Israeli Troops Continue Attacks in
the OPT
· 16
Palestinians, 6 of whom were civilians, including a child, were killed by
Israeli troops.
· Israeli
troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· 48
houses and the civilian infrastructure were destroyed during an Israeli
military incursion into Khan Yunis.
· 69
of donums[1]
of agricultural land were razed in the Gaza Strip.
· 2
houses were destroyed in the West Bank in the context of retaliation against
families of Palestinian detainees.
· Houses
were raided and dozens of Palestinian civilians were arrested in the West Bank.
· Israeli
troops raided a number of Palestinian charitable institutions in the West Bank
and confiscated some of their contents.
· Continued
shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities; dozens of Palestinian civilians,
including at least 30 children, were injured and a number of civilian
facilities were destroyed.
· Construction
of the “annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued.
· Israeli
troops have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; Rafah Terminal on the
Egyptian border has been closed for the 2nd consecutive week, Israeli
troops positioned at checkpoints fired at Palestinian civilians and injured one,
and arrested a number of Palestinian
civilians at military checkpoints.
Introduction
Israeli occupying troops have launched more attacks
against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT),
especially in the Gaza Strip. This week, 16 Palestinians, 6 of whom were
civilians, including a child, were killed and dozens of others were injured by
Israeli troops. Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying
troops included willful killings, incursions into Palestinian areas,
indiscriminate shelling, land leveling and total closure imposed on Palestinian
communities.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops killed 16
Palestinians. Fourteen of the victims, 4
of whom were civilians, including a child, were killed by Israeli troops during
2 incursions into al-Nimsawi neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp in the
southern Gaza Strip on 17 and 22 December 2004. During these incursions, Israeli troops used disproportionate force against
members of the Palestinian resistance who clashed with these troops. In addition, at least 60 Palestinian
civilians, including 26 children, were injured by Israeli troops, which also
destroyed 48 houses, rendering 351 people homeless. They also damaged a number of civilian
facilities, including Nasser Hospital and an elementary school. On 17 December 2004, a Palestinian civilian
died from a previous injury he had sustained by Israeli troops in Jabalya
refugee camp. On 22 December 2004,
Israeli troops killed a Palestinian civilian in the northern Gaza Strip,
apparently as he was attempting to infiltrate through the border with
Israel.
This week, Israeli troops conducted 3 incursions into
Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, during which they razed 69 donums of agricultural
land and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians. Israeli troops continued to shell Palestinian
residential areas. This week, 16
Palestinian civilians were injured, including 9 children in Rafah and Khan
Yunis. On 16 and 17 December 2004, the
Israeli air force destroyed a house, 15 shops and a workshop in Rafah. It also destroyed a workshop and a garage in
Gaza City on 17 December 2004.
In the West
Bank, Israeli troops moved into various areas throughout the West Bank, injured
a number of Palestinian civilians and arrested dozens of others. They
also destroyed 2 houses in the context of retaliation against families of
Palestinian detainees. In addition, they
raided offices of a number of civil societies and confiscated some of their
contents.
Israeli troops have continued to construct the
annexation wall inside the West Bank territory. They started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Jayous
village, northeast of Qalqilya, and Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm. On Friday, 17 December 2004, Israeli
occupation authorities issued a military order confiscated large areas of
Palestinian land for the purpose of the construction of the wall in
Hebron.
Israeli troops have continued to impose a tightened
siege on the OPT and have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including
Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops have continued to
close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip either partially or
completely. They have closed Rafah
Terminal on the Egyptian border for the 2nd consecutive week. They have continued to impose severe
restriction on internal movement. On 21
December 2004, Israeli troops closed the costal road that links Gaza City with
the central Gaza Strip. These measures
violate the Palestinian economic, social, cultural, civil and political
rights.
In the West Bank, Israeli troops imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They stopped,
checked and humiliated Palestinian civilians while crossing military
checkpoints throughout the West Bank. They
imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities and arrested a number of
Palestinian civilians while crossing military checkpoints.
Shelling of, and
Encroachment into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and
Property
Thursday, 16 December 2004
At approximately 02:30, 5
Israeli military jeeps moved into Hebron. Israeli troops raided and searched offices of Hebron Society for Women
in al-Haras area. They confiscated a
computer set. Israeli troops also raided
offices of the society, which is active in women’s activities and providing
assistance for orphans, on 30 April 2004 and confiscated some its contents.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli
troops moved into Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched offices of the
charitable society and the Qur’an center in the west of the village. They damaged contents of the offices.
