Israeli Forces continue attacks on
the oPt
· 13
Palestinians, mostly civilians, including a child and a woman, were killed by
Israeli troops
· One
of the victims was killed in an extra-judicial assassination
· Continued
Israeli offensive on Beit Hanoun
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· 75
houses were destroyed and 204 donums[1]
of agricultural land were razed
· 6
houses were destroyed in the West Bank by Israeli troops in the context of
retaliatory measures against families of Palestinian activists
· Construction
of the “Annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued, despite the ruling of
the International Court of Justice
· Israeli
occupying forces have continued to impose a total siege on the OPt; border
crossings are still closed, Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border was closed
and Beit Hanoun has been under a strict siege for the 3rd
consecutive week
Introduction
Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more
violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians in the occupied
Palestinian territory (oPt). Human rights violations perpetrated by
Israeli occupying forces included willful and extra-judicial 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 oPt. This week, 13 Palestinians, mostly civilians,
including a child, a woman and 2 old men, were killed by Israeli troops.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops killed 9
Palestinians, including a woman, a child and a handicapped elderly. Seven of the victims, including the woman,
were killed by Israeli troops in Beit Hanoun on 8 July 2004, in the context of
the continuous Israeli offensive on the town. The handicapped elderly was killed when Israeli troops demolished his
house over him in Khan Yunis on 12 July 2004. The child was killed while she was inside her house in Rafah, when
Israeli troops opened fire at residential areas in the town on 10 July
2004.
Israeli occupying forces conducted 8 military
incursions into Palestinian areas, 5 of which were into Khan Yunis. Israeli troops destroyed 75 houses, in which
684 people (102 families) lived, and razed 304 donums of agricultural land,
mostly in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. In Beit Hanoun, at least 2500 donums of
agricultural land have been razed by Israeli troops in Beit Hanoun since the
beginning of the Israeli offensive on the town.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces launched a
series of attacks against Palestinian civilians. Two of the victims were willfully killed by
Israeli troops in Hebron and Qalqilya on 8 July 2004. A Palestinian was
extra-judicially assassinated by Israeli troops in Jenin on 13 July 2004. The fourth victim was an old man who was run
down by an Israeli settler in Bethlehem on 13 July 2004. Israeli troops also raided 2 charitable
societies in Jenin and Qalqilya and closed them for 2 years. Israeli troops also arrested dozens of
Palestinians throughout the West Bank. In addition, they destroyed 6 houses in retaliation against families of
Palestinian activists.
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the annexation wall inside the West Bank, despite the advisory opinion
issued by the International Court of Justice. According to Israeli sources, there are new instructions with regard to
the track of the wall to comply with the decision taken by the Israeli High
Court, to construct the wall as close as possible to the 1967 border, not on
the border itself, in violation of international law.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
tightened siege on the oPt and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have
continued to close most border crossings. A number of these crossings were partially reopened, but under severe
restrictions. They have continued to
impose a strict siege on Beit Hanoun. On
Sunday morning, Israeli troops closed Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border. In the 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.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israeli Offensive on Beit Hanoun
Israeli occupying forces have continued their
offensive on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun since 28 June
2004. Since then, 14 Palestinians, mostly
civilians, including 3 children, have been killed by Israeli troops. Seven of the victims were killed this
week. Israeli troops have also razed
hundreds of donums of Palestinian agricultural land and the largely destroyed
the civilian infrastructure of the town, isolating it from the rest of the Gaza
Strip.
On Thursday morning, 8 July 2004, Israeli occupying forces, continuing a
wide scale offensive on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun which
started on the 28 June 2004, killed 7 Palestinians, including a woman.
According to preliminary investigations by PCHR, at approximately 01:30,
an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Na’aima Street in
the east of Beit Hanoun, towards a house belonging to the family of Nahed
‘Abdul Rahman Abu ‘Ouda, 44, who is wanted by Israeli troops. PCHR
learned that Abu ‘Ouda was killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli troops,
but those troops have continued to hold his body in a Palestinian ambulance,
without allowing the ambulance to travel out of the town.
At the same time, another unit of Israeli occupying forces moved into
al-Sikka and al-Wad roads. These are the only outlets left for the movement of
Palestinian civilians as Israeli troops have continued to impose a siege on the
town for several days. Israeli troops seized a number of houses in the
area. Other troops were deployed in agricultural areas. At
approximately 05:30, Israeli troops opened fire at 4 members of the Fatah
movement when they were walking on al-Wad road. Three of them were
killed:
1.
