Weekly Report

On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied

 Palestinian Territories

 July 25-31, 2002

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations

Affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists – Geneva

Member of the International Federation for Human Rights – Paris

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network

 

Continued Israeli Violations in the OPT

  

 

 


 

Introduction

 This week Israeli occupying forces have continued their full-scale offensive in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), killing more Palestinians, destroying public and private property and violating fundamental rights of Palestinian civilians, including the rights to life, free movement, access to adequate medical treatment, food, education and work. They have maintained effective control over most of the West Bank. Four Palestinian civilians, including a child and an old man, were killed by the Israeli occupying forces.

 Israeli occupying forces have maintained military control over most of the West Bank, imposing curfews.  For 12 consecutive days, Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on Nablus, so Palestinians were forced to challenge the Israeli military orders and went out of their houses.  Secondary school students in Nablus and its refugee camp were eventually able to do the exams of the General Certificate of Education (Tawjihi) on Monday, 29 July.  As a result of this delay due to Israeli measures, declaring results of the exams throughout the OPT was postponed, which may cause difficulties for students to join universities. 

 In an excessive use of force, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian boy in al-Mazara’a al-Sharqia village near Ramallah on Sunday, 28 July.  They fired at him from a close distance and left him bleeding for more than half an hour. 

 This week, Israeli occupying forces moved into Palestinian areas and shelled residential areas in the Gaza Strip.  More than 10 Palestinian civilians were wounded as Israeli occupying forces shelled Khan Yunis throughout the week.  On Friday, 26 July, Israeli occupying forces, covered by intense shelling, moved into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.   They destroyed two Palestinian turnery workshops and damaged some houses and civilian facilities.  Five Palestinian civilians were also wounded by Israeli shelling.  On Wednesday, 31 July, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah and demolished six Palestinian houses partially. 

 This week, Jewish settlers launched a series of assaults against Palestinian civilians, especially in Hebron.  On Sunday, 28 July, they shot dead a 14-year-old Palestinian child.  On Monday, 29 July, an old Palestinian man from al-Jeib village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, succumbed to injuries he sustained a week before, when a Jewish settler ran him over by car. 

 On Sunday, 28 July, Israeli occupying forces set up two new observation points, one at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khan Yunis, and the other inside “Netser Hazani” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis.  They surrounded the observation points with concrete block.  Such observation points have always posed danger to the lives of Palestinian civilians, as many civilians were killed by Israeli soldiers positioned in such points.

      The Israeli occupying forces have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing the Palestinian people. Israeli forces have separated Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons, violating economic, social and cultural rights of Palestinian civilians. Thousands of Palestinians continue to be subjected to a tight military curfew imposed by Israeli occupying forces.

 This report covers Israeli violations against Palestinian civilians in the OPT during the period 25-31 July 2002.

 

 
Shelling of and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas

 

Thursday, 25 July 2002

 In the morning, Israeli occupying forces invaded Qalqilya.  They raided and searched some houses and arrested Ahmed Hazzaa’ Shureim, Secretary of Fatah Movement in the town, and his brother Eyad.

 Also in the morning, Israeli occupying forces seized control over Bethlehem and ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of the town.  They arrested Mohammed ‘Awad Ahmed ‘Awad, 27. 

 Also in the morning, Israeli occupying forces moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah.  They raided the house of ‘Abdul Fattah Ahmed Ghanem, the Palestinian President’s Advisor on Refugees.  According to his son Nasser, Israeli soldiers forced his father out, and when his sister Amal tried to give her father medicine, since he suffers from diabetes, they prevented her.  Ghanem, member of the political bureau of Palestine Liberation Front, was taken to an unknown destination. 

 At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 500m into al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis.  They intensely opened fire at Palestinian houses.  Then, they raided the house of ‘Ali Ahmed Mohammed al-Astal.  They detained the 6-member family in one room and searched the house.  Israeli forces also broke into al-Rahman Mosque, which is under construction, mounted on its roof and fired at a summer camp to the east, in which around 100 children participate.  No casualties were reported, but children were terrified and the administration of the camp was forces to cancel activities of the camp for the rest of the day.  After this incursion, Israeli heavy military vehicles took position in the vicinity of “Netser Hazani” settlement, approximately 500m away from the area.  An Israeli military armored bulldozer razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

 

1.       It razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, owned by ‘Abdullah Mohammed al-Astal and farmed by Khaled Samir al-Astal, and destroyed an irrigation network. 

2.       It razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by heirs of Ahmed Mohammed al-Astal. 

3.       It razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and destroyed an irrigation network owned by ‘Ali Mousa al-Astal. 

