Israeli Forces Continue Violations
of Human Rights in the OPT
· 4
Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in ‘Askar refugee camp in Nablus
· A
Palestinian activist was killed in a wide-scale Israeli incursion into Hebron
· Indiscriminate
Israeli shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued
· A
house in ‘Askar refugee camp in Nablus was destroyed as Israel continued its
campaign of retaliation against the families of wanted Palestinians and those who
allegedly carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets
· Israeli
forces continued to use Palestinian civilians as human shields in military
operations
· Israeli
forces denied access of Palestinian farmers to their agricultural lands to
replant them and razed more areas of agricultural land
· Continued
suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails
· Continued
siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank and partial ease of the siege
in the Gaza Strip
· Israeli
occupying forces extended closure of Hebron University and Polytechnic
University in Hebron
Introduction
Israeli occupying forces continue to conduct illegal
actions and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, including collective punishment measures and
shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas. This week, Israeli
occupying forces sustained the siege imposed on the OPTs, raided Palestinian
houses and arrested more Palestinians. Israeli forces also continued to establish the “security fence” in the
West Bank. Thus far, Israeli forces have
confiscated large areas of Palestinian agricultural land, and have isolated 14
Palestinian villages in Tulkram and Jenin from their Palestinian surroundings
in order to construct the “fence” This
week, 7-13 August 2003, 4 Palestinians were killed and 10 others, including a number
of children, were wounded by Israeli occupying forces.
On Friday
morning, 8 August 2003, in the most violent Israeli military operation since
the beginning of a cease-fire against Israeli targets declared by Palestinian
resistance organizations on 30 June 2003, Israeli occupying forces killed 4
Palestinians (two activists of the Hamas movement and two civilians) in the ‘Askar
refugee camp, east of Nablus, and destroyed a 4-storey apartment building while
one of the activists was still inside. In addition, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were
wounded.
In a similar
operation, this morning, Thursday, 14 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Sha’aba neighborhood in the northeast of Hebron, and began to
shell the area. During this incursion,
Israeli occupying forces killed Mohammed Ayoub Seder, 25, an activist of the
Islamic Jihad movement. A number of
shops and stores were also destroyed. It
is worth noting that Seder had survived an assassination attempt two years ago,
in which two Palestinian children were killed by Israeli forces. Shortly after the assassination attempt Israeli
occupying forces destroyed Seder’s house.
This week, Israeli occupying forces continued to
shell Palestinian residential areas in the Gaza Strip, especially in Khan
Yunis. While no casualties were
reported, a number of houses were damaged, endangering the lives and causing
fear among Palestinian civilians in the area. Israeli occupying forces conducted 5 incursions into Palestinian areas
in the Gaza Strip, during which they razed areas of Palestinian agricultural
land and raided Palestinian houses. While
searching the homes Israeli forces used Palestinian civilians as human shields. In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have arrested more than 100
Palestinians during house raids since 7 August 2003.
As part of
the continued denial of Palestinian children’s right of education, on Sunday,
10 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces issued a decision maintaining closure
of Hebron University and Polytechnic Palestine University in Hebron for another
month, starting on Monday, 11 August 2003. Israeli occupying forces have closed the two universities since 11
January 2003.
Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict
siege on most of the OPT, especially in the West Bank. While Israeli forces have partially withdrawn
from the main roads in the Gaza Strip, they have continued to use checkpoints
in order to restrict movement on these roads and at border crossings. They often obstruct movement of people at
al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, north of Khan
Yunis. Israeli forces moved the military observation tower at al-Matahen
junction approximately 20m to the west, and the observation tower at Abu Houli
checkpoint approximately 20m to the northeast. At al-Shuhada (Netzarim) junction, south of Gaza city, Israeli occupying
forces established two iron gates, approximately 200m away from the
junction. They moved an Israeli military
location in the area to the east of the junction.
