Construction Works Continue in “Gilo”
Settlement, as Israeli Government Approved Building 800 New Units

Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

      

 

4 members
of Palestinian resistance groups were killed and 9 others were wounded in the
northern Gaza Strip.

 

IOF
continued to target fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

PCHR
documented 4 attacks on Palestinian fishing boats.

4
fishermen were arrested and their fishing boats were confiscated off
al-Sudaniya shore, north of Gaza City.

 

IOF used
force to disperse peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians in the
West Bank.

Dozens
of protestors sustained bruising and suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

IOF
conducted 40 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 3
limited incursions in the northern Gaza Strip. 

IOF
arrested 5 Palestinians in the West Bank.

 

Israel
has continued to impose a total closure on the oPt and has isolated the Gaza
Strip from the outside world.

IOF
established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.

At
least 1 Palestinian was arrested at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

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

A
water well was demolished in Wadi al-Hsein area, east of Hebron.

Israeli
settlers set fire to a civilian vehicle south of Dora and continued their
attacks against the Palestinian farmers.

IOF
arrested 2 Palestinians and an international activist while they were
documenting attacks settlers in the center of Hebron. 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt
continued during the reporting period (18 – 23 October 2012):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF killed
4 members of Palestinian resistance groups and wounded 9 others in the Gaza
Strip.  Dozens of protestors suffered
from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises during demonstrations organized
against the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 22 October
2012, IOF killed 1 Palestinian man and wounded 2 others, when an Israeli
warplane launched a missile on a group of members of the al-Qassam Brigades, military
wing of the Hamas movement.  The group
was on Qleibo Hill, east of Sheikh Zayed city, south of Beit Lahia in the north
of the Gaza Strip.

 

On the same day, IOF killed 1 member
of a Palestinian resistance group and wounded a second, when an Israeli
warplane launched a missile on a group of members of the Salah Eddin Brigades,
the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committee.  The group was on al-Ashqar land on Sultan
Abdul Hamid Street, northwest of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

On 23 October 2012, IOF killed 1
member of a Palestinian resistance group and wounded 4 others, whose injuries ranged
from moderate to serious.  Israeli
soldiers positioned at the northeastern border of the Gaza Strip launched a
ground-to-ground missile on a group of members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the
military wing of the Hamas movement.  The
group was launching rockets towards Israeli towns from farming land to the east
of al-Salateen Square in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

On the same day, another member of
al-Qassam Brigades was killed and 2 others were seriously wounded by an Israeli
airstrike.  The al-Qassam Brigades were
launching home-made rockets towards Israeli towns from Beit Lahia in the north
of the Gaza Strip.

 

In the context of shooting incidents,
on 19 October 2012, IOF positioned along the border fence, east of al-Bureij
refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of volunteers
from the Local Initiative and a number of Popular Resistance activists.  The volunteers and activists were on farming
land belonging to the al-Tartouri family, supporting the family as they
attempted to harvest olives.  As a
result, the volunteers and residents of the area were terrified and fled
fearing for their lives.

 

On 22 October 2012, IOF stationed
inside watchtowers at the border fence, north of the Agriculture School, north
of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at the farming lands and
houses adjacent to the border.  Neither
casualties nor damage to property were reported. 

In the context of targeting
fishermen, on 19 October 2012, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort,
northwest of Beit Lahia in the north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire
sporadically at Palestinian fishing boats. 
As a result, fishermen were terrified and fled fearing for their lives.  On 20 and 22 October 2012, IOF again opened
fire on fishermen. 

 

On 22 October 2012, Israeli navy
forces arrested 4 fishermen 2 kilometers off al-Sudaniya shore, north of Gaza
City.  Additionally, their fishing boat
was confiscated. 

 

In the West Bank, IOF continued the
use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian
civilians and Israeli and international human right defenders against the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.  As a result, dozens of protestors sustained
bruises and suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 40 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 
During these incursions, IOF arrested at least 5 Palestinians. 

 

In
the Gaza Strip, on 22 October 2012, IOF conducted 3 limited incursions into the
north and south of the Gaza Strip.  The
first incursion was conducted at approximately 08:10, as 7 military vehicles
moved 500 meters into the northeast of Beit Lahia in the north of the Gaza Strip.  IOF began leveling lands and sporadically
opened fire in the area.  20 minutes
later, the military vehicles moved to the west and stationed at Khayal land,
north of the Agriculture School, while warplanes were flying in the sky.  Neither casualties nor damage were reported.  The second incursion was conducted at
approximately 09:25 when 3 tanks and 2 bulldozers moved 400 meters into Abu
al-Kas, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.  IOF began leveling lands in the area.

