Stores
belonging to Khzaa Municipality in the east of Khan Younis bombarded by Israeli
warplanes on 22 March 2011

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalated Attacks against
Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT),
Especially in the Gaza Strip

 

 

· 10 Palestinians,
including 4 children, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

– The victims
include 6 civilians.

– 24
Palestinians, including 11 children, were wounded by IOF and Israeli settlers
in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

– A police
station and a number of civilian facilities were destroyed in the Gaza Strip.

 

· IOF continued
to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the
Gaza Strip.

– IOF arrested a Palestinian fisherman and his
child.

 

· IOF continued
to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

– 4 Palestinian
civilians were wounded. 

 

· IOF conducted
45 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two limited
ones into the Gaza Strip.  

– IOF arrested 20
Palestinian civilians and two international human rights defenders.

 

· Israel has
continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip
from the outside world.

– Israeli
soldiers positioned at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested one
Palestinian civilian.

 

· IOF have
continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have
continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

– Israeli
settlers launched a series of violent attacks against Palestinian civilians and
property.

– Israeli
settlers attacked a Palestinian worker inside a settlement in the north of the
West Bank and stabbed another one in the south.

– Israeli
settlers burnt two cars and damaged another 3 ones.

 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (17 – 23 March 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF
killed 6 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, and 4 Palestinian
resistance activists in the Gaza Strip. They also wounded 28 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 11
children. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, on Saturday evening, 19 March 2011, IOF
killed two Palestinian children who were nearly 300 meters away from the border
between the Gaza Strip and Israel. It is
worth noting that on 17 March, Israeli aircrafts dropped fliers on border areas
warning Palestinians from getting as close as to 300 meters from the
border. 

 

On 22 March 2011, IOF killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including two
children, and wounded 11 others, including 8 children, with artillery shells in
the east of Gaza City. IOF claimed that
a shell went astray and killed and wounded these civilians. PCHR’s investigations refute this claim as
the area was targeted by 4 successive artillery shells.

 

On the same day, IOF killed 4 members of the al-Quds Brigades (the
armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in Gaza City.  

 

During the reporting period, IOF launched a series of air strikes
on a number of Palestinian civilian facilities and a police station. The targeted facilities were destroyed and a
number of houses and other property were damaged. Additionally, 15 Palestinian civilians,
including 3 children, were lightly injured.  

 

On 19 March 2011, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israeli fired a number of artillery shells at Palestinian areas. As a result, 6 Palestinian civilians,
including a child, were wounded, and a mosque was damaged. 

 

In the West Bank, IOF and Israeli settlers wounded 9
Palestinian civilians, including two children.

 

During the reporting period, IOF
used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest
to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall in
the West Bank. As a result, 4
Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded, and dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from
tear gas inhalation. 

 

During the reporting period, a
Palestinian civilian was wounded and two others sustained bruises by IOF that
intervened to protect Israeli settlers who attacked Palestinian civilians and
property.

 

On 23 March 2011, two Palestinian
civilians were wounded and arrested in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, when
IOF attacked Palestinian civilians participating in the funeral procession of a
dead woman.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 45 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 20
Palestinian civilians and two international human rights defenders. including 6
children. The widest incursions were
into ‘Awarta village, southeast of Nablus, and Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron, during which IOF wounded two Palestinian civilians and arrested 14 Palestinian
civilians and two international human rights defenders. They also violently beat a number of
civilians, including a pregnant woman. 

 

In
the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted two limited incursion into Palestinian areas,
during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land.

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

Israel
had 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 occupied East Jerusalem.

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since
June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic
situation in the Gaza Strip. 

 

· The illegal closure has caused not only a
humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the
population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared recently to ease the
blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of
the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of
the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip
and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply
shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become
internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza may no
longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain
economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially,
culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.

 

· Expanding the list of items allowed into Gaza
does not change the illegality of this policy, which is inconsistent with
Israel’s legal obligations both as an Occupying Power and under international
human rights treaties to which it is party, such as the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights. 

 

· Facts on the
ground refute Israeli claims with
respect to the easing of the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the
reduction of restrictions imposed on the entry of goods.

 

· Israeli
declaration of allowing new goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip constitutes
an attempt to delude the international community, as such goods do not meet the
minimal needs of the Gaza Strip. 

