Israeli Forces Continue to
Perpetrate Crimes in the OPTs

 

· 2
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed by Israeli forces

· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip

· Israeli
forces moved into Rafah refugee camp and committed more violations of human
rights

· 2
houses were destroyed and 9 donums[1]
of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip were razed

· An
apartment building in Nablus was severely damaged by Israeli forces

· Houses
were raided and dozens of Palestinians were arrested

· Israeli
forces destroyed and confiscated large areas of Palestinian agricultural land
in Khan Yunis

· Continued
use of Palestinian civilians as human shields in Israeli military operations in
the OPTs

· Israeli
forces continued to shell 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 were seized

· Israeli
settlers continued their attacks on Palestinian civilians and properties

· One
Palestinian house was destroyed by Israeli forces as part of the continuing
campaign of retaliation against the families of Palestinians accused of
involvement in attacks against Israeli targets

· Israeli
occupying forces have continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs

Introduction

 

On Wednesday night, 14 April 2004, Israeli heavy
military vehicles, reinforced by helicopters, moved into Block J in Rafah
refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They opened fire at Palestinian houses and seized control over the
area. On Thursday morning, an Israeli
helicopter gunship launched a missile at a crowd of Palestinian civilians,
wounding 21, including 11 children. Four
of the wounded remain in a serious condition. At the time of the writing of this weekly report, Israeli forces are
demolishing a number of Palestinian houses.

 

This week, Israeli occupying forces have continued to
perpetrate 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, 2 Palestinian civilians, including a
child, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.

 

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted
8 military incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they destroyed 2
houses in Rafah and Gaza and razed 9 donums of Palestinian agricultural land in
Rafah and Khan Yunis. They also raided
and searched houses in Deir al-Balah. In
the same context, Israeli forces have in total destroyed 186 donums of
Palestinian agricultural land so far in al-Mawasi area in order to annex them
to Israeli settlements. 

 

On Saturday, 10 April 2004, a 12-year-old Palestinian
child was killed when Israeli forces shelled Palestinian residential areas in
Khan Yunis. 

 

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted
a series of military incursions into Palestinian areas and fired at Palestinian
demonstrations. One palestinian civilian
was killed, and dozens of others were wounded or arrested. Israeli forces also destroyed a house in
Nablus as a means of punishment. 

 

Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the “Annexation Wall” inside the West Bank, especially in the Jerusalem
district and in Housan village, west of Bethlehem. Israeli forces used force against Palestinian
civilians who organized peaceful protests against the construction of the
wall. 

 

In addition 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. They
denied access of Christians to Jerusalem and Bethlehem for the celebration of Easter. They have closed all border crossings into
the Gaza Strip, and divided it into 3 isolated zones.  They have also
closed 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.

Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property

 

Thursday, 8 April 2004

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nablus. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinians, including a child and his
brother, two women, and three brothers:

 

1. Hamdi
Khalil al-Zubaidi, 21;

2. Mohammed
Ahmed Shatawi, 38;

3. ‘Ameed
Sa’id al-Khandaqji, 18;

4. Taimour
Sa’id al-Khandaqji, 15;

5. Eyad
Mohammed Zaghloul, 24;

6. Fau’ad
Mohammed Zaghloul, 25;

7. Nihad
Mohammed Zaghloul, 23;

8. Alaa’
‘Abdul Fattah Zaqqout, 21; and

9. Lana
Yasser al-‘Aabed, 20. 

 

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into
Tulkarm, and raided and searched Akram Jamal al-Teerawi’s house in the
southwestern part of the town. They arrested his son, Eyad, 24, and two other
Palestinians who were in the house: Rami Yousef al-Barri, 23; and Mo’ayad
al-Jallad, 24. 

 

In the early morning, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved approximately 300 meters into al-Ja’farawi area in Wadi
al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. Israeli soldiers raided Sohout Hassan Abu Mughassib’s house, and checked
the identity cards of its 8 residents. They beat the owner’s son, Hassan Muhaisen Abu Mughassib, 23, as a
result of which he sustained injuries in the hand. Israeli soldiers then held residents of the
house in one room before leaving. No
arrests were reported. Israeli soldiers also
raided Fadel Hussein Hammouda’s house. They held its 8 residents in one room and severely beat two of the
owner’s sons: Mohammed, 22; and Baraa’, 18. Israeli soldiers left the house at 02:00, and no arrests were
reported. 