Israeli forces have also maintained the strict siege
imposed on the al-Mawasi area in the
southern Gaza Strip, where more than 8,000 Palestinians live, as well as the
al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. In the al-Sayafa area, Israeli
occupying forces have begun to issue magnetic cards for residents of the area,
to be used to move into and outside the area.
Israeli occupying forces have restricted the access
of Palestinian fishermen to the sea and Palestinian workers continue to face
humiliating measures at “Erez” (Beit Hanoun) crossing in the northern Gaza
Strip on the way to their work in Israel. Israeli occupying forces have
continued to restrict the passage of goods through commercial crossings of the
Gaza Strip. Rafah terminal, on the border with Egypt, has recently
witnessed a growing humanitarian crisis.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have
maintained a strict siege on Palestinian communities, isolating them from one
another. They have continued to restrict movement of Palestinians at military
checkpoints, despite Israeli claims that a number of military checkpoints were
dismantled. Palestinians under 35 are not allowed to cross Israeli
military checkpoints without obtaining permits issued by the so-called “Israeli
Civil Administration”. For the 4th
consecutive day, Israeli occupying forces have imposed a strict curfew on the
center and south of Hebron. They have
beaten a number of Palestinian civilians, claiming that they violated the
curfew.
While the Israeli government, to create an illusion
of Israel’s dedication to the current peace process, released a small amount of
Palestinian prisoners whose sentences had almost expired, Israeli Prison
Authoritys escalated repressive practices and arbitrary measures against the
remaining 6,000 or more Palestinian prisoners, including 82 women and 406
children, still detained under inhuman conditions in Israeli jails.
In another arbitrary action, on 12 August 2003,
Israeli occupying forces expelled a resident
of Jaffa in Israel, Ahmed Mahmoud Ta’na, 21, from Tulkarm, to the Gaza Strip. Ta’ana, who is deaf and dumb was arrested in
Jaffa, where he works as a street-hawker. He was beaten by Israeli soldiers and was forced to pay a fine. Israeli occupying forces then transferred him
to the Gaza Strip and handed him to the Palestinian side on 13 August
2003.
In violation of international humanitarian law, which
prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures
against the families of Palestinians whom Israel alleges have
ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets. In this context, they destroyed a Palestinian
house in ‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus, on 13 August 2003.
Excessive Use of Force against Palestinian Civilians and Attacks on
Their Property
This week, Israeli occupying forces fired at Palestinian
civilians, shelled Palestinian residential areas and encroached into
Palestinian Authority controlled areas. Following are details of these human rights
violations:
At approximately 17:00 on Thursday, 7 August 2003,
Israeli occupying forces positioned at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip,
east of Khan Yunis, fired at Ahmed Hammad Mohammed al-Daghma, 20, frpm ‘Abasan
village east of Khan Yunis, who suffers from a psychological disorder, while he
was near the border. Al-Daghma was not
hurt. Immediately, Israeli occupying
forces moved into the area and arrested him. The arrest occurred after Palestinian liaison informed Israeli
authorities about his psychological condition. It is worth noting that al-Dghama was wounded by a live bullet in the
pelvis in similar circumstances on 29 February 2003.
At approximately 23:00 on the same day, Israeli
occupying forces positioned in military locations in the vicinity of “Netser
Hazani” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses
and farms in al-Qarara village. No
casualties were reported, however, the civilian population in the area continues
to fear the danger of further indiscriminate attacks.
On Friday
morning, 8 August 2003, in the most violent Israeli military operation since
the beginning of a cease-fire against Israeli targets declared by Palestinian
resistance organizations on 30 June 2003, Israeli occupying forces killed 4
Palestinians (two activists of Hamas movement and two civilians) in ‘Askar
refugee camp, east of Nablus, and destroyed a 4-storey apartment
building.