 

On
23 October 2012, IOF supported by military vehicles moved approximately 300
meters from al-Sreij Gate into al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Yunis in the south
of the Gaza Strip.  Leveling and
bulldozing acts were conducted and fire was opened sporadically before IOF
withdrew at 11:00.  No casualties were
reported. 

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

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

 

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.  Recently-declared
measures to ease the closure are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with
the root causes of the crisis; the root causes 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.  Palestinians in Gaza may no longer suffer from
the same shortage of goods but, as long as the closure is allowed to continue,
they will remain economically dependent, unable to care for themselves, and
socially, culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world. 

 

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.

 

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.

 

On
Friday, 19 October 2012, a group of settlers from “Carmel”
settlement, attacked civilians from Kharbet Um al-Khair near the aforementioned
settlement, southeast of Yatta, west of Hebron. 
In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Ibrahim al-Hathalin said that at
least 3 settlers began throwing rocks at civilian houses and uttering abusive
words against the Prophet Mohammed, while another settler stripped completely
in front of the civilians.  In a separate
testimony, Rateb al-Jabour, coordinator of the Popular Committee in Yatta, said
that Yamina al-Hathalin (67), sustained bruises after settlers threw
rocks at her near the village.

 

On
Monday, 22 October 2012, IOF supported by military vehicles and a bulldozer, and
accompanied by members of the police force and an officer from the Israeli
Civil Administration, stormed the al-Hsain valley area, east of Hebron.  They surrounded the houses in the area; a
number of soldiers stationed themselves on the roofs of some houses and prevented
civilians from leaving their homes.  The
military bulldozer demolished a 250-cubic-meter water well belonging to
Mohammed Yousif al-Ja’bari (44).  In his
testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Mohammed al-Ja’bari said that the officer from
the Israeli Civil Administration told him that the notice, which is in place
restricting infrastructural changes in the area, is not time-specific and can
be implemented at any time, as the area is under complete Israeli control and
falls under Area C in accordance with the Oslo Accords.  Therefore, it is forbidden for Palestinians
to make any infrastructural changes in the area without the permission of
concerned Israeli authorities.

 

On
Monday, 22 October 2012, a group of settlers attacked Abu al-‘Asja village,
south of Doura, southwest of Hebron, and set alight a Skoda car belonging to
Ibrahim Ahmed al-Shawamra (39) while it was parked in front of his house.  The settlers wrote racist slogans on the
walls, such as “Vengeance… Sousia.”

 

On
Monday, a group of settlers from the settlement outpost “Ramat
Yashay,” which is established on lands inside Hebron, attacked farmers with
rocks while they were harvesting olives in the al-Rmida Hill neighborhood.  As a result, a number of farmers sustained
bruising.  IOF surrounded the place and
arrested Imad Nazmei al-Atrash (21), Jawad Thabet Abu-‘Aisha (36), and
the international solidarity activist known as “Abu-Sarah” (50) while
they were videotaping the attack. 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (18 – 23 October 2012)

 

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

 

Thursday, 18 October 2012

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved
into the Safa area, west of Beit Amr, north of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
positioned in Safa area, west of the village. 
They raided a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim Khalil Mahmoud
Abu Dayya, 20.  Before their withdrawal,
IOF arrested the aforementioned civilian and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved
into Dora, southwest of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and positioned in the center of the village.  They arrested 3 civilians: Mohammed Rezeq
Baryoush, 21, Ali Mohammed Amr, 22, and Zaid Mojahed ‘Awawda, 20, and took them
to an unknown destination.  IOF later
withdrew.

 

Around the same time, IOF moved into
al-Moghir village, southeast of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets and later withdrew. 
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved
into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into Deir Daboun, southeast of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into
Shaqba village, west of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  No arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, IOF moved into
Beitllo village, southwest of Ramallah.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 12:45, IOF moved
into al-Matala village, southeast of Jenin. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Around the same time, IOF moved into
al-Mogheir village, southeast of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

 

At approximately 18:00, IOF moved
into al-‘Aoja village, southeast of Jericho. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and, at approximately 07:00 the
following morning, they withdrew.  No
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:00, IOF moved
into al-Nwei’ama village, south of Jericho. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  No arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, IOF moved into
Raboud village, southwest of Dora, south of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and later withdrew
to reposition at the road between the villages of south of Dora and Bypass No.
60.  They later withdrew and no arrests
were reported.

