Israeli
Forces Continue Attacks and Human Rights Violations in the oPt
· 5 Palestinians, 3 of them children,
were killed.
· 26 houses were destroyed in Rafah
Refugee Camp.
· About 130 agricultural land donums[1],
were razed in the middle of the Gaza Strip.
· Israeli occupying forces used
military aircraft to attack Palestinian civilians gathering in Khan Yunis
Refugee camp; ten of them were injured, many seriously.
· The construction of “Annexation
Wall” in the West Bank has continued around the area of occupied East
Jerusalem.
· Rafah International terminal, in the
south of the Gaza Strip, was reopened.
· One elderly Palestinian civilian
died at Rafah because of restrictions imposed by IOF.
Introduction
Israeli occupying forces have continued their attacks
in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). This week 4 Palestinians, three of
them children, were killed., A number of others were injured, many of them
seriously. IOF engaged in random shelling of heavily populated civilian areas
and military incursions using heavily armoured vehicles, including tanks and
bulldozers. The series of closures and
curfews imposed on Palestinians through both the West Bank and Gaza continued
so limiting their right to freedom of movement.
In the Gaza Strip, 2 children were killed in Rafah
city. On 6th of August, 2004, IOF opened fire on a group of children while
they are trying to infiltrate into Israel ostensibly to find work. One of them was killed. This incident
reflects the excessive use of force. On
the 5th of August a Palestinian girl died having spent one week in
hospital as a result of serious injuries caused by an attack by IOF.
This week, Israeli military troops conducted 6 new
incursions into Palestinian Territories. Block J in the Rafah refugee camp was subject to a widescale incursion
involving armoured vehicles, including tanks, supported from the air by
military aircraft, specifically helicopter gunships. In total 26 houses were
demolished and 52 families were left homeless as a direct result of this
incursion. At least 130 donums of Agricultural land were razed in al-Wadi
village, in the middle of Gaza Strip. In
Khan Yunis in the southern part of the
Gaza strip, IOF demolished 4 houses which provided shelter for five families. In
the same incident many Palestinian citizens were injured as a result of
indiscriminate shelling being applied in the areas where they live.
In the West Bank, two Palestinian civilians,
including 1 child, were killed. The
first was killed in Salfit town, to the south of Nablus on Friday the 6th of
August 2004. The child, who was a victim of a willful killing by IOF, was 17
years old and was killed in Nablus. The
IOF have subsequently claimed that he was armed. Israeli troops continued with a series of
attacks and incursions against the oPts. They demolished two homes in Dehaisha
refugee camp, to the south of Bethlehem. The houses are owned by three
Palestinians who are currently being detained by the Israelis. A number of attacks were launched by Israeli
settlers Palestinian civilians and their property.
The construction of the annexation wall in the West
Bank has continued. This week, the construction focused on the areas around
Jerusalem and surrounding al-Ram from all directions. The Wall isolates this town from the
surrounding Palestinian community in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The wall will
also prevent any future rural expansion with respect of agricultural
development and the surrounding population. These measures will also affect
Palestinians who hold an identity card from Jerusalem. Those who live in al Ram
will heavy restrictions placed on travel to Jerusalem.
IOF 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, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In the Gaza
Strip, there was a partial closure of the international border passage
connecting the Gaza Strip with the Egypt, and so with the world. In addition to this heavy restrictions have
been imposed at the Qarni crossing preventing free movement of goods in and out
of the Gaza Strip.
Although the Rafah terminal was reopened on Friday 6,
August 2004, Palestinian civilians still suffered from heavy restrictions
imposed at the terminal. A large volume of people crossing to and from Gaza had
accumulated at the border during the 20 day closure. This in turn caused serious delays for those
people trying to pass through. One Palestinian citizen, suffering from diabetes,
died in the terminal on his way back to Gaza strip.
In the West Bank, temporary military checkpoints were
widespread. The military checkpoints
divided the West Bank from north to south. IOF also prevented freedom of
movement to many cities by closing many of the permanent checkpoints. The military
imposed a curfew on many cities, towns and villages and launched several arrest
campaigns.
For more details, see the following
report which covers the period from 5/8/2004- 11/8/2004.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian areas
and attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property.
Thursday 5th August, 2004.
At approximately 03.30 the Israeli military,
including military tanks and jeeps invaded Bani Nae’em village, east of Hebron.
They attacked the offices of the Islamic Charitable Association. They confiscated different equipment
including computers, telephones and private files and caused extensive damage
before leaving. They then issued a military order to close the office.
Medical sources in al-Shifa hospital, in Gaza City, declared
the death of Iman Suliman Barhum. Iman, a 14 year old girl, was seriously wounded one week ago, in Rafah.
According to investigations by PCHR, the girl was injured by a live bullet in the head, while she was
inside her house.
During the day, IOF supported by tanks invaded
Halhul, to the north of Hebron and several areas of both Ramallah and
Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5
Palestinians. They were taken to
unspecified locations.
