Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue
Systematic Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· 5 Palestinians, including a child, were killed by IOF in
the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
· 2 of the victims were extra-judicially executed by IOF.
· One of the victims was shot dead by IOF near a military
checkpoint in the West Bank.
· 21 Palestinians, including a child, and an international
human rights defender were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip.
· IOF conducted 29 incursions into Palestinian communities in
the West Bank.
· IOF arrested 49 Palestinian civilians, including a child,
in the West Bank.
· IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.
· An old woman died at an IOF military checkpoint in the West
Bank as IOF troops obstructed her evacuation to the hospital.
· IOF have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world and
a humanitarian crisis has emerged.
· Some Palestinians have been stuck at the Egyptian side of
Rafah International Crossing Point, and the number of deaths among them has
mounted to 19.
· IOF arrested 2 Palestinian civilians at Erez checkpoint in
the northern Gaza Strip when they were on their way back to the Gaza Strip from
Egypt.
· IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank
arrested a Palestinian woman and a wound man.
· IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli
settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the
West Bank.
· Israeli settlers launched a series of attacks on
Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron.
Summary
Israeli violations of
international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting
period (2 – 8 August 2007):
Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF
killed 5 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and wounded 21
Palestinians, including a child, and a Danish human rights defender in the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip.
In
the Gaza Strip, IOF carried out an extra-judicial execution attempt in the
southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. The attack killed 2 Palestinian civilians
and wounded 12 others, including a child, and 3 members of the al-Quds Brigades
(the armed wing of Islamic Jihad). The attack essentially targeted the three
members of the al-Quds Brigades. On Wednesday, 8 August 2007, IOF shot dead a
member of the Executive Force of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior and
wounded a civilian, who were organizing the movement of Palestinian civilians
coming back to the Gaza Strip from Egypt through Erez crossing.
In the west Bank, On
Thursday morning, 2 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at ‘Attara Bridge
checkpoint, north of Ramallah, fired at Palestinian child, wounding him. The
child died from his wound on the following day morning. On the same day evening,
IOF shot dead a Palestinian when he attempted to escape from a house in Nablus
as they came to arrest him. The victim was a member of the al-Quds Brigades. On
2 August 2007, IOF wounded a Palestinian civilian when they attempted to arrest
him at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus. On 3 August 2007, 3 Palestinian
civilians and a Danish human rights defender were wounded when IOF used force
against a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and
international and Israeli human rights defenders against the construction of
the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. On 6 August 2007, a
Palestinian civilian was wounded when IOF fired at a number of Palestinian
children who threw stones at military vehicles in ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee
camp, west of Nablus.
Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF
conducted at least 29 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the
West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 49 Palestinian civilians,
including a child. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West
Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 1,702.
Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT
and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the
Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
IOF have
imposed a strict siege on the Gaza Strip. They have closed its border crossings
as a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.
IOF have closed Rafah International
Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have
prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. IOF
had already closed Rafah International Crossing Point following an armed attack
against an IOF military post in Kerem Shalom area, southeast of Rafah, on 25
June 2006. The crossing point had been partially reopened for short, sporadic
periods to allow few numbers of Palestinian to travel through it. The crossing
point has been completely closed since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip and
the withdrawal of Palestinian security forces from the crossing point. There
are approximately 6,000 Palestinians held at the Egyptian side of the border
awaiting to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip. Most of them have run out
of money and are living on assistance. In addition, 19 of them have died in
Egypt. The bodies were returned to Gaza through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) crossing. In addition, thousands of travelers have allowed to return to
the Gaza Strip through al-Ojah crossing, 70 kilometers south of Rafah. From
there, they were transported to Erez Checkpoint to enter the Gaza Strip. IOF have also closed commercial
crossings, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing. During the reporting period,
IOF reopened the crossing for some hours to allow the entry of some goods into
the Gaza Strip. IOF have also continued to close Erez crossing in the northern
Gaza Strip. Hundreds
of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from
traveling through this crossing. They prevented traders and patients from
passing through. IOF allow very few patients to travel through the crossing,
but following coordination through the ICRC. During the reporting period, IOF
reopened Kerem Shalom crossing, southeast of Rafah, and Sofa crossing,
northeast of the town. During the reporting period, Nahal Ouz crossing, east of
Gaza City, which is deigned for the entry of fuels into the Gaza Strip, was
opened for 3 days only.
West Bank
IOF have tightened the
siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have
isolated Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. Contrary to promises by the
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to ease restrictions on movement in the West
Bank, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also
erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank. During
the reporting period, IOF soldiers positioned at various checkpoints and border
crossings in the West Bank arrested a Palestinian woman.
Settlement Activities: Israeli settlers living in the OPT
in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, Israeli
settlers launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and
property in Hebron. A number of houses and civilian facilities were damaged.
IOF witnessed these attacked, but did not intervene to stop them.
Israeli Violations Documented
during the Reporting Period (2 – 8 August 2007)
The full report is available PDF format.
