Israeli Forces Continue Violations
of Human Rights in the OPT
· A
Palestinian activist was killed in a new extra-judicial assassination
perpetrated by Israeli forces in Hebron
· In
an apparent willful killing, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in
Tulkarm
· Indiscriminate
Israeli shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· A
house in Rafah was destroyed by Israeli forces
· A
number of houses were raided in the West Bank and a number of Palestinians were
arrested by Israeli forces
· 3
houses in the West Bank were destroyed as Israel continued its campaign of
retaliation against the families of wanted Palestinians and those who
allegedly carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets
· Israeli
forces established 3 new observation towers in Khan Yunis
· Israeli
authorities once again instated a total siege on the OPTs
Introduction
Since Wednesday evening, 20 August 2003, Israeli occupying
forces have escalated their illegal military actions in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories, following an Israeli governmental decision taken in
the aftermath of a bombing that occurred in West Jerusalem on Tuesday evening,
19 August 2003. Israeli forces have
killed a Palestinian child in Tulkarm refugee camp, imposed a total siege on
the OPTs and destroyed a number of houses belonging to families of Palestinian
activists.
Recent Israeli illegal military actions were
initiated a few hours after the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his
Defense Minster Shaul Mofaz took a decision to escalate military operations
against Palestinians, including a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassinations. PCHR’s field workers in
the West Bank reported that Israeli occupying forces have encroached into the
old town of Nablus and the town of Jenin, Ramallah and al-Bireh. Israeli occupying forces called the new
military operation “Directed Tone.” Commander of the Israeli military paratroops is currently leading the
operation. The operation is expected to
be carried out in the following days, with no date being specified as to when
the operation would come to an end.
This week, Israeli occupying forces resumed the
policy of extra-judicial assassinations against Palestinian activists, a policy
which had been halted since the conclusion of a security understanding between
the Israeli and Palestinian sides. Israeli forces have also imposed a total siege on the OPTs, raided
Palestinian houses and arrested more Palestinians. This week, 14-20 August 2003, 2 Palestinians,
including a child, were killed and 10 others were wounded by Israeli occupying
forces. In addtiong, Israeli forces destroyed 4 Palestinian houses and arrested
dozens of Palestinians.
In resumption
of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the
Israeli political and security establishments, and 6 weeks following the start
of the implementation of a truce between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, according
to which Israeli occupying forces halted this policy, Israeli occupying forces
assassinated a Palestinian in Hebron. On
Thursday morning, 14 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces assassinated
Mohammed Ayoub Seder, 28, claming that he was wanted for his activities in
al-Quds Brigade, the military wing of Islamic Jihad.
This week, Israeli occupying forces continued to
shell Palestinian residential areas in the Gaza Strip, especially in Rafah and Khan
Yunis. Whereas no casualties were
reported, a number of houses were damaged and wide spread fear of such attacks
persisted among Palestinian civilians, especially children, in the effected
areas. Such tactics represent the use of
a system of terror inflicted on the general population of the OPTs by Israeli
authorities. Israeli occupying forces
conducted 2 incursions into Palestinian areas along the Egyptian border, south
of Rafah, during which they destroyed a Palestinian house. Palestinians living along the border in Rafah
have endured the continuous presence of belligerent
Israeli occupying forces in the area.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted
a series of incursions into Palestinian controlled areas, accompanied by
indiscriminate shelling and shooting. As
a result of these incursions, 8 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and
an old man, were wounded. Israeli
occupying forces also raided some houses and arrested a number of Palestinians.
In violation of international humanitarian law, especially
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. In this context, they destroyed 3 Palestinian
houses in Nablus.
Israeli occupying forces have continued work on the
“security fence.” They have confiscated
more areas of Palestinian land and isolated more Palestinian residential areas
for this purpose. They also declared
that they would begin to establish a fence north of ‘Eizariya and Abu Dis
villages, east of Jerusalem, and have confiscated areas of Palestinian land in
al-Sawahra and Sour Baher villages. Palestinian sources expect that 173 donums of land will be confiscated
in the area by Israeli occupying forces to establish the “security fence.” Furthermore, a number of Palestinian villages
will be isolated from both Jerusalem and the West Bank if the fence is established
in the area.
Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict
siege on most of the OPT, especially in the West Bank, in violation of Palestinian
economic, social and cultural rights. On Tuesday evening, 19 August 2003, after a bombing occurred in West
Jerusalem, Israeli occupying forces imposed a strict military siege on the OPTs
and closed all crossings into Israel. While
Israeli forces redeployed from the main roads in the Gaza Strip, they have
continued to restrict movement on these roads and at border crossings. They often obstruct movement of people at
al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, north of Khan
Yunis. They moved the military observation tower at al-Matahen junction
approximately 20m to the west, and the observation tower at Abu Houli
checkpoint approximately 20m to the northeast. At al-Shuhada (Netzarim) junction, south of Gaza city, Israeli occupying
forces have established two iron gates, approximately 200m away from the
junction. They moved an Israeli military
location in the area to the east of junction.