4.       It razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Suleiman Mustafa al-Astal. 

 

Friday, 26 July 2002

 On Friday Israeli forces targeted and destroyed a number of Palestinian workshops in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City. The destruction of civilian property, which is a war crime under the Fourth Geneva Convention, seems to be a part of a systematic policy adopted by Israeli occupying forces of striking Palestinian economic resources. Israeli forces also shelled the area, sounding five Palestinian civilians.

 According to PCHR’s investigation, early in the morning, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 1000m into Palestinian areas west of a settler road linking al-Mentar crossing and al-Shuhada junction south of Gaza City.  They intensely shelled the area, wounding five Palestinian civilians.  Then, Israeli forces attacked a number of Palestinian workshops, approximately 1200 north of al-Shuhada junction.  They destroyed two turnery workshops and contents of some other workshops, and damaged a number of houses and civilian facilities. 

 

Following are details of the damage caused by Israeli occupying forces:

 

1.       Israeli occupying forces shelled an 800-square-meter, iron-roofed metal factory, approximately 100m west of Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), which manufactures cooking stoves, car bodies, screws and shelves, in which 16 workers used to work, owned by ‘Azmi and Ramzi Mohammed ‘Atwa Abu Laban.  Then, they broke into the factory, planted bombs and then destroyed it.  Owners of the factory stated that there is a strong competition between their factory and similar Israeli factories.  The factory sells its products much cheaper than Israeli products. 

2.       Israeli occupying forces attacked a 200-square-meter turnery workshop, west of Salah al-Din Street, owned by Mohammed Sa’id Hassan Abu Jahal.  They destroyed its doors.  Then, they planted bombs inside and destroyed the workshop.

3.       As a result of destroying the aforementioned workshop, large amounts of materials, a roasting machine, a grinding machine, an electricity network and doors of a 60-square-meter grinder, located in the same building, owned by Jaber Mohammed Saleh al-‘Akkawi, were destroyed. 

4.       Four electricity generators, a melting machine and parts of generators in a 30-square-meter store, located in the same building, owned by Maher ‘Othman al-Sirhi, were destroyed. 

5.       Israeli occupying forces attacked a 250-square-meter car maintenance workshop, located on the first floor of a tw0-story building owned by Muntaser Mohammed Ahmed Dababesh.  Many car parts were destroyed.  Then, an Israeli bulldozer destroyed doors of the workshop, and Israeli soldiers thoroughly searched it and broke windows of a car owned by Dababesh. 

6.       Israeli occupying forces destroyed doors of a 360-square-meter, iron-roofed plastic factory, owned by Mohammed Sa’id Abu Jahal and rented by ‘Othman Mohammed al-Sirhi.  They also searched the factory. 

7.       Israeli occupying forces destroyed doors, an electric saw and an electric cutter of a smithery workshop, located on the first floor of  a 300-square-meter, three-story building owned by Zuhair Mithqal ‘Abdul Majid Khudeir. 

8.       They destroyed some contents and three doors of a 3000-square-meter factory of metal industries owned by Yousef Rabah Rashid Sharaf. 

 

Israeli occupying forces also destroyed two cars owned by ‘Abdul Baset Rezeq Salem al-Sawafiri and Bassem Khalil Ahmed al-‘Akka. 

 

Those wounded by Israeli shelling were:

 

1.       Kamal ‘Adnan Rahmi, 3, wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen;

2.       Rami ‘Esmat Dallul, 25, wounded by shrapnel in the face;

3.       Ahmed Munir al-Kabariti, 20, critically wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;

4.       Samaher Najib Shuheiber, 22, wounded by shrapnel in the face; and

5.       Mousa Mahmoud al-Aqra’, 25, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand and thigh. 

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp, al-Nimsawi neighborhood.  A 25-year-old Palestinian woman, Muna Rajeh Shahin, was wounded by shrapnel in the back, while inside her house.  Approximately two hours later, Israeli forces shelled Block I in Khan Yunis refugee camp, especially the house of Fayez Ahmed Huniedeq, approximately 700m away from the aforementioned settlement.  Four residents of the house were wounded:

 

1.       Nahil Ghassan Fayez Huneideq, 7 months, wounded by shrapnel in the limbs;

2.       Wafaa’ Mustafa Darwish Huneideq, 24, wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh;

3.       ‘Abdullah Fayez Huneideq, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the back; and

4.       Ghassan Fayez Ahmed Hunideq, 30, wounded by shrapnel in the back. 

 

According to Palestinian medical sources, the four were wounded by shrapnel from explosive live bullets. 

