Israeli Troops Continue Their Brutal
Attacks in the OPT
· 26
Palestinians, 11 of whom were civilians, including 2 children and a woman, were
killed by Israeli troops.
· 17
of the victims were killed during an Israeli offensive on Khan Yunis.
· 2
of the victims were extra-judicially killed by Israeli troops.
· Israeli
troops invaded Khan Yunis; they destroyed 34 houses and some civilian
facilities.
· Israeli
troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip.
· 8
houses were destroyed and at least 190 donums[1]
of agricultural land were razed in the Gaza Strip.
· Houses
were raided and dozens of Palestinian civilians were arrested.
· 2
houses were destroyed in the West Bank in the context of retaliatory measures
against families of Palestinian militants.
· 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 OPT; Israeli troops at
military checkpoints fired at Palestinian civilians, wounding 2 civilians.
Introduction
Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) have escalated attacks
against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). This
week, 26 Palestinians, 11 of whom were civilians, including 2 children and a
woman, were killed by Israeli troops. Of
these victims, 25 were killed by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip, while one of
the victims was shot by an Israeli settler in the West Bank. In addition, dozens of Palestinian civilians
were injured by the Israeli gunfire. Human rights violations perpetrated by
Israeli occupying troops included willful and extra-judicial killings, incursions
into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling, land leveling and total
closure imposed on Palestinian communities.
On Sunday, 24
October 2004, Israeli troops initiated a wide scale incursion into al-Nimsawi
neighborhood and Baten al-Samin area in the south of Khan Yunis. This incursion continued for 2 days, during
which Israeli troops killed 17 Palestinians, including 3 on-duty security men
and 6 civilians, 2 of whom were children. In addition, 76 Palestinians, including 28 children, were injured. Israeli troops also destroyed 29 houses
completely and 5 others partially, leaving 355 people (68 families)
homeless. They also destroyed 2 brick
factories and 3 animal farms. Furthermore, a number of departments of Nasser Hospital and were also
damaged. Since the beginning of the
current Intifada, Khan Yunis has been subject to many Israeli military
incursions, during which hundreds of Palestinians were killed or injured, and
592 houses were completely destroyed and 305 others were partially destroyed,
leaving 10665 people homeless.
This week, 8 Palestinians, including 5 civilians,
were killed in other incidents in the Gaza Strip. Two of the victims were extra-judicially
killed by Israeli troops in Gaza City on 21 October 2004. A Palestinian civilian
was killed by Israeli troops in Khan Yunis on 22 October 2004, as he was
participating in the funeral procession of a deceased Palestinian. On the same day, a woman died from a previous
injury. On 24 October 2004, 2 members of
the Palestinian resistance, who are brothers, were killed when an Israeli drone
fired a missile at them in Khan Yunis refugee camp. On 26 October 2004, a Palestinian civilian
was killed when Israeli troops opened fire at agricultural land in Rafah. On 27 October 2004, a Palestinian died from
an injury he had sustained on 2 October 2004, during the Israeli offensive on
the northern Gaza Strip.
This week, Israeli troops conducted 7 incursions into
Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. In
3 incursions into Rafah, Israeli troops destroyed 7 houses, rendering 36 people
homeless, and razed 31 donums of agricultural land. In the other incursions, Israeli troops
destroyed a house and razed 154 donums of agricultural land.
In the West Bank, an Israeli settler shot dead a
Palestinian civilian in the south of Nablus as he was cultivating olives from
his agricultural land. This crime came one
month after another Israeli settler had killed a Palestinian civilian in Salem
village near Nablus. PCHR believes that
the Israeli attitude towards such attacks by settlers serves to encourage
settlers to perpetrate more attacks. This week, 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, and arrested dozens of others. They also destroyed 2
houses in Qalqilya in the context of retaliatory measures against families of
Palestinian militants. In addition,
Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians. A number of civilians were injured.
IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall
inside the West Bank territory. On
Sunday, 24 October 2004, Israeli troops resumed razing agricultural land in
Deir al-‘Asal village, southwest of Hebron, after they had stopped it for 3
days following a temporary injunction issued by the Israeli High Court. Israeli
troops razed more areas of agricultural land and uprooted hundreds of olive
trees. They also prevented Palestinian farmers in some areas from reaching
their agricultural land to cultivate olives.