 

At approximately 01:10, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp and al-Duha village, south of
Bethlehem. At approximately 01:30,
Israeli soldiers raided and searched Ahmed ‘Abdullah al-Akhras’ house and
arrested his daughter, Iman, 24. At the
same time, Israeli soldiers raided and searched Mousa Mohammed Hammash’s house
and arrested his son, Mahmoud, 19. At
approximately 03:00, Israeli soldiers raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Khalil Ishaq Abu Hammad, 30, and arrested him.

 

At approximately 01:20, 6 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Beit Kahel village, west of Hebron. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3
Palestinians:

 

1. Zakaria
Suleiman al-‘Asafra, 22;

2. ‘Alaa’
Mohammed al-‘Asafra, 21; and

3. Wa’el
Ahmed al-‘Asafra, 22. 

 

At approximately 02:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number
of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:

 

1. ‘Adli
Mohammed Shamasna, 40; and  

2. Mohammed
Nazmi Shamasna, 26. 

 

At approximately 02:20, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Tarqoumia village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched Mohammed Isma’il Qabaja’s house and arrested
his son, Isma’il 22. 

 

At approximately 03:00, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved approximately 700 meters into agricultural areas to the
northeast of “Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. Israeli soldiers raided Farhana Ghaith
al-Louh’s house and its 37 residents in one room. They transformed the house’s roof into a
military post, where they remained until 05:30. 

 

At approximately 03:30, 3 Israeli heavy military
vehicles moved approximately 300 meters into ‘Oraiba area in the northwest of
Rafah. They destroyed a well owned by
Hussein ‘Ouda Madi, which provided water to an area of agricultural land
estimated at 300 donums. They also
destroyed a 4-donum area of agricultural land, on which 3 greenhouses planted
with vegetables stood, owned by Mohammed Hamad Abu Zaid. 

 

At approximately 08:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including bulldozers, moved
approximately 500 meters into al-Mawasi areas in al-Qarara village, northwest
of Khan Yunis. They began building a
road inside Palestinian agricultural land to link the coast with a settler road
that had been built in the beginning of the current Intifada. The length of the road is expected to be 900
meters. These actions continued until
Tuesday evening, 13 April 2004, with Israeli soldiers firing at whoever tried
to reach the area. All Palestinian
agricultural land located between the road and the neighboring “Tal Qatif”
settlement are effectively annexed to the settlement. The area of this land is estimated at 186
donums, and is planted with guavas, citrus and palm trees. The following shows details of the some of
the areas of land affected by the recent Israeli military actions:

 

 

At approximately 09:30, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in a military post to the west of Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the
west of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in the neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Ziad Fathi
al-Sidoudi, 30, was wounded by a live bullet in the head while working at a
construction site. He had been the third
worker to be wounded by the Israeli gunfire in the same area and manner in the
past three weeks. 

 

At approximately 10:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Ersal Street in al-Bireh. They surrounded Shalash building, which includes offices of a number of
governmental institutions. After
imposing a curfew on the area, they raided and searched the building. Israeli
soldiers then checked all in the building and arrested Mohammed Faqiyat, 30,
from Dura village, an employee of the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners’
Affairs. 

 

At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-‘Adissa village, northeast of Hebron. They raided Hassan ‘Abdul Rahim al-Mutawar’s
house, which is located near a settler road. They held the 12 residents of the house in one room and transformed it
into a military site. 

 

At approximately 22:40, 8 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. Israeli soldiers raided al-Salam
internet café and arrested Nassim ‘Abed Abu Qubaita, 27.  

 

Friday, 9 April 2004

 

At approximately 00:00, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved into Abu Zaher area in al-Qarara village, northeast of
Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers raided and
searched a number of houses belonging to the Abu Zaher family. They withdrew from the area at 05:00, and no
arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into ‘Aaida village, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Badran ‘Abdul
Qader Budair, 32. 

 

At approximately 18:50, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Netzer Hazani” settlement,
northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in
al-Qarara village to the east. A Palestinian
child, Daoud ‘Adnan Abu Rahma, 14, was wounded by a live bullet in the right
side. The child was on his way to a
mosque in the area, approximately 250 meters away from the source of fire, when
he was hit by a live bullet. 

 

At approximately 22:10, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement,
northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Amal
neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian,
Samer Helmi Hammouda, 24, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, when he
was walking approximately 300 meters away from the source of fire. 

