Author
Arab Media Center
PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
No. 17/2008
17 - 23 April 2008
Israeli Occupation Forces continue to attack Palestinian civilian vehicles
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
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15 Palestinians were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
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12 of the victims were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.
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3 of the victims were extra-judicially executed by IOF.
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2 Palestinian children died from previous wounds in the Gaza Strip.
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36 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 4 children and a journalist, were wounded by IOF.
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IOF conducted 39 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and 3 ones into the Gaza Strip.
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IOF arrested 72 Palestinian civilians, including 13 children, a girl and an author, in the West Bank, and held and arrested 29 others in the Gaza Strip.
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IOF razed 33 donums[1] of agricultural land in the southern Gaza Strip.
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raided a mosque in Hebron.
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IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.
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The fuel crisis in the Gaza Strip has escalated.
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5 Palestinian civilian were arrested by IOF at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
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IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attacks Palestinian civilians and property.
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The Israeli government invited bids for the construction of 100 housing units in “Ariel” and “AlKanah” settlements in the northern West Bank.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law seriously escalated in the OPT, especially in the Gaza Strip, during the reporting period (17 – 23 April 2008):
Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 15 Palestinians and wounded 32 others, including 4 children and a journalist, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Two children also died from previous wounds in the Gaza Strip.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 12 Palestinians and wounded 21 others, including a child.
On 19 April 2008, IOF killed 6 Palestinians, including a civilian, and wounded 9 others, including 4 civilians, in separate attacks throughout the Gaza Strip. On 20 April 2008, IOF killed an activist of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 3 others in the east of Gaza City. On the same day, IOF carried out an extra-judicial execution attempt in Rafah. The targeted person survived the attack, but a civilian was killed and 3 others were wounded. On 21 April 2008, IOF killed 4 activists of the Palestinian resistance in the northern Gaza Strip. On 22 April 2008, 6 Palestinian civilians were wounded when IOF aircrafts attempted to extra-judicially execute a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in Khan Yunis. On 19 and 20 April 2008, Palestinian medical sources declared that 2 Palestinian children died from wounded they had sustained on 16 April 2008, when IOF moved into Juhor al-Dik village in the central Gaza Strip. During this incursion, IOF killed 13 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children, and a journalist. The two children were wounded by shrapnel from the same tank shell that killed the journalist. On 23 April 2008, IOF fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance, but the missile went astray and hits a house, but no casualties were reported.
In the West Bank, IOF killed 3 Palestinians and wounded 11 others, including 3 children and a journalist. On 17 April 2008, IOF extra-judicially executed 2 activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. On 18 April 2008, IOF killed an activist of the Palestinian resistance in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. Four Palestinian civilians, including a journalist and a child, were wounded when IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, and al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem. Additionally, 7 Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF in separate attacks throughout the West Bank.
Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 39 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 72 Palestinian civilians, including 13 children and a girl. Thus, the number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008 has mounted to 1,014.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 incursions into Palestinian communities. During these incursions, IOF razed at least 33 donums of agricultural land and arrested 29 Palestinian civilians, who were released later excluding 3.
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 of the Gaza Strip for more than one year and a half. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the nearly 1.5 million Palestinian civilian population, particularly the 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 imposed on 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. IOF have further tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, and the living and economic conditions of Palestinian civilians have further deteriorated. In September 2007, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “a hostile entity,” which implies imposing more restrictions and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population. Since then, IOF have sharply decreased food and fuel supplies allowed into the Gaza Strip. IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and subsequently many factories have stopped their industrial activities. Concerning the movement of persons, IOF allow a few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to travel to the West Bank. Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. 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.
The continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for civilian life in the Gaza Strip has led to paralyzing 50% of the educational sector as half the students in all educational levels have been unable to reach their schools and universities. In addition, educational sector employees have been unable to reach their work. Furthermore, the transportation sector has nearly stopped functioning throughout the Gaza Strip. As a result, all basic functions of civilian life have come to a near standstill, including drinking water delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection. In addition, healthcare facilities registered a 25% drop in clients due to the transportation crisis, and hundreds of healthcare professionals have been unable to reach their work places.
The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.