 

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 500m into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis.  They opened fire at Palestinian houses and farms, wounding 16-year-old Mohammed Salah ‘Abdullah al-Seiqali with a live bullet in the back, while he was inside his house. 

 At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks and armored personnel carriers, moved into al-Fara’a refugee camp, east of Jenin.  They raided some houses and arrested two Palestinians:

 

1.       Ma’mun Mohammed Salahat, 27; and

2.       Sami Muhie Barahma, 26. 

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem.  They raided some houses and arrested three Palestinians:

 

1.       Majed Taha Mahmoud Qaraqe’, 31;

2.       Bilal Mahmoud ‘Abed Rabbu Zureina, 33; and

3.       Khalil Musallam Mohammed Barqa’a, 24. 

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks and armored personnel carriers, moved into Ghayazha neighborhood in the north of Qalqilya.  They opened fire at Palestinian houses, wounding 29-year-old Ziad Tayseer al-Haj Hassan with a live bullet in the head, while he was inside his house.  He succumbed to his wound upon his arrival at the hospital.  In addition, Israeli occupying forces shelled the house of Jawad Barham and then bulldozed.  They also arrested Barham. 

 At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks and armored personnel carriers, moved into al-Yamun village, west of Jenin.  They opened fire at Palestinian houses, wounding 17-year-old Mu’ayad Ahmed Jaradat with a live bullet in the right leg.  Upon their withdrawal from the village, Israeli forces arrested three Palestinians:

 

1.       ‘Abdullah Bassam Houshia, 20;

2.       Lu’ai ‘Aadel Hamidia, 22; and

3.       Shadid ‘Aadel Hamidia, 23. 

 

At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks and armored personnel carriers, moved into Jenin and re-imposed a curfew.  They opened fire at Palestinian civilians who challenged the curfew.  Khaled Fares Mohammed Mar’ei was wounded by a live bullet in the right arm. 

      

Saturday, 27 July 2002

 At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces, covered by intense shelling from military locations in the vicinity of “Netser Hazani” settlement, moved approximately 700m into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis.  Ibtihal Ibrahim Shubeir, 15, was wounded by shrapnel in the face while she was inside her house, approximately 1100m away from the aforementioned settlement.  In addition, a number of houses were damaged. 

 

Sunday, 28 July 2002

 At approximately 04:30, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 400m into al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis.  An Israeli bulldozer leveled areas of agricultural land that had been already razed on 25 July:

 

1.       It leveled a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Suleiman Mustafa al-Astal.

2.       It leveled a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with peppers owned by ‘Ali Mohammed al-Astal and farmed by Yousef Ahmed al-Astal, and destroyed an irrigation network. 

 

A PCHR field worker reported that Israeli forces destroyed a water network in the area. 

 At approximately 09:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks, armored personnel carrier and an armored military bulldozer, surrounded a 250-square-meter, three-story house, in which 11 people used to live, owned by Mousa al-Tuneib Jardat, father of Martyr Majdi Jaradat, in Wadi Burqin, west of Jenin.  They forced its residents out.  At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces shelled the house and then the bulldozer demolished completely.  Upon their withdrawal from the area, Israeli occupying forced arrested two Palestinians who were living in the house:

 

1.       Nihad Khaled Abu Ghanem, 23; and

2.       Ahmed Mohamemd Subeh, 23, both from Burqin village. 

 

In the morning, Israeli occupying forces raided and the house of Subhi Abu Tabikh in Jenin.  They arrested his son Mohammed, 22, claiming that he was wanted due to his activities with the Islamic Jihad. 

 At approximately 18:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 400m into al-Farahin area in Aabasan village, east of Khan Yunis.  An Israeli bulldozer leveled an area of agricultural land owned by the family that had been already razed by Israeli forces last month. 

 At approximately 18:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah.  They raided and searched the house of Mukhles Hashem al-Tartir, 42, and arrested him together with his two sons: Tayseer, 19; and Bassem, 17.  Israeli forces also arrested Sheikh Hussein Abu Kweik, 45, from al-Am’ari refugee camp, a political leader of Hamas, and his bodyguard Faraj Abu Rummana, 34, also from al-Am’ari refugee camp.  Israeli occupying forces attempted to assassinate Abu Kweik on 4 March 2002, when an Israeli tank positioned inside “Psagot” settlement fired a shell at his car.  His wife, three of his children and two other children were killed and he survived as he was not traveling in the car. 