Naser al-Din Mohammed Abu Harbid, 38;
2.
Zaher Rajeh Abu Harbid, 31; and
3.
Na’im Mubah al-Kafarna, 41.
The fourth member was able to escape. A Palestinian civilian,
Yousef Ahmed Mousa al-Za’nin, 52, tried to help the victims, but Israeli troops
immediately shot him dead.
At approximately 06:00, a number of members of the Palestinian
resistance clashed with Israeli troops. One member of the resistance,
Hamed Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Abu ‘Ouda, 27, was killed in these clashes.
As a result of the intense shelling to Palestinian residential areas in
the town, a Palestinian woman, Jamila ‘Abdul Hadi Hamad, 44, was killed by
several live bullets throughout the body, when she was near her house.
Her child, Wafaa’, 13, was also seriously wounded by a live bullet in the
chest. In addition, 5 other civilians were wounded. Israeli troops
have continued to hold 3 Palestinian ambulances. The ambulances were trying to
convey the body of a Palestinian killed by the IOF, a woman in labor and an
injured civilian to hospital. They have also continued to raze areas of
Palestinian agricultural land in Beit Hanoun and in the neighboring Jabalya
town. They have razed at least 1400 donums of agricultural land so
far. PCHR remains extremely concerned that Israeli troops will continue
with these attacks against Palestinian civilians and their properties in Beit
Hanoun.
Israeli troops further tightened the siege imposed on
the town, and did not allow entry of the bodies of these victims into the town
until 10:30 on Friday, 9 July 2004.
On Friday afternoon, Israeli troops fired at a number
of Palestinian civilians, mostly children, at the southern entrance of the
town. Three civilians, including 2
children, were injured, one of whom was in a serious condition. On the same day, Israeli troops arrested
Mahdi Mohammed al-Basiouni, 24.
At approximately 01:00 on Saturday, 10 July 2004,
Israeli troops, reinforced by helicopters, moved into Tallat Qulaibu area in
the west of Beit Lahia. They razed dozens
of donums of agricultural land planted with citrus fruits.
At approximately 06:00 on the same day, Israeli troops
fired an artillery shell at a number of Palestinian civilians who were
collecting wood in the east of Jabalya. One civilian, Mohammed Nafez Abu Jabal, 24, was seriously injured by
shrapnel throughout the body. He lost
one of his legs.
At approximately 10:30 on the same day, Israeli
troops fired at a number of Palestinian women in al-Wad Street when they tried
to exit the town. One woman, Latifa ‘Eid
Abu ‘Amsha, 26, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh.
On Friday, crews of the ICRC faced extreme difficulties
in delivering foodstuffs and water to houses in the town.
At approximately 19:00 on Sunday, 11 July 2004,
Israeli troops fired at Mahmoud Mohammed ‘Obaid, 38, in the east of
Jabalya. He was wounded by a live bullet
in the right shoulder. Israeli troops
also destroyed a factory in the west of Beit Hanoun.
At approximately 03:00 on Monday, 12 July 2004,
Israeli troops demolished a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by
Ahmed Hassan Hussein Abu Kalloub.
At approximately 08:30 on the same day, Israeli
troops reopened the road located to the northwest of Beit Hanoun for one hour
only.
At approximately 14:00 on the same day, Israeli
troops destroyed a factory of concrete in the south of the town. They also razed more areas of agricultural
land in the east and west of the town.
At approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, 13 July 2004,
Israeli troops raided and searched a number of houses in the northwest of Beit
Hanoun. They arrested Jamal Mohammed
Swailem, 44.
At approximately 14:30 on Wednesday, 14 July 2004,
Israeli troops surrounded 5 houses belonging to the Swailem family in the
northwest of Beit Hanoun. They forced
residents of the houses out and searched the houses. Israeli troops left the area at approximately
18:00.