At approximately 10:45,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. a Palestinian child, 3-year-old Hala ‘Abdul
Rahman al-Ghuraiz, was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh, when she was
inside her family home in al-Junaina neighborhood, nearly 900 meters away from
the border.
At approximately 22:00,
Israeli troops, reinforced by a number of military vehicles, moved nearly 200
meters into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They raided Mustafa Mousa Abu ‘Eid’s house. They held its 13 residents in one room and
searched it using dogs. Then, they
arrested Ibrahim Musallam Abu ‘Eid, 26, the owner’s son-in-law who was in a
visit to the family.
At approximately 23:30, the
Israeli air force fired 2 missiles at a carpentry workshop belonging to the Abu
Muhsen family. The workshop is located
on the first floor of a 4-storey house, where 50 people (4 families) live. Fire broke out in the workshop and destroyed
its contents. Following this attack,
Israeli occupation forces claimed that the workshop was used to manufacture
weapons.
During the day, Israeli
troops moved into Beit Dajan village, east of Nablus; Zeita village, north of
Tulkarm; and Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 6 Palestinians.
Friday, 17 December 2004
Israeli troops launched a fierce offensive on Khan
Yunis, in an act of retaliation against Palestinian civilians and
property. During this offensive, Israeli troops killed 11 Palestinians, 4
of whom were civilians, including a child, and injured 50 others, including 22
children. The injuries of 8 have been described by medical sources as
serious. The Israeli offensive was focused on Khan Yunis refugee camp and
al-Nimsawi neighborhood. Israeli troops destroyed 39 houses, rendering
287 individuals (45 families) homeless. They also destroyed the southern
fence of Nasser Hospital and 2 civilian cars.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 00:25, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and
drones, moved nearly 600 meters into Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi
neighborhood in the southwest of Khan Yunis. Under the cover of
indiscriminate shelling, they ordered residents of houses to vacate them.
Israeli raided a number of apartment buildings, forced their residents out and
transformed them into military sites.
At approximately 04:00, the Israeli air force fired a
missile at a number of Palestinian civilians who were near their houses in the
vicinity of Imam Albani mosque in Khan Yunis refugee camp. Four civilians
were injured, 2 of whom are in a serious condition.
At approximately 05:30, a number of members of the
Palestinian resistance clashed with IOF positioned in al-Nimsawi
neighborhood. In these clashes, one member of the resistance, Rami Ghazi
Abu Sa’da, 27, was killed by a live bullet in the neck.
Also at approximately 05:30, as a result of the
indiscriminate Israeli shelling, a physically disabled Palestinian civilian,
Sa’id ‘Aaref ‘Abdullah Abu al-Sa’id, 41, was killed by a live bullet in the
head, as he had just left the mosque following the dawn prayer.
At approximately 12:20, a number of members of the
Palestinian resistance clashed with IOF in al-Nimsawi neighborhood. In
these clashes, one member of the resistance, Shadi ‘Abdul Hamid Hussein
al-Haddad, 23, was killed by a live bullet in the head.
At approximately 13:30, 2 members of the Palestinian
resistance were killed by live bullets and shrapnel from artillery shells fired
by Israeli troops:
1. Islam
‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Nabrees, 21, hit by a live bullet to the neck; and
2. Khaled
‘Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Abu ‘Obaida, 18, hit by shrapnel to the upper part of the
body.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli positioned in
al-Nimsawi neighborhood opened fire at dozens of Palestinian civilians who were
in the streets near Nasser Hospital. A child, 17-year-old Jihad Ramadan
Abu ‘Omar, was killed by a live bullet in the chest, and 3 other civilians were
injured.
At approximately 19:55, the Israeli air force fired a
missile at a number of Palestinian civilians in Khan Yunis refugee camp.
One civilians, 21-year-old, ‘Izziddin Hamdan, was killed as his body was torn
into pieces. A few minutes later, Palestinian medical crews were able to
evacuate the body of a civilian who had been already killed in al-Nimsawi
neighborhood. The victim was identified as Hamed ‘Essam al-Rantissi, 18.
