Israeli Troops Continue Attacks in
the OPT
· 12
Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 4 children, were killed by Israeli
troops
· 5
of the victims were extra-judicially killed by Israeli troops in Nablus and
Qalqilya
· Israeli
troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· 30
houses were destroyed and at least 60 donums[1]
of agricultural land were razed in Rafah
· 147
donums of agricultural land were razed in Deir al-Balah and Beit Lahia
· Houses
were raided and dozens of Palestinian civilians were arrested
· 3
houses were destroyed in the West Bank in the context of retaliatory measures
against families of Palestinian activists
· Continued
shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities; a 7-year-old Palestinian
child was killed and a number of 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 OPTs; Rafah Terminal was
closed and a curfew was imposed on a number of towns and villages in the West
Bank
Introduction
Israeli occupying troops have launched more attacks
against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). This week, 12 Palestinians, mostly civilians,
including 4 children, were killed by Israeli troops. In addition, a number of Palestinian
civilians were injured by the Israeli gunfire. Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying troops included
willful and extra-judicial killings, incursions into Palestinian areas,
indiscriminate shelling, land leveling and total closure imposed on Palestinian
communities.
In the Gaza Strip, on 28 October 2004, a 7-year-old
Palestinian schoolchild was killed when Israeli troops opened fire at
Palestinian residential areas in Khan Yunis. On 3 November 2004, a Palestinian civilian was killed during an Israeli
military incursion into Rafah.
This week, Israeli troops conducted a series of
incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. On 3 November 2004, Israeli troops demolished
20 houses completely and 3 others partially. They also demolished 15 shops and 4 sewing factories, and severely
damaged a mosque. During 3 other incursions
into Rafah on 28, 29 and 30 October 2004, Israeli troops destroyed 6 houses and
razed 60 donums of agricultural land. Rafah town and refugee camp have been subject to wide scale destruction
by Israeli troops in the current Intifada; 2527 houses have been destroyed,
including 1450 ones that have been completely demolished. This has left 15000 people homeless. In the central Gaza Strip, Israeli troops
razed 129 donums of agricultural land and destroyed a number animal and bird
farms and uninhabited house. On 3
November 2004, Israeli troops razed 18 donums of agricultural land in Beit
Lahia.
In the West Bank, 10 Palestinians, including 3
children, were killed by Israeli troops. Four of the victims, including 2 children, were killed in Jenin refugee
camp during an Israeli military operation in Jenin town and refugee camp. Another child was killed by Israeli troops in
‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus on 1 November 2004. The other 5 victims were extra-judicially
killed by Israeli troops; one was killed in Qalqilya and the other 4 were
killed in Nablus. 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 in Nablus in the
context of retaliatory measures against families of Palestinian activists. In addition, Israeli settlers continued to
attack Palestinian civilians.
Israeli occupying troops have continued to construct
the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory. This week, Israeli troops continued to raze
areas of agricultural land in Deir al-‘Asal village, southwest of Hebron. On 28 October 2004, the Israeli High Court
issued a temporary injunction stopping uprooting trees in Burdos village, west
of Ramallah, by Israeli troops. Israeli
troops also prevented Palestinian farmers in some areas from reaching their
agricultural land to cultivate olives.
Israeli occupying 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. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli
troops positioned at military checkpoints imposed restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. Israeli troops
have also continued to close most border crossings of the Gaza Strip. These measures have negative impacts on the
Palestinian economic, social, cultural, political and civil rights. On 31 October 2004, Israeli troops closed
Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border.
In the West Bank, Israeli troops have continued to
impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. Following the bombing
that occurred in Tel Aviv on Monday, 1 November 2004, Israeli troops closed all
entrances of the city. They have also
continued to impose a tightened siege on Hebron for the 9th
consecutive week. They have also imposed
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and arrested some
of them while crossing military checkpoints. Israeli troops imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian
communities.
