Israeli Forces Continue to
Perpetrate Crimes in the OPTs
· 22 Palestinians, mostly civilians,
including 4 children, killed
· 15 of the victims were killed during
a wide scale Israeli military incursion into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza
· A series of incursions into Palestinian
areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip conducted
· 47 houses destroyed in Rafah and
Khan Yunis
· More areas of Palestinian
agricultural land razed in the Gaza Strip
· Houses raided and dozens of
Palestinians arrested
· Continued use of Palestinian
civilians as human shields in Israeli military operations
· Israeli forces began constructing a
wall to the northeast of Khan Yunis
· Continuation of shelling of Palestinian
residential areas injuring a number of Palestinian civilians
· Construction of the “Annexation Wall”
in the West Bank has continued and more areas of Palestinian land seized for
this purpose
· Israeli settlers continued their
attacks on Palestinian civilians and properties
· Israeli
occupying forces have continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs; the Gaza
Strip has been partitioned into 3 isolated zones, and Palestinians aged between
16-35 have been prohibited from traveling outside the Gaza Strip
Introduction
This week, Israeli occupying forces have escalated
violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Human rights violations perpetrated by
Israeli occupying forces included willful killings, incursions into Palestinian
areas, indiscriminate shelling and house demolitions. Israeli occupying
forces have also continued construction of the “Annexation Wall” inside the
West Bank and have continued to impose a tight siege on the OPTs. This
week, 22 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 4 children, were killed by
Israeli occupying forces.
On Tuesday morning, 11 May 2004, Israeli occupying
forces invaded al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the south of Gaza City and intensely
shelled the area. This operation
continued until Wednesday night, and left 15 Palestinians dead, including 4
children, and injured at least 200 others, including 35 children. Israeli troops destroyed a number of houses
and razed large areas of agricultural land. One of the victims was hit by a live bullet in the head and bled to
death as ambulances were not able to reach him. This operation came as an action of collective punishment following the destruction
of an Israeli military vehicle, which left 6 Israeli soldiers dead.
Also in the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces
conducted other military incursions into Palestinian areas. Israeli
troops destroyed 47 Palestinians houses in Rafah and Khan Yunis, rendering 388
people (59 families) homeless. They also
razed 149 donums of agricultural land in Khan Yunis.
On Thursday morning, 6 May 2004, Israeli occupying
forces began establishing a separating wall along the “Kissufim” settler road,
which separates between al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis, and Wadi
al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. For this purpose, they razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural
land and demolished a number of houses.
On 9 May 2004, Israeli occupying forces killed a
Palestinian farmer, claiming that he was armed. PCHR’s investigations refute the truth of this claim, and the farmer was
working on an agricultural land in the area.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces escalated
attacks against Palestinian civilians, killing 6 of them. Israeli
occupying forces conducted a series of military incursions into Palestinian
areas, during which they arrested dozens of Palestinians.
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the “Annexation Wall” inside the West Bank, especially around Jerusalem and
in the northern Jordan Valley, although the Israeli High Court issued a number
of injunctions stopping the construction of the wall in some Palestinian
villages.
This week, Israeli occupying forces have continued to
impose a tightened siege on the OPTs and imposed severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,
including Jerusalem. In the middle of the
week, Israeli occupying forces partitioned the Gaza Strip into 3 isolated
zones. They have also continued to close
all border crossings into the Gaza Strip.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israeli Offensive on al-Zaytoun Neighborhood in Gaza
City
On Tuesday morning, 11 May 2004, Israeli occupying forces
invaded al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the south of Gaza City and intensely shelled
the area. This operation continued until
Wednesday night, and left 15 Palestinians dead, including 4 children, and
injured at least 200 others, including 35 children. Israeli troops destroyed a number of houses
and razed large areas of agricultural land.
