Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Execute,
Raze, Arrest and Destroy.
· 5 Palestinian civilians were extra-judicially killed by IOF
in Tulkarm refugee camp.
· 12 Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF and settlers.
· IOF conducted 18 incursions into Palestinian communities in
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
· Houses were raided and 9 Palestinian civilians were arrested
by IOF.
· 9 houses were transformed by IOF into military sites.
· IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF
have imposed a tightened siege on Palestinian communities located near Israeli
settlements in the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank; IOF have closed
al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints in the Gaza Strip; IOF arrested 10
Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints in the West Bank and a woman at
Rafah International Crossing Point; and IOF have continued to use a special
checking machine at the crossing point.
· IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall in the
West Bank; IOF confiscated 1585 donums[1]
of Palestinian land near East Jerusalem.
· Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian
civilians and property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; 600 donums of
agricultural land were confiscated and 100 others were razed for the purpose of
settlement expansion in Hebron, Nablus and Tulkarm; and a number of Palestinian
civilians were injured in Hebron and Qalqilya.
Summary
Israeli
violations of international law continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
(OPT) during the reporting period (18-24 August 2005) as IOF were evacuating 25
settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip:
Extra-Judicial
Execution: Late on
Wednesday, 24 August 2005, IOF extra-judicially killed 5 unarmed Palestinian
civilians, including 3 children, in Tulkarm refugee camp. One of the victims was allegedly wanted by
IOF. IOF claimed that they raided a
house where these individuals were hiding to arrest them. They further claimed that they exchanged fire
with the victims and killed them. PCHR’s
investigations refute this claim and indicate that the victims were unarmed and
they were not together when they were killed. PCHR reiterates its warning that the Palestinian civilian population may
pay the price of the redeployment of IOF in the Gaza Strip. It is worth noting that IOF redeployed in
Tulkarm 4 months ago but regained control over the town 6 weeks ago.
Incursions: IOF
conducted 18 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip. During these incursions,
IOF raided houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians. IOF also seized 9 houses and transformed them
into military sites in the West Bank. Four
Palestinian civilians were also injured. During the incursions into the Gaza Strip, IOF raided houses and
arrested two Palestinian civilians. They
also damaged 3 houses and a kindergarten and injured a Palestinian civilian.
Restrictions
on Movement: Since
IOF started to implement the “Disengagement Plan” in the Gaza Strip,
they have imposed severe restrictions on Palestinian civilians, especially in
communities located near Israeli settlements. They have continued to close Erez crossing for the second consecutive
week and to impose severe restrictions at other border crossings of the Gaza
Strip. IOF have also continued to close
al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road
between the north and south of the Gaza Strip). In addition, IOF have continued
to close a number of roads since the beginning of the current Intifada. In the West Bank, IOF have continued to close
Za’tra checkpoint, south of Nablus, and ‘Ennab gate, east of Tulkarm, for the fifth
consecutive week. Since the declaration of the northern West Bank
as a closed military zone, on Monday morning, 15 August 2005, IOF have imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected a number of iron gates on the
main roads. They also erected a number
of checkpoints and arrested at least 7 Palestinian civilians. In
the West Bank, PCHR field workers documented two cases of inhumane treatment by
IOF at military checkpoints.
Annexation
Wall: IOF have
continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank territory. For this purpose, they razed more areas of
agricultural land to northwest of Jerusalem. They also razed a playground in ‘Anata village, northeast of
Jerusalem. On Sunday, 21 August 2005,
IOF confiscated 1585 donums of Palestinian land in villages located near
Jerusalem for the purpose of the construction of a section of the Wall. In addition, IOF used force to disperse
peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian civilians and international
solidarity activists in protest to the construction of the Wall. A child was wounded by IOF and at least 30
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Illegal Settler Activities: Israeli settlers in breach of
international humanitarian law continue to reside in the OPT and have launched
a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property, especially in
the Gaza Strip during the implementation of the “Disengagement Plan.”
During the reported period, Israeli settlers launched 9 attacks on Palestinian
civilians. Three Palestinian civilians
were wounded by IOF that supported Israeli settlers who attacked Palestinian
civilians in Bala’a village, eats of Tulkarm.
Israeli Violations
Documented during the Reporting Period (18 – 24 August 2005)
The full report is available PDF format.