Thursday, 8 July 2004
At midnight, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by
helicopters, moved into Khan Yunis refugee camp in the southern Gaza
Strip. Under the cover of intense shelling, they totally destroyed 30
Palestinian houses, leaving 250 people (44 families) homeless. In
addition, 10 houses, where 95 people (18 families) live, were severely
damaged. Four Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded:
1. Ma’isaa’
Ahmed Abu Rezeq, 10, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen;
2. Wisam
Hassan Abu al-Sa’id, 27, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand;
3. ‘Abdul
Rahman Saleh al-Mubasher, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot; and
4. Nayef
Mohammed al-Zarabi, 55, wounded by a live bullet in the back.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli
troops, reinforced by nearly 20 military vehicles, moved into the center of
Jenin. They surrounded the headquarters
of al-Zakat (‘alms giving’) Committee of the Palestinian Ministry of
Religious Endowments and Affairs. They
blew up the doors of the headquarters and searched offices. They confiscated
dozens of documents and files. At
approximately 06:00, Israeli troops withdrew, leaving a military order closing
the headquarters, offices and agencies of the committee for 2 years. The committee offer humanitarian aid to
orphans and poor people. In the past 2
years, Israeli troops raided its headquarters in Jenin on 5 occasions.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli
troops moved into al-Qura’an neighborhood in the center of Qalqilya. They surrounded the headquarter of the Qur’an
and Sunna (the Prophet Mohammed’s teachings) Society. They blew up its doors and searched it. They confiscated a number of computer sets
and some furniture. When withdrawing,
Israeli troops left a military order closing the society for 2 years.
In the afternoon and the
evening, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah,
opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town. Eight Palestinian civilians, including 4
women and 3 children, were wounded:
1. Samar ‘Omar Fouju, 4, seriously wounded by a live bullet
in the head;
2. Salem Ibrahim al-‘Ujaili, 16, wounded by a live bullet in
the right thigh;
3. Miriam Walid Juhaish, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the
left shoulder;
4. Sanaa’ Mahmoud Fouju, 65, wounded by a live bullet in the
left thigh;
5. Halima Mahmoud Abu Na’na’, 26, wounded by a live bullet
in the left shoulder;
6. Sabreen Yasser Fouju, 11, wounded by a live bullet in the
left thigh;
7. Ahmed Walid al-Qadi, 10, wounded by shrapnel in the head;
and
8. ‘Aliya Mahmoud al-Bayoumi, 22, wounded by a live bullet
in the back.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli
troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 150 meters into
Gizan al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. They immediately demolished 2 houses
belonging to the families of ‘Aashour and ‘Omran, in which 26 people
lived.
In the evening, Israeli troops
moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp and Bazaria village;
Hebron; Bethlehem; and Ramallah. They
raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinians.
In the evening, in a case of an
apparent willful killing, Israeli troops shot dead Marwan ‘Ali ‘Omar
al-Qawasmi, 32, from Hebron. Al-Qawasmi
bled to death. Israeli troops claimed
that he was killed as he tried to escape when Israeli troops attempted to
arrest him. However, investigations
conducted by PCHR revealed that Israeli troops could have arrested him as they
had surrounded the house where he hid and he was unarmed. Israeli troops also arrested 3 other
Palestinians. Al-Qawasmi was wanted by
Israeli troops for his activities in al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing
of Fatah movement.
According to preliminary investigations
by PCHR, at approximately 20:45, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces
moved into Wadi Abu Katila neighborhood in the northwest of Hebron using 4
civilian cars that have Israeli registrations. Israeli troops surrounded Hamdi Younis Junaidi’s 2-storey house,
claiming that a number of allegedly wanted Palestinians were hiding
inside. A few minutes later, an Israeli
armored personnel carrier, 2 vans, an ambulance and nearly 30 jeeps arrived at
the area. Israeli troops surrounded the house
and opened fire at it from all directions from distances of 10-30 meters. A number of those who were in the house
attempted to escape through a window on the second floor. When al-Qawasmi jumped through the window,
Israeli troops noticed him. They
threatened to kill him if he did not stop. Al-Qawasmi stopped with his hands up, but Israeli troops opened fire at
him from a distance of less than 10 meters. He was wounded by several live bullets in the back. He crept towards the first floor, while bleeding. Israeli troops continued to fire at the house
using machine guns. Then, they fired 5
artillery shells at the house. At
approximately 22:00, an Israeli intelligence officer arrived at the area and
interrogated the house’s owner about those who were inside the house. Then, Israeli troops gave the owner 5 minutes
to vacate the house of its 24 residents. These residents were taken nearly 300 meters away from the house. At approximately 01:00 on the following day,
Israeli officers allowed the owner to enter the house and bring al-Qawasmi out. As al-Qawasmi was brought out, he was still
alive. Israeli troops cut his clothes
and then carried him towards an ambulance. He remained in the ambulance, without being offered any kind of medical
treatment. Israeli troops withdrew from
the area at approximately 04:30. At
approximately 07:00, Israeli troops summoned the victim’s father to the
headquarters of the Israeli military liaison in the south of Hebron and asked
him to identify his son’s body. At
approximately 20:00, Israeli troops delivered al-Qawasmi’s body to a Palestinian
ambulance. According to medical sources,
he was shot by 7 live bullets throughout the body, which indicates that he
might have been shot also by Israeli troops after he had been arrested.
