Israeli Troops Perpetrate More
Violations of Human Rights in the OPTs
· 6
Palestinian civilians, including a child and a girl, were killed by Israeli
troops, the child was shot at her desk in school and died later from her
wounds.
· 3
of the victims were extra-judicially executed by Israeli troops in Gaza.
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip.
· 77
donums[1]
of agricultural land were razed in the Gaza Strip.
· Houses
were raided and dozens of Palestinian civilians were arrested.
· Continued
shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities and a number of
Palestinian civilians were injured
· Construction
of the “Annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued
· Israeli
troops have continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs; Erez crossing have
been closed for the 4th consecutive week, Israeli troops at military
checkpoints fired at Palestinian civilians and arrested a number of civilians
while crossing military checkpoints in the West Bank
Introduction
Israeli occupying troops have perpetrated more
violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories (OPTs). This week, 6 Palestinian civilians,
including a child and a girl, were killed and a number of other civilians were
injured by Israeli troops. Human rights
violations perpetrated by Israeli troops included willful and extra-judicial
killings, incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling and land
leveling. Israeli troops have also continued
to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. In
addition, they have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West
Bank, in violation of international law and humanitarian law.
In the Gaza Strip, 5 Palestinian civilians were
killed by Israeli troops. Three of the
victims were killed in two extra-judicial executions committed by Israeli
troops in Gaza City on 19 and 20 September 2004. A fourth civilian, who was suffering from a
psychological disorder, was killed by Israeli troops on 19 September 2004. On 22 September 2004, a schoolchild died from
a wound she had sustained by Israeli troops when she was sitting on her desk in
an UNRWA school in Khan Yunis.
In the West Bank, on 17 September 2004, Israeli troops
killed a Palestinian girl in Nablus, when she was standing atop of her house.
In addition, Israeli troops launched a series of attacks against Palestinian
civilians and their properties. They moved into various areas throughout the
West Bank, injured a number of Palestinian civilians, mostly children, and
arrested dozens of others. Israeli
settlers, who live in the OPTs in violation of international humanitarian law,
also continued to attack Palestinian civilians and their properties.
Israeli troops have continued to construct the
annexation wall inside the West Bank territory. This week, this construction
took place mainly in East Jerusalem, Rammalh and Hebron. In Jerusalem, at least 70000 Palestinians are
threatened with being isolated from the city when the construction of a section
of the wall around the city is completed. Israeli troops also used excessive
force against demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and
international solidarity groups in protest to the construction of the wall. A number of the demonstrators were injured.
Israeli troops have continued to impose a tightened
siege on the OPTs and have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. On 20 September 2004, Israeli troops divided
the Gaza Strip into 3 separate zones and fired at Palestinian civilians who
attempted to cross Israeli military checkpoints. On 19 September 2004, Israeli troops
decreased the hours of opening al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints on
Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza
Strip, to be from 06:00 to 19:00 instead of 03:00 to 20:00. Israeli troops have continued to close Erez
crossing for Palestinian workers for the 4th consecutive week. Since 19 September 2004, Israeli troops have
also closed the crossing in the face of patients, even those who have valid
permits. In 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 arrested some of them
while crossing military checkpoints. Israeli troops also imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 16 September 2004
At approximately 02:00, Israeli troops moved into the
eastern quarter of Salfit town near Nablus. They seized a car belonging to Mustafa Eshtayeh. They also raided and searched a number of
houses and arrested 2 Palestinians.
At noon, Israeli troops moved into Yatta village,
south of Hebron. They raided a number of
houses. They also raided and searched the offices of the charitable society of the
village and a subordinate kindergarten and confiscated some equipment.
At approximately 19:20, 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
civilian, Ussama ‘Ali Hamish, 18, was wounded by a live bullet in the right
thigh, when he was near his house.
In the hours of the day, Israeli troops moved into
Sourif village near Hebron and al-Khader village near Bethlehem. They raided
and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians.
Friday, 17 September 2004
At approximately 00:00,
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, 4-year-old Yahia ‘Atiya Hajjaj, was injured by shrapnel in
the right hand when he was in his family home.
At approximately 02:00,
Israeli troops moved into al-‘Ebaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided
and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians.
At approximately 16:40,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Slav”
settlement, west of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan
neighborhood to the east. A Palestinian child, 15-year-old Salim ‘Ali Abu
al-Sa’id, was injured by shrapnel in the right hand when he was in his family
home.