Shelling of, and Encroachment
into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 28 October 2004
In the early morning,
Israeli troops moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They opened fire at houses and imposed a
curfew. They also seized a number of
houses and transformed them into military sites. Then, they raided and searched a number of
houses. During the hours of the day,
dozens of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at
Israeli troops. Immediately, Israeli troops
fired at the stone throwers, wounding 2, including a child:
1. Yazan
Nasfat Jarrar, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg; and
2. Hilal
Nafe’ al-Sa’di, 28, wounded by shrapnel in the chest.
At approximately 09:40,
Israeli troops positioned on tanks in the vicinity of “al-Nouria”
military post, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses to the
east and south. A Palestinian child,
7-year-old Rania Eyad Ahmed ‘Arram, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in
the neck, as she was about to leave her house towards school. The family evacuated her to the hospital, but
she died before arriving at the hospital. The child, who was wearing a school uniform, was hit by a live bullet
when she was at the door of her house, nearly 150 meters away from the source
of fire. To evacuate her to the
hospital, members of the family were forced to carry her towards the main road,
which is 150 meters away from the house.
At approximately 13:00,
Israeli troops positioned in a military posts near Salah al-Din Gate on the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the
town. A Palestinian civilian,
33-year-old Yasser Faraj Siam, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand,
when he was walking in the center of the town.
At approximately 13:30,
Israeli troops positioned in a military posts in Tal Zo’rob area in the
southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses to the north. A Palestinian child, 16-year-old Shaker Jaber
Tabas, was wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis.
At approximately 16:00,
Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved
nearly 300 meters into al-‘Atatra area in al-Nasser village, north of
Rafah. Under the cover of indiscriminate
shelling, they demolished 5 houses completely and a sixth one partially,
rendering 131 people (6 families) homeless. These houses belonged to the families of Abu Jazar, Abu Gharara and Abu
Naja. Israeli troops also razed 15
donums of agricultural land destroyed a bird farm owned by Yasser Mohammed Abu
Gharara.
At approximately 16:30,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Kfar
Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah, opened fire at Palestinian
houses to the west of the aforementioned settlement. A Palestinian child, 14-year-old Murad Khalil
al-Tawashi, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh, when he was near
his house, nearly 150 meters away from the source of fire.
At approximately 16:45,
Israeli troops in an Israeli military jeep that was patrolling in Jenin refugee
camp opened fire at 17-year-old Salah Fadel Abu ‘Eita, for no apparent reason
when he was near his house. He was
wounded by several live bullets throughout the body. An ambulance arrived at the area to evacuate
him to the hospital, but more Israeli troops arrived at the area and took the
victim out of the ambulance into an Israeli ambulance that accompanied
them. Late at night, Israeli military
sources declared that the child died from his wound. Later, his body was handed to the Palestinian
side. According to medical sources, he
was hit by several live bullets in the chest, the abdomen and the right
leg.
At approximately 17:45,
Israeli troops moved into Nablus. They
opened fire at houses. A number of
Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at those troops. Immediately, those troops fired at the
children, wounding 12-year-old Hamed Mohammed al-Shaya with 3 rubber-coated
metal bullets in the chest and the left leg and hand.
In the hours of the day,
Israeli troops moved into Bethlehem and the neighboring al-Kahder village and
al-Duhaisha refugee camp; and ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp near Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 7 Palestinians, including 5 children.
Friday, 29 October 2004
At approximately 00:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by
heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 300 meters into al-‘Atatra area in
al-Nasser village, north of Rafah. They
raided and searched a number of houses and transformed them into military
sites. They started to raze areas of
Palestinian agricultural land. By the
evening, they had razed 30.5 donums of agricultural land and had destroyed 3
wells belonging to the families of Duhair, Abu Sunaima, Abu Jazar and Abu Sitta.
In the hours of the day, dozens of Palestinian
children and young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli troops, which had
imposed a curfew on Jenin refugee camp since the previous day. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
stone throwers, wounding 6, including 5 children:
1. Mohammed
Ayman Farhati, 17, seriously wounded by 2 live bullets in the abdomen and the
thigh;
2. Islam
Saubhi Jabarin, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the left shoulder and the right
foot;
3. Mohammed
Ibrahim Abu ‘Ali, 21, wounded by 2 live bullets in the feet;
4. Ramah
Mahmoud ‘Azab, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand;
5. Mohammed
Ibrahim Naghnaghia, 15, wounded by shrapnel in the face; and
6. Saleh
‘Abdul Fattah Hifnawi, 12, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh.
