Israeli Forces Continue to Perpetrate
Crimes in the OPTs
· A
Palestinian civilian was killed by Israeli forces in ‘Askar refugee camp in
Nablus
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· Construction
continued on the separation wall in the West Bank
· Indiscriminate
shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued
· Continued
siege on the OPTs:
– Continued
Restrictions on travel at Rafah Terminal
– Continued
restriction on the movement of ambulances and medical personnel in the West
Bank
– Israeli
forces fired at Palestinian civilians crossing military checkpoints
Introduction
This week, Israeli occupying forces have continued to
carry out widespread and systematic violations of the human rights of
Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Israeli violations included incursions into
Palestinian areas, especially in the West Bank, willful shooting at Palestinian
civilians and indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, particularly in the
southern Gaza Strip. Israeli occupying forces have also continued to impose
a tightening siege on the entire OPTs, and have carried out a de facto
annexation of Palestinian land for the sake of the construction of the “separation
wall.”
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted
a series of incursions into Palestinian controlled areas, particularly in
Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus and Qalqilya. These incursions were accompanied by intense gunfire. Dozens of Palestinian civilians were wounded
by indiscriminate Israeli gunfire during these incursions.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces continued
to shell Palestinian residential areas in Khan Yunis and Rafah. A number of Palestinian civilians were
injured and a number of housed were damaged.
In a step that may threat the infrastructure of the
southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis, Israeli occupying forces have continued
to prevent the Municipality of Khan Yunis from establishing a pool to serve as
a water reserve for the collection of rainwater in the northeast of the town,
southeast of the Israeli settlement of “Gani Tal.” The establishment of the water reserve is
part of a wider project that has cost US$ 8 million. Israeli occupying forces positioned in
military locations near the aforementioned settlement have continued to fire at
machines of the municipality when they begin work in the area.
In an excessive use of force, on November 2003,
Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian from ‘Askar refugee
camp near Nablus, while he was riding a motorcycle on the road linking the
refugee camp and the public housing project. Israeli military sources claimed that Israeli soldiers ordered the young
man to stop, but he turned around in an attempt to flee, so they fired at his
feet. However, investigations conducted
by PCHR refute these claims. According
to medical sources, the young man was hit by a live bullet to the heart.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to raze areas
of Palestinian land for the construction of the “separation
wall.” They have also continued to
make demographic surveys in some Palestinian areas for the same purpose.
Palestinian farmers who intend to go to their agricultural lands behind the
“separation wall” are subject to various forms of humiliation by
Israeli soldiers at the gates established along the wall. On Tuesday, 4 November 2003, the Israeli
military radio station reported that in the last two weeks, Israeli occupying
forces “changed procedures of access of Palestinians to the demarcation areas
through crossings at the wall, and forced these Palestinians to obtain
permission from Israeli security parties to move through those crossings.” However, this statement is not true; as
documented by PCHR in previous reports, these procedures have been applied by
Israeli occupying forces for several weeks.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on movement of Palestinian civilians into and out of the Gaza
Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict
movement of Palestinian civilians between the southern, middle and northern
areas. They have also continued to
impose a closure on a number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip,
without taking into consideration the religious and family travel needs of
Palestinians during the month of Ramadan. Palestinians continue to be humiliated and receive degrading treatment
from Israeli occupying forces at Israeli military checkpoints and border
crossings. Israeli occupying forces have
also continued to deliberately slow the processing of Palestinians at Rafah Terminal
on the Egyptian border. Hundreds of
Palestinian civilians, including women and children, have been crowded at the
Egyptian side of the crossing waiting to be allowed to come back into the Gaza
Strip. They have been forced to spend
days waiting in inhumane conditions.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces claimed
that they eased the internal siege imposed on Palestinian communities, but
facts on the ground contradict such claims. They have continued to close military checkpoints and have erected a
number of temporary ones on the main, branch and dirt roads during the holy
month of Ramadan. This week, their were
multiple instances of Israeli soldiers at military checkpoints in the West Bank
firing at Palestinian civilians. Occupying forces also stopped and searched ambulances and obstructed
their passages to hospitals.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 30 October 2003
In the morning, Israeli occupying forces closed Wadi
al-Nar road, northeast of Bethlehem, which leads to the north of the West Bank.
