, Israeli troops broke
into the house opening fire inside. Then, they planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it. Soon, Israeli military bulldozers leveled the
ruins of the house. Israeli troops
continued to search for wanted Palestinians. At approximately 11:30, they discovered a number of persons in a well
under the destroyed house. Israeli
troops exchanged fire with these persons and killed 2 of them:
1. Murad
‘Ali Hassan Darwish al-Qawasmi, 28; and
2. ‘Omar
Hashem ‘Abdul Fattah al-Haimouni, 21.
The two victims were
members of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). A third person, Eyad ‘Abdul Mo’ti Abu
Shukhaidem, 24, was seriously injured and was transferred to an Israeli
hospitals. Israeli troops also arrested
12 Palestinians. As a result of the
destruction of the aforementioned house, 22 people (5 families) have become
homeless.
At approximately 17:00,
Israeli troops moved nearly 600 meters into Gizan Abu Rashwan area in the
southeast of Khan Yunis. Under the cover
of indiscriminate shelling, they started to destroy some civilian
property. By 18:00, they had razed 34
donums of agricultural land planted with olives and vegetables belonging to the
Shurrab family. They also demolished a
150-square-meter uninhabited house owned by Ibrahim Mohammed Tafesh.
In the hours of the day,
Israeli troops moved into Hebron; Bethlehem; Beit Sahour; Qalqilya; Jericho and
the neighboring ‘Aqabat Jabaer refugee camp; ‘Arraba village near Jenin; and
Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 19 Palestinians.
Friday, 26 November 2004
At approximately 03:00, Israeli troops moved into
Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Khaled
‘Abdul Jawad Hamed, 45, and arrested him.
Saturday,
27 November 2004
At
approximately 02:30, Israeli troops moved into al-Sawahra al-Sharqiya village,
southeast of occupied Jerusalem. They
surrounded Ahmed Shuqairat’s house. They
forced the family out and searched the house. Then, they arrested the owner’s son, Ameen, 30, who is an imam of a
mosque.
At
approximately 09:30, Israeli troops positioned along the Egyptian border, south
of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian child, 7-year-old Nour Wa’el
al-Qadi, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot and shrapnel in the
right one when he was in Musabbeh area, nearly 2500 meters to the north of the
border.
At
approximately 13:00, Israeli troops positioned along the Egyptian border, south
of Rafah, opened fire at al-‘Awda square in the center of the town, nearly 700
meters away from the border. A
schoolchild, 16-year-old Iman Ibrahim al-Qadi, was wounded by a live bullet in
the neck when she was about to get into a car to travel back home.
At
approximately 16:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into ‘Askar refugee camp,
east of Nablus. Israeli troops opened
fire at houses. A number of Palestinian
boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military jeeps. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
stone throwers, wounding 2 and a 5-year-old child who was playing near his
house:
1. Zaid
al-Ahwal, 5, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh;
2. Mohammed
Joudallah, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left shoulder;
and
3. Tha’er
Abu ‘Abda, 18, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the chest and the
thigh.
Also at
approximately 16:00, Israeli troops positioned along the Egyptian border, south
of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian child, 4-year-old Shaimaa’
Hassan Abu Shammala, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the neck, when
she was near her house in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away
from the border.
At
approximately 16:10, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into Dura village,
southwest of Hebron. They raided and
searched offices of the alms giving committee in the village. They damaged the offices and confiscated its
documents and 2 computer sets. The
committee provides assistance for more than 400 orphans, in cooperation with a
number of international organizations, such as the ICRC.
Also at
approximately 17:00, Israeli troops positioned along the Egyptian border, south
of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian child, 11-year-old E’temad
Ayman Abu Sha’ar, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh, when she was
near her house in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away from the
border.
At
approximately 18:30, Israeli troops moved into al-Tabaqa village, southwest of
Hebron. They raided the mosque of the
village and checked the prayers. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops held and interrogated dozens
of Palestinian civilians in a store for one hour.
At
approximately 21:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into ‘Assira al-Shamaliya
village, north of Nablus. Israeli troops
opened fire at houses. A Palestinian
child, 14-year-old Nafez ‘Abdul Jabbar Yassin, was wounded with several
rubber-coated metal bullets in the abdomen and the legs. Israeli troops claimed that the child wanted
to throw a Molotov cocktail at them.
Sunday,
28 November 2004
At
approximately 09:20, Israeli troops positioned along the Egyptian border, south
of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian woman, 27-year-old Jihane Nazmi
Madi, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand, when she was near her
house in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away from the
border.
At
approximately 11:20, Israeli troops positioned along the Egyptian border, south
of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the neighboring al-Brazil
neighborhood. A Palestinian child,
15-year-old Samia Sami al-Najjar, was injured by shrapnel from a live bullet in
the left hand.