At Approximately, 12:00, Israeli forces positioned at the city borders, east of Khan Yunis
launched two shells at the house owned
by Khaled Mohamed Suliman Abu Zr. The shelling caused great damage to the
house. Later on, about 18.00 Israeli troops moved into Khuzaah village and completely
destroyed a three story house.
At approximately, 16:45 Israeli troops opened fire at
residential and agricultural areas in Khuzaah and Abassan al Kabira villages,
to the east of Khan Yunis. A Palestinian
citizen Ta’ar Ahmed Qudih, 21 years old, was wounded in the left hand .
At approximately, 17.30 Israeli soldiers positioned
on the Netzarim –Qarni road (which is only accessible to residents in the
illegal Israeli settlements and to the Israeli army), to the south of Gaza
city, opened heavy fire at the
residential area of Wadi Gaza. A Palestinian citizen Salam Khamis Abu Dahar, 95
years old, was injured.
Friday 6th of August 2004
At approximately 00.00 Israeli soldiers positioned at
the military posts around Neve Dekalim settlement , to the north of
Khan Yunis, opened fire, using artillery, at the Palestinian neighborhood of al
Namsawi. A Palestinian citizen, Jamel Subhi Abed Al Hady, 25 years old, was
wounded in the kidney while he was in the emergency department of Naser
hospital in Khan Yunis. A medical source
informed PCHR that Mr Abed Haday is seriously injured and he is in a critical
condition.
At noon Israeli troops killed a Palestinian civilian
in the Salfit area of the West Bank. Israeli security sources stated that the Palestinian was armed and wanted by
the Israeli troops. Meanwhile, they arrested another Palestinian who they
claimed had links with the Fatah movement. The IOF stated they had arrested him
inside a tunnel.
Also, at approximately 12:00, according to preliminary
investigations by PCHR, the town of
Salfit, to the south of Nablus, came under intense shelling from the IOF. A
number of ambulances rushed to the scene but were denied entry by IOF who had
imposed closures on the main roads in and out of the town.
Later on, at
16.00, IOF handed over the body of a Palestinian civilian Mohamed Uthman Ahmed
Balasma, 27 years old. He had been shot
in a number of different parts of the body. A Palestinian civilian, Ibrahim Najee Al Dik 35 years old, was injured
and subsequently arrested. Then, they arrested two other citizens and took them
to unspecified locations:
1 Ahmed Naim
Abe’ed 32 years old
2 Rabee Ali
Harab 27 years old
During the day, Israeli troops, supported by heavy
military vehicles invaded Hebron, Bethlehem, and also the villages of al
Khader, al Obe’dya, and al A’raka in Jenin governate. They raided and searched
a number of houses and arrested 9
Palestinians .
At approximately 1825, Israeli soldiers positioned at
the Egyptian border, in the Gaza Strip, opened fire at al-Brazil residential area, in Rafah. A Palestinian
civilian Ibrahim Auad al Arja, 28 years old, was injured by shrapnel
to his left hand
That evening, Israeli forces attacked a group of
children trying to cross the border near the Qarni Passage. One of them, died
immediately, the other was injured and arrested by Israeli troops.
According to PCHR preliminary investigations and
eyewitness accounts, the Israeli soldiers positioned at the military posts
south of Rafah city began firing intensively at the children to prevent them crossing the borders,
near Sufa passage. One child was killed
and two others were wounded. On Saturday
the 7th of August, at 8:30 the Israeli side informed the Palestinian side about
the child’s body and the arrest of two others, one of them injured. The
deceased child was later identified as
1. Ahmed
Salah Al Qik, 16, from Rafah.
The severe deterioration in economic conditions often
forces Palestinians, many of them children, to try and cross the border surrounding
the Gaza Strip in order to seek work in Israel. However a number of them have become victims of this type of attack in
the process.
At around 23.20 the IOF opened fire from the east of
Rafah towards Tel al-Sultan injuring Abdelhalim Abelkhadir AbuSamak, 50 years
old, in the legs while he was at home.
Saturday 7th August 2004
During the day, Israeli troops, backed by military
vehicles invaded Tulkarm and Dear Ghassana village in Ramallah governate. The
troops raided and searched a number of homes. They arrested a large number of
Palestinians and took them to unspecified locations.
In the course of daily shelling against the
civilians, Israeli soldiers positioned at military checkpoints, by the entrance
to Jerusalem, opened fire at Palestinian workers while they were trying to
enter the city. One of them was wounded
in the right leg. The incident took
place, at around 0700, when the soldiers positioned at Al Zaim checkpoint, east
of Jerusalem city opened fire at the workers. Ashraf Mohamed Jaafrah 23 years old, from Tarkumia village, north of
Hebron, was wounded with a live bullet in the right leg. Over the course of the
Intifada IOF at checkpoints in the West Bank have become notorious for acts of
abuse and for random firing at Palestinian civilians, injuring and killing a
number of them.
At approximately 13.00 Israeli troops, including 12
military jeeps, attacked al Sameo’ village, south of Hebron. They raided the
Police Station in the village and forced all the people to show their identification.