According to
information available to PCHR, at approximately 03:45 on Friday, 8 August 2003,
4 armored personnel carriers, 14 military jeeps, two military bulldozers of
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with two helicopters, moved into ‘Askar
refugee camp, east of Nablus, from its northeastern entrance. Israeli
occupying forces reached al-Safa Street in the camp and surrounded a 4-storey
apartment building in an attempt to arrest two Palestinian activists of
Ezziddin al-Qassam, the military wing of the Hamas movement. At
approximately 04:15, Israeli occupying forces ordered residents of the building
through megaphones to leave the building within 15 minutes. Then, an
exchange of fire took place between Israeli occupying forces and the two
activists. At approximately 05:45, in an excessive use of force and in disregard
for the lives of civilians, an Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at
the third floor of the building, where the activists were hiding. The
floor was totally destroyed.
At
approximately 06:00, after the exchange of fire stopped, Israeli occupying
forces used a number of residents of the building as human shields and forced
them to enter the building to evacuate the bodies of the two activists.
Approximately 10 minutes later, they evacuated one of the bodies. The
victim was identified as Khamis Yousef Abu Salem, 30. Israeli occupying
forces kept the body. At approximately 07:30, Israeli occupying forces
planted explosives in the building and destroyed it. Then, an Israeli
military bulldozer moved towards ruins of the building and started to level it,
apparently to ensure that the other activist would not survive. When
Israeli occupying forces withdrew from the area, Palestinian civilians started
searching for the other activist. They found his body at approximately
10:00. He was identified as Fayez FarID Hamed al-Sader, 27. The
body was evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. According to medical
sources, al-Sader was hit by more than 10 live bullets throughout the
body.
At
approximately 11:00, while Israeli occupying forces were withdrawing from the
‘Askar refugee camp, they opened fire at Palestinian civilians who came out of their
homes to check on what was happening. A Palestinian civilian, Mahmoud
Tayseer al-Tak, 18, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen.
He was evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in a civilian car, but all attempts made
to save his life failed and he was pronounced dead in the evening.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep fired at al-Tak
from a distance of 50-60m. At the same time, Israeli occupying forces
fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians. Dozens of civilians
suffered from tear gas inhalation, including Fawzi Ahmed Fawzi al-‘Alami, 41,
who died at a hospital.
In addition,
6 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli gunfire during the operation:
1. ‘Othman
‘Abdul Halim Rebhi, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg;
2. Mahmoud
Salah Refa’ei, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh;
3. Mahmoud
Mahmoud Ba’bas, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh;
4. Tha’er
Musleh Ibrahim Balalu, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
foot;
5. Ahmed
Jamil Hussein Mousa, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
side; and
6. Hammad
Farouq Bahri, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
forearm.
At
approximately 16:00 on the same day, a number of Israeli military vehicles
moved into Jenin. They opened fire at
Palestinian houses and surrounded the eastern part of the city. A number of Palestinian resistance fighters exchanged
fire with Israeli occupying forces. Three gunmen were wounded:
1. Mohammed
Qandil Abu Salem, 25, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back;
2. Adeeb
Mahmoud al-Qet, 27, wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen; and
3. Mohammed
Ahmed Abu Sorour, 30, wounded by shrapnel in the legs.
At
approximately 18:30 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by a
bulldozer, moved approximately 120m into Boba’ area in the southeast of Deir
al-Balah, west of “Kfar Darom” settlement. They leveled areas of Palestinian agricultural land they had already
razed. They withdrew from the area 6
hours later. On the following day,
Saturday, 9 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into the area again and
opened fire at Palestinian houses. They
withdrew from the area two hours later. They moved into the area again on Sunday evening, 10 August 2003. No casualties were reported, however, due to
the threat posed by Israeli forces, Palestinian residents of the area had not
been able to get out of their houses for 3 days.
At
approximately 22:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in military
locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis,
opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Nimsawi neighborhood and the cemeteries
to the east. A number of houses were
damaged.
