Israeli Troops Continue their
Attacks in the OPTs
· 22
Palestinians, including 3 children, were killed by Israeli troops
· 14
of the victims were killed by an Israeli missile attack in Gaza City
· One
of the victims was extra-judicially executed by Israeli troops
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· Israeli
troops moved into the northern Gaza Strip
· 4
houses were destroyed and 32 donums[1]
of agricultural land were razed in the southern Gaza Strip
· 2
houses were destroyed the West Bank in the context of retaliatory measures
against families of Palestinian activists
· Continued
shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities; a schoolchild was
injured while on her desk in a school in Khan Yunis and a workshop was
destroyed in the central Gaza Strip
· Construction
of the “Annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued
· Israeli
troops have continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs; The Gaza Strip has
been divided into 3 separate zones, Erez crossing has been closed for the
second consecutive week, Israeli troops fired at Palestinian civilians waiting
at military checkpoints, and al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip has been
closed
Introduction
Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more human
rights violations against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPTs). This week, 22 Palestinians, including 3 children, were
killed and dozens of other civilians were injured by Israeli troops. Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli
troops included willful and extra-judicial killing, incursions into Palestinian
areas, indiscriminate shelling, house demolitions and land leveling. Israeli troops have also continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
In the Gaza Strip, 21 Palestinians, including 3
children, were killed by Israeli troops. On 7 September 2004, 14 Palestinians were killed when Israeli troops
shelled a training center belonging to the Hamas movement in Gaza City. On 2 September, 4 Palestinian civilians,
including a child, were killed by Israeli troops that had moved into the
central Gaza Strip town of Deir al-Balah. On 3 and 7 of September 2004, 2 children from Rafah died from injuries
they sustained from Israeli shelling, one of them had sustained his injuries
last May. Another Palestinian civilian
from Khan Yunis died on 4 September 2004 from a previous injury caused by
Israeli troops. In addition, a number of
Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli shelling, including a
schoolchild who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head when she was
sitting on her desk in a school in Khan Yunis refugee camp on 7 September
2004.
On Wednesday, 8 September
2004, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters,
invaded large areas in the northern Gaza Strip. They established military posts in high areas. They also destroyed a number of roads and
seized complete control over Salah al-Din Street, which links the northern Gaza
Strip to other areas in the strip. As a
result of the Israeli shelling, 17 Palestinian civilians, including 13
children, were wounded, 4 of whom are in a serious condition. This offensive on the northern Gaza Strip is
still ongoing. PCHR is worried that this
offensive could be similar to an offensive on the northern Gaza Strip town of
Beit Hanoun, which continued for one month and left dozens of Palestinians dead
or injured and hundreds of donums of agricultural land and dozens of houses
destroyed.
This week, Israeli troops conducted 5 military
incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. During these incursions, Israeli troops
destroyed 4 houses, leaving 16 Palestinian civilians homeless, and razed 32
donums of agricultural land, in addition to the victims mentioned above.
In the West Bank, an undercover unit of Israeli troops
extra-judicially executed a Palestinian in Jericho on 8 September 2004. Israeli troops also launched a series of
attacks against Palestinian civilians. A
number of Palestinian civilians, mostly children, were wounded by the Israeli
gunfire. Israeli troops also arrested dozens of
Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank. In addition, Israeli troops destroyed 2 houses in the context of
retaliatory measures against families of Palestinian activists. Israeli settlers, who live in the OPTs in
violation of international humanitarian law, launched a series of attacks
against Palestinian civilians and their properties.
Israeli Occupation Forces have continued to construct
the annexation wall inside West Bank territory. This week, this construction took place mainly in occupied East Jerusalem
and Hebron. This construction threatens
the future of occupied East Jerusalem and its residents. This week, Israeli troops started to
construct sections of the wall in Hebron, a challenge to international
resolutions that call for the ending of all construction of the wall.