Israeli forces also continue to maintain the strict
siege imposed on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip, where more than
8,000 Palestinians live, as well as al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza
Strip. In al-Sayafa area, Israeli occupying forces have begun to issue
magnetic cards for residents of the area, to be used to move into and outside
the area.
Israeli occupying forces have restricted the access
of Palestinian fishermen to the sea and Palestinian workers continue to face
humiliating measures at “Erez” (Beit Hanoun) crossing in the northern Gaza
Strip on their way to work in Israel. Israeli occupying forces have continued
to restrict the passage of goods through commercial crossings of the Gaza
Strip. Rafah terminal, on the border with Egypt, has recently witnessed a
growing humanitarian crisis.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have
maintained a strict siege on Palestinian communities, isolating them from one
another. They have restricted movement of Palestinians at military checkpoints,
despite Israeli claims that a number of military checkpoints were dismantled.
They re-closed a number of roads and erected dozens of roadblocks. On Wednesday morning, after Israeli occupying
forces had allowed dozens of Palestinian civilians to cross Israeli military
checkpoints erected at entrances of Palestinian towns and villages, they closed
these checkpoints and prevented the civilians that had crossed the checkpoints
from returning to their homes.
In a further escalation of aggressive measures
against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, on Wednesday afternoon, 20
August 2003, Israeli police and prison guards, supported by helicopters, broke
into Mageddo Prison, northwest of Jenin, using tear gas and rubber-coated metal
bullets. A division in the prison was
burnt and more than 100 Palestinian prisoners suffered from tear gas
inhalation. Palestinian prisoners were
protesting an Israeli decision to transfer 100 prisoners to a desert jail in
the Negev Desert.
A New Extra-Judicial Assassination
In resumption
of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the
Israeli political and security establishments against Palestinian field
activists and political leaders, which had been halted following the conclusion
of a truce between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, Israeli occupying forces
assassinated a Palestinian in Hebron. On
Thursday, 14 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces assassinated Mohammed Ayoub
Seder, 28, from Hebron, claiming that he was one of the most wanted people in
Hebron for his activities in al-Quds Brigade, the military wing of the Islamic
Jihad.
According to
PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 01:15 on the aforementioned day, Israeli
occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into the
Palestinian controlled area of Sha’aba, northeast of Hebron. They surrounded three commercial stores belonging
to the heirs of the deceased Mohammed Jawad ‘Omar al-Muhtasseb, approximately
300m east of the headquarters of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron
(TIPH). Israeli soldiers ordered residents of nearby buildings through
megaphones to get out. Then, they opened
fire at the stores. They then ordered a
person in the targeted buildings to surrender. At approximately 03:00, Israeli soldiers fired two artillery shells at
the stores. As a result, fire broke out in
the stores. An Israeli bulldozer approached the stores and began to tear one of
them down. At approximately 06:00, Israeli forces declared that they found Seder’s
body. Before withdrawing from the area,
a military vehicle transported Seder’s body to an unknown destination. The body has been kept by Israeli occupying
forces.
An Israeli military spokesman claimed
that an exchange of fire took place between Seder and Israeli occupying forces,
but eyewitnesses denied this claim and confirmed that Israeli forces ordered a
man to surrender without mentioning his name specifically. It is worth noting that on 10 December 2001, Seder
survived a failed assassination attempt, when an Israeli helicopter fired two
missiles at a car, in which he was traveling, when it stopped at a traffic
light on al-Salam Street in the center of Hebron. Although Seder survived the attack, two Palestinian
children: Burhan Mohammed al-Haimouni, 3; and Shadi Ahmed ‘Arafa, 13, were
killed, and a third civilian, Mohammed Ibrahim al-Haimouni, 46, died later of
the wounds he sustained in the attack.