At
approximately 20:30 on Saturday, 9 August 2003, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved
into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin. They
opened fire at Palestinian houses. A
Palestinian civilian, Bilal Mahmoud Shallash Hamamra, 23, was wounded by
shrapnel from live bullets in the face and the neck.
At
approximately 22:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in military
locations in the vicinity of “Morag” settlement, south of Khan Yunis, opened
fire at Palestinian houses and farms to the northeast. The area also witnessed an intense movement
of Israeli tanks, so some Palestinian civilians left their homes fearing of
intense shelling.
At
approximately 02:30 on Sunday, 10 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan
Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses to the east. A number of houses were damaged and
Palestinian civilians were terrified. At
the same time, Israeli occupying forces in “al-Nouria” military location, west
of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Amal neighborhood.
At
approximately 08:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with
heavy military vehicles, including two bulldozers, moved approximately 300m
into the east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural
land planted with olives owned by Nabil Khalil ‘Aayesh. They also leveled areas of agricultural land
they had already razed. The Israeli
incursion continued until 19:00, during which Israeli occupying forces were
firing sporadically to force Palestinian farmers away from the area.
At
approximately 09:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in military
locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis,
opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. No casualties were reported, but Palestinian
civilians were terrified.
At
approximately 15:30 on Monday, 11 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved
approximately 150m into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They raided the house of Salah al-Din Rezeq
Hammad al-Farra. Israeli soldiers called
through megaphones on the 25 residents of the house to get out of it. Israeli soldiers held those residents for an
hour under the sun. They also used the
owner as a human shield while searching the house. They ordered him to close all of the windows
on the northern part of the house, which overlooks al-Matahen road leading to
the “Gush Qatif” settlement block, northwest of Khan Yunis. They threatened to destroy the house in case
he opens those windows.
On the same
day evening, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately
700m into Palestinian areas west of “Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir
al-Balah. They searched the area. They withdrew from the area on the following
day morning. Palestinian civilians could
get out of their houses only when Israeli soldiers withdrew from the area.
Israeli
Occupying Forces Maintain Closure of Hebron and Palestine Polytechnic
Universities
As part of
continued denial of the Palestinian right of education, on Sunday, 10 August
2003, Israeli occupying forces issued a decision maintaining the closure of
Hebron University and Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron for another
month starting on Monday, 11 August 2003. Israeli occupying forces first closed the two universities on 11 January
2003 for 14 days, renewable for up to 6 months. On Thursday, 10 July 2003, when the 6 months ended, Israeli occupying
forces renewed the closure of the two universities for another month. The current period of closure is supposed to
end on Wednesday, 10 September 2003. Since January 2003, students at the two universities have been forced to
take their classes at schools and social institutions in Hebron.
On Monday
morning, 11 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed a strict siege on
Hebron University, preventing the administration from organizing a celebration
for three graduating classes. The university administration has not been able
to organize such a graduation since the beginning of the current Intifada.
Restrictions on Freedom of Movement in the OPT
Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict
siege on most of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially in the West
Bank. While Israeli forces redeployed from the main roads in the Gaza
Strip, they have restricted movement at border crossings and maintained the
siege imposed on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have
also continued to close the Rafah-Khan Yunis western road and the part of Salah
al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip),
near “Kfar Darom” settlement in the central Gaza Strip, Abu al-‘Ajin road
between Wadi al-Salqa village in Deir al-Balah and al-Qarara village in Khan
Yunis. Israeli occupying forces continue to restrict the movement of
Palestinian civilians living in al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip.
Palestinian workers have faced extreme difficulties on their way to their work
places in Israel.