At approximately 18:00, 15
Israeli military vehicles moved into Nablus. Israeli troops patrolled in the streets of the city and opened fire at
houses. Dozens of Palestinian children
and young men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military vehicles.
Immediately, Israeli troops fired at houses and passing Palestinian civilians,
wounding 3:
1. Ayman
‘Ali Qassem Mabrouka, 30, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand;
2. ‘Ali
‘Orabi ‘Ali al-Haj Mohammed, 39, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;
and
3. Yousef
Zuhair Shabaru, 22, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand.
At approximately 19:30, a
number of Palestinian demonstrators threw stones at 3 Israeli military jeeps
that were patrolling at Nazareth Street in the northeast of Nablus. In the
meantime, a Palestinian girl, 19-year-old Bariz Durgham D’ib al-Minawi, got
onto the roof of her family’s house to watch the clashes that took place
between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli troops. Soon, an Israeli military jeep stopped nearly
100 meters away from the house. One
Israeli soldier got out of the jeep and pointed his gun at the girl. He fired one live bullet at the girl. The live bullet hit the girl to the left hand
and then to the chest. Her family and neighbors evacuated her to the hospital,
but medical efforts to save her life failed. The victim was a college student.
At approximately 18:00,
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, 17-year-old Anwar ‘Abdullah al-Louhi, was injured by shrapnel in the
right hand.
Saturday, 18
September 2004
At approximately 18:00,
Israeli troops moved into Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah.
They razed 7 donums of Palestinian agricultural land belonging to the families
of al-Sumairi and Abu Asad, and blocked the main road leading to the village
with a sand barrier. Israeli troops
withdrew from the village at approximately 12:00 on the following day. During this incursion, the Palestinian election
registration center in the village was closed for several hours and
schoolchildren were not able to go to their schools.
At approximately 19:00,
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 civilian, 36-year-old Maher Mohammed Abu ‘Elwan, was injured by
shrapnel in the right thigh.
In the hours of the day,
Israeli troops moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp and the villages of Yatta and
Kharsa near Hebron. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians.
Sunday, 19
September 2004
At approximately 09:45,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Kfar
Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah, opened fire at Palestinian
residential areas to the north. A number
of live bullets hit a female secondary school, which is located nearly 700
meters away from the aforementioned settlement. One student, 16-yesr-old Asmaa’ Nabil
al-Masri, was injured by shrapnel from a live bullet in the neck when she was
at her desk.
At approximately 16:00,
Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire
at Block J in Rafah refugee camp. A
Palestinian civilian, 18-year-old Hussam Fathi Abu Naja, was seriously wounded
by a live bullet in the head when he was studying inside his house.
At approximately 17:40, 3
Israeli military jeeps moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. A number of Palestinian children gathered and
threw stones at the jeeps, Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 2:
1. Zaid
Musallam al-Barata’a, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the thigh; and
2. Mohammed
Sadiq al-Azraq, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the shoulder.
In the hours of the day,
Israeli troops moved into al-Duha village and al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south
of Bethlehem; and Beer al-Basha, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 3 Palestinians.
At approximately 22:10,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Tal
Qatif” settlement, south of Deir al-Balah, opened fire at a Palestinian
civilian who was nearly 150 meters away from those posts. He was instantly killed by several live
bullets. On the following day morning,
Israeli troops informed the Palestinian liaison about the incident. Immediately, a Palestinian ambulance moved
towards the area and transferred the victim’s body to the hospital. The victim was identified as Salm ‘Abdul
Qader Abu Shabab, 32, from Khan Yunis, who was suffering from a psychological
disorder. According to the medical
sources, he was hit by several live bullets to the head and the abdomen.
Monday, 20
September 2004
At approximately 19:00,
Israeli troops moved into the southern part of Balata refugee camp, east of
Nablus. They opened fire at houses. A number of Palestinian children gathered and
threw stones at those troops. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 14-year-old
Sabee’ Muneer Ibrahim al-Titi with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
hand.
In the hours of the day,
Israeli troops moved into Qalqilya; ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem;
Kufor ‘Ein village, northwest of Ramallah; and Burqa village, northwest of
Nablus. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 12 Palestinians, including an 18-year-old
girl.