 

· IOF have
continued to ban the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip. 

 

· IOF have imposed
a ban on all exports from the Gaza Strip. 

 

· Israel had
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing
to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social
visits.

 

· Israel has
imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists
and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented
representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from
entering the Gaza Strip.

 

· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated;
levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

 

West
Bank

 

IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank,
including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

 

· IOF have
established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting
Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying
at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

 

· There are
approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints
across the West Bank.

 

· When complete,
the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers
around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of
the Wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been
constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

 

· At least 65% of
the main roads that lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are
closed or fully controlled by IOF.

 

· There are
approximately 500
kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In
addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East
Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF.
These permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

 

· IOF continue to
harass, and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction
of the Annexation Wall.

 

· Palestinian
civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West
Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.

 

Settlement
Activities:  

 

Israel
has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of
international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property. 

 

During the reporting period, Israeli
settlers launched a series of violent attacks against Palestinian civilians and
property. They violently beat a
Palestinian worker in a settlement in the northern West Bank and stabbed
another one in the south. They also
burnt two cars and damaged 3 ones. 

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (17 – 23 March 2011)

 

1. Incursions into
Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip

 

Thursday, 17 March 2011

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bedya village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets and arrested
two Palestinian civilians:

 

1. ‘Obaida ‘Abdul
Karim Bulad, 21; and

2. Yasser ‘Abdul
‘Azizi Hussein, 20.

 

· Also at
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They ptraolled in the streets and established
a checkpoint in the center of the village. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF withdrew later and neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 10:30, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and
summoned 4 Palestinian civilians for interrogation: Taha Najeh Sharqawi, 23;
Muhanna Khaled Sharqawi, 23; Ahmed Khaled Sharqawi, 23; and Ahmed Qassem
al-Sa’di, 25.

 

· At
approximately 10:50, IOF moved into Khirbat Abu Falah village, northeast of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 11:30, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 16:10, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and raided and
searched a number of shops. They
withdrew at approximately 18:00, and neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 17:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 20:30, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, south of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
and fired flash bombs. They withdrew
later, and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 23:40, IOF moved into Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

Friday,
18 March 2011

 

· At
approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to
Ameen Hashem Kmayel, 32. They held his
wife in a neighboring house and arrested him. They then raided and searched a 4-storey house belonging to Kmayel’s
father, and arrested his brother, Ameen, 34.

 

· At
approximately 10:30, IOF moved into ‘Izbat Nasser suburb, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· Also at
approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 11:00, IOF moved into al-Jaroushiya village, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· Also at
approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 13:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 19:20, IOF moved into al-‘Ouja village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 19:40, IOF moved into Jeeba village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Fassayel, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

Saturday, 19 March 2011

 

· At
approximately 03:30, IOF moved into al-Am’ari refugee camp, west of
al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 08:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and
Israel, east of Khan Yunis, fired a number of artillery shells at Palestinian
agricultural and residential areas in the east of the villages of al-Qarara,
‘Abassan, Khuza’a and al-Fukhari. The
artillery shelling continued sporadically until 11:00. As a result of the shelling, the minaret of
‘Amar Bin Yasser Mosque in ‘Abassan village was damaged, but no casualties were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 09:30, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and
Israel, east of Gaza City, fired 3 artillery shells at a site of the
Palestinian National Security Forces near al-Mansoura Square in the east of
al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, nearly 2,000 meters away
from the border. As a result, 6
Palestinians were wounded:

 

1. Sa’eb Maher Abu
Safiya, 20, a security man, seriously wounded by shrapnel to the head and the
left foot;

2. ‘Emad Saleh
Sa’id, 35, a security man, wounded by shrapnel to the body, and sustained a
facture to the right foot;

3. Midhat Saleem
al-Dayah, 20, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

4. Nasser ‘Omar
Abu Shanab, 22, wounded by shrapnel to the back;

5. Qussai Fadi Abu
Shanab, 22, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and

6. ‘Abdul Mon’em
Mahmoud Sa’ad, 2, wounded by shrapnel to the face.

 

· At
approximately 11:00, IOF warplanes fired two missiles at an agricultural area
in the east of al-Qarara village, northeast of the southern Gaza Strip town of
Khan Yunis. The missiles targeted
Palestinian resistance activists, but no casualties were reported.

