Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue
Systematic Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory (OPT)

· IOF killed a Palestinian at Ennab checkpoint, east of
Tulkarm.  

· 4 Palestinians and an international human rights defender were
wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

· IOF conducted 20 incursions into Palestinian communities in
the West Bank, and 2 incursions into the Gaza Strip.

· IOF razed at least 118 donums[1]
of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip.

· IOF arrested 30 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, and
3 others in the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.

· IOF have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world and
a humanitarian crisis has emerged.

· At least 6,000 Palestinians have been stuck at the Egyptian
side of Rafah International Crossing Point, and the number of deaths among them
has mounted to 16.

· IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank
arrested a Palestinian civilian.

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

· IOF demolished 5 houses in the West Bank, including 3 ones
in Jerusalem.

· Israeli settlers took over 30 donums of land in Hebron.

Summary

Israeli violations of
international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting
period (12 – 18 July 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF
killed one Palestinian in the West Bank, and wounded 4 Palestinians and a
French human rights defender in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

On Thursday evening, 12 July 2007, IOF troops
positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, opened fire at a Palestinian
militant, wounding him with several gunshots. They left him bleeding to death.
They claimed that he was carrying an explosive belt on his body.

In the West Bank, on 13
July 2007, a Palestinian civilian and a French 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.

In the Gaza Strip, 3
Palestinians were wounded by the IOF gunfire. On 12 July 2007, 2 members of the
Palestinian resistance were wounded during clashes with IOF troop that had
moved into al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. On 13 July 2007, a
Palestinian civilian was wounded when IOF troops that had moved into al-Shouka
village, east of Rafah, opened fire indiscriminately.  

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF
conducted at least 20 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the
West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 30 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 1,597. IOF also raided and
searched offices of the Almsgiving Committee in Qalqilya and confiscated 3
computer sets.  

In the Gaza Strip, IOF
conducted 2 incursions into Palestinian communities. On 12 July 2007, IOF moved
nearly 700 meters into the northeast of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central
Gaza Strip. They razed 118 donums of agricultural land and arrested 3
Palestinian civilians. On 13 July 2007, IOF moved into al-Shouka village, east
of Rafah and seized control over Gaza International Airport. They withdrew from
the village on 15 July 2007, leaving large destruction to the infrastructure.

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. At least 6,000 Palestinians have been stuck in Egypt waiting to be
allowed in the Gaza Strip. According to PCHR’s documentation, 16 Palestinians
of those who are stuck in Egypt have died due to the deterioration in their
health conditions.

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. If
this closure continues, a humanitarian crisis is likely to emerge in 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,
witnessed active movement.  

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 at least a Palestinian civilian.

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, IOF demolished 5 houses in the West Bank,
including 3 ones in Jerusalem, claiming that they were built without licenses. On
14 July 2007, a number of Israeli settlers who had already seized a house
belonging to the al-Rujbi family in the southeast of Henron attacked a number
of neighboring houses belonging to the al-Ja’bari family with stones and empty
bottles. On Saturday and Sunday, 14 and 15 July 2007, dozens of Israeli
settlers living in “Etaniel” settlement, south of Hebron, escorted by IOF
troops, took over at least 30 donums of land belonging to the Abu Sheikha
family in the south of Yatta village. On 17 July 2007, at least 1,500 Israeli
settlers gathered on the evacuated “Homesh” settlement, northwest of Nablus.
Those settlers damaged some Palestinian civilian property. Also on 17 July
2007, IOF ordered the closure of a shop in the north of the old town of Hebron.
IOF informed the owner verbally that he would not be able to open his shop
anymore.

Israeli Violations Documented
during the Reporting Period (12 – 18 July 2007)

The
full report is available PDF format.