Continued Marine Siege on Khan Yunis
Israeli occupying forces continue to impose a siege on the Khan Yunis
shoreline, denying Palestinian fishermen access to the sea. Since the beginning of 2002, Israeli
occupying forces have imposed a marine siege on Khan Yunis, in addition to the
siege already imposed on al-Mawasi area. Consequently, living conditions for Palestinian fishermen in Khan Yunis
have deteriorated rapidly and the number of fishermen has dropped from 800
before the Intifada to the present number of 470. After they seized control of it on 6 June
2002, Israeli occupying forces have continued to raid the fishing harbor in the
area.
According to the chief fisherman in Khan Yunis, Israeli occupying forces
have blocked 10 launches, 45 boats, 50 feluccas and other fishing equipment,
preventing Palestinian fishermen from using or maintaining them.
The chief added that the Israeli occupying forces had offered to permit
the fishermen to use their equipment on the condition that they relocate from
the Khan Yunis fishing harbor to the Rafah harbor. The fishermen refused the
offer and insisted on continuing to work from the Khan Yunis harbor.
Since the beginning of the Intifada, Israeli
occupying forces have repeatedly imposed marine sieges on the Gaza Strip,
denying fishermen access to the sea. Following the Israeli-Palestinian security agreements, Israeli occupying
forces allowed Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, excluding Khan Yunis,
to carry out their work in an area that does not exceeds 6 nautical miles.
Continued Seizure of 4 Houses and 2 Buildings in the
Gaza Strip
Israeli occupying forces have continued to seize 4
Palestinian houses and 2 buildings in the Gaza Strip and have transformed 2 of
the houses into military outposts.
Israeli occupying forces have seized a 3-storey house
owned by Mohammed Bekheet Mansour Abu Khousa. The house is located in Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood in Gaza City,
approximately 120m away from “Netzarim” settlement. According to the owner, Israeli occupying
forces had seized his house for 7 months beginning from December 2000. During this period, they allowed him and his
family to stay in the house. On 12 March
2002, Israeli occupying forces forced him to evacuate his house and transformed
it into a fortified military outpost. Since that date, they have not allowed him to enter the house. The owner said that he was able to enter the
house upon coordination through the Israeli-Palestinian joint liaison and he
could see the large damage incurred to his house. He added that he attempted to go to his house
after the Israeli and Palestinian side had concluded a security agreement, but
he could not do it.
In Deir al-Balah, Israeli occupying forces have
seized a 300-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Nafez Yousef Abu Nahia, in
which 6 people live. The house is
located in al-Ja’farawi area, east of Deir al-Balah. Since 6 March 2002, Israeli occupying forces
have transformed the house into a military outpost, claiming that this measure
was taken to ensure security for “Kfar Darom” settlement, approximately 500m
north of the house. Israeli soldiers
have restricted the movement of the residents leaving and entering the
house. The residents cannot mount the
roof without the permission of Israeli soldiers and when someone wishes to
leave the house, the Israeli soldiers require at least 2 residents to remain
inside. Israeli soldiers have also denied the residents access to their
agricultural land adjacent to the house.
In al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis, Israeli
occupying forces have seized 2 houses owned by Sa’id and Fu’ad Mabrouk
al-Qedra. The 2 houses are located near
the crossroads of “Kissufim” settler road with Salah al-Din Street. They are approximately 50m away from the
bridge, which Israeli occupying forces established over Salah al-Din
Street. The first house, a 250-square-meter
house, is uninhabited as its residents live abroad, whereas 25 people (4
families) used to live in the second house, a 400-square-meter, two-storey
house. Israeli occupying forces ordered
residents of the second house to evacuate it on 16 May 2002. A few days later, they closed the windows of
the house and then surrounded the 2 houses with barbwire and seized effective
control over them.
Since the beginning of the Intifada, Israeli
occupying forces have also seized 2 5-storey apartment buildings in al-Qarara
village, north of Khan Yunis. The 2
buildings are located approximately 70m south of an Israeli military location
at al-Matahen junction on Salah al-Din Street. The 2 buildings have been severely damaged by frequent Israeli shelling
and Israeli occupying forces have surrounded the 2 buildings with barbwire.
