A special Issue at the End of 2004

 

 

 

Continuous Israeli Aggression on the
OPT; Palestinian Civilians Pay the Price and the International Community Fails
to Stop These Continuous Assults

 

 

This report
coincides with the end of 2004. On 29
December 2004, the al-Aqsa Intifada enters its 51^st month. On 11 November 2004, the Palestinian
President Yasser Arafat passed away. During the
current Intifada, Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) have perpetrated grave
breaches of international law against Palestinian civilians, in a manner
unprecedented since 1967. In 2004, Israeli troops escalated their attacks
against Palestinian civilians, especially in the Gaza Strip. They employed
highly developed weaponry in these attacks. 

 

Israeli troops have perpetrated systematic violations of
international human rights law and international humanitarian law against
Palestinian civilians, especially during wide scale prolonged incursions into
Palestinian areas. These violations include wilful and extra-judicial killings;
destruction of civilian property, including the infrastructure and educational
and medical institutions; destruction of arable land; arbitrary arrests;
torture and ill-treatment; and severe restrictions on the movement of persons
and goods, by imposing a total closure on the OPT. These violations have created a humanitarian
crisis, characterized by severe economic, social and political conditions. 

 

The international community, particularly the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, has failed to act
against these violations of human rights perpetrated by Israeli troops against
Palestinian civilians. The impunity with
which Israeli troops act violates the legal obligations of the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 22 March 2004, Israeli troops
assassinated Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder and spiritual leader of Hamas,
after the dawn payer. On 17 April 2004, Israeli troops assassinated Dr. Abu
Aziz al-Rantissi, the leader of Hamas. 

 

In 2004, the Gaza Strip was subject to wide scale
offensives, such as the offensive on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit
Hanoun and the offensive on the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.  In
Rafah, Israeli troops launched a fierce offensive against the town and its
refugee camp in May.  They used excessive force and killed 58
Palestinians.  At least 200 Palestinians, nearly half of them were
children, were also injured. Israeli troops destroyed 532 Palestinian houses,
leaving hundreds of Palestinian families homeless.  Israeli troops
destroyed large areas of agricultural land and dozens of economic
facilities.  

 

In the period 29 June – 5 August 2004, Israeli troops
launched a wide scale offensive on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.
They razed at least 4000 donums[1]
of agricultural land, nearly 45% of the total area of agricultural land razed
in the Gaza Strip in 2004. Israeli
troops also killed 20 Palestinians and destroyed 70 houses. In the period 23-26 September 2004, Israeli
troops moved into Khan Yunis refugee camp and destroyed 80 houses. 

 

On 28 September 2004, Israeli troops launched a wide scale
offensive on the northern Gaza Strip. This offensive continued for two week, during which Israeli troops
killed 115 Palestinians, including 28 children, injured 442 others, including
177 children, destroyed 87 houses, in which 854 people lived, destroyed 18
economic establishments and destroyed 19 civilian institutions, including 6
schools, 3 mosques and 2 kindergartens. They also razed 839 donums of agricultural land. 

 

Israeli troops continued to shell Palestinian residential
areas, especially in Khan Yunis and Rafah.  Eight Palestinian
schoolchildren were either killed or injured while sitting at their desks at
schools.  Israeli troops also committed most of the extra-judicial
executions inside densely populated areas, which caused many casualties among
Palestinian civilians, especially children. 

 

In the West Bank,
Israeli troops continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank
territory, in violation of international human rights law and international
humanitarian law, and the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of
Justice in Hague, which considered the construction of the wall illegal and
called for its dismantlement. 

 

Israeli military actions have violated the political,
civil, economic, social and cultural rights of Palestinian civilians.

 

 

This year was
characterized by the following Israeli military attacks:  

 

· Prolonged
Incursions and redeployment into Palestinian National Authority controlled
areas.

· Massive killings and destruction of
houses and civilian property.

· Extra-judicial assassinations
against Palestinian activists and political leaders, the most significant of
which targeted Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder and leader of Hamas.

· Using Palestinian
civilians as human shields during military operations in the OPT.