According to investigations conducted by
PCHR, at approximately 00:50 on Tuesday morning, Israeli forces moved into
al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the south of Gaza City. Soon, more
reinforcements, including helicopters and undercover units, were brought to the
area. Israeli troops seized control of the neighborhood. They
raided a number of houses and established military positions on the
roofs. A number of members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with
Israeli troops. A member of the Palestinian resistance, ‘Ammar ‘Awad
al-Jirjawi, 24, was killed during these clashes.
At approximately 05:00, an Israeli
helicopter gunship launched a missile at a number of Palestinians who were
gathered in the street. One of these, Fadi Ibrahim Nassar, 18, was killed
and 8 others were injured. Later in the morning, 3 Palestinian civilians,
including 2 children, were killed:
1. Mohammed
Faraj ‘Adas, 20, hit by a live bullet to the chest;
2. Ahmed
Salem al-Swairki, 16, hit by a live bullet to the head; and
3. As
yet unidentified, 11, hit by a live bullet to the head.
In addition, at least 80 Palestinians,
mostly civilians, were injured. Palestinian ambulances have faced severe
difficulties in reaching the area to evacuate the wounded to hospitals, due to
intense Israeli shelling. A number of residents of the area informed PCHR
by phone that Israeli troops had set explosives in a number of civilian
facilities in the area. Israeli troops announced at the time that a
curfew was imposed on the area. PCHR’s field workers have not been able
to reach the area directly due to the intensity of the Israeli shelling.
At approximately 14:15 on the same day, an Israeli
helicopter gunship launched a missile at an empty civilian car parked in al-Shojaeya
neighborhood near al-Zaytoun neighborhood. The missile struck the car and destroyed it. A passing Palestinian child, Yousef Kamal
Hijazi, 13, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood, was killed by shrapnel from the
missile. Six other civilians were also
injured. The car belonged a Palestinian
civilian, who is not wanted by Israeli occupying forces.
In the evening, an Israeli sniper positioned atop of
a house in the neighborhood fired at a number of members of the Palestinian
resistance. One of them, Rafiq ‘Aashour
Dughmosh, 28, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood, was killed by a live bullet in the
head. Later, medical sources declared
that Rami Mohammed Ja’far, 16, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood, was killed by a
live bullet in the head.
At approximately 11:25 on Wednesday, 12 May 2004, an
Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to the
family of Ahmed Eshtaiwi, who was extra-judicially assassinated by Israeli
occupying forces earlier this year. The
house was severely damaged and 6 Palestinian civilians were wounded.
At approximately 12:55, an Israeli helicopter gunship
launched a missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance,
killing 3 of them:
1. Mohammed
Hussein Yassin, 28;
2. Mohammed
‘Abdul ‘Aziz Mushtaha, 23; and
3. Faqzi
Musbah al-Madhoun, 27.
Israeli troops continued to fire houses in the
area. A Palestinian civilian, Rami
Mohammed ‘Olayan Abu ‘Oun, 27, was wounded by a live bullet, while he was
inside his house. Ambulances were not
able to reach him because of the shelling and he bled to death.
In the evening, clashes resumed between members of
the Palestinian resistance and Israeli troops. Three members of the resistance were killed in these clashes:
1. Walid
Khaled ‘Azzam, 22, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood;
2. Eihab
Malaka, 23, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood; and
3. Eihab
Mohammed ‘Aamer, 22, from Khan Yunis.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli troops forced out
residents of 2 apartment buildings belonging to the families of ‘Aashour and
Hijji, then planted explosives inside the two buildings and destroyed
them.
During this 2-day incursion, at least 200
Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 35 children, were injured. Palestinian ambulances faced extreme difficulties
in reaching the injured due to the intense Israeli shelling. Israeli troops withdrew from the area at
approximately 23:35 on Wednesday, after members of the Palestinian resistance pledged
to hand over the remainders of the bodies of 6 Israeli soldiers who were killed
during this Israeli military incursion. Israeli
troops left enormous destruction in the area, destroyed a number of houses and
razed large areas of agricultural land.