Israeli occupation forces have continued to impose a
tightened siege on the OPTs and have imposed severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,
including Jerusalem. On 7 September
2004, Israeli troops divided the Gaza Strip into 3 separate zones. They have also continued to close Erez
crossing for the second consecutive week. On 3 September 2004, Israeli troops imposed a tightened siege on
al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip and prohibited movement to and from
the area. In 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
and arrested some of them while crossing military checkpoints. Israeli troops also imposed a curfew on a
number of Palestinian communities.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and their Property
Thursday, 2 September 2004
Israeli troops killed 4 Palestinians, including a
child, and injured 52 others in the central Gaza Strip town of Deir
al-Balah. They also destroyed one house, damaged 20 others and razed 12
donums of agricultural land. These attacks took place during a 25-hour
Israeli military incursion into Deir al-Balah. Preliminary investigations
conducted by PCHR strongly indicated that Israeli troops continuously used
excessive force against Palestinian civilians during this incursion.
According to these investigations, at approximately
01:50, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved from
“Kfar Darom” settlement nearly 500 meters into the central Gaza Strip
town of Deir al-Balah. Under the cover
of indiscriminate shelling, they started to place sand barriers on roads and
raze areas of agricultural land. They also damaged the electricity and
water networks. At approximately 07:00, Israeli troops raided and
searched 4 houses. They held residents of these houses and transformed
the roofs into military posts. They also arrested 3 of the residents of
these houses, but later released them. At approximately 10:00, more
Israeli troops, reinforced by helicopter gun-ships, were deployed in the
area. They opened fire at residential and agricultural areas in the town,
injuring 8 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children. In the evening,
Israeli troops conducted a deceptive withdrawal from the area, so a number of
Palestinian civilians went to Fu’ad al-Sayed Abu Musabbeh’s house, one of the
houses that were seized by Israeli troops. Immediately, Israeli troops hiding inside the house opened fire at these
civilians. A child, Mohammed Jamal Abu
Musabbeh, 15, a relative of the owner, was killed by several live bullets
throughout the body, while he was attempting to escape. A number of members of the Palestinian
resistance clashed with Israeli troops, who opened fire on residential
streets. As a result of the Israeli gunfire, 3 Palestinian civilians were
killed.
1. Mohammed
Jamal Baraka, 19, hit by a live bullet to the chest;
2. Ahmed
Maher Abu Shawish, 19, hit by a live bullet to the abdomen;
3. Shadi
Samir Abu Ghurab, 18, hit by 2 live bullets to the chest and the shoulder.
At approximately 01:30 on Friday, 3 September 2004,
Israeli troops raided a 440-sqauare-meter house owned by Ahmed al-Kurd and
rented by the family of Ahmed ‘Atiya al-Masri. They planted explosives inside the house. At approximately 03:00,
they destroyed the house claiming that a tunnel was found under it. As a
result of this destruction, 20 neighboring houses were damaged. Israeli
troops also razed 12 donums of agricultural land planted with citrus.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli
troops moved into ‘Ein Sara Street in the north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of schools
and kindergartens of the Muslim Youth Association. They also held staff members of these
educational institutions. Israeli
intelligence officers who accompanied these troops also interrogated a number
of staff members. Israeli troops
withdrew from the area at approximately 16:45.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli
troops moved into Madama village, south of Nablus. They opened fire at houses. A Palestinian child, 10-year-old Suhaib Salah
al-Qit, was injured by shrapnel in the right leg.
During the day Israeli troops
moved into the cities of Nablus and the neighboring Marda village; the villages
of al-Zahiriya and Tarqoumia near Hebron; Ramallah; and Tulkarm refugee
camp. They raided and searched a number
of houses and arrested 11 Palestinians, including a child.
Friday, 3 September 2004
At approximately 11:00,
Israeli troops raided al-Anwar library of the Islamic Charitable Society in the
center of Hebron. According to the
administration of the library, Israeli troops blew up doors of the educational
department of the library. They searched
the library and confiscated communication sets, 25 computer sets and hundreds
of books, documents and references.