West Bank
Contrary to Israeli claims of easing 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. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside 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 violently beat 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 also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank. In a report submitted to the Quartet Envoy, OCHA asserted that Israel dismantled 44 sand barriers out of 61 it committed to the United Sates to dismantle. Only 5 of those barriers are major ones. In some cases, according to the report, IOF troops re-established some sand barriers in order to remove them before the media. During the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.
Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, the Israeli Ministry of Housing invited bids for the construction of 100 housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank: 52 units in “Alakanah” settlement west of Salfit; and 48 units in “Ariel” settlement north of the town. The two settlements are part of settlement block, which IOF plan to keep under their control in the context of a permanent agreement with Palestinians.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (17 – 23 April 2008)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 17 April 2008
· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Bani Na’im village, southeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Abdullah Mahmoud al-Khodour, 22, and arrested him.
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Anas Khaled al-Najjar, 21, and arrested him.
· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp, east of Tulkarm town. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:
1. Bahaa’ ‘Omar Abu Laymoun, 24; and
2. Mohammed Nasser Abu Shammas, 26.
· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Ahmed Mohammed Salman, 16; and
2. Salman Mohammed Salman, 24.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Aqsa Ahmed ‘Amarna, 22, and arrested him.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:
1. Saif al-Din Mustafa ‘Amarna, 19;
2. Kifah Yousef Abu al-‘Izz, 20;
3. Kifah Sa’id Abu al-‘Izz, 20; and
4. Nasser Ibrahim Abu al-‘Izz, 19.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 11 Palestinian civilians, mostly students at an-Najah National University in the city:
1. Ahmed Hani Mar’ei, 27;
2. Isma’il Taher al-Madmouj, 25;
3. Ra’ed Mohammed Abu Zant, 38;
4. Suleiman Khalil Fatayer, 46;
5. Riad Mahmoud Qarada, 22;
6. Ya’qoub ‘Abdul Latif Staitiya, 22;
7. Hamza Saleem al-‘Aamoudi, 26;
8. Ahmed Bassem al-Kharraz, 21;
9. Ayman Yousef ‘Awawda, 23;
10. Mo’taz Sa’id al-Wawi, 22; and
11. ‘Abdul Karim Anwar Mena, 20.
· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Muthallath al-Shuhada village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Ibrahim Mousa ‘Arar, 35;
2. Muntasser Nawaf Sabarna, 18; and
3. Muntasser Ziad ‘Awadh, 20.
Friday, 18 April 2008
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Mohammed Ahmed Salah, 21;
2. ‘Omar Hassan Salah, 23; and
3. Ahmed Hussein Salah, 23.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beita village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 10 Palestinian civilians:
1. Lu’ai Tayseer Barham, 22;
2. Khaled Mohammed Hamdan, 18;
3. ‘Aadel Mohammed Hamdan, 21;
4. Ayoub Mohammed ‘Adeeli, 19;
5. Shraida Hamad Jabali, 26;
6. Mo’taz Ahmed Jabali, 22;
7. Ma’moun Hmaid Jabali, 19;
8. Ayoub Hammad Hamayel, 21;
9. Fahed Rashed Hamayel, 21; and
10. Muhtasseb Mustafa Hamayel, 21.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They besieged a house belonging to Shukri Khalil al-‘Aassi, and took positions atop of a number of neighboring houses. They then called through megaphones on al-‘Assi’s family and all those who were inside the house to get out, especially naming Hani Mohammed Hassan al-Ka’bi, 23; and Samer Mustafa Mousa Abu Lail, 22. Abu Lail and the family got out of the house, whereas al-Ka’bi stayed inside the 3-storey house. IOF troops positioned on the roof of a neighboring house belonging to Hikmat Khalil al-‘Aassi shot al-K’abi dead with several gunshots throughout the body. Before leaving the area, IOF arrested Abu Lail and two other Palestinians: Mahmoud Khalil al-‘Aassi, 58; and his son Bassam, 26.
· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Burqa village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
Saturday, 12 April 2008
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Ibrahim Ghunaim, 22, and arrested him.
