The International Community Remains Silent While the Israeli Human
Rights Violations Continue in the OPTs
Introduction
Israeli
occupying forces have perpetrated more illegal actions and human rights
violations against Palestinian civilians, including willful killings, shelling
of and incursions into Palestinian areas, house demolitions, and agricultural
land leveling. This week, from 16-22 January 2003, 3 Palestinians,
including 2 civilians, were killed by Israeli forces.
This week,
Israeli occupying forces moved into several areas in the Gaza Strip. They razed large areas of Palestinian
agricultural land and demolished a number of houses and civilian facilities. They razed more than 150 donums of
Palestinian agricultural land, most of which was planted with olives. They also demolished 6 Palestinian houses
totally in Rafah and Beit Lahia, and partially demolished 9 others in Rafah
In the
West Bank, in the context of their policies of destroying Palestinian economic and
civilian facilities, on Tuesday and Wednesday, 21 and 22 January 2003, Israeli
occupying forces demolished 62 Palestinian shops in Nazlat ‘Eissa village in
Tulkarm, which provided sources of living for dozens of Palestinian
families.
In an apparent willful killing, on Saturday
afternoon, 18 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian
civilian in Rafah, while he was on the roof of his house. ‘Abdul Fattah ‘Orabi Hassan Mansour, 35, from
Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip, was on the roof of his house
repairing its water tanks, which were damaged by repeated gunfire by Israeli
forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. As soon as Israeli soldiers on a military observation tower, at the iron
wall recently established along the border opposite to Rafah refugee camp, saw
him they shot him dead with a live bullet in the back from a distance of
approximately 150m. 3 other Palestinians,
including a child, died from previous injuries they sustained by Israeli
occupying forces in the current Intifada.
In
violation of international law and international humanitarian law, which prohibits
collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against
families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by the Israeli
forces. In this context, they destroyed 5 houses in Hebron, Jenin and
Bethlehem.
This week,
Israeli settlers from settlements in Hebron attacked Palestinian civilians and
their property, especially in the old town, the center of the town and Wadi
al-Baqa’a and al-Bweira neighborhoods. These attacks took place before the eyes of Israeli forces and
police. Six Palestinian civilians were
wounded, including two who were in serious condition, windows and doors of 25
houses were destroyed, more than 10 cars were destroyed or damaged and areas of
agricultural land and water sources were damaged.
Israeli forces have maintained the total siege
imposed on the OPTs, collectively punishing the Palestinian people. Israeli
forces have partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons,
violating Palestinian civilians’ economic, social and cultural rights.
They have also imposed curfews on several different areas. This week, Israeli occupying authorities
continued to prevent Palestinians aged 16-35 from traveling abroad.
The Shelling of and Encroachment into Palestinian
Areas
Thursday, 16 January 2003
At approximately 01:00, more than 15 Israeli heavy
military vehicles moved approximately 200m into Khaled Ben al-Walid Street near
Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. During this incursion that continued until
06:00, Israeli occupying forces totally demolished 4 Palestinian houses. PCHR’s fieldworker in Rafah reported that a
number of Israeli soldiers with blackened faces and accompanied by dogs, raided
9 other houses. They broke down doors,
made holes in walls, searched them and held residents of each house in one
room. These houses were damaged. The electricity and telephone supplies of the
area were also damaged. Upon their withdrawal
from the area, Israeli forces left a statement written in Arabic and signed by
the Israeli military command that tried to justify Israeli military operations
and warned the Palestinian population of providing assistance to Palestinian
“terrorists.”
Following area details of the houses that were
totally demolished:[1]
1. A 140-square-meter house, in which 10
people lived, owned by Hammad Mohammed ‘Othman al-Sha’er;
2. A 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 8 people lived, owned by ‘Abed Ahmed Hassan al-Sha’er;
3. A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 8 people lived, owned by ‘Essam Mohammed Mallahi al-Sha’er; and
4. A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 9 people lived, owned by Fu’ad Mohammed Mallahi al-Sha’er.
At approximately 07:00, 2 tanks and a military
bulldozer of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 600m into al-Birka
area in the southwest of Deir al-Balah. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They razed a 5-donum area of
agricultural land planted with Barley owned by Yousef Nassar Abu ‘Erra.