IOF 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 Occupied East
Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops positioned at military checkpoints
imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They also fired at Palestinian civilians. As
a result, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded. Israeli troops have also continued to close most border crossings of the
Gaza Strip. These measures have negative
impacts on the Palestinian economic, social, cultural, political and civil
rights.
In the West Bank, Israeli troops have continued to
impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have continued to
impose a tightened siege on Hebron for the 2nd consecutive
month. They have also imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and arrested some of them
while crossing military checkpoints. Israeli troops imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian
communities.
Shelling of, and
Encroachment into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and
Property
Israeli
Offensive on Khan Yunis
On Sunday, 24
October 2004, Israeli troops initiated a wide scale incursion into al-Nimsawi
neighborhood and Baten al-Samin area in the south of Khan Yunis. This incursion continued for 2 days, during
which Israeli troops killed 17 Palestinians, including 3 on-duty security men
and 6 civilians, 2 of whom were children. In addition, at least 70 Palestinians, including 22 children, were
injured. Israeli troops also destroyed
29 houses completely and 5 others partially. They also destroyed 2 brick factories and 3 animal farms. Furthermore, a number of departments of
Nasser Hospital were also damaged.
According to
information available to PCHR, 8 of the victims were killed by missiles fired
by scouting drones. Recently, IOF have employed drones to attack Palestinian
targets in the Gaza Strip. Drones fly over the Gaza Strip day and night to
attack members of the Palestinian resistance. PCHR has documented dozens of
cases, in which Palestinians were killed by shrapnel from missiles fired by
drones. According to testimonies from eyewitnesses obtained by PCHR, missile
fired by drones hit a very specific target, causing serious burns and
distortions to the body. Drones have been a serious threat to Palestinians
civilians, as they target any armed person indiscriminately, even if they are a
security official or a combatant not on the battlefield.
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 21:40 on Sunday, 24 October
2004, an Israeli scouting aircraft fired a missile at 2 members of the
Palestinian National Security Force, who were sitting near their site in al-Nimsawi
neighborhood. The two were injured, and one of them is in a serious
condition.
At
approximately 22:05, an Israeli scouting aircraft fired a missile at 2 other
members of the Palestinian National Security Force, who were walking near
Nasser Hospital. The two were instantly killed:
1. Ameen
‘Ata al-Jabour, 24; and
2. Hussam
‘Aabed al-Barreem, 22.
In addition,
4 Palestinian civilians living in the area were injured.
At
approximately 23:30, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved
into al-Nimsawi neighborhood and Baten al-Samin area. Under the cover of
indiscriminate shelling, they initiated a campaign of destruction.
At
approximately 23:40, the Israeli air force fired a missile at a number of
members of the Palestinian resistance in Baten al-Samin area. One member of the
resistance, Mohammed Fawzi Barham Siam, 25, was killed, and 4 others were
injured.
In the early
morning of Monday, 25 October 2004, an Israeli scouting aircraft fired a
missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance also in Baten
al-Samin area. Three members of the resistance were killed:
1. Sami
Nasrallah Zo’rob, 22;
2. Suleiman
Barham Zo’rob, ?; and
3. Mahmoud
Mohammed al-Bashiti, 24.
At
approximately 01:10, the Israeli air force fired a missile at a number of
Palestinian civilians in the area, injuring 3 seriously.
At
approximately 01:35, the Israeli air force fired a missile at Ahmed Mousa
al-Bayouk, 37, who was trying to set fire to tires in protest to the Israeli
offensive. He was instantly killed and another civilian was
injured.
At
approximately 01:40, the Israeli air force fired a missile at a number of
members of the Palestinian resistance, who were in a street near al-Nimsawi
neighborhood. One member of the resistance, ‘Abdul Rahman Isma’il Abu
al-Nemer, 28, was killed, and another one was seriously injured.
At
approximately 03:30, Israeli troops completely destroyed a house belonging to
the family of Mohammed al-Sinwar, who is allegedly wanted. As a result, two
neighboring houses were destroyed.
This morning,
Israeli troops opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians in al-Nimsawi
neighborhood. Three civilians, including a child, were killed:
1. Hisham
Hassan ‘Aashour, 11;
2. Ibrahim
Saber al-Qedra, 18; and
3. Hussein
Hassan Abu Namous, 25.
