israeli War Crimes

This is a summary of israeli war crimes committed in Palestine for the week ending 31 August 2005. 5:30mins, english

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

http://www.pchrgaza.org

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
No. 34/2005

25 - 31 August 2005

Incursions, Arrests and Attacks Continue Against Civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

· A number of Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF and settlers.

· IOF conducted 35 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

· Houses were raided and 30 Palestinian civilians were arrested by IOF.

· 4 houses in the Gaza Strip were transformed by IOF into military sites.

· IOF razed and leveled areas of land along the eastern border of the Gaza Strip to create a buffer zone between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

· IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF have imposed a tightened siege on Palestinian communities located near evacuated Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank; IOF arrested 6 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints in the West Bank; IOF have continued to use a special checking device at Rafah International Crossing Point and have continued to prevent Palestinians aged 16-35 from traveling abroad.

· IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall in the West Bank; IOF completed the construction of the Wall near Qalandya Airport, south of Ramallah.

· Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) during the reporting period (18-24 August 2005):

Incursions: IOF conducted 30 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 29 Palestinian civilians. They also imposed curfews on a number of communities. IOF used a child as a human shield to search his family home. During 5 incursions into the Gaza Strip, IOF raided houses and arrested a Palestinian civilian. They also seized 4 houses and transformed them into military sites.

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 the Beit Hanoun Checkpoint (Erez) 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 6 Palestinian civilians. In the West Bank, PCHR field workers documented 5 cases of inhumane treatment by IOF at military checkpoints.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank territory, especially to the northwest of Jerusalem and around "Ariel" settlement to the southwest of Nablus, to which settlers of the evacuated "Netzarim" settlement in the Gaza Strip are expected to be evacuated. Israeli sources declared that IOF would soon start the construction of a section of the Wall between East Jerusalem and "Maleh Adomim" settlement to the east. IOF would also build at least 3500 housing units between Jerusalem and "Maleh Adomim" settlement, which will be unilaterally annexed to Israel. Last week, IOF issued a number of military orders confiscating 1585 donums[1] of Palestinian land in al-Tour neighborhood and the villages of al-Sawahra al-Sharqia, Abu Dis and al-'Eizariya to complete the construction of the Wall around occupied East Jerusalem. In addition, IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli solidarity activists in protest to the construction of the Wall. A number of demonstrators sustained bruises or suffered from tear gas inhalation, and IOF arrested 6 international solidarity activists.

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. During the reported period, IOF razed more areas of Palestinian land for the purpose of settlement expansion. They also razed areas of Palestinian land near two military checkpoints in the northern West Bank to expand them.

The full report is available online at:

html format:

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2005/01-09-2005.htm

pdf format:

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

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).

*Office Hours are between 08:00 – 16:00 hours (05:00 GMT – 13:00 GMT) Sun – Thurs.

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[1] 1 donum is equal to 1000 square meters.