Israeli soldiers at checkpoint fired at Palestinian civilians who were
attempting to leave the checkpoint and return to their homes. 3 civilians were wounded:
1. Mohye
Mohammed Salam ‘Ebayat, 24, from Bethlehem, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the back;
2. Nader
Mohammed Khalil al-Tawil, 19, from al-Bireh, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the left foot; and
3. Murshed
Na’im Sawalha, 27, from Bani Na’im village in Hebron, wounded by 2
rubber-coated metal bullets in the legs.
Friday, 31 October 2003
At approximately 02:30, 3 tanks, 2 armored personnel
carriers and a number of military jeeps of the Israeli occupying forces moved
into Qalqilya. The incursion was
accompanied by intense Israeli gunfire. No casualties were reported, but Israeli occupying forces arrested 7
Palestinians, including 5 Palestinian policemen.
In the afternoon, Israeli soldiers fired at a
Palestinian university student, Wassef Wasfi Ghaleb al-Khatib, 19, from Ya’bad
village, southwest of Jenin, who was on his way to his university, wounding him
with a live bullet in the right thigh.
According to PCHR’s investigations and the student’s
testimony, at approximately 13:00, al-Khatib and 3 of his colleagues, including
a girl, moved from their village towards their university in Nablus. At approximately 15:30, when they were about
to cross a settler bypass road towards Zawata village, west of Nablus, they
were surprised by the arrival of an Israeli military jeep. The jeep stopped and an Israeli soldier got
out of it. He ordered al-Khatib to come
to him. The soldier checked al-Khatib’s
ID card and ordered him to bring the ID cards and bags of his colleagues. The soldiers checked the ID cards and
searched the bags. Soon, another Israeli
military jeep arrived at the area. The
soldier handed the ID cards to the officer of the second military jeep and
ordered the 4 students to go to Beit Eiba checkpoint to get their ID
cards. Al-Khatib shouted at the soldier
who had gotten into the jeep, in order to ask him to allow the girl to travel
to Nablus. Immediately, the Israeli
soldier fired at al-Khatib, wounding him with a live bullet in the right
thigh. A few minutes later, an Israeli
military ambulance arrived on the site and evacuated al-Khatib to Beit Eiba
checkpoint. A Palestinian ambulance
arrived at Beit Eiba and evacuated him to Rafidya hospital in Nablus.
Saturday, 1 November 2003
At noon, in an excessive use of force, Israeli
occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian from ‘Askar refugee camp near
Nablus, while he was riding a motorcycle on the road linking the refugee camp
and the public housing project. The
Arabic web site of the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted Israeli military
sources as claiming that “Israeli soldiers ordered the young man to stop, but
he turned around in an attempt to flee, so they acted, following ‘instructions
relevant to arresting a suspect’ and fired at his feet.” The sources further claimed that “the
soldiers moved towards the young man and stopped a taxi to take him to the
hospital.” The sources claimed that “the
young man talked with the soldiers while he was inside the taxi, but medical
sources declared later the he died from his injury.” However, investigations conducted by PCHR
refute these claims.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 23:50, Mohammed Husni Hammad, 23, from ‘Askar refugee camp,
northeast of Nablus, was riding his motorcycle towards the public housing
project north of the camp. An Israeli
military jeep arrived in the area. When
Hammad turned around, Israeli soldiers fired at him. Immediately, an ambulance evacuated him to
Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, but he died in route. According to medical sources, the victim was
hit by a live bullet to the heart. Sources of the Palestine Red Crescent Society stated that an ambulance
of the society, not a taxi, evacuated the victim to the hospital. It takes an
ambulance 8-10 minutes to travel between the place of the incident and Rafidya
Hospital.
Sunday, 2 November 2003
Early in the morning, 20 Israeli heavy military
vehicles, including a bulldozer, surrounded Balata refugee camp, east of
Nablus. They blocked all dirt roads
leading to the camp and opened fire at houses. At approximately 11:00, a number of Palestinian children and young men
gathered and threw stones towards the Israeli heavy military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the
stone throwers, wounding 5 of them and a sixth civilian who was passing by:
1. Swaileh
Kamal Swaileh, 12, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;
2. Mohammed
‘Ata Hassan Sharai’a, 26, wounded by shrapnel in the head;
3. Eyad
Fakhri Yousef al-Asmar, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh;
4. ‘Abdul
Rahman Darwish Qanni, 14, wounded by shrapnel in the right hand;
5. ‘Ali
Isma’il Hassan Sharai’a, 53, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand as he
passed by the area of clashes; and
6. Mahmoud
Ziad Mohammed Ra’aisha, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand.