· Collective
punishment measures against the families of Palestinians who carried out,
planned or facilitated attacks against Israeli targets, including arrests
expulsion to the Gaza Strip of members of these families and destruction of
their houses.

· Continued
construction of the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory, in
disregard of the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice,
which considers the construction of the wall illegal.

· Wilful
killing of Palestinian civilians.

· Collective punishment of
Palestinian civilians, denying them their basic human rights, including the
rights of health, education, freedom of movement and work, through imposing a
tightened siege on the OPT.

· Arbitrary arrests and placing
Palestinians in administrative detention

· Systematic
attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians.

· Attacks on schools and
schoolchildren.

· Violation
of religious rights and denial of access of worshippers from the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip to religious sites in East Jerusalem.

 

A table showing those killed during the al-Aqsa
Intifada from

29 September 2000 to 29 December
2004  

 

 

A
table showing those injured during the al-Aqsa Intifada from

29
September 2000 to 29 December 2004

 

 

A table showing land levelling, house
demolitions and destruction to industrial and educational facilities in the
Gaza Strip during the al-Aqsa Intifada,

from 29 September 2000 to 29 December 2004 

 

 

 

Israeli Troops Continue Attacks in
the OPT

 

· 5
Palestinians were extra-judicially killed by Israeli troops.

· Two
Palestinians survived an extra-judicial killing attempt by Israeli troops in
Khan Yunis.

· Israeli
troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip

· 16
donums 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; 27 Palestinian civilians
were injured in the Gaza Strip.

· 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 3^rd consecutive week,
Israeli troops positioned at checkpoints arrested a number of Palestinian
civilians at, and two candidates for the Palestinian presidential elections
have been prevented from traveling from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank.

 

 

Introduction

 

Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) have launched more
attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
(OPT), especially in the Gaza Strip.  This week, 5 Palestinians were
extra-judicially killed by Israeli troops.  Human rights violations
perpetrated by Israeli occupying troops included incursions into Palestinian
areas, indiscriminate shelling, land leveling and total closure imposed on
Palestinian communities. These attacks came in contradiction to Israeli claims
regarding facilitations provided for Palestinians as the campaign for the
Palestinian presidential election began. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, 27 Palestinian civilians were
injured, including 5 children and 4 women, when Israeli troops shelled
Palestinian residential areas, especially in Khan Yunis and Rafah. Fourteen of these civilians were injured in
Khan Yunis on 28 December 2004. On the
same day, two Palestinian survived an extra-judicial killing attempt in Khan
Yunis, as an Israeli drone fired a missile at their car. 

  

This week, Israeli troops conducted 5 incursions into
Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, during which they razed 16 donums of
agricultural land and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child. 

 

In the West
Bank, Israeli troops extra-judicially killed 5 Palestinians in 3 separate
attacks in Tulkarm, Jenin and Nablus on 24, 25 and 27 December 2004. This week, Israeli troops moved into various
areas throughout the West Bank, injured a number of Palestinian civilians and
arrested dozens of others. 

 

Israeli troops have continued to construct the
annexation wall inside the West Bank territory. They have continued to raze
areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm.
The Israeli Peace Bloc revealed that there are Israeli plans to expand Israeli
settlements, adjacent to the 1967 border, and to annex more areas of
Palestinian land to Israel, in violation of international law.

 

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 International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border for
the 3^rd consecutive week. They have continued to impose severe
restrictions on internal movement. 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.

 

With regard to the restrictions imposed the movement
of candidates for the Palestinian presidential elections, Israeli troops have
continued to prevent ‘Abdul Karim Shubair and Sayed Baraka from traveling from
the Gaza Strip to the West Bank to campaign for the elections. On Monday, 28
December 2004, Israeli troops arrested Dr, Mustafa al-Barghouthi while he was
campaigning for his election in occupied Jerusalem. These restrictions come in
the context of the widest restrictions imposed the freedom of movement of
Palestinian civilians throughout the OPT. 

Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property

 

Thursday, 23 December 2004

 

At approximately 09:20,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian civilian,
Waleed Salah Salah, 29, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg, when he
was nearly 800 meters away from the border. 