In the hours of day, Israeli troops moved into ‘Ein
Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp near Nablus; Jenin refugee camp; and al-‘Azza refugee
camp and al-Khader village near Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinians,
including a girl.
Saturday,
30 October 2004
At
approximately 08:00, Israeli troops positioned atop of Manasra commercial
building in al-Basatin neighborhood in the north of Jenin opened fire at
Palestinian schoolchildren who were entering Hitteen school. One of the children, 12-year-old Ibrahim
Mohammed Kumayel, was instantly killed by a live bullet in the chest. Another child, 15-year-old ‘Ameed Mohammed
‘Aabed, was injured by shrapnel in the right hand. According to eyewitnesses, the area was
completely quiet when Israeli troops opened fire. Soon after, dozens of schoolchildren gathered
and threw stones at Israeli troops that were patrolling in the town. Immediately, Israeli troops opened fire at
the children, wounding 3:
1. Mohammed
Ahmed Mansour, 17, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head;
2. Mohammed
‘Anad al-Zain, 15, wounded by shrapnel in the right leg; and
3. Mohammed
Waleed Lahham, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg.
At
approximately 09:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles,
moved into ‘Oraiba area in the northwest of Rafah. Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling,
they razed 15 donums of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed a number of
irrigation networks and an animal farm belonging to the families of Dahliz and
Abu Taha.
At
approximately 19:00, 10 Israeli military vehicles moved into Be’r Haram al-Rama
neighborhood in the northeast of Hebron. They surrounded a mosque in the area, while Palestinian civilians were
doing the Taraweeh prayer. Israeli troops held the prayers in the mosque for 3 hours, during which
they checked and integrated a number of the payers. In the meantime, Israeli troops raided at
least 20 houses in the area.
In the hours
of the day, Israeli troops moved into Dura village near Hebron and Jenin
refugee camp. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 10 Palestinians.
Sunday,
31 October 2004
At
approximately 00:15, Israeli troops surrounded a deserted house in al-Sa’dia
neighborhood in the east of Jenin. They
opened fire at the house and called through megaphones on those who were in the
house to surrender. A number of members
of the Palestinian resistance who were inside the house clashed with Israeli
troops. During these clashes, Israeli
troops killed one member of the resistance, ‘Ammar Rajab al-Sa’di, 28, and
arrested 4 other members. Israeli troops
kept the victim’s body until 10:00, when they handed the body to a Palestinian
ambulance. According to medical sources,
the victim was hit by several live bullets in the abdomen, the chest and the
right leg.
In the
evening, a number of Palestinian children gathered in Jenin refugee camp and
threw stones at Israeli troops that were patrolling in the camp. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
children, wounding 1 and a passing girl:
1. Khadra
Mousa Khatib, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand; and
2. Ghassan
Khaled Salman, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg.
At
approximately 15:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the
vicinity of “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, opened fire at
Palestinian houses and agricultural areas to the south. A Palestinian civilian, Rajab Mohammed
Yassin, 52, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in right side, when he was
on his agricultural land, nearly 300 meters away from the source of fire.
In the hours
of the day, Israeli troops raided and searched a number of houses in Jenin town
and refugee camp. They arrested 9
Palestinians, including a child.
Monday,
1 November 2004
At
approximately 06:30, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles,
moved from the eastern border of the Gaza Strip nearly 700 meters into Gaza
Valley village in the central Gaza Strip. They started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land. by 13:30, they had razed 39 donums of agricultural
land planted with olives and citrus belonging to the families of Zimmu, Abu
Sha’ban, al-Safadi and Abu Sa’id.