 

· Also at
approximately 11:00, IOF warplanes fired two missile at an agricultural area in
Abu Tu’aima area in ‘Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.

 

· At
approximately 21:30, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and
Israel to the east of Juhor al-Dik village in the central Gaza Strip fired a
number of artillery shells at two Palestinian children who were nearly 300
meters away from the border. The two
children were instantly killed. IOF
continued to fire at the area over the night. On the following day morning, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into the
area. At approximately 11:30, an
ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society was able to enter the area
following coordination between the ICRC and IOF. The medical crews found the bodies of the two
children nearly 300 meters away from the
border, and evacuated them to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The two children were identified as:

 

1. ‘Emad Mohammed
‘Eissa Farajallah, 16; and

2. Qassem Salah
Abu ‘Otaiwi, 16, both from al-Nussairat refugee camp. 

 

It is worth noting that on Thursday morning, 17 March 2011, IOF
aircrafts dropped fliers over border area in the Gaza Strip, warning
Palestinians of getting as close as to 300 meters from the border.

 

Sunday, 20 March 2011

 

· At
approximately 07:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Our al-Fouqa village, west of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Beit Seera village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At approximately
13:00, Israeli naval troops arrested two Palestinian fishermen who were sailing
on board of a fishing boat nearly two nautical miles away from the seashore of
Gaza City. The two fishermen were taken
to the Israeli Ashdod Harbor. IOF
released the two fishermen on the following day morning at Beit Hanoun (Erez)
crossing, but kept their boat in custody. The two fishermen are: Nasser
Fadel Baker, 45, and his 15-year-old child ‘Allam.

 

· At
approximately 14:15, IOF moved into Habla village, south of Qalqilya. They ptraolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 14:25, IOF moved into ‘Izbat al-Tabib village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 18:35, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They established a checkpoint at its entrance
and patrolled in the streets. They
withdrew later, and neither house raids nor arrests were reported. 

 

Monday, 21 March 2011

 

· At
approximately 01:10, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported. 

 

· At
approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Bir al-Basha village, south of Jenin. They stormed a transmission tower of Wataniya
mobile phone company and searched the area. They withdrew later and neither
house raids nor arrests were reported. 

 

· At approximately
09:35, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 13:30, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 19:00, IOF moved into the area located between ‘Azzoun and ‘Izbat
al-Tabib villages, east of Qalqilya. They searched the area for some time. 

 

· At approximately
20:00, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 21:45, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a site of al-Ahrar
Brigades near al-Maqqoussi apartment towers in the north of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

 

· At
approximately 22:20, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 23:00, IOF warplanes fired two missiles at ‘Abdul ‘Aziz
al-Rantissi site of the Palestinian police near al-Twam intersection in the
west of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. Police buildings and two vehicles were
destroyed. A police officer, Mohammed
Hussein Abu ‘Amira, 43, from Jabalya town, sustained bruises. Additionally, 6 Palestinian civilians,
including two children and two women, were lightly injured by fragments of
glass. Dozens of nearby houses , 7 shops
and two vehicles were damaged. The
building of Bytona Association for Social Development, which is located nearly
100 meters away from the targeted site, was heavily damaged.

 

· Also at
approximately 23:00, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a 1,200-square-meter
barrack of recycling nylon waste belonging to Mamdouh Yousef Zaidan in al-Sha’af
neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The barrack was completely destroyed, and the building of a company of
construction materials belonging to Riad Yousef Hassanain was damaged. 

 

· At
approximately 23:30, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a 500-square-meter
smith workshop belonging to ‘Abdul Salam ‘Abdullah Dalloul in al-Zaytoun
neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The workshop was destroyed.

 

· At
approximately 23:55, an IOF warplane fired two missiles at the building of
stores and machines of Khuza’a Municipality, east of Khan Yunis. The 150-square-meter building and a
subordinate yard were completely destroyed. Additionally, a 120-square-meter animal farm belonging to Shawqi Saleem
al-Najjar was destroyed, and a nearby room and the fence of a nearby house were
damaged.