At 15.00 they withdrew. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 17.00 Israeli soldiers positioned at
military posts along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at the
residential area of Al Brazil neighborhood. A Palestinian child Azat Essa Zanon, 7 years old , was wounded by shrapnel
in the legs.
At approximately 20.00 Israeli military troops,
including five jeeps, attacked Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. A
Palestinian citizen Yousef Ibrahim Al Salquan, 21 years old was wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the neck.
At approximately 20.20 the Israeli soldiers
positioned at the military posts along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah
city, opened fire at the residential area of aL Salam neighborhood. A
Palestinian civilian Mirvat Tala Timra, 28 years old was wounded by shrapnel in
the right shoulder while she was in her home.
At Approximately 21.00, Israeli troops moved into Nabuls using intensive and random
shelling as cover for their operations. A number of Palestinian children
gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers. The soldiers immediately opened fire at them,
wounding two of them.
1 Islam Mohmed Muhsan Albaza , 13
years old , wounded by a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the head.
2 Yusif Ibrahim Abu Sultan , 12 years old , was wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the neck.
At approximately 22.00 Israeli military power, including 5 military
jeeps, invaded Beit Furi village, east of Nablus . This attack was combined
with intensive and random shelling of the residential areas. A number of
Palestinians children gathered and threw stones at the soldiers. They
immediately respond by shooting live
ammunition at them. Three children were
wounded:
1 Yousef Omar
Kamal Hanan , 15 years old , by a live bullet in the upper area of the leg.
2 Tae er Adnan Abed Hanan, 15 years old, was wounded
by shrapnel in the upper area of the
leg.
3 Adel Mohamed Kamal Hanan, 12 years old, was wounded
by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
upper area of the left leg.
At Approximately 23.10 al Salam neighborhood was
subject to continuous shelling from the Israeli military posts positioned at
the Egyptians border, south of Rafah. A Palestinian civilian Khalid Mohamed Al
Batnijie, 32 years old, was wounded by shrapnel in the right leg while in his
home.
Sunday 8th August 2004
At approximately 12.30, Israeli soldiers positioned
at the military post inside the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, which surround
Gaza international Airport opened fire on it. A Palestinian Policeman Hazem Faez Sukar, 30 years old, was wounded by a
live bullet in the hand. Mr. Sukar was on duty in an observation post for the
Palestinian security forces.
At Approximately 01.00, Israeli troops , backed with heavy military vehicles, moved nearly
300 meters into “Block J”, in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the
Egyptian border. Operating under cover from intense gunfire and random shooting
they razed a number of houses. This operation lasted until the next morning at
08.00 and caused widespread destruction. Three houses were completely
destroyed, two others partially. About
12 families became homeless. These houses were owned by Auad Rabee, Al Houli,
and Ayash families.
At approximately 09.30, Israeli troops, backed with
heavy military vehicles moved into al Qarara village, nearly 600 meters to the east of Al Mathan military checkpoint,
north of Khan Yunis. This operation was conducted against a background of
intensive shelling from the military posts near the Kussufim settlement. A number
of civilians were wounded:
1 Adlah Ahmed Salah Muhana, 36 years old, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;
2 Muna Jmehan Salama Al Smiri, 40 years old, wounded
by a live bullet in the left shoulder;
3 Rahnu Omar Mohamed Al Astal , 35 years old, wounded
by shrapnel in the legs.
During the incursion, the IOF razed 5 donums of land
planted with citrus fruits owned by the Al Fara and Abu Eid families.
Monday 9th August 2004
In Block J camp in Rafah IOF completely demolished 21 houses. Two civilians, including one child, were
seriously wounded. Israeli sources
denied the news about their incursion into “Block J”, adjacent to the
Egyptian borders. According to
preliminary investigations by PCHR, at approximately 06.00, a large number of
IOF, supported by armoured vehicles and helicopter gunships, moved nearly 300
meters into Block J along the Egyptian border . This operation was conducted in
parallel with intensive shelling through the use of guided missiles in the
area. Investigations indicate that
military aircraft launched ten missiles in total. Despite this indiscriminate firing no
causalities were reported among the civilian population as a result of the
missile attack. The IOF invaded two
houses belong to Hasouna and Sarfandi families. Soldiers transformed the houses
into military posts. This operation caused widespread devastation and
destruction. 21 houses were demolished, of which 12 were completely demolished.
These houses sheltered 40 Palestinian families, a total of 237 people. Also two
civilian vehicles were destroyed and extensive damage caused to the utilities
and infrastructure. Two Palestinian
civilians were wounded:
1 Se’ef
Suliman Barhum, 15, wounded by a live bullet to the head.
2 Jafar Suliman Sha’t, 22, wounded by a live bullet
to the head.