At approximately 18:00, Israeli
troops positioned in a military post in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of
Rafah opened fire at Tal al-Sultan neighborhood to the northeast. Three children who were playing near an
orchard attempted to have shelter from the Israeli gunfire inside the orchard,
but two of them were seriously wounded. One of the children, 16-year-old Munir Sha’ban al-Sindi, who was hit by
several live bullets throughout the body, died shortly after he had been
evacuated to the hospital. The other
child, 17-year-old Mo’ein Ziad al-Liddawi, was seriously wounded by several
live bullets throughout the body.
Also at approximately 18:00,
5 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-‘Ein area in al-Fara’a refugee camp,
east of Jenin. Israeli troops opened
fire at houses. Dozens of Palestinian
children and young men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military
jeeps. Immediately, Israeli troops fired
at the stone throwers, wounding 17-year-old ‘Alaa’ Ahmed Abu Habib with a live
bullet in the neck.
During the day, Israeli
troops moved into Hebron; Tulkram refugee camp and Thinnaba village near
Tulkarm; and Salfit village near Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 13
Palestinians, including a child.
At approximately 23:00, 2
Israeli helicopter gun-ships fired 3 missiles at a workshop owned by Mousa
Hassan Qandil in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Two missiles directly hit the workshop, severely
damaging it. The third missile hit a car
belonging to the owner and destroyed it. The same workshop was attacked by Israeli helicopter gun-ships 3 months
ago.
Saturday, 4 September
2004
At approximately 06:00, medical
sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Wissam Mohammed Abu Zarqa,
19, from Khan Yunis, refugee camp, died from a wound he had sustained last
week. According to PCHR’s documentation,
at approximately 04.30 on Monday, 30 August 2004, Israeli troops positioned in
military posts in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of
Khan Yunis, detonated explosive devices around the settlement. As a result, pieces of cement blocks
neighboring Palestinian houses were raised into the air. One of these pieces hit Abu Zarqa in the head
while he was sleeping in his bed. He was
evacuated to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, and as he was in a serious
condition, was transferred to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City where he had received
medical attention until his death.
At approximately 09:00,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian child, 15-year-old Nidal
Ehmaidan Zo’rob, was seriously wounded by 2 live bullets in the back and the
arms, when he was in al-Siamat neighborhood, nearly 1200 meters to the north of
the border.
At approximately 14:00,
Israeli troops moved into Beeta village, south of Nablus. They opened fire at the houses. A number of Palestinian children and young
men gathered and threw stones at Israeli troops. Immediately, those troops fired at the stone
throwers, wounding 15-year-old Hussam Rebhi Dwaikat with a live bullet in the
left foot.
During the day, Israeli
troops moved into Nablus; Yatta village near Hebron; Jayous village near
Qalqilya; and Tayaseer village near Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5
Palestinians.
At approximately 19:00,
Israeli troops moved into Salfit village, south of Nablus. They opened fire at houses. Dozens of Palestinian children and young men
gathered and threw stones at Israeli troops. Immediately, those troops fired at the stone throwers wounding 2
children.
1. Tha’er
Bilal Abu Hamed, 9, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and
2. Mohammed
Fu’ad Salama, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the hand.
At approximately 21:00,
Israeli troops moved into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City. Using megaphones, they called on members of
the ‘Azzam family to get out of their houses. As soon as these members got out of their houses, Israeli troops fired a
number of live bullets in the air. Then,
they checked the identity cards of these members, and arrested Nasser Hassan
‘Azzam, 43, an Imam of a mosque. This
incursion continued until 00.00 on Sunday, 5 September 2004. During this incursion, Israeli troops
destroyed a house owned by Hassan ‘Aaref ‘Azzam, in which 9 people (2 families)
lived. They also razed a 1.5-donum area
of agricultural land planted with lemons and olives and destroyed a well.
At approximately 23:00,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekalim” and “Gadid” settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened
fire at al-Nimsawi neighborhood and Baten al-Samin area. A number of live bullets hit the reception
department of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Two Palestinian civilians were also wounded when they were near their
houses.
1. Joma’a
‘Eid Saqer, 51, wounded by a live bullet in the right arm; and
2. ‘Ayada
Mohammed al-Lahham, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the head.
