Israeli Forces Continue to
Perpetrate Crimes in the OPTs
· 6
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed by Israeli forces
· One
of the victims was killed in another extra-judicial assassination in the West
Bank
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· More
areas of Palestinian agricultural land were razed in the Gaza Strip
· Houses
were raided and a number of Palestinians were arrested
· Construction
of the “separation wall” in the West Bank has continued and more areas of
Palestinian land were seized
· 2
Palestinian houses were 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
· Indiscriminate
shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued; one Palestinian civilian was
killed and a number of others were injured
· Israeli
occupying forces continue to impose a total siege on the OPTs resulting in the
death of a Palestinian worker at Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip and the
death of a woman at Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border.
Introduction
This week, Israeli occupying forces continued to commit
human rights violations against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories (OPTs), which include the continued use of
extra-judicial assassinations and willful killings. Throughout the week,
Israeli occupying forces also conducted incursions into Palestinian areas; shot
at Palestinian civilians, including children; indiscriminately shelled
residential areas and demolished houses; and leveled agricultural land.
Israeli occupying forces have also continued construction of the “Separation Wall”
inside the West Bank in addition to the continuation of the tight siege on the
OPTs. This week, 4 Palestinian civilians
were killed and 2 others died from previous injuries sustained by Israeli
occupying forces
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted
4 military incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they razed areas of
Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed a number of civilian facilities. In an excessive use of force, on Thursday, 12
February 2004, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a 12-year-old Palestinian
child and injured another child in Rafah, then arrested the injured child and
two other children. The four children
apparently attempted to cross the border towards Egypt. Israeli occupying forces also continued to
shell Palestinian residential areas, and as a result, a Palestinian civilian
was killed in Rafah and a number of other civilians were injured. In addition, a Palestinian civilian died from
an injury sustained by Israeli forces during an incursion into Rafah last week.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted
a series of military incursions into Palestinian areas, during which a
Palestinian farmer was killed by the Israeli gunfire. In addition, a Palestinian died from an
injury he sustained by Israeli forces during an incursion into Jericho last
week. Israeli forces also arrested
dozens of Palestinian civilians during house raids in various areas in the West
Bank.
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli government in violation of international
human rights law and humanitarian law, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying
forces killed Samer Jasser Fawzi ‘Arar, 29, from Qarawat Bani Zaid, northwest
of Ramallah, on Thursday morning, 12 February 2004. Israeli forces claimed that the victim was
allegedly wanted for his activities in the Islamic Resistance Movement
(Hamas).
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the “Separation Wall” deep inside West Bank territory. Israeli occupying forces have continued
construction of the area of the wall linking between the Jordan River in the
east and Jenin in the west, which will surround the West Bank from the
north.
Palestinians living in Dahiat al-Barid village and
al-Ram village, north of Jerusalem, stated that Israeli engineers surveyed
lands in the area to determine the track of the wall. Israeli forces also ordered owners of a
number of shops, opposite to “Atarot Industrial Zone” to evacuate
their shops as soon as possible, claiming that the track of the wall in the area
will pass near their shops. The wall in
the area is expected to extend from Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint to the south of
Qalindya checkpoint in the north. The
construction of the wall has continued, while the international community
remains silent on this serious issue. This failure to act including the European Union official position that
rejects transfer of the case of the “Separation Wall” to the International
Court of Justice serves to encourage Israel to continue construction of the
wall and even boycott sessions of the court that address the “Separation Wall” on
the case of the wall.
Despite Israeli government talks about dismantling
settlements in the Gaza Strip in the context of the “Separation Plan”, Israeli
occupying forces have nonetheless continued settlement activities in the
OPTs. On Monday, 16 February 2004, the
Israeli parliamentary finance committee decided to transfer 55 million NIS to
settlement associations to establish new housing units, 36 million NIS to a
rural settlement project, and 4 million NIS to guard settlers in occupied East
Jerusalem.