Monday, 3 November 2003
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by 25 military vehicles and 2 helicopters, and covered by intense
gunfire, moved into the northern West Bank town of Tulkarm, as well as a
refugee camp and Far’oun village located in the area. They imposed a curfew on the three
areas. According to eyewitnesses,
Israeli soldiers seized a building in the center of Far’oun village and
transformed it into a military site. Israeli military vehicles patrolled the streets. At approximately 09:00, a number of
Palestinian boys gathered in the streets and threw stones towards the Israeli
military vehicles. Israeli soldiers
fired at the boys, wounding 4:
1. Rahbal
Jamil Abu Hashish, 11, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand;
2. Islam
Jamal Hadid, 9, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand;
3. Saleh
Farouq Mansour, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot; and
4. Ahmed
Jihad al-Hamshari, 18, wounded by shrapnel in the right hand.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in the nearby al-Salam neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Mustafa Salem Abu Shallouf, 20, was wounded by
shrapnel in the head and the right thigh, while he was near his house,
approximately 300m away from the border.
At approximately 07:45, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at a military location near “Netser Hazani”, northwest of Khan
Yunis, opened fire at a Palestinian farmer, Mahmoud ‘Abdul Karim Qassem
al-Astal, 36, while he was farming his agricultural land, approximately 50m east of the military location. Al-Astal was wounded by a live bullet in the
right thigh. The area was completely
quiet when al-Astal was fired on.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in a military location known as “Kissufim” at Salah al-Din Street,
southeast of Deir al-Balah, fired at Ahmed ‘Ali Abu Qassem, 38, a mentally
handicapped man, who was walking at a distance of approximately 100m from the
military location. Abu Qassem was wounded
by 3 live bullets in his feet. Israeli
soldiers then brought him into their military location, without offering him
any medical aid. When they discovered
that he was mentally handicapped, they handed him over to a Palestinian
ambulance that was going through al-Matahen checkpoint by coincidence, north of
Khan Yunis.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military locations in the vicinity of “Morag” settlement, north
of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Zohour neighborhood,
approximately 700m to the south. A
Palestinian child, Ahmed Ayman Abu Shammala, 3, was wounded by 2 live bullets
in his thighs.
At approximately 14:00, 6 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Sirris village, an area controlled by the Palestinian Authority,
southeast of Jenin. A number of
Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the
boys, wounding 2:
1. Mohammed
Jamil Khalil al-Akhras, 16, wounded by 2 live bullets in the right side and
hand; and
2. Ashraf
Nash’at Sharif ‘Awada, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.
Tuesday, 4 November 2003
Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces raided
the house of ‘Ezzat Rashad al-Shwaiki, from Hebron. Al-Shwaiki has been detained by Israeli
occupying forces in the past. They
searched the house, damaging it in the process, and then arrested al-Shwaiki’s
daughter, Nivin, 19.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Eissi neighborhood in
the west of Hebron. At approximately
02:00, they surrounded the house of ‘Ezzat Rashad al-Shwaiki, 62. Without warning, Israeli soldiers opened fire
at the 2-storey house, in which 30 people (4 families) live. 5 minutes later, Israeli soldiers ordered the
residents of the house to exit with their hands up.
Al-Shwaiki’s daughter, Duha, stated to PCHR’s field
worker in Hebron that the aggressive manner of the Israeli attack endangered
the lives of all 30 residents. She also
asserted that Israeli soldiers beat her sister Nivin after she opened the door
for them. They forced the families out
and searched the house, damaging it in the process. They then checked the identities of every family
member. After which, they handcuffed
Nivin and took her to an unknown destination. Nivin, who is a university student, is the widow of D’iab ‘Abdul Rahim
Shwaiki, who was assassinated by Israeli occupying forces on 25 September
2003. With her arrest, the number of
family members from the Shwaiki family detained by Israeli occupying forces has
increased to 4.
Israeli occupying forces also arrested Faraj Mohammed
‘Abdullah Shwaiki, 18, in the same area.