At
approximately 20:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah, and a military post in Tal Zo’rob area in the
southwest of Rafah opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian physician, Sameer Mahmoud
Hijazi, 40, was killed by a live bullet in the abdomen, when he was inside his
house in Zo’rob neighborhood. According
to the victim’s family, he was getting ready to travel to Nasser Hospital in
Khan Yunis where he used to work. In
addition, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded, including one who was wounded
in al-Siamat area, nearly 1000 meters away from the source of fire. Israeli troops apparently targeted 2 young
men who were trying to cross the border for unknown reasons. The two young men were killed, and the body
of one of them was discovered on the following day evening:
1. Mo’taz
‘Abdullah al-Rakhawi, 18, hit by a live bullet to the chest and shrapnel
throughout the body; and
2. Sa’id
Mohammed Taha, 19, hit by a live bullet to the head.
Monday,
29 November 2004
At
approximately 08:35, the Israeli air force fired a missile at the building of
al-Hikma Institutions for Education, Culture and Arts of the Islamic Jihad in
Khan Yunis. The missile hit the roof and
damaged it, but no casualties were reported. The building is owned by Mustafa
Ragheb Shurrab.
At
approximately 09:30, Israeli troops moved nearly 700 meters into Abu Qaraqoush
area in the south of Khan Yunis. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with cucumbers owned by
Hussein Humaidan Qarware’.
In the hours
of the day, Israeli troops moved into Hebron; the villages of al-Bassa and
al-‘Ebayat neat Bethlehem; Ya’bad village near Jenin; the villages of Qarawt
Bani Zaid and Rantis near Ramallah; and Marda village near Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 11 Palestinians, including 3 elderly men who were arrested to pressure
their sons to surrender to Israeli troops.
Tuesday,
30 November 2004
At
approximately 08:00, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Salam neighborhood. A Palestinian child, 12-year-old Ahmed ‘Abdul
Khaliq Abu ‘Amra, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.
At
approximately 09:00, Israeli troops positioned along the Egyptian border, south
of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian child, 11-year-old ‘Ali Khalf
Ghayad, was wounded by a live bullet in the head when he was near his house in
al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away from the border.
At
approximately 11:30, Israeli troops positioned along the Egyptian border, south
of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian civilian, 19-year-old Ahmed
‘Abdul Wahab Hssanain, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded
by a live bullet in the chest, when he was in a visit to his relatives in
Musabbeh area, nearly 2500 meters away from the border.
At
approximately 16:00, Israeli troops positioned in a military post near ‘Oraiba
area in the northwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in the
area. A Palestinian child, 12-year-old
Suhail Sa’id Abu ‘Aathra, was injured by shrapnel in the left leg.
In the hours
of the day, Israeli troops moved into Hebron; Beit Jala; Bethlehem and the
neighboring ‘Aaida refugee camp and al-Khader village; the villages of Qarawat
Bani Zaid and al-Mazra’a al-Sharqiya near Ramallah; Tulkarm refugee camp and
the neighboring village raided and searched a number of Palestinian houses and
arrested 25 Palestinians.
Wednesday,
1 December 2004
At
approximately 06:00, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire at Block K in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, 19-year-old Mo’taz
‘Abdul Hamid al-Farra, was seriously injured by shrapnel in the head.
At
approximately 09:00, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire at Block P in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian child, 9-year-old Huda Anwar
Abu Jundi, was injured by shrapnel in the head when she was near her
house.
At
approximately 14:00, Israeli troops positioned at the entrance of
“Benjamin” settlement, northeast of Ramallah, shot dead Nabil
Suleiman Mohammed Bu’airat, 32, from the neighboring Kufor Malek village, who
apparently got close to the settlement. Israeli military sources claimed that Israeli troops fired at a
Palestinian who got close to the security fence of the settlement, and that
“they moved towards the Palestinians and ordered him to identify himself,
but he ran towards them, so they shot him dead.” Later, the same sources admitted that the
victim was mentally handicapped. The Israeli
occupation authority informed the Palestinian liaison about the incident and
asked for them to bring an ambulance to transfer the victim’s body. The body was transferred to Ramallah Hospital
at approximately 16:30. According to
medical sources, the victim was hit by a live bullet to the head.
During the
day, Israeli troops moved into Hebron and Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 7 Palestinians, including 3 brothers.
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
03:00 on Friday, 26 November 2004, Israeli troops moved into Sabta neighborhood
in the west of Hebron. They closed the
entrances of the neighborhood. Then the
surrounded a 140-square-meter, 4-storey apartment building, which includes a
flat belonging to the family of the late Malek ‘Abdul Salam Nasser al-Din. Israeli troops forced residents of the
building out and planted explosives inside Nasser al-Din’s flat. At approximately 05:30, they destroyed the
flat. Subsequently, 12 people, including
3 children, have become homeless. The
other flats were severely damaged. Nasser
al-Din, 35, was killed by Israeli troops last July.