· At approximately 01:40, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:
1. Mohammed Ahmed ‘Allami, 18; and
2. Ibrahim ‘Abdul Mohsen ‘Allami, 40.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved several meters into the east of al-Shoja’eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance attempted to prevent IOF troops from moving forward and exchanged fire with them. An activist, 21-year-old Eihab Na’im Abu ‘Amru, was killed, and 3 others were wounded.
· At approximately 09:30, IOF tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel shelled an armored vehicle, apparently belonging to the Palestinian National Authority and was seized by Hamas following the movement’s takeover of the Gaza Strip. The vehicle was parked in al-Farrahin area in ‘Abassan village some hundreds meters away from the border. The vehicle was destroyed and fragments of glass injured 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. ‘Ali Mahmoud Abu Daqqa, 34, injured in the head;
2. Khalil Salman Abu Daqqa, 55, injured in the limbs; and
3. Zuhair Hussein Abu Daqqa, 34, injured in the limbs.
· At approximately 12:50, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a civilian car in al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah town. Mo’ein Mahmoud Hamdouna, 35, from Beit Lahia, was in the car, which was being pulled by an animal cart ridden by Ra’ed Mahoud al-‘Arja, 24, from Rafah. The missile hit the car directly. Hamouda was killed, and al-‘Arja was wounded. Additionally, 3 civilian bystanders, including a child, were wounded:
1. Shadia ‘Atiya Ben Hassan, 12;
2. Ibrahim Suleiman al-Tarabin, 18; and
3. Ahmed ‘Ali Sultan, 42.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, the IOF aircraft attacked the car following an armed attack against Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, mistakenly thinking that it was liked with the attack, but Hamdouna is a civilian person and has no connections with any armed group.
· At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided al-Huda Mall in the center of the town. IOF officers handed owners of shops and offices in the mall written notices ordering the vacation and closure of those shops and offices in 2 days. This arbitrary measure was taken in the context of the implementation of military orders issued earlier this month ordering the closure and confiscation of the properties of the Islamic Charity and the Islamic Youth Association. The aforementioned mall includes also a children library, a medical center and a number of clinics.
· At approximately 22:00, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were in Sha’sha’a area in the east of Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip. Three activists were killed:
1. Raid ‘Abdullah al-Tanani, 34;
2. Mohammed Hussein ‘Abdul Rahman, 31; and
3. Zaher ‘Aadel Shamiya, 23.
· At approximately 23:00, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Ahmed ‘Abdul Majeed al-Najjar, 17, from al-Nussairat refugee camp, died from a wound he had sustained on 16 April 2008. On that day, IOF moved into Juhor al-Dik village in the central Gaza Strip, and killed 13 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children. Al-Najjar was hit by shrapnel from the same tank shell that killed Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana’a.
· At approximately 23:40, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were near al-Qar Factory in Sha’sha’a area in the east of Jabalya town. An activist, 27-year-old Mohammed Mousa Mousa, was killed, and 2 others were seriously wounded.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
· At approximately 02:00, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza Ciity. An activist, 22-year-old Najeeb Nasser al-Serhi, was killed.
· At approximately 06:00, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Bilal Sa’id al-Duhaini, 17, from al-Nussairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, died from a wound he had sustained on 16 April 2008. On that day, IOF moved into Juhor al-Dik village in the central Gaza Strip, and killed 13 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children. Al-Duhaini was hit by shrapnel from the same tank shell that killed Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana’a.
· At approximately 21:30, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicle. Immediately, IOF troops fired indiscriminately. As a result, a bystander, 20-year-old Ussama Mohammed Shihada, was wounded by shrapnel from a gunshot to the forehead.
· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. During this incursions, which continued until 06:00 on the following day, IOF razed 33 donums of agricultural land and destroyed 4 greenhouses, 3 agricultural pools, irrigation networks and 2 rooms. They also damaged a house.
Monday, 21 April 2008
· At approximately 01:00, an IOF infantry unit moved nearly 1,500 meters into the al-Masri clan area in the east of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip. IOF troops raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 27 Palestinian civilians. IOF military vehicles moved into the area to secure the withdrawal of the infantry unit. Later, IOF released the detainees, excluding 3: Suhail Akram al-Masri, 22; Mos’ab Khalil al-Masri, 20; and Salah Jebril al-Masri, 22.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Bireh town. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. They withdrew from the town later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 03:00, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in the east of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip. An Activist, 23-year-old ‘Ekrema Muneer Abu ‘Ouda, was killed.