At
approximately 08:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles,
moved nearly 300 meters into al-Ja’farawi area in the southeast of Deir
al-Balah. They started to raze areas of
Palestinian agricultural land. By 00:00
on Tuesday, 2 November 2004, they had razed 40 donums of agricultural land planted
with olives, on parts of which a number of greenhouses stood, and destroyed an
animal farm. They also destroyed a
150-square-meter, 2-storey uninhabited house owned by Hassan Mohammed Abu
Mughassib.
At
approximately 13:30, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into ‘Askar refugee camp,
northeast of Nablus. Israeli troops
opened fire at houses. A number of
Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
stone throwers, seriously wounding 12-year-old Bashar Sami Zabbara with a live
bullet in the neck. He died on the way
to the hospital. Two other children were
wounded:
1. Fadi
Ahmed Abu Zir, 12, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot; and
2. Sameh
Hussein ‘Araishi, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg.
According to
eyewitnesses, the children did not pose any threat to the Israeli troops.
In the
evening, a number of Palestinian children gathered in Jenin refugee camp and
threw stones at Israeli troops that were patrolling in the camp. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
children, wounding 2:
1. Qassem
Hussein Jalqamousi, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the legs; and
2. Ahmed
‘Essam Furiahat, 15, wounded by 2 live bullets in the legs.
At
approximately 19:30, Israeli troops moved from the annexation wall into Jayous
village, north of Qalqilya. They stopped
and interrogated 2 Palestinian children who were walking in the west of the
village. A verbal quarrel erupted
between the two children and Israeli troops. Immediately, an Israeli soldier fired at them. The two were wounded:
1. Ahmed
‘Abdul Karim Shamasna, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder; and
2. Mohammed
Mahmoud Baida, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the legs.
In the hours
of the day, Israeli troops raided and searched a number of houses in Jenin
refugee camp and the neighboring ‘Anza village; al-Kahder village near
Bethlehem; Rafat village near Nablus; and Nour Shams refugee camp near
Tulkarm. They arrested 14
Palestinians.
Tuesday,
2 November 2004
After they
had extra-judicially killed 3 Palestinians in Nablus on Monday evening, 1
November 2004, shortly after midnight, Israeli troops raided and searched the
emergency center of Palestine Red Crescent Society in the city. They also searched a number of ambulances and
interrogated medical crews.
At
approximately 01:00, an infantry unit of Israeli troops moved nearly 400 meters
into Palestinian areas to the west of “Kfar Darom” settlement,
southeast of Deir al-Balah. Israeli
troops raided and searched ‘Atef al-Kurd’s house. Then, they held the 8 residnets of the house
in one room and transformed its roof into a military site. Nearly half an hour later, more Israeli
troops were brought to the area. They
started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land. By the morning, they had razed 50 donums of
agricultural land planted with olives, on parts of which a number of
greenhouses stood. They also destroyed 2
bird farms and a number of irrigation networks and wells. These properties belong to the families of
Bashir, Abu Salim, Abu ‘Amra, al-Louh and al-‘Attar.
Wednesday,
3 November 2004
In the early
morning, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly
400 meters into Palestinian areas located to the south of “Dogit”
settlement in the northern Gaza Strip. They razed 18 donums of agricultural land planted with strawberries,
potatoes, figs and grapes, and destroyed an animal farm owned by Riad
Zindah. At approximately 03:00, Israeli
troops raided 2 houses belonging to the Zindah family. They held the 15 residents of the two houses
in one room until the evening and confiscated their mobile phones.
At
approximately 01:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and
helicopters, moved nearly 300 meters into Block O and Qeshta neighborhood in
the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Under the cover indiscriminate gunfire and
shelling, they started to demolish a number of Palestinian houses. By 20:30, they had demolished 20 houses
completely and 3 others partially, rendering 177 people (24 families) homeless. These houses belong to the families of Abu
Hilal, Abu Shamallah and al-Najjar. Israeli troops also demolished 15 shops and 4 sewing factories, and
severely damaged a mosque. As a result
of the indiscriminate gunfire, a Palestinian civilian, Ra’fat Samir al-Hams,
27, a taxi driver, was killed by a live bullet in the head, when he was in the
center of the town. Four other civilians
were also wounded.