Restrictions at Israeli Military Checkpoints inside
the Gaza Strip
Despite Israeli-Palestinian security agreements, on
30 June 2003, Israeli occupying forces redeployed on Salah al-Din Street and
have continued to violate the Palestinians right to freedom of movement.
They often obstruct the movement of people at al-Matahen and Abu Houli
checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, north of Khan Yunis. They also force
people to wait at al-Shuhada (Netzarim) junction, south of Gaza City, to allow
settler cars to move between “Netzarim” settlement and Karni crossing.
They have established an iron gate on Abu al-‘Ajin road between al-Qarara
village, north of Khan Yunis, and Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza
Strip.
At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 7 August 2003,
Israeli occupying forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints, denying the
movement of Palestinians and their vehicles along Salah al-Din Street.
They blocked and searched a Palestinian civilian car.
At approximately 15:20 on Monday, 11 August 2003,
Israeli occupying forces closed the 2 checkpoints and reopened them half an
hour later.
At approximately 15:30 on Tuesday, 12 August 2003,
Israeli soldiers in a military location at al-Matahen junction on Salah al-Din
Street opened fire at Palestinian vehicles traveling on the road. Live bullets hit the tires of a Palestinian
National Security Force jeep, but no one was hurt.
Denial of Movement of Women at Tal al-Sultan Military
Checkpoint
On Saturday, 9 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces
issued a decision denying movement of Palestinian women through Tal al-Sultan
military checkpoint leading to al-Mawasi area, west of Rafah. Israeli soldiers ordered the women to enter
the area through al-Tuffah military checkpoint in Khan Yunis, for that day
only.
Continued Suffering in al-Sayafa Area in the Northern
Gaza Strip
The situation in al-Sayafa area, located between the
Israeli settlements of “Dogit” and “Elli Sinai” in the northern Gaza Strip, continues
to deteriorate. Israeli occupying forces
have restricted the movement of residents of the area, only allowing residents
to enter or exit the area at specific periods in the morning and the evening.
Palestinian civilians in the area face difficulties in movement due to the lack
of paved roads and denial of access for vehicles. People living in the
area lack basic services, including electricity and running water. Basic
foodstuffs, animal food and fuel are only allowed to be brought into the area
on Monday and Thursday.
Last week,
Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on Palestinian civilians
living in the area. They started to prepare lists of names of people living in
the area and photographing them in order to issue them with magnetic
cards. At approximately 14:00 on Sunday,
10 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces held 48 residents of the area at the
gate established at the entrance of the area. Israeli soldiers photographed the civilians for the magnetic cards, which
will probably be used for access to and from the area.
Palestinian farmers whose agricultural lands have
been razed are not permitted to re-cultivate their lands, totaling an estimated
area of 3,500 donums.[1]
Israeli occupying forces have also confiscated about 1,000 donums to establish
a security fence and a bypass road for Israeli settlements in the northern Gaza
Strip.
Continued Siege on the West Bank
Contrary to Israeli claims regarding the dismantling
of a number of military checkpoints in the West Bank and the easing of restrictions
on internal movement, Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict
movement of Palestinians in the West Bank. They have established gates and sand
barricades on main roads, such as the gate established on the Tulkarm-Nablus
road.
According to information available to PCHR, Israeli
occupying forces have sustained the siege imposed on the northern West Bank,
especially Nablus. They have restricted
movement Palestinians at 4 Israeli military checkpoints erected at the
entrances of the city. According to
eyewitnesses, people have had to wait for hours at those checkpoints before
they are allowed to cross them. On
Monday, 11 August 2003, Israeli soldiers at Deir Sharaf military checkpoint,
northwest of Nablus, took dozens of Palestinian civilian cars to a military
location in the nearby Qussin village, where they were blocked. According to information available to PCHR’s,
undercover units of Israeli occupying forces have used Palestinian civilian
cars in many attacks against allegedly wanted Palestinians in the OPT.