 

At approximately 12:00,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the neighboring al-Salam
neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian,
Mohammed Hussein Abu Sha’ar, 35, was injured by shrapnel in the face. 

 

At approximately 16:00,
Israeli troops positioned in military pots to the north and west of the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun opened fire at residential areas in the
town. Four Palestinian civilians from
one family, including 3 children, were wounded:

 

1. Zaher
Ahmed ‘Ali Nusair, 29, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen;

2. Wissam
Ahmed ‘Ali Nusair, 11, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand;

3. Bassel
Ahmed ‘Ali Nusair, 14, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and

4. Nour
Zaher Ahmed Nusair, 2, seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body. 

 

At approximately 18:30,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts between “Neve Dekalim”
settlement, west of Khan Yunis, and “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest
of the town, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Amal neighborhood and Khan
Yunis refugee camp. Two Palestinian
civilians were injured:

 

1. Akram
Sabri al-Haddad, 25, injured by shrapnel in the back; and

2. ‘Abdullah
Yousef Abu ‘Akar, 23, injured by shrapnel in the right hand.

 

During the day, Israeli
troops moved into Qalqilya; the villages of Zeita and Baqa al-Sharqiya near
Tulkarm; Kufor Qallil village near Nablus; and Ethna village near Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 12 Palestinians. 

 

Friday, 24 December 2004

 

At approximately 17:20, Israeli troops positioned in
military posts at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at
residential areas in the town. A
Palestinian child, 14-year-old Bashir Nizar al-Qadi, was seriously wounded by a
live bullet in the pelvis, when he was near his house in al-Shaboura refugee
camp, nearly 800 meters away from the border. 

 

At approximately 18:20, Israeli troops positioned in
military posts in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of
Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Nimsawi neighborhood and
Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian
civilian, Mohammed Ahmed Abu Sitta, 50, was injured by shrapnel in the right
leg and the back when he was near his house, approximately 600 meters away from
the aforementioned settlement. 

 

Saturday,
25 December 2004

 

At
approximately 06:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles,
moved into al-Khawasa area in the north of Beit Lahia. They surrounded a number
of houses of Bedouins and razed areas of agricultural land near them. Two hours
later, Israeli troops raided and searched the 35 houses in the area and forced
their residents out. They gathered male residents who were over 16 years old in
an open area near the gate at the entrance to al-Sayafa areas. Israeli troops
photographed each of these males. Then, they arrested Ahmed Zeidan Abu Khousa,
27, and confiscated his computer set. During this incursion, Israeli troops
razed 13 donums of agricultural land belonging to the Abu Khousa family. 

 

Also at
approximately 06:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts at the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town.
A Palestinian civilian, ‘Abdul Nasser ‘Eissa Abu Zaid, 19, was wounded by a
live bullet in the left thigh, when he was near his house in Musabbeh
neighborhood, nearly 2500 meters away from the border. 

 

At approximately
13:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border,
south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian civilian, 21-year-old Ra’ed
Salman al-Soufi, was injured by shrapnel in the face. 

 

Sunday,
26 December 2004

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles,
moved nearly 150 meters into al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan
Yunis to the east of the settlements of “Qatif” and “Gani
Tal.” They imposed a curfew on the quarters of Arab al-Huamidi and Abu
‘Owaili. They forced residents of a number of houses out and held them for
several hours under bad weather conditions. Then, Israeli troops raided and
searched these houses. During this incursion, which continued until 22:00,
Israeli troops razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with potatoes
owned by ‘Aadel ‘Atiya Hussein al-Agha. Education at a school in the area was also suspended. 

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli troops moved into Dura village, southwest of
Hebron. They raided and searched
Mohammed Mahmoud Rab’ei’s house in Abu Hilal areas. Israeli troops severely beat the housewife,
44-year-old Zubaida Rab’ei, and two of her children. At approximately 04:30, Israeli troops the
owner’s son, Eyad, 24, and then withdrew from the area. 