2. They razed a 4-donum area of
agricultural land planted with Barley owned by Hammad Salem al-Sawarka.
At approximately 09:30, a tank and a bulldozer of
Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 400m north of greenhouses of
“Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They destroyed a branch road leading to Wadi
al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah, by digging a hole in the road and then
erecting a sand barrier.
Friday, 17 January 2003
At approximately 12:00, Israeli heavy military
vehicles moved approximately 800m into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan
Yunis. Israeli soldiers were deployed in
branch roads and agricultural areas. They wrote numbers on a number of houses and a park of the municipality. Then, an Israeli military bulldozer dug a
trench cutting the road linking al-Qarara village and al-Ma’arri elementary
school, approximately 600m south of an Israeli military location near the
village. The Israeli forces also demolished a number of Palestinian civilian
facilities and razed areas of agricultural land:
1. They
demolished two rooms that stood on a 30-square-meter area and destroyed
agricultural equipment and an irrigation network owned by ‘Abdul Rahim Mousa
al-Astal.
2. They
razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Marzouq Radhi Suleiman Baraka.
3. They
razed a 1000-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed Salman al-Sumairi.
During this incursion, Israeli forces handcuffed
22-year-old Ahmed ‘Abdul Latif al-Sumairi and forces him to get on a military
jeep after they had checked his identity card. They released him later. PCHR’s
fieldworker in the central Gaza Strip reported that, upon their withdrawal, the
Israeli forces left a statement signed by the Israeli military command in the
Gaza Strip that warned off the residents of the area from cooperating with
Palestinian “terrorists”, otherwise they would lose any hope of life
and a secure living.
At approximately 15:00, 10 Israeli soldiers moved on
foot 100m into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. They erected a military roadblock at the
northern entrance of the village. Israeli soldiers checked identity cards of passing Palestinian villagers
and arrested 6 of them. The detainees
were taken to the greenhouses of “Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast
of Deir al-Balah. They were released at
22:00.
Saturday, 18 January 2003
At approximately 10:30, Israeli occupying forces at
the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block
L in Rafah refugee camp. Two Palestinian
civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire that continued until 12:00:
1. Fadi Jihad Suleiman, 15, wounded by
shrapnel in the head; and
2. Hassan Saleh Abu Jazar, 19, wounded by
a live bullet in the left arm.
PCHR’s fieldworker in Rafah reported that the two
were wounded while they were near their houses.
At approximately 11:45, an infantry unit and a tank
of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 600m into ‘Aabdin neighborhood in
al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They raided uninhabited house owned by ‘Abdul Karim ‘Aabdin. They also ordered ‘Abed Salim ‘Aabdin to tell
residents of the area not to leave their houses after 18:00 everyday and that
their houses would be demolished if Israeli soldiers were fired at by
Palestinian gunmen in the area.
At approximately 23:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 250m into
Palestinian areas located northwest of “Kfar Darom” settlement,
southeast of Deir al-Balah. Immediately,
Israeli military bulldozers razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and
demolished a number of civilian facilities:
1. They razed a 20-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives and palms and a 12-donum area
of agricultural land, on which greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, and
destroyed a 2-donum cow farm, a 1-donum agricultural nursery, 2
100-square-meter stores, 2 agricultural pools, large amounts of moveable soils
and an irrigation network, all owned by Mohammed ‘Ouda Abu Samra.
2. They razed a 3-donum area of
agricultural land planted with palms, demolished a 180-meter-long fence and a
12-square-meter, asbestos-roofed room, and destroyed an agricultural pool, 10
beehives, an irrigation network and other agricultural equipment, all owned by
‘Oraif ‘Ouda ‘Oriaf Abu Munifi.
