Israeli Troops Continue Attacks in
the OPT
· 5
Palestinians, 4 of whom were civilians, including a child and an elderly man, were
killed by Israeli troops.
· Israeli
troops failed to extra-judicially kill an allegedly wanted Palestinian in
Rafah, but injured him and his bodyguards.
· Israeli
troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· 12
houses were destroyed and dozens of donums[1]
of agricultural land were razed in the Gaza Strip.
· 3
houses were destroyed in the context of retaliation against families of Palestinian
detainees.
· Houses
were raided and dozens of Palestinian civilians were arrested in the West Bank.
· Israeli
troops raided a number of Palestinian charitable institutions in the West Bank
and confiscated some of their contents.
· Continued
shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities; 7 Palestinian
schoolchildren were injured and a workshop and an under-construction house were
destroyed.
· Israeli
settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
· Construction
of the “annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued.
· Israeli
troops have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; the Gaza Strip has
been partitioned into 3 separate zones, Israeli troops positioned at
checkpoints fired at Palestinian civilians and killed one, and arrested a
number of Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints.
Introduction
Israeli occupying troops have launched more attacks
against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
This week, 5 Palestinians, 4 of whom were civilians, including a child and an
elderly, were killed and at least 20 others were injured by Israeli troops.
Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying troops included
willful killings, incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling,
land leveling and total closure imposed on Palestinian communities.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops killed 4
Palestinian civilians, including an 8-year-old child and an elderly man. Two of the victims were killed on 10 and 12
December 2004, when Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian residential
areas. The third victim was killed when
Israeli troops fired at him when he was traveling to Gaza City through the coastal
road. The fourth victim died on 9
December 2004 from an injury he had sustained in April 2004, during an Israeli
military incursion into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City. On 9 December 2004, Israeli troops carried
out an attempt to extra-judicially kill an allegedly wanted Palestinian in
Rafah, but the attempt failed and the targeted person and his two bodyguards
were injured.
This week, Israeli troops conducted 5 incursions into
Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, during which they destroyed 13 houses,
razed at least 115 donums of agricultural land, and injured 7 Palestinian
civilians, including 5 children.
On 13 December 2004, the Israeli air force destroyed
a workshop and an under-construction house in Gaza City. On 12 December 2004, 7 Palestinian
schoolchildren were injured when Israeli troops shelled their school in Khan
Yunis.
In the West
Bank, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian who exchanged fire with them when
they surrounded an apartment building in Nablus to arrest him. This week, Israeli troops moved into various
areas throughout the West Bank, injured a number of Palestinian civilians and
arrested dozens of others. They also destroyed 3 houses in the context of
retaliation against families of Palestinian detainees. In addition, they raided offices of a number
of civil societies and confiscated some of their contents.
Israeli troops have continued to construct the
annexation wall inside the West Bank territory. They resumed razing areas of agricultural land in Deir Ballout village,
southwest of Nablus, and Housan village, west of Bethlehem, for the purpose of
the construction of the wall. Land
leveling in these areas had stopped for a few months after the Israeli High
Court issued a temporary injunction stopping it.
Israeli troops have continued to impose a tightened
siege on the OPT and have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including
Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops have partitioned
the Gaza Strip into 3 separate zones, and closed all border crossings. They have also closed all border crossings of
the Gaza Strip. These measures violate the Palestinian economic, social,
cultural, civil and political rights. On
15 December 2004, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian civilian and injured
another one when they were traveling to Gaza City through the coastal
road.
In the West Bank, Israeli troops imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They stopped,
checked and humiliated Palestinian civilians while crossing military
checkpoints throughout the West Bank. Israeli
troops also attacked 2 candidates for the Palestinian presidential election and
arrested one of them for several hours.
Shelling of, and
Encroachment into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and
Property
Thursday, 9 December 2004
At approximately 08:00, medical
sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Karam Hassan ‘Ali
al-Shami, 60, from al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, died from an injury he had
sustained by Israeli troops more than 7 months ago. According to PCHR’s documentation, al-Shami
was injured by shrapnel from an artillery shell fired by Israeli troops on 21
April 2004 during an Israeli military incursion into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in
Gaza City, which is located near his place of residence. Since then, he had received medical intention
at Shifa Hospital.