In violation of article 33 of the 1949 Geneva
Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, 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 that Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out
attacks against Israeli targets. In this
context, they destroyed 2 houses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli occupying forces have continued
to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the
Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and have continued to impose
a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip by adding more restrictions on movement at
border crossings and military checkpoints. They have also maintained the closure of a number of main and branch
roads in the Gaza Strip by Israeli soldiers stationed at Israeli military
checkpoints. 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.
This week, a Palestinian worker died from
suffocation at Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip as the crossing was
overcrowded due to prolonged Israeli military checking procedures. In another incident, a Palestinian woman died
at Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border, while on her way to the Gaza Strip
after having undergone surgery in Egypt. Her health condition deteriorated due to prolonged Israeli military
procedures at the terminal.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Palestinian communities by imposing severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
have blocked a number of roads using cement blocks, sand barriers, and
trenches, erected temporary checkpoints, and arrested a number of
Palestinians.
Shelling
of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian
Civilians and Property
Thursday, 12 February 2004
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Madama village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Hisham Tayeb
Faraj, 24, and then arrested him.
At approximately 03:20, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Beit Sahour town, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Abdullah
Mohammed Shu’aibat, 38, and Khaled Mohammed Shu’aibat, 30, and arrested the
two.
At approximately 4:00, Israeli occupying forces moved
in the western part of Tulkarm. They
raided Mahmoud D’ib Da’as’ house. Da’as
is the father of Ziad Da’as who was extra-judicially assassinated by Israeli
occupying forces 2 years ago. Israeli
forces searched the house and arrested the owner’s 4 sons: Jawad, 17; Murad,
19; ‘Emad, 22; and Nihad, 25. The four
were released in the evening after having been interrogated by Israeli
forces.
At approximately 04:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 800m into Wadi
al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They demolished a house belonging to a Palestinian prisoner (see
below). During this incursion, Israeli
forces raided and searched Mousa Ahmed Abu Meghassib’s house. They held the 13 residents of the house in
one room and utilized the roof as an observation site. Israeli forces withdrew from the area at
approximately 13:30.
In an another instance showcasing the excessive use
of force, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a 12-year-old Palestinian child
and injured another child in Rafah. They
also arrested the injured child and two other children.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 06:00, 4 Palestinian children from al-Salam neighborhood in the
south of Rafah moved towards the Egyptian border, adjacent to their
neighborhood, to attempt to cross the border. When they were at the border, 2 Israeli military jeeps and an armored
personnel carrier arrived at the area. Without any warning, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the children. One of the children, Bashir Khalil Abu
‘Armana, 12, was instantly killed by a several live bullets to the head. Another child, Ayman Fathi al-Naqla, 12, was
wounded by a live bullet to the forehead and then arrested. Israeli soldiers also arrested the other two
children, who were identified as:
1. Mohammed
Fayez al-Akhras, 13; and
2. ‘Alaa’
Ahmed Jouda, 12.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli forces handed the
injured child to a Palestinian ambulance. According to this child, Israeli forces fired at them from a distance of
10m only. Israeli soldiers had the
chance to arrest the two without firing at them since they had arrested two of
the children without firing at or injuring them, especially since they did not
pose a serious threat.
In the evening, medical sources declared that
Mohammed ‘Eissa Jalaita, 30, from Jericho, died from an injury sustained on 1
February 2004. According to PCHR’s
documentation, at approximately 05:00, 30 Israeli military vehicles moved into
Jericho while firing indiscriminately. They surrounded and opened fire at a
2-storey house owned by 4 Palestinians from the Jalaita family, in the al-Arab
quarter in the center of the town. A number of members of the Palestinian
resistance, who had sheltered in the house, clashed with Israeli forces, and a member
of the resistance, Shadi Melhem Jaradat, 26, from Seilat al-Harthia village,
west of Jenin, was killed. In addition, Mohammed ‘Eissa Jalaita, 30, from
Jericho, was wounded by 5 live bullets in the chest, the shoulder, and the left
leg. Jalaita was arrested and evacuated to an Israeli hospital, where he
remained until he died.