As a result of the indiscriminate shelling by Israeli
troops, which continued from 08::00 until the evening, 23 Palestinians, mostly
civilians, including 14 children, were injured in the vicinity of Nasser
Hospital, which was subject to shelling and destruction. This number
includes a Palestinian ambulance driver, Hassan Sa’id Abu Samra, 50, who was
wounded by a live bullet in the left foot when he was attempting to reach 2
civilians who were injured near the southeastern fence of Mubarak
Hospital. Medical crews at Nasser Hospital have been forced to vacate 2
departments due to the Israeli shelling.
At approximately 00:00 on Saturday, 18 December 2004,
following coordination with IOF, Palestinian medical crews were able to
evacuate the body of Ahmed Mohammed Abu Ramadan, 26, a member of the
Palestinian resistance, who apparently bled to death to the south of Nasser
Hospital.
At approximately 08:25, Israeli troops opened fire at
Palestinians who gathered in the vicinity of Nasser Hospital. Ten Palestinians, including 6 children, were
injured. Injuries of 2 of them were described
by medical sources as serious.
At approximately 12:30 on Saturday, medical sources
at Nasser Hopsital in Khan Yunis, declared that Ibrahim ‘Abdul Hamid al-Farra,
23, a member of the Palestinian resistance, died from an injury he had
sustained in the morning, during clashes with IOF.
At approximately 13:25, Israeli troops fired 2
artillery shells at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance who were
to the east of Nasser Hospital. One
member of the resistance, Mohammed Mansour Jarghoun, 20, was killed by shrapnel
in the head, and 4 other Palestinians were injured.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli troops opened fire at
the areas in which they moved. This
gunfire continued until 22:00, when Israeli troops withdrew to neighboring
military posts and settlements. Three
Palestinians, including 2 children, were injured.
Medical crews at Nasser Hospital have been forced to
vacate 2 departments due to the Israeli shelling. The educational process
at schools in Khan Yunis refugee camp has been paralyzed due to the Israeli
offensive.
During this latest ongoing incursion, Israeli troops
demolished many houses. This incursion
created a humanitarian crisis as hundreds of Palestinian civilians have become
homeless. They have been absorbed at 2 UNRWA schools.
At noon, Palestinian medical sources declared that Mohammed
Ahmed Abu Rafee’, 25, from Jabalya refugee camp, died at a Jordanian hospital,
from an injury he had sustained more than 2 months ago. According to PCHR’s documentation, Abu Rafee’
was hit by several live bullets throughout the body on 1 October 2004, when he
was near his house in Jabalya refugee camp. Israeli troops opened fire at him during an Israeli wide scale offensive
on the northern Gaza Strip, which left 103 Palestinians dead.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli troops positioned at
the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, ordered residents of Block O in Rafah
refugee camp to vacate their houses or open windows. A few minutes later, a heavy explosion
occurred. The explosion resulted from a
heavy shell that hit an uninhabited house belonging to the Abu ‘Obaid family,
where 14 people had previously lived. The house and 15 neighboring shops were destroyed. The source of the shell was debated, as some
eyewitnesses stated that it was fired by a launcher at the Egyptian border,
while others asserted that it was fired by the Israeli air force. Following this attack, Israeli occupation
authorities claimed that the house harbored an underground tunnel.
At approximately 22:15, the Israeli air force fired 6
missiles at a workshop and a garage in Gaza City. Three of the missiles destroyed a garage
owned by Maher ‘Abdullah al-Ramli in al-Nasser neighborhood. The other three missiles destroyed a workshop
owned by Hisham Sa’id al-Masri at al-Sahaba Street. The same workshop was attacked by the Israeli
military aircraft last week.
Saturday,
18 December 2004
At
approximately 02:00, Israeli troops moved into the villages of al-Burj and al-Bireh,
southwest of Hebron. They raided and
searched dozens of houses and arrested 12 Palestinians, including 2 university
students and 4 teachers.
Also at
approximately 02:00, Israeli troops moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched dozens of houses and
arrested 8 Palestinians, including 4 brothers.
At
approximately 16:00, a number of Israeli military jeeps moved into
Bethlehem. Israeli troops chased a
number of children who were playing near their houses in al-Kurkuffa neighborhood
in the north of the town. They arrested
9-year-old Ward Jamal Zawahra, and took him to Gilo military checkpoint at the
northern entrance to the town. There,
the child was interrogated until 20:00, when he was released. He was forced to go back home on foot.