At approximately 10:00,
Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 300 meters
into Abu Zaher neighborhood in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. The Israeli military vehicles damaged a house
belonging to Mohammed Furaij Abu Zaher during their movement in the area.
At approximately 15:00,
Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 700 meters
into the south of Khan Yunis near an Israeli settler road. Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling,
they razed 50 donums of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a
number of irrigation networks belonging to the Shurrab family.
During the day, Israeli
troops moved into Nablus; Kufor Qallil village near Qalqilya; and Tulkarm
refugee camp. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 21 Palestinians, including a girl and a child.
Friday, 10 December 2004
At approximately 14:20, Israeli troops positioned in
military posts in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of
Khan Yunis, opened fire at al-Nimsawi neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee
camp. A number of live bullets hit a
house belonging to ‘Omar ‘Abdul Hadi Siam, 50, nearly 600 meters away from the
source of fire, while members of the family were having lunch. A live bullet penetrated a window of the
house and hit Siam’s child, 8-year-old Rana, to the head, and then hit him to the
right leg, when he was washing his hands after he had lunch. Although he was wounded, the father and his brother
evacuated the child to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, but medical efforts to
save her life failed as she died a few minutes later. Two other civilians were also wounded when
they were near their houses:
1. Anwar
Khalil Mousa, 32, wounded by a live bullet in the right arm; and
2. Hilal
‘Ata al-‘Aqqad, 25, wounded by shrapnel in the right shoulder.
During the day, Israeli troops moved into the villages
of al-Zahiriya and Beit Kahel near Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians,
including 4 who are nominated to run the election of the local council of
al-Zahiriya village.
Saturday,
11 December 2004
At approximately
08:00, a number of Israeli gunboats opened fire at 2 Palestinian fishing boats
opposite to Deir al-Balah seashore and forced them to stop. Then, Israeli naval troops arrested 5
Palestinian fishermen who were on the boat:
1. Ziad
Mohammed al-Habbash, 38;
2. Hussam
Mohammed al-Habbash, 24;
3. Hazem
Ahmed al-Qara’an, 19;
4. Mazen
Ahmed al-Qara’an, 24; and
5. Zuhair
Ahmed al-Qara’an, 21.
At
approximately 12:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-Fara’a refugee
camp, southeast of Jenin. A number of
Palestinian schoolchildren gathered and threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
children, wounding 15-year-old Wa’el Khaled Tayeh with a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the abdomen.
At
approximately 15:30, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles,
moved nearly 700 meters into the south of Khan Yunis, near a settler road. Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling,
they razed 24 donums of agricultural land planted with vegetables and citrus,
on parts of which 8 greenhouses stood, and destroyed a number of irrigation
networks, a well and an agricultural pool belonging to the families of Hijazi
and al-Masri.
During the
day, Israeli troops moved into Hebron and into ‘Askar refugee camp, east of
Nablus. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians.
Sunday,
12 December 2004
At
approximately 07:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the
vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened
fire at Palestinian houses in al-Nimsawi neighborhood, Baten al-Samin area and
Khan Yunis refugee camp. A number of
live bullets hit a 4-storey house owned by Ussama ‘Omar Fasfous. Fire broke out in the fourth floor and burnt
its furniture. Palestinian fire engines
were able to extinguish fire before extending to other parts of the house.
At approximately 09:10, Israeli
troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekalim”, “Gadid” and “Gan Aur” settlements, west of
Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and schools to the east and north
of the aforementioned settlement. An
artillery shell fell onto the sport yard of an elementary school, approximately
600 meters to the northeast of the settlement. As a result, 6
schoolchildren were wounded as they were in the yard and a seventh one was
wounded when she was inside a classroom. The children were evacuated in
civilian cars to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Their wounds were
described by medical sources as moderate. Following this attack, the
school was vacated as schoolchildren were extremely terrified. The same
school was subject to a number of attacks by Israeli troops in the past.
For instance, on 25 September 2004, 11-year-old Madeline Hamdan Buraika was
wounded by a live bullet in the forehead when she was sitting on her
desk.