Friday, 13 February 2004
In the early morning, Israeli soldiers, who were
hiding behind greenhouses near al-Shuhada Triangle south of Jenin, opened fire
at a civilian car. A Palestinian
civilian was instantly killed by the Israeli gunfire. Later, an Israeli military spokesman claimed
Israeli soldiers were searching for activists near Jenin, and “when they
saw a suspicious car out of Qabatya village, they fired at its driver as he did
not obey orders to stop.”
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 01:00, Ahmed ‘Abdul Qader Nazzal, 28, from Qabatya village,
southeast of Jenin, was traveling in his car from Qabatya village towards
al-Shuhada Triangle. When he arrived
approximately 3km to the west of the village, Israeli soldiers hiding behind
greenhouses in the area opened fire at him. He was instantly killed by a live bullet to the head. The victim was a farmer and was apparently on
his way to bring vegetables to sell them in Qabatya market, which usually opens
in the early morning.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into ‘Aida refugee camp and al-Karatas neighborhood in the north of
Bethlehem. They raided and searched
dozens of Palestinian houses and forced their residents out. Then, they arrested 9 Palestinians, including
4 children:
1. Shadi
Mohammed Shehada, 17;
2. Mohammed
Hussein ‘Abed Rabbu, 17;
3. Ibrahim
Yassin Hammouda, 17;
4. Yousef
Mohammed al-Ghorouz, 16;
5. Mahmoud
Hussein al-Ghorouz, 28;
6. Wisam
Mahmoud Abu Sorour, 23;
7. Mohammed
Mahmoud Abu Sorour, 30;
8. Mahmoud
D’ib Abu Sorour, 39; and
9. ‘Azzam
Amin Jawarsih, 21.
In the evening, Israeli occupying forces moved into
Tubas village, east of Jenin and opened fire at Palestinian residences. A number of Israeli military vehicles
deployed at entrances to the village prevented movement to and from the village. No casualties or arrests were reported.
At approximately 20:30, 10 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses, forced their
residents out, and then arrested 5 Palestinians:
1. Walid
Khaled al-Manasra, 23;
2. ‘Ali
‘Ata Humaidat, 30;
3. Musleh
Mohammed Ballout, 37;
4. Tariq
Suleiman Ed’ais, 23; and
5. ‘Ali
Mahmoud Ahmed al-Manasra, 42.
Saturday, 14 February 2004
At approximately 04:00, 4 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Qoussin village, west of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Samer
Mahmoud ‘Abed Rabbu, 20; and
2. ‘Ali
Khalil Yadak, 21.
In the morning, a Palestinian child was injured when
a mysterious object from remnants of Israeli occupying forces exploded in
Bethlehem.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 11:00, Mohammed Yousef al-Rashaida, 12, from al-Rashaida village,
southeast of Bethlehem, was grazing animals when he found a mysterious object
on the ground. He proceeded to play with
it which resulted in the immediate explosion of the object exploded, injuring him. A child who was also grazing animals in the
area heard the sound of the explosion. He moved towards the injured child and helped him to the main
street. The injured child was then
evacuated in a civilian car to the hospital. According to medical sources, the child was injured by shrapnel to the
head and feet. The area where the
explosion occurred had been used by Israeli occupying forces as a training
site, and a number of villagers were killed or injured in similar incidents in
the past.
At approximately 22:40, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by 5 tanks and a bulldozer, moved approximately 150m into the
cemeteries area in the southwest of Khan Yunis. Under cover of intense gunfire, they demolished the fence of Yafa
Cemetery and damaged a number of graves.