At approximately 11.00, Israeli troops , backed by armoured military
vehicles, moved nearly 600 meters into Juhar Al De’ek village, to the south of
Gaza city. They razed agricultural land inside the village and destroyed
agricultural equipment. About 130 donums of citrus trees were up rooted. This
attack continued until about 1900 on Tuesday the 10th of
August. They destroyed lands owned by al
Yassin, Tuha, al Sarhi, Quzat Shaheen, Sufdi, Malahi, Amariin, Sirhi, Al Dahdoh, Murtaja, Radi and Bahjat
families.
At approximately 11.30, the Israeli army attacked
Bethlehem city, moving into Wadi Ma’li
street . They surrounded the office al
Islah Islamic Association. Then, they raided the office and searched inside.
They confiscated three computers and some private files. Notably, this is the
second time the occupying forces have attacked this office.
During the day, Israeli occupying forces, supported
by military vehicles, attacked Y’atta town, to the south of Hebron, as well as
Bethlehem and Qalqila. They raided many
houses and searched them. They arrested four Palestinian citizens and took them
to an undisclosed location.
At approximately 21.20, Israeli soldiers positioned
at different military posts, to the north of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a
civilian house in Al Qarara village. A Palestinian civilian Mariam Jabar Al
Asar, 40, was wounded by a live bullet in the back.
Tuesday 10 August 2004
At approximately 02.00, Israeli soldiers positioned
at military posts around Neve Dikalim settlement, north of Khan Yunis city,
opened fire at a residential area in the refugee camp. They also fired flares into the sky. One
flare fell on the asbestos roof of Nama Ahmed Al Shrif ‘s house. A fire ensued
and one room of the house was completely burnt..
At approximately 07.00, Israeli troops, including 5
military jeeps, attacked Tulkarm refugee camp. The soldiers positioned
themselves on 0the main street and indiscriminately shelled houses. Many Palestinian youths and children gathered
and threw stones at the soldiers. Immediately the soldiers responded by opening fire at the demonstrators,
wounding Jihad Mohamed Musa Balawna, 9 years old, with a rubber-coated metal
bullet.
At approximately 10.00, Israeli troops, including 11
military jeeps, attacked the West Bank city of Nablus and closed it’s southern
entrance. The troops moved into Rafidia,
the Old City and through Gharnata street under intensive and indiscriminate
shelling at the residential area. A
number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at those troops.
Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the demonstrators, wounding six of them,
including four children. The injured
were transferred to Rafidia Governate Hospital with moderate injuries. At 11.30 the IOF withdrew. The PCHR has a list of all those injured by
this incursion.
That afternoon, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian
child. The child was throwing stones at the Israeli troops. A number of observers said the soldiers had
transformed a house into a military post. The army locating on top of the
houses fired at the child and killed him. Later on, Israeli security sources
stated that the child was armed. The IOF, while claiming the killing, did not
state whether this allegedly armed child had been involved in any military
activities at the time of his death.
According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations, at
approximately 12.45 Israeli military jeeps moved into Nabuls city. They moved
also into Fisal Street and Martyrs’ Square. A number of children gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers.
Immediately they responded by opening fire at the children, wounding a
Palestinian child Salim Omar Al Kusa, 17 years old, with a live bullet in the
chest.
At 16.00, Palestinian medical sources announced his
death. Eyewitness reports indicate that the boy was standing at the entrance to
the Revoli Cinema which was a distance of about 7m from the Fre’tich building
from which the firing came. The
observers indicated that the stone throwers had not been causing any serious
problems and so the killing was unjustified.
Over the course of the day clashes took place leaving
13 Palestinians wounded, 8 children and 2 old men. As well as these injuries, a
member of an ambulance medical team Adnan Jassar al Susu, 47 years old, was
injured by shrapnel in the chest. Mr. al Susu works for the Palestinian Red Crescent.
At the same time, Israeli troops attacked Balata
refugee camp, east of Nabuls. A number of Palestinian children gathered and
threw stones at Israeli soldiers. Immediately, they fired at them and injured
four, leaving one of them in a serious condition. PCHR has a list of all the injured parties as
a result of these attacks.
Israeli troops, backed with military vehicles,
attacked Surif, Alkhader to the west of Bethlehem, and al Zawyia village in
Qalqilia and al Jiib village to the north-east of Jerusalem. They raided
houses, searched and checked them. Five Palestinians were arrested.
Wednesday,
11 August 2004
At approximately 00.00, Israel occupying forces, reinforced
by heavy military vehicles and backed by helicopters, moved nearly 200 meters
into Al Sad Al Ale’e neighborhood, north of Khan Yunis refugee camp, in the
south of the Gaza Strip. Under intensive
shelling from helicopter gun-ships troops razed the agricultural land in the
area and demolished a number of buildings, including homes.
An Israeli helicopter gun-ship launched a guided
missile at a group of Palestinians civilians and some members of the
Palestinian resistance who were gathered on the street. Ten civilians, two of
them children, were wounded. Medical sources stated that the Palestinian
citizen Yusef Queder 30 years old, was seriously wounded while others sustained
moderate injuries. This operation lasted until 06.00 and 3 houses were demolished. The three homes were lived in by 3 families,
totaling 18 people. While sitting at home the civilian Mohammad Atia’ Abu
Sa’loon found that his house came under a barrage of gunfire which caused an
electricity short-cut and subsequently a fire in one room of the house which
was destroyed. Ahmed Ali Hasanini, 27 years old, was wounded by a live bullet
in the left hand. As a result of indiscriminate shelling two houses sustained
partial damage. These houses were shelters for three Palestinian families.