· At approximately 22:30, an IOF aircraft fired several missiles at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who got close to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northwest of Beiut Lahia, apparently attempting to pass through the border. Three activists were killed by shrapnel throughout their bodies. IOF did not allow Palestinian medical crews to transport the bodies to hospitals until 16:30 on Tuesday, 22 April 2008. The three activists were identified as:
1. ‘Othman Ahmed Abu Hajar, 19, from al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City;
2. Fadi Jamal Salem, 20, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City; and
3. Ibrahim Mahmoud Shalash, 19, from al-Nada area in the northern Gaza Strip.
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh town. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Ali Jaradat, 53, an author and political analyst. Jaradat had served 12 years in Israeli prisons sporadically. IOF accused him of being a senior leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He suffered from a heart attacks in 2004, when he was detained by IOF.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Sami Hasham al-Houh, 26.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Kayed Mohammed al-Nammoura, 20;
2. Mohammed Ahmed al-Sharha, 21; and
3. Mo’taz Mahmoud Abu Znaid, 18.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They transformed the roofs of al-Sha’rawi building in Wadi al-Hariya neighborhood in the south of the town, and a house belonging to Waleed Fannoun in Haram al-Rama area in the north of the town into military sites.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Burqa village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children:
1. Saddam Ragheb Salah, 17;
2. Munjed Ragheb Salah, 15;
3. Maher Mahmoud Bayadu, 17; and
4. Farah ‘Abdul ‘Azim Abu ‘Omar, 20.
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Jihad Mohammed Noufal, 37.
· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Saher Mohammed Rizqallah, 25.
· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 20:00, IOF troops in a military jeeps opened fire at a number of Palestinian boys who were near al-Duhaisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem. According to eyewitnesses, at about 10 boys were at the edges of the camp, when 3 IOF military jeeps passed by. They threw stones at the jeeps. IOF troops immediately fired at them, wounding 5:
1. ‘Abdullah ‘Omar al-Afandi, 13, seriously wounded by a gunshot to the chest;
2. Waleed Mohammed Zarrouq, 15, wounded by a gunshot to the foot;
3. Ahmed Muhaisen, 18, wounded by a gunshot to the leg;
4. Isma’il al-Shathli, 18,m wounded by a gunshot to the hand; and
5. Mohammed al-‘Iraqi, 16, wounded by a gunshot to the thigh.
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a girl and a child:
1. Rania Mohammed Abu Khalifa, 28;
2. Eihab Ahmed Daghlas, 23; and
3. ‘Abdul Rahman Mohsen ‘Aqrouq, 16.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Hijja village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:
1. ‘Omar Sa’ad al-Din Yousef, 18; and
2. Salam Feker Bassalat, 18.
· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Sa’id Bassel Beeqawi, 18; and
2. Fat’hi Ahmed Hirsha, 17.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Dura and al-Majd villages, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:
1. Basheer Ibrahim al-Masharqa, 19;
2. Tyseer Ahmed ‘Amru, 21;
3. Fadi Mohammed al-Shahatit, 20; and
4. Isma’il ‘Abdul Karim ‘Amru, 20.
· At approximately 23:30, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were in al-Amal neighborhood in the west of Khan Yunis. The missile went astray and hit the third floor of a 4-storey apartment building belonging to Husni ‘Awadh al-Lahham, but no casualties were reported.
2. Extra-Judicial Executions
During the reporting period, IOF committed 3 extra-judicial executions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in which they killed 3 Palestinians, including a civilian bystander, and wounded 9 others, including a man and his son.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR:
· At approximately 02:30 on Thursday, 17 April 2008, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They besieged an under-construction building comprised of 3 stores, on of which does not have a door, belonging to Kamel Ahmed Abu Zaid. IOF troops got out of military vehicles and opened fire at a civilian car that was parked in the open store. Nearly 20 minutes later, IOF troops called through megaphones on the persons who were inside the store to get out, and threatened to destroy it. IOF fired a number of shells at the stores and then brought a bulldozer which demolished walls of the closes stores. Soon after, IOF sent 2 bloodhounds into the targeted store. IOF troops moved into the store and brought 2 corpses out. They photographed the corpses and left them on the ground. The two corpses were then taken to a hospital in Jenin, where the two victims were identified as:
1. Bilal Mahmoud Kmayel, 26, hit by several gunshots to the head; and
2. ‘Izziddin Mohammed Zakarna, 19, hit by several gunshots to the head.