Sunday, 5 September
2004
During the day, Israeli
troops moved into the villages of Deir Ghassana and Beit Rima near Ramallah;
‘Aaida refugee camp near Bethlehem; Hebron and the neighboring Ethna village;
Madama village near Nablus. They raided
and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinians, including a child
and an old man.
At approximately 16:00,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Morag”
settlement, north of Rafah, fired at a mentally handicapped Palestinian
civilian who attempted to get close to an Israeli military observation tower
near the aforementioned settlement. He
was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh. He was identified as Yousef Qandil Mukhaimer,
42, from Rafah refugee camp.
Monday, 6 September
2004
At approximately 08:00,
Israeli troops moved into Seilat al-Zaher village, south of Jenin. They opened fire at houses. A Palestinian child, 13-year Mohammed Najeh
Zubaidi, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the shoulder.
In the day hours, Israeli
troops moved into Seilat al-Zaher village near Jenin; the villages of Kharsa,
Dura and Sourif near Hebron; Jayous village near Qalqilya; Tulkarm; al-‘Azza
refugee camp near Bethlehem. They raided
and searched a number of houses and arrested 13 Palestinians, including 2
children and 2 brothers.
At 17:00, Israeli troops
moved into Beeta village, south of Nablus. They opened fire at houses in the area. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones
at Israeli troops. Immediately, those
troops fired at the stone throwers, wounding 5 children.
At approximately 22:00,
Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved into Um al-Qurrais
area in the north of Rafah. Under the
cover of indiscriminate shelling, they destroyed a house belonging to the Abu
Gharara family, in which 2 people lived. They also razed 5 donums of agricultural land and destroyed 2 wells and
a bird farm.
Tuesday, 7
September 2004
In the early morning, 14 Palestinians were killed and
at least 12 others were injured when Israeli troops shelled a training center
belonging to the Hamas movement in al-Tuffah neighborhood in the east of Gaza
City. Israeli troops admitted responsibility for this attack and
claimed that it came in response to the bombing in Ber al-Saba last week.
Medical sources in hospitals in Gaza City stated that the condition of a number
of the injured was extremely critical.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 00:00, Israeli helicopter gun-ships and tanks attacked Sheikh
Ahmed Yassin stadium, where a training center for Hamas activists had been
established, in al-Sha’af area in al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City. A
number of missiles and shells directly hit the trainees, killing 14 of them and
injuring at least 12 others. Five of the injured were in a critical
condition. The 14 victims were identified as:
1. Eihab
Mohammed al-Deeb, 23;
2. Ussama ‘Awni Hajaliya, 26;
3. Sa’id
Yasser ‘Ouda, 25;
4. Mo’tassem
Fu’ad Al-Zarbatli, 23;
5. Ghassan ‘Obaid, 23;
6. Mohammed ‘Omar Jindiya, 21;
7. ‘Aaref Qassem Jindiya, 20;
8. Ahmed
Khairi Eskafi, 25;
9. Adham Karim Quraiqe’, 22;
10. Bilal Fayez Quraiqe’, 22;
11. Mohammed ‘Abdullah Qanou’, 18;
12. ‘Ezzat
Ahmed al-Wadiya, 19;
13. Fares Sa’di al-Sirsawi, 22;
14. Ayman Khazzaa’ Farahat, 18;
At approximately 07:45, Israeli
troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim”
settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at populated areas and schools in
Khan Yunis refugee camps. Four
Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were injured. One of the children, 10-year-old Raghda
‘Adnan al-‘Assar, was seriously injured by a live bullet in the head, while she
was sitting at her desk in an UNRWA school, nearly 800 meters away from the
source of the firing. The others who
were wounded are:
1. Mohammed
‘Omar Jahjouh, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;
2. Katima
‘Abdul Fattah Younis, 38, wounded by shrapnel in the right arm; and
3. Ayman
Mohammed al-Qedra, 35, wounded by shrapnel in the right hand.