Early in the morning the IOF severally injured a
civilian and arrested another in al Shayouk area of Hebron. It appeared that they had aimed to arrest
another individual. Eyewitnesses
indicated that around 02.30 a military
force raided al Shayouk with 12 heavily armoured vehicles and went into al
‘Aisa, under cover from heavy shelling. The injured Wia’f Moussa al-Meshni, 20, with four bullets to the chest,
abdomen and legs. He was taken to
Hadassa hospital in east Jerusalem by IOF and was said to be in a critical
condition. Eyewitnesses stated that he
was in front of his house with the person who was later arrested, Mohammad
Hassan Gri’nat, 21. The arrested person
was taken to an unknown location.
At around 03.00 IOF, with 8 military jeeps, moved
into an area around the house of the late Ahmad Badariin, a few minutes to the
north of Beit Hayia. IOF searched the
house and destroyed furniture and property. There were four flats owned by four brothers, Mohammad Badariin, Fathy
Badariin, Zidan and Khalid Badariin. Before their withdrawal the IOF arrested the elderly mother of the
family Nama Khalil Hamdan Badariin, 72 and 2 of her sons Iyda,42, and Mohammad,
33. They were taken to an unspecified
location.
Around 12.00, in Rafah, IOF fired on residential
areas injuring the child Aya Mohammad al Kadi, 5 years old, with a bullet to
the right eye. She was playing in front
of her house at the time, in Shibura camp, and was about 1200m from the border.
She was taken to al-Najar hospital in Rafah and later to Gaza European Hospital
in Khan Yunis where her injuries were assessed as being moderate to severe.
In Balatta camp, east of Nablus, the IOF claimed that
they noticed an armed man and so fired at him. They did not indicate whether or not the man was engaged in military
activities at the time. According to
preliminary investigations made by PCHR, at around 19.35 4 military jeeps moved
into Balata from the west end of the camp under cover of shelling and shooting. They moved into a residential area and a
number of children and young men near the cemetery began throwing stones. The IOF responded with heavy gunfire and shot
the 17 year old Saliah Radi Mohammad Hourani. He was hit with a live bullet to the head and one to the shoulder. He died instantly.
Around 20.30 in al Faraah camp east of Jenin the IOF
caused injury to two civilians who were then brought to al Shifa clinic in
Tobas village. They had moderate
injuries. The victims were Nadi Subah,
23, shot in the right leg and Sidqi Suwafta, 26, shot in the left thigh.
During the same day IOF armoured cars moved into
Hebron, al Shaouq, Neba and Deir
Samit. The IOF searched houses and
arrested six civilians, claiming they were wanted, all were taken to
unspecified locations.
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.
Israeli forces blew up two houses in al Dehisha
refugee camp, to the south of Bethlehem. The houses belonged to the families of three Palestinian prisoners.
According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations at about 02.00, on the 5th of
August, Israeli forces, backed by 14 military vehicles, invaded al Dhisha
refugee camp. The troops positioned themselves in the centre of the camp. They
surrounded Abed Al Karim Hamch’s house. They forced the people out of the house
and detonated explosives in it. The
house consisted of two stories and was shelter for 18 people.
At approximately 01.30 on Sunday the 8th of August,
Israeli troops, reinforced by 13 military jeeps, invaded the Al Dhisha refugee
camp. The troops raided Essa Malia’s house and asked him to leave the house
within 30 minutes. Then, they destroyed the basement by detonating explosives.
The process caused great damage to the rest of the house.
Continued Siege on the oPt
This week, Israeli occupying forces have continued to
impose a tightened siege on the oPt and imposed severe restrictions on the
freedom of movement of Palestinian civilians.
For the 19th consecutive week, the
occupation forces continued to impose a tight siege on the Gaza Strip and to
isolate it from the outside world. Such
restrictions on freedom of movement are in violation of international human
rights standards, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights. Despite the reopening of the
Rafah terminal on Friday the 6th of August 2004, huge numbers of Palestinian
travelers suffered from the restrictions and poor conditions at the passage,
after a twenty day closure.
IOF have continued their policy of dividing the Gaza
Strip at al Mathan and Abu Houli military checkpoints which connect the northern and southern parts of
the Gaza Strip.
At approximately 12.00, on the 5th of
August, IOF closed this checkpoint on both sides. They detained a number of
civilians traveling through the two checkpoints and impounded their vehicles
for three hours. They searched these cars and arrested Mr. Balah Mohmed Ahmed Abu Stah, 22, from
Khan Yunis refugee camp. He is a serving
Palestinian policeman.