At
approximately 20:00, an undercover unit of Israeli troops, disguised in
Palestinian civilian clothes and traveling in 2 civilian cars that had
Palestinian registration plates, moved into Sabah al-Khair neighborhood in the
north of Jenin. Israeli troops
surrounded Tahseen Abu Tabeekh’s house, where public figures were settling a
dispute. Soon, a number of Israeli
military jeeps arrived at the area to support the undercover unit. Israeli troops cut off electricity from the
house and raided it. Ra’ed Salim
Qara’awi, 30, attempted to escape from the house, but Israeli troops fired at
him from a close distance. Israeli
troops transported him to a nearby checkpoint. At approximately 21:30, Israeli troops phoned the emergency center of
Palestine Red Crescent Society in Jenin to bring an ambulance. Immediately, an ambulance went to the place,
but Israeli troops held its crew for 30 minutes before delivering the victim’s
body. Later, the body was transferred to
Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin. According to medical sources, the victim was hit by several live bullets
throughout the body. The victim was an
employee at the Arab Bank, and was not wanted by Israeli troops. Israeli troops also arrested 8 Palestinians
from the area.
Extra-Judicial killings
In a
continuation of the policy of extra-judicial killings officially adopted by the
Israeli political and military establishments, this week, IOF committed 2 extra-judicial
killings, which left 5 Palestinians dead.
According to investigations
conducted by PCHR into the first execution, at approximately 19:30 on Thursday,
28 October 2004, an undercover unit of Israeli troops, disguised in Palestinian
civilian clothes and traveling in a civilian car that had a Palestinian
registration plate, moved into Qalqilya. This incursion coincided with the exit
of Palestinian prayers from the mosques following the Taraweeh prayer. Three persons got out of the car and
fired from guns equipped with silencers at 47-year-old Ibrahim Mohammed Fayed
‘Eissa, who was sitting near a grocer shop nearly 20 meters away from his
house. He was wounded. Then, the undercover unit opened fire at him
and left the area. He was instantly
killed. According to medical sources,
the victim was hit by several live bullets throughout the body.
According to investigations
conducted by PCHR into the second execution, at approximately 21:00 on Monday,
1 November 2004, an undercover unit of Israeli troops disguised in Palestinian
civilian clothes and traveling in a civilian car that had a Palestinian
registration plate, moved into Nablus. The car stopped near ‘Abdul Mugheeth
al-Ansari school, and 6-8 persons who were wearing women’s clothes got out of
it. Those persons mounted the stairs of al-Yasamina, which leads to
al-Samra area in the west of the old town. They moved towards 4
Palestinians who were sitting in the area and fired at them at very close range.
Three of these Palestinians were instantly killed:
1. Majdi
Mar’ei, 25;
2. Fadi
Sami Nour al-Sarwan, 22; and
3. Jihad
‘Omar Abu Salha, 25.
The fourth Palestinian,
Fadi Qaffisha, 24, was seriously wounded. He died from his wound on
Tuesday evening, 2 November 2004. The
four victims were members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of
Fatah movement. Soon, more Israeli troops arrived on the scene to
transport the undercover unit, while an F-16 fighter jet, a helicopter and a
drone were flying over the city.
Majid Mar’ei had survived an assassination attempt
carried out by IOF on 15 September 2004, which left 6 Palestinians dead,
including an 11-year-old child. Israeli military sources claimed that
Mar’ei had been wanted for a long time and that he was responsible for a number
of attacks against Israeli targets.
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 Tuesday, 2 November 2004, Israeli troops moved into
‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus. They surrounded a 70-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by ‘Abdul Qader
‘Omar al-Far. Israeli troops forced the 8 residents of the house out and
planted explosives inside the house. At approximately 04:30, Israeli troops
destroyed the house. The owner’s son,
‘Aamer, 17, was killed while carrying out a bombing in Tel Aviv on Monday, 1
November 2004.