 

Saturday, 10 April 2004

 

At approximately 01:00, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved into Abu Zaher area in al-Qarara village, northeast of
Khan Yunis. They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of ‘Azmi Mohammed Abu Zaher, 24, and arrested
him. 

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Dinnaba neighborhood in the east of Tulkarm. They raided Husni Naji Barakat’s house. They forced the family out, and used the
owner’s daughter, Hadil, 12, as a human shield to search the house. When they withdrew from the area, they
arrested the owner’s son, Hani, 23. While
they were withdrawing from the area, they fired at ‘Atiya Yousef ‘Atiq, 30, who
looked through the door of his house to see what was going on. He was injured by shrapnel in the left
thigh. 

 

At approximately 02:15, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps. They raided a 9-storey building owned by the
Nassif family. They forced all residents
of the building on the first floor. Ten
Israeli military jeeps were positioned in Haifa Street, opposite to ‘Ein Beit
al-Maa’ refugee camp. Israeli soldiers
surrounded Shu’aibu building.  Later,
Israeli soldiers raided a kindergarten in Roujib housing project in the east of
the city, forced the children out and searched it. Israeli soldiers also raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinians; 8 of them were released in the
evening, while the ninth one, ‘Emad al-Sarkaji, 23, remains in custody. 

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Taqqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 2 Palestinians:

 

1. Ghassan
‘Eissa Hajahja, 22; and

2. Yousef
Mousa Hajahja, 31. 

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They
raided and searched ‘Abdul Ghani Anis Hassan’s house and arrested his son,
Ibrahim, 19. At approximately 04:15,
they raided and searched Mohammed Hassan Radwan’s house and arrested his son,
Jaber, 21, and his relative, Mo’ammar Fawzi Raswan, 18. 

 

At approximately 05:15, an Israeli gunboat chased a
number of Palestinian fishermen while they were fishing opposite to Deir
al-Balah seashore. Israeli soldiers
positioned in a military post inside Tal Qtif settlement, south of Deir
al-Balah, approximately 700 meters away from the seashore, opened fire at one
of the escaping boats. A Palestinian
child, Nayef Mohammed al-‘Aqra’, 12, was wounded by a live bullet in the left
leg, while he was together with his brothers fishing. 

 

At approximately 10:30, 4 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Dura village, west of Hebron. Israeli soldiers provoked Palestinian schoolchildren in the village, after
which a number of schoolchildren threw stones at the Israeli military
jeeps. Soon, Israeli soldiers fired
rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the children. Nine children suffered from tear gas inhalation. Three other children were wounded by
rubber-coated metal bullets:

 

1. Shaher
Mohammed ‘Arqoub, 15, hit in the left leg;  

2. ‘Omar
Mohammed al-Darabei’, 16, hit in the right thigh; and

3. ‘Abdul
‘Aziz Mohammed al-Rajoub, 17, hit in the back. 

 

In the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces opened
fire at al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis, killing a 12-year-old Palestinian
child when she was inside her family’s house. 

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 12:50, Israeli occupying forces positioned in “Gani Tal”
settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in
al-Amal neighborhood to the southeast. A
live bullet penetrated a window of Mohammed Khalil Tulba’s house, and hit his
daughter, Iman, 12, in the head, when she was in the kitchen opposite to the
window. Her family evacuated her to
Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, but all medical efforts made to save her life
failed and she was pronounced dead a few minutes later. The family’s house is approximately 600
meters away from the aforementioned settlement. 

 

At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 200 meters into al-Rabwat area in the northwest of Khan
Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian
agricultural land:

 

1. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with potatoes and destroyed
an irrigation network owned by Yassin Khamis al-Astal. 

2. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with potatoes and destroyed
an irrigation network owned by Hassan Mousa al-Astal.

 

Sunday, 11 April 2004

 

In an apparent case of willful killing, in the early
morning, Israeli occupying forces killed a Palestinian civilian in ‘Aqraba
village, southeast of Nablus. Apparently,
they were targeting his bother, as they claimed that they had killed one
Palestinian while they were attempting to arrest two other Palestinian
activists. They further claimed that
“the two activists surrendered, while a third Palestinian was killed.”