3. They demolished a 100-meter-long fence
surrounding a fuel station and destroyed 4 empty fuel tanks owned by Fu’ad
Mohammed Hamed ‘Akkila.
4. They destroyed a well and an
agricultural pool owned by Fathallah ‘Ouda ‘Oriaf Abu Munifi.
5. They demolished a 12-square-meter,
asbestos-roofed room and destroyed an agricultural pool owned by Ahmed ‘Ouda
‘Oraif Abu Munifi.
PCHR’s fieldworker in the central Gaza Strip reported
that the Israeli forces piled up rubble from there demolitions on Abu ‘Oraif
Street near the affected area, restricting the movement of people.
Sunday, 19 January 2003
At approximately 08:30, an Israeli tank moved
approximately 700m into Palestinian agricultural land in the north of Beit
Lahia. Israeli soldiers on the tank
arrested Ahmed Mohammed al-Da’our, 25, from Beit Lahia, while he was farming
his land. The tank took him to Erez area
in the north of the Gaza Strip, where he was interrogated by Israeli soldiers
about the reason of his presence in the area. He was released at approximately 17:00.
At approximately 09:00, 4 tanks and a military
bulldozer of Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Sayafa area in the north of
Beit Lahia. Israeli soldiers raided a
400-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 7 people live, owned by Younis
‘Awadhallah Abu Khousa. They ordered the
owner to evacuate the house because it was to be demolished, and withdrew from
the area. At approximately 12:30,
Israeli forces came to the area again and demolished the house.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into streets and neighborhoods of Nablus to impose a curfew. They opened fire indiscriminately to force
Palestinian civilians to stay at homes. Seven Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Sirri
‘Aayed ‘Ouda, 16, wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the head;
2. Muhannad
Ibrahim Daoud, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand;
3. Mohammed
Mahanna Sadiq, 26, wounded by a live bullet in the head;
4. Mohammed
Hisham Mohammed, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the leg;
5. Asa’ad
Naji al-Bahash, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;
6. ‘Essam ‘Ayad ‘Abdullah, 26, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in
the right hand; and
7. Zakaria
‘Abdullah Ahmed Muhsen, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
abdomen.
Also in the morning, Israeli occupying forces imposed
a curfew on Hebron. They opened fire
indiscriminately to force Palestinian civilians to stay at homes. Seven Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Lu’ai
‘Abdul Salam Abu Haikal, 26, a cameraman of Reuters news agency, was wounded by
a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg while filming the incidents;
2. Hanadai
Mohammed al-Natsha, 20, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
thigh;
3. Mohammed
‘Abdul Qader ‘Amru, 23, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
leg;
4. Ahmed
‘Ali al-Hallaq, 48, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right
thigh;
5. Yaqin
Shahin al-Ja’bari, 65, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest;
6. Hatem
‘Adnan Salah, 32, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and
7. Yusra
Fazzaa’ Hassan al-Ja’bari, 27, was wounded in the foot; she was arrested by
Israeli forces, who claimed that she attempted to stab a soldier.
At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west
of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, Kamal Mustafa Abu
Sa’id, 17, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand. PCHR’s fieldworker in Khan Yunis reported
that Abu Sa’id was wounded while he was near his house, approximately 400m away
from the source of fire.
At approximately 19:30, medical sources at al-Maqassed
Hospital in Jerusalem declared that ‘Ammar Mohammed Ahmed ‘Oleyan, 26, from
Khan Yunis, succumbed to a wound he sustained while resisting Israeli occupying
forces that invaded the town on 11 January 2003. ‘Oleyan, a member of the Palestinian National
Security Force, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the neck. He was evacuated to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza
city and from there, he was transferred to al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem,
but all efforts made to save his life failed. It is worth mentioning that the Israeli invasion of Khan Yunis on 11
January 2003 had left dead a number of Palestinians, while 14 Palestinians,
including ‘Oleyan, were wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians facilities
and houses were destroyed.