 

Around the same time, IOF moved into
Abu al-Ghozlan village, southwest of Dora, south of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
later withdrew from the village to reposition at the road between the villages
of south of Dora and Bypass No. 60.  They
later withdrew and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:00, IOF moved
into Ezna village, west of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets for some time.  A
number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at the tanks in which the
soldiers were fortified.  The soldiers
fired stun grenades in response, as well as tear gas bombs aimed at dispersing
the stone-throwers.  IOF later withdrew
and neither injuries nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved
into Jericho.  They patrolled the streets
and later withdrew.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved
into Beit Marsam village, west of Dora, southwest of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:15, IOF moved into
Kafr Qadoum village, northeast of Jenin. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

Friday, 19 October 2012

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jericho.  They patrolled the streets and later withdrew.  Later on, they moved south into ‘Aqabet Jabr
refugee camp.  They later withdrew and
neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh.  They patrolled the streets and positioned at
al-Bareed Street in the center of the city. 
They later withdrew and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 06:30, IOF gunboats positioned in the sea near the
former Al-Wahah Tourism Resource, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza
Strip, fired sporadically at the boats of Palestinian fishermen.  The shooting continued for about 10 minutes
and terrorized the fishermen, who were forced to flee for fear of being
arrested or wounded.  Neither injuries
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved
into Kherbet Abu Falah village, southeast of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta, west of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:30, IOF positioned at the border with Israel,
east of al-Breij refugee camp in the center of the Gaza strip, opened fire at a
group of volunteers from the Local Initiative and a number of Popular
Resistance activists while they were on farmland belonging to the al-Tartouri
Family, supporting the family as they attempted to harvest olives.  The shooting terrified the local people and
the volunteers and forced them to flee under fire for fear of their lives.

 

Saturday, 20 October 2012

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Ramin village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and later withdrew.  No arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved
into Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta, west of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved
into al-Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets for some time and
later withdrew.  Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into al-‘Aerqa village, west of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and later withdrew.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 22:30, IOF gunboats positioned in the sea
near the former Al-Wahah Tourism Resource, northwest of Beit Lahia in the
northern Gaza Strip, fired sporadically at the boats of Palestinian fishermen.  The soldiers used loudspeakers to shout
orders at the fishermen.  The shooting
continued sporadically for 15 minutes, and terrorized the fishermen, who were
forced to flee for fear of being arrested or wounded.  The fishermen did not report any damage to
their boats, and neither injuries nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved
into Beitounia village, west of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  No arrests were reported.

 

Sunday 21 October 2012

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved
into Koubar village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved
into Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah. 
They patrolled the streets for some time and later withdrew.  No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:20, IOF moved
into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya.  They
patrolled the streets and imposed a curfew on the village inhabitants.  They raided commercial stores and cafés,
turned the café tables over and ordering civilians to leave.  IOF fired stun grenades at them, closed all
the entrances to the village, and prevented civilians from walking in the
streets.  The curfew continued until late
at night.  Before their withdrawal, IOF
handed Wasef Abdel Fatah Hasan Abu Hania, 58, a notice to appear before the
Israeli Intelligence.  No arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into al-Jaftalak village, north
of Ramallah.  They patrolled the streets
for some time and later withdrew.  No
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-Laban West village,
northwest of Ramallah.  They patrolled
the streets for some time and later withdrew. 
No arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 22 October 2012

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Yatta, south of Hebron.  They patrolled the streets and positioned in
the center of the village.  They raided a
house belonging to Mahmoud Mohammed Shehada, 50, and handed him a notice to
appear before the Israeli Intelligence (Shin Bet) in Ghosh ‘Atsyon settlement,
south of Bethlehem.  They later withdrew
and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into al-Dahiya area, south of
Hebron.  They patrolled the streets, raided
a house belonging to the family of Murad Nayef Amr, 29, and handed him a notice
to appear before the Israeli Intelligence (Shin Bet) in Ghosh ‘Atsyon
settlement, south of Bethlehem.  At
approximately 04:30, IOF withdrew and repositioned on the road between Hebron
and Dora.  They later withdrew and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 06:10, IOF positioned inside the watchtowers on
the border between Israel and Beit Hanoun crossing (Erez), north of al-Zera’aa
school, north of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, fired intensively at
agricultural areas and civilian houses corresponding to the border area.  IOF continued to fire for about 1 hour.  Neither damages nor injuries were reported.  At approximately 07:40, Israeli warplanes,
flying over the same area, began the shooting at the same area.  Neither injuries nor damages were reported.