Approximately at 09.15, on Sunday the 8th
of August IOF again closed the two checkpoints. A number of military vehicles
positioned at al Mathan, to the north of Khan Yunis, opened fire at the
civilians waiting to pass through the checkpoint. The troops instructed them,
using a megaphone, to leave the area and then closed the road. The shooting caused many punctures in the
cars and taxis. The Israeli troops reopened the checkpoint at 13.00 and then
closed it again at 14.00 the next day, the 9th of August. They
impounded and searched many cars and reopened the checkpoint at 20.00. They
arrested a Palestinian civilian Khair al Sisee, from Nusiarat refugee
camp. This scenario continued and at
0400 on Tuesday the checkpoint was closed again for an hour and tear gas was fired
at people waiting.
IOF continue to impose a strict siege on al Mawasi
area, near Kkan Yunis and Rafah, in the south of Gaza. Although Israeli troops
reopened al-Tuffah checkpoints at the entrance of al Mawasi area they imposed
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through the
checkpoint. Moreover they carried out
some arrests. On Friday the 6th of August, they arrested Ibrahim
Muslah Hussen Durghoa, 34 years old, from Khan Yunis. They have continued to
deny access for Palestinian males aged
between 16 to 30 and females aged between 16 to 25 without prior coordination
with the occupation authorities.
Israeli forces have also continued to impose a siege
on al-Siyafa area located between Doghit and Eili Sinai settlement, in the
north of the Gaza Strip. IOF control the two main entrances to the area. They
denied the access for civilians without prior coordination from the occupation
authorities. Five civilians were permitted to exit and renter in order to bring
food and general supplies into the area. They continue to prevent the entry of
domestic gas into the area. Even then
local residents can only leave during fixed hours and are forced to go through
a humiliating search involving magnetic cards, metal detectors and removing items
of clothing. IOF are still preventing
farmers from traveling outside the area to sell their goods.
Palestinian residents who are living adjacent to
‘Kfar Darom settlement are unable to reach their farms because of the Israeli
restrictions. About 28 families, 138 people, are suffering from these siege conditions. Since the 27th of
June 2004, Israeli occupation authorities have continued to close border
passages, particularly the Erez checkpoint. They partially reopened it for a
limited number of Palestinian workers. Since last July, Israeli occupation
authorities just allowed 500 workers to enter Israel. They subsequently
increased the number to allow 3000 workers.
But this number has again been decreased to 500
workers. One worker informed a PCHR field-worker about these humiliating procedures. He said “we have to wake up early in the
morning and to walk nearly four kilometers, and then to pass through hours of
security checks, including through a number of metal detectors, while soldiers
engage in a process of insulting and humiliating us.”
Israeli occupying authorities have continued to open
the Sofa passage, to the east of Rafah, partially. They only allowed access for
construction materials while they prevented people from crossing. The Qarni commercial passage, east of Gaza
city, which is considered the main terminal for goods coming in and out of the
Gaza Strip, has only been partially opened in the past several months. On
Wednesday the 11/08/2004 it was closed for a twenty four hour period. Notably the constant closure of this terminal
has had an obvious negative impact upon the local market.
The reopening of Rafah International Terminal, on
Friday the 6th of August, after 20 days of complete closure has
caused a variety of problems for Palestinians waiting to pass through. The terminal was only reopened to allow
people to travel into Gaza. Large numbers of people accumulated during the
three week closure and there has been severe delays in the processing of those
wishing to travel in and out of Gaza. One Palestinian patient waiting to cross
into Gaza died while waiting. The IOF prohibited ambulance vehicles to evacuate
him. This action reflects a denial of the basic right to life and to health
care. IOF completely rejected an application to evacuate 15 other patients in
ambulance vehicles. They forced the patients to use the public buses, where
there is no medical treatment. In many cases, they forced the patients to
return to Egypt.
On Saturday, 7th of August, they allowed only three patients to
use ambulance vehicles and forced another 10 patients to use the public buses.
A Palestinian civilian, Mr. Fahmi Omar
Muhdi, 70 years old, from Nussairat refugee camp, died in the terminal. IOF arrested three Palestinians, they are:
1 Annas Mohmed
Salah Zumlat, from Gaza City;
2 Wafe’ek
Mohamed Barhum, from Rafah;
3 Ahmed Ghnim, from Rafah.
On Monday, 9th of August, occupying forces
reopened Rafah International terminal for Palestinian civilians leaving Gaza.
They have reconfirmed their decision of April 18th 2004, to prohibit all
Palestinian males whose aged between 16 to 35 from leave the oPt.
Since the start of the Intifada the IOF have claimed,
to the international community, that that the Rafah terminal is consistently
open; in line with international agreements to keep it open 24 hours a day, 363
days a year. In fact they have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians and only allowed certain categories of Palestinians to
cross the border.
The West Bank:
Israeli Military forces have continued to impose more
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected more
checkpoints and imposed curfews on many villages, camps and cities in the West
Bank.