 

At
approximately 06:00, Israeli troops moved into the Bedouin Village to the north
of Beit Lahia. They raided a number of
houses and forced their residents who are over 16 years old out and held them
near the border with Israel to the east of the village. Then, Israeli troops searched these houses.
Israeli troops took young men and children to the neighboring
“Nissanit” settlement and interrogated them. Following interrogations, Israeli troops
released these young men and children, but kept 17-year-old Mahmoud Mohammed
Abu Khousa. During this incursion,
Israeli troops severely damaged the infrastructure of the village. 

 

At
approximately 10:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Bitounia town,
southwest of Ramallah. They stopped near
an elementary school. Israeli troops
stopped a number of schoolchildren and forced them to stand in front of the
jeeps to form a human shield to prevent throwing stones at the jeeps. At
approximately 10:30, Israeli troops released the children.

 

Monday,
27 December 2004

 

At
approximately 00:00, an infantry unit of Israeli troops moved nearly 300 meters
into Abu Haddaf area in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. Israeli
troops raided Fathi ‘Abdul Rahman Abu Mousa. They held the 14 residents of the house in one room and searched the
house. At approximately 11:00, Israeli
troops positioned in military posts at the neighboring “Kissufim”
settler road ordered residents of the area through megaphones to get out of
their houses. At approximately 13:00, more Israeli troops moved into the area
and searched these houses. At
approximately 15:00, Israeli troops withdrew from the area and allowed the
residents to go back to their houses. 

 

At
approximately 03:30, Israeli troops moved into Tulkarm. They raided and
searched Nassif Motel in the center of the town. They arrested 15 university
students who live in the motel. 

 

At
approximately 08:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the
vicinity of “Netser Hazani” and “Qatif” settlements,
northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Satar
al-Gharbi area and al-Qarara village. A
Palestinian woman, 60-year-old Zubaida Hassan al-Astal, was injured by shrapnel
in the foot when she was inside her house in al-Satar al-Gharbi area, nearly
200 meters away from “Qatif” settlement. 

 

At
approximately 08:40, Israeli troops positioned in military posts at the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the
neighboring al-Salam neighborhood. A
Palestinian woman, Iman Isma’il Matariya, 28, who was five months pregnant, was
seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head. 

 

At
approximately 18:00, Israeli troops moved into al-Quds Street at the southern
entrance of Nablus. They opened fire at
Palestinian houses in the area. A
Palestinian civilian, Tariq Mahmoud Khalil ‘Aassi, 22, from Balata refugee
camp, was injured by shrapnel throughout the body. 

 

At
approximately 22:00, an infantry unit of Israeli troops moved nearly 100 meters
into Palestinian areas to the west of “Kfar Darom” settlement,
southeast of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli troops raided a 2-storey house owned
by Fadel Yahia al-Qedra. They held the seven residents of the house in one room
and transformed the house into a military site. On the following day morning, more Israeli troops moved into the area
and placed sand barriers around the house and a neighboring house owned by
Ameen Yahia al-Qedra, where 11 people live. Thus, 18 people have been held
inside the two houses, which have been surrounded by Israeli troops. 

 

At
approximately 23:00, Israeli troops in military jeep opened fire at a civilian
car that was traveling from al-Zahiriya village to Kherbat al-Shwaika village,
south of Hebron, on bypass road (60) near Shama’a settlement. Four Palestinian civilians were traveling in
the targeted car. One of these civilians, Yasser Muhareb al-Jabarin, 30, was
seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head. An Israeli helicopter evacuated him to an Israeli hospital. 

 

During the
day, Israeli troops moved into Nablus and the neighboring Beit Dajan village;
and the villages of Beit Reema and Kufor ‘Ein near Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 7 Palestinians, including a girl and a child. 