 

At approximately 07:15, an Israeli warplane launched 1 missile at a
group of members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas
movement, who were in Qleibo hill, east of al-Sheikh Zayed, southeast of Beit
Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.  The
shelling resulted in the injury of 3 members of this group who then were taken
to Martyr Kamal ‘Aodwan hospital in the same village.  At approximately 07:45, due to the severity
of their injuries, 2 of the injured men were transferred to receive treatment
in al-Shifaa hospital in Gaza.  At approximately
10:05, medical sources confirmed that one of the injured men had died of his
wounds.  The deceased man is Abdel Rahman
Darwish Abu Jalala, 24, from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

At approximately 08:00, IOF moved 500 meters into the southeast of Beit
Lahia and leveled the area, and also fired sporadically.  After about 20 minutes, they moved west and
positioned in al-Khayal farmland, north of al-Zera’a school, in the north of
the same village, while warplanes continued to fly over the area.  Neither injuries nor damages were reported.  The incursion is still ongoing.  It should be noted that these incidents resultedin
the closure of several schools, interrupting the education process.  Students of Hayel Abdel Hamid High School for
Boys A, Hayel Abdel Hamid High School for Girls, and al-Zera’a School were
forced to flee out of fear and panic due to the intensive shooting in the area.  These schools are 1,800 meters away from the
border, north of Beit Lahia.

 

At approximately 09:25, IOF moved 400 meters into Abu al-Kas hill in
the Abu Safiya area in eastern Jabalya in the south of the Gaza Strip.  Israeli military vehicles began combing lands
that had been leveled earlier, while also shooting sporadically in the area.  This resulted in a state of fear and panic
among the farmers whose farmlands are near the incursion area, forcing them to
flee for fear of injury.  At
approximately 16:00 on the same day, IOF withdrew and repositioned behind the
border.  Neither damage to property nor
injuries were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, an Israeli warplane launched 1 missile at a
group of resistance members of the al-Naser Salah al-Deen Brigades, the
military wing of the Popular Resistance Committee.  They were carrying out military activities in
al-Ashqar farmland at the end of al-Soltan Abdel Hamid Street in the southwest
of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. 
The shelling resulted in the immediate death of one member of the group.  Yasser Khaled JKheideb al-Tarabin, 34, from
Sho’asha’a area in the northeast of Jabalia, died of shrapnel wounds he had
sustained throughout his body.  Another member
of the resistance group (PCHR keeps his name) sustained shrapnel wounds in the
lower extremities of his body.  The
wounded were transferred to the governmental Beit Hanoun hospital to receive
treatment.  At approximately 10:10, he
was transferred into al-Shifaa hospital in Gaza.  His wounds were described as between moderate
and serious.

 

At approximately 10:00, Israeli naval forces arrested 4 Palestinian
fishermen off al-Soudania beach in the north of Gaza, arresting them and
confiscating the fishing boat they were on. 
The fishermen were arrested while sailing 2 kilometers offshore.  The arrested were: Ramez ‘Aezat Baker, 41;
Khamis Subhi Baker, 43; ‘Arafat Mohammed Najib Baker, 20; and Bayan Khamis
Baker, 17.

 

At approximately 22:00, IOF gunboats positioned in the sea near the
former Al-Wahah Tourism Resource, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza
Strip, fired at the boats of Palestinian fishermen.  The shooting continued sporadically for 5
minutes, and terrorized the fishermen, who were forced to flee for fear of
being arrested or wounded.  The fishermen
did not report any damage to their boats, and neither injuries nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and later withdrew.  Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

 

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Baqa East village, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time.  They later raided Four Diver
café and one of the soldiers questioned the young men in the café on the spot.  The interrogation questions concerned the
current economic situation and the local elections which were held on Saturday,
20 October.  IOF later withdrew and
neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into ‘Anbata village, east of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time.  They raided a house belonging
to the family of Marwan Ahmed Abdel Dayem and questioned him on the spot.  They later withdrew and no further incidents or
arrests were reported.

 

At the same time, IOF moved into Tulkarm, coming from different
directions.  They patrolled the streets
in the Zenaba suburb, east of the city.  They
raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Mostafa Mohammed al-Madani
and handed him a notice to appear in the Liaison Office of the Israeli Intelligence,
west of Tulkarm.  Additional forces
positioned themselves on Nablus Street, near al-Quds Open University, north of
the city.  IOF raided a café and one of
the soldiers questioned the young men there.  The interrogation questions concerned the
current economic situation and the local elections which were held on Saturday,
20 October.  In the meantime, a third group
of soldiers patrolled the streets in the center of the city.  A number of boys gathered and threw stones at
the IOF vehicles, in which the soldiers were fortified.  The soldiers fired tear gas bombs in response,
in an effort to separate the stone-throwers. 
A Palestinian security source told a PCHR field worker that one of the
tear gas bombs exploded near the eastern gate of the Moqat’aa, the Tulkarm
municipality security compound where the Reform and Rehabilitation Center is
located, an gas diffused throughout the area. 
IOF later withdrew and no further incidents or arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:55, an Israeli
warplane launched a missile at members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military
wing of Hamas Movement, while they were firing home-made rockets at Israeli
towns from farmland, north of Moss’ab Bin Omair mosque in the al-Manshia area,
north of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip.  As a result, a member of the group, Loai
Abdel-Hakim Mustafa Abu-Jarad (25), was killed immediately, after
sustaining shrapnel wounds throughout his body. 
The other two men sustained critical wounds and were transferred to al-Shifaa
hospital in Gaza due to the seriousness of their condition.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bal’aa village, north of
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets,
raided a house belonging to the family of Mahdi Mohammed Rajeh Shahrour, 20,
and arrested him.  They later withdrew
and took the arrested man to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 05:00, IOF moved from al-Sreij Gate 300 meters
into al-Qararah, northeast of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.  IOF carried out leveling and bulldozing of
land in the area, randomly shooting.  They
repositioned at the border at approximately 11:00.  No injuries were reported.