Sunday, 15 February 2004
At approximately 02:00, 20 Israeli military vehicles
moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched Da’as Mohammed ‘Abahra’s house and arrested his
son Tarad, 18.
Monday, 16 February 2004
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Bassam Sa’id Jarrar, 43,
and arrested him.
In the morning, a Palestinian civilian was killed
when Israeli occupying forces opened fire at Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in
Rafah.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 10:30, Israeli soldiers positioned in a military location at the
entrance to al-Mawasi area in the west of Rafah opened fire at Tal al-Sultan
neighborhood, approximately 500m to the east. Israeli gunfire continued sporadically until 12:00, during which a
Palestinian civilian, Jamal Mohammed al-‘Afifi, 47, was seriously wounded by a
live bullet to the head, and died on the way to the hospital. PCHR’s field worker in Rafah reported that
the victim was near his house when hit by a live bullet.
At approximately 11:00, medical sources at Shifa
Hospital in Gaza city declared that Mohammed Saleh Zo’rob, 28, from Rafah, died
from a wound sustained from Israeli occupying forces last week.
According to PCHR’s documentation, on Wednesday
morning, 11 February 2004, Zo’rob was going to a brick factory where he worked,
opposite Block J in Rafah refugee camp, when Israeli occupying forces moved
into the area. After opening fire at
houses and streets, Zo’rob was seriously wounded by a live bullet to the head. He was evacuated to the intensive care unit
at Shifa Hospital in Gaza city, soon after which he was pronounced clinically
dead. Three Palestinian civilians were
also injured by Israeli gunfire and 24 houses were destroyed during the same
incursion.
At approximately 13:30, Israeli occupying forces
started to establish 2 observation towers at the eastern border of the Gaza
Strip to the east of Khan Yunis. They
surrounded the two towers with sand barriers and cement blocks. Israeli soldiers positioned at those towers
often fire at Palestinian civilians and their houses resulting in a number of
civilians either killed or injured. Israeli
forces have established dozens of observation towers along the border and near
settlements.
At approximately 19:50, Israeli soldiers positioned
in military locations near “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan
Yunis, opened fire at al-Rabwat area in al-Amal neighborhood to the east. A Palestinian civilian, Ayman Ahmed al-Astal,
33, was wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder, when he was near his
shop, approximately 1km away from the source of fire.
Tuesday, 17 February 2004
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Dura village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 14
Palestinians. Three of the detainees
were released, while the other 11 remained in custody:
1. ‘Abdul
Rahim Younis Abu ‘Arqoub, 31;
2. Mahmoud
Taha Abu ‘Arqoub, 23;
3. ‘Abdul
Rahman Mhamoud Abu ‘Arqoub, 29;
4. ‘Aahed
Khalil al-Nammoura, 27;
5. Jamal
Mahmoud Abu Zunaid, 23;
6. Eyad
Jamil al-Harbiyat, 25;
7. Nafez
Khaled Khallaf, 22;
8. Muntasser
Isma’il Abu ‘Arqoub, 20;
9. Mo’taz
Isma’il Abu ‘Arqoub, 21;
10. Muhannda Isma’il Abu ‘Arqoub, 22; and
11. Mohammed Isma’il Abu ‘Arqoub, 23.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Kufor Than village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched Hassan Melhem’s house and arrested his son
Rami, 17.
At approximately 09:30, Israeli soldiers positioned
along the border with Israel, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian
agricultural areas in Khuza’a village. A
Palestinian farmer, Suleiman Ibrahim al-Najjar, 57, was wounded by a live
bullet in the right thigh, while he was working on his agricultural land,
approximately 500m away from the source of fire.
At approximately 14:00, an undercover unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved into Qalqilya using a civilian car that had Palestinian
registration. Israeli soldiers then surrounded
a shop in the center of the town. Soon,
more Israeli forces arrived at the area and arrested Ya’qoub al-Hutari,
19.