 

Tuesday,
28 December 2004

 

At
approximately 17:00, Israeli troops positioned in military locations and on
tanks in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” and “Gadid”
settlements, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis
refugee camp, al-Nimsawi neighborhood and Baten al-Samin area. As a result, 14 Palestinian civilians,
including 3 children and 2 women, were injured:

1. Miriam
Hafez Zo’rob, 45, injured by shrapnel in the face;

2. Najat
Mahmoud Zo’rob, 17, seriously injured by shrapnel in the head;

3. Shireen
Mahmoud Zo’rob, 23, injured by shrapnel in the right arm;

4. Ghaleb
‘Abdul Rahman Killab, 38, seriously injured by shrapnel in the head;

5. Hisham
Sha’ban al-Nabris, 40, injured by shrapnel in the limbs;

6. Ahmed
Musbah Ghaleb Saqer, 17, injured by shrapnel in the back;

7. ‘Alaa’
Mohammed al-Halabi, 18, injured by shrapnel in the neck;

8. Ra’fat
Ahmed Saqer, 25, injured by shrapnel in the left arm;

9. Bassel
Mohammed Abu ‘Ouda, 6, injured by shrapnel in the right thigh;

10. Mohammed
Sameer al-Lahham, 28, injured by shrapnel in the right foot;

11. Joma’a
Mohammed al-Lahham, 40, injured by shrapnel throughout the body;

12. Fathiya
‘Abdul Qader ‘Obaid, 41, injured by shrapnel in the pelvis;

13. Bassem
‘Ali al-Aa’raj, 25, injured by shrapnel in the right leg; and

14. Rami
Nasser al-Najjar, 25, injured by shrapnel in the head. 

 

At
approximately 11:00, 8 Israeli military jeeps moved into Nablus. Israeli troops opened fire at houses and
shops. A number of these jeeps took
position near al-Shuhada Square in the center of the city. A number of Palestinian children gathered and
threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately,
Israeli troop fired at the children, wounding 2:

 

1. Mohammed
‘Abdul Karim al-Bahash, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg; and

2. Waleed
Mohammed Abu Habeeb, 12, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. 

 

During the
day, Israeli troops moved into Jenin; Hebron and the neighboring Beit Ummar
village; and al-Am’ari refugee camp near Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 8 Palestinians, including 3 brothers. 

 

Wednesday,
29 December 2004

 

At
approximately 11:10, Israeli troops positioned in military posts at the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the
town. A Palestinian woman, Hidaya
Hussein Abu Hilal, 41, was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh, when she
was inside her house, nearly 900 meters away from the border. 

 

Extra-Judicial
Killing

 

This week,
Israeli troops committed 3 extra-judicial killings, which left 5 Palestinians
dead. The five victims were members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the
military wing of Fatah movement. They also attempted to extra-judicially kill 2
Palestinians in Khan Yunis, but the two Palestinians survived the attack. 

 

According to investigations
conducted by PCHR on the first attack, at approximately 22:30 on Thursday, 23
December 2004, Israeli moved into Tulkarm refugee camp into the northern West
Bank. They took position in various areas in the camp, and some troops mounted
the roofs of a number of houses.  At approximately 01:30 Friday, 24
December 2004, a number of Palestinian gunmen were sitting near the schools
area, and when an Israeli military jeep passed by them, they attempted to
escape. They were faced by some Israeli troops near the social forum. The young
men moved back.  Immediately, Israeli troops positioned atop of a building
opened fire at them from a distance of nearly 200 meters. Three of the young
men were wounded in their legs.  They remained in the place. 
Immediately, Israeli troops moved towards them and fired at them from a
distance of half a meter.  The three were killed by live bullets in the
head, the neck and the chest.  An ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent
Society attempted to attend the three bodies, but Israeli troops prevented them
for nearly one hour. Then, the ambulance evacuated the bodies to Dr. Thabet
Thabet Hospital in Tulkarm. The victims were members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs
Brigades, the military wing of Fatah movement.  They were identified as:

 

1. Kamel
‘Abdullah Kamel Sabarini, 18;

2. Jamal
Khaled ‘Adnan ‘Aazem, 18; and

3. Eyad
‘Azmi Ghannam Kanouh, 18.

 

The Israeli
occupation authorities did not comment on this attack.