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 01:00, 20 Israeli military vehicles moved into ‘Aqraba village,
southeast of Nablus. They surrounded and threw stones at Mahmoud ‘Abdul
Rahman’s Diriya’s house. When his son,
Mohammed, 36, accompanied by his mother opened the door, Israeli soldiers
immediately fired at him from a distance of a few meters. He was killed by a live bullet in the head in
front of his mother. Israeli soldiers
took his body to a military jeep that then left the area. Israeli soldiers broke into the house. They searched it and arrested the victim’s
brother, Ibrahim, 28. They also arrested
Yousef Hamed Bani Jaber, 32, from a neighboring house. At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces
delivered the victim’s body to a Palestinian ambulance. They did not hand the victim’s identity card
and clothes to the ambulance. The victim
was married and a father of 6.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into ‘Ezbat al-Jarad village, east of Tulkarm. They raided a house belonging to the family
of Nayef ‘Abdul Rahim Jarad, a member of the Palestinian National Council, and
another house belonging to the family of Manosur Shuraim. The two have been detained by Israeli
occupying forces. The two families were
warned that ‘Abdul Rahim Nayef Jaradat and ‘Emad Saleh Shuraim must surrender
to Israeli forces. 

 

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into
Beit Sourik village, northwest of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians,
including a child, for their participation in protests against the construction
of the apartheid separation wall:

 

1. Yusri
Mahmoud Abu Subaih, 15;

2. ‘Aziz
Subhi Jaber, 32; and

3. Samir
Samih Abu Subaih, 20. 

 

At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nablus through its southern entrance. They surrounded Balata refugee camp, east of
the city. A number of Palestinian
civilians gathered and threw stones at Israeli forces. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the
stone throwers, wounding one of them and a passing civilian:

 

1. ‘Aadel
Hussein Abu Rabi’, 28, from Balata refugee camp, wounded by shrapnel in the
head and the neck; and

2. Tawfiq
Saleh Abu Laimoun, 20, from Nablus, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in
the right leg.  

 

At approximately 17:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps
moved into al-Zababda village, east of Jenin. A number of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at the
jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers
fired at these civilians wounding 3:

 

1. ‘Alaa’
Maher Sharqawi, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the chest;

2. Munadel
‘Abdul Rahim Sharqawi, 21, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and

3. Mahmoud
Suleiman Bizru, 25, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen. 

 

At approximately 17:30, Israeli occupying forces
raided Yousef Ahmed Abu Jalal’s house at Kharsa junction, southwest of
Hebron. They forced the 10 residents of
the house to stay on the first floor, and brought military equipment to the
third floor, which they transformed into a military location. 

 

At approximately 23:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Tulkarm. They raided a café
in the center of the town and arrested ‘Aayed Nader Yahia, 19. 

 

Monday, 12 April 2004

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Jenin and opened fire at Palestinian houses. This incursion continued until 05:30 and no
arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 03:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed ‘Abdullah Joma’a,
50, and arrested him. 

 

At approximately 10:30, an undercover unit of Israeli
occupying forces traveling in a civilian car moved into al-Khader village,
southwest of Bethlehem. Soon after, 3
Israeli military jeeps moved into the village opening fire
indiscriminately. The civilian car
stopped in front of the Arab Bank. A
number of armed persons got out of the car and pointed their guns at Firas
Salem Abu ‘Alia, 35, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp, a guard at the bank, and
arrested him. 

 

At approximately 16:00, an Israeli military
helicopter landed on Wad al-Nafia area in Ethna village, west of Hebron. Israeli soldiers arrested Isma’il ‘Ali Mutlaq
al-Jayawi, 20, while his animals were
grazing. 

 

At approximately 20:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved into Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood in
the south of Gaza city. They demolished
a 3-storey house owned by Mohammed Bekhit Abu Khousa, in which 7 people used to
live, located approximately 120 meters away. Israeli forces had seized the house for 7 months starting from December
2000, then later allowed the family to return. However, Israeli forces have seized the house again since the 12 March
2002. 