At approximately 15:50, Israeli soldiers positioned
in military locations near “Neve Dekalim”s settlement, west of Khan
Yunis, opened fire at the cemeteries area to the east. A Palestinian civilian, Hassan ‘Ali al-Masri,
17, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli marine troops
arrested 4 Palestinian fishermen from Gaza City who were fishing approximately
150m away from Deir al-Balah seashore:
1. Subeh
Salama al-Hissi, 27;
2. Mahmoud
Salama al-Fasih, 60;
3. Ramadan
Isma’il al-Hissi, 42; and
4. Khaled
Ahmed al-Hissi, 21.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 300m into ‘Oraiba
area in the northwest of Rafah. This
incursion continued until 05:00 on the following day, during which Israeli
forces razed 45 donums of Palestinian agricultural land, on which greenhouses
planted with vegetables stood, owned by the families of Abu Humaida, al-Satari,
Abu Jazar, and Duhair. They also
destroyed an animal farm, a number of irrigation networks, and a house that
served as a summer home.
Wednesday, 18 February 2004
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Balata refugee camp under cover of intense gunfire. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 5 Palestinians:
1. Bilal
Khaled Ja’arim, 23;
2. Jaber
Mahmoud Abu Hamada, 23;
3. ‘Alaa’
Khalil ‘Owais, 24;
4. Mohammed
Salim al-Mughrabi, 25; and
5. Lu’ai
Salim al-Mughrabi, 23.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Duha village and al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of
Bethlehem. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Midhat
Mahmoud al-Afandi, 25; and
2. Mohammed
Jamil al-Hassanat, 26.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 3 bulldozers, moved
approximately 600m into al-Birka area in the southwest of Deir al-Balah. They razed 15 donums of Palestinian
agricultural land and demolished a bird farm:
1. They
razed a 15-donum area of public agricultural land planted with guavas, palms
and figs rented by ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Hassan Abu Shammas.
2. They
demolished a 350-square-meter, iron-roofed empty bird farm owned by Yousef and
Mohammed Suleiman Abu Shammas.
In the afternoon, Israeli soldiers fired at a
Palestinian child, who had been speaking with a UN delegation at his family’s
land in Deir al-Balah, wounding him with a live bullet in the back.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately
15:00, an international delegation, including two staff members of UN Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and one staff member of United
Nations Association International Service, visited Khalil Suleiman Bashir’s
house, adjacent to “Kfar Darom” settlement, east of Deir al-Balah. Israeli soldiers positioned in the area gave
permission for the delegates to visit and speak with the family, provided that
the delegation did not enter the house and left after 30 minutes. The delegates agreed and did not enter the
house. The delegation proceeded to speak
with Mr. Bashir in the area of his garden as indicated by the Israeli
soldiers. After 30 minutes, Israeli
soldiers gestured for the delegation to leave the area. Immediately, the delegation moved towards the
clearly marked UN vehicle to leave. Yousef Khalil Suleiman Bashir, 15, stood in his garden with his father
watching the delegation get into the vehicle. When the delegation had got into the vehicle and was about to move away,
an Israeli soldier fired a single live bullet, hitting Yousef Bashir in the
back near the spine. The soldier fired
at Yousef from a distance of approximately 20 meters. Immediately, the delegation evacuated the
child to a hospital in Deir al-Balah. The child was then transported to Shifa Hospital in Gaza city where he
remains in a serious condition.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli soldiers positioned
along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at al-Brazil
neighborhood, adjacent to the border. A
Palestinian child, Mo’ath Talal Abu Sha’ar, 11, was wounded by a live bullet in
the right foot.
Extra-Judicial Assassinations
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli government in violation of
international human rights and humanitarian law, an undercover unit of Israeli
occupying forces killed Samer Jasser Fawzi ‘Arar, 29, from Qarawat Bani Zaid,
northwest of Ramallah, on Thursday morning, 12 February 2004. Israeli forces claimed that the victim was
allegedly wanted for his activities in the Islamic Resistance Movement
(Hamas).