At approximately 13:00,
medical sources at Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that Yousef
Ahmed Abu Lebda, 16, from Rafah, died from a wound he had sustained during an
Israeli offensive on Rafah last May. According
to PCHR’s documentation, Abu Lebda was seriously wounded by 2 live bullets in
the abdomen and the right hand, when Israeli troops fired at him and his two
brothers during an Israeli offensive on Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah on
19 May 2004, which left 22 Palestinians dead. One of the brothers was killed instantly. Abu Lebda had received medical attention in
Israeli and Egyptian hospitals before he was brought to Gaza. He finally
succumbed to the injuries he had sustained and died in the European
Hospital.
During the day, Israeli
troops moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem; ‘Arraba village, south
of Jenin; Hebron and the neighboring Dura village; Tulkarm refugee camp; and
Nablus and the neighboring Salfit village. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 20
Palestinians, including a child.
At approximately 16:30,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire at houses in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian child, 10-year-old Tariq
Mamdouh al-Jamal, was wounded by shrapnel in the head when he was near his
house in Block K.
At approximately 19:30,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire again at houses in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian child, 7-year-old Fadi Mohammed
al-Shaqaqi, was wounded by shrapnel in the head when he was near his house in
al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away from the border.
Wednesday, 8 September
2004
At approximately 00:30,
Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 300 meters
into al-Rabwat area in the northwest of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of land, which they had
already razed. Then, they ordered
residents of the area to get out of their houses and checked them. Israeli troops used Fu’ad Mousa al-Agha, 45,
as a human shield while searching houses. Then, they partially demolished a 2-storey, uninhabited house owned by
Khaled Fares. Israeli troops withdrew
from the area at approximately 06:00.
In the early morning,
Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, invaded
large areas in the northern Gaza Strip. Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, they started to establish
military posts on high areas. They also
destroyed a number of roads and seized complete control over Salah al-Din
Street, which links between the northern Gaza Strip and other areas in the
strip. As a result of the Israeli
shelling, 17 Palestinian civilians, including 13 children, were wounded, 4 of
whom are in a serious condition. This
offensive on the northern Gaza Strip is still ongoing. Electricity and water supplies have been cut
from several communities in the area as Israeli troops destroyed the
electricity and water networks.
At approximately 06:30,
Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 500 meters
into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They raided and searched a number of houses
in the villages. Also during this incursion,
which continued until 15.00, Israeli troops razed 15 donums of agricultural
land. Education at schools was disrupted
due to the heavy military presence.
At approximately 16:30,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses
in Khan Yunis refugee camp. Three
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded.
1. Fares
Amin Siam, 4, wounded by shrapnel in the back;
2. Ibrahim
Kamal Abu Rezeq, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and
3. Mohammed
Ahmed al-Qassas, 25, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot.
In the day hours, Israeli
troops moved into Bethlehem and the neighboring ‘Aida and al-Duhaisha refugee
camps and al-Duha village; Hebron and the neighboring Bani Na’im village;
Thinnaba village near Tulkarm; Nablus; and Tubas village near Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 19 Palestinians, including 2 children, one girl and 2
brothers.
Extra-Judicial Execution
In a continuation of the
policy of extra-judicial assassination officially adopted by the Israeli
political and military establishments, on Wednesday evening, 8 September 2004, an
undercover unit of Israeli troops killed ‘Aamer Mohammed ‘Abdullah ‘Aaidiya,
29, from al-Am’ari refugee camp in Ramallh, in Jericho. Two other Palestinians, including the
victim’s brother, were also wounded and arrested. ‘Aaidiya was a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs
Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement. He was not armed when he was shot.
According to PCHR’s
investigations, in the evening ‘Aaidiya was sitting in front of an internet
café in the center of Jericho, together with his brother Jaber, 21, and Jamal
Sa’du, 34, from Jericho. At
approximately 21:30, 2 civilian cars that had Palestinian registrations stopped
near the café. A number of persons, who
are members of an undercover unit of Israeli troops, got out of the cars and
opened fire at the three Palestinians. ‘Aaidiya was instantly killed by 2 live bullets in the chest and several
other bullets in the legs. His brother
Jaber was wounded by 2 live bullets in the feet, and Sa’du was wounded by a
live bullet in the chest. Soon, 13
Israeli military jeeps, reinforced by 2 helicopters, moved into Jericho to provide
coverage for the withdrawal of the undercover unit. Israeli troops arrested the two wounded
Palestinians.
Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted
Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli
Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, in
particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War of 1949, article 33 of which prohibits punishing any protected
person for “an offence he or she has not personally committed,” Israeli forces
took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered,
facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets.
At approximately 02:00 on Monday,
6 September 2004, Israeli troops moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of
Bethlehem. They surrounded a 300-square-meter,
2-storey house owned by Yousef Ahmed al-Mughrabi. They forced the 13 residents (4 families) of
the house out and planted explosives inside. They also forced residents of a number of neighboring houses out. At approximately 03:20, they destroyed the
house. This was the second time that
Israeli troops destroyed a house on this land, as on 20 March 2002, they
destroyed the house and the family reconstructed it later. Israeli troops claim that the owners sons,
Ahmed an ‘Ali, who have been detained by these troops, planned a number of
attacks against Israeli targets. The
third son, Mahmoud, was killed by Israeli troops at the beginning of the
current Intifada.
At approximately 04:00 on
Wednesday, 8 September 2004, Israeli troops moved into Wadi al-Hariya
neighborhood in the south of Hebron. They surrounded the 200-square-meter house belonging to the family of
‘Aadel ‘Omar al-Za’tari, 22. Using
megaphones they ordered the 18 residents of the house to get out. They checked these residents and held them in
a neighboring place. Nearly 30 minutes
later, Israeli troops forced ‘Adel’s father and brother to enter the house to
persuade him to surrender. When ‘Aadel
refused to surrender, Israeli troops fired 3 shells at the house. At approximately 06.00, an Israeli military
bulldozer started to demolish the back fence of the house. At approximately 06:40, Israeli troops
arrested ‘Aadel after he had been wounded by at least one live bullet in the
leg, without offering him any medical aid. At approximately 08:00, Israeli military bulldozers demolished the
house.
Continued Siege on the oPt
This week, Israeli occupation forces
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 occupation forces have continued
to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip for the 18th consecutive
week. This week, they divided the Gaza Strip into 3 separate zones.
This week, Israeli troops imposed
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians at Abu Houli and
al-Matahen checkpoints to the north of Khan Yunis. On Tuesday morning, 7 September 2004, Israeli
troops closed the two checkpoints. They
also fired live ammunition and tear gas at Palestinian civilians who were
waiting at the two checkpoints. A number
of these civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation. For at least 2 months, Israeli troops have
continued to prevent Palestinian private vehicles from crossing the two
checkpoints. That afternoon, Israeli
military vehicles closed the coastal road linking between Gaza City and the
central Gaza Strip, thus dividing the Gaza Strip into 3 separate zones.
Israeli occupation forces 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. On
Tuesday morning, 7 September 2004, Israeli troops closed al-Tuffah checkpoint
at the entrance to al-Mawasi area for several hours, and fired at Palestinian
civilians who were waiting at the checkpoint. No casualties were reported, but these civilians were extremely
terrified. 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 the checkpoint without
prior coordination.
Israeli troops have also continued to impose a
tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. The have
denied entry of domestic gas to the area. They have also imposed severe
restrictions of the movement of Palestinian farmers. Israeli troops allow only 5 persons to get
out of the area everyday to bring foodstuffs. On Friday, 3 September
2004, Israeli troops totally closed the area and prohibited movement to and
from the area. Electricity has also been
cut from the area. 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 second consecutive week. A very limited number of patients have been
allowed to travel through the crossing. Even
though Israeli occupying forces partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial
crossing to the east of Gaza City, and Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, they have
imposed severe restrictions on the flow of goods through the two crossings.