Palestinian educational
institutions have been frequently attacked by IOF, and PCHR has documented
dozens of such attacks, which injured dozens of schoolchildren while they were
at school. In one of such attacks, on 12 October 2004, 11-year-old
Ghadeer Jaber Mukhaimer was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest
when she was sitting on her desk at an UNRWA elementary school in Khan Yunis
refugee camp. She died at the hospital on the following day.
At
approximately 19:30, following an attack against an Israeli military post near
Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, Israeli troops
positioned at the border opened fire at neighboring Palestinian residential
areas. A Palestinian civilian, Saber
Salama Shallouf, 36, was killed by a live bullet that entered the back and
exited the neck and another live bullet that hit the left hand. According to eyewitnesses, the victim was
near his house in al-Shouka neighborhood in the east of Rafah when he was
killed.
Monday,
13 December 2004
At
approximately 01:20, the Israeli air force fired a missile at a workshop owned
by Hisham Sa’id al-Masri at al-Sahaba Street in Gaza City. The workshop was severely damaged, but no
casualties were reported. The workshop
had been attacked by the Israeli air force nearly 2 years ago. Ten minutes later, the Israeli air force
fired 4 missiles at an under-construction, 2-storey house belonging to Maher
‘Abdul Rahman al-Ramli near the Islamic University in Gaza City. The house was
partially destroyed. Israeli occupation
authorities claimed that the workshop and the house were used to manufacture
weapons and harbor wanted Palestinians.
In the early
morning, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian in Nablus when they surrounded a
house apparently to arrest him. The
victim had exchanged fire with Israeli troops.
In his
testimony to PCHR on the incident, an eyewitness, ‘Othman Mahmoud Sharaf, 35,
from Nablus, said:
“At
approximately 22:45 on Sunday, 12 December 2004, Israeli troops, reinforced by
around 30 military jeeps and 2 tanks, moved into Nablus. They surrounded Bushnaq and Hadada apartment
building, where I live, in al-Jabal al-Shamali area. Israeli troops called through megaphones on
residents of the building and neighboring buildings to leave them, but no one
obeyed this order. At approximately
23:30, Israeli troops opened fire at the building to force its residents
out. At approximately 00:30 on Monday,
Israeli troops fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at the fourth floor. The Israeli gunfire continued sporadically
until 05:00. At approximately 05:10,
Israeli troops fired 2 artillery shells at the building and withdrew from the
area. At approximately 05:30, residents
of the building found the body of Ihsan Na’im Shawahna, 27, from Kufor Thuluth
village near Qalqilya. The victim was shot
by several live bullets throughout the body.”
The victim
was a student at an-Najah National University in Nablus. During their withdrawal from the city,
Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian houses. A Palestinian civilian, Sa’ed Naddaf Hassan
Hassouna, 21, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand.
At
approximately 23:30, Israeli troops moved into Sinjer area in Dura village,
southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched
offices of the Islamic Charitable Society. This raid continued until 02:00 on Tuesday, 14 December 2004. In the end of this attack, Israeli troops
closed offices of the administration and the department that provides
assistance for orphans. They also
confiscated some books from the library.
During the
day, Israeli troops moved into Nablus and ‘Aaida refugee camp and al-Duha
village near Bethlehem. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians.
Tuesday,
14 December 2004
At
approximately 01:20, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles,
moved nearly 200 meters into Khan Yunis refugee camp. They called through megaphones on Palestinian
civilians to leave their houses. Then,
under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, Israeli military bulldozers started
to demolish houses. By 04:30, they had
demolished 11 houses completely and a 12th one partially. Subsequently, 116 people (16 families) have
become homeless. These houses belong to
the families of al-Madhoun, al’Adini, Abu Khurais, al-Lul, Abu Shaqra,
al-Aa’raj, Abu Tiour, Abu Zarqa, Abu Ramadan and Abu Rezeq.