At
approximately 01:30 on Wednesday, 1 December 2004, 6 Israeli military jeeps
moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They surrounded a 130-square-meter, 4-storey
apartment building owned by Mousa and ‘Aziz ‘Abdul Rahman Hammash. Israeli troops forced the 21 residents of the
building (4 families) out, and planted explosives on the second floor of the building,
where Mousa Hammash and his family live. At approximately 04:30, they destroyed the second floor. As a result, the whole building was severely
damaged and has become uninhabitable. It
is worth noting Mohammed Mousa Hammash has been detained by Israeli occupation
authorities.
Continued
Siege on the OPT
This week,
Israeli troops 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
Israeli troops have continued to impose a tighten
siege on the Gaza Strip. They have imposed severe restrictions on
internal movement. They have continued to isolate some areas since the
beginning of the current Intifada, which has caused extreme suffering for the
Palestinian civilian population. They have also continued to close all
border crossings of the Gaza Strip either partially or completely. These
measures violate the economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights of
Palestinian civilians.
Israeli troops positioned at al-Matahen and Abu Houli
checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south
of the Gaza Strip) imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. The two checkpoints are supposed to be open between 06:00 and
20:00 everyday. On Sunday, 28 November 2004, at noon Israeli troops held
and searched a number of Palestinian vehicles between the two
checkpoints. They interrogated a number of Palestinian civilians.
Israeli troops have continued to impose a strict
siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have continued
to impose severe restrictions on the movement of 8000 Palestinian civilians living
in the area, traveling to and from the area, which have caused extreme
suffering for these civilians. This week, Israeli troops and settlers
attacked Palestinian agricultural property in the area. Israeli troops
have continued to prevent female Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 25,
and male ones whose ages are between 16 and 30 from crossing al-Tuffah
checkpoint when it is open, without prior coordination. Tal al-Sultan
checkpoint at the entrance of al-Mawasi area in Rafah has been closed for more
than one year and entry into the area has been limited to al-Tuffah checkpoint
in Khan Yunis.
Israeli troops have also continued to impose a
tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. They have
also imposed severe restrictions of the movement of Palestinian farmers. This
week, some schoolchildren were forced to wait for long hours near the gate at
the entrance to the area to be allowed to go back home. In the same context, Israeli troops 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.
Israeli troops have continued to close Erez crossing
in the northern Gaza Strip for the 4th consecutive month. They only allow patients to travel through the
crossing, but under severe conditions and following coordination. This
week, Israeli troops started to allow a number of Palestinian traders to travel
through the crossing. Although Israeli
troops have partially operated al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing to the
east of Gaza City, they have imposed severe restrictions on the flow of goods
through the two crossings. As result, the Palestinian market has lacked
several basic goods. On Monday, 29 November 2004, Israeli troops closed
the crossing completely for several hours. Israeli troops partially opened Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, and
allowed the entry of raw materials for construction, but the crossing has
remained closed in the face of Palestinian workers for the 3rd
consecutive month.
Israeli troops have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the travel of Palestinian civilians through Rafah Terminal on
the Egyptian border, which has sharply decreased the number of travelers.
In the past 4 months, Israeli troops had closed the terminal four times.
Israeli troops often impose severe restrictions on traveling through the
terminal. The number of Palestinians allowed to travel through the
terminal daily is very limited.
The West Bank
Israeli troops have continued to impose a strict
siege on Palestinian communities. They
have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.
Ramallah
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. According
to eyewitnesses, on Sunday morning, 28 November 2004, Israeli troops erected a
number of temporary checkpoints around the town and stopped and searched
Palestinian vehicles.
Hebron
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
reinforced their presence inside the town and stopped and checked dozens of
Palestinian civilians in various areas in the town. On Saturday, 27 November 2004, Israeli troops
erected a number of checkpoints on the road leading to Hebron University. They stopped and checked dozens of university
students. Israeli troops also stopped
and searched a number of Palestinian civilians in Ras al-Joura area. In the old town, Israeli troops have
continued to close a number of roads and areas.
Bethlehem
On Saturday morning, 27 November 2004, Israeli troops
erected a military checkpoint on the road leading to al-‘Obaidiya village. They stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles
and forced Palestinian civilians to travel back to their homes. On Sunday and Monday, 28 and 29 November
2004, Israeli troops reinforced their presence at various checkpoints around
the town. They imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
Nablus
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. Israeli troops
positioned at various checkpoints around the city stopped and searched
Palestinian vehicles. Israeli troops
also erected a checkpoint in al-Kubban al-Sharqiya village at Ramallah – Nablus
road.