Monday, 20 January 2003
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 600m into the east
of al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. This Israeli incursion continued until approximately 18:00, during which
Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian civilians and razed large areas of
Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Mohammed ‘Ali Shihda al-‘Eimawi.
2. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and beans and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed ‘Ali Shihda al-‘Eimawi.
3. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Hamattu ‘Ali Shihda al-‘Eimawi.
4. They
razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Talal Ibrahim Shihda al-‘Eimawi.
5. They
razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Sami Ibrahim Shihda al-‘Eimawi.
6. They
razed a 12-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Samia, Sabah, Hiam, Shifa, Tahani and Yassmin
Ibrahim Shihda al-‘Eimawi.
7. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Ahmed Shehada ‘Ouda al-‘Eimawi.
8. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by ‘Ayash Shehada ‘Ouda al-‘Eimawi.
9. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Mousa Shehada ‘Ouda al-‘Eimawi.
10. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Talal Shehada ‘Ouda al-‘Eimawi.
11. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Salama ‘Atwa Salama al-‘Eimawi.
12. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Salem Musallam Wadhah Abu Zhaher.
13. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Hadba and Nasra Shehada ‘Ouda al-‘Eimawi.
14. They
razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by heirs of Mahmoud Salim Abu ‘Eid.
At approximately 14:15, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 450m into the
north of Beit Lahia. An Israeli military
bulldozer demolished a 130-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8
people lived, and destroyed a well both owned by Mohammed Fu’ad Mustafa Zindah. PCHR’s fieldworker in the northern Gaza Strip
reported that the family had already left the house because it had been
regularly fired at by Israeli forces.
At approximately 23:00, Israeli tanks in the vicinity
of Israeli settlements in the west of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses
in Canada neighborhood. A Palestinian
woman, Zahira Samir Abu al-‘Einain, 35, was wounded by a live bullet in the
right arm. PCHR’s fieldworker in Rafah
reported that the woman was wounded while she was inside her house,
approximately 350m away from the Israeli tanks.
Tuesday, 21 January 2003
At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces,
accompanied by officers of the Israeli General Security Service and undercover
units, moved into al-Jinan neighborhood in the west of al-Bireh. They surrounded an apartment building to
arrest Falah Taher Nada, 45, who live in a flat on the second floor. They raided and searched the flat. They held the 8 residents of the flat in one
room. Then, officers of the Israeli
General Security Service arrested Nada’s wife, Mudallala Mohammed Bajes Nada,
42. Israeli forces also raided a
neighboring flat and arrested Isma’il Mohammed Abu Khadija, 47, and confiscated
two mobile phones. After having arrested
him, Israeli forces closed the doors of the flat, while its 7 residents were
inside. Neighbors broke the doors at
approximately 04:30.
At approximately 15:30, medical sources at Dr. Khalil
Suleiman in Jenin declared that Mahmoud ‘Aamer Mohammed Turkman, 20, from Jenin
refugee camp, succumbed to a wound he sustained in March 2002.
According
to information available to PCHR, at approximately 14:00 on 4 March 2002, Dr. Khalil Mahmoud Suleiman,
age 58, head of Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Ambulance Station in
Jenin was killed when the ambulance he was riding in while evacuating an
injured young girl in the Jenin refugee camp was directly hit by Israeli shells
and gunfire. Four Palestinian civilians
were wounded, including Turkman who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the
back. He was transferred to hospitals in
Jordan and Iraq. One week ago, he was
returned to his home in the West Bank completely paralyzed. At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, his health
condition deteriorated. He was moved to
hospital, but all efforts made to save his life failed.
