PALESTINIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

PRESS RELEASE

Ref: 09/2004

Date: 20 January 2004

Israeli Occupying Forces at Erez Crossing Open Fire at Palestinian Workers

 25 Palestinians were injured this morning at the Erez crossing in northern Gaza when Israeli troops opened fire with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at thousands of Palestinian workers waiting at the crossing.

 According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, the incident at the Erez crossing began at 2am on Tuesday, 20 January 2004 when thousands of Palestinians were queuing to pass through the crossing to work in Israel.  Without warning Israeli soldiers opened fire with live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets and tear gas, over the heads of workers’ as they were making their way towards the checking area. 25 workers sustained various injuries and were taken to Kamal Adwan and Al Awdah Hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip.

 In recent months up to 11,724 Israeli-registered Gazan workers over the age of 35 had been permitted to enter Israel for work purposes, and 4000 registered workers were able to access work inside the Erez Industrial Zone, which is located near the Erez crossing and is under the control of the Israeli military.

 However, following the adoption of new procedures on Sunday 18 January 2004, access for registered workers has been restricted.  A number of witnesses have reported to PCHR that Israeli soldiers at the Erez crossing are now forcing Palestinian workers to remove their outer garments and walk slowly with their hands raised above their heads, before entering the checking area. Workers have also been prevented from carrying anything on their person, including food, and they are escorted throughout the checking procedure by Israeli soldiers. Palestinians working in the Industrial Zone are not required to enter the area after first passing through the Erez crossing, instead of a separate entrance normally used to access the zone.  In addition, Israeli troops have closed 28 of the 30 waiting lines at the security check area in the Erez crossing.  These new procedures have resulted in extensive delays in passage through the crossing.

 According to the Palestinian Ministry of Labour, the number of registered workers permitted to pass through the Erez crossing has been dramatically reduced this week. On Sunday, January 18 2004, only 1445 Gazan workers were able to pass through the Erez crossing to reach their places of work in Israel and only 652 were granted access to the Erez Industrial Zone. On Monday, 19 January 2004, only 3339 workers were able to enter Israel and only 1073 were allowed into the Erez Industrial Zone.

 PCHR condemns today’s attack on Palestinian workers at the Erez crossing and calls for an immediate full and fair investigation into the incident.  PCHR further condemns the increasingly restrictive measures imposed on Palestinian workers at the Erez crossing which continue to be imposed in an arbitrary manner.  PCHR demands that Israeli occupying forces cease these and all other violations of international human rights and humanitarian law perpetrated against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  PCHR also calls upon the international community, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to take immediate steps to ensure the implementation of the Convention and the protection of the Palestinian civilian population.

Public Document

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PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail:pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org