 

Tuesday, 13 April 2004

 

At approximately 01:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps
moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number
of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:

 

1. ‘Ammar
Jaber al-Badawi, 23; and

2. Jamal
Hussein Abu Daya, 24. 

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nablus. They opened fire at
Palestinian houses. A Palestinian
civilian, Ragheb Isma’il al-Kharraz, 40, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the left foot. Then, Israeli
forces surrounded al-‘Esraa’ apartment building in al-Makhfia
neighborhood. They forced its 50
residents to get out of the building and held them in two rooms in a
neighboring house, which was still under construction. Israeli soldiers used megaphones to request
the surrender of Ja’far Mohammed al-Masri, 35, but he was not in his flat. An Israeli officer interrogated his wife, his
two children and his brother about him. Then, Israeli forces shelled the building sporadically until 16:00, when
they withdrew from the area they arrested al-Masri’s wife, Suhair Marwan Yousef
al-Masri, 24, and his bother, ‘Azmi, 37. Al-Masri’s flat was burnt by the Israeli shelling. At least 132 people live in this 6-storey
building. This number includes 70
university students, who were not there on that day as study at an-Najah
National University was suspended. Al-Masri is wanted, and a building belonging to him was destroyed by
Israeli forces a few months ago, when the Israeli Forces killed Mohammed ‘Abdul
Rahim al-Hanbali. 

 

At approximately 02:15, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved
into Tulkarm refugee camp. Israeli
soldiers raided and searched a house belonging to Hashem Abu Zughaib, 22, and
arrested him. 

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian
children:

 

1. ‘Abdul
Hadi Radwan, 17; and

2. Qais
Maher Badwan, 17. 

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 2 Palestinians:

 

1. Mohammed
Mahmoud Hammad, 33; and

2. Mohammed
Hassan Al-Jabri, 32. 

 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Kafr al-Labad village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 4 Palestinians:

 

1. Sami
Mohammed Abu Jibara, 21;

2. ‘Abdul
Hadi Fares Barhoush, 22;

3. ‘Alaa’
Ahmed al-Aswad, 20; and

4. Mohammed
‘Abdullah Sabha, 19. 

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Jenin. They raided and
searched a number of houses and the Al-Mithalouni commercial building and
arrested Mohammed Abu al-‘Abbas, 23. 

 

At approximately 17:00, Israeli heavy military
vehicles moved into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian
border. They leveled a number of houses
which they had already demolished. An
hour later, more Israeli military reinforcements, supported by a helicopter,
were brought to the area. They
demolished a 180-square-meter house, which was still under construction, owned
by Ziad ‘Abdul Rahman al-Mishal. 

 

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved
approximately 200 meters into the Al-Rabwat area in the northwest of Khan
Yunis. They razed a 1.5-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives and demolished 2 agricultural rooms owned
by Hammad Mustafa al-Majaida.

 

 

Wednesday, 14 April 2004

 

At approximately 03:00, 6 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. Israeli
soldiers raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Yousef Bassam
Mallah, 26, and arrested him. 

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Kherbat Roqa’a area to the east of Yatta village, south of
Hebron. They raided and searched Hussein
Abu ‘Arram’s house and arrested his son, Anas, 22. 

 

At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces
raided ‘Ez Rajab Majah’s house in al-Thawri neighborhood in the old town of
Jerusalem. They beat members of the
family and arrested the owner’s son, Mahmoud, 18. 

 

At approximately 11:00, around 300 Palestinian
civilians and some international and Israeli peace activists organized a
peaceful demonstration in Biddu village, northwest of Jerusalem, protesting
against the construction of the “Annexation Wall” in the area. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal
bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. About 20 demonstrators were wounded by
rubber-coated metal bullets or suffered from tear gas inhalation. Two of the wounded were evacuated to a
hospital in Ramallah:

 

1. Mohammed
Farid Mansour, 14, seriously wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
head; and

2. Ziad
Nasser Abu ‘Eid, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back. 

 

At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces
arrested a Palestinian girl, Maisoun Abu ‘Eisha, 24, in the old town of
Hebron. 

 

At approximately 23:00, around 40 Israeli heavy
military vehicles, reinforced by helicopters, moved into Block J in Rafah
refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They opened fire at Palestinian houses and seized control over the
area. On Thursday morning, an Israeli
helicopter gunship launched a missile at a crowd of Palestinian civilians,
wounding 21, including 11 children. Four
of the wounded remain in a serious condition. At the time of writing, Israeli forces are demolishing a number of
Palestinian houses. More details will be
available in the next report. 

 

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 which Israel alleges have
ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets. 

 

At approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, 14 April 2004,
15 Israeli military jeeps moved into Rafidya neighborhood in the west of
Nablus. Israeli soldiers surrounded a
200-square-meter house owned by Kamal Asa’ad Abu al-So’oud. They gave the five residents of the house 10
minutes to vacate it. Then, they planted
explosives inside the house. At
approximately 03:30, they destroyed the house. The owner is the father of Subaih Abu al-So’oud, 16, who was killed on 3
November 2003. Israeli forces had
claimed that he carried an explosive belt and was on his way to carry out an
attack inside Israel. 