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 09:30 on Thursday, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Naqqar area in the east of Qarawat Bani Zaid village, northwest
of Ramallah, using 2 civilian cars, one of which had Israeli registration and
the other Palestinian registration. The
two cars stopped near a house belonging to the family of Samer Jasser Fawzi
‘Arar, 29. When Israeli soldiers saw him
near the house, they fired at him and wounded him with a live bullet in the
left leg. He attempted to escape, but
soon fell onto the ground. Israeli
soldiers then surrounded him and fired at him from a close distance, instantly
killing him. Fifteen Israeli military jeeps then moved into the village. Israeli soldiers opened fire to drive
Palestinian civilians away from the area and allow the undercover unit to
withdraw. According to Palestinian medical
sources, the victim was hit by 7 live bullets throughout the body, including 2
heavy caliber ones.
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, 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 12 February 2004, Israeli
occupying forces moved approximately 800m into Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast
of Deir al-Balah. They surrounded a
house belonging to the family of Anis ‘Abdul Qader Abu Meghassib, who has been
detained by Israeli forces. Israeli soldiers
fired sound bombs and live bullets near the house, then broke into the house
and forced its 9 residents out. Israeli
soldiers destroyed the 130-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house with its
contents still inside. Soon after,
Israeli forces razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and
olives belonging to the same family.
At approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 15 February 2004,
20 Israeli military vehicles moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They surrounded Mohammed Hassan Mubdi
Shihab’s house and forced its 10 residents (2 families) out. Israeli soldiers checked the ID cards and
then arrested the owner’s son Ashraf, 23, who is allegedly wanted by Israeli
occupying authorities. At approximately
03:30, Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside the 130-square-meter,
2-storey house, and destroyed it.
Continued Construction of the “Separation
Wall”
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the “Separation Wall” inside the West Bank, and confiscated more
areas of Palestinian land for this purpose.
On Thursday morning, 12 February 2004, Israeli
military bulldozers razed more areas of Palestinian land in the southwest of
‘Asala village in Qalqilya. They also razed an area of agricultural land
planted with olives and almonds, located approximately 3km to the west of the
wall, owned by Anwar ‘Omar Khalil.
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the part of the wall linking the Jordan River in the east and Jenin in the
west, which will surround the west bank from the north.
On Tuesday morning, 17 February 2004, Israeli
occupying forces commenced establishing 5 observation points along the wall in
the northern Jordan valley.
Israeli occupying forces also confiscated 141 donums
of Palestinian land in al-Mughayar village, east of Jenin, for the purpose of wall
construction. According to a Palestinian
farmer, he found a written Israeli military order on his land, tell him that
his land has been confiscated.
According to Palestinians living in Dahiat al-Barid
and al-Ram village, north of Jerusalem, Israeli engineers surveyed lands in the
area to determine the track of the wall. Israeli forces also ordered owners of a number of shops, opposite to
“Atarot Industrial Zone” to evacuate their shops as soon as possible,
claiming that the track of the wall in the area will pass near their
shops. The wall in the area is expected
to extend from Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint in the south to Qalindya checkpoint
in the north. PCHR warns of the impacts
of the construction of wall on Palestinian civilians living in the area. The wall will force the annexation of
Palestinian lands to Israeli territory, in violation of international
humanitarian law, and may force Palestinian civilians to leave the area. Most of these civilians will be also
separated from Jerusalem, and also deprived of their rights to education,
health, work and worship.
Continued Siege on the
OPT
Israeli occupying forces have continued
to impose 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, and imposed more restrictions on
movement at border crossings and military checkpoints. They have also maintained the closure of a
number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip by Israeli soldiers stationed
at Israeli military checkpoints. 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.