A few hours later, Israeli troops withdrew from some parts of Baten
al-Samin area and took position inside al-Nimsawi housing project, most of
whose residents had already left. At
approximately 06:45, Israeli troops opened fire at hundreds of Palestinian
civilians who gathered at the edges of al-Nimsawi neighborhood and near Nasser
Hospital. The Israeli gunfire continued
for 3 hours, and left dead 4 Palestinians, including 2 children and one member of
the Palestinian resistance:
1. Hisham
Hassan ‘Aashour, 11, hit by a live bullet to the chest;
2. Ibrahim
Saber al-Qedra, 18, a member of the resistance, hit by several live bullets in
the chest and the arms;
3. Hussein
Hassan Abu Namous, 25, hit by shrapnel to the head; and
4. Mohammed
Khader Abu Sultan, 17, from al-Boreij refugee camp who was in a visit to his
relatives, hit by a live bullet in the chest.
Also as a result of the Israeli indiscriminate
shelling, a Palestinian policeman, Eyad Mohammed Abu Lehia, 29, was killed when
he was on duty at a police station in Gizan al-Najjar area, nearly 1800 meters
away from the source of fire.
At approximately 16:45, Israeli troops opened fire at
the same area again. A Palestinian
civilian, 18-year-old Sa’id Mohammed Sa’id al-Najjar, was killed by 2 live
bullets in the chest and the arm.
At approximately 18:30, an Israeli aircraft fired a
missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance in al-Nimsawi
neighborhood. One member of the resistance, Haitham Mohammed al-Nabrees, 20,
was killed, and 2 others were injured, one of them was in a serious
injury.
In addition, at least 50 Palestinian civilians,
including at least 20 children, have been injured by the Israeli indiscriminate
shelling.
At approximately 02:00 on Tuesday, 26 October 2004,
an Israeli drone fired a missile at 2 members of the Palestinian resistance in
al-Amal neighborhood in the west of Khan Yunis, killing one of them, Mahmoud
Asa’ad al-Mana’ma, 22.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli troops withdrew from
al-Nimsawi neighborhood and Baten al-Samin area, leaving large
destruction. PCHR’s field worker in Khan
Yunis reported that Israeli troops destroyed 29 houses completely, in which 265
people (54 families) lived, and 5 others partially, in which 90 people (14
families) lived. These houses belong to
the families of Zo’rob, al-Masri, al-Barqi, Sha’at, Aby Saqer and Wadi. Israeli troops also destroyed 2 brick
factories and 3 animal farms.
Thursday, 21 October 2004
At approximately 03:30,
Israeli troops moved into Nablus. They
raided and searched a house owned by Fayez Ba’ara and arrested 3 of his
sons.
At approximately 09:00,
Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 400 meters
into ‘Obraiba area in the northwest of Rafah. Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, they started to destroy
Palestinian civilian property. By
approximately 12:00, they had razed 9 donums of agricultural land planted with
tomatoes belonging to the families of Abu Zaid and Madi. They had also demolished a house belonging to
the Abu Zaid family, in which 9 people lived.
At approximately 18:00,
Israeli troops moved nearly 250 meters into al-Hashash quarter in ‘Oraiba area
again. Under the cover of indiscriminate
shelling, they started to demolish a number of houses, which were empty as
their residents escaped due to the intense Israeli shelling. By 21:00, Israeli troops had demolished 6
houses belonging to the families of al-Hashash and al-‘Arjani, in which 27
people (6 families) lived.
Also at approximately
18:00, Israeli troops moved into Wadi al-Nasara neighborhood in the south of
Hebron. They raided a house owned by
Ahmed As’ad Abu Jaber, and transformed its roof into a military site.
Friday, 22 October 2004
At approximately 06:00,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at residential areas
in the town. a Palestinian civilian,
Shukri Zakaria al-‘Assouli, 23, was wounded by a live bullet in the left
foot.
At approximately 12:40,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at hundreds of
Palestinian civilians who were participating in the funeral procession of
deceased Palestinian to the cemetery of Khan Yunis. One civilian, Ahmed Diab al-Haddad, 20, was
instantly killed by a live bullet in the heart, and a 16-year-old ‘Abed Rabbu
‘Awad Noufal was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh.