Collective
Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who
Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In
violation of international and humanitarian law which prohibits collective
punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of
Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 03:25 on Thursday, 16 January 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem,
which is under Palestinian security control. They surrounded the house of Khalil Taqatqa. They forced the 12 residents of the 120-square-meter
house out and destroyed it. Taqatqa is
father of ‘Andalib Taqatqa who carried out a bombing inside a supermarket in
West Jerusalem in April 2002.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into
Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin, which is under full Palestinian
control. They surrounded the house of
Mohammed Saleh Mousa Ekmayel. They
forced out the 16 residents of the 120-square-meter house and an adjacent
120-square-meter house, in which 10 people lived, owned by Najeh Ekmayel. Then, they destroyed the two houses. Ekmayel is the father of Saleh Ekmayel, 23, who
was killed in an armed clash with Israeli occupying forces in the northern
Jordan Valley in March 2002.
At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 20 January 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into Wadi al-Karem neighborhood in the west of
Hebron. They surrounded the house of
Mohammed Yusri al-Shweiki, 52. They
forced the 14 residents of the 360-square-meter, 2-story house out and
destroyed it. Al-Shweiki’s son, Tayseer,
22, has been detained by Israeli forces for 1 year for his resistance
activities, while he himself and his other son, ‘Omran, 19, has been detained
for more than 2 months on the ground of the first son’s detention.
At approximately 01:00 on Tuesday, 21 January 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into Dura village, west of Hebron. They surrounded the house of
‘Eissa Salem Isma’il al-Darabi’, 28, whose has been detained by Israeli forces
for 14 months. They forced the 5
residents of the 150-square-meter house out and destroyed it. Recently, al-Darabai’ was sentenced to life
imprisonment after having been convicted of being a member of Fatah movement,
killing an Israeli soldier of an undercover unit and attacking the convoy of
the Israeli former chief of staff Shaul Mofaz. Al-Darabai’ is an officer of the
Palestinian Presidential Guard.
At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, 22 January 2003,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks, armored personnel carriers and
military bulldozers, moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They surrounded the house of Fathi Mohammed
Mahmoud al-Najjar, 38, who was arrested by these forces 3 months ago for his
resistance activities. They forced the
12 residents of the 250-square-meter house out and demolished it. They also demolished the fence of a house
owned by Eyad ‘Aayed al-Najjar and the fence of the cemetery of the
village.
Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
In an apparent willful killing, on Saturday
afternoon, 18 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian
civilian in Rafah, while he was on the roof of his house. According to PCHR’s investigation and
eyewitnesses’ testimonies, at approximately 14:15 on the aforementioned day,
‘Abdul Fattah ‘Orabi Hassan Mansour, 35, from Block O in Rafah refugee camp in
the southern Gaza Strip, got onto the roof of his house to repair its water
tanks, which were damaged by repeated gunfire by Israeli occupying forces at
the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. As
soon as Israeli soldiers on a military observation tower at the iron wall
recently established along the border opposite to Rafah refugee camp saw him,
they fired a live bullet at him from a distance of approximately 150m, wounding
him in the back. His children called for
help. Immediately, his neighbors
evacuated him to hospital, but all efforts made to save his life failed. According to medical sources, Mansour was
shot by a live bullet that entered the back and exited the chest causing an
acute hemorrhage. PCHR’s fieldworker in
Rafah reported that Israeli forces established 3 military observation points
along the newly established iron wall. These points are circular, iron objects that contain one soldier.
On Wednesday evening, 22 January 2003, medical
sources at Rafidya Hospital in Nablus declared that Ahmed Anwar Saqer, 15, from
‘Askar refugee camp, east of the city, succumbed to a wound he sustained on 11
January 2003. Saqer was wounded by a
heavy caliber bullet that entered the pelvis and settled in the abdomen, when
Israeli soldiers fired at a number of Palestinian children who demonstrated
near the refugee camp.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and
Property in Hebron
An armed attack carried out by armed Palestinians on
Friday evening, 17 January 2003, against “Kharsina” settlement, east
of Hebron, left dead an Israeli soldier and injured 3 settlers. In response,
the settlers of “Kiryat Arba'” and
“Kharsina” settlements, east of Hebron, and settlements inside the
city, attacked Palestinian civilians and their property, especially in the old
town, the center of the town and Wadi al-Baqa’a and al-Bweira
neighborhoods. These attacks took place
before the eyes of Israeli forces and police. Six Palestinian civilians were
wounded, including two who were in serious condition, windows and doors of 25
houses were destroyed, more than 10 cars were destroyed or damaged and areas of
agricultural land and water sources were damaged.