This week, a Palestinian worker died at
Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip as the crossing was overcrowded due to
prolonged Israeli military checking procedures. In another incident, a Palestinian woman died at Rafah Terminal on the
Egyptian border, while on her way to the Gaza Strip after having undergone
surgery in Egypt. Her health condition
deteriorated due to prolonged Israeli military procedures at the terminal.
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.
At approximately 12:10 on Friday, 13 February 2004,
Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints. They held a number of Palestinian vehicles, searched them, and reopened
the checkpoints half an hour later.
At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 15 February 2004,
Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints for two hours, during which
they held a number of Palestinian vehicles in between the checkpoints and
searched them. Hundreds of Palestinian
vehicles were forced to wait at both checkpoints in long lines.
At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 16 February 2004,
Israeli soldiers began to search Palestinian vehicles traveling between the
north and south of the Gaza Strip. This
action continued until 19:00, during which Israeli soldiers arrested one
Palestinian.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
tightened siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have also escalated violations of
Palestinian human rights in the area.
On Monday morning, 16 February 2004, a Palestinian
worker died from suffocation while attempting to pass through routes at Erez
crossing designed for the passage of Palestinian workers on their way to their workplaces
in Israel. The worker died as a result of suffocation from
over-crowdedness resulting from crushing together thousands of workers
attempting to enter Israel at the crossing.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by
PCHR, Mohammed Ibrahim Sa’id al-Sheikh, 41, from al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza
city and father of 6 children, died on Monday morning while passing through a
route towards checking facilities, designed for workers passing Erez crossing,
which was established by Israeli occupying forces. According to workers
who were passing through the same route, the incident took place at a time when
large numbers of workers were waiting at the crossing to be allowed to go to
their work places before the closure of the crossing at 08:00. Al-Sheikh
fell onto the ground as the end of the route was over-crowded. A number
of workers carried him towards the Israeli side of the crossing, however
attempts to save his life failed. At approximately 08:00, Israeli
occupying forces delivered his body to a Palestinian ambulance following
coordination with the Palestinian side.
On Friday, 13 February 2004, a Palestinian woman,
Su’ad Mohammed ‘Ali al-Qurainawi, 62, from Rafah, died at Rafah Terminal on the
Egyptian border, while she was on her way to the Gaza Strip after having
undergone surgery in Egypt.
In his testimony to PCHR on his mother’s death,
Mohammed Khamis al-Qurainawi, 39, who accompanied her, said:
“My mother, Su’ad Mohammed ‘Ali al-Qurainawi,
62, had undergone a surgery in Cairo on 29 January 2004. When her health condition improved, we
decided to travel back to the Gaza Strip. We arrived at the Egyptian side of Rafah Terminal at approximately 07:00
on Friday, 13 February 2004. We finished
travel procedures at the Egyptian side in half an hour. Then, an Egyptian ambulance took us towards
the Israeli gate, where Israeli soldiers forced us to wait until 11:20, during
which time my mother’s health condition deteriorated. When we entered the hall at the terminal, I
took my mother on foot from the Egyptian ambulance to a Palestinian one. Then, Israeli soldiers ordered me to go to
the travel hall to complete travel procedures. Soon, the ambulance driver came to me and informed me that my mother’s
health condition had further deteriorated. I got out from the terminal at approximately 13:30. I immediately went to Martyr Mohammed Yousef
al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, to which my mother was transferred. There, I was informed that she had already
died. According to the hospital’s report,
my mother was dead when she was brought to the hospital.”
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 have blocked
a number of roads using cement blocks, sand barriers, and trenches.
Ramallah
On Thursday morning, 12 February 2004, Israeli
soldiers positioned at Qalindya checkpoint, south of the town, chased and fired
at Palestinian civilians who escaped to a dirt road near the checkpoint. No casualties were reported.
On Saturday, 14 February 2004, as the weather was
stormy and snow was falling, Israeli soldiers erected a number of temporary
checkpoints on a number of roads and searched Palestinian vehicles and
restricted movement of Palestinian civilians living in the 9 villages in the
area.