 

Tuesday, 22 March 2011

 

· At
approximately 23:55 on Monday, 21 March 2011, Mahmoud Hussein al-Najjar, 61,
received a phone call from an Israeli number and the caller, who introduced
himself as an Israeli military officer order him to evacuate his house in
Khuza’a village. At approximately 00:14
on Tuesday, an IOF drone fired a missile at a 130-square-meter, two-storey
house belonging to al-Najjar’s son, Hussein. The missile penetrated the ceiling and fell into the lounge, where
Hussein was, but he survived the attack. The family left the house immediately. Later, IOF phoned Mahmoud al-Najjar again and ordered him to evacuate
his house in five minutes. Al-Najjar and
his two sons, who live in houses next to his, evacuated the three houses. Nevertheless, none of these house has been
bombarded.

 

· At
approximately 00:05, IOF moved into Marda village, north of Salfit. They raided two houses belonging to ‘Aadel
‘Emad Khuffash and Na’el Ahmed Khuffash, and summoned them for interrogation.

 

· At
approximately 00:20, IOF warplanes fired a missile at a space area in the east
of Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.

 

· At
approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 00:40, IOF moved into Deir Estia village, northwest of
Salfit. They raided a house belonging to
Ahmed ‘Abdul Rahman Khalaf and summoned him for interrogation.

 

· At
approximately 00:50, an IOF warplane fired a missile at an 240-square-meter
vacant store belonging to Hatem Mohammed
al-Farra near Bank of Palestine in Khan Yunis. The store and a number of nearby houses were damaged.

 

· At
approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 04:00, IOF moved into ‘Awarta village, southeast of Nablus, and
imposed a curfew. They arrested 9
Palestinian civilians, including 5 brothers and a man and his son:

 

1. Ramzi ‘Abdul
Hafiz Yousef, 36;

2. Ma’awia ‘Abdul
Hafiz Yousef, 35;

3. Mohammed ‘Abdul
Hafiz Yousef, 32;

4. Ahmed ‘Abdul
Hafiz Yousef, 30’

5. ‘Abdullah
‘Abdul Hafiz Yousef, 23;

6. Kamal Sa’id
Shurrab, 47;

7. Fadi Kamal Shurrab,
18;

8. Hazzaa’ Hamdan
‘Amouri, 35; and

9. Munadel Falah
Shurrab, 33.

 

Israeli soldiers also violently beat Raja Hamdan ‘Awad, 35,
claiming that he broke te curfew.

 

· At
approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 08:15, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into the northeast of Gaza
City. They leveled areas of Palestinian
land, which they had already razed under cover of shooting. They left the area at approximately 11:30 and
no casualties were reported.

 

· In the evening,
IOF killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including two children, and wounded 11
others, including 8 children, with artillery shells in al-Shuja’iya
neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The Israeli radio quoted Israeli military sources claiming that an
artillery shell went astray and caused the civilian casualties. Investigations conducted by PCHR refute this
claim, as a residential area was targeted with 4 artillery shells, and whether
one of them went astray or not, they all targeted a residential area. 

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately
15:10, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired 4
artillery shells successively at al-Nazzaz Street in al-Shuja’iya neighborhood
in the east of Gaza City, nearly 2,000 meters away from the border. The first shell hit a 150-square-meter,
two-storey house belonging to Samer Waleed Mushtaha. The second floor of the house was completely
destroyed and the first one was heavily damaged. The second shell fell onto a nearby tract of
land belonging to the al-Hilu family. The third shell landed near a number of boys who were playing football
near their houses. As a result, two
children were killed and their bodies were dismembered: Mohammed Saber Harara, 19; and Mohammed Jalal
al-Hilu. The fourth shell fell near
Yasser Hamed al-Hilu, 51, and his grandchild, 15-year-old Yasser ‘Aahed
al-Hilu, while they were trying to open the garage of their house to get their
car out in order to evacuate the wounded to hospital. The man and his grandchild were instantly
killed. Additionally, 11 Palestinian
civilians, including 8 children, were wounded:

 

1. Ahmed Talal
al-Hilu, 10, seriously wounded by shrapnel to the abdomen;

2. Tariq Ziad
al-Hilu, 14, his hand was cut;

3. Mo’ammar ‘Aamer
al-Mubayidh, 15, wounded by shrapnel to the hand and the foot;

4. Yasser ‘Aamer
al-Hilu, 3, seriously wounded by shrapnel to the head;

5. Mo’ammar ‘Aadel
al-Mubayidh, 15, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

6. Mohammed ‘Alaa’
al-Hilu, 10, seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

7. Alaa’ Rami Abu
Sakran, 9, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

8. Tamer ‘Aahed
al-Hilu, 13, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

9. Jamal Mahmoud
al-Hilu, 53, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

10. ‘Abdullah Ziad al-Hilu, 53,
wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and

11. ‘Abdul Karim Nabeel Abu Sirriya, 19, wounded by shrapnel throughout
the body.