Thursday, 6 May 2004
At approximately 00:00, Israeli
occupying forces moved approximately 700 meters into Wadi al-Salqa village, east
of Deir al-Balah. They remained in the
area until 14:30, during which time Israeli military bulldozers razed 7 donums
of agricultural land belonging to the families of Abu Mughassib and al-Agha,
and destroyed an under-construction house belonging to the al-Sumairi family
and a fence of a house belonging to the Abu Mughassib family.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli
occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved
into al-Brazil, al-Sha’er and Qeshta neighborhoods in Rafah, adjacent to the
Egyptian border. At approximately 07:20,
they planted explosives inside a 350-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by
‘Abdul Qader Isma’il al-Bashiti, in which 42 people (8 families) used to live,
and destroyed it. Five neighboring
houses were severely damaged. Israeli
troops also destroyed 7 houses completely and 9 others partially, and razed 3
donums of agricultural land in Qeshta neighborhood. As a result, 174 people (28 families) have
become homeless. A Palestinian civilian,
Khaled Mohammed Sha’at, 24, was injured by shrapnel from the Israeli
shelling. Israeli troops withdrew from
these areas at approximately 11:30.
(Note: PCHR has a list of the
houses that were destroyed during this operation).
In the morning, Israeli occupying
forces moved into Qalqilya and the villages of ‘Anabta, Tubas and Kufor al-Dik
in the north of the West Bank, and ‘Aaida refugee camp and Ethna village in the
south. They raided and searched dozens
of houses and arrested dozens of Palestinians.
(Note: PCHR has a list of names
of 28 of these Palestinians).
At approximately 04:45, while
Yassin ‘Aadel al-Joulani, 22, was exiting the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron after
the dawn prayers, an Israeli soldier positioned at the entrance to the mosque
fired at him. A number of worshippers
hurried towards the place of shooting, where they found al-Joulani on the
ground bleeding. According to
eyewitnesses, he was only 10 meters away from Israeli soldiers. Al-Joulani soon died from his injuries after
which Israeli troops took his body to an unknown destination. Israeli held the prayers inside the mosque
until 07:00. Israeli troops claimed that
the victim had attempted to take over an Israeli soldier’s gun.
At approximately 11:00, a number
of Palestinian children gathered near the fence separating between
“Nissanit” settlement and Palestinian areas in the northern Gaza
Strip. They threw stones at Israeli
troops positioned in the vicinity of the aforementioned settlement. Israeli troops fired at the children. These clashes continued until the evening,
during which 5 children were wounded:
1. Majed ‘Omar al-Jammali, 16, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood
in Gaza City, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh;
2. Sabri Fadel ‘Owaida, 14, from Beit Lahia, wounded by a
live bullet in the right foot;
3. Ibrahim Rabah Abu Shehadam 17, from Jabalya refugee camp,
wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;
4. Hassan Ahmed al-Numailat, 17, from Um al-Nasser village,
wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh; and
5. Ibrahim Mohammed al-Balbissi, 16, from Jabalya refugee
camp, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot.
At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided a 2-storey house belonging to Mahmoud Hamamra. They forced residents of the house to vacate
the second floor and transformed it into a military site.
Friday, 7 May 2004
At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces, backed
by 2 helicopters, moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They opened fire at Palestinian houses in the
camp. A number of members of the
Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli troops. They had shelter on the first floor of a
house belonging to ‘Omar Raja ‘Ghuraifi. At approximately 02:30, Israeli troops surrounded the house and knocked
the door informing the owner of the presence of gunmen inside, and that if they
did not surrender they would destroy the house. One of the gunmen surrendered, whereas two others refused to
surrender. Soon after, Israeli troops
ordered residents of the house and a number of neighboring houses to get out
and exchanged fire with the two gunmen. After approximately 6 hours of fire exchange, Israeli troops ordered the
owner to enter the house to check the outcome of the gunmen. He entered the house and found them
dead. Israeli troops ordered him to
bring their guns and he did. Soon after,
Israeli troops broke into the house and opened fire inside. When Israeli troops withdrew from the area,
residents of the house went back to the house where they found the gunmen’s
bodies. The bodies were covered by
blankets, full of live bullet holes. The
bodies were transferred to a hospital in Tulkarm, where the victims were
identified as:
1. Wa’el
Khairi ‘Abdul Fattah Khader, 28, from Zeita village in Tulkarm, hit by 12 live
bullets throughout the body; and
2. Sa’ed
Ibrahim Hassan Masa’ei, 27, from Zeita village in Tulkram, hit by 5 live
bullets in the chest and the left forearm.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nablus through its southern entrance. They moved towards the old town and opened
fire at houses. At approximately 03:00,
a heavy explosion was heard, as a hand grenade was apparently thrown at Israeli
troops. Immediately, Israeli troops
opened fire at houses in the area. A
Palestinian civilian, Basim Bassam Kalbouna, 18, was killed by 2 live bullets
in the chest, after going to his roof to observe the incident.