At
approximately 07:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and
helicopters, moved nearly 800 meters into Hajja Hamda area to the east of
al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling,
they raided Hijazi Mohammed Helles’ house after they had demolished its
fence. They held residents of the house
in one room and transformed it into a military site. By Wednesday morning, 15 December 2004,
Israeli troops razed at least 40 donums of agricultural land planted with
olives, figs and wheat belonging to the families of Helles, al-Madhoun and Jindiya. As a result of the indiscriminate Israeli
shelling, 7 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, were injured. One of the children was injured when she was
sitting on her desk at a school in al-Shojaeya neighborhood.
At
approximately 17:00, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Salam neighborhood. Three Palestinian civilians, including a
child, were wounded:
1. Mohammed
Jihad al-Jammal, 10, wounded by shrapnel in the head;
2. Ahmed
Sa’di Abu Jazar, 21, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the neck; and
3. ‘Ali
Khalil al-Derbi, 19, seriously wounded by 2 live bullets in the head and the
left leg.
At
approximately 20:30, around 30 Israeli military vehicles moved into Rafat
village, south of Ramallah. They
surrounded a house in the village and called through megaphones on all those
who were inside the house. When they got
out of the house, Israeli troops fired at them, wounding Saleh ‘Ali Hussein,
29, from Beit Diqqu village near Jerusalem, with a live bullet in the
foot. They arrest him and 2 other
Palestinians. Israeli troops claim that
Hussein is the leader of Abu ‘Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Ramallah.
During the
day, Israeli troops moved into Nablus and the neighboring Salfit village;
Seilat al-Harthiya village near Jenin; ‘Azzoun village near Qalqilya; and Rafat
village near Ramallah. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinians.
Wednesday,
15 December 2004
At approximately
09:15, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of
“Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, nearly 200 meters away
from the coastal road, opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who
were walking towards Gaza City on the coastal road, which has been closed since
13 December 2004. A Palestinian
civilian, Mustafa Juhaini al-Sawarka, 32, from Gaza Valley village, was
seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head. He died upon his arrival at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Another civilian, Ahmed Husni al-Masharawi,
23, from al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by a live bullet in
the left shoulder.
Extra-Judicial
Killing
In a
continuation of the policy of extra-judicial killing officially adopted by the
Israeli political and military establishments, on Thursday, 9 December 2004, the
Israeli air force attempted to kill a leader of the Palestinian Popular
Resistance Committees and his two bodyguards in Rafah. The attempt failed, but the four persons and
a passing child were injured. Israeli
occupation authorities admitted responsibility for the attack.
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 12:50, an Israeli helicopter
gunship fired a missile at a civilian car, a white Subaru, that was traveling
in Salah al-Din Street that links Rafah with Khan Yunis. Three persons were traveling in the car. The front of the car was destroyed, but the
three persons survived as they were able to jump out of the car. The three were injured. They were later identified as:
1. Jamal
‘Ataya Abu Samhadana, 41, from the Rafah, the leader of the Palestinian Popular
Resistance Committees, slightly injured as he was sitting on the back seat of
the car;
2. Ashraf
Mohammed al-Sheikh ‘Eid, 24, injured by shrapnel throughout the body and
sustained a fracture to the left leg; and
3. Hisham
Kamal Abu Taha, 22, injured by shrapnel throughout the body.
A passing
child, 16-year-old Mustafa Walid ‘Abdul ‘Aal, was also injured by shrapnel
throughout the body.
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 04:30 on Tuesday, 14 December 2004, Israeli troops moved into Abu
Sunaina neighborhood in the south of Hebron. They closed the roads leading to the neighborhood. Then, they surrounded a 120-square-meter,
3-storey house owned by Rajeh Abu Sunaina. They forces the 15 residents of the house (3 families) out, and planted
explosives on the second floor. At
approximately, 06:00, they destroyed the second floor. The first and third floors of the house were
severely damaged. Tow of the owner’s
son: Baraka, 22; Khaled, and 18, have been detained by Israeli occupation
authorities. A third son, Ghaleb, 16,
was arrested following the destruction of the house.
Also at
approximately 04:30 on Tuesday, Israeli troops moved into Wadi al-Hariya
neighborhood in the southwest of Hebron. They surrounded a 140-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Yousef Abu
Sunaina. They forced the 20 residents of
the house (2 families) out and planted explosive on the second floor. At approximately 06:00, they destroyed the
second floor. Two of the owner’s sons:
Ayman, 22; and Mahmoud, 18, have been detained by Israeli occupation authorities.