At approximately 08:00, 2 tanks, 5 military jeeps and
a bulldozer of the Israeli occupying forces moved into Blata refugee camp, east
of Nablus. A number of Israeli soldiers
took positions atop of a 3-stoery house owned by Na’im Qattawi. At approximately 12:00, the bulldozer started
to block al-Hashashin Street in the east of the refugee camp, at the same time
that school children were leaving their schools to go back home. A number of school children gathered and
threw stones towards the Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire,
wounding 12 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children (PCHR has a complete
list of their names).
At approximately 11:00, Israeli soldiers fired at
12-year-old Hassan ‘Omar Hassan Jibril, from Tulkarm, wounding him in the face
with a live bullet. The child was a few
meters away from his house when he was fired at. When a number of Palestinian civilians
attempted to offer him help, Israeli soldiers began to fire at them as
well. The child was left bleeding on the
ground for about half an hour before a Palestinian ambulance was allowed to
evacuate him to Dr. Thabet Hospital within the town. The child underwent surgery. However, because
of his serious condition, he was transferred to the intensive care unit at
Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. Israeli
soldiers at a military checkpoint near Kherbat Jebara village, south of
Tulkarm, obstructed the passage of the ambulance that was evacuating Jibril for
about 15 minutes.
In her testimony to PCHR, Hiajaa’ Jebril, 20, the
victim’s sister stated:
“At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 4 November
2003, my brother Hassan, 12, left our house which is located in the south of
Tulkarm. He stood in front of al-Quds
Bakery, which is only 4 meters away from our house. 5 minutes later, 4 Israeli military jeeps
moved into the area and Israeli soldiers fired at my brother from a distance of
approximately 50 meters. He was wounded
in the face. Some neighbors attempted to
offer him help, but Israeli soldiers fired at them. My brother remained on the ground for about
half an hour until a Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance was eventually
able to evacuate him to Dr. Thabet Hospital. He underwent urgent surgery, but physicians decided to transfer him to
Rafidya Hospital in Nablus since he was in serious condition. I accompanied my brother in the
ambulance. When we arrived at Kherbat
Jebara checkpoint, Israeli soldiers stopped us. They checked us and searched the ambulance. They ordered me to travel back to
Tulkarm. I begged him to allow me to
accompany my brother, but they refused. I resorted to traveling by foot on a dirt road and reached the hospital
about 5 hours later. By that time, my
bother had been moved to the intensive care unit in critical condition.”
In a similar incident, Israeli soldiers fired at
13-year-old ‘Abed Yassin Ma’arek Jourban, from Tulkarm refugee camp. He was
wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the left eye. According to the child, he was wounded when
he went out of his house to buy some foodstuffs from a shop, which is only 20
meters away from the house. Immediately,
Israeli soldiers on an armored personnel carrier positioned at the northern
entrance to the refugee camp fired at him. He was wounded by shrapnel in the left eye. He was evacuated to Dr. Thabet Hospital in
Tulkarm and from there he was transferred to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. He is expected to be transferred to a
hospital In Jerusalem in order to undergo special treatment.
Wednesday, 5 November 2003
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Qalqilya. They raided houses
in Shuraim and Kufor Saba neighborhoods and arrested 8 Palestinians.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin, and arrested 3
Palestinians from the Jaradat family.
Continued Construction of Separation Wall
Israeli occupying forces have continued to raze and
annex large areas of Palestinian land for construction of the “separation
wall” in the West Bank. They have
also continued to conduct demographic surveys in some Palestinian areas for the
same purpose. Palestinian farmers who
intend to go to their agricultural lands behind the “separation wall”
are subject to various forms of humiliation by Israeli soldiers at the gates
established along the wall.
On Thursday morning, 30 October 2003, Israeli
occupying forces surveyed large areas in the villages of Na’lin, al-Media,
Qebia, Shaqba, Rantis, al-Qubaiba and Badras, west of Ramallah, as a
preliminary step to start to construct parts of the “separation wall”
on these lands. These villages are
located to the east of the Israeli Ben Gurion Airport. The construction of the wall in these areas
will cut off Rantis and al-Qubaiba villages from the rest of the West
Bank.
