Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF)
Continue Systematic War Crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and
Isolate the Gaza Strip from the World
· 4 Palestinians, including a farmer and a child, killed by
IOF in the Gaza Strip.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law
continued in the OPT, especially in the Gaza Strip, during the reporting period
(15 – 21 May 2008):
Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed four Palestinians,
including a child and a farmer, in the Gaza Strip; and two other Palestinians died
from previous injuries sustained in the Gaza Strip.; A Palestinian boy was also
shot dead by IOF troops at Huwara checkpoint near Nablus. In addition, IOF
wounded 13 Palestinians, including 4 children and a farmer, in the Gaza Strip, and
a Palestinian was injured by settler gunfire in the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF used excessive force on 20 May, killing one
child and injuring a second by artillery fire directed at an empty rocket
launcher near Beit Lahia. On 15 May, a Palestinian died of wounds sustained 11
days earlier during an IOF incursion east of Khan Yunis. A Palestinian farmer
was killed on 20 May, and two other Palestinians were injured by IOF excessive
force the same day. In addition, two members of the resistance were killed, and
three injured, in Gaza City. Four other resistance members were injured in a
second attack in the same area earlier on the same day. On 21 May, IOF injured
two children when IOF targeted a vehicle in the northern Gaza Strip. Another
civilian was injured by indiscriminate IOF gunfire east of Khan Yunis. Also on 21
May, a child died of wounds sustained on 11 April during an IOF incursion into
El-Bureij refugee camp.
In the West Bank, IOF troops at Huwara checkpoint killed a
Palestinian boy and then prevented ambulances from reaching him. IOF claimed
that a Palestinian in his 20’s approached the checkpoint and was “playing with
his clothes”, refused to adhere to IOF orders to stop, which, according to the
IOF, forced them to shoot at him. However, PCHR investigations refute these
claims. Even according to the IOF account of the shooting, IOF could clearly have
used less lethal force and detained the young man. On Monday 19 May, a
Palestinian from Jerusalem was injured after being shot by settler gunfire
south of Hebron.
Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 27
military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested
40 Palestinian civilians, including 11 children. To date, the number of
Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of
2008 stands at 1,183.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 incursions into Palestinian
communities. During these incursions, IOF razed at least 121 donums of
agricultural land. They also arrested three Palestinians.
In addition, IOF started digging a large trench east of Khan
Yunis inside the Gaza Strip. The trench extends from El-Farahin area east of
Greater Abasan to the town of Khuza’a.
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 continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza
Strip for almost two years. The IOF siege of Gaza which has tightened since
June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza
Strip, and has violated the human, economic and social rights of the
approximately 1.5 million Palestinian civilian population, particularly their
rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. The siege has
also paralyzed the Gazan economy. In addition, the siege has severely impacted
the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel,
construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have
continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and many
factories have been forced to close. Severe restrictions have been imposed on
the movement of the entire Palestinian civilian population. Regarding civilian
movements, IOF permit a few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun
(Erez) crossing in order to travel to the West Bank or Israel. Rafah
International Crossing
Point in the southern Gaza Strip is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the
outside world via a country other than Israel. 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 from reaching it.
IOF also imposes restrictions on the access of fishermen to sea, using force to
impose severe restrictions on their rights to fish on their own coastline.
West Bank
Contrary to Israeli claims to have eased restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians, IOF have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, have
been denied access to Jerusalem, including occupied East Jerusalem. IOF have
established numerous checkpoints around and inside East Jerusalem. Restrictions
of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays in order to
prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often harass and assault
Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF
positioned at checkpoints across the West Bank have also continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. During the
reporting period, the IOF complete closure of the West Bank. For 26 of the last
32 days, a total closure has been imposed on the West Bank.
In addition, IOF closed the “17” checkpoint north of Nablus
from 14-17 May. IOF also closed the road from Nablus to Jenin and Tulkarem, and
maintained their presence on the Jeet and Yitzar checkpoints. IOF continued to
detain Palestinians at checkpoints, detaining two Palestinians during the
reporting period.
Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement
activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT have, in violation of
international humanitarian law, continued to attack Palestinian civilians and
property. During the reporting period, PCHR documented four attacks by settlers
against Palestinian civilians and their property in Nablus and Hebron. As a
result, one Palestinian was injured by gunfire and a second sustained bruising.
A third was Palestinian detained by IOF. In addition, several houses sustained
damages from settler attacks.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting
Period (15 – 21 May 2008)
The full report is available PDF format.
