5 Years Since al Aqsa Intifada and
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalate Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and
Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· 8 Palestinian civilians were killed by IOF.
· 4 of the victims were extra-judicially executed by IOF in
the Gaza Strip.
· 35 Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF.
· IOF launched 27 aerial attacks on civilian targets in the
Gaza Strip, and launched dozens of mock aerial raids that terrified Palestinian
civilians and damaged their property.
· IOF conducted 91 incursions into Palestinian communities in
the West Bank.
· Houses were raided and 311 Palestinian civilians were
arrested by IOF, including three human rights defenders: Nazeeh Sa’id Abu ‘Oun, 43, Director of the Prisoners’ Support Society in
Jenin, Khalil ‘Ali Abu ‘Amru, 35, Director of the Prionsers’ Support Society in
Ramallah and Samer al-Nemer, 42, Coordinator of the Qatari Red Crescent in the
West Bank.
· A Palestinian house in Qabatya village near Jenin was
destroyed by IOF in the context of collective punishment measures.
· Offices of two charitable societies in Jerusalem and a
number of others in the West Bank were closed by IOF.
· IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; an
old Palestinian man died as IOF obstructed his evacuation to the hospital; IOF
have continued to close Rafah International Crossing Point and Beit Hanoun
(Erez) crossing; and IOF arrested 15 Palestinian civilians at military
checkpoints in the West Bank.
· IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall in the
West Bank; 9 international solidarity activists and a Palestinian civilian were
arrested by IOF; and a Palestinian civilian was wounded by IOF near the Wall.
Summary
Israeli
violations of international law continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
(OPT) during the reporting period (22-28 September 2005). Less than one month following their
redeployment in the Gaza Strip, IOF escalated their attacks against Palestinian
civilians and property in the Gaza Strip. This escalation proves that, as PCHR has always emphasized, IOF continue
to substantially occupy the Gaza Strip, despite the recent evacuation of
Israeli settlements. During the reporting period, IOF launched several
aerial attacks against Palestinian civilian targets throughout the Gaza
Strip. They also launched a series of
mock aerial raids, which made Palestinian civilians, especially children,
extremely terrified. IOF have also
maintained control over all border crossing of the Gaza Strip, transforming it
into a big jail. In addition, they have
started to establish military observation towers along the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel.
The
publication of this report coincides with the 5th anniversary of the
outbreak of the al-Aqsa Intifada. During
these five years, IOF killed hundreds of Palestinians, injured and arrested
thousands and destroyed thousands of houses.
Killing: During
the reported period, IOF killed 8 Palestinians. On 24 and 25 September 2005, IOF extra-judicially killed 4 Palestinians in
the Gaza Strip in two separate aerial attacks. Four civilian bystanders were also injured. IOF launched 27 aerial attacks against
civilian targets in the Gaza Strip, injuring 31 Palestinian civilians and
destroying or damaging several civilian facilities. In addition, they launched dozens of mock
aerial raids throughout the Gaza Strip, which made Palestinian civilians,
especially children, extremely terrified, and damaged civilian property. On 22 September 2005, IOF killed 4
Palestinians in two separate attacks. In
the first attack, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian in Jenin. In the second attack, IOF chased and killed 3
Palestinian gunmen in ‘Allar village near Tulkarm.
Incursions: IOF
conducted 91 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West
Bank. During these incursions, IOF
raided houses and arrested 311 Palestinian civilians, including prominent
religious, political, social, academic and media figures, mostly in the last
three days covered by this report. Most of the detainees are known of their
affiliation to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, including Sheikh Hassan Yousef, the
spokesman of Hamas in the West Bank; and Dr. Mohammed Ghazal, a senior leader
of Hamas in the West Bank. IOF also
destroyed a house in Qabatya village in the context of collective punishment
measures against Palestinian families. Additionally, IOF closed two charitable societies in Jerusalem and a
number of others in other areas in the West Bank.
Restrictions on Movement: Even though IOF were redeployed
around the Gaza Strip, the Israeli government maintained the occupation of the
Gaza Strip though controlling or outlets and crossings. Rafah International Crossing
Point on the Egyptian border, the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside
world, has remained closed for the second consecutive week, as no deal has been
reached concerning transportation across it. IOF insist to maintain
control over the movement of persons and goods through the crossing point, and
have actually moved equipment from the crossing point to “Kerem
Shalom” area on the Egyptian – Israeli border. In the meantime, IOF
have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian
workers and patients for several weeks. With the closure of Rafah
International Crossing Point and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, the Gaza
Strip has been transformed into a big jail, as IOF have maintained control over
the airspace and other border crossings of the Gaza Strip.
In the
West Bank, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. They have
continued to close Jenin – Nablus road since 15 August 2005. A Palestinian civilian died in Hebron as IOF
obstructed his evacuation to the hospital. On 24 September 2005, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of
Nablus, opened fire at dozens of Palestinian civilians who were waiting at the
checkpoint. Three Palestinian civilians
were wounded, including one who was in a serious condition. During the reported period, IOF positioned at
various checkpoints arrested 15 Palestinian civilians.
Annexation Wall: In a recent report submitted to the
United Nations General Assembly, Professor John Dugard, the Special Rapporteur
of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the
Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, stated that the Wall being
constructed by Israel in the West Bank, allegedly for security purposes, would
transfer “some 55,000 Palestinians presently living in municipal area of East
Jerusalem to the West Bank.” He added
that some 50,000 Palestinians have Jerusalemite identity cards, but live
outside the municipal area of East Jerusalem because they cannot find homes in
the city due to land confiscations and the restrictions imposed by IOF on
construction in the city. Professor
Dugard further indicated that the Wall will affect more than 40% of
Palestinians living in East Jerusalem the total number of whom is 230,000. He also asserted that “the construction of
the wall, the expansion of settlements and the de-Plasticisation of Jerusalem
threaten the viability of a Palestinian State.” During the reported period, IOF
used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian
civilians and international and Israeli solidarity activists in protest to the
construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. Dozens of civilians suffered from tear gas
inhalation and IOF arrested 9 international solidarity activists and a
Palestinian civilian. A Palestinian
civilian was also wounded by IOF when he was walking near the Wall.
The full report is available PDF format.