Excessive Use of Force against Palestinian Civilians
and Attacks on Their Property
This week, Israeli occupying forces fired at Palestinian
civilians, shelled Palestinian residential areas and encroached into
Palestinian Authority controlled areas. Following are details of these human rights violations:
At
approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 14 August 2003, 5 Israeli heavy military
vehicles, moved approximately 100m into Salah al-Din Street in Block L in Rafah
refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. During the incursion, which continued until 06:00, Israeli forces fired
two artillery shells at a 250-square-meter house owned by Suhaila Mohammed
Barhoum. Then, Israeli military vehicles
demolished parts of the house while simultaneously firing indiscriminately in
the area. The 7 residents of the house
were in Saudi Arabia at the time, but are now in Rafah. They had submitted a request to the
Palestinian liaison to request the Israelis to allow them access to their house
in order to evacuate their furniture and belongings. On 13 August 2003, they
were allowed to enter their house, however some of their furniture and
belongings had already been destroyed by Israeli shelling. On Friday, 15 August 2003, Israeli occupying
forces moved into the area again and demolished the house completely. The house was located approximately 100m
north of the Egyptian border, in front of an Israeli military location that was
established at an iron wall, which Israeli occupying forces have been
constructing along the border. Israeli
soldiers in military locations located in the area open fire at anyone that
tries to get close to the aforementioned house or enters any part of the
area.
At
approximately 02:15 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces moved into Jenin
refugee camp. They seized control over
the camp, and a number of Israeli snipers took position on roofs of
houses. Israeli soldiers raided many
houses, employing live ammunition and sound bombs during the operation. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers
fired a tank shell at the door of Sumaya D’ib al-Sa’di’s house, severely
damaging it. Al-Sa’di was not at
home. Israeli soldiers raided a neighboring
house owned by Fawzi Mahmoud al-Sa’di. They forced residents of the house out and opened fire inside. A few hours later, Israeli occupying forces
withdrew from the camp. No casualties or
arrests were reported.
At
approximately 17:00 on the same day, an Israeli settler in a civilian car that
had an Israeli number fired at Husni Ahmed Mahmoud Hamad, 44, from ‘Ezbat
Shoufa village, south of Tulkarm, wounding him with two live bullets in the
chest and the left hand. Hamad was
walking on a bypass road linking al-Taybeh inside the Green Line and the “Enab”
settlement, east of Tulram. Hamad was on
his way back to his village from his agricultural land.
At
approximately 00:00 on Friday, 15 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations between the Israeli settlements of “Gani Tal” and “Neve
Dekalim” settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire into the al-Sad al-‘Aali
area in Khan Yunis refugee camp. They
also fired flare bombs into the area. A
flare bomb fell onto the house of Joma’a Mohammed Abu Mustafa, approximately
300m away from “Neve Dekalim” settlement. The bomb penetrated the asbestos roof of the house and fell into the
children’s bedroom. One of the children,
Mohammed Mahmoud Abu Mustafa, 16, sustained burns and injuries in the left
leg. Two hours later, Israeli occupying
forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west
of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Nimsawi
neighborhood. No casualties were
reported.
At
approximately 02:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with
heavy military vehicles and covered by intense gunfire, moved into
Qalqilya. They raided and searched the
house of Tariq Burhan Hilal, 24, and arrested him.
At
approximately 22:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in military
locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” and “Gadid” settlements, west of
Khan Yunis, opened fire the cemeteries of the Baten al-Samin area to the east. No casualties were reported, however, a high
level of fear stifled the daily activities of Palestinian civilians in the area.
At
approximately 06:00 on Saturday, 16 August 2003, 3 tanks, two armored personnel
carriers and a number of military jeeps of Israeli occupying forces moved into
al-Quds Street in the south of Nablus. They raided a car maintenance workshop and arrested two Palestinians:
1. Mohammed
Nemer ‘Awad, 36; and
2. Ghaleb
Ahmed al-Masri, 32, both from Balata refugee camp.
At the same
time, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved
into the southwest of Nablus and proceeded towards the old town while opening
fire at Palestinian houses. They
arrested a number of Palestinians in the area.
At
approximately 20:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in military
locations in the vicinity of “Gadid” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened
fire at Palestinian houses to the east. No casualties were reported.
At
approximately 03:00 on Sunday, 17 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense gunfire, moved
into Qalqilya. They surrounded houses of
‘Aakef Fayez ‘Abdul Ra’uf Nazzal, 35, and Sa’ed Jamal ‘Araba, 18. They searched the two houses and arrested
these two Palestinians.
At
approximately 05:45 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces positioned in a
military location south of “Morag” settlement, north of Rafah, opened fire at
nearby Palestinian residential areas. No
casualties were reported.
At
approximately 07:00 on the same day, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Beit
Fourik village, east of Nablus, while firing in the air. A number of Palestinian children and young
men gathered in the center of the village and threw stones towards the
jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers
fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the stone throwers, wounding 6, including
4 children:
1. ‘Abdul
Qader Tayseer Hanani, 20, wounded in the left hand;
2. Amjad
Fawaz Hanani, 22, wounded in the head;
3. Mustafa
Kifah Musleh, 14, wounded in the abdomen;
4. Yousef
Faisal Hanani, 10, wounded in the left thigh;
5. Yahia
Bassam Hanani, 12, wounded in the left leg; and
6. Mohammed
‘Adli Hanani, 16, wounded in the right hand.