Israeli troops have continued to impose severe
restrictions on traveling through Rafah Passage, which has been the only outlet
for the Gaza Strip to the outside world since 14 February 2001,
when Israeli occupation forces destroyed the runway of Gaza International
Airport. Israeli troops have not implemented an agreement with the
Palestinian side to allow Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 35 to
travel through Passage. The number of
Palestinians allowed to travel through the Passage each day is very
limited. As a result, many patients who
are badly in need of special medical treatment abroad have not been able to
travel. On Wednesday, 8 September 2004,
Israeli troops closed the terminal in the face of departing travelers.
The West Bank
Israeli occupation forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.
Jerusalem
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians, while they have continued to construct new
sections of the annexation wall to the north of East Jerusalem. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops erected
a number of temporary checkpoints on roads leading to the city. On Sunday morning, 5 September 2004, Israeli
troops closed a number of roads linking between Jerusalem and Ramallah. Israeli troops positioned at various
checkpoints around the city and stopped and checked Palestinian civilians
traveling to and from the city.
Ramallah
This week, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected more checkpoints around the town and obstructed the
movement of Palestinian vehicles for long hours. Israeli troops positioned at various
checkpoints between Ramallah and neighboring villages stopped and searched
Palestinian vehicles. These Israeli
measures forced Palestinian civilians to resort to muddy roads to reach
Ramallah and al-Bireh.
On Saturday morning, 4 September 2004, Israeli troops
positioned at Na’lin checkpoint, west of Ramallah, stopped, checked and
humiliated dozens of Palestinian civilians. Palestinian civilians living in villages located to the west of Ramallah
faced extreme difficulties in traveling to the town. On Sunday evening, 5 September 2004, Israeli
troops imposed a curfew on Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah.
Hebron
Since Tuesday, 31 August 2004, Israeli troops have
continued to impose a tightened siege on Hebron. They have isolated the town from its
surroundings. They chased Palestinian
civilians who attempted to travel to and from the town. Israeli troops also imposed restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians inside the town. They stopped, checked and beat dozens of
young men in various areas in the town. They also forced traders to close their shops in the center of the
town. They fired live ammunition and
tear gas at passing Palestinian civilians for no apparent reason. On Friday afternoon, 3 September 2004, ‘Omar
Mohammed Abu Ramouz, 22, sustained serious bruises throughout the body after he
had been severely beaten by Israeli troops.
Bethlehem
On Saturday, 4 September 2004, Israeli troops erected
a number of checkpoints on Wad al-Nar road, which links between the north and
south of the West Bank. According to
eyewitnesses, Israeli troops at those checkpoints stopped and searched
Palestinian vehicles for several hours. On Sunday, 5 September 2004, Israeli troops positioned at a military
checkpoint at the entrance to Jourat al-Shama’a village, south of Bethlehem,
severely beat ‘Eissa Ibrahim al-Fawaghra, 35, when he was traveling from the
village to a hospital in Bethlehem. On
Sunday morning, 5 September 2004, Israeli troops imposed a curfew on the
villages of Jourat al-Shama’a, Wad al-Nais, al-Ma’sara, Marah Ma’alla, Marah
Rabah, Um Salmouna and Khellat al-Haddad, south of Bethlehem.
Nablus
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. On
Saturday morning, 4 September 2004, Israeli troops positioned at Beit ‘Eiba
checkpoint, west of Nablus, stopped and checked Palestinian civilians traveling
to the city. Israeli troops positioned
at Hawara checkpoint, south of the city, took similar measures against
Palestinian civilians throughout the week.
Jenin
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. On
Saturday morning, 4 September 2004, Israeli troops erected a checkpoint at the
crossroads of Jaba’ village of the town and denied movement of Palestinian
civilians between Jenin and neighboring towns and villages. Later, Israeli troops erected another
checkpoint at the northern entrance to the village and declared it a closed
military zone. In addition, Israeli
troops positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint on the road linking between Jenin and
the northern Jordan Valley imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians and their vehicles. On Saturday evening, 4 September 2004, Israeli
troops imposed a curfew on Seilat al-Zaher village, south of Jenin. On Sunday evening, 5 September 2004, Israeli
troops imposed a curfew on the villages of Jaba’ and al-‘Atara, south of Jenin. On Monday evening, 6 September 2004, Israeli
troops positioned at a checkpoint on the main road between Jenin and the
neighboring al-Yamoun village arrested Sa’ed ‘Adnan Abu Hassan, 29, from
al-Yamoun village. On Wednesday morning,
8 September 2004, Israeli troops imposed a curfew on ‘Arraba village, south of
Jenin.