 

· At
approximately 19:50, an IOF warplane fired two missiles at a number of
activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) who were
near ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Rantissi Mosque in the east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood in
the east of Gaza City. Four activists
were instantly killed:

 

1. Sa’di Mahmoud
Hilles, 22;

2. Adham Fayez
al-Harazin, 28;

3. Mohammed ‘Atiya
al-Harazin, 27; and

4. Mohammed Akram
‘Aabed, 32.

 

· At
approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and
withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 23:20, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia seashore
in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail to
the seashore and no casualties were reported.

 

Wednesday, 23 March 2011

 

· At
approximately 11:00, IOF moved into ‘Ein ‘Arik village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Turmos’iya village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

· At
approximately 13:35, IOF moved into Deir Ghassana village, northwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

· At
approximately 13:00, IOF positioned at the main entrance and near the cemetery
of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, intercepted Palestinian civilians who were
participating in the funeral procession of a dead woman, and attempted to force
them to resort to another road instead of the road that directly leads to the
entrance of the cemetery. IOF fired tear
gas canisters and sound bombs at these civilians. In the meantime, a number of Israeli soldiers
chased and fired at two young men from the town. The two young men were wounded, one of them
was arrested on the spot and the other one was arrested a few hours later:

 

1. Rami Hassan Abu
Hashem, 31, wounded by a bullet to the right foot; and

2. Suhail Mohammed
Braighaith, 24, wounded by a bullet to the leg.

 

IOF also arrested 4 civilians who were participating in the funeral
procession:

 

1. Mohammed
Hussein Abu ‘Ayash, 27;

2. Nabeel Hammad
Abu Maria, 28;

3. Saddam Hussein
Za’aqiq, 32; and

4. ‘Omar Mohammed
Braighaith, 33.

 

Additionally, IOF arrested two international human rights
defenders, but released them later.

 

At approximately 16:10, an IOF undercover unit, escorted by
military vehicles, moved into Beit Uammar town. The undercover unit raided and searched al-Shurafa fuel station in the
north of the town. Israeli soldier
confiscated a computer set and arrested a worker in the station, Yousef Bader
Ekhlil, 30. At the same time, IOF raided
and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Mahmoud Ebraighaith. They violently beat members of the family
and arrested two of his sons, one of whom was wounded (see above). Additionally, Rawan Ahmed Ekhamyes, 26, the
owner’s daughter-in-law, who is pregnant in the ninth month, sustained bruises
as she was beaten by Israeli soldiers.

 

At approximately 19:00, IOF closed the main entrance of the village
with cement blocks and sand barriers.  

 

2. Use of
Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting Settlement
Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall

 

During
the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the
West Bank. As a result, 4 Palestinian
civilians, including two children, were wounded. Dozens of Palestinian civilians and human
rights defenders also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained
bruises.    

   

· Following the
Friday Prayer on 18 March 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction
of the annexation wall.  Israeli
soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs
and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 4 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were
wounded:

 

1. Eyad Mohammed
Bernat, 38, hit by a tear gas canister to the head;

2. Mohammed
Shawkat al-Khatib, 17, hit by a tear gas canister to the left foot;

3. Nashmi Mohammed
Abu Rahma, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand; and

4. Mohammed
Suleiman Bernat, 20, hit by a tear gas canister to the right foot.

 

Additionally, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas
inhalation.  

 

· Also following
the Friday Prayer on 18 March 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in
Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the annexation
wall. They clashed with Israeli troops
positioned near the Wall. Israeli troops
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators. As a result, a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

· Also following
the Friday Prayer on 18 March 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful
demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against
land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh
and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators
attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near
“Halmish” settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a number of demonstrators also
suffered from tear gas inhalation. Additionally,
IOF arrested two international human rights defenders. IOF also turned the roof of the cultural
center in the village into a military site until 16:30.