At
approximately 17:20, Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the
Egyptian border opened fire at residential areas in the town. Two Palestinian children were wounded:
1. Nourhan
Isma’il Abu Sha’ar, 4, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back when she
was inside her family home in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away
from the border; and
2. ‘Abdul
Karim Asa’ad Baroud, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the left arm when he was
inside his family home in al-Junaina neighborhood, nearly 900 meters away from
the border.
At
approximately 19:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the Egyptian
border opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian civilian, Sufair Mahmoud Abu
‘Azzoum, 60, was wounded by a live bullet in the right knee when he was in
al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away from the border.
Sunday,
12 December 2004
At
approximately 03:00, Israeli troops moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 2 Palestinians.
At approximately 09:45, Israeli
troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim”
settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians
who were checking the damage caused by an Israeli military incursion into Khan
Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian child,
14-year-old Mohammed Yousef Abu Shab, was wounded by a live bullet in the
abdomen.
At approximately 10:10, the
Israeli air force fired a missile at a number of Palestinian children who were
playing to the north of Sheikh Zayed housing project in Beit Lahia in the
northern Gaza Strip. The missile fell nearly
800 meters away from the children, and no casualties were reported. At noon and in the evening, the Israeli air
force fired a number of missiles at uninhabited areas, apparently to terrify
Palestinian civilians.
At approximately 12:00,
Israeli troops moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. A number of Palestinian children gathered stones at these troops. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
children, wounding 15-year-old ‘Alaa’ Mahmoud Deeb aith a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the right leg.
At approximately 12:30,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses
in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood. A Palestinian child, 15-year-old Mohammed
‘Emad al-Buzom, was injured by shrapnel in the abdomen.
In the evening, Israeli
troops opened fire at the same areas. A
Palestinian child, 5-year-old Amal Asa’ad Abu al-Reesh, was injured by shrapnel
in the head, when she was inside her family home.
Monday,
20 December 2004
At
approximately 07:50, Israeli troops positioned in military posts at the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian house in al-Salam
neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian,
Yasser Mohammed Hassan, 22, was injured by shrapnel in the face, when he ws
near his house.
At
approximately 10:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts at the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the
town. A Palestinian schoolchild,
13-year-old ‘Othman Salim al-Malalha, was wounded by a live bullet in the head,
when he was at an UNRWA preparatory school in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly
1200 meters away from the border.
At
approximately 16:40, Israeli troops positioned in “al-Nouria” military
post, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis
refugee camp and al-Amal neighborhood. Three Palestinian civilians, including a child, were injured:
1. Isma’il
Ahmed Khalafallah, 34, injured by shrapnel in the head and the legs;
2. Khaled
Ibrahim Khalafallah, 42, injured by shrapnel in the right arm; and
3. Mohammed
Fu’ad Abu al-Sa’id, 8, injured by shrapnel in the right arm.
At
approximately 20:00, a number of Israeli military jeeps moved into Halhoul
town, north of Hebron. Israeli troops
opened fire at houses. A number of
Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
children, wounding 16-year-old Wissam Yasser Abu Rayan with a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the chest.
Also at
approximately 20:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the
vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened
fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian child, 10-year-old Nisreen
Saleh Abu Sitta, was injured by shrapnel in the left foot, when she was in her
family home, nearly 600 meters away from the source of fire.
Tuesday,
21 December 2004
In the early
morning, Israeli troops, reinforced by a number of heavy military vehicles,
moved into Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood in the southwest of Gaza City. They blocked the coastal road that links Gaza
City with the central Gaza Strip. Then,
under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, they started to raze areas of
Palestinian agricultural land. By noon,
they had razed 69 donums of agricultural land planted with grapes, figs and
vegetables belonging to the families of Shamallakh, al-Hajeen, ‘Ayad and
Mushtaha. They also destroyed a bird
farm belonging to the Shamallakh family.
At
approximately 09:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts at the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Brazil
neighborhood. A Palestinian child,
6-year-old Alaa’ Mo’een Abu Jazar, was wounded by a live bullet in the left
thigh, when she was playing near her family home.
During the
day, Israeli troops moved into Jenin and the neighboring Kufor Ra’ei village;
Nablus; Hebron; and Nour Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 12 Palestinians.