At
approximately 02:30 on the same day, Israeli troops moved into Beit Fourik
village, east of Nablus. They surrounded
a 150-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by ‘Abdul Latif ‘Aaref Hanani. They forced the 8 residents of the house out
and planted explosives inside the house. At approximately 05:10, they destroyed the house. The owner’s son, Bashar,
28, is allegedly wanted by Israeli troops.
At
approximately 02:45 on the same day, Israeli troops moved into Roujib village,
east of Nablus. They surrounded a
200-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Ghassan Ahmed al-Ka’bi. They forced the 30 residents of the house out
and planted explosives inside the house. At approximately 05:15, they destroyed the house. The owner’s brother,
Hisham, 26, is allegedly wanted by Israeli troops.
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
This week, Israeli troops have continued
to impose tightened siege on the Gaza Strip. They have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip
either partially or completely. These measures violate the Palestinian
economic, social and cultural rights.
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 Palestinian civilians to and from
the area. Israeli troops frequently close al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance
to the area. They have also continued to prevent female Palestinians whose ages
are between 16 and 25, and males whose ages are between 16 and 30 from crossing
al-Tuffah checkpoint when it is open, without prior coordination.
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. 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 to Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip for the 2nd
consecutive month. Israeli occupying troops partially reopened al-Mentar
(Karni) commercial crossing to the east of Gaza City, but they have imposed
severe restrictions on the flow of goods through the two crossing. As result, the Palestinian market has lacked
several basic goods. Israeli troops partially opened Sofa crossing, northeast
of Rafah, and allowed the entry of construction raw materials, but the crossing
has remained closed in the face of Palestinian workers.
Israeli troops have continued to impose severe
restrictions on traveling through Rafah Internation Crossing Point, which has
been the only outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world since 14 February 2001,
when Israeli troops destroyed the runway of Gaza International
Airport. On Sunday morning, 31 October
2004, Israeli troops closed the terminal. The number of Palestinians allowed to travel through the Crossing daily
is very limited. As a result, many
patients who are badly in need for special medical treatment abroad have not
been able to travel. Israeli troops have
continued to prevent Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 35 from
traveling through the Crossing since 16 April 2004, although they claimed that
they cancelled this prevention on 9 August 2004.
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.
Jerusalem
On Friday, 29 October 2004, Israeli troops reinforced
their presence around East Jerusalem. According eyewitnesses, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians at the entrances of the city and near the
old town and the al-Aqsa Mosque. An
Israeli helicopter also flew over al-Aqsa Mosque to monitor the prayers. Israeli troops have continued to prohibit
access of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the
occupied East Jerusalem to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque, which is the third holiest
site for Muslims.
Ramallah
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. On
Monday noon, 1 November 2004, Israeli troops closed Qalandya checkpoint, south
of the town, and declared it a closed military zone. They prevented Palestinian civilians from
traveling to Jerusalem. Palestinian civilians
were forced to resort to alternative dirt roads.
Nablus
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. On
Saturday morning, 30 October 2004, Israeli troops erected a sudden checkpoint
at the entrance to Surra village, southwest of Nablus. They stopped and searched dozens of
Palestinian vehicles. On Monday morning,
Israeli troops closed Hawara checkpoint for several hours, claiming that they
found a suspicious object. In the
evening, Isreali troops positioned at various checkpoints imposed more
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
Hebron
On Sunday evening, 31 October 2004, Israeli troops
imposed a strict curfew on Jabal Jouhar, Jabal Jales, Wadi al-Nasara, al-Fahes
and al-Kassara neighborhoods in the south of Hebron, near “Kiryat
Arba” settlement. They raided and
searched many houses and took Palestinian civilians who are under 40 to the
aforementioned settlement to interrogate them. While imposing the curfew, Israeli troops fired live bullets and sound
bombs. They also beat a number of families, including the families of al-Razem
and Jaber. The curfew remained effective until Monday morning, 1 November
2004.
Bethlehem
On Monday morning, 1 November 2004, Israeli troops
positioned at the Container checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem, imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They stopped Palestinian
vehicles for several hours. Israeli
troops also erected a checkpoint on Wadi al-anar road, the main road between
the north and south of the West Bank. They stopped and searched Palestinian
vehicles.