On Sunday morning, 2 November 2003, 5 military jeeps
of the so-called Israeli Border Guard and a vehicle of the so-called Israeli
Civil Administration moved into the north and west of Dura village, west of
Hebron. According to eyewitnesses, who
live in the Wadi al-Hamam and ‘Ein Siraj neighborhoods in the northwest of the
village, Israeli forces raided a number of houses and collected information,
including the numbers and names of families. They also documented the names of
the owners of houses and other property in the area. PCHR’s field worker in Hebron reported that
these surveys are being carried out in areas that are expected to be isolated
and annexed by Israel due to the planned trajectory of the “separation
wall”.
PCHR’s field worker in the northern West Bank
reported that Palestinian farmers who have been separated from there
agricultural land by the “separation wall” have been forced to wait
in lines in front of the gates established by Israeli occupying forces along
the wall in order to reach their lands. Israeli soldiers force these farmers to wait in 3 lines: one for men,
one for women and one for children. Israeli soldiers also force the farmers to return to their homes at
16:00. They are also forced to gather
into lines when they go back through the gates to return to their homes. Each farmer who is over 16 is required by
Israeli occupying forces to obtain a permit from the so-called Civil
Administration to be allowed to reach his/her land behind the wall.
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 01:40 on Thursday, 23 October 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Hawooz area in the west of Hebron. They surrounded a 200-square-meter house
owned by Ziad Rafiq Ya’qoub Qannibi, 55. They forced the 8 residents that lived there, including 6 children, to
exit the house. They then lead them about 150m away from the house, planted
explosives inside the house and then destroyed it. 4 stores under the house owned by Hashem
‘Omar Ahmaru and Mohammed Shaher Yousef Bader were also damaged. The son of the owner of the house, Rafiq
Qannibi, 23, was killed on 22 October 2003 while carrying out an armed attack
on an Israeli settlement in Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood in the center of
Hebron.
At approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, 28 October 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Eissi neighborhood in the south of
Hebron. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of ‘Ezzat al-Shwaiki, who is serving a sentence to an
18-month imprisonment in Israeli jails. Then, they arrested his two sons: Akram
and ‘Abdul Qader, 32 and 35 respectively.
Continued Siege on the OPT
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose 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 restrict the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
have also continued to enforce the closure of a number of main and branch roads
in the Gaza Strip, without taking into consideration the circumstances of the
holy Ramadan Month. Palestinian civilians continue to be humiliated and
harrassed at Israeli military checkpoints and border crossings.
Israeli occupying forces have also continued to
deliberately hamper work at Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border. Hundreds of
Palestinian civilians, including women and children, have been crowded on the
Egyptian side of the crossing waiting to be allowed to come back to the Gaza
Strip, often for days at a time. During this time, Israeli intelligence
officers often summon and interrogate or arrest Palestinian travelers. The
suffering of Palestinian travelers at Rafah Terminal has deteriorated even further
since the beginning of October 2003, as Israeli occupying forces have reduced
the working hours to less than 8 hours a day. Previously, the terminal
functioned 24 hours a day. Israeli forces have also decreased the number of
Palestinian personnel permitted to work at the terminal to only 6 members of
the Palestinian Police.
According to information gathered by PCHR’s field
worker in Rafah, Israeli occupying forces often arbitrarily change the number
of travelers permitted to cross the terminal. The number of outgoing travelers
(from the Gaza Strip to Egypt) can be anywhere between 210 – 280 per day, while
the number of incoming travelers can be between 270 – 420 per day. The number of Palestinian travelers forced to
wait for days on the Egyptian side of the terminal is normally around 400-700
and sometimes amounts to more than 1000.
PCHR believes that these restrictions on travel at
Rafah Terminal constitute a form of collective punishment against Palestinian
civilians and a violation of their right to freedom of movement. These measures
violate the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights and other international human rights instruments.
Israeli occupying forces continue to impose a strict
siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip, restricting the movement of
Palestinian civilians in and out of the area. Since Sunday, 26 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces have imposed further
restrictions on th emovement of Palestinian through al-Tuffah checkpoint at the
entrance to al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis. Palestinians under the age of
35 have been denied access through the checkpoint and as a consequence,
approximately 30 university students have been prevented from attending their
universities. Israeli occupying forces have also tightened the siege imposed on
al-Sayafa area between “Dogit” and “Elli Sinai” settlement in the northern Gaza
Strip. Palestinian civilians moving in
and out of the enclosed area are thoroughly checked by Israeli soldiers at the only
gate leading into the area. Israeli soldiers often arrest Palestinian civilians
at the gate. At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 31 October 2003, Israeli
soldiers arrested 24 year old farmer, Ghassan Younis Abu Khousa and at
approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 1 November 2003, Israeli soldiers arrested 3
other Palestinian farmers:
1. Bassam
Mohammed D’ib al-Barrawi, 35, from Beit Lahia;
2. Mansour
‘Ali D’ib al-Barrawi, 30, from Beit Lahia; and
3. ‘Olayan
Silmi al-Qudairi, 25, from al-Sayafa area.