Wednesday,
22 December 2004
At approximately 00:30, Israeli troops, reinforced by
heavy military vehicles and drones, moved nearly 800 meters into al-Nimsawi
neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp. Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, they ordered residents of
houses in al-Nimsawi neighborhood to vacate them. Israeli raided a number
of apartment buildings, forced their residents out and transformed them into
military sites. Israeli troops moved towards Nasser Hospital and destroyed
its southern fence. An Israeli military
vehicle took position inside the hospital. At approximately 02:40, the Israeli air force fired a missile near the
hospital. A number of buildings were
damaged, but no casualties were reported. Israeli troops moved forwards and destroyed parts of the fence of an
elementary school. At approximately
07:30, a number of members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli
troops. In these clashes, one member of
the resistance, 18-year-old Mohammed Ashraf al-Jeraitalli, was killed by a live
bullet in the chest. As a result of the
indiscriminate shelling by Israeli troops, 4 Palestinian civilians, including 2
children, were injured, one of whom was in a serious condition. At approximately 16:00, a Palestinian
civilian, Ibrahim Hamdi al-Bayouk, 30, was seriously wounded by a live bullet
in the abdomen. He died half an hour
later. At approximately 18:15, a members
of the Palestinian resistance, Salim Mohammed ‘Abdul Hadi al-Sir, 33, was
killed by a live bullet in the head during clashes with Israeli troops. As result of the indiscriminate shelling by
Israeli troops, which continued until 21:00 when Israeli troops withdrew from
the area, 7 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were injured. Israeli troops also destroyed 9 houses in
Khan Yunis refugee camp, in which 64 individuals (10 families) lived. It is worth noting that this incursion was
the second of its kind into the same area in less than 5 days.
In the
morning, Israeli occupation authorities informed the Palestinian side that a
body of a Palestinian was near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel,
east of Jabalya. Immediately, a
Palestinian ambulance went to the area, but Israeli troops did not allow the
medical crew to start searching for the body until 14:30. According to the medical crew, they found the
body on the border fence. The victim was
hit by several live bullets to the chest and the back. The victim did not have any weapons. The body was evacuated to Shifa Hospital in
Gaza City, where the victim was later identified as Mohammed Khalil Ibrahim Abu
Nasser, 19, from Beit Lahia.
Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted
Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli
Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, in
particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War of 1949, article 33 of which prohibits punishing any protected
person for “an offence he or she has not personally committed,” Israeli forces
took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered,
facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets.
At
approximately 01:00 on Monday, 20 December 2004, 10 Israeli military vehicles
moved into ‘Arraba village, south of Jenin. They surrounded a 1300-square-meter house owned by Fathi Deeb
‘Ayoush. Israeli troops forced the 10
residents of the house out, and planted explosives inside. At approximately, 02:30, they destroyed the house. The owner’s son, Mohammed, has been detained
by Israeli occupation authorities since 11 August 2004.
At the same
time, Israeli troops surrounded a 400-square-meter house owned by Mustafa
Asa’ad ‘Obaid. They forced the 8
residents of the house out and planted explosives inside. At approximately 02:45, they destroyed the
house. The owner’s son, Bassam, has been
detained by Israeli occupation authorities since 11 August 2004.
Continued
Siege on the OPT
This week,
Israeli troops have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and
imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the
Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli troops have continued to close all border
crossings of the Gaza Strip either partially or completely. They have closed Rafah Terminal on the
Egyptian border for the 2nd consecutive week. They have continued to impose severe
restriction on internal movement. On 21
December 2004, Israeli troops closed the costal road that links Gaza City with
the central Gaza Strip. These measures
violate the Palestinian economic, social, cultural, civil and political
rights.
Israeli troops positioned at al-Matahen and Abu Houli
checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south
of the Gaza Strip) imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. The two checkpoints are opened between 06:00 and 20:00
everyday. On Thursday evening, 16 December 2004, Israeli troops reopened
the two checkpoints following a 3-day closure. However, in the following days, Israeli troops searched Palestinian
vehicles and arrested a number of Palestinians. On Friday morning, 17 December 2004, Israeli troops held and searched a
number of Palestinian vehicles between the two checkpoints. They arrested
Majdi Mikad Mohammed al-Astal, 24, from Khan Yunis. The same happened on Sunday, 19 December 2004. Israeli troops interrogated a number of
Palestinian civilians, including the director of PCHR’s Field Work Unit, until
21:00. They arrested Maher Isma’il
Suleiman al-Masri, 25.