At
approximately 10:45 on the same day, Israeli soldiers on a tank that was
patrolling in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis,
opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Nimsawi neighborhood to the east. No casualties were reported, but a number of
houses were damaged and a high level of fear persisted among the general
population of the area.
At the same
time, Israeli occupying forces positioned in a military locations in the
vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at
Palestinian houses in al-Amal neighborhood to the southeast. A horse owned by ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Mana’ma was
killed by several live bullets.
At
approximately 16:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in a military
location southeast of “Dogit” settlement, north of Beit Lahia, fired a number
of live bullets at Jamal ‘Olayan Khudair, 25, when he got close to the electronic
fence surrounding the aforementioned settlement. Apparently, after opening fire Israeli forces
discovered that Jamal was mentally handicapped, they informed the Palestinian
side in order to move him away from the area. Half an hour later, members of the Palestinian National Security Force
arrived and took him away from the area.
At the same
time, Israeli occupying forces moved into the western areas of Hebron. They raided and searched the house of Isma’il
Sa’id Nairoukh in Wadi al-Tuffah Street, and arrested his son, Tamer, 18.
At approximately
04:00 on Monday, 18 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy
military vehicles, moved into Qalqilya. They surrounded the house of Shaker Wajeeh Ibrahim Hubais, 25. They then searched the house and arrested the
owner.
At the same
time, two armored personnel carriers and 4 military jeeps of Israeli occupying
forces moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested two Palestinians.
At
approximately 16:45 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in military
locations at al-Matahen junction on Salah al-Din Street, north of Khan Yunis,
opened fire at Palestinian houses and a site of the Palestinian National
Security Force to the south. Traffic on
Salah al-Din Street was disrupted.
At approximately
19:25 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in a military location known as
“al-Nouria”, west of Khan Yunis, and in military locations in the vicinity of
“Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in al-Amal neighborhood. A number
of houses were damaged and a high level of fear stifled the daily activities of
Palestinian civilians in the area.
In the
evening of the same day, Israeli occupying forces positioned behind sand hills
north of the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, southwest of Hebron, fired at a
civilian car, in which two Palestinian civilians were traveling. A civilian was wounded and another one was
arrested.
According to
PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 20:00, while Ibrahim ‘Abdul Fattah
Shawabka, 31, from al-Fawar refugee camp, was traveling with an unknown person
in a private car near the northern entrance of the camp, they were surprised by
shooting targeted at them coming from behind a sand hill. The unknown companion was wounded. Israeli soldiers moved towards the car,
evacuated the wounded man to an Israeli hospital and arrested Shawabka.
At
approximately 04:20 on Tuesday, 19 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Jenin. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. No casualties were reported, but Israeli
soldiers arrested Mohammed Ahmed Abu ‘Ameera, 28.
At
approximately 18:30 on Wednesday, 20 August 2003, Israeli soldiers in a
military location near Tal al-Sultan checkpoint, west of Rafah, opened fire at
Tal al-Sultan neighborhood to the east. A Palestinian civilian, ‘Abdul Qader Isma’il al-‘Afifi, 70, was
seriously wounded by a live
Tulkarm
refugee camp. The Israeli military has
not denied responsibility for the child’s death. The Arabic web site of Israeli daily Yediot
Aharanot quoted Israeli military sources as saying that “the incident took
place when an Israeli military undercover unit attempted to arrest wanted
Palestinians in the refugee camp.” “Late
at night,” the same source added, “an undercover unit fired at 5 Palestinian
activists in Tulkarm, apparently as they attempted to escape.”
According to
PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 22:00 on the aforementioned day, an
undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces infiltrated into the schools area
at the northern entrance of Tulkarm refugee camp, using a civilian car that had
a Palestinian number. The car suddenly
stopped and Israeli soldiers rushed out, opening fire on a number of Palestinian
civilians who were in a billiard club in the area. 6 civilians were wounded. Immediately, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with armored personnel carriers, moved into Tulkarm to support and
the undercover unit and cover its withdrawal. Israeli soldiers arrested 9 Palestinians, including 4 of the wounded,
and withdrew from the area. Later,
Israeli occupying forces informed the Palestinian liaison that one of the
wounded had died and asked for an ambulance to transport his body. An ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent
Society evacuated the body to Dr. Thabet Thabet Hospital in Tulkarm, where the
victim was identified as Sa’id ‘Awadh Ghanem, 15. According to medical sources, he was shot by
a live bullet in the head. Israeli
occupying forces informed the Palestinian liaison that the other wounded
prisoners were transferred to an Israeli hospital. According to medical sources, two additional
Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire:
1. Jihad
‘Amara, 11, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh; and
2. Sa’ad
al-Din al-Khouli, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the side.
Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted
Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli
Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, especially
the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War of 1949, whose article 33 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. In this context, they destroyed 3 Palestinian
houses in Nablus.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
02:00 on Thursday, 14 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with
heavy military vehicles, moved into ‘Askar refugee camp, northeast of
Nablus. They surrounded a
120-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Yousef Qutaishat and forced residents
of the house to evacuate. An Israeli
officer informed the owner of an order to destroy the flat of his son, Islam,
who was killed while carrying out a bombing near “Ariel” settlement in the
northern West Bank on Tuesday, 13 August 2003. Israeli soldiers gave the family 5 minutes only to evacuate their
belongings. Then, they planted
explosives in the son’s flat and destroyed it. Walls of the flat collapsed. Israeli soldiers mounted to the second floor to check results of the
explosion and fired a number of fire bombs at the furniture, which was totally
burnt.
At approximately 02:00 on Friday, 15 August 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They surrounded a 120-square-meter, 3-storey
house belonging to the family of the deceased ‘Aamer Shaker Abu ‘Ayash, in
which 14 people (3 families) lived. They
forced the families out without allowing them to evacuate any of their
furniture. Then, they planted explosives
in the second and third floors and destroyed them.
At approximately 01:00 on Sunday, 17 August 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They surrounded an 80-square-meter, 2-storey
house belonging to the family of the deceased Amjad Suleiman Abu Salim, in which
14 people (2 families) lived. The families were hosting two activists of the
International Solidarity Movement (ISM). Israeli soldiers forced the families out. When the two ISM activist attempted to stop
the destruction of the house, Israeli soldiers beat and arrested them. At approximately 03:00, Israeli soldiers
planted explosives in the house and destroyed it.
Israeli military sources claimed that Abu ‘Ayash and
Abu Salim are activists of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah
movement, and that on 18 May 2003, they attempted to carry out a bombing in
“Sha’ari Tikva” settlement in the northern West Bank. The two were killed while they were
attempting to infiltrate into the aforementioned settlement. The same sources further claimed that weapons
were found near their bodies.
The man who carried out a bombing in West Jerusalem
on Tuesday, 19 August 2003, was identified as Ra’ed ‘Abdul Hamid Misk, 29, from
Hebron. At approximately 23:45, Israeli
occupying forces moved into the Palestinian Authority controlled al-Sheikh
neighborhood in Hebron, raiding and searching Misk’s house and arresting his
brothers: “Mohammed Akram”, 42; and Anwar, 32; and his nephew, ‘Abdul Hamid,
20. At approximately 02:00 on Wednesday,
20 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into the center and north of
Hebron. They also closed al-Haras and
‘Ali Bakkaa’ mosques.
Continued Siege on the OPT
Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict
siege on most of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially in the West
Bank. While Israeli forces redeployed on the main roads in the Gaza
Strip, they have restricted movement at border crossings and maintain the siege
imposed on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli imposed
closures also continue at the Rafah-Khan Yunis western road, part of Salah
al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip)
near “Kfar Darom” settlement in the central Gaza Strip, and Abu al-‘Ajin road
between Wadi al-Salqa village in Deir al-Balah and al-Qarara village in Khan
Yunis. Israeli occupying forces have restricted movement of Palestinian
civilians living in al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip.
Palestinian workers have faced extreme difficulties on their way to their work
places in Israel. Israeli occupying
forces have also restricted travel of Palestinians through Rafah Terminal on
the Egyptian border.
Continued Suffering of Palestinian Workers
Since the beginning of the current Intifada, Israeli occupying
authorities have restricted access of Palestinian workers to their work places
in Israel. According to recent statistics, 13885 Palestinian
workers from the Gaza Strip have been allowed to cross into Israel for
work. These workers have met the conditions set by Israeli occupying
authorities, which include that a worker must be over 28, married with
children, have a magnetic card issued by Israeli occupying authorities and have
registered work with an identified Israeli employer.
Workers passing through Erez crossing continue to be
subject to measures and procedures which may collectively amount to ill
treatment, including prolonged and arbitrary delays, humiliation, and arbitrary
confiscation of work permits. For more details about these Israeli
measures, see PCHR’s Weekly Report issued on 23 July 2003. According to some workers, especially those
who live in the southern Gaza Strip, they leave their houses at 23:00 – 24:00
towards Erez crossing. They reach their
work places in Israel at 08:00 – 09:00, and leave work at 03:00. They arrive back at home at 07:00 – 08:00,
allowing only 3-4 hours for rest between work days.