At approximately 16:00, 3
Israeli military jeeps moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They
opened fire at houses. A number of
Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli
military jeeps. Immediately, Israeli
troops fired at the stone throwers, wounding 20-year-old ‘Aalaa’ Hassan Hanani
with a live bullet in the right shoulder.
At approximately 17:00,
Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 200 meters
into ‘Oraiba area in the northwest of Rafah. Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, they started to raze areas
of Palestinian agricultural land. By
21:00, they had razed 22 donums of agricultural land, in which a number of
greenhouses stood, belonging to the families of Madi, Abu Taha, ABU Khatla,
Dahleez and Abu Zaid.
Also at approximately
17:00, Israeli troops moved into ‘Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, south of
Jericho. They raided and searched a
house owned by ‘ABDU Majid ‘Atiya. At
approximately 20:00, Israeli troops arrested the whole family, including 3
women, and the family’s son-in-law and his friend who were in a visit to the
family.
In the evening, medical
sources at Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that Najah Zaki ‘Ali
al-Shawa, 35, from Khan Yunis, died from a previous wound she had
sustained. According to PCHR’s
documentation, she was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest on 4
October 2004, when Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity
of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at
apartment buildings in al-Nimsawi neighborhood. She was inside her flat when she was wounded.
Saturday,
23 October 2004
At
approximately 00:00, a number of Israeli heavy military vehicles moved from the
northern border of the Gaza Strip moved towards the college of agriculture of
al-Azhar University inside Beit Hanoun. Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, they razed at least 20
donums of agricultural land belonging to the college. They also razed dozens of donums of
agricultural land belonging to the families of al-Shawa and Khayal.
At
approximately 12:15, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into Balata refugee camp,
east of Nablus. They opened fire at
houses. A number of Palestinian children
and young men gathered and threw stone at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli troops
fired at he stone throwers, wounding 10-year-old Ahmed ‘Ezzat al-Qaisi with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest, as he was in front of his house.
At
approximately 12:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the
vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened
fire at the cemeteries area, as hundreds of Palestinian civilians were
participating in the funeral procession of Ahmed Diab al-Haddad, who had been
killed on the previous day. Two
Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded:
1. Yousef
Jihad Barbakh, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh; and
2. ‘Abdul
Jawad Abu Shammala, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder.
In the hours
of the day, Israeli troops moved into Hebron and the neighboring Yatta village
and al-M’asara village near Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5
Palestinians.
Sunday,
24 October 2004
At
approximately 01:50, an Israeli scouting drone fired a missile at a number of
members of the Palestinian resistance who were in an alley between al-Amal
neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp. Two members of the resistance, who are brothers, were killed: Ziad
Salman Salama Abu Mustafa, 30; and ‘Omar Salman Salama Abu Mustafa, 18. Three other members of the resistance were
seriously injured. Israeli troops
admitted responsibility for this attack, but claimed that they attacked an
armed group that was attempting to fire mortars at an Israeli military post. However, PCHR’s investigations revealed that
the young men were not in a combating situation when they missile was fired at
them.
At
approximately 12:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the
vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened
fire at hundreds of Palestinian civilians who were participating in the funeral
procession of the aforementioned two victims. A Palestinian child, 15-year-old Khamis Mustafa al-Baz, was injured by
shrapnel in the legs.
In the hours
of the day, Israeli troops moved into the villages of Yatta and al-Burj; ‘Askar
refugee camp, northeast of Nablus; and ‘Anata village, east of Jerusalem. They
raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinians.
Monday,
25 October 2004
At
approximately 17:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Beit Fourik village,
east of Nablus. Israeli troops opened
fire at houses. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and
threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the stone
throwers, wounding 13-year-old Mohammed Ramadan Hanani with a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the neck.
At
approximately 20:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles,
moved nearly 2 kilometers into Sheikh ‘Ejlin area in the south of Gaza
City. Israeli troops raided a house
belonging to Rajaa’ Ahmed al-Sawaf. They
held the 10 residents of the house in one room and transformed its roof into a
military site. These troops destroyed a
house and the roof of a desalination facility. They also razed 4 donums of agricultural land. Israeli troops withdrew from the area at
approximately 10:00 on the following day, 26 October 2004.