Tuesday, 21
September 2004
At approximately 01:00,
Israeli troops moved into al-Shioukh village, northeast of Hebron. They broke into the offices of the Islamic
Charitable Society and its elementary school and kindergarten. Israeli troops searched them and confiscated
some equipment and an amount of money. Then, they stuck a military order on the doors of the society, closing
it starting from 2 August 2004. The
society provides services for at least 3000 orphans.
At approximately 03:00, an
infantry unit of Israeli troops moved nearly 800 meters into al-Qarara village,
northeast of Khan Yunis. Israeli troops
raided a 2-storey house owned by Hussein Suleiman al-Sumairi. They held its 4 residents in one room and
transformed its roof into a military site. Two hours later, more Israeli troops were brought to the area. They started to raze areas of Palestinian
agricultural land and close a number of roads. By 22:00, Israeli troops had razed at least 70 donums of agricultural
land belonging to the families of al-Sumairi, ‘Abdul Hadi, Mahanna, Abu Haleeb,
al-Reqeb and al-Barreem.
In the hours of the day,
Israeli troops moved into Jenin refugee camp and Seilat al-Harthiya village,
west of Jenin; Tulkarm refugee camp; ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya; ‘Assira
village, south of Nablus; Silwad village, northwest of Ramallah; Bethlehem; and
the villages of Yatta and Kharas near Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 34
Palestinians, including 16 in Jenin refugee camp.
At approximately 22:00,
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 and al-Nimsawi neighborhood. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Mohammed
Hassan ‘Edwan, 30, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen; and
2. Sameer
Fu’ad Mansour, 26, from Khan Yunis refugee camp, wounded by a live bullet in
the left shoulder.
Wednesday, 22
September 2004
At approximately 23:00,
medical sources at Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that
10-year-old Raghda ‘Adnan al-‘Assar, from Khan Yunis, died from a wound she had
sustained on 7 September 2004. According
to PCHR’s documentation, the child was seriously wounded by a live bullet in
the head while she was on her desk in an UNRWA elementary school, when Israeli
troops opened fire at residential areas and civilian facilities in Khan Yunis. Since then, she had been clinically
dead.
Extra-Judicial Execution
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassination officially adopted by the Israeli political and military
establishments, this week, Israeli troops committed 2 extra-judicial executions,
which left 3 Palestinians dead in Gaza City. The victims were members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the
military wing of Hamas. In addition, 13
civilian bystanders, including 6 children, were injured.
According to PCHR’s investigations on the first execution, at 21:38 on
Sunday, 19 September 2004, Israeli aircrafts fired 2 missiles at a civilian
car, a blue Volkswagen Golf, that was traveling at the crossroads of al-Jalaa’
Street and al-Lababidi Street in the center of Gaza City, a densely populated
area. The two missiles hit and burnt the car. The driver, who was
identified later as Khaled Mohammed ‘Abdul Hamid Abu Silmiya, 33, from al-Shati
refugee camp in Gaza City, was instantly killed. He was a member of the
‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of Hamas. In addition, 8 passing
Palestinian civilians were injured by shrapnel from the missiles, and the
injuries of two of them were described by medical sources as serious. Israeli
troops soon admitted responsibility for this attack stating that they had killed
a wanted Palestinian in Gaza City.
According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations regarding
the second execution, at approximately 19:20 on Monday, 20 September 2004, an Israeli
aircraft fired one missile at a civilian car, a grey Mitsubishi jeep, that was
traveling in the densely populated Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in
the south of Gaza City. The missile hit and burnt the car. Two
Palestinians who were traveling in the car were instantly killed:
1. Rabah
Darwish Zaqqout, 37, from al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip; and
2. Nabil
Ibrahim al-Su’aidi, 38, also from al-Boreij refugee camp.
They were both members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam
Brigade. In addition, 5 passing Palestinian civilians, including 4 children,
were injured by shrapnel from the missile, and the injury of one of them was described by medical sources as serious.
Following these executions,
Israeli security sources stated that the policy of extra-judicial executions
against Palestinian activists would continue, especially in the Gaza
Strip.
Continued Siege on the OPTs
This week, Israeli occupying troops have
continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPTs 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 impose
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside the Gaza
Strip. On Sunday, 19 September 2004,
Israeli troops decreased the opening hours of al-Matahen and Abu Houli military
checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south
of the Gaza Strip, to be from 06:00 to 19:00 instead of 03:00 to 20:00. On Saturday morning, 18 September 2004,
Israeli troops closed the two checkpoints and held and searched a number of
Palestinian vehicles in a heavily fortified security area between the
checkpoints.