Palestinian workers also face extreme difficulties in
renewing their magnetic cards, which allows their entry into Israel. In order to renew a magnetic card workers
must book a turn and wait to get a number from the Palestinian liaison
office. Afterwards, they are then
transported in buses to the Erez crossing area. Israeli occupying forces issue magnetic cards for a limited number of
workers every day, so some people spend days waiting to get a magnetic
card. Some workers have been deprived of
obtaining magnetic cards.
Continued Suffering of Palestinians Living Close to
the Egyptian Border
Despite relative quiet in Rafah since the Israeli and
Palestinian sides concluded a security understanding on 30 June 2003,
Palestinians living along the Egyptian border, south of the town –
approximately 8km long – have lacked stability and security. In addition, those who had their houses
destroyed or damaged by the Israeli occupying forces have not been able to go
back to the area. Entire families have
had to find more secure places of residence, which has increased economic
burdens on them.
In the meantime, engineering units of Israeli
occupying forces have continued to establish an iron wall along the Egyptian
border, opposite the Rafah refugee camp. This work began on 16 October 2002, beginning at the part of the border
opposite to Block O. The wall extended
to the part of the border opposite to Block L in the west, before engineering
works had stopped for 3 months. In June,
Israeli occupying forces resumed work at the wall, beginning from Salah al-Din
Gate and moving east towards al-Sha’er and al-Brazil neighborhoods. The wall is iron-made and 12-meter-high and
is expected to be 8km long, extending from Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the
west to Rafah Terminal in the east. It
extends 30-50 meters inside Palestinian Authority controlled areas. Israeli occupying
forces have established a number of observation towers and military locations
along the wall, including a fortified, iron-made, 20-meter-high observation
tower opposite to ‘Omar Ben al-Khattab Street. Israeli soldiers positioned at that tower and 6 other military locations
along the border often open fire at Palestinian houses and streets in
Rafah.
Palestinians residing along the border live under
continuous fear due to continued underground explosions conducted by Israeli
occupying forces to destroy alleged tunnels. Such explosions have severely damaged a number of Palestinian
houses. Israeli heavy military vehicles
patrol the border and “buffer zone” 24 hours a day, terrifying people
living in the area. Last year the
Israeli occupying forces destroyed a sewage plant in Block O and there are now
fears of an impending environmental disaster resulting from raw sewage run-off
in the area. Many people have been
forced to leave their homes because of this problem.
Continued Siege on al-Sayafa Area in the Northern
Gaza Strip
Israeli occupying forces have imposed more
restrictions that have tightened the siege already imposed on al-Sayafa area,
which is located between “Dogit” and “Elli Sinai” settlements north of Beit
Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.
At approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 19 August 2003,
Israeli occupying forces denied the entry of Palestinian civilians into the
area using animal carts, so they had to walk a 300-meter distance between the
external and internal gates of the area. They were also checked by Israeli soldiers.
On 10 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces held 48
residents of the area at the gate established at the entrance of the
area. Israeli soldiers photographed the civilians for magnetic cards,
which will probably be used for access to and from the area. Palestinian
farmers whose agricultural lands in al-Sayafa have been razed are not permitted
to re-cultivate their lands. This
leveled and uncultivated land totals an estimated area of 3,500 dunums.[1]
Israeli occupying forces have also confiscated about 1,000 dunums to establish
a security fence and a bypass road for Israeli settlements in the northern Gaza
Strip.
Continued Siege on the West Bank
Contrary to Israeli claims regarding dismantling a
number of military checkpoints in the West Bank and easing restrictions on
internal movement, Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict movement
of Palestinians at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Jerusalem
On Thursday morning, 14 August 2003, Israeli
occupying forces restricted movement of Palestinians at entrances of the
city. They slowly checked
Palestinians. They also erected a
roadblock on a bypass road near Jaba’ village, northeast of the city, further
restricting Palestinian movement.
On Saturday morning, Israeli occupying forces closed
the road leading to the solid waste management plant of the al-Ram local
council north of the city. They denied
access of trucks of garbage to the plant.
On Sunday morning, 17 August 2003, Israeli occupying
forces imposed restrictions at the demarcation line separating between the two
sectors of the city and at military checkpoints at its entrances. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupying
forces erected more checkpoints at entrances of Palestinian villages and closed
Qalandiya military checkpoint, north of the city.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces erected a
roadblock at Jaba’ junction, approximately 2 km. from Qalandiya military
checkpoint. They searched vehicles and
restricted the movement of Palestinians. They also closed a road north of al-Ram village, denying Palestinian
workers access to their work places north of Jerusalem. In the evening, Israeli occupying forces
closed Qalandiya military checkpoint for 6 hours. They allowed only patients and those who are
over 45 and have permits issued by the “Israeli Civil Administration” to cross
the checkpoint. Even these exceptions
were thoroughly checked by Israeli soldiers.