Also on Monday, 11 August 2003, Israeli occupying
forces positioned on Wadi al-Nar road, linking Bethlehem and Jerusalem, stopped
hundreds of Palestinian civilians cars for several hours for no apparent
reason. Wadi al-Nar is the only road on
which Palestinians are permitted to travel between the north and south of the
West Bank, as Israeli occupying forces have isolated Jerusalem. Since the first
Palestinian Intifada, Israeli occupying forces have denied Palestinian cars access
to Jerusalem without prior permission. Since the beginning of this Intifada, Israeli occupying forces have
absolutely denied access of Palestinian civilian cars to Jerusalem.
At approximately 09:45 on Tuesday, 12 August 2003,
Israeli occupying forces declared Nablus a closed military zone after an armed
attack against “Ariel” settlement, to the south of the city. They closed all the city’s entrances and
prevented Palestinians from leaving or entering the city.
While Israeli occupying forces dismantled a military
checkpoint on the Ramallah-Bir Zeit road, they have kept Qalandya checkpoint on
the Ramallah-Jerusalem road and Beit ‘Eil checkpoint on the road linking
between Ramallah with its eastern villages.
Israeli occupying forces dismantled a number of
isolated checkpoints around Jenin, which did not effectively eased movement of
Palestinian civilians. They had only
permitted the movement of Palestinian vehicles on Nablus-Jenin road under
military escort for a limited number of days and then cancelled this
measure.
Israeli military restrictions on the freedom of
movement in the Occupied Palestinian Territories have added more financial
burdens on Palestinian civilians and the cost of transportation has increased
dramatically by up to 1000%.
A Curfew on Hebron and a New Settler Road
For the fourth consecutive day, Israeli occupying
forces have imposed a curfew on the center and south of Hebron. They have detained dozens of Palestinian
civilians, including children, for several hours in al-Sahla Street in the old
town and at Tariq Ben Ziad school in the south of the town, claiming that these
civilians violated the curfew imposed on the town. The civilians were attempting to buy
foodstuffs and bring drinking water to their houses, as water supplies have
been cut from some areas in the town for several weeks.
According to information available to PCHR, Israeli
occupying forces have closed a number of branch roads and entrances to
neighborhoods in the center and south of Hebron. They have closed the entrances of al-Qadhi
and al-Salaima neighborhoods, the road to the pottery factories in the south of
the town, the entrances of al-Shalloudi and al-Zahed neighborhoods in the
center of the town and the junction leading to Wad al-Gharous and al-Masharqa
neighborhoods in the east.
On Sunday, 10 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces
started to pave a road that crosses Jabal Junaid neighborhood, overlooking the
center of Hebron. The new road is 6-8m
wide and 700m long. Israeli occupying
forces established this road apparently to allow access of their military
vehicles to a military observation point they had already established in the
house of Yousef Mohammed ‘Aabdin in the west of the neighborhood.
Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted Palestinians
and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which
prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures
against the families of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered,
facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets.
On Wednesday morning, 13 August 2003, Israeli
occupying forces destroyed a Palestinian house in ‘Askar refugee camp, east of
Nablus. According to information
available to PCHR, at approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced
with tanks, moved into the north of ‘Askar refugee camp. They surrounded a 150-square-meter house
owned by Ghazi Khamis al-Jarwan, in which 13 people lived. Israeli soldiers forced the residents of the
house and 2 other neighboring houses to leave and took them to another
neighboring house. The men were held in
the kitchen, while the women and children were grouped in one room. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives in
al-Jarwan’s house and destroyed it and damaging 2 neighboring houses. Al-Jarwan is the father of Khamis al-Jarwan
who carried out a bombing in the Israeli town of Rosh Ha’ain on 12 August 2003,
which killed an Israeli and injured 9 others.