At
approximately 23:30 on Tuesday also, Israeli troops moved into Abu Katila
neighborhood in the northwest of Hebron. The closed the roads leading to the neighborhood and surrounded a
110-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Tayseer Rajab Abu Shukhaidem. They
forced the 15 residents of the house (2 families) out and planted explosives on
the first and second floors. At
approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, 15 December 2004, they destroyed the two
floors. The owner’s nephew, Eyad Abu
Shukhaidem, 29, who lives in the house, has been detained by Israeli occupation
authorities.
Continued
Siege on the OPT
This week,
Israeli troops 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
As a measure of collective punishment, since Monday
morning, 13 December 2004, Israeli troops have partitioned the Gaza Strip into
3 separate zones, and closed all border crossings. They have also continued to isolate some
areas since the beginning of the current Intifada, which has caused extreme
suffering for the Palestinian civilian population. They have also
continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip either partially or
completely. These measures violate the Palestinian economic, social,
cultural, civil and political rights.
Israeli troops positioned at al-Matahen and Abu Houli
checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south
of the Gaza Strip) imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. The two checkpoints are opened between 06:00 and 20:00
everyday. On Thursday morning, 9 December 2004, Israeli troops held and
searched a number of Palestinian vehicles between the two checkpoints. The
same happened on Saturday, 11 December 2004. Israeli troops interrogated a number of Palestinian civilians and
arrested Ra’ef Ramez al-Farra, 27.
As a measure of collective punishment following an
attack against an Israeli military post near Rafah Crossing Point on the
Egyptian border, on Monday morning, 13 December 2004, Israeli troops imposed a
total closure on the Gaza Strip. They
divided the Gaza Strip into 3 separate zones, by closing al-Matahen and Abu
Houli checkpoints, and the coastal road opposite to “Netzarim”
settlement. This measure has paralyzed
the daily lives of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, in violation of
their economic, social and cultural rights. Israeli troops also fired at Palestinian civilians who crossed the
coastal road on foot; on Wednesday morning, 15 December 2004, a Palestinian
civilian was killed by the Israeli gunfire (see above).
Israeli troops have continued to impose a strict
siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have continued
to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians living
in the area to and from the area, which have caused extreme suffering for these
civilians. On Friday, 3 December 2004, Israeli troops closed al-Tuffah
checkpoint, the sole outlet of the area, in the face of Palestinian civilians
wishing to enter the area. On the
following days, dozens of civilians waited at the checkpoint to be allowed to
go back home in the area, but Israeli troops fired at them. On Tuesday, 14 December 2004, Israeli troops allowed
Palestinian civilians who are over 50 years old to cross the checkpoint. Israeli troops and settlers also attacked
Palestinian agricultural property in the area. Israeli troops have
continued to prevent female Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 25, and
male ones whose ages are between 16 and 30 from crossing al-Tuffah checkpoint
when it is open, without prior coordination. Tal al-Sultan checkpoint at
the entrance of al-Mawasi area in Rafah has been closed for more than one year
and entry into the area has been limited to al-Tuffah checkpoint in Khan
Yunis. On Tuesday, 14 December 2004,
Israeli troops raided and searched a number of houses in al-Mawasi area and
arrested 2 Palestinian civilians: Mohammed ‘Eissa al-Lahham, 19; and Yousef
‘Ali al-Tarabin, 34.
Israeli troops have also continued to impose a
tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli
troops continue to control the only gate in and out of the area. They allow only 4-5 people to pass through
each day to buy basic provisions. These
people are
only allowed to pass through at certain specified hours and they are subject to
humiliation and degrading treatment during the security check process.