 

3. Continued
Closure of the OPT

 

Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure of the OPT and
imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the
Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since
June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic
situation in the Gaza Strip.

 

· The illegal
closure has caused not only a humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights
and human dignity for the population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared
recently to ease the blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with
the root causes of the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and
complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of
the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli
policy is simply shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that
may become internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza
may no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain
economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially,
culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.

 

· Expanding the
list of items allowed into Gaza does not change the illegality of this policy,
which is inconsistent with Israel’s legal obligations both as an Occupying
Power and under international human rights treaties to which it is party, such
as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

 

· Facts on the
ground refute Israeli claims with respect to the easing of the closure imposed
on the Gaza Strip and the reduction of restrictions imposed on the entry of
goods.

 

· Israeli
declaration of allowing new goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip constitutes
an attempt to delude the international community, as such goods do not meet the
minimal needs of the Gaza Strip. 

 

· IOF have
continued to ban the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza
Strip. 

 

· IOF have
imposed a ban on all exports from the Gaza Strip. 

 

· Israel had
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing
to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social
visits.

 

· Israel has
imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists
and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented
representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from
entering the Gaza Strip.

 

· Living
conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated;
levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

16 –
22 March 2011

 

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

13 –
21 March 2011

 

 

Notes:

· On Tuesday, 15 March 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 112 tons of
iron and 280 of cement for UNRWA.

· On Wednesday, 16 March 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 74 tons of
iron, 200 tons of cement and 26 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA.

· On Thursday, 17 March 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 287 tons of
cement and 25 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA and 120 tons of cement for
ANERA.

· On Sunday, 20 March 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 300 tons of
cement for UNRWA.

· On Monday, 21 March 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 240 tons of
cement for ANERA.

 

Exports

· On Sunday, 13 March 2011, 206 tons of tomatoes and 224,000 flowers
were exported.

· On Monday, 14 March 2011, 125,000 flowers were exported.

· On Tuesday, 15 March 2011, 184,000 flowers were exported.

· On Wednesday, 16 March 2011, 230,000 flowers were exported.

· On Thursday, 17 March 2011, 79,000 flowers were exported.

 

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF completely closed the crossing.

 

Sofa Crossing: At approximately 11:00 on Wednesday, 09 March
2011, IOF opened Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, and allowed the entry of
512 tons of construction aggregate. According to information available to PCHR, the crossing was
exceptionally opened from 11:00 to 14:00, and it will be opened again to allow
the entry of 70,000 tons of aggregate, which have been blocked for years, for
UNRWA and the Palestinian private sector.

 

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel has
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian
civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, a number of international
journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited number of
patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They
have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives
who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients permitted to
pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe restrictions that
include prolonged checking. 

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

16 –
22 March 2011

 

 

The West Bank

 

Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the
reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.

 

· Jerusalem: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have
established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the
movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays, preventing Muslim
Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.  

 

· Ramallah: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian
civilians in Ramallah.   At approximately 16:30 on Thursday, 17 March
2011, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint , north of
Ramallah. They stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles. At
approximately 14:30 on Friday, 18 March 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles. at approximately
12:30 on Sunday, 20 March 2011, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint , north of Ramallah. They
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. at approximately 19:30 on Tuesday, 22 March
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Silwad village, northeast
of Ramallah, and banned the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the
village. At approximately 20:30 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qarawat Bani
Zaid village, northeast of Ramallah. At
approximately 22:45, IOF established a checkpoint on Dura al-Qare’-‘Ein Yabroud
road. At approximately 14:00 on
Wednesday, 23 March 2011, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara
checkpoint , north of Ramallah. They
stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

 

· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 17 March 2011, IOF established
two checkpoints around the town. On
Saturday, 19 March 2011, IOF established 7 checkpoints around the town.  On Sunday, 20 March 2011, IOF established two
checkpoints around the town. On Monday,
21 March 2011, IOF established a checkpoint near ‘Izbat al-Tabib village, east
of Qalqilya. 

