Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· 19 Palestinians were killed by IOF and 3 others died from
previous injuries.
· 7 of the victims, including 2 women, were extra-judicially
executed by IOF.
· IOF devastated a wedding party in Gaza when they killed the aunt
of the bridegroom.
· 71 Palestinians, including 24 children and 3 women, were injured
by IOF gunfire.
· IOF conducted 33 incursions into Palestinian communities in
the West Bank, and 5 into the Gaza Strip.
· IOF arrested 58 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children,
in the West Bank, and 32 others, including 3 children, in the Gaza Strip.
· IOF destroyed a house in Tulkarm.
· IOF demolished 4 houses and razed areas of agricultural land
in Jabaliya town in the northern Gaza Strip.
· IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.
· IOF closed border crossings to the Gaza Strip for 5 days,
preventing vital supplies of fuels and food from entering the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank,
and Israeli settlers have continued to attacks Palestinian civilians and
property.
· Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians and property
in Hebron.
Summary
Israeli violations of
international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting
period (17 – 23 January 2008):
Shootings: During the reporting period, IOF
killed 19 Palestinians, including 3 women, and wounded 72 others, including 24
children and 3 women, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Three Palestinians
also died from previous IOF injuries.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF
killed 26 Palestinians, and wounded 44 others.
On 17 January, 7
Palestinians, including 2 women, were killed. Four of the victims, including 3
civilian bystanders, were extra-judicially executed by air strikes. An 8th
Palestinian died from a previous injury. On 18 January, IOF launched an air
strike against a governmental building in Gaza City. The building was destroyed.
A woman in a nearby wedding party was killed by the blast, and 46 civilians,
including 19 children and 3 women were injured. On the same day, a Palestinian
died from a previous IOF injury. On 19 January, IOF killed 2 Palestinians
during an incursion into Jabaliya town in the northern Gaza Strip. On the same
day, an IOF air strike killed one Palestinian and wounded another in Gaza City.
On 22 January, IOF killed a Palestinian in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. On
23 January, IOF killed a Palestinian farmer in Beit Lahia town in the northern
Gaza Strip. On 21 January, a Palestinian died from a previous IOF inflicted
injury
In the West Bank, IOF
killed 2 Palestinians and wounded 6 others, including a child. A Palestinian
civilian also died from a previous wound.
On 18 January, IOF
killed a Palestinian and wounded 2 others, including a child, in Balata refugee
camp, east of Nablus. On 20 January, IOF killed a Palestinian during an
incursion into Thinnaba suburb, east of Tulkarm, and wounded a civilian in
al-Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. On 23 January, a Palestinian civilian
from Nablus died from a previous IOF inflicted injury. In addition,
3 Palestinian civilians
were wounded when IOF used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized
in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west
of Ramallah.
Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF
conducted at least 33 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the
West Bank. IOF arrested 58 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children. The
number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the
beginning of this year stands at 207. IOF troops also destroyed a house in
Tulkarm.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF
conducted 5 incursions into Palestinian communities. During those incursions,
IOF arrested 32 Palestinian civilians, destroyed 4 houses and razed areas of
agricultural land.
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
To date, IOF have closed all border crossings to the Gaza
Strip for almost 18 months continuously. The total siege imposed by IOF on the
Gaza Strip has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and
has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian
population, particularly their rights to appropriate living conditions, health
and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe
restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian
population. The siege of the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food,
medical supplies and other necessities, such as fuel, construction materials
and raw materials for various economic sectors. During the reporting period,
IOF cut off food and fuel supplies.
West Bank
IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Thousands
of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have
systematically been denied access to Jerusalem. IOF have established many
checkpoints in and around the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian
civilians often escalate on Fridays 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 have also tightened the siege
imposed on Palestinian communities 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 have also erected
checkpoints on main roads and intersections across the West Bank.
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, IOF launched a series of attacks against
Palestinian civilians in Hebron. A journalist and a human rights defender were injured.
Israeli Violations Documented during
the Reporting Period (17 – 23 January 2008)
The full report is available PDF format.