In the evening, in another case
of apparent willful killing, Israeli troops shot dead Mohammed Khamis Mohammed
Rabe’, 20, from Hijja village east of Qalqilya, and wounded another
civilian. Israeli troops fired at a car
that was traveling in a convoy of cars that were participating in a wedding
party. According to eyewitnesses, the
area was completely quiet when Israeli troops fired at the car.
According to PCHR’s
investigations, at approximately 22:00, a number of civilian cars were
traveling in a convoy during a wedding party in the center of Hijja village
east of Qalqilya. Mohammed Rabe’ was
traveling in a white Subaru driven by Rami Bassam ‘Abdul Latif Batta, 20. An Israeli jeep coming from the opposite
direction passed near the convoy. When
the jeep became dozens of meters away from the convoy, Israeli troops fired at
the aforementioned car, which was traveling at the end of the convoy. Rabe’ was killed by a live bullet in the
head, and Batta was injured by shrapnel throughout the body.
Friday, 9 July 2004
At approximately 00:30, Israeli troops, reinforced by
heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved nearly 600 meters into Gizan
al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. They opened fire at the area. Then, Israeli troops ordered residents of the area through megaphones to
leave their houses without allowing them to vacate any of their
belongings. As soon as these residents
got out of their houses, Israeli troops drove them away from the area and
military bulldozers started to demolish a number of houses. By 06:00, Israeli military bulldozers had
demolished 4 houses completely, in which 28 people (5 families), and 2 other
ones partially, in which 67 people (7 families) live. They had also razed 45 donums of agricultural
land and destroyed an irrigation network, an agricultural pool and 2 animal farms. All of these properties belong to the
al-Sha’er family.
In the morning, Israeli troops moved into Qalqilya
and the neighboring ‘Azzoun village; and Ya’bad village, southwest of
Jenin. They raided and searched a number
of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians.
At approximately 21:30, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved from “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza
City, into Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood in the southwest of Gaza City. Israeli troops raided an uninhabited house
belonging to a woman from the Shamallakh family and transformed it into a
military site. On the following day
morning, 10 July 2004, more Israeli troops arrived at the area to reinforce the
infantry unit. Under the cover of
intense shelling, they razed at least 20 donums of agricultural land belonging
the Shamallakh family. During this incursion, Israeli troops fired an artillery
shell and several live bullets at a 4-storey house owned by Talab Jamil
al-‘Anani. The second floor of the house
was severely damaged. Israeli troops
also destroyed the southern façade of the house they had already seized. Additionally, a Palestinian civilian,
Mohammed Saleh Juha, 19, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, a
paramedic, was wounded by a live bullet in the chest, fired by Israeli
troops.
At approximately 23:20, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved into Palestinian areas located to the west of “Kfar
Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. Israeli troops raided ‘Omar Ahmed Basheer’s
house and held its 34 residents in one room. They searched the houses and checked the identity cards of its
residents. Then, Israeli troops moved to
Khalil Isma’il Basheer’s house in the area and searched it the same way. Israeli troops withdrew from the area at
approximately 05:00.
Saturday, 10 July 2004
At approximately 03:00, Israeli
troops moved into Jenin refugee camp. They raided and searched Mohammed ‘Owais’ house and arrested his
daughter Aaya, 17.