 

Continued Construction of the “Annexation Wall”

 

Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the “Annexation Wall” inside the West Bank, especially in the villages
of Biddu and Beit Sourik, which witnessed protests by Palestinian civilians
against this construction. Israeli
military bulldozers continued to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in
Biddu village for the purpose of the construction of the wall. 

 

On Sunday evening, 11 April 2004, Israeli forces
imposed a curfew on al-Sahel area in Biddu village, claiming that they
discovered a bomb that targeted the equipments used in the construction of the
wall. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli
soldiers raided and searched a number of neighboring Palestinian houses. 

 

On Tuesday noon, 13 April 2004, Israeli military
bulldozers started to raze large areas of Palestinian agricultural land planted
with figs and grapes in Housan village, west of Bethlehem. According to the local council of the
village, the land leveling took place 2350 meters inside the West Bank territory. 

 

Continued Siege on the
OPT

 

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. 

 

Gaza Strip

 

For the third consecutive week, Israeli occupying
forces have continued to impose a total siege on the Gaza Strip.  They
closed 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 occupying 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.  The two checkpoints, which are open for a maximum
of a few hours each day, have become notorious for acts of humiliation and
harassment by Israeli soldiers.

  

On Thursday morning, 8 April 2004, Israeli forces loosened
restrictions at the two checkpoints.  However they continued to hold
dozens of Palestinian vehicles in between and searched the passengers. 

 

Since 22 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces have
continued to close Erez crossing at the northern entrance to the Gaza Strip,
denying access of thousands of Palestinian workers to their work places in
Israel. They have also imposed more
restrictions on Palestinian workers working in the Erez industrial zone,
including prolonged checking. 

 

In violation of the right of health, for two weeks,
Israeli occupying 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 entry access
to vehicles carrying medicine into the Gaza Strip. 

 

Israeli occupying forces have maintained the closure
of Sofa crossing, allowing the entry of only a small number. 

 

Israeli occupying 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

 

They have also continued to impose a tightened siege
on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip.   Israeli forces allow
Palestinian civilians to exit the area after 10:00, which means that
schoolchildren are not allowed to go to their schools.  In the same context, Israeli occupying 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. 

 

Since 22 March 2004, Israeli occupying 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. Only 200 Palestinians can travel through the
terminal everyday instead of 400 in the past. The Israeli intelligence services
often stop and interrogate a number of Palestinian travelers. On Friday, 9 April 2004, Israeli forces
arrested two Palestinians:

 

1. Eyad
Hassan al-Sumairi, 29; and

2. Nabil
Ahmed al-Farra, 25. 

 

In addition, Israeli occupying forces have continued
to close Rafah commercial crossing, allowing entry of a small number of people
and some cement. 

 

 

 

West Bank

 

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.  They have blocked a number of
roads using cement blocks, sand barriers and trenches, and imposed curfews on a
number of villages.  

 

Jerusalem

 

Israeli occupying forces have imposed more
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday, 10 April 2004, Israeli soldiers
positioned at Dahiat al-Barid military checkpoint at the northern entrance to
the city and Gilo checkpoint at the southern entrance to the city denied access
of hundreds of Palestinian Christians to the city to celebrate Easter. 

 

Ramallah

 

On Saturday morning, 10 April 2004, Israeli forces
erected a military checkpoint on ‘Atara Bridge, north of Bir Zeit village. They imposed restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. Israeli soldiers positioned
at Qalandya checkpoint, south of the town, have continued to deny passage for
Palestinian civilians who do not have checkpoint permits. 

  

Bethlehem

 

Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. They denied access to thousands of Christians to the town to celebrate
Easter. For the second consecutive week,
they have continued to deny access of Palestinian employees to the building of
the Ministry of Religious Endowments, which is located neat Bilal Ben Rabah
mosque (Rachel’s Tomb) in the north of the town. 

 

On Sunday evening, 11 April 2004, Israeli soldiers
positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, southeast of the town, beat ‘Emad Ahmed
Ramis, 26, from Za’tara village, and Wafa Mohammed Abu Mariya, 25, from
al-Fredis village, while they were grazing animals in the area. The two sustained bruises. They were evacuated to a medical clinic in
Za’tara village. 