 

· Jericho: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.  At approximately 11:40 on
Thursday, 17 March 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrance
of Jericho. They stopped and searched
Palestinian civilian vehicles. At
approximately 13:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the
entrance of ‘Ein al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched Palestinian
civilian vehicles.  At approximately
23:00 on Tuesday, 22 March 2011, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern
entrance of Jericho. They stopped and
searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.    

 

4. Settlement
Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

 

Israel
has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of
international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.

 

· At
approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 17 March 2011, at least 8 Israeli settlers
attacked a Palestinian worker in “Shilo” settlement, north of
Ramallah, using sharp tools. He
sustained bruises throughout the body. In
his testimony to PCHR, the victim, Sami ‘Abdul Mo’ti Snoubar, 31, from Yatma
village, stated:

 

“At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 17
March 2011, I was working in ‘Shilo’ settlement. When I was on the second floor of the
building where I work, I was surprised by 8 settlers getting onto the floor. One of them hit my head with a sharp tool, so
I fell onto the ground. Another one
sprayed gas on my face and eyes. They
then all violently beat me using sharp tools and stones. They continued to beat me for 15
minster. The guard of the building
arrived then and attempted to stop them, but he could not. He phoned the guard of the settlement, and
when the latter came, the settlers fled. He called the Israeli police and medical crews. No one talked to me. Paramedics provided me with first medical
aid. They then transported me in an
ambulance to the nearby Turmos’iya village, and a Palestinian ambulance
transported me from there to Ramallah Hospital.” 

 

· On Thursday
noon, 17 March 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Karni
Shomron” settlement gathered at Kufor Laqef intersection, north of Qalqilya. They threw stones at Palestinian civilian
vehicles. As a result, a car belonging
to Bassam ‘Abed Abu Khaled, from Kufor Qaddoum village, was damaged.

 

· At
approximately 15:45 on the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Qidoumim” settlement, northeast of Qaqlilya, burnt two cars
belonging to Na’im ‘Abdul Karim Tayem and Bashar ‘Abdul Latif Tayem, both from
al-Fundoq village east of Qalqilya, near the settlement. In his testimony to PCHR, Bashar Tayem
stated:

 

“At approximately 15:30 on Thursday, 17 March 2011, Na’im
Tayem and I were working in ‘Qidoumi’ settlement. We stopped our cars near Jeet intersection as
usual. While we were working, the guard
of the settlement phoned us. He told us
that our cars were set alight. We
immediately went out to find that our cars had been completely burnt. The Israeli police arrived at the area. We asked the guard about the perpetrator, but
he refused to answer. We submitted a
complaint at an Israeli police station in ‘Ariel’ settlement.”

 

· At approximately
18:00 also on Thursday, a number of Israeli settlers from “Qidoumim”
settlement gathered on Nabus-Qalqilya road and threw stones at Palestinian
civilians vehicles. No injuries or
damage were reported. IOF intervened and
closed the road until they evacuated the settlers.

 

· On Friday
morning, 18 March 2011, Ayman Talal Dmaidi, 36, from Hawara village south of
Nablus, survived a running-down attempt by an Israeli settler. Dmaidi stated to PCHR that at approximately
04:45, following the dawn prayer, he got out of ‘Ali Bin Abi Taleb Mosque on
his way to his house. When he was as
close as to 150 meters from his house, an Israeli car hit him from the back, so
he fell onto the ground. The settlers
attempted to run over him. The settler
then fled.

 

· At
approximately 14:40 on the same day, Israeli settlers from “Taffouh”
settlement stormed agricultural areas in the east of Yassouf village, east of
Salfit. IOF intervened and evacuated the
settlers. 

 

· At
approximately 18:15 on the same day, a number of Israeli settlers gathered at
Jeet intersection, northeast of Qalqilya. They set fire to tires and close Nablus-Qalqilya.

 

· At
approximately 18:30 on the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Qidoumim” settlement gathered on Nablus-Qalqilya road and threw
stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles. No injuries or damages were reported.

 

· At
approximately 18:35 on the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Karni Shomron” settlement gathered at Kufor Laqef intersection,
north of Qalqilya. They threw stones at
Palestinian civilian vehicles. No
injuries or damages were reported.

 

· At
approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 19 March 2011, Mahmoud Rashad ‘Atallah, 30,
from Beit Leed village east of Tulkarm, was subjected stone throwing by Israeli
settlers, when he was driving his car on the bypass road linking between Hawara
intersection, south of Nablus, and Jeet intersection, northeast of Qalqilya.