On Tuesday morning, 21 December 2004, Israeli troops
closed the coastal road that links Gaza City with the central Gaza Strip opposite
to “Netzarim” settlement. This
closure continued until noon. During
this closure, Israeli troops fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who
tried to cross the road on foot. One
civilian, Ahmed Ibrahim Darwish, 23, was wounded by a live bullet in the right
hand.
Israeli troops have continued to impose a strict
siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have continued
to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians living
in the area to and from the area, which have caused extreme suffering for these
civilians. Since 3 December 2004, Israeli troops have closed al-Tuffah
checkpoint, the sole outlet of the area, in the face of Palestinian civilians
wishing to enter the area. On the
following days, dozens of civilians waited at the checkpoint to be allowed to
go back homes in the area, but Israeli troops fired at them. Israeli troops and settlers also attacked
Palestinian agricultural property in the area. Israeli troops have
continued to prevent female Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 25, and
male ones whose ages are between 16 and 30 from crossing al-Tuffah checkpoint
when it is open, without prior coordination. Tal al-Sultan checkpoint at
the entrance of al-Mawasi area in Rafah has been closed for more than one year
and entry into the area has been limited to al-Tuffah checkpoint in Khan
Yunis.
In the same context, Israeli troops have also
continued to impose a tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza
Strip. Israeli troops continue to control the only gate in and out of the
area. They allow only 4-5 people to pass
through each day to buy basic provisions. These people are only allowed to pass through at certain specified
hours and they are subject to humiliation and degrading treatment during the
security check process.
Israeli troops have continued to close Erez crossing
in the northern Gaza Strip for the 5th consecutive month. They only
allow patients to travel through the crossing, but under severe conditions and
following coordination. Although Israeli troops have partially operated
al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing to the east of Gaza City, they have
imposed severe restrictions on the flow of goods through the two
crossing. As result, the Palestinian market has lacked several basic
goods. Israeli troops partially opened Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah,
and allowed the entry of construction raw materials, but the crossing has
remained closed in the face of Palestinian workers since March 2004.
Since 13 December 2004, Israeli troops have closed Rafah
Terminal on the Egyptian border, which is the only outlet for the Gaza Strip to
the outside world. Israeli troops often close
the terminal under security claims. The number of Palestinians allowed to
travel through the terminal daily is very limited. As a result of closure, thousands of
Palestinian civilians have not been able to travel abroad. If this closure continued, hundreds of
Palestinian civilians will not be able to travel to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for
the Haj (pilgrimage).
The West Bank
Israeli troops have continued to impose a strict
siege on Palestinian communities. They
have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians
and imposed curfews on a number of villages.
Ramallah
Israeli troops imposed severe restriction at military
checkpoints to the south of the town. According to eyewitnesses, this week, Israeli troops erected a number of
sudden checkpoints to the north and south of the town. They stopped dozens of Palestinian vehicles
and checked Palestinian civilians. On Monday
morning, 20 December 2004, Israeli troops moved into Bitounia town, south of
Ramallah, and closed the main road leading to the center of the town. They also imposed a curfew on the town for
several hours.
Bethlehem
On Saturday morning, 18 December 2004, Israeli troops
erected a military checkpoint on Wad al-Nar road that links between the north
and south of the West Bank. They stopped
dozens of vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians. They also prevented some civilians from
crossing the checkpoint.
Nablus
Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. According to eyewitnesses, on Saturday morning, 18 December 2004,
Israeli troops erected a number of checkpoints on the roads liking the city
with neighboring Palestinian communities. They forced Palestinian civilians to wait for long hours before allowing
them to cross those checkpoints.
Qalqilya
On Friday morning, 17 December 2004, Israeli troops
al-Nafaq road, which links the town with villages located to the south. This closure continued throughout the
week. On Saturday morning, 18 December
2004, Israeli troops erected a military checkpoint at the eastern entrance of
the town. According to eyewitnesses,
Israeli troops stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles. The same occurred on the following day.
Tulkarm
On Thursday morning, 16 December 2004, Israeli troops
erected a checkpoint to the east of the town. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles. On Friday, 17 December 2004, Israeli troops
erected a checkpoint to the south of the town. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles. On Saturday morning, 18 December 2004,
Israeli troops the iron gate near al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south of the town,
and prevented Palestinian civilians from crossing the checkpoint. On Sunday, 19 December 2004, Israeli troops
erected a checkpoint at the entrance to Shwaika area, north of Tulkarm. They stopped a number of cars and checked
Palestinian civilians.