At approximately 07:00 on Monday, 20
September 2004, Israeli troops closed the coastal road that links Gaza City
with the central Gaza Strip. Israeli
troops positioned on the road also opened fire at Palestinian civilians who
moved between Gaza City and the central Gaza Strip along the beach on foot. A university student, ‘Alaa’ Fathi Yousef
al-Namla, 21, from Nusseirat refugee camp, was wounded by a live bullet in the
right leg. The closure continued for
several hours.
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 to and
from the area. They have also 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 at the
entrance to the area without prior coordination.
Israeli troops have also continued to impose a
tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. They have
also imposed severe restrictions of the movement of Palestinian farmers. Israeli troops allow only 5 persons to get
out of the area everyday to bring foodstuffs. Israeli troops allow
schoolchildren to come back to the area only at 17:00.
In the same context, Israeli troops have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians living in
al-Ma’ni area near “Kfar Darom” settlement in the central Gaza Strip.
Israeli troops have continued to close
Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip for the fourth consecutive week. A very limited number of patients have been allowed
to travel through the crossing. Even
though Israeli occupying troops partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial
crossing to the east of Gaza City, and Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, they have
imposed severe restrictions on the flow of goods through the two crossings. As result, the Palestinian market is deprived
of several basic goods.
Israeli troops have continued to impose severe
restrictions on traveling through Rafah Terminal, which has been the only
outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world since 14 February 2001,
when Israeli troops destroyed the runway of Gaza International
Airport. The number of
Palestinians allowed to travel through the terminal daily is very limited. As a result, many patients, who are badly in
need for special medical treatment abroad, have not been able to travel. Israeli troops have continued to prevent
Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 35 from traveling through the
terminal since 16 April 2004, although they claimed that they cancelled this
prevention on 9 August 2004.
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.
Jerusalem
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. On
Thursday morning, 16 September 2004, on the eve of the new Hebrew year, Israeli
troops closed the entrances to the city. They also closed a number of the main roads. Israeli troops were deployed in the center of
the city and at the entrances to the Old Town. They imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians,
while allowing free movement for Israeli settlers. In addition, Israeli troops erected a
military checkpoint near Nabi Samuel village and conducted prolonged searches
for Palestinian vehicles.
Ramallah
Israeli troops positioned at Qalandya checkpoint,
south of Ramallah, imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. As a result, hundreds of
civilians were forced to travel through the northern entrance of the town,
through ‘Attara checkpoint. Israeli
troops also erected a number of checkpoints on branch roads used by Palestinian
civilians living in the villages located to the west of Ramallah. They chased Palestinian civilians and
vehicles.
Hebron
For the 3rd consecutive week, Israeli
troops have continued to impose a tightened siege on Hebron. They have isolated the town from its
surroundings. They chased Palestinian
civilians who attempted to travel to and from the town. Israeli troops also imposed restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians inside the town. They stopped and checked dozens of
Palestinian civilians in various areas in the town. On Saturday morning, 18 September 2004, 3
Israeli soldiers severely beat Nasser Mustafa al-Ja’bari, 36, in the old
town. He sustained injuries and bruises
in the face, the back and the abdomen. At approximately 12:00 on the same day, Israeli troops held and beat
16-year-old Mohammed Tayseer Salhab, when he was on his way back home from
school. The child sustained bruises in
the face and the shoulders. On Friday
evening, 17 September 2004, Israeli troops closed the Ibrahimi mosque in the
face of Moslems. This closure continued for
2 days.
Bethlehem
On Tuesday morning, 21 September 2004, Israeli troops
closed entrances to a number of villages in the district. Recently, Israeli troops closed a number of
roads in the district with sand barriers and barbwire. At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 19
September 2004, Israeli troops severely beat and interrogated 4 Palestinian
civilians, including 2 children, while they were grazing animals at the
southern entrance of al-Khader village: Ra’fat ‘Ali al-Masri, 13; Shadi ‘Ali
al-Masri, 15; Mohammed No’man Shahin, 18; and Mousa Suleiman ‘Aashour, 28.
Nablus
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians through Hawara checkpoint, south of the city,
and Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops have continued to hold
Palestinian civilians who are under 30 for long hours. On Tuesday, 21 September, Israeli troops
closed a military checkpoint on Nablus – Jenin Street and prohibited movement
of Palestinian civilians.