Jerusalem
According to PCHR’s field worker, Israeli occupying
forces are still prohibiting Palestinian civilians, from the West Bank and Gaza
Strip, from entering Jerusalem. In a few cases they allowed some Palestinians
to enter after they got special permission. Israeli troops have continued to
impose restrictions against those who hold a Jerusalem ID card. The PCHR
fieldworker stated that Israeli troops closed all the main and alternative
roads connected with Jerusalem. He added, the troops who are positioned at
al-Zae’em checkpoint, east of Jerusalem, do not hesitate to open fire at
civilian targets. As a result many civilians try to find an alternative road
through Wadi al-Nar track, which is extremely dangerous.
Ramallah
IOF imposed more severe restrictions against the
civilian population. They set-up a number of random military checkpoints at the
different main roads and the entrances to the city. These roads connect
Ramallah with other West Bank cities. These procedures took place while there
were Palestinian military patrols operating in different neighborhoods of Ramallah: namely, al-Bira, and Bitunia areas.
During this week, Israeli troops positioned at Qalandia checkpoint escalated
restrictions and abuse of civilians.
Hebron
This week, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. According to eyewitness, Israeli
troops increased their deployment at different posts in the old city, and at
neighborhoods to the south of the city. They positioned themselves at military
checkpoints in the area and around the settlement blocks. They forced the
citizens to take off their clothes and allegedly beat some of them.
In Wadi al- Nasara neighborhood , adjacent to Kre’et
Araba’ settlement, east of Hebron, Israeli troops pursued Palestinian civilians
and prevented them from moving through the main street in the area.
On Saturday evening, 7th of August, Israeli military
forces, held thousands of civilians, impounded and searched hundreds of their
vehicles. Those citizens were participating in a wedding party. Israeli troops
obstructed them for a number of hours.
Jenin
Israeli troops imposed more severe restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. They prevented them from leaving the
area. The troops positioned at military checkpoints of the Tae’easer and
Tubas have prohibited civilians from
leaving the area for four consecutive months. They also prevented Palestinians
moving from Nabuls to Jenin.
This week, Israeli troops erected a new military a
barrier at Sefet al-Harithia crossroads, west of Jenin. The soldiers positioned
at this barrier prevented the citizens from passing. On Saturday morning, 7th
of August, Israeli troops closed all the entrances leading to Juba’a village,
south of Jenin.
Nablus
On Saturday the 7th of August eyewitnesses
reported that a number of random barriers had been erected on the main roads in
and out of Nablus. IOF restricted the
arrival of hundreds of workers in Ramallah and al Bira. Eyewitnesses stated that severe restrictions
had been put in place on the main Nablus- Tulkarm road as well as the Howara
and Zatara areas to the south of Nablus. It is still impossible for civilians below the age of 35 to pass through
these barriers unless they have prior coordination from the IOF. The PCHR fieldworker reports that at the
checkpoints of Shave’, Shanron and on the Nablus-Jenin road have stopped
medical personnel from passing through, even when they are in clearly marked
vehicles. Only those with special
permission can pass.
Tulkarm
On the 5th of August, Israeli troops suddenly closed
Tulkarm’s main entrances. They erected a new military barrier at the Faro’n
cross road, to the south of Tulkarm city, and two other checkpoints east and
north of the city. PCHR’s fieldworker
reported that occupation troops forced the citizens to stop their vehicles and
to get out of them. They then searched
and checked all the cars.
Israeli troops positioned at Qalandia checkpoint,
south of Ramallah, abused and tortured three Palestinian children. Eyewitness
reports indicated that on Sunday afternoon, the 8th of August,
Israeli soldiers prevented three children to pass Qalandia military checkpoint.
Then, they pursued them and held them for two hours. They beat, humiliated and
tortured them before they had let them go. They are:
1- Wase’em Jurdinain Abed al-Nabi, 17 years old, holds Jordanian nationality.
2- Annas
Zae’ed,17 years old, from Iksa , north-west Jerusalem .
3- Ahmed
Mte’er, 17 years old , from Be’er Nibala, south of Ramallah
Checkpoint Arrests
The IOF have continued using their checkpoints as a
means for trapping Palestinian civilians and arresting them. In al Karama around 14.00 on Friday the 6th
of August Eman Moussa Ilan, 29, from Bethleham was returning from Jordan when
arrested. At 1600 on the Wadi Nar route,
to the north of Bethleham the IOF arrested the brother of Eman, Morad Moussa
Ilan. It was worth noting that both
detainees are the brother and sister of Ali Ilan, who was killed by IOF about
one and a half years ago. After his
killing his wife and tens of other family members were arrested and his home
demolished by explosives.
On the same day the IOF, at a checkpoint north of
Bethleham Samira Sha’lin, 26, from Dehisha camp was arrested and taken to an
unspecified location.
At the same time, Israeli occupation authorities, at
al –Karama terminal arrested Mr. Naseer Abu Aze’es 45 years old. Mr. Abu
Aze’es is a member of the Palestinian
National Council and Member of the executive committee of the PLO. His family declared that his arrest occurred
after crossing the bridge when he was asked to meet with members of the Israeli
secret security services Sinn Beht. He
was then taken to an unspecified location.