 

At approximately 09:40, IOF positioned at the northeastern border
of the Gaza Strip launched one ground-to-ground missile at a group of members
of al-Qassam Brigades, th military wing of the Hamas Movement, who were
launching shells at Israeli towns.  The
group was on farmland in the east of al-Salatin square in Beit Lahia in the
northern Gaza Strip.  The shelling
resulted in the immediate death of one member of the group.  The deceased man is Ismail Issa Matter
al-Tali, 27, from the al-Twam area in the west of Jabalia whose body was
dismembered.  Another 4 men sustained
injuries which ranged from moderate to serious. 
Immediately after the incident, all five men were transferred by ambulances
from the Palestinian Red Crescent and the Ministry of Health to Martyr Kamal
‘Aodwan hospital.  The injured men
received treatment for their injuries and the deceased man was brought to the
morgue.  At approximately 22:40, one of
the wounded men was transferred to al-Shifaa hospital in Gaza to receive
treatment where he underwent surgery and entered the intensive care department.  His wounds were described as moderate.  Note: PCHR kept the names of the injured.

 

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 at the construction of the wall and settlement activities in the
West Bank.  As a result, an Israeli human
rights defender and a Palestinian child were wounded, and dozens of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

Following the Friday Prayer, 19 October 2012, 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.  The
demonstrators gathered in the streets of the village, chanting slogans calling
for national unity.  The protesters aimed to stress the need to adhere to
national principles and the right of return, to resist the occupation and to
call for the release of all Palestinian prisoners.  The protesters raised
Palestinian flags and made their way towards the wall.  They called
through megaphones for Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave
Palestinian land.  Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  As a result, a number of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises; the wounded
were treated in the field.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 19 October 2012, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.  The demonstrators moved towards areas of the
annexation wall.  Immediately, Israeli
soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs
and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. 
As a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and
others sustained bruises; the wounded were treated in the field. 

 

Around the same time that Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in Martyrs
Square in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to hold a weekly peaceful
protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities.  The protesters walked
towards the gate erected by IOF near the entrance of the village, which lead to
Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby “Halmish”
settlement are trying to seize.  Israeli
soldiers, who had been extensively deployed in the area and near all the
entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the protesters
who wanted to walk towards the affected lands. 
Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and
tear gas canisters at the protesters.  As
a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others
sustained bruises.

 

Following the Friday Prayer, Palestinian civilians and
international human rights defenders, including Ms Luisa Morgantini, former
Vice President of the European Parliament, organized a peaceful demonstration
in the center of al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in protest at the
ongoing construction of the annexation wall. 
As the protestors moved towards the gate of the village, IOF closed it
to prevent the demonstration from gaining access to the confiscated lands.  In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Jawad
Alaadin, a member of the Public Movement in Bethlehem, said, “IOF stopped
the crowd from reaching the lands threatened with confiscation.  IOF soldiers and demonstrators engaged in a
skirmish after IOF closed the main road.”

 

3. Continued
Closure of the oPt

 

Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure of the oPt,
imposing 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 nearly 5 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. 

 

IOF
have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip, practically making Karm Abu Salem
crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not
suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its distance and operational
capacity. 

 

IOF
have continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the strangulation of
the commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing total control
over the flow of imports and exports. 

 

The
total closure of al-Mentar “Karni” crossing on 02 March 2011 has created
a terrible situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip.  Following this closure, all economic and
commercial establishments in Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off.  It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is
the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip in terms of its operational capacity to
absorb the flow of imports and exports.  The
decision to close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of
decisions resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the
Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2009, and Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City,
which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip,
in the beginning of 2010. 

 

IOF
have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza
Strip, except for very limited items and quantities.  The limited quantities of raw materials
allowed into Gaza
do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. 