· At approximately 23:15 on Sunday, 20 April 2008, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at Nour Salman al-Dibari, 24, when he was walking on a dirt road in al-Shouka village, northeast of Rafah, nearly 1,000 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Al-Dibari was instantly killed. A few minutes later, the IOF aircraft fired another missile at a number of Palestinian civilians who had just left a grocery shop belonging to Salem Jom’a al-Dibari, 60, to check what happened. Al-Dibari was seriously wounded, and his son was wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and his right leg was amputated. Additionally, Rashad Waheed al-Dibari, 25, was wounded by shrapnel throughout the body. The IOF aircraft attacked Nour al-Dibari once he left the house of his brother Sami, who is a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), who was apparently the target of the attack, although IOF claimed that the attack targeted Ra’ed al-‘Attar, a leader of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, who was in the area.
· At approximately 21:00 on Tuesday, 22 April 2008, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at a vehicle, in which 2 activists of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) were traveling on the road linking between Bani Suhiala and ‘Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. The two missiles went astray and fell near the vehicle. The two activists were able to get out of the vehicle and flee. Soon after, the IOF aircraft fired a third missile at them, but they were not hurt. However, 6 civilian bystanders were wounded:
1. Saleh Ibrahim Abu To’aima, 22, wounded by shrapnel to the head and the shoulder;
2. Hassan Mohammed ‘Abdul ‘Aal, 22, wounded by shrapnel to the chest, the back and the left thigh;
3. ‘Essam Ibrahim Abu Isma’il, 23, wounded by shrapnel to the right hand and the left thigh;
4. Mohammed Yousef Abu Yousef, 22, wounded by shrapnel to the chest and the right thigh;
5. ‘Omar Suleiman ‘Asfour, 20, wounded by shrapnel to the right foot; and
6. Nafez Is’haq Qabalan, 30, wounded by shrapnel to the shoulders.
3. Continued Siege on the OPT
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 of the Gaza Strip for more than one year and a half. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the nearly 1.5 million Palestinian civilian population, particularly the 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 imposed on 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. IOF have further tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, and the living and economic conditions of Palestinian civilians have further deteriorated. In September 2007, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “a hostile entity,” which implies imposing more restrictions and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population. Since then, IOF have sharply decreased food and fuel supplies allowed into the Gaza Strip. IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and subsequently many factories have stopped their industrial activities. Concerning the movement of persons, IOF allow a few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to travel to the West Bank. Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. 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.
The continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for civilian life in the Gaza Strip has led to paralyzing 50% of the educational sector as half the students in all educational levels have been unable to reach their schools and universities. In addition, educational sector employees have been unable to reach their work. Furthermore, the transportation sector has nearly stopped functioning throughout the Gaza Strip. As a result, all basic functions of civilian life have come to a near standstill, including drinking water delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection. In addition, healthcare facilities registered a 25% drop in clients due to the transportation crisis, and hundreds of healthcare professionals have been unable to reach their work places.
On 9 April 2008, IOF stopped the flow of the heavily reduced fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip. As a result, the humanitarian situation hit hard by continuous collective punishment since 15 June 2006, deteriorated even further.
PCHR’s monitoring indicates that the Gaza Strip has become a ghost town, especially in the morning and in the afternoon. Approximately 145 fuel stations and all suppliers of fuel and gas shut down due to the total lack of supplies. Local sources indicate that the transportation sector is operating at 15% capacity, including public and private transportation. The civilian population finds it extremely difficult to reach places of work, study, and even healthcare facilities.
The Ministry of Health announced that most ambulances have stopped due to lack of fuel. In addition, the Ministry announced that it has started using its limited fuel reserve to operate health centers and important equipment. The Ministry warned that the expiry of this small reserve would paralyze the health sector and the remaining operational ambulances; thus depriving civilians of minimum healthcare services. In addition, hospitals and medical centers in the Gaza Strip are suffering from the absence of staff due to their inability to reach their workplaces. As a result, the operation of these institutions is threatened at a time of escalating Israeli military activity inside the Gaza Strip.