At approximately 08:30, Israeli
troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at
Palestinian residential areas in the town. One heavy caliber bullet penetrated a wall of ‘Ouda Abu Samhadana’s
house, nearly 900 meters away from the border, and hit his daughter Haneen, 16,
in the chest, while she was helping her two brothers wearing their
clothes. Members of the family evacuated
her to Martyr Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, but she instantly
died. According to medical sources, the
bullet hit the child in the heart. Thus,
the number of Palestinian children killed by Israeli shelling in the Gaza Strip
in 10 days mounted to 4.
At approximately 09:00,
Israeli troops positioned in a military post near Salah al-Din Gate on the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas
in the town. Two Palestinian civilians,
including a child, were wounded while they were in a market:
1. Ahmed
Mohammed Ka’bar, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg; and
2. ‘Ouda
Khalil al-Qadi, 41, wounded by shrapnel in the left forearm.
Monday, 12 July
2004
In the morning, Israeli military bulldozers demolished a house while an
elderly physically disabled Palestinian civilian was still inside.
Despite attempts by his wife and daughter to draw attention to his presence the
IOF continued with the demolition. The incident occurred during a wide scale
Israeli military incursion into the camp, accompanied by intense shelling from
tanks and helicopter gunships. This latest operation left 34 Palestinian
houses demolished. In a similar Israeli military operation in the same
camp on 8 July 2004, 40 Palestinian houses were demolished. Thus, the
number of houses destroyed in the camp by Israeli troops in less than 5 days
has mounted to 74.
According to preliminary investigations by PCHR, at approximately 01:45,
Israeli occupying troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicoPters,
moved into Khan Yunis refugee camp, coming from “Neve Dekalim” and
“Gadid” settlements, west and south of Khan Yunis respectively.
Under the cover of intense shelling, they started to bulldoze Palestinian
houses without warning their residents. A number of these residents, who
were surprised and terrified by this attack, were able to escape from their
homes. Israeli military bulldozers moved towards a house belonging to
Ibrahim Mahoud Mohammed Khalafallah, 75, who is physically disabled. His
wife and daughter tried to carry him out of the house, but they could
not. They left the premises and called on Israeli troops to stop the demolition
of their house, but the Israeli military bulldozers continued with the
demolition process, despite the fact that he was still inside the house.
The man was crushed by the ensuing rubble from his home while his wife and
daughter watched. By 04:30, Israeli military bulldozers had completely
demolished 31 houses, in which 255 people (41 families) and partially
demolished 3 others, in which 20 people (3 families) live.
In the morning, Israeli
troops moved into Jayaous village near Qalqilya, Beut Eksa and Beit Reema
villages near Ramallah, al-Duha village near Bethlehem and al-Sammou’ village
near Hebron. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinians.
Tuesday, 13 July
2004
At approximately 01:30, an
infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved nearly 1 kilometer into
al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They raided 5 houses belonging to the families of al-Farra, al-‘Emawi
and al-Sumairi. They searched the houses
and used a number of residents as human shields during the searches. Then, Israeli troops transformed roofs of
these houses into military sites. At
approximately 07:00, more Israeli troops, reinforced by helicopters, were
brought to the area. They opened fire at
the area intensely. They blocked all
main and branch roads. They started to
raze areas of agricultural land and demolish a number of houses. By 05:30 on Wednesday, 14 July 2004, they had
razed 159 donums, demolished 3 houses, damaged 3 others and destroyed
agricultural equipments, belonging to the families of al-Farra, Abu Roumia,
al-Sumairi, Abu Haddaf, Khashan, al-Qedra, Abu Sawawin, Abu Jummaiza, al-Astal
and al’Emawi. Israeli troops also
damaged the civilian infrastructure of the area. Also during this incursion, Israeli troops
raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:
Kamal Salem Abu Zaher, 34; and ‘Ezziddin Salim Abu Zaher, 19. in addition, 2 Palestinian civilians were
wounded by the Israeli gunfire: Hadi ‘Abdul Rahman Khashan, 27, wounded by a
live bullet in the left thigh; and Sameh ‘Abdul Qader al-Agha, 23, wounded by a
live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 06:30,
Israeli troops moved nearly 1 kilometer into Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast
of Deir al-Balah. They called on
residents of the village through megaphones to get out of their houses. Then, they raided and searched the
houses. They forced at least 50 men and
children to go to a school in the village, and from there they took them to an
Israeli military post at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip. Israeli troops interrogated these men and
children and then released them, excluding 5 who remained in custody: Nahed
Sa’id Mohammed Abu Khammash, 34; Rami ‘Abdul Hai Salem Abu al-‘Ajin, 27; Salem
Rezeq Abu Sha’ar, 27; Fayez ‘Abdul Raziq Abu Sha’ar, 34; and Mohammed Ahmed
al-Najjar, 31. During this incursion,
Israeli troops demolished one house completely and another house partially
belonging to the Abu Haddaf family. As a
result, 25 people (3 families) have become homeless. They also razed 51 donums of agricultural
land belonging to the families of Abu al-‘Ajin, Ben Sa’id, Abu ‘Amra, al-Farra,
al-Kharouf and Baraka, and severely damaged the civilian infrastructure of the
village.