Ramallah and al-Bireh
On Thursday,
14 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed all roads leading into the two
towns of Ramallah and al-Bireh, right at the center of the West Bank,
denying passage of Palestinian civilians. PCHR’s field workers reported that at
06:00, Israeli forces closed Surda military checkpoint at the northwestern
entrance of Ramallah that leads to the northern and northwestern villages of
the district. All vehicles were forced to turn around, and were prevented from
entering or leaving the town. People were forced to walk for more than three
kilometers. This procedure prevented
Birzeit University students from reaching the university. Israeli forces also re-erected the ‘Atara
Bridge checkpoint, north of Birzeit, which heads to the Salfit area, Western
Bani Zeid village and villages of the northwest of Ramallah. Israeli soldiers humiliated civilians and
detained their cars in lines more than a kilometer long on both sides of the
checkpoint. Moreover, several Israeli
military vehicles were positioned on the outskirts of Kofor Ni’ma and ‘Ein
‘Ariq at the western entrance into Ramallah. Israeli soldiers forced Palestinian civilians out of their cars and
checked them provocatively. Humiliation
of Palestinian civilians, and provocative search procedures were intensified at
the Na’leen checkpoint, which leads to 13 villages west of Ramalla (Rantees,
Deir Abu Mish’al, Kibia, Shibteen, Badras, Na’leen, al-Madiyah, Deir ‘Amar,
al-Lubban al-Gharbee, ‘Abood, Um Safa and Na’leen). People were made to wait for long periods of
time until they were allowed to pass, only to reach yet another checkpoint.
On Sunday
morning, 18 August 2003, Israeli forces intensified their presence in the areas
surrounding Ramallah and al-Bireh. Israeli soldiers positioned at ‘Atara checkpoint north of Birzeit
prevented Palestinians from passing through, even those with special permits.
They were forced to resort to branch roads. Palestinian civilians heading to the northern parts of the West Bank
faced similar procedures at the Deir Balout checkpoint near Salfit, where
Israeli soldiers would deliberately prolong the search procedures. Several heavy military vehicles were deployed
around the village of Abu Mish’al and the outskirts of al-Nabi Saleh, northeast
of Ramallah. The soldiers compelled all cars to stop, and conducted a
provocative inspection of the civilians’ ID cards. Israeli soldiers positioned at the entrance
to the “Halmeesh” settlement, northwest of Ramallah, also deliberately detained
Palestinian civilians Sunday morning. Another checkpoint was erected 400 meters away from the Deir Balout checkpoint,
near Um Safa village. Here Palestinian
civilians were detained for hours.
Bethlehem
Israeli
occupying forces redeployed around Bethlehem according to the
Palestinian-Israeli truce declared on 30 June 2003, but the city was not
excluded from the strict Israeli siege measures enacted this week. According to eyewitnesses, on Thursday, 14
August 2003, Israeli forces blocked the eastern entrance to the town of Beit
Sahoor, near the Mashroo’ area. Israeli
bulldozers closed the entrance with rocks and sand barricades. Gilo checkpoint,
north of Bethlehem, which allows access to Jerusalem from the south, was also
closed. Israeli soldiers positioned at
the checkpoint prevented Palestinian civilians, even those with “blue” Israeli
ID’s from passing either way through the checkpoint. Civilians with Israeli identification were
forced to take the tunnel route while residents of the West Bank and East
Jerusalem were denied access altogether.
On Sunday
morning, 17 August 2003, Israeli soldiers, positioned at the “Container”
checkpoint on the Wadi al-Nar road linking between the north and south of the
West Bank, abused Palestinian citizens and detained their cars for several
hours. On the same day, Israeli soldiers
positioned at Gilo checkpoint, north of Bethlehem detained more than 200
Palestinian workers. According to
eyewitnesses, the detainees had been led to the checkpoint after they were
caught attempting to pass through the neighboring Tantoor area. Israeli soldiers
subjected the detainees to physical abuse and made them lie down on the ground
under the scorching sun.
Nablus
Nablus
witnessed several incursions that resulted in the demolition of three houses in
Balata and ‘Askar refugee camps, and the arrest of several Palestinians. The checkpoints leading to town remained
closed by Israeli occupying forces until Saturday, 16 August 2003. Israeli measures at checkpoints remained strict
and Palestinian civilians under 35 are required to obtain permits issued by the
“Israeli Civil Administration” in order to cross those checkpoints. Israeli soldiers positioned at Huara
checkpoint south of the town, Beit Foreek checkpoint, to the east, and Deir
Sharaf checkpoint, to the west, deliberately obstructed passage of Palestinian
civilians and subjected them to long hours of searching and detention.