According to information available to PCHR, at
approximately 22:30 on Friday, 17 January 2003, armed Israeli settlers of the
so-called “Settlement Guards” attacked the house and families of Mohammed
Badawi Jaber, 39, and his brother Samih, 35, in Wadi al-Baqa’a neighborhood in
the east of Hebron. The families were extremely frightened and 3 of them were
injured, one of them was in serious condition.
Also in the evening, Israeli settlers of
“Kharsina” settlement launched a series of attacks against
Palestinian civilians and their property in al-Bweira neighborhood in the east
of Hebron. Zuhdi Wahbi Sultan, 70,
stated that at approximately 21:00 on Friday, 17 January 2003, he heard sounds
of the falling of the water tanks and the satellite reception dish
falling. Then, the door of the house was
violently knocked. He opened it, and
immediately 3 settlers broke into the house and violently beat him, especially
on the head. He lost conscious for 3
hours. Throughout the following 2 days,
the house was subjected to attacks, so Sultan and his wife were forced to hide
in the bathroom. Israeli settlers also
cut their roses planted on a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land.
On Sunday, 19 January 2003, Israeli settlers attacked
Palestinian houses in the same neighborhood. They destroyed windows and doors of at least 25 houses and damaged at
least 10 civilian cars using stones and sharp tools.
Restrictions on Freedom of Movement
This week, Israeli forces have regularly closed
al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main
road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, and
fired at Palestinian civilians and their cars.
At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 15 January 2003,
Israeli forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints. They stopped and searched a number of cars
randomly. Israeli soldiers searched cars
and checked the identity cards of passengers. These Israeli measures hindered a visit of 2 South African diplomats to
the southern Gaza Strip. Deputy Director
of PCHR Jaber Wishah accompanied the 2 diplomats in their visit but they were
forced to travel back to Gaza city as the Abu Houli checkpoint remained closed
for an extended period while Israeli soldiers noticed the presence of the
diplomatic car which had the South African flag emblazoned across it.
At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 20 January 2003, Israeli forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli
military checkpoints. They stopped and
searched a number of cars randomly. Israeli soldiers searched cars and checked the identity cards of
passengers. They arrested 2
Palestinians. On the following day
morning, Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints again and arrested a
Palestinian.
This week, Israeli forces tightened the siege imposed
on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. On Friday, 17 January 2003, Israeli forces erected a sand barrier around
the area. They ordered the 200 residents
of the area to get their cars out of its as it would be totally closed, but the
residents refused, so Israeli forces left a hole in the barrier. However, on the following morning, they
closed it. The area has been isolated
from its surroundings since 22 June 2001. Palestinian civilians are allowed to move into and outside the area only
at specific times.
On Wednesday, 22 January 2003, Israeli forces denied
access of a medical delegation of Palestine Red Crescent Society and Sawa
Center for Development to al-Mawasi area in the west of Khan Yunis to organize
a free medical treatment day in an attempt to ease the humanitarian crisis of
Palestinian civilians living in the area.
Israeli forces have imposed restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians living in al-Mawasi area. Those residents are allowed to al-Tuffah
checkpoint leading to the area only if they have special magnetic cards issued
by Israeli forces and they are over 35 years old.
********
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 the respect of the Convention.
3. Upon the international community to
investigate and prosecute those believed to have committed war
crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories before international courts.
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.