At approximately 12:00, 3 Israeli heavy military
vehicles moved approximately 400 meters into ‘Oraiba area in the northwest of
Rafah. They destroyed 2
under-construction houses and an agricultural pool belonging to the Dahliz
family, and 6 greenhouses planted with vegetables belonging to the families of
Fouju and al-Agha.
At approximately 14:00, 7 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus and imposed a curfew. A number of Palestinian civilians gathered
and threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the stone throwers. Muntasser Mahmoud Ahmed Ziad, 19, was
seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen. He died on the way to the hospital. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops
fired at the young man from a distance of approximately 80 meters.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied
by a military bulldozer, moved approximately 100 meters into al-Rabwat area in
the northwest of Khan Yunis. Under the
cover of intense shelling, they razed 16 donums of agricultural land belonging
to the families of Abu Sunaima, al-Astal and al-Agha.
At approximately 16:45, Israeli occupying forces
moved approximately 70 meters into al-Qarara village, northwest of Khan
Yunis. Under the cover of intense
shelling, they demolished a house and fences of 4 houses and razed a 1-donum
area of agricultural land.
Saturday, 8 May 2004
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Ahmed
Mahmoud Khaza’ia, 22; and
2. Mu’tassem
Khaled Nazzal, 15.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved approximately 300 meters into al-Qarara village to the south of
“Kissufim” settler road, northeast of Khan Yunis. They demolished a Palestinian house, razed 39
donums of agricultural land and destroyed an animal farm and the electricity
and water networks of the area.
At approximately 18:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps
moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. A number of Palestinian children gathered and
threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately,
Israeli soldiers fired at the stone throwers, wounding one girl and another who
was near her house:
1. ‘Alaa’
Ahmed Sharaka, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and
2. Zahra
Khalil ‘Othman, 11, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the face.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Shouka neighborhood in the southeast of Rafah, adjacent to the
Egyptian border. They arrested 7 Palestinians who were digging into
agricultural land. Israeli troops
remained in the area until Sunday evening, 9 May 2004, during which time they
razed 14 donums of agricultural land belonging to the families of al-Rumailat
and Abu Jarad.
Sunday, 9 May 2004
In the early morning, Israeli occupying forces moved
into Bethlehem and Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Nasser
Khaled Nawara, 21, from Bethlehem;
2. Mufeed
‘Adel Nazzal, 50, from Qabatya village; and
3. Suleiman
Amin Nazzal, 35.
At approximately 18:45, a large number of Jewish
settlers, escorted by Israeli troops, gathered near “Kissufim”
settler road, north of Khan Yunis, to commemorate 5 settlers who were killed in
the area last week. Israeli troops
opened fire at Palestinian houses and tents set up by Palestinians whose houses
had been previously demolished. An
artillery shell fell near Ahmed ‘Abdul Qader Abu ‘Eid’s house, damaging
it. Soon, more reinforcements of Israeli
troops were brought to the area. Israeli
troops demolished 11 houses belonging to the families of Abu Dayer, Abu Haddaf,
Abu Hajjaj and al-Sumairi. As a result
83 people (16 families) have become homeless. They also razed 22 donums of agricultural land belonging to the
al-Sumairi family. Israeli troops withdrew
from the area at approximately 10:00 on Monday, 10 May 2004. Later, residents of the area found the body
of Nahed Mohammed Abu Haddaf, 24, approximately 500 meters to the south of
“Kissufim” road. The victim
was hit by several live bullets throughout the body from which he bled to
death. According to his family, he left his
home at noon to help his relatives to cultivate wheat and never returned.