Israeli troops have continued to close Erez crossing
in the northern Gaza Strip for the 4th consecutive month. They only
allow patients to travel through the crossing, but under severe conditions and
following coordination. On Tuesday, 13 December 2004, Israeli troops totally
closed the terminal after it had allowed a number of Palestinian workers to
travel to their work places in Israel through the crossing, but under new
conditions. Although Israeli troops have
partially operated al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing to the east of Gaza
City, they have imposed severe restrictions on the flow of goods through the
two crossing. As a result, the Palestinian market has lacked several
basic goods. Israeli troops partially opened Sofa crossing, northeast of
Rafah, and allowed the entry of construction raw materials, but the crossing
has remained closed in the face of Palestinian workers since March 2004.
Following an attack on an Israeli military post near
Rafah Crossing Point, on Monday morning, 13 December 2004, Israeli troops closed
the terminal, which is the only outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside
world. Israeli troops often close the
terminal under security claims. The number of Palestinians allowed to
travel through the terminal daily is very limited.
The West Bank
Israeli troops have continued to impose a strict siege
on Palestinian communities. They have
also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians,
including even the candidates for the Palestinian residential election, thus
refuting Israeli claims with regard to facilitating the election.
Ramallah
On Thursday, 9 December 2004, Israeli troops also
reinforced erected a military checkpoint at ‘Atara Bridge checkpoint at the
northern entrance to Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They stopped dozens of Palestinian vehicles
and checked Palestinian civilians. On
Sunday morning, 12 December 2004, Israeli troops erected a number of temporary
checkpoints to the north and northwest of Ramallah. They stopped and checked hundreds of
Palestinian civilians.
Nablus
Even though Israeli troops permitted Palestinian
civilians who are over 25 years old instead of 30 to cross military
checkpoints, they imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. They force Palestinian
civilians to wait for long hours before allowing them to cross those
checkpoints.
Jenin
On Friday evening, 10 December 2004, Israeli troops
erected a checkpoint at the western entrance to Tammoun village, southeast of
Jenin. They stopped and searched
Palestinian vehicles and prevented Palestinian civilians from leaving the
village. On the following day morning,
Israeli troops imposed a strict siege on Tammoun village. Palestinian civilians were forced to use dirt
branch roads to travel from and into the village. Israeli troops also closed the main roads
leading to the neighboring Tubas village.
Tulkarm
On Friday morning, 10 December 2004, Israeli troops
placed a huge rock on the road that links Shoufa village with Kufor al-Labad
village, east of Tulkarm. This road
serves as an alternative one to link Tulkram with the two villages, as
al-Kafriyat military checkpoint at the southern entrance of the town has been
closed. On Saturday afternoon, 11
December 2004, Israeli troops erected a checkpoint at the entrance to Ektaba
village, northeast of Tulkarm, and another one at the entrance to Bala’a
village, east of the town. On Sunday
morning, 12 December 2004, Israeli troops erected 4 checkpoints around the
town. On Monday morning, 13 December
2004, Israeli troops erected 2 more checkpoints around the town. They started to establish an iron gate on a
bypass road in front of al-Kafriyat checkpoint at the southern entrance of the
town, which would impose more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. Tulkarm is surrounded by
Israeli iron gates from all directions.
Bethlehem
On Friday evening, 10 December 2004, Israeli troops erected
a military checkpoint on the main road in the center of al-Khader village,
south of the town. They stopped
Palestinian vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians. On Sunday, 12 December 2004, Israeli troops
closed some of the main entrances to Taqqou’ village, south of the town. On Monday, 13 December 2004, they closed the
main and branch roads leading to the village.
Restrictions on the Movement of Candidates for the
Palestinian Presidential Election
On Wednesday evening, 8 December 2004, Israeli troops
positioned at a military checkpoint near Jaba’ village, south of Jenin, beat
and handcuffed Dr. Mustafa al-Barghouthi, an independent candidate for the
Palestinian presidential election and a number of hid bodyguards.
On Friday morning, 10 December 2004, Israeli troops
positioned at Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint at the northern entrance to East
Jerusalem beat Bassam al-Salhi, Secretary General of the Palestinian People
Party and a candidate for the Palestinian Presidential Election. They arrested him and transferred him to a
detention center in Jerusalem, where he was interrogated. Al-Salhi was released by a bail.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
On Thursday,
2 December 2004, Israeli troops positioned at sudden military checkpoint in the
west of Hebron arrested 3 Palestinians, including 2 brothers.