 

· At
approximately 08:30 also on Saturday, dozens of Israeli settlers, some of whom
were armed, stormed Palestinian agricultural areas in Twana village, east of
Hebron, and attempted to prevent Palestinian farmers and international
solidarity activists from planting olive seedlings. IOF intervened and attacked farmers and solidarity
activists. As a result, Fadel Ahmed
Reb’ei, 32, was injured in the head. IOF
also detained Jaber Saber al-Harini, 16, for several hours. The targeted area had been razed by IOF one
week earlier, and Israeli settlers established a settlement outpost on the area
7 years ago.

 

· At approximately
14:30 on the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from “Sousia”
settlement, south of Hebron, freed hundreds of sheep onto Palestinian
agricultural lands planted with wheat and parleys belonging to the al-Nawaj’a
family in Sousia areas, nearly 500 meters away from the settlement. This attack came in the context of Israeli
attempts to prevent Palestinian farmers from reaching their lands. IOF were present in the area and did not
intervene to stop the attack. It is
worth noting that Israeli settlers had already seized a two-donum area of
agricultural land belonging to ‘Adnan Shihda al-Nawaj’a.

 

· At
approximately 16:30 on the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Kharsina” settlement, northeast of Hebron, intercepted Musbah Ghaleb
al-Za’tari, 40, while he was traveling in his car, accompanied by his two
children – Mahmoud, 5; and Ahmed, 12 – in al-Bwaira area. They threw stones at the car from all
directions. Al-Za’tari and his children
were forced to open the doors and escape. He sustained bruises to the left leg. The settlers continued to attack the car for nearly 15 minutes. Later, IOF arrived at the area and evacuated
them. Al-Za’tari’s car was heavily
damaged.

 

· At
approximately 18:30 on the same day, several armed Israeli settlers from
“Douleb” settlement, west of Ramallah, set up a tent in the east of
‘Ein Qinya village, and conducted religious rituals for the Jewish Purim. IOF were present in the area, but did not
intervene to stop them. The settlers
left the area on the following day morning.

 

· At
approximately 08:30 on Monday, 21 March 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Ma’oun” settlement intercepted Mahmoud Ibrahim Zain, 31, from
Khirbat Tana area, south of Hebron, when he was riding his donkey and selling
milk. One of the settlers stabbed
him. He was seriously injured in the
chest and right arm. 

 

· At
approximately 12:45 on the same day, an Israeli settler traveling on
Hebron-Bethlehem road fired from his pistol at dozens of Palestinian civilians
who were participating in the funeral procession of a dead civilian in Beit
Ummar town, north of Hebron. Two
civilians were wounded and the settler then fled towards “Kfar
Etzion” settlement. The two
civilians who were wounded are:

 

1. Ahmed ‘Ali Abu
Safiya, 60, seriously wounded by a bullet to the chest; and

2. Eyad Bassam
al-Za’aqiq, 35, wounded by a bullet to the right thigh. 

 

· At
approximately 15:15 on the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Kharsina” settlement, northeast of Hebron, threw stones at a number
of houses belonging to the al-Za’tari family in al-Bwaira area. As a result, Sabrin ‘Abdul Karim al-Za’tari,
17, sustained acute bruises to the right leg. A house belonging to Ghaleb ‘Abdul Karim al-Za’tari and a taxi were also
damaged. 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

 

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 believes that the conspiracy of silence
practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it
is above the law and encourages Israel 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 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
their legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for
and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

 

4. PCHR calls for
the immediate implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the
International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the
Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

 

5. PCHR recommends
that international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of
exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and urge their governments to bring the
perpetrators to justice.

 

6. 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.

 

7. PCHR calls on
the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was
implemented in September 2005, for what it is – not an end to occupation but a
compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza
Strip. 

 

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 the
facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

 

9. PCHR
appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights
organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue
their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human
rights in the OPT and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian
civilians.

 

10. PCHR calls upon
the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions
imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for
international organizations to the OPT.

 

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 process or agreement must be based
on respect for international law, including international human rights and
humanitarian law.

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

 

Public Document

For further information please visit
our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact
PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8
282 4776 – 282 5893).