At
approximately 22:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles,
moved into agricultural areas located to the west of “Dogit” settlement,
north of Beit Lahia. Under the cover of
indiscriminate shelling, they razed 20 donums of agricultural land belong to
the families of Zindah and al-‘Attar.
Tuesday,
26 October 2004
At
approximately 00:40, 20 Israeli military vehicles moved into Abu Katila
neighborhood in the northwest of Hebron. They raided a number of houses. They forced residents of 17 houses out and held them in one house. During these house raids, Israeli troops blew
up doors of a number of houses. They
also burnt 2 workshops belonging to Mousa Hussein Abu Shukhaidem and his
brothers. They denied access of fire
engines to the area. Israeli troops also
arrested 4 Palestinian civilians: 2 brothers; their uncle; and their
cousin. According to a resident of the
area, ‘Essam ‘Ali Barakat, Israeli troops stole an amount of money and some
jewelry from his house when they raided and searched it.
At
approximately 04:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles,
moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They opened fire at houses. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Rajeh Abu
al-Haijaa’, 25, was wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen. Israeli troops also arrested his brother,
‘Alaa’, 26.
At
approximately 05:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the
vicinity of Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian
houses and agricultural land to the west. A Palestinian farmer, ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Mahmoud Mo’ammar, 29, was wounded by
2 live bullets that entered the back and exited the abdomen, when he was on his
land, nearly 500 meters away from the source of fire. He was evacuated to Gaza European Hospital in
Khan Yunis, but medical efforts to save his life failed and he was pronounced
dead a few hours later.
In the hours
of the day, Israeli troops moved into Hebron; al-Yamoun village near Jenin;
‘Azzoun village near Qalqilya; and Deir Ghassana village, northwest of
Ramallah. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 14 Palestinians, including a girl.
Wednesday,
27 October 2004
At
approximately 01:30, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles,
moved into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling,
they started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land near the college of
agriculture. By 13:00, they had razed
100 donums of agricultural land planted with citrus belonging to the families
of al-Shawa, Khayal, Shabat and al-Kafarna. They also destroyed 5 wells and a house belonging to the al-Majdalawi
family.
At
approximately 18:00, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared
that ‘Essam Ghazi Abu Tu’aima, 20, from Jabalya refugee camp, died from an
injury he had suatined in 2 October 2004, during the Israeli offensive on the
northern Gaza Strip. Abu Tu’aima, who
was a member of the Palestinian resistance, was seriously injured by shrapnel
from a missile fired by the Israeli air forces at a number of members of the
Palestinian resistance.
Extra-Judicial Killings
In a
continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassination officially adopted
by the Israeli political and military establishments, this week, IOF committed
2 attempts of extra-judicial killings, one of which left 2 leaders of ‘Izziddin
al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas, dead, while the other
attempt failed.
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 21:00 on Thursday, 21
October 2004, the Israeli air force fired a missile at a civilian car that was
traveling in Yaffa Street in the east of Gaza City. Two Palestinian activists who were traveling
in the car were killed:
1. Yahia
Mahmoud Jaber al-Ghoul, who is known as “Adnan”, 46, a senior leader
of the military wing of Hamas, who had been wanted by the Israeli occupation
authorities for approximately 20 years; and
2. ‘Emad
Mahmoud ‘Abbas, 31, al-Ghoul’s bodyguard and a field leader of ‘Izziddin
al-Qassam Biriages.
At
approximately 00:30 on Friday, 22 October 2004, the Israeli air forces fired a
missile at a house belonging to ‘Aamer ‘Abdul Rahman Qarmout, 37, in Block 8 in
Jabalya refugee camp. The missile hit
the second floor of the house, which Qarmout and his friends had left some
seconds earlier. The second floor was destroyed. Qarmout and his child Muntasser, 13, were
lightly injured. Other members of the
family survived the attack as they were on the first floor. Qarmout is a leader of Salah al-Din Brigades,
the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees.