At approximately 21:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Abu Dis, east of occupied Jerusalem. Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestinian houses. The jeeps stopped near Abu Dis youth club and
Israeli soldiers began provoking passing Palestinian civilians. A number of children and young men gathered
and threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately after, Israeli soldiers opened fire at them. Fadi Sha’lan Khader Bahar, 19, was wounded by
a live bullet in the head. Israeli
soldiers prevented ambulances from reaching him for approximately 30 minutes
and left him bleeding. An ambulance
transferred him to al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem, but all medical efforts
made to save his life failed. According
to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at the victim from a distance of
approximately 100 meters, when stone throwers did not pose a serious threat to
the lives of soldiers.
Monday, 10 May 2004
Early in the morning, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aska
and Balata refugee camps, east of Nablus, and Hebron. They arrested 5 Palestinians, including a
girl:
1. Amal
Jamil Joma’a, 23, from ‘Askar;
2. Ahmed
Jamil Joma’a, 25, from ‘Askar;
3. Isma’il
Khalil Hannoun, 23, from Balata;
4. ‘Atiya
‘Ali Mahmoud Khater, 28; from Hebron; and
5. Eyad
Akram al-Haddad, 25, from Hebron.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved
approximately 250 meters into Palestinian areas located to the West of
“Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They raided a 220-square-meter, 3-storey
house owned by Fadel Younis al-Qedra and forced its 26 residents out, without
allowing them to remove their belongings. Israeli troops planted explosives inside the house and destroyed
it. Four neighboring houses were
severely damaged. Also, during this
incursion, Israeli troops razed about 500-square-meters of agricultural
land.
On behalf of the owner, PCHR had submitted an appeal
to the Israeli military legal advisor in the Gaza Strip. In a phone call with PCHR the office of the
Israeli military legal advisor claimed that the house would not be demolished
pending the appeal. However, Israeli troops destroyed the house before the
appeal had been adjudicated on, despite this commitment.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces, accompanied
by 4 military bulldozers, moved into al-Qarara village to the south of
“Kissufim” settler road, north of Khan Yunis. They demolished 2 houses, razed 40 donums of agricultural land and
destroyed an agricultural pool and a number of rooms, bird farms and civilian
properties belonging to the families of Abu Haddaf and Abu Hajjaj.
Tuesday, 11 May 2004
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved
approximately 200 meters into Zo’rob neighborhood in the southwest of
Rafah. Under the cover of intense
shelling, they demolished 2 houses belonging to the families of Buraika and
Zo’rob, in which 63 people (9 families) lived.
In the early morning, Israeli forces moved into
Tulkarm; al-Yamnoun village, west of Jenin; Dura village, southwest of Hebron;
and Bethlehem. They arrested 7
Palestinians, including a girl:
1. Ra’ed
Mohammed al-Nammoura, 21, from Dura;
2. Tariq
Yousef al-Nammoura, 21, from Dura;
3. Firas
Ahmed al-Nammoura, 24, from Dura;
4. ‘Alaa’
Younis Rayan al-Sharawna, 22, from Dura;
5. Hani
Salman Salim, 24, from Tulkarm;
6. Lu’ai
‘Adel Hameediya, 20, from al-Yamoun;
7. Mashour
Mohammed ‘Abahra, 24, from al-Yamoun; and
8. Nidaa’
Ahmed Safi Jibril, 21, from Bethlehem.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They
fired live bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at Palestinian houses
and imposed a curfew. A number of school
children gathered and threw stones at Israeli troops, which immediately fired
at the stone throwers. Mohammed Riad Abu
Baker, 18, was injured by shrapnel, from a live bullet, in the head.