Continued
Construction of the Annexation Wall
Israeli troops have continued to construct the annexation
wall inside the West Bank territory. They
started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Housan village, west
of Bethlehem for this purpose. They also
used force to disperse Palestinian civilians protesting the construction of the
wall in Ethna village, west of Hebron.
On Sunday morning, 12 December 2004, Israeli military
bulldozers started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land planted with
olives in Housan village, west of Bethlehem, for the purpose of the
construction of a section of the wall. According to the local council of the village, the construction of the
wall will isolate the village, and will deprive Palestinian farmers of their
right to reach their agricultural land, which will be behind the wall.
On Tuesday morning, 14 December 2004, Israeli
military bulldozers started to raze large areas of Palestinian agricultural
land in Deit Ballout village, southwest of Nablus, for the purpose of the
construction of the wall. Land leveling
in the area had stopped for a few months after the Israeli High Court issued a
temporary injunction against it.
The Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Tuesday, 14
December 2004, that the Israeli government postponed taking a decision on the
route of the wall to the south of Hebron as it intends to annex “Gush
Etzion” settlement bloc to Israel. The construction of the wall stopped a few months ago after a number of
Palestinians submitted appeals to the Israeli High Court against this construction.
On Friday morning, 10 December 2004, hundreds of
Palestinian civilians demonstrated in Wadi al-Baida areas in the west of Ethna
village, west of Hebron, in protest to Israeli plans to construct a section of
the wall in the area. At approximately
11:30, the demonstrators gathered to do the Friday Prayer. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal
bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at these civilians. A number of civilians suffered from tear gas
inhalation.
With regard to the impacts of the construction of the
wall on the Palestinian agricultural sector, Israeli troops have continued to
prevent Palestinian farmers from reaching their agricultural land in the west
of Zaita village, north of Tulkarm, following the construction of the
wall. This area provides Tulkarm with
vegetables. As a result of these
restrictions, the prices of vegetables have sharply increased, which adds more
economic burdens on Palestinian consumers.
Settler’s Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and
Property
Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of
international humanitarian law launched a series of attacks on Palestinian
civilians and property.
On Saturday evening, 11 December 2004, a number of
settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of Hebron, threw stones
and empty bottles at a number of houses in Hebron, especially those located
near the Ibrahim Mosque. Four houses
were damaged.
On Sunday morning, 12 December 2004, a number of
settlers from “Ariel” settlement, south of Nablus, attacked a number
of Palestinian farmers in the neighboring Eskaka village and prevented them
from cultivating their crops. According
to eyewitnesses, the settlers threw stones at the farmers and forced them to
leave their land.
On Sunday afternoon, 12 December 2004, an armed
Israeli settler attacked a number of Palestinian shepherds near ‘Aqraba
village, southeast of Nablus. According
to the local council of ‘Aqraba village, an armed Israeli settlers from
“Eitamar” settlement, northeast of the village, moved towards the
edges of the village and ordered a number of Palestinian shepherds to leave the
area under the threat of weapons. The
shepherds quarreled with the settler. They were able to take his gun and then they forced him to leave the
area. A number of Palestinian civilians
arrived at the area and called the Palestinian liaison, which in turn called
the Israeli liaison. Soon, Israeli
police arrived at the area and took the settler’s gun. Two shepherds sustained bruises as a result
of the settler’s attack: Ibrahim ‘Izziddin Bani Jaber, 38; and Ibrahim Hamed
Bani Jaber, 34.
****
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 above 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, bar associations and solidarity groups to participate in the
process of searching for Israeli war criminals and to urge their governments to
bring these war criminals to justice.
5. PCHR
calls upon the European Union to activate article 2 of the Euro-Israel
Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as
a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to
prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPTs.
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
Separation Wall inside the OPTs to International Court of Justice to give its
Advisoryt Opinion. There is no doubt
that the wall is illegal, which obligates the international community to take
steps that amount to the level of the expected decision by the court.
8. In
recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls
upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPTs, including for
facilitating family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
9. PCHR
appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights
organizations, bar associations, unions and solidarity groups, 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 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