 

The
cooking gas crisis, which erupted last November, has continued to affect the
Gaza Strip.  This crisis was created on
04 January 2010, when Israeli occupation authorities totally closed Nahal Oz
crossing, which used to be dedicated to the delivery of fuel and cooking gas
supplies to Gaza.  They shifted fuel and
cooking gas supplies to the Karm Abu Salem crossing, which is not equipped to
receive Gaza’s fuel needs.  Karm Abu
Salem crossing, with its maximum absorptive capacity, can receive only 200 tons
of cooking gas per day. 

 

Approximately
80% of Gaza civilians have continued to depend on humanitarian aid provided by
UNRWA and other relief agencies, the number of families who are living below the
poverty line has continued to increase, and approximately 40% of Gaza’s
manpower has continued to suffer from permanent unemployment as a result of
shutting down the majority of Gaza’s economic establishments. 

 

IOF
have continued to impose a total ban on the export of products from Gaza,
especially industrial products, undermining any real chance of reopening economic
establishments.  The situation has been
aggravated since Karm Abu Salem crossing was designated as Gaza’s sole
commercial crossing; the repeated closure of this crossing negatively affects
the quantity of Gaza products which were allowed to be exported during last
April. 

 

For approximately six consecutive years, IOF have continued to ban
the delivery of construction materials to Gaza. 
During the reporting period, IOF approved the delivery of limited
quantities of construction materials for a number of international
organizations.

 

Israel has
continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian civilians from
the Gaza Strip.  IOF only allow the
movement of limited groups amidst severe restrictions, including long hours of
waiting in the majority of cases.  IOF
have also continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of
Palestinian patients allowed to move via Beit Hanoun crossing to receive
medical treatment in hospitals in Israel
or in the West Bank and Jerusalem.  IOF
denied new categories of Gazan patients permission to access hospitals via the
crossing. 

 

Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on traders,
international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter
the Gaza Strip. 

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

17– 22
October 2012

 

 

Notes: on Saturday, 20 October 2012, 956 pilgrims
traveled via Rafah crossing as pilgrims who were offered the award of Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques.

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem
(Kerem Shalom) Crossing

16– 21
October 2012

Imports:

 

 

 

Exports:

 

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012, IOF allowed the export of 3 truckloads
of empty plastic cans and 3 truckloads of biscuits.

On Wednesday, 17 October 2012, IOF allowed the export of 5 truckloads
of empty plastic cans and 3 truckloads of biscuits.

On Thursday, 18 October 2012, IOF allowed the export of 3
truckloads of empty plastic cans.

On Sunday, 21 October 2012, IOF allowed the export of 5 truckloads
of empty plastic cans and a truckload of basil. 

 

Imports:

 

On Tuesday, 16 October 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 360 tons of
cement and 2,520 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA, in addition to 1,120
tons of construction aggregate and 80 tons of cement for ICRC.  They also allowed the entry of 741 tons of
fodders and 234 tons of wheat.

 

On Wednesday, 17 October 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 200 tons of
cement and 2,590 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA, in addition to 2,870
tons of construction aggregate and 38 tons of construction steel for UNDP.  They also allowed the entry of 1,400 tons of
construction aggregate and 50 tons of cement for ICRC, 312 tons of fodders and 156
tons of wheat. 

 

On Thursday, 18 October 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 248 tons of
cement, 32 tons of construction steel and 910 tons of construction aggregate
for UNRWA, in addition to 1,960 tons of construction aggregate to the Water
Authority.  They also allowed the entry
of 1,330 tons of construction aggregate and 32 tons of construction steel to
ICRC, 234 tons of fodders and 312 tons of wheat.

 

On Sunday, 21 October 2012, IOF allowed the entry of 120 tons of
cement and 420 tons of construction aggregate for UNRWA, in addition to 2,660
tons of construction aggregate and 280 tons of cement for the Water Authority.  They also allowed the entry of 390 tons of
fodders and 234 tons of wheat. 

 

IOF
closed the crossing on 07 October and 08 October 2012, because of Jewish
holidays.

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

17– 22
October 2012

 

 

 

It should be noted that IOF allowed 37 Palestinians to visit their
sons who are in detention inside Israeli prisons on 22 October 2012.

 

Note: the statistics for Thursday, 18 October 2012 were not
registered by the Palestinian Liaison office, as the documents were transferred
to the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Ramallah.

 

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.

 

It is approximated that there are hundreds of 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, confiscating more Palestinian land. 

 

Many of the main roads that lead to Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF.

 

IOF have continued to restrict access of Palestinian civilians from
the West Bank to East Jerusalem, through a
strict system of permits and a network of checkpoints. 

 

IOF have completed controlled access to the Jordan Valley
through 4 permanent checkpoints established at its entrances.  Palestinians living outside the area are not
allowed to enter it without permits.