Jenin
Israeli occupying forces closed the main and branch
entrances of Jenin, denying movement of Palestinian out and into the town. According to eyewitnesses, on Saturday, 16
August 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed “Ganat” military checkpoint at the
southern entrance of the town, and Jenin-Bourqin road, west of the town. An Israeli tank was positioned on
Jenin-Qabatya road, southeast of the town, and another tank was positioned in
al-Swaitat area at the eastern entrance of the town. Israeli occupying forces also closed the iron
gate separating the northern and central Jordan Valley from other Palestinian
areas.
On the following day, Sunday, 17 August 2003, Israeli
occupying forces held hundreds of Palestinian civilians at al-Hamra and
Tayaseer military checkpoints, which lead to the Jordan Valley. According to eyewitnesses, most of these
Palestinian civilians were on their way to their work places in al-Jiftlek,
Jericho and Tubas.
Tulkarm
On Saturday morning, 16 August 2003, Israeli
occupying forces closed al-Kafriyat military checkpoint, which separates
Tulkarm from Qalqilya and southern villages. They allowed Palestinian civilians who are over 35 to cross the
checkpoint only on foot. According to
eyewitnesses, Palestinian civilians were subject to prolonged checking.
Israeli occupying forces also erected more roadblocks
around the town, at which they searched cars and checked Palestinian
civilians. They also reinforced their
presence in areas close to “the security fence” around the city.
Qalqilya
Although the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and
Defense Minster Shaul Mofaz declared that their occupying forces would be
redeployed around Qalqilya soon, Israeli occupying forces conducted a number of
incursions into the town and tightened the siege on its residents. On Saturday morning, 16 August 2003, Israeli
occupying forces closed Habla gate, which links Qalqilya to its southern
villages. Palestinian civilians had to
resort to accessing the city on long muddy roads. Before this closure, Israeli occupying forces
allowed movement of Palestinian civilians through the gate for only one hour
everyday.
On Thursday,
14 August 2003, and in an ongoing attempt to seize more Palestinian controlled
areas, Israeli occupying forces established a military observation point west
of al-Matahen junction on Salah al-Din Street, which links between the northern
and southern Gaza strip. Israeli forces
built a cylindrical observation tower over huge cement blocks to west of a
military location at al-Matahen junction, north of Khan Yunis.
The
observation point was established despite the security understandings concluded
between the Palestinian and Israeli sides on 30 June 2003, according to which
Israeli forces were to be redeployed around Salah al-Din Street. Nevertheless, the observation point at
al-Matahen junction was moved only 15 meters to the west of its original location. The new point was established close to the
area where car searches are conducted, and is the second such point Israeli
forces have established in the same area.
In an attempt
to control and enhance monitoring over Palestinian controlled areas, Israeli
occupying forces continuously resolve to building military locations, rendering
Palestinian areas vulnerable to sniper attacks and indiscriminate
shelling. In this context, Israeli
forces established dozens of military points all over the Gaza Strip,
especially in the vicinity of Israeli settlements and controlled areas. Last July, two observation points were
established; the first to the north of al-Tufah checkpoint, west of Khan Yunis,
and the second on a tract of land owned by the “Dheir” family near Morag
settlement, north of Rafah.
On Sunday, 17 August 2003, Israeli occupying
forces started to build two observation towers in Palestinian controlled areas
in Hebron; the first in Juneid neighborhood in the eastern part of the town,
and the second in Talat al-Takroory (al-Karanteena). Israeli forces supplied both towers with
advanced monitoring devices and 4 mobile homes and surrounded each of them with
a cement wall.
PCHR’s
fieldworker reported that Israeli forces confiscated 20 dunums of land owned by
the heirs of the deceased Yousef ‘Abbas ‘Omar, No’man ‘Amru and Mohammed
al-Takroory in Talat al-Takroory. Thirty more dunums belonging to the
al-Juneidi family were confiscated in Juneid neighborhood.
* * * * *
PCHR calls:
1. Upon the international community to
provide immediate and independent international protection for
the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
2. Upon the High Contracting Parties to
the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective
measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, in accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article
146, to ensure respect for the Convention.
3. Upon the international community to
investigate and prosecute before international courts those believed to have
committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence,
expand its activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territories.
5. Upon the European Union to activate
Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel
must respect human rights.
6. Upon the international community to
provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose
living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued
siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
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