Bethlehem
At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 12 February 2004,
dozens of Israeli military jeeps moved into 5 villages south of Bethlehem. They imposed a curfew on these villages and
closed their entrances. These villages
are: Marah Ma’alla; Jourat al-Shama’a; Um Salmouna; al-Ma’sara; and Khellat
Haddad.
At approximately 14:00 on the same day, Israeli
soldiers at al-Container checkpoint on Wadi al-Nar road arrested Samer
‘Abdullah al-Afandi, 19, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem,
while he was traveling to the camp coming back from Abu Dis. Al-Afandi is a student at al-Quds University.
At approximately 15:00 on the same day, Israeli
soldiers at al-Container checkpoint on Wadi al-Nar road, which links the north
and south of the West Bank, denied movement of Palestinian civilians on the
road.
Nablus
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have continued to prevent Palestinians
under 35 years old from crossing military checkpoints around the city. Palestinian civilians are forced to enter
rooms established at various checkpoints to be electronically checked.
On Friday evening, 13 February 2004, Israeli soldiers
positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, arrested Mohammed Ahmed
Mohammed Sabri, 19, from Qalqilya, while he was traveling towards Nablus. Sabri is a student at an-Najah National
University in Nablus.
On Saturday morning, 14 February 2004, Israeli
soldiers positioned at two military checkpoints to the east of Nablus prevented
Palestinian civilians living in villages to the east of the city from crossing
the two checkpoints towards Nablus. On
the same day in the afternoon, Israeli soldiers closed Beit Eiba checkpoint,
west of the city, and denied movement of Palestinian civilians.
Jenin
Israeli soldiers positioned at Barta’a checkpoint,
west of Jenin, imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. According to eyewitnesses,
Israeli police often chase Palestinian vehicles and impose high fines on their
driver, fees which amount sometimes to 1500 NIS, and if a driver does not pay
the fine, they arrest him.
Qalqilya
On Monday, 16 February 2004, Israeli forces chased a
number of Palestinian civilians who were traveling on Habala – al-Wad road,
south of the town. They checked these
civilians’ ID cards and then arrested Ahmed Abu Sunaina, 19.
Israeli Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers
against Palestinian Civilians and Property
In addition to the construction of the
“Separation Wall”, this week, Israeli occupying forces carried out a
number of settlement activities in the West Bank.
On Thursday morning, 12 February 2004, Israeli
occupying forces issued a military order confiscating a 15-donum area of land
owned by Kayed Shaker al-Swaiti, located approximately 700m to the west of
“Nigihot” settlement, southwest of Hebron. According to al-Swaiti, Israeli forces
summoned him, informed him about this military order, and told him that Israeli
engineers would later survey the land for the purpose of confiscation.
On Sunday, 15 February 2004, Israeli occupying forces
issued a military order confiscating an area of land owned by Mohammed Salim
Eshtayeh in the southwest of Til village, southwest of Nablus. According to chairman of the local council of
the village ‘Adnan al-Saifi, the purpose of this confiscation is to establish
an observation tower that will overlook a bypass road extending from Jeet
village in the west to Hawara village in the east. According to the military order, this
confiscation will continue until 30 January 2005. Israeli occupying forces have used this
method to confiscate thousands of donums of Palestinian land, but these lands
have not been returned to their original owners on the times specified in
military orders, and have been used to build permanent structures on them.
*****
PCHR calls:
1. Upon the international community to
provide immediate and independent international protection for
the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
2. Upon the High Contracting Parties to
the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective measures
to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in
accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article 146.
3. Upon the international community to
investigate and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches perpetrated in
the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence,
expand its activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territories.
5. Upon the European Union to activate
Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel
must respect human rights.
6. Upon the international community to
provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose
living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued
siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
“END”
Public Document
**************************************
For more information please call 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