 

Settlement activities and expansion of settlements impose
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

 

IOF have continued to restrict access to gunfire areas and natural
reserves, which constitute about 26% of the total area of the West Bank. 

 

Israeli military checkpoints restrict the movement of goods
throughout the West Bank. 

 

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

 

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

 

Ramallah
and al-Bireh: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. 

At
approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 18 October 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.

At
approximately 15:00, IOF re-established its presence at ‘Attara checkpoint at
the northern entrance of Birzeit, north of Ramallah.

At
approximately 09:30 on Friday, 19 October 2012, IOF established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.

At
approximately 16:00, IOF established a checkpoint near Beit ‘Our al-Foqa
intersection, southwest of Ramallah.

All
checkpoints were later removed; no arrests were reported.

 

Jericho:
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.

At
approximately 08:30 on Thursday, 18 October 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
near the southern entrance of Jericho.  The
checkpoint was later removed with no reports of arrests.  However, it was re-established at
approximately 18:30.

At
approximately 19:00, IOF established a checkpoint near Fassayel village
entrance, north of Jericho.

At
approximately 11:11 on Friday, 19 October 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
near the entrance of al-Noway’ma village, north of Jericho.

 

Tulkarm:
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.

At
approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 21 October 2012m IOF established a military
checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Qalqilya, near the gate of
Jabara village, which is isolated from its Palestinian surroundings due to the
annexation wall south of Tulkarm.  Vehicles
were stopped on their way in or out of the village, and some civilians were
investigated in the field by an intelligence officer.  The checkpoint was removed three hours later;
no arrests were reported.  It should be mentioned
that, during the Second Intifada, IOF had a permanent checkpoint with a
watchtower in the area but was removed in what the Israeli government called a
“good-will initiative” towards the Palestinian Authority at that
time.  However, since the removal of the
checkpoint, IOF re-establishes a temporary checkpoint in the area almost on a
daily basis. 

 

Hebron:
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.

At
approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 18 October 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
at Kharsa village intersection, which links Doura city with its western
villages, southwest of Hebron.

At
approximately 20:00, IOF established a checkpoint at the main entrance of
al-Jalajel village, east of Hebron.  The
checkpoints were later removed.  No
arrests were reported.

Also
at approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 20 October 2012, IOF established a
checkpoint on the road separating Halhoul from Hebron.  The checkpoint was later removed.  No arrests were reported.

At
approximately 09:30, IOF established a checkpoint on Abu-Reisha valley road,
linking between Ethna and Deir Sammet villages, west of Hebron.  The checkpoint was later removed.  No arrests were reported.

 

Qalqilya:
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians.

On
Thursday, 18 October 2012, IOF established 3 checkpoints throughout the city.  The first checkpoint was established at
approximately 06:30 on the entrance on ‘Azoun village, the second was
established at approximately 10:00 on the entrance of Hajja village, while the
third checkpoint was established on the entrance of Izzbat al-Tabib village at
approximately 10:20.  The three
checkpoints were established on Nablus-Qalqilya road, east of Qalqilya.  The checkpoints were later removed.  No arrests were reported.

 

On
Friday, 19 October 2012, IOF established 3 checkpoints throughout the city.  The first checkpoint was established at
approximately 01:45 on the entrance of Izzbat al-Tabib village, the second was
established at approximately 16:00 on the entrance of ‘Azoun village, while the
third checkpoint was established under ‘Azzoun village bridge, at approximately
16:30.  The three checkpoints were
established on Nablus-Qalqilya road, east of Qalqilya.  The checkpoints were later removed.  No arrests were reported.

 

On
Saturday, 20 October 2012, IOF established 3 checkpoints throughout the city.  The first checkpoint was established at
approximately 01:00 on the entrance of Hajja village, the second was
established at approximately 10:20 on the entrance of Izzbat al-Tabib village,
at the same time a third checkpoint was established on the entrance of ‘Azoun
village.  The three checkpoints were
established on Nablus-Qalqilya road, east of Qalqilya.  The checkpoints were later removed.  No arrests were reported.

 

On Sunday,
21 October 2012, IOF established 4 checkpoints throughout the city.  The first checkpoint was established at
approximately 08:00 on the entrance of Hajja village, the second was
established at approximately 10:00 on the entrance of ‘Azoun village, at the
same time a third checkpoint was established on the entrance of Jinsafout
village, and a fourth was established on the entrance of Kuffer Lakef village
at approximately 10:15.  The four
checkpoints were established on Nablus-Qalqilya road, east of Qalqilya.  The checkpoints were later removed.  No arrests were reported.