Hebron
Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on
Palestinian civilians living in Wad al-Nasara neighborhood near “Kiryat
Arba” settlement, southeast of the town. On Friday, 17 December 2004, they beat a number of Palestinian children
and prevented them from crossing the main road in the area claiming that it is
devoted to settlers. On Tuesday morning,
21 December 2004, Israeli troops closed the iron gate established at the
eastern entrance to Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, and prohibited movement
of Palestinian civilians. Israeli troops
at various checkpoints around the town stopped Palestinian vehicles. They also checked and beat dozens of
Palestinian civilians.
Jericho
On Tuesday morning, 21 December 2004, Israeli troops
imposed a strict siege on the town. They
prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians from and into the town. Consequently, many Palestinian civilians were
not able to reach al-Karama Terminal on the Jordanian border.
Jenin
On Tuesday morning, 21 December 2004, Israeli troops
closed Jenin-Nablus road. They erected a
number of checkpoints on the road. They
stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles and forced them to travel
back to their homes.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
On Monday
evening, 20 December 2004, Israeli troops positioned at sudden military
checkpoint near Jenin arrested 2 Palestinians: Qadri Besharat, 22; and Ra’fat
Besharat, 23, both from Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin.
Curfews
Israeli
troops have continued to impose a curfew on Tallouza village, northeast of
Nablus since Saturday, 11 December 2004.
Continued
Construction of the Annexation Wall
Israeli troops have continued to construct the
annexation wall inside the West Bank territory. They started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Jayous
village, northeast of Qalqilya, and Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm. On Friday, 17 December 2004, Israeli
occupation authorities issued a military order confiscated large areas of
Palestinian land for the purpose of the construction of the wall in
Hebron.
On Monday morning, 20 December 2004, Israeli military
bulldozers started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Jyous
village, northeast of Qalqilya. According to eyewitnesses, the bulldozers razed at least 80 donums of
agricultural land planted with olives belonging to the Salim family, located to
the west of the wall. According to the
local council of the village, Israeli troops have uprooted at least 317 olive
trees since the construction of the wall started in the area. Israeli troops who escorted the bulldozers
beat the owners of the land and arrested 2 Palestinians: Mohammed Jamil Salim,
26; and Hassan Salim, 34.
Also on Monday morning, 20 December 2004, Israeli
military bulldozers started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land
belonging to the families of ‘Otair, Budairen and ‘Omar in Far’oun village,
south of Tulkarm. The owners of the land
were prevented from reaching the area.
On Friday, 17 December 2004, Israeli occupation
authorities issued a military order confiscating more areas of Palestinian
agricultural land for the purpose of the construction of the wall in
Hebron. According to the order, at least
50 donums of Palestinain land in Nouba village, southwest of Tulkarm, would be
confiscated for the purpose of the construction of the wall. According to local source, the area of the
land to be confiscated is larger than what is mentioned in the order.
***
Recommendations
to the International Community
1. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
fulfill their legal and moral obligations under article 1 of the Convention to
ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. PCHR calls on the
international community to immediately “ensure respect” for the Convention.
2. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the
Convention in the OPTs and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian
civilians.
3. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
comply with its legal obligations detailed in article 146 of the Convention to
search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war
crimes.
4. PCHR
recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of
searching for Israeli war criminals and to urge their governments to bring
these war criminals to justice.
5. PCHR
calls upon the European Union to activate article 2 of the Euro-Israel
Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as
a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to
prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPTs. PCHR
also requests the application of the EU Guidelines on Arms Sales and requests
that EU Missions and Embassies in Israel and the oPts press the Israeli
government to apply and implement in full the recently agreed EU Guidelines on
Human Rights Defenders.
6. PCHR
calls upon European governments to change their positions towards the
Palestinian cause at UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security
Council and Commission on Human Rights.
7. PCHR
requests that the international community follow the advisory opinion of the
ICJ when it called on the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention,
through the UNGA and UNSC, to take effective measures to stop the construction
of the annexation wall in the West Bank.
8. In
recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls
upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPTs, including for
facilitating family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
9. PCHR
appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights
organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their
role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human
rights in the OPTs and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
10. In light of the severe restrictions
imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access of international
solidarity groups to the OPTs, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal the
same way with Israeli citizens.
11. PCHR reiterates that any political
settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law
cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question.
Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability
in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for
international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
“END”
Public
Document
**************************************
For
more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776
– 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza,
Gaza Strip. E-mail:[email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