Tulkarm
This week, Israeli troops imposed more restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 30 October 2004, they erected a checkpoint at the
entrance to Far’oun village, south of the town. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians at various checkpoints
around the town. .
Arrests at Military Checkpoints and Border Crossings
On Friday morning, 29 October 2004, Israeli troops
positioned at al-Karama Terminal on the Jordanian border arrested Jihad ‘Abdul
Qader Awlad Hamdan, 32, from Dura village, southwest of Hebron, while he was on
his way to Saudi Arabia.
Curfews
On Monday, 1 November 2004, Israeli troops imposed a
curfew on the villages of al-‘Eizaria, Abu Dis and al-Sawahra al-Sharqia near
Jerusalem. This curfew continued until
the following day noon.
Settlement Activities and Settlers’ Attacks on
Palestinian Civilians and Properties
Israeli troops have pursued settlement activities in
the OPT and settlers who live in the OPT in violation of international
humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and their
properties.
On Thursday, 28 October 2004, Israeli occupation
authorities issued a military order stopping construction at a housing project
in the east of Beit Sahour town in the West Bank. The order included stopping
the construction of an apartment building and a garden. Israeli occupation
authorities claim that the housing project is located near a settler bypass
road in the area, and that the land on which the project is established is not
within the boundaries of the Municipality of Beit Sahour, rather it is a part
of Jerusalem. The project has construction licenses since 1994, and the maps of
the Municipality of Beit Sahour show that the land on which the project stands
is within the boundaries of the municipality. It is worth noting that 250 people (44 families) live in the housing
project.
On Friday, 29 October 2004, Israeli occupation
authorities issued a military order confiscating 305 donums of land in Shoufa
village, south of Tulkarm, to be used for military purposes. This land belongs
to the families of Hannoun, Abu al-‘Alia and Daroubi.
At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 1 November 2004, a
number of Israeli settlers from “Utaniel” settlement, south of
Hebron, threw stones at Palestinian farmers and international solidarity groups
who were cultivating olives on Palestinian agricultural areas near the
aforementioned settlement to force them to leave the area. Israeli troops did not intervene to stop this
attack. They even held the head of the committee to defend land attorney Mousa
Makhamra, 50, and a farmer for 3 hours.
On Monday evening, a number of settlers from
settlements in the center of Hebron attacked Palestinian civilians and houses
near al-Sahla square near the Ibrahimi mosque in the old town. Israeli troops did not intervene to stop
these attacks.
At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 2 November 2004, a
car that have an Israeli registration plate ran down 7-year-old Fidaa’ S’oud
Khader ‘Ouda, from Hawara village south of Nablus, when she was on her way back
home from her elementary schools. The
driver escaped from the area. A
Palestinian taxi driver who was in the area evacuated the child to the
hospital. When he arrived at Hawara
checkpoint, Israeli troops denied him passage. Nearly half an hour later, an Israeli ambulance arrived and transported
the child to an Israeli hospital.
*****
Recommendations
to the International Community
1. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
fulfill their legal and moral obligations under article 1 of the Convention to
ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. PCHR believes the
conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged
Israel to act as a state above law and continue to violate international human
rights and humanitarian law.
2. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the
Convention in the 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 solidarity groups to participate in the
process of searching for Israeli war criminals and to urge their governments to
bring these war criminals to justice.
5. PCHR
calls upon the European Union to activate article 2 of the Euro-Israel
Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as
a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to
prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.
6. PCHR
calls upon European governments to change their positions towards the
Palestinian cause at UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security
Council and Commission on Human Rights.
7. PCHR
welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution, which referred the issue of the
Separation Wall inside the OPT to International Court of Justice to give a
consultative opinion. There is no doubt that the wall is illegal, which
obligates the international community to take steps that amount to the level of
the expected decision by the court.
8. In
recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls
upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the 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, unions and solidarity groups, and urges them
to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s
respect for human rights in the 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:[email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