Escalation of Israeli Repressive Practices against
Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails
While Israeli authorities attempted to mislead the
world by releasing a limited number of Palestinian prisoners whose sentences
were shortly due to expire, the Israeli Prison Authority escalated repressive
practices and arbitrary measures against the more than 6,000 Palestinian
prisoners, including 82 women and 406 children, still being detained under
inhumane conditions in Israeli jails.
Violations of human rights perpetrated by the Israeli Prison Authority
against Palestinian prisoners in Nafha desert jail, approximately 100km away
from Beer Saba, 200km away from Jerusalem and 15km away from the Egyptian
border, can be taken as a pattern of the suffering of Palestinian prisoners in
all Israeli jails.
According to information gathered by PCHR from recently released
prisoners, Nafha desert prison is one of the largest and most inhumane Israeli
central prisons. Approximately 820
Palestinian prisoners are currently being held in this prison under appalling
conditions. This prison consists of 9
divisions, 2 of which were established recently. Each division consists of 10-13 rooms. The area of each room is approximately 28
square meters and has a toilet, a washer and 1 window. The area of each room in the new divisions is
15 square meters. 10 Palestinian
prisoners are detained in each room.
Palestinian prisoners are permitted to leave their rooms twice a day,
once in the morning and another in the evening, totaling 4 hours. They are
allowed to move in a 196-square-meter area of land, surrounded by thick cement
walls (6m high) and covered by an iron net.
Although prisoners are in need of daily activity, many of them do not
leave their rooms because the assigned area outside is too small to carry out
sports or other activities.
The suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, particularly in
the Nafha desert prison, can be summed up as follows:
§ Israeli
Prison Authority has cancelled around 40 concessions that Palestinian prisoners
obtained through past hunger strikes and other protest activities. Under the pretext of the economic crisis in
Israel, Israeli Prison Authorities decreased services provided for prisoners,
such as washing materials and food.
§ Palestinian
prisoners in Israeli jails lack appropriate medical care. Medical treatment is limited to providing
water and medicines for headaches. Many
prisoners need specialized medical care, but such care, if it is given at all,
is usually only provided months after a request has been made.
§ Palestinian
prisoners are prohibited from visiting their colleagues in other divisions of
the same prison.
§ The
prisons are infested with insects, but the Israeli Prison Authority does not
provide insecticides.
§ The
temperature in prisons is high, however, the Israeli Prison Authority does not
allow prisoners to buy fans or maintain existing ones.
§ Families
visit prisoners under strict conditions. They can only see prisoners through a thick iron net, during which time
several Israeli soldiers maintain a presence very close to the prisoner. The Israeli Prison Authority is about to establish
special glass rooms, that a prisoner is put into in order to speak to his/her
family through a megaphone, a measure that was first applied in Asqalan prison
and was strongly rejected by Palestinian prisoners.
§ Visits
of families are very short, and Israeli occupying forces often prevent the
father, mother or wife from visiting a prisoner under security claims. Hundreds of prisoners have not been visited
by their families either for security claims or because they do not have close
relatives.
§ The
Israeli Prison Authority often punishes prisoners without sufficient pretext. Israeli soldiers search them when they go to
prayers or leave their rooms. They also
raid rooms and impose fines on prisoners for trivial reasons. A number of prisoners are also taken to
incommunicado detention.
§ The
Israeli Prison Authority often jam mobile phones used by Palestinian prisoners.
* * * * *
PCHR calls:
1. Upon the international community to
provide immediate and independent international protection for
the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
2. Upon the High Contracting Parties to
the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective
measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, in accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article
146, to ensure respect for the Convention.
3. Upon the international community to
investigate and prosecute before international courts those believed to have
committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence,
expand its activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territories.
5. Upon the European Union to activate
Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel
must respect human rights.
6. Upon the international community to
provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose
living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued
siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
“END”
Public
Document
**************************************
For
more information please call the PCHR office in Gaza, 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