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
01:30 on Thursday, 21 October 2004, Israeli troops moved into Qalqilya. They surrounded a 140-square-meter, 3-storey
house owned by Mustafa Mohamed Abu Thura and his brothers in Shuraim
neighborhood. Israeli troops forced the
20 residents out, after having given them less than 20 minutes to take their
belongings out. Then, Israeli troops
planted explosives on the first floor. At approximately 03:30, Israeli troops destroyed the first floor. As a result, the second and third floors were
severely damaged. The owner’s son,
Mohammed, 20, has been detained by Israeli troops.
Other Israeli
troops also surrounded a 150-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to the
families of Samir and Nidal Mohammed Shoubaki in al-‘Qura’an neighborhood. They forced the 17 residents of the house out
after having given them only 5 minutes to take their belongings out. Then, Israeli troops planted explosives on
the second floor, where Samir and his family live. At approximately 03:30, Israeli troops
destroyed the second floor. The first
floor was severely damaged. Samir
Shoubaki has 3 sons who have been detained in Israeli prisons.
Continued Siege on the
OPT
This week, IOF 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
This week, IOF have continued to impose
tightened siege on the Gaza Strip. IOF have continued to close all border
crossings of the Gaza Strip either partially or completely. These measures violate the Palestinian
economic, social and cultural 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. On Tuesday, 26 October 2004, Israeli troops closed
the two checkpoints and held and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles in
between. This closure continued for
several hours. On Wednesday morning, 27
October 2004, Israeli troops closed the two checkpoints and held and searched a
number of Palestinian vehicles in between.
On Tuesday, 26 October 2004, Israeli
troops blocked the entrance to Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir
al-Balah. They also fired at Palestinian
civilian vehicles that attempted to travel on a dirt road near the
entrance. Two Palestinian civilians,
including a child, were injured:
1. Ibrahi
Salem Abu Khammash, 45, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg; and
2. Ahmed
Asa’ad al-Tallaa’, 3, wounded by shrapnel in the face.
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. Israeli troops frequently
close al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to 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 when it is open, 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. 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 2nd consecutive month.
IOF partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing to the east of
Gaza City, but 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 reopened 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.
Israeli troops have continued to impose severe
restrictions on traveling through Rafah International Crossing Point, which has
been the only outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world since 14 February 2001,
when IOF destroyed the runway of Gaza International Airport. The number of
Palestinians allowed to travel through the Crossijng Pointl 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
IOF have
continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians.
Jerusalem
On Friday, 22 October 2004, Israeli troops reinforced
their presence around East Jerusalem. According eyewitnesses, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians at the entrances of the city and near the
old town and the al-Aqsa Mosque. An
Israeli helicopter also flew over al-Aqsa Mosque to monitor the prayers. Israeli troops have continued to prohibit
access of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the
occupied East Jerusalem to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque, which is the third holiest
site in the world for Muslims.
Ramallah
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians, especially at Qalandya checkpoint, south of
the town. On Friday, 22 October 2004,
Israeli troops prevented Palestinian civilians from traveling to the occupied
East Jerusalem to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque. On Monday noon, 15 October 2004, Israeli troops positioned at the
northern entrance to Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah, stopped and searched
dozens of Palestinian vehicles.
Hebron
Israeli troops have continued to impose a tightened
siege on Hebron. Israeli troops also
imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside the
town. At approximately 18:00 on
Saturday, 21 October 2004, Israeli troops surrounded 2 mosques in the center
and north of the town. They forced the
payers out and checked them. At
approximately 20:40 on the same day, Israeli troops moved into the University
neighborhood in the north of the town. They raided a number of shops and cafeterias and damaged a number of
them. They also stopped and checked
dozens of Palestinian civilians.
Nablus
Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. On
Saturday morning, 23 October 2004, Israeli troops positioned at military
checkpoints at the entrances of the city imposed severe restrictions on the
access of Palestinian civilians to the city. On Sunday, 24 October 2004, they erected a number of temporary
checkpoints on the main roads between the city and neighboring villages. They stopped and checked Palestinian
civilians.
Jenin
IOF have continued the northern and central Jordan
Valley. On Friday morning, 22 October
2004, Israeli troops closed the iron gate at the entrance to Tayaseer village,
east of Jenin, prohibiting the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday
evening, 25 October 2004, Israeli troops erected a number of checkpoints at the
entrances of neighboring villages. They
stopped and held dozens of Palestinian vehicles. On Tuesday morning, 26 October 2004, Israeli
troops closed the main roads to the town and erected a number of checkpoints at
the entrances of a number of villages. They stopped and searched a number of Palestinian vehicles.