In the evening, Israeli troops
moved into al-Bireh; Hebron; ‘Aaida refugee camp near Bethlehem; Beit Eksa
village near Ramallah; Deir Sharaf village near Nablus; and Jayous village near
Qalqilya. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinians.
At approximately 03:30,
Israeli troops positioned at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of
al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian
houses and agricultural areas in the camp. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed ‘Abed Rabbu Abu Jalal, 54, was wounded
by a live bullet in the left thigh.
At approximately 20:45,
Israeli troops positioned in a military post to the north of al-Tuffah
checkpoint, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis
refugee camp. A Palestinian child, Mohammed
Jihad Abu ‘Obaida, 9, was injured by shrapnel in the head, when he was inside
his house.
Wednesday, 14 July
2004
At approximately 00:45, an
Israeli helicopter gunship launched 3 missiles at a workshop owned by Ziad
Mohammed Ibrahim Hassouna, 45, in the densely populated ‘Asqoula neighborhood
in the east of Gaza City. The workshop
was completely destroyed.
At approximately 11:35,
Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire
at Palestinian houses in al-Brazil neighborhood. A Palestinian woman, ‘Abeer Ibrahim Bahloul,
40, was injured by shrapnel in the face and the pelvis, when she was inside her
house.
At approximately 17:15,
Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire
at al-Junaina neighborhood, nearly 900 meters away from the border. A Palestinian woman, Randa Mohammed Abu
Hilal, 20, was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh.
Extra-Judicial Execution
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
execution officially adopted by the Israeli political and military
establishments in violation of international law and humanitarian law, on Tuesday
afternoon, 13 July 2004, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces
committed another extra-judicial execution in the West Bank, which killed No’man
Taher Mustafa Tahaina, 31, from Seilat al-Harthia village west of Jenin.
The victim was wanted by Israeli troops for being a member of the Islamic
Jihad. Israeli troops admitted
responsibility for this killing, and claimed that Israeli troops were in Jenin
to arrest a number of Palestinians, when they tried to stop 2 Palestinian
vehicles. They further claimed that the
driver of one of these vehicles attempted to escape, so they shot him dead and
injured another Palestinian.
According to preliminary investigations by PCHR, at
approximately 14:00 on Tuesday, 13 July 2004, Tahaina was driving a taxi near
the Jordanian Field Hospital near the northwestern entrance of Jenin. A civilian car moved towards the taxi and
stopped near it. Immediately, 2 persons
wearing civilian clothes got out of the car and opened fire at Tahaina from a
distance of less than 10 meters. He was
instantly killed by several live bullets in the upper part of the body. Soon, more Israeli troops arrived at the area
to cover the withdrawal of the Israeli undercover unit. Tahaina’s body was transferred to a hospital
in Jenin, where he was identified.
Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted
Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli
Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, in
particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War of 1949, article 33 of which prohibits punishing any protected
person for “an offence he or she has not personally committed,” Israeli forces
took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians
Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against
Israeli targets.
At approximately 03:00 on
Thursday, 8 July 2004, Israeli troops moved into Beit Fourik village, east of
Nablus. They surrounded a
100-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to the family of Amjad ‘Abdul Latif
Hanani, who was killed by Israeli troops during an Israeli military incursion
into Nablus on 6 July 2004. they forced
the 7 residents of the house (2 families) out and planted explosives inside the
house. At approximately 05:30, they
destroyed the house.