Wednesday, 12 May 2004
In the early morning, Israeli forces moved into
al-Walaja village, west of Bethlehem; and ‘Anabta village, east of
Tulkarm. They arrested 6 Palestinians:
1. Samer
‘Adnan al-Atrash, 22, from al-Walaja village;
2. Hussein
‘Adnan al-Atrash, 24, from al-Walaja village;
3. Ahmed
‘Essam Jaber, 16, from ‘Anabta village;
4. Mohammed
Ibrahim Nour, 17, from ‘Anabta village;
5. Jalal
Salim Badran, 17, from ‘Anabta village; and
6. Mohammed
Ahmed Jaber, 16, from ‘Anabta village.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into
Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones
at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the stone throwers, wounding 5 and
a 6th passing civilian:
1. Mohammed
Tayseer al-Hashash, 16, seriously wounded by several live bullets throughout
the body;
2. Firas
Mahmoud al-Hashash, 16, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head;
3. Ahmed
Mohammed Ibrahim Shanqara, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the legs;
4. Darwish
Ibrahim Abu ‘Ayash, 18, wounded by shrapnel in the face;
5. Ahmed
Hussein ‘Ali Khalil, 18, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and
6. Hazem
Zuhdi Mohammed Kharma, 39, wounded by shrapnel in the face.
Israeli troops prevented the ambulances from
evacuating the wounded to hospitals and arrested Mohammed al-Hashash.
Israeli forces Construct a Wall along “Kissufim”
Settler Road Northeast of Khan Yunis
On Thursday morning, 6 May 2004, Israeli forces
started to establish a dividing wall along the “Kissufim” settler road, which
separates between al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis, and Wadi al-Salqa
village, east of Deir al-Balah.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by
PCHR, on Thursday morning, Israeli forces moved into Palestinian areas located
on both sides of the “Kissufim” settler road. Israeli military trucks were seen transporting barbwire and iron bars to
the area. The Israeli daily Yediot
Aharanot reported on its Arabic web page that “the Israeli military started
to establish a dividing wall along the “Kissufim” road in the Gaza Strip.” This Israeli action, which is a form of
collective punishment against Palestinian civilians and an attempt to seize
more Palestinian land, came 3 days after an armed attack carried out by 2
members of the Palestinian resistance against Israeli settlers and troops. The attack left the two members of the
resistance dead, as well as 5 settlers.
On the ground, Israeli troops razed large areas of
Palestinian agricultural land and demolished a number of houses for the purpose
of the construction of the wall, which is expected to thrust approximately 300
meters into Palestinian areas. Israeli
military vehicles also started to establish a road on Palestinian agricultural
land to link between the “Kissufim” road and al-Matahen junction on Salah
al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza
Strip.
The construction of the wall and the establishment of
the new road will effectively seize large areas of Palestinian agricultural
land. A number of Palestinian houses in
Wadi al-Salqa village have been trapped between the “Kissufim” road and the new
wall, whose construction effectively began in the area on Sunday, 9 May
2004.
During the current Intifada, Israeli forces had
already established a fence of barbwire 75 meters inside Palestinian lands on
both sides of the “Kissufim” road. The
construction of the new wall will effectively expand the buffer zone already
established on both sides of the road.
Continued Siege on the OPT
This week, Israeli forces have continued to impose a
tightened siege on the OPTs and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including
Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces further tightened the siege imposed on
the Gaza Strip. This week, they
portioned the Gaza Strip into 3 isolated zones. For the 7th consecutive week, Israeli forces have continued
to close all border crossings into the Gaza Strip. They also imposed
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians at all entrances to
Palestinian areas located near Israeli settlements and prevented Palestinian
civilians from moving freely. Such restrictions on freedom of movement
are in contravention of international human rights law, to which Israel is a
state party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights.
Israeli forces positioned at the Abu Houli and
al-Matahen checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north
and south of the Gaza Strip, continued to obstruct movement of Palestinian
civilians.
On Thursday, 6 May 2004, Israeli troops held a number
of Palestinian vehicles between the two checkpoints and searched passengers.