Tulkarm
This week, Israeli troops imposed more restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected a number of checkpoints around the town. They stopped and checked Palestinian
civilians.
Qalqilya
This week, Israeli troops imposed more restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected a number of checkpoints around the town. They stopped and checked Palestinian
civilians.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
On Monday evening, 25 October 2004, Israeli troops
positioned at an iron gate on the annexation wall to the west of Jayous vilag,
northeast of Qalilya, arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. ‘Alaa’
Fahim Shmasna, 22;
2. Mohammed
‘Aadel Shamasna, 21; and
3. Fadi
Mohammed Shamasna, 20.
Curfews
On Saturday morning, 23 October 2004, Israeli troops
imposed a curfew on ‘Assira al-Shamalia village, north of Nablus.
On Monday evening, 25 October 2004, Israeli troops
moved into Beit ‘Our al-Tihta village, west of Ramallah and imposed a
curfew. They also imposed a curfew on
Seilat al-Zaher village, south of Jenin.
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.
For the 3rd consecutive week, armed groups
of Israeli settlers, under protection of Israeli troops in many cases, have
launched a series of attacks on Palestinian farmers and prevented them from
cultivating olives.
This week, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Shilo” settlement, northeast of Ramallah, moved into the olive
fields of the neighboring al-Mughayar village. They tried to expel Palestinian families from their land. When Palestinian farmers tried to face the
settlers, Israeli troops arrived at the area and fired tear gas at the
farmers.
At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 24 October 2004, a
number of Israeli settlers moved from settlements in the center of the old town
of Hebron attacked a Palestinian elementary school near the Ibrahim
mosque. They threw stones and empty
bottles at the school, breaking a number of windows. Israeli troops did not intervene to stop this
attack.
On Monday morning, 25 October 2004, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Ramat Yishai” settlement in Tal al-Rumaida
neighborhood in the southwest of the old town of Hebron seized an uninhabited
house owned by Zakaria al-Bakri. They
brought furniture into the house. Al-Bakri and his family were forced to leave the house, which is
adjacent to the aforementioned settlement, because of repeated attacks by
Israeli settlers.
Also on Monday morning, a number of Israeli settlers
seized a Palestinian house near Bilal Ben Rabah mosque in the north of
Bethlehem. They claimed that they had
purchased the house 2 years ago, but residents of the area denied this
claim.
On Tuesday noon, an Israeli settler from
“Yitzhar” settlement, south of Nablus, shot dead a Palestinian farmer
who was cultivating olives from his land near the aforementioned
settlement. The Israeli military first
stated that the settlers claimed that the victim attempted to enter a house
inside the settlement, so a settler shot him. Then, the Israeli military cited another narrative on the incident,
claiming that “even if the Palestinian was not armed, the Israeli army
considers the incident an attack attempt as the Palestinian got close to the
area.”
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, in the
early morning, Salman Yousef Salman al-Safadi, 18, from ‘Ourif village, south
of Nablus, went to an olive field owned by his family to cultivate olives. The field is 2 kilometers to the southwest of
“Yitzhar” settlement. There
are also a number of mobile homes erected by settlers nearly 500 meters to the
west of the aforementioned settlement. At approximately 12:00, residents of ‘Ourif village heard a gunfire in
the area. At approximately 16:00, the
emergency department of Palestine Red Crescent Society in Nablus received a
phone call, in which Israeli troops asked the society to send an ambulance to
“Yitzhar” settlement to receive the body of a Palestinian. At approximately 16:45, the body was brought
to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. According
to medical sources, the victim was hit by a live bullet to the abdomen.
*****
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 believes the
conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged
Israel to act as a state above law and continue to violate international human
rights and humanitarian law.
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 solidarity groups 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.
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
welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution, which referred the issue of the
Separation Wall inside the OPT to International Court of Justice to give a
consultative opinion. There is no doubt
that the wall is illegal, which obligates the international community to take
steps that amount to the level of the expected decision by the court.
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, unions and solidarity groups, 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.
“END”
Public
Document
**************************************
For more
information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 –
2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip.
E-mail:pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