Although Israeli occupying forces reopened Erez
crossing for Palestinian workers on Sunday, 2 November 2003 after a one-month
closure, further restrictions have been imposed, which have resulted in only
6480 workers being eligible for passage through the crossing and access to their
work places in Israel. The workers must be over the age of 35, married with children
and in possession of a magnetic card and a valid work permit. The continual restrictions
imposed on the access of Palestinians to their work places have caused further
deterioration of economic conditions, evidenced in the sharp increase in
poverty and unemployment in the OPT. Israeli occupying forces have also the restricted
movement of Palestinian goods at border crossings.
The West Bank
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank and have continued to
close military checkpoints. They have also erected a number of temporary
checkpoints on the main, branch and dirt roads, throughout the West Bank. This
week, Israeli soldiers at military checkpoints in the West Bank fired at
Palestinian civilians.
Occupied Jerusalem
Since Friday morning, 31 October 2003, Israeli
occupying forces have reinforced their presence in the northern parts of the
city and surrounding villages, and denied Palestinians access to al-Aqsa
Mosque. According to eyewitnesses,
Palestinian civilians have been forced to wait in long lines and thoroughly searched
before being allowed to reach al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli soldiers have been deployed in the streets and more roadblocks
have been erected in various parts of the city.
Ramallah
Since Thursday morning, 30 October 2003, Israeli
occupying forces have tightened the siege imposed on Ramallah. According to
eyewitnesses, Israeli forces have closed al-Bireh-Qalandya road and this week,
Israeli soldiers erected temporary roadblocks on the Ramallah-Jerusalem road.
Israeli forces have stopped and harassed the drivers and passengers of
Israeli-registered vehicles transporting Palestinians and have held approximately
40 such vehicles in Qalandya Airport. Israeli forces have also restricted
movement of Palestinian civilians at Qalandya checkpoint.
Nablus
Israeli occupying forces have continued to close
military checkpoints around the city. Israeli soldiers at military checkpoints have denied the passage of most
Palestinian civilians and have continued to pursue Palestinian civilians who
resort to dirt roads. In some instances Palestinians were fired on by Israeli
forces.
Jenin
Israeli occupying forces have continued to close the
roads leading to Jenin. PCHR’s field
worker in Jenin reported that on Sunday afternoon, 2 November 2003, a number of
Israeli armored personnel carriers and military jeeps pursued Palestinian
vehicles that were attempting to leave the town and dozens of Palestinian
vehicles were held in al-Jabriyat area in the south of the town. On Monday morning, 3 November 2003, Israeli
occupying forces closed the iron-gate established at the entrance to Tayaseer
village, which leads to the northern Jordan Valley, and apprehended and checked
hundreds of Palestinian civilians. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces erected several checkpoints at
the entrances to the villages of ‘Ein al-Hilwa, ‘Ein al-Baida and Bardala,
denying Palestinian civilians access to their work places.
Tulkarm
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Tulkarm. Israeli
soldiers at al-Kafriayt checkpoint, south of the town, have continued to deny
Palestinian civilians passage through the checkpoint and have continued to pursue
Palestinian civilians who resort to branch roads. Israeli forces have also erected new military
checkpoints at the entrances to al-Sha’rawia village, north of Tulkarm and have
continued to close the gate established at the entrance to ‘Anabta village on the
Nablus-Tulkarm road.
Qalqilya
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Qalqilya for the 5th consecutive week. After a young
Palestinian man detonated an explosive device on himself near an Israeli
military unit near ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, Israeli occupying forces
closed the area and tightened the siege imposed.
Jericho
Israeli soldiers positioned at the southern entrance
to the town have continued to restrict the movement of Palestinians civilians,
including those traveling to Jordan. On Thursday morning, 30 October 2003,
Israeli occupying forces denied the access of hundreds of Christians traveling to
al-Maghtas area on the Palestinian side of the Jordan River for religious
ceremonies. Israeli forces have prevented Palestinian officials from
participating in these ceremonies for the 4th consecutive year.