On Sunday, 9 May 2004, Israeli troops closed the two
checkpoints and held dozens of Palestinian vehicles in between. Hundreds of Palestinian vehicles were also
forced to wait at both sides of the checkpoints. Such restrictions continued until later that
night.
On Monday morning and afternoon, 10 May 2004, Israeli
troops held and searched a number of Palestinian vehicles between the two
checkpoints.
At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 11 May 2004,
Israeli forces portioned the Gaza Strip into 3 isolated zones. They closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli
checkpoints, separating between the south and the middle, and closed the
coastal road linking between the middle and the north of the Gaza Strip. This closure was a form of collective
punishment after 6 Israeli soldiers had been killed by members of the
Palestinian resistance in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.
For the 7th consecutive week, Israeli
forces have continued to close border crossings between the Gaza Strip and
Israel, denying access of thousands of Palestinian workers to their work places
in Israel. They have also closed the
Erez industrial zone.
In violation of the right of health, for two weeks,
Israeli forces have denied access of Palestinian patients from the Gaza Strip
to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank to receive medical care. They have also denied access to those
bringing medical supplies into the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces have imposed more restrictions at
Rafah Terminal, the only outlet of the Gaza Strip to the outside world since
the beginning of the current Intifada. Israeli
intelligence often summons and interrogates a number of Palestinian
travelers. On Sunday, 9 May 2004,
Israeli troops arrested Isma’il Salem ‘Abdul Majid Abu Mu’aileq, 36, from
al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, while he was on his way back
to the Gaza Strip from Egypt. On Monday,
10 May 2004, Israeli troops arrested Waleed Mohammed Nada Abu Nada, 36, from
Rafah, while he was on his way back to the Gaza Strip from Egypt.
Since 18 April 2004, Israeli forces have continued to
prohibit Palestinians between the ages of 16 and 35 from traveling through
Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a strict
siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have continued
to close Tal al-Sultan checkpoint at the entrance to the area in Rafah and
impose restrictions on movement of Palestinian civilians through al-Tuffah
checkpoint at the entrance to the area in Khan Yunis. On Thursday
morning, 6 May 2004, Israeli troops reopened al-Tuffah checkpoint, but did not
allow Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 30 from crossing.
Israeli forces have also continued to impose a
tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. In
the same context, Israeli forces 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.
The West Bank
Israeli forces have continued to impose a strict
siege on Palestinian communities. They
have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
They imposed curfews on a number of
villages.
Hebron
Israeli forces imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
erected more checkpoints inside the town. They have continued to close all roads linking Hebron and Bethlehem, and
the roads linking between the town and villages located to the west and
south. Israeli troops also fired at
Palestinian civilians who wanted to enter the town, especially at its northern
and northwestern entrances. On 6 May
2004, Israeli troops prohibited access for Muslims to the Ibrahimi mosque and
imposed a curfew on neighboring Palestinian areas.
Nablus
Israeli forces imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
closed all checkpoints around the city. They have continued to prevent Palestinians, who are under 35, from
crossing military checkpoints erected around the city. Israeli troops also held and checked a number
of Palestinians at Hawara checkpoint, south of the city, and Beit Eiba checkpoint,
west of the city.
Jenin
This week, Israeli troops positioned at military
checkpoints at the entrances to the northern and central Jordan Valley
prohibited the passage of Palestinian trucks loaded with vegetables, unless
they obtain special permits.
Tulkarm
This week, Israeli troops erected a number of
temporary checkpoints inside and around the town. They stopped Palestinian vehicles and checked
passengers. On Tuesday, 11 May 2004, an
Israeli military vehicle chased a civilian car inside the town. Israeli troops fired at the car, but the car
was able to escape and no casualties were reported.
On Sunday morning, 9 May 2004, Israeli troops erected
a temporary checkpoint on the road liking between Nour Shams refugee camp and
Ektaba neighborhood arrested 2 Paletsinians:
1. Tamim
No’man Salem, 19, fron Bazaria village, northwest of Nablus; and
2. Mohammed
Musbah Ghannam, 22, from Tulkarm.