Tulkarm
Israeli troops closed a number of the main roads and
the entrances to a number of villages with sand barriers and rocks. They have also continued to close al-Kafriyat
road, south of the town, prohibiting movement of Palestinian vehicles, but
allowing Palestinian civilians to move on foot.
Jenin
On Thursday morning, 16 September 2004, Israeli
troops closed the entrances of Jenin. They erected a number of checkpoints on the main roads and prohibited
the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday, 18 September 2004, Israeli troops declared the town a
closed military zone. They erected a
number of checkpoints around the town and stopped and searched Palestinian
vehicles. For the second consecutive
week, Israeli troops have continued to close the iron gate at the entrance to the
Jordan Valley. They prevented
Palestinian workers and farmers from reaching the area. Israeli troops have also continued to prevent
vehicles that have Palestinian registrations from traveling on road (90) for
more than one week. On Sunday morning,
19 September 2004, Israeli troops positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint in the
central Jordan Valley fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who were
trying to cross a valley near the checkpoint, but no casualties were reported.
Curfews
At approximately 19:00 on Thursday, 16 September
2004, Israeli troops imposed a curfew on Beit ‘Our village, southwest of
Ramallah.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
On Thursday morning, 16 September 2004, Israeli
troops positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, arrested two
university students: ‘Aadela Hassan Jawabra, 21; and Leena Sidqi Jawabra, 22,
both from ‘Assira village, north of Nablus.
On Sunday evening, 19 September 2004, Israeli troops
positioned at a military checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Qalqilya
arrested Ayman Talal Yousef Yameen, 21, from Qalqilya.
Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall
Israeli troops have continued to construct the
annexation wall inside the West Bank territory, especially in East Jerusalem,
Ramallah and Hebron.
On Sunday, 19 September 2004, Israeli troops
intensified the construction of the section of the wall extending from Qalandya
checkpoint, south of Ramallah, and Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint, north of east of
Jerusalem. They have divided the main
road linking between the two checkpoints into two sections, an eastern one and
a western one, thus separating between al-Ram village and Dahiat al-Barid on
one hand and a number of NGOs and educational institutions on the other
hand. The construction of this section
of the wall will also isolate at least 70000 Palestinians from Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, 21 September 2004, Israeli troops resumed
the construction of a section of the wall on the land of Budros village, west
of Ramallah. According to eyewitnesses,
this week, Israeli troops razed at least 250 donums of Palestinian agricultural
land and uprooted hundreds of trees for the purpose of the construction of the
wall.
In Hebron, Israeli troops continued to raze areas of
Palestinian agricultural land in Sikka village, southwest of the town, for the
purpose of the construction of the wall. They uprooted hundreds of olive.
Israeli troops also imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians isolated behind the wall. On Saturday morning, 18 September 2004, Israeli
troops closed the iron gate at the entrance to Deir Ballout village, southwest
of Nablus. For the second consecutive
week, Israeli troops have adopted new procedures at the gate. According to the new procedures, the gate
would be opened from 07:00 to 10:00 and from 15:30 to 18:00, after it had been
opened from 10:00 to 16:00 daily. This
gate is one of the most important outlets that link between the north and south
of the West Bank.
Settlement Activities and Settlers’ Attacks on
Palestinian Civilians and Properties
Israeli troops have pursued settlement activities in
the oPt and settlers who live in the oPt in violation of international
humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and their
properties.
On Monday morning, 20 September 2004, a Jewish
settler from the “Kahana” movement, attacked two Palestinian cleaners
of the Ibrahimi mosque as they were cleaning the mosque following a celebration
of Jewish settlers. He insulted and beat
them and threatened to kill them. He
also insulted Islam and Moslems. Israeli
troops who were present in the area did not intervene to the stop this
attack.
On Tuesday morning, 21 September 2004, 4 Jewish
settlers from “Eitamar” settlement, east of Nablus, severely beat a
Palestinian farmer, Mohammed ‘Ali Khatatba, 43, from Beit Fourik village. According to medical sources, Khatatba
sustained fractures and bruises.
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 Territory. 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 oPt 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.
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 people 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 oPt. 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 oPt, 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, trade unions and NGOs, and urges them to
continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect
for human rights in the oPt 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 oPt, 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.
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