 

According to investigations
conducted by PCHR on the second attack, at approximately 02:00 on Saturday, 25
December 2004, Israeli troops, reinforced by 20 military jeeps, 2 armored
personnel carriers and 2 military bulldozers, moved into Jenin. They surrounded
a 200-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Mustafa Suleiman al-‘Arqawi in
al-Marah neighborhood in the east of the town.  They called on the 20
residents of the house (3 families) through megaphones to vacate it and held
them in the rain.  Israeli troops interrogated the owner whether there was
anyone in the house and he denied the presence of anyone there. Israeli troops
fired a number of missiles at the house. A few hours later, the two bulldozers
started to demolish the house.  At approximately 08:00, Israeli troops
withdrew from the area after they had demolished the house.  Crews of the
Palestinian Civil Defense arrived at the area and started to remove the ruins
of the house.  At approximately 11:00, they found the body of Tha’er Jamal
Mohammed Kamle Hussein, 28, under the ruins.  Israeli troops claimed that
the victim was an assistant of the leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in
Jenin.  The victim’s brother, Ameen, was extra-judicially killed by IOF on
7 November 2004.  Israeli occupation authority claimed that an Israeli
military unit surrounded a house where a wanted Palestinian was hiding. Israeli
troops called on residents of the house to vacate it and they did, but the
wanted man stayed inside. They ordered him to surrender, but he refused. So,
they fired missiles at the house and then a military bulldozer demolished
it. 

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR on the
third attack, at approximately 11:00 on Monday, 27 December 2004, an undercover
unit of Israeli troops moved into Nablus using a civilian car, a white Ford
412, that had a Palestinian registration plate.  When the car arrived at
Balata crossroads, 4 members of the undercover unit got out of it and opened
fire at a Palestinian civilian jeep, a blue Mitsubishi.  Soon after, 9
Israeli military jeeps arrived at the area and moved the targeted jeeps out of
the city. An ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society arrived at the area
and evacuated the body of a Palestinian to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, where
the victim was identified as Wa’el Mohammed Riahi, 35, an activist of the
al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement. Israeli troops
claimed that “during military operations in Balata refugee camp, a wanted
gunman attempted to run down a number of Israeli soldiers, so they fired at the
tires of his car and ordered him to stop, and when he attempted again to run
down the soldiers, they shot him dead.”  

 

According to
investigations conducted by PCHR on the fourth attack, at approximately 12:15
on Tuesday, 28 December 2004, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a civilian
car that was traveling in al-Sikka Street in the north of Khan Yunis. The missile hit the front of the car and
destroyed it, but the two persons who were traveling in the car had been able
to jump out of the car before the missile hit it. The two persons who were in
the car have not been identified, but they are reportedly members of the
‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. 

 

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 international Crossing
Point on the Egyptian border for the 3^rd consecutive week. They have
continued to impose severe restriction on internal movement. On 25 December 2004, Israeli troops closed
the costal road that links Gaza City with the central Gaza Strip, and Abu Houli
and al-Matahen checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, thus partitioning the Gaza
Strip into 3 separate zones. 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.
Israeli troops often close the two checkpoints and hold and search Palestinian
vehicles in between. 

 

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. Israeli troops and settlers have also continued to attack
Palestinian agricultural property in the area.  Israeli troops have
continued to prevent female Palestinians aged between 16 and 25, and males who
are aged 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 impose a tightened siege on 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 5^th 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 have continued to close Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah
since 13 December 2004. 

 

Since 13 December 2004, Israeli troops have closed
Rafah international Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, which is the only
outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. Israeli troops often close the Crossing 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.

 

Jerusalem

 

Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
have continued to close all military checkpoints at the entrances to East
Jerusalem in the face of Palestinians coming from other areas in the West
Bank. Israeli troops positioned at
military checkpoints stopped Palestinian vehicles and checked Palestinian
civilians. These measures included
candidates for the Palestinian presidential elections, who obtained permits on
which the phrase “for personal purposes” is written. 

 

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. Israeli troops positioned at Qalandya
checkpoint, south of the town, have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians
who do not have checkpoint permits from traveling from the town to
Jerusalem. 