 

Selfit: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

At
approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 20 October 2012, IOF established a checkpoint
near Eskaka village bridge, east of Selfit. 
The checkpoint was later removed. 
No arrests were reported.

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 21 October 2012, IOF established
a checkpoint on the entrance of Hajja village, east of Qalqilya.  Ahmed Mohammad Ahmed Hamad (25) was
detained; he was released 3 hours later.

 

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 10:00 on Friday, 19 October 2012, a group of settlers from
“Carmel” settlement attacked civilians from Kharbet Um al-Khair near
the aforementioned settlement, southeast of Yatta, west of Hebron.  In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker,
Ibrahim al-Hathalin said that at least 3 settlers began throwing rocks at
civilian houses and uttering abusive words against the Prophet Mohammed, while
another settler stripped completely in front of the civilians.  He added that the civilians called the
Israeli police in “Kiryat Arba” settlement, who came to investigate
the incident and took a number of civilians to the police station to take their
testimonies and file complaints against the settlers.  In a separate testimony, Rateb al-Jabour, Coordinator
of the Popular Committee in Yatta, said that Ms Yamina al-Hathalin (67)
sustained bruises after settlers threw rocks at her near the village.  He also added that the settlers organized a
demonstration on the main road next to Kharbet Sousia, east of Yatta, and
chanted anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slogans, such as “Death to the
Arabs, leave our lands.”

 

At
approximately 08:00 on Monday, 22 October 2012, IOF supported by military
vehicles and a bulldozer, and accompanied by members of the police force and an
officer from the Israeli Civil Administration, stormed the al-Hsain valley
area, east of Hebron.  They surrounded
the houses in the area; a number of soldiers stationed themselves on the roofs
of some houses and prevented civilians from leaving their homes.  The military bulldozer demolished a
250-cubic-meter water well belonging to Mohammed Yousif al-Ja’bari (44).  In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker,
Mohammed al-Ja’bari said that forces from the Israeli police and army
surrounded the area and began demolishing the water-well, which is considered
the main source of water in the village as it supplies over 40 individuals in
the family with water.  Construction on
the water well finished two days before the incident.  Al-Ja’bari added that IOF gave him a notice
to stop the construction of the well in 2009.  This is the second time the water well has
been bulldozed; it was previously bulldozed in 2010.  He said that the officer from the Israeli
Civil Administration told him that the notice, which is in place restricting
infrastructural changes in the area, is not time-specific and can be
implemented at any time, as the area is under complete Israeli control and
falls under Area C in accordance with the Oslo Accords.  Therefore, it is forbidden for Palestinians
to make any infrastructural changes in the area without the permission of
concerned Israeli authorities.

 

At
approximately 2:30 on Monday, 22 October 2012, a group of settlers attacked Abu
al-‘Asja village, south of Doura, southwest of Hebron, and set alight a Skoda
car belonging to Ibrahim Ahmed al-Shawamra (39) while it was parked in front of
his house.  They also wrote racist slogans
on the walls, such as “Vengeance… Sousia.” In his testimony to a PCHR
fieldworker, Ibrahim al-Shawamra said,”At early dawn hours on Monday,
22 October 2012, we heard a sound outside, as we went outside we saw a car,
Subaru, storming out, and found the car blazing with fire.  We also saw writings in Hebrew on the walls,
“Vengeance… Sousia.” We called the concerned Palestinian authorities
and the Israeli police who came to the scene and investigated the
incident.” It should be mentioned that the settlers began forming
gangs in “Sousia” settlement, east of Yatta, and have carried out
several attacks on Palestinian farmers in villages southeast of Yatta.  These settlers had expanded their activities,
reaching villages by Bypass No. 60, south of Doura.

 

At approximately
11:00 on Monday, a group of settlers from the settlement outpost “Ramat
Yashay,” established on lands inside Hebron, attacked farmers with rocks
while they were harvesting olives in the al-Rmida Hill neighborhood.  As a result, a number of farmers sustained
bruises.  IOF surrounded the place and
arrested Imad Nazmei al-Atrash (21), Jawad Thabet Abu-‘Aisha (36), and
the international solidarity activist known as “Abu-Sarah” (50) who
had been videotaping the attack.  In his
testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Issa Amro, spokesperson of Youth Against
Settlement Activity, said that a large number of settlers from the settlement
outpost “Ramat Yashay” attacked the civilians while they were harvesting
the olive trees in their lands, located near the aforementioned settlement,
without any interference from IOF to stop them. 
Furthermore, they arrested 3 civilians. 
He explained that IOF had given the Palestinian Liaison a permit for
civilians from the Abu-‘Aisha and al-Jabali families, allowing them to harvest
the olives in their lands.

 

 

…………………………………………………

 

 

 

 

 

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).