Later on that afternoon eyewitness reports indicated
that an Israeli military jeep arrested three Palestinians, at a checkpoint to
the east of Jenin.
The three Palestinian were in civilian car when they
were stopped. They are:
1 Atba
Falh Abu Muhsen,17 years old
2 Mohamed
Muhammad, Awad 18 years old.
3 Islam
Jamal Salahat, 16 years old.
Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall inside
the West Bank
Israeli occupying forces have continued to construct
the annexation wall inside the west bank territory, mainly around East
Jerusalem. According to local sources and eyewitness reports, Israeli occupying
forces have continued to bulldoze Palestinian civilian properties round East
Jerusalem, especially in the area between Al Barid neighborhood, east Jerusalem
and Qalandia town, south of Ramallah.
According to the Public Committee to Resist the Wall
Israeli troops destroyed what had been
built of concrete blocks in different posts. Israeli troops, however have
already prepared new concrete blocks in anticipation of a favourable decision
from the Israeli High Court which will allow them to continue construction of
the Wall as planned.
In the same context, Israeli bulldozers and tanks
have continued to raze Palestinian civilians’ land in Wadi Aiyd, and al Bariid
and al Aqbut to the north-east Jerusalem. According to eyewitness, occupying
forces bulldozed most of the empty lands in the aforementioned area. They forcibly constructed a wide bypass road
to connect the area with Nabi Yaqoub settlement. Bulldozed lands were owned by
al Quasmi, Al-Hinawi, Qabani, Abu Farha, Zahe’eda, Al Salina, Al Matur and Jaradat
families.
According to al-Ram local council sources, many
buildings were badly affected by ceaseless annexation of land. The same sources
added that Israeli plans for expansion of the settlements is killing the
possibility for rural expansions in Palestinian areas.
Settler attacks on Palestinian civilians and their
properties
Those Israelis living in settlements which are
illegal according to international law have continued their systematic attacks
against Palestinian civilians and their properties.
On Thursday, 5th August 2004, group of
Israeli armed settlers, with full protection from Israeli troops, started to
build a new settlement at Tal May’en area, south of Hebron. They fixed tents
and threatened to kill any one near the area. About 700 Palestinian civilians live in this area and work the land as
farmers and shepards.
In the evening, more than 150 setters gathered out of
Ramat Yshi settlement, in Hebron. The setters immediately launched a series of
aggressive actions at Palestinian civilians. The Palestinian civilian Rajah Taysiir
Abu Yshu, said that one settler tried to
stab her brother Shareef , five years old. She added that the intervention of
some neighbors saved him.
On Monday the 9th of August , Israeli occupying
forces started to destroy houses and historical sites in the old city of
Hebron. They aim to construct a new bypass road to connect Ke’erat Arub’a
settlement with al Haram al Ibrahimi, east of Hebron.
This aggression completely contravenes article 53 of
the Annex Protocol of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the protection
of civilians during wartime.
At approximately 12.30 Israeli troops, reinforced by
military bulldozers, razed parts of the old city. They demolished four
historical houses. These houses were built 600 years ago. IOF aim to construct
new bypass roads to carry the settlers between Al Haram Al Ibrahimi and Ker’eat
Arab’a settlement. The director of the Hebron Construction Committee engineer
Khalid Fahed Al Quasmi; stated that if the Israeli government continue this
policy many historical sites will disappear from the city.
At approximately 15.00, Israeli troops razed Ahmed
Awad Suliman Salahat’s land in Jenta
village, east of Bethlehem city. This land is adjacent to al David settlement.
At approximately 16.00, five armed settlers from Ramat
Yshai settlement in Hebron, attacked some Palestinian civilians, beating and
insulting them. They also threw stones and empty glasses and then broke some
windows. This incident terrified many Palestinian civilians, particularly
children.
On Tuesday, 10th August 2004, Israeli
troops razed land in the Wadi Rahal area, east of Bethlehem. Local sources said
that Israeli troops continued a process started two weeks ago. They aim to
construct new bypass roads to isolate Bethlehem from surrounding areas. The uprooted area is equivalent to about 3500
donums.
******
Recommendations to the International Community
1. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
fulfill their legal and moral obligations under article 1 of the Convention to
ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. PCHR calls on the
international community to immediately “ensure respect” for the Convention.
2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take
effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention in the oPt and to
provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations
detailed in article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those
responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.
4. PCHR recommends international civil
society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations
and NGOs to participate in the process of searching for Israeli war criminals
and to urge their governments to 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 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 NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in
pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human rights in the
oPt and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
10. In light of the severe restrictions
imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access of
international solidarity groups to the oPt, PCHR calls upon European countries
to deal the same way with Israeli citizens.
11. PCHR reiterates that any political
settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law
cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question.
Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability
in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for
international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
“END”
Public
Document
**************************************
For more
information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 –
2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328
Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail:pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