At approximately 01:00 on
Friday, 9 July 2004, Israeli troops moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of
Jenin. They surrounded a
165-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Fawaz Khamis ‘Aabed. The forced the 13 residents of the house (2
families) out. Then, they searched the
house and planted explosives inside it. At approximately 04:00, Israeli troops destroyed the house. On Thursday morning, 8 July 2004, Israeli
troops arrested the owner’s son Riad, 26.
At approximately 02:00 on
Monday, 12 July 2004, Israeli troops moved into Qabatya village, southeast of
Jenin. They surrounded a
200-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Mohammed Suleiman Khuzaimiya. They called on his son Nasser, 29, through
megaphones to surrender. When they
became certain that Nasser was not there, they broke into the house, forced its
15 residents (2 families) out and searched it. Then, they planted explosives inside the house. At approximately 04:00, Israeli troops
destroyed the house.
At approximately 00:30 on
Tuesday, 13 July 2004, Israeli troops moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp,
south of Bethlehem. They surrounded a
120-square-meter house belonging to the family of ‘Alaa’ ‘Ali al-Satafi, 20,
who has been detained by those troops. They forced the 10 residents of the house out and planted explosives
inside. At approximately 02:00, Israeli
troops destroyed the house. At the same
time, Israeli troops raided a house belonging to the family of Helmi ‘Abdul
Karim Hammash, who had been detained by those troops. They forced its residents out in order to
destroy it, but this action was postponed apparently for technical
reasons.
At approximately 02:00 on
the same day, Israeli troops moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They surrounded a 160-square-meter, 2-storey
house owned by ‘Adnan Tawfiq ‘Aabed. They forced the 20 residents of the house (3 families) out and planted
explosives inside the house. Then, they
destroyed the house. The owner’s son,
Hussam, was killed while carrying out a bombing inside Israel in 1993.
Also at approximately 02:00
on the same day, Israeli troops moved into Um al-Sharayet neighborhood in the
south of Ramallah. They surrounded a
160-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to the family of Zeidan Muhareb
Ramadan. They forced the 8 residents of
the house out and planted explosives inside the house. At approximately 04:00, Israeli troops
destroyed the house. Ramadan is wanted
by Israeli troops for being a member of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military
wing of Fatah movement.
Continued Siege on the OPT
This week, Israeli occupying forces have
continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPt and imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli occupying forces have continued
to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip for the 15th consecutive
week. Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians at Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints to the north of Khan
Yunis. On Sunday morning, 11 July 2004, Israeli troops closed al-Tuffah
checkpoint at the entrance to al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis. On the same day, Israeli troops closed Rafah
Terminal, the only outlet for the Gaza Strip into the outside world since the
beginning of the current Intifada. They
have also continued to close Erez crossing and industrial zone in the northern
Gaza Strip. They have continued to
impose a tight siege on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.
This week, Israeli troops imposed
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians at Abu Houli and
al-Matahen checkpoints to the north of Khan Yunis. On Thursday, 8 July 2004, Israeli troops
closed the two checkpoints for several hours and held and searched a number of
Palestinian vehicles in between. The same happened on Saturday, 10 July
2004. At approximately 12:00 on Monday,
12 July 2004, Israeli troops closed the two checkpoints to allegedly maintain
the road. This closure continued until
the following day morning. For the 4th
consecutive week, Israeli troops have continued to prevent private cars from
crossing the two checkpoints.
For the 3rd consecutive week,
Israeli troops have continued to close border crossing in the face of Palestinian
workers and patients. Even though
Israeli occupying forces partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial
crossing to the east of Gaza City, they imposed severe restrictions on the flow
of goods through the crossing.
On Sunday morning, 11 July 2004, Israeli
troops closed Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border, which has been the only outlet
for the Gaza Strip to the outside world since the beginning of the current
Intifada. Israeli occupying forces have
continued to prohibit male Palestinians between the ages of 16 and 35 from
traveling through Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border.
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. On Sunday morning, 11 July 2004,
Israeli troops closed al-Tuffah checkpoint. Before this closure, Israeli troops at the checkpoint arrested 3
Palestinian civilians: ‘Abdul Karim Mohammed al-Sha’er, 25, a truck driver;
Hamada Mahmoud al-Sha’er, 65; and Nabil Hamada al-Sha’er, 27. When al-Tuffah checkpoint is open, Israeli
troops do not permit male Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 30 and
females whose ages are between 16 and 25 to cross.