 

Nablus

 

Contrary to their claims regarding facilitations of
movement on Thursday, 23 December 2004, the day on which elections for local
councils were held, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. Israeli troops positioned at various checkpoints
around the city stopped Palestinian vehicles and checked Palestinians
civilians. On Monday morning, 27 December
2004, Israeli troops erected a checkpoint to the south of Hawara checkpoint on
Ramallah – Nablus road. They obstructed the passage of dozens of Palestinian
vehicles for long hours. 

 

Tulkarm

 

On Saturday morning, 25 December 2004, Israeli troops
erected a checkpoint at Far’oun crossroads, south of the town. They stopped and
searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles. On Sunday evening, 26 December 2004, Israeli troops erected a checkpoint
at Ektaba crossroads, east of the town. They stopped and searched dozens of
Palestinian vehicles. On Monday morning,
27 December 2004, 2 Israeli military jeeps moved into Artah neighborhood in the
south of the town and erected a checkpoint at its entrance. They stopped a number of cars and checked
Palestinian civilians. 

 

Hebron

 

At approximately 23:00 on Friday, 24 December 2004,
Israeli troops moved into the town. They stopped and checked crews of the
election campaigns for the presidential election and obstructed their movement
in the town. At approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 25 December 2004, Israeli troops
erected a checkpoint at al-Tahreer Square in the southwest of Hebron. They stopped and checked passing Palestinian
civilians. 

 

Bethlehem

 

On Saturday afternoon, 25 December 2004, Israeli
troops erected a checkpoint on the road that links the town with al-‘Obaidiya
village. They stopped and searched
Palestinian vehicles and forced them to travel back. On Sunday morning, 26 December 2004, Israeli
troops closed the western entrance of al-Kahder village, west of
Bethlehem. 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

On Sunday
evening, 26 December 2004, Israeli troops positioned at the eastern entrance to
Qalqilya arrested Mohammed Mijahed Zahran, 19, from Qalqilya.

 

Continued
Construction of the Annexation Wall

 

Israeli troops have continued to construct the
annexation wall inside the West Bank territory. They razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Far’oun
village, south of Tulkarm. They also started to construct a section of the wall
to the northeast of Jerusalem. 

 

On Monday morning, 27 December 2004, Israeli troops
started to lay the foundations for the construction of a section of the wall to
the northeast of Jerusalem. According to
eyewitnesses, Israeli military bulldozers started to place cement blocks on
Palestinian land in Hazma village, northeast of Jerusalem. In the meantime, Israeli troops continued to
construct a section of the wall in al-Ram village. By completing the construction of this
section of the wall, Israeli troops would further isolate Jerusalem from the
rest of the West Bank. 

 

This week, Israeli military bulldozers continued to
raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Far’oun village, south of
Tulkarm. The owners of the land have
been prevented from reaching the area. At least 200 olives trees have been so far uprooted. Two years ago, Israeli troops uprooted
hundreds of trees in the same area for the purpose of the construction of the
wall. 

 

On Monday, the Israeli Peace Bloc revealed that
Israeli occupation authorities plan to confiscate more areas of Palestinian
land and build more housing units in Israeli settlements near the border
between the West Bank and Israel. According to these plans, thousands of donums of Palestinian land will
be confiscated an annexed to Israeli settlements. The bloc gave a number of examples for such
settlement expansion. “Alfe
Menshae” settlement, east of Qalqilya, ahs been expanded by annexing areas
of Palestinian land in the villages of Teera and Ras ‘Atiya. In “Tsufin” settlement, northeast
of Qalqilya, 2100 housing units are being built on areas of land confiscated
from Jayous village. In
“Sal’it” settlement, at least 2000 flats have been built on areas of
land confiscated from Kherbat Jebara village. The situation is the same in other settlements in the northern West Bank,
where the construction of the wall has been completed. Israeli troops have isolated at least 8600
donums of land in Jayous village alone behind the wall. This number does not include 500 donums of
land on which a section of the wall stands. 

 

***

 

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 OPTs to International Court of Justice to give its
Advisoryt 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 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 solidarity groups, 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