Tulkarm
This week, Israeli troops imposed more restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday morning, 26 November 2004, they erected a checkpoint between
the villages of Kufor al-Labad and Shoufa to the southeast of the town. On Saturday morning, 27 November 2004,
Israeli troops erected a checkpoint near the junction of “Enab”
settlement, east of the town. They
stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles. Israeli troops also erected a checkpoint at
the crossroads of Far’oun village, south of the town. On Sunday, 28 November 2004, Israeli troops
erected a checkpoint at Bala’a crossroads, east of the town, and imposed
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
Qalqilya
This week, Israeli troops imposed more restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday, 27 November 2004, Israeli troops erected a military
checkpoint at ‘Azzoun crossroads, east of the town, and prevented Palestinian
civilians from traveling to other areas in the West Bank. On Sunday evening, Israeli troops erected a
checkpoint at the entrance to Jayous village, northeast of the town. They stopped and checked Palestinian
civilians traveling from and to the village. On Monday morning, 28 November 2004, Israeli troops erected a checkpoint
between Qalqilya and the neighboring Habla village. They held and checked a number of young
men.
Jenin
On Saturday morning, 27 November 2004, Israeli troops
erected a cmilitary checkpoint at al-Malaki crossroads to the south of Tubas
village, east of Jenin. According to
eyewitnesses, 2 Israeli military vehicles blocked the road that links al-Fara’a
area and al-Nasiriya village, and stopped Palestinian vehicles that were
traveling to Jericho. Israeli troops
forced passengers to get out of vehicles and stand under the rain for long
hours. On Monday morning, 28 November
2004, Israeli troops closed the entrance to Tammoun village. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops
erected a checkpoint in the area.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
On Thursday, 25 November 2004, Israeli troops
positioned at Yasouf checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested At Sa’ed ‘Abdul
Rahim Mohammed Abu Salim, 23, a member of the Palestinian National Security
Force from Balata refugee camp east of Nablus.
On Friday morning, 26 November 2004, Israeli troops
positioned at Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah, arrested Muntasser Fawzi
Dalani, 20, from Qeera village, south of Nablus, while he was traveling to
Jericho Hospital to undergo surgery.
On Saturday, 27 November 2004, Israeli troops
positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested 4 Palestinian
children. These children have not been
so far identified.
On Tuesday
morning, 30 November 2004, Israeli troops positioned at al-Khader military
checkpoint, southwest of Bethlehem, arrested Mahmoud ‘Aayesh ‘Eissa, 21, when
he was traveling to Hebron University where he studies.
Continued
Construction of the Annexation Wall
Israeli troops have continued to construct the
annexation wall inside the West Bank territory, especially around East
Jerusalem. They have continued to build
cement walls near al-Quds University in Abu Dis village, east of the city. When the construction of these walls is
finished, the area will be totally isolated.
Israeli troops have completed the construction of
section of the wall between Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, and
Qalandya checkpoint, south of the city, excluding al-Ram crossroads. Israeli troops established a number of military
post along this section of the wall and near the aforementioned
crossroads.
The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that
approximately 400 square kilometers of the the West Bank land near Jerusalem
would be annexed to the Israeli territory following the change of the route of
the wall. According to the old plans
before petitions submitted against them, 900 square kilometers would be annexed
to the Israeli territory.
On Sunday evening, 28 November 2004, Israeli military
bulldozers razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Deir al-‘Asal
village, southwest of Hebron. According
to local sources, 15 donums of agricultural land owned by D’ib Ibrahim
al-Dardoun were razed and 70 olive trees were uprooted.
On 25 November 2004, the Palestinian civilian liaison
received an Israeli military order issued by the commander of Israeli troops in
the West Bank on 5 November 2004, prohibiting the use of the land located in an
area that extends up to 200-300 meters on both sides of the wall in Jenin in
the north of the West Bank. The military
order will enter into force in the end of December 2004. The Palestinian civil liaison also received
maps of these areas. It is worth noting
that Israeli occupation authorities issued a similar military order on 5
November 2004, prohibiting any kind of building in areas that extend between
300 meters to the east of the truce line of 1948 and 100 to the west of it in
Tulkarm.
****
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 calls on the
international community to immediately “ensure respect” for the Convention.
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
recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of
searching for Israeli war criminals and to urge their governments to initiate
criminal proceedings against those accused of grave breaches of international
humanitarian law 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 OPT. PCHR
also requests the application of the EU Guidelines on Arms Sales and requests that
EU Missions and Embassies in Israel and the OPT press the Israeli government to
apply and implement in full the recently agreed EU Guidelines on Human Rights
Defenders.
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
requests that the international community to comply with their clear legal
obligations, as set out in the advisory opinion of the ICJ, when it called on
the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention, through the UNGA and
UNSC, to take effective measures to stop the construction of the annexation
wall in the West Bank.
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 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, trade 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. In light of the severe restrictions
imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access of
international solidarity groups to the OPT, 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
**************************************
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:pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
