israeli War Crimes

This is a summary of israeli war crimes committed in Palestine for the week mending 17 August 2005. 6 mins, english

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

http://www.pchrgaza.org

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
No. 32/2005

11 - 17 August 2005

Disengagement Begins: Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Attacks (OPT)

· 4 Palestinian workers were killed by an Israeli settler.

· 15 Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF and settlers.

· IOF conducted 42 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

· Houses were raided and 51 Palestinian civilians were arrested by IOF.

· A house was destroyed in al-Mawasi area as a form of collective punishment.

· 15 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 razed more area of Palestinian land to the northwest of Jerusalem; 8 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded by IOF in 'Azzoun village near Qalqilya; IOF arrested 25 Israeli solidarity activists and 10 international ones in Bal'ein village near Ramallah; and IOF demolished 5 civilian facilities in Ethna village near Hebron.

· Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; a journalist and two children were wounded by IOF that supported a number of Israeli settlers who launched attacks against Palestinian civilians in Bala'a village near Tulkarm.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) during the reporting period (11-17 August 2005):

Willful Killing: On Wednesday evening, 17 August 2005, an Israeli settler killed 4 Palestinian workers, including two brothers, who used to work in the industrial zone of "Shilo" settlement, southwest of Nablus. IOF arrested the settlers and prevented Palestinian ambulances from attending the victims. They have also held the bodies of the victims.

Incursions: IOF conducted 34 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank, and 8 incursions into the Gaza Strip. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 44 Palestinian civilians. IOF also seized 15 houses and transformed them into military sites in the West Bank. During the incursions into the Gaza Strip, IOF raided houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians and transformed 4 houses into military sites. They also imposed curfews on Palestinian communities located near Israeli settlements. During the reported period, two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded by IOF in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Restrictions on Movement: As IOF have started to implement the "Disengagement Plan" in the Gaza Strip, they imposed severe restrictions on Palestinian civilians, especially in communities located near Israeli settlements. On Wednesday, 17 August 2005, IOF closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip). They have also continued to close al-Tuffah and Tal al-Sultan checkpoints leading to al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis and Rafah for the second consecutive week. 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. Following the declaration of the northern West Bank as a closed military zone, on Monday morning, 15 August 2005, IOF started to impose more 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 10 Palestinian civilians. In the West Bank PCHR field workers documented 4 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 between the villages of Beit Sourik and Biddu, northwest of Jerusalem. They also razed a playground in 'Anata village, northeast of Jerusalem. IOF have continued to construct a section of the Wall around "Ariel" settlement, southwest of Nablus. In addition, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists in protest at the construction of the Wall. Eight demonstrators, including two children, were wounded by IOF. A number of other demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF also arrested 25 Israeli solidarity activists and 10 international ones. Furthermore, IOF demolished 5 civilian facilities in Ethna village, west of Hebron.

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.

The full report is available online at:

html format:

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2005/18-08-2005.htm

pdf format:

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2005/pdf/weekly%20report…

Public Document

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