Qalqilya
This week, Israeli troops erected a number of
temporary checkpoints around the town. They stopped Palestinian vehicles and checked passengers. On Friday morning, 7 May 2004, Israeli troops
closed the entrances to Kufor al-Dik village, southeast of the town, with sand
barriers and rocks, isolating it from its surroundings.
Bethlehem
On Saturday evening, Israeli troops positioned at
al-Container checkpoint on Wad al-Nar road, northeast of Bethlehem, arrested
Yasser Bader Subaih, 33, from al-Khader village, southwest of the town.
Jerusalem
Israeli forces have continued to prohibit access for
Palestinians who are under 45 to al-Aqsa Mosque in the old town for the Friday
prayers. Palestinians from the West Bank
and Gaza Strip have been also denied access to the city without permits. On Tuesday, 11 May, Israeli forces issued an
order prohibiting the access of Ya’qoub Mohammed Abu ‘Asab, from Jerusalem, to
al-Aqsa Mosque and to the Office of Religious Endowments, where he works, for 6
months.
Continued Construction of the “Annexation Wall” in
the West Bank
Israeli forces have continued construction of the “Annexation
Wall” inside the West Bank, especially around Jerusalem and in the northern
Jordan Valley, although the Israeli High Court issued a number of injunctions
stopping the construction of the wall in some Palestinian villages.
This week, Israeli forces constructed parts of the
wall near Qalandya military checkpoint and airport. According to eyewitnesses, dozens of trucks
transported large cement blocks to the area to replace barbwires already established
around Qalandya Airport and inside the area located between Qalandya refugee
camp and the road linking between Qalandya checkpoint and Jaba’ village.
Israeli forces notified 6 Palestinians from the
al-Faqih family in Qutna village, northwest of Jerusalem, that their house
would be demolished as their home is located on the path of the “Annexation
wall”. The families living in these
houses consist of about 40 people.
On Tuesday morning, 11 May 2004, Israeli troops
positioned at an iron gate on the “Annexation Wall” prevented some medical
personnel from entering Barta’a village, southwest of Jenin, to provide medical
treatment for residents of the village. The village is trapped between the wall and the Green Line. Israeli troops claimed that the village was a
closed military zone.
In Salfit, Israeli forces issued a military order
prohibiting the access of Palestinian farmers to their agricultural areas,
which are located behind the wall, unless they obtain special permits. Palestinian farmers are forced to reach their
agricultural lands only through iron gates, established along the “Annexation
Wall”, which are repeatedly closed.
With regard to the impact of the construction of the
wall, official sources of the Municipality of Qalqilya stated that the
construction of the wall decreased the average daily revenues of the
municipality from about 100,000 NIS (about US$ 22,000) to 20,000 NIS (about US$
4400). Applications for construction
licenses decreased from an average of 40 applications monthly to only 5. Marketing and investment in the town have
sharply deteriorated and 42 factories were moved from the town to other
areas. In addition, 630 shops out of
1200 were closed. Palestinians also lost
53% of their agricultural land, which is now located behind the wall.
*****
Recommendations to the International Community
1. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
fulfill their legal and moral obligations under article 1 of the Convention to
ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. PCHR believes that the
continued failure of the International Community to respect its article 1
obligations, under the fourth Geneva Convention, has encouraged Israel to
continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.
2. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the
Convention in the 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, including 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 those who have committed grave breaches and to urge their
governments to bring them 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.
6. PCHR
calls upon European governments to change their positions towards the
Palestinian cause at UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security
Council and Commission on Human Rights.
7. PCHR
welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution, which referred the issue of the “Annexation
Wall” inside the OPTs to International Court of Justice to give a consultative
opinion. The international community is
obliged to enforce the judgment of the court, which PCHR anticipates will
conclude that the wall is illegal.
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 forces on access of international
staff to the OPTs, PCHR calls upon European countries to apply the same visa
requirements to 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
Trial Version