Israeli forces have also continued to impose a
tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. The have
denied entry of domestic gas to the area. They have also imposed severe
restrictions of the movement of Palestinian farmers, and continued to prevent
those whose ages are under 30 from moving out and into the area. Israeli
troops allowed only 5 persons to get out of the area everyday to bring
foodstuffs. 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.
The 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 imposed
curfews on a number of villages.
Jerusalem
This week, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Israeli troops have continued
to close all roads leading to East Jerusalem. They erected more
checkpoints around the city and stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles. On Thursday morning, 8 July 2004, Israeli
troops erected 2 sudden checkpoints at the entrances to the villages of Beit
Eksa and Biddu. They stopped and checked
dozens of Palestinian civilians. These
measures affected residents of 9 villages in the area.
Ramallah
Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected
more checkpoints around the town and obstructed the movement of Palestinian
vehicles for long hours. On Thursday
morning, 8 July 2004, Israeli troops erected a sudden checkpoint on Ramallah –
Jerusalem road. They stopped and
searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles. On Monday morning, 12 July 2004, Israeli troops held dozens of
Palestinian vehicles near the western entrance to al-Jeeb village, southwest of
Ramallah. They denied passage to
Palestinian civilians.
Nablus
Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. They forced Palestinian civilians and vehicles to wait for long hours at
military checkpoints. Israeli forces
have also continued to prevent Palestinians, who are under 35, from crossing
military checkpoints erected around the city. This week, Israeli troops completed equipping military checkpoints
around the city with more facilities similar to those at Qalandya checkpoint,
south of Ramallah.
Jenin
Israeli troops erected a number of temporary
checkpoints and imposed more restrictions at permanent ones. Israeli troops also tightened the siege
imposed on the villages of the northern Jordan Valley.
Tulkarm
On
Thursday, 8 July 2004, Israeli troops re-closed Kufor al-Labad – Thinnaba road,
which leads to Tulkarm, only 2 days following its reopening by local
Palestinians and a number of international and Israeli peace activists. Israeli troops also erected a number of
checkpoints around the town and restricted movement of Palestinians
civilians.
An Old Palestinian Civilian Run down by an Israeli
Settler
At approximately 14:00 on Tuesday, 13 July 2004,
medical sources at Beit Jala Hospital in Bethlehem declared that Ibrahim ‘Abdul
Hafiz Salem Ghunaim, 68, from al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, died from
injuries he had sustained in the morning, when an Israeli settler ran him down.
According to preliminary investigations by PCHR, at
approximately 06:30, Ghunaim was waiting at the roadside of bypass road 60 to
cross towards his land near Hourat al-Shama’a village. Soon, a car driven by an Israeli settler from
“Efrat” settlement turned towards him and ran him down. Then, the settler escaped towards an Israeli
military post. A number of Israeli
troops arrived at the area, but did not offer any help to the man. They only
informed the Palestinian liaison about the incident. Soon, a Palestinian ambulance arrived at the
area and evacuated the man to Beit Jala Hospital, but medical efforts to save
his life failed.
*****
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 Territory. PCHR believes the failure to comply with
article 1 obligations encourages Israel to act as if it was a state above 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 oPt and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian
civilians.
3. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
comply with its legal obligations detailed in article 146 of the Convention to
search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war
crimes.
4. PCHR
recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations, NGOs and human rights organizations to
participate in the process of searching for Israeli war criminals and to urge
their governments to bring these war criminals to justice.
5. PCHR
calls upon the European Union to activate article 2 of the Euro-Israel
Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as
a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to
prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the oPt.
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 decision of the ICJ on the Annexation Wall and calls on the
international community to fulfill its legal obligations, as stipulated by the
court, to “ensure respect” for the Geneva Convention and to prevent further
construction of the wall.
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 oPt, including
for facilitating family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
9. PCHR
appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights
organizations, bar associations, unions and solidarity groups, and urges them
to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s
respect for human rights in the oPt and to end its attacks on Palestinian
civilians.
10. In light of the severe restrictions imposed
by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access of international
solidarity groups to the oPt, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal the
same way with Israeli citizens.
11. PCHR reiterates that any political
settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law
cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question.
Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability
in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for
international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
“END”
Public
Document
**************************************
For more
information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 –
2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip.
E-mail:pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