IOF have maintained the effective closure of the commercial crossings of al-Mentar (Karni), Sofa, and Nahal Ouz. IOF have sporadically opened these crossings in order to facilitate the passage of some humanitarian aids into Gaza.
The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.
The West Bank
IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. IOF have also continued to prevent Palestinians aged below 35 from passing through some checkpoints, especially in the northern West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
· Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside 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 violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque. On Monday, 21 April 2008, IOF imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians for the Jewish Passover. Thousands of Israeli police officers were deployed throughout the city for this purpose.
· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around the town. On Friday and Saturday, 18 and 19 April 2008, IOF imposed addition al restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the old town, on the eve of the Jewish Passover. They closed a number of roads and alleys and forced the owners of 4 shops to close them for 3 days. They also transformed roofs of a number of houses into military sites and erected a number of checkpoints on roads. On Sunday morning, 20 April 2008, IOF ordered the closure of the Ibarhimi Mosque “to secure celebrations of Israeli settlers of the Jewish Passover.” The closure continued until Wednesday morning, 23 April 2008.
At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 18 April 2008, IOF arrested 2 Palestinian children in the center of Hebron: Hazem Wa’el al-Sharbati, 15; and his brother Hussam, 13. IOF claimed that the children threw stones at Israeli vehicles.
At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 19 April 2008, IOF troops positioned in the center of Hebron arrested Sa’id Hassan al-Sharawana, 26, from Dura town southwest of Hebron, when he was shopping.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 17 April 2008, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. On Saturday morning, 19 April 2008, IOF troops positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, and Za’tara checkpoint, south of the city, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 20 April 2008, IOF troops positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 21 April March 2008, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. On Tuesday morning, 22 April 2008, IOF troops positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, and Za’tara checkpoint, south of the city, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians.
At approximately 06:00 on Saturday, 19 April 2008, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Mohammed Waleed Hijja, 20, from Burqa village northwest of Nablus.
· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the town. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians aged below 35 from passing through checkpoints. They have also continued to prevent Palestinian farmers from reaching their agricultural lands, which are isolated by the Annexation Wall. On Sunday, 20 April 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint near the entrance of Beit Leed village on Tulkarm-Nablus road. IOF forced Palestinian civilian to cross the checkpoint on foot.
· Ramallah: On Tuesday morning, 22 April 2008, IOF troops arrested an unidentified Palestinian at the gate of Nabi Saleh village, northeast of Ramallah.
4. Construction of the Annexation Wall
IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 18 April 2008, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF troops had placed barbwires in the area to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Wall. The demonstrators attempted to move forward. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a Palestinian journalist, ‘Ammar ‘Awadh, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the thigh, and dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 18 April 2008, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem. The demonstrators moved towards Palestinian land which IOF intend to confiscate. IOF troops placed barbwire near the land to prevent the demonstrators from moving forward. They also violently beat a number of demonstrators. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Mohammed Ahmed Taqatqa, 38, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand;
2. Mohammed Hassan Zawahra, 28, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back; and
3. ‘Qutaiba Eyad al-Ashqar, 9, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg.
· At approximately 06:00 on Wednesday, 23 April 2008, IOF troops fired at ‘Emad Mohammed Houshiya, 22, from Qutna village northwest of Jerusalem. He was wounded by a gunshot to the foot. According to eyewitnesses, Houshiya was near the Annexation Wall when IOF troops fired at him.
5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property
IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
· On Friday, 18 April 2008, the Israeli Ministry of Housing invited bids for the construction of 100 housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank: 52 units in “Alakanah” settlement west of Salfit; and 48 units in “Ariel” settlement north of the town. The two settlements are part of settlement block, which IOF plan to keep under their control in the context of a permanent agreement with Palestinians.
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Recommendations to the International Community
1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.
2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.
4. PCHR calls for the immediately implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.
5. PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.
6. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.
7. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented last year, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
8. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.
11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
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Public Document
For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).
[1] 1 donum is equal to 1,000 square meters.
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