Qalqilya
Israeli troops erected more checkpoints around the
town. They stopped and searched
Palestinian vehicles. As a result of
these measures, employees were not able to reach their work places on
time.
Tulkarm
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday
morning, 4 September 2004, Israeli troops closed al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south
of the town. They forced Palestinian
civilians out of their vehicles and thoroughly checked them, before ordering
them to travel back. Israeli troops also
erected a number of checkpoints around the town and imposed restrictions on the
movement between the town and neighboring villages.
Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall
Israeli troops have continued to construct the
annexation wall inside the West Bank territory, especially in occupied East Jerusalem
and Hebron.
This week, Israeli troops completed the construction
of two sections of the annexation wall between al-Ram crossroads, north of East
Jerusalem, and Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah. At the same time, Israeli contractors have
continued to establish the infrastructure for sections of the wall between
Dahiat al-Barid and Qalandya checkpoints. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops closed the area of
constructions and denied access to Palestinian civilians.
On Sunday morning, 5 September 2004, Israeli troops
initiated the first stage of the construction of the wall in Hebron. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli military
bulldozers razed nearly 500 donums of agricultural land planted with olives
belonging to the families of Swaiti, Hashish, Masalma and Awlad Mohammed in the
west of Beit ‘Awa village. The first
section of the wall in Hebron is expected to extend from Kherbat Beit Ba’er
area, north of Beit ‘Awa village, to Kherbat Um al-‘Aqaf area, south of Sikka
village, at a length of 5 kilometers. According to military orders issued by Israeli occupation authorities,
the annexation wall in Hebron is expected to extend on a distance of 29
kilometers, from Sourif village, northwest of Hebron, to al-Burj village,
southwest of the town, and will go through the lands of several villages in the
district.
On Wednesday afternoon, 8 September 2004, Israeli
troops closed an iron gate established in the wall near Kabsa crossroads at the
entrance to the villages of al-‘Eizariya, Abu Dis and al-Sawahra, southeast of
Jerusalem, and denied the passage of hundreds of Palestinian civilians.
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 morning, 2 September 2004, Israeli troops
burnt and destroyed at least 10 donums of agricultural land planted with olives
near “Nahal Nagahot” settlement, established on the land of Fuqaiqes
village, west of Hebron. They also
prevented the owners of the land from extinguishing the fire, which burnt at
least 120 olive trees. They are destroying
these areas in order to expand the aforementioned settlement to create
geographical contiguity with settlements located to the west.
At approximately 22:00 on Friday, 3 September 2004, a
number of settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of Hebron,
opened fire at Majdi ‘Abdul Karim al-Razem’s house in Jabal Jouhar area, a few
meters away from the aforementioned settlement. No casualties were reported, but residents of the houses were extremely
terrified.
On Sunday afternoon, 5 September 2004, Israeli troops
seized and razed large areas of agricultural land in Wadi al-Maleh area in the
northern Jordan Valley. According to
eyewitnesses, Israeli troops and settlers from “Routim” also brought
fences and trees to the area.
On Tuesday, 7 September 2004, Israeli troops razed at
least 15 donums of agricultural land planted with grapes, olives, almonds and
figs owned by Saber al-Harini in al-Tawani village, south of Hebron, near
“Ma’oun” settlement.
*****
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 OPTs and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian
civilians.
3. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
comply with 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 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 OPTs. PCHR also
requests the application of the EU Guidelines on Arms Sales and requests that
EU Missions and Embassies in Israel and the oPts 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 follow 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 OPTs, including for
facilitating family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
9. PCHR
appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights
organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue
their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human
rights in the OPTs and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
10. In light of the severe restrictions
imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access of
international solidarity groups to the OPTs, 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