 

On Monday, 12 April 2004, Israeli soldiers positioned
at al-Container checkpoint, east of Bethlehem, severely beat a number of
Palestinian civilians who wished to cross the checkpoint. Three of these civilians sustained bruises
and injuries throughout the body. 

 

Nablus

 

Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected more checkpoints around the city. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces
reinforced their presence around the city and erected temporary checkpoints,
which served as ambushes to arrest wanted Palestinians. 

 

On Saturday, 10 April 2004, Israeli soldiers
positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city, arrested Mohammed Sa’di
Barham, 19, from Ramin village, east of Tulkarm. 

 

Salfit

 

On Tuesday morning, 13 April 2004, Israeli forces
erected more checkpoints on the main roads and imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.

 

Hebron

 

Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 10 April 2004, Israeli forces erected a number of
checkpoints on the roads leading to Hebron University. They also erected a checkpoint on the road
leading to a Palestinian police station in Nimra area and checked Palestinian
policemen who were on their way to the station. 

 

Jenin

 

On Saturday morning, 10 April 2004, Israeli forces
erected more checkpoints around the town. They imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians
in and out of the town. 

 

Tulkarm

 

On Saturday morning, 10 April 2004, Israeli occupying
forces imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians
between the town and neighboring villages. They closed al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south of the town. On Monday evening, 12 April 2004, they moved
into Tulkarm refugee camp and closed its four entrances. 

 

On Wednesday morning, 14 April 2004, Israeli soldiers
positioned at a military checkpoint at the entrance to Bala’a village, east of
the town, arrested Mohammed Hassan Jeetawi, 23. On the same day, Israeli soldiers positioned at a checkpoint erected at
the entrance to Beit Leed village, east of the town, arrested Hisham Mohammed
Duraidi, 27. 

 

Israeli Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers
against Palestinian Civilians and Property

 

Israeli settlers who live in the OPTs in violation of
international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians
and their properties. 

 

At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 11 April 2004, a
number of armed Israeli settlers broke into al-Aqtab mosque. They threw its contents, including the holy Qur’an,
Islamic books and carpets out. They
brought new furniture into the mosque in an attempt to transform it into a
settlement center. This attack took
place before the eyes of Israeli soldiers who did not move to stop it. According to Saleh al-Natsha, Director of
Religious Endowments in Hebron, he, accompanied by a lawyer, submitted a
complaint to the Israeli police in the town. Although the police confirmed that the attack took place, they did not
do anything to change the situation. 

 

On the same day, a number of armed Israeli settlers
moved from “Allon Mreih” settlement, east of Nablus, moved into ‘Azmout
village. They attacked Palestinian
civilian properties and stole a horse owned by Ra’eq Subaih Thawabta. 

 

At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 12 April 2004, a
number of Israeli settlers from “Susia” settlement, south of Hebron, attacked
Palestinian farmers and agricultural areas. They damaged more about 14 donums of Palestinian agricultural land
planted with wheat, Barley and olives owned by the al-Nawaja’a family.

 

On Tuesday morning, 13 April 2004, about 50 armed
Israeli settlers moved from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of Hebron, and
launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and properties in
al-Masharqa neighborhood in the southeast of the town. They attacked civilians and their houses with
iron bars and empty bottles. All these
attacks took place in front of Israeli soldiers. Four Palestinian civilians were injured:

 

1. Suleiman
‘Abdul Hai Matariya, 27, injured in the head; 

2. Rami
‘Abdul Hai Matariya, 20, sustained bruises and injuries throughout the body;

3. Jamal
Jamil Matariya, 32, sustained injuries and bruises throughout the body; and

4. Mohammed
‘Orabi al-Ja’bari, 27, injured in the head. 

 

In addition, 6 houses were damaged. 

 

 

 

*****

 

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 the
conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged
Israel to act as a state beyond the law and 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, namely war
crimes.

4. PCHR
recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations and bar associations 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 the importing 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. There is no doubt
that the wall is illegal, which obligates the international community to take
steps to enforce the anticipated decision by the court.

8. In
recognition of the ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR
calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPTs, including
the facilitation of family visits to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

9. PCHR
appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights
organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue
their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human
rights in the OPTs and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10. In light of the severe restrictions
imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access of
international solidarity groups to the OPTs, PCHR calls upon European countries
to treat Israeli citizens in the same way. 

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