Bethlehem
Since Thursday morning, Israeli occupying forces have
tightened the siege imposed on Bethlehem, restricting the movement of
Palestinian civilians on the main roads. In some instances, Israeli soldiers assaulted
and fired upon Palestinian civilians attempting to travel to and from the
town. ‘Abdul Rahman Sa’id Mowafi, 19,
from Bethlehem, sustained injuries to the head and bruises to the face and the
back after being beaten by Israeli soldiers. ‘Aziza Mohammed Jabarin, 21, from Hebron, suffered tear gas inhalation. This week, Israeli forces have continued to
deny the entry of foodstuffs and fuel into the town.
Hebron
At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 31 October 2003,
Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on the southern part of Hebron and
reinforced their presence in the south and center of the town. On Saturday morning, 1 November 2003, Israeli
forces forced Palestinian traders to close their shops, during a curfew that
continued until Monday morning, 3 November 2003, imposed on the town center,
the old town and the neighborhoods of Abu Sunaina, al-Fahes, Wad al-Hariya,
al-Kassara, Jabal Jouhar, al-Masharqa and Wadi al-Qadhi, as well as areas located
near the Israeli settlements “Kiryat Arba” and
“Kharsina.” Israeli occupying
forces also closed all branch roads that had previously been reopened and erected
roadblocks on the streets throughout the town.
Israeli Attacks on Ambulances and Medical
Personnel
In violation of Palestinian health rights, Israeli
occupying forces have continued to restrict movement of ambulances and
patients. These restrictions violate article 16 of the Fourth Geneva Convention
of 1949, which provides for the protection for wounded and sick civilians and
expectant mothers; article 20 of the Convention, which provides for protection
and respect for persons engaged in the operation and administration of civilian
hospitals; and article 21, which provides for the protection and respect for
means of transportation that convey wounded and sick civilians.
On Thursday morning, 30 October 2003, 3 ambulances of
the Palestinian Union of Medical Relief Committees were thoroughly searched by
Israeli soldiers at Hawara and Za’tara checkpoints, south of Nablus. 2 of the
ambulances were transporting medicines and medical equipment, while the third
was evacuating a patient to a hospital in Nablus.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 09:00, 2 of the ambulances moved from Ramallah towards Nablus and
Jenin. They were transporting medicines and medical equipment to 2 medical
centers. At approximately 10:00, the ambulances arrived at Za’tara checkpoint,
south of Nablus and were stopped and thoroughly searched by Israeli soldiers,
during which time medicines and medical equipment were damaged. Approximately half an hour later, Israeli
soldiers at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, stopped another ambulance of
the Palestinian Union of Medical Relief Committees, which was transporting a
pregnant woman, Hanan Khalil Malek, 30, from Beeta village to Rafidya Hospital
in Nablus, as she was suffering acute hemorrhaging. Israeli soldiers searched
the ambulance and made it wait for more than 2 hours, during which time the
patient’s condition deteriorated.
At approximately 08:10 on Sunday, 2 November 2003,
Israeli soldiers at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, stopped and searched an
ambulance of the Palestinian Union of Medical Relief Committees that was
traveling from Nablus to ‘Assira village, south of the city. Approximately 2
hours later, they forced the ambulance to travel back, informing the medical
personnel that the checkpoint was closed.
At the same time, Israeli soldiers at Beit ‘Eiba
checkpoint, west of Nablus, stopped and searched an ambulance of the
Palestinian Union of Medical Relief Committees that was traveling from Nablus
to ‘Azzoun and Habla villages in Qalqilya. Approximately 2 hours later, they forced the ambulance to travel back,
informing the medical personnel that the checkpoint was closed.
*****
PCHR calls:
1. Upon the international community to
provide immediate and independent international protection for
the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
2. Upon the High Contracting Parties to
the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective
measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, in accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article
146, to ensure respect for the Convention.
3. Upon the international community to
investigate and prosecute before international courts those believed to have
committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence,
expand its activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territories.
5. Upon the European Union to activate
Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel
must respect human rights.
6. Upon the international community to
provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose
living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued
siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
“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