 At approximately 21:20, Israeli occupying soldiers in an observation tower stables on a moveable elevator in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire for no apparent reason at Khan Yunis refugee camp after the evening prayer.  Two people were wounded:

 

1.       Mohammed Ghazi al-Khuzendar, 22, wounded by an explosive live bullet in the right hand; and

2.       Ahmed ‘Abdul Fattah Huneideq, 20, wounded by an explosive live bullet in the head. 

 

Monday, 29 July 2002

 At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 80m into the Bedouin Village, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.  They opened fire indiscriminately, wounding 14-year-old Mohammed Jamal Abu Jalala with a live bullet in the head, while he was playing near his house. 

 At approximately 12:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Khan Yunis refugee camp.  Two Palestinian children were wounded while inside their houses:

 

1.       ‘Ali Ayman Abu ‘Obeida, 9, wounded by shrapnel in the right foot; and

2.       Fahmi Mahmoud Huneideq, 9, wounded by shrapnel in the right foot. 

 

At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned near Salah al-Din Gate at the Egyptian border opened fire at Palestinian houses in the area, wounding 4-year-old Aaya Salah Abu Kush with shrapnel in the head and the mouth.  Some of her teeth broke.  The child was visiting her relative in the area. 

 

Wednesday, 31 July 2002

 At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Gadid” settlement, southwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the cemeteries and Batan al-Samin areas.  Samar ‘Abdul Hamid Zo’rob, 17, was wounded by a live bullet in the right side, while she was sleeping in the balcony of her house, approximately 500m east of the aforementioned settlement.  A number of houses were also damaged. 

 At the same time, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Amal neighborhood.  Two women and a child were wounded while sleeping in their houses:

 

1.       Entissar Mohammed Abu Sahlul, 14, wounded by shrapnel in the right foot;

2.       Haijar ‘Abdul Majid Salama, 45, wounded by shrapnel in the right shoulder; and

3.       Sumaya Ibrahim Hillu, 43, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder. 

 

In addition, a number of houses and a car were damaged. 

 At approximately 02:00, nine Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 150m into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border.  They demolished five Palestinian houses partially:

 

1.       a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, owned by Ahmed ‘Abdul Salam al-Sha’er;

2.       a 180-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which nine people live, owned by Ahmed Daoud al-Sha’er;

3.       a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which five people live, owned by Riad Hamdan al-Sha’er;

4.       a 170-square-meter, concrete-roofed house, in which 15 people live, owned by ‘Abed Ahmed al-Sha’er;

5.       a 180-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two families live, owned by Hamdi Mohammed al-Sha’er;

6.       a 165-square-meter, concrete-roofed house, in which five people live, owned by Salah Mahmoud al-Sha’er.

 

At approximately 08:30, Israeli occupying forces surrounded a 1000-square-meter, three-story commercial building, which includes some offices, four flats and offices of the Palestinian Legislative Council, in al-Basatin neighborhood in Jenin.  They forced the families, all living in this building after their houses were demolished by Israeli occupying forces in Jenin refugee camp last April, out of the building and destroyed the northwestern part of it.  An adjacent commercial building was also damaged. 

 In the morning, Israeli occupying forces, that had already seized complete control over Qalqilya, raided the house of Maher Saleh Abu ‘Assab, 33, and arrested him. 

 At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces, that had already seized complete control over Tulkarm, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the north of the town.  Five houses were damaged, but no casualties were reported. 

 At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Arraba village, south of Jenin, and imposed a curfew.  They raided some houses.  According to an eyewitness, he and his relatives, who were in a consolation house, were surprised by a number of gunmen in civilian clothes attacking the house and firing in all directions.  They were members of an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces.  They arrested two Palestinians:

 

1.       Tariq Hussein Qe’dan, 33; and

2.       Mohammed ‘Abdul Latif Shibani, 27. 

 

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned northeast of Nablus shelled Balata refugee camp, al-Hisba Street and al-Maslakh area.  No casualties were reported, but the electricity network was damaged. 

 

Shooting at Palestinian Civilians

 

Saturday, 27 July 2002

 

At approximately 07:30, Israeli occupying soldiers in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired at Ramadan Isma’il Mahmoud Ahmed, 42, wounding him with a live bullet in the left hand.  According to Ahmed, he was on the roof of his house, approximately 200m away from the settlement, when he was fired at by Israeli soldiers. 

 

Sunday, 28 July 2002

 

At approximately 20:10, two Israeli military jeeps moved into al-Mazra’a al-Sharqia village, under Israeli security control, northeast of Ramallah.  They fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at Palestinian villagers for no apparent reason.  Then, a number of Palestinian men and boys threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who responded by firing at the stone thrower from a very short distance.  Ma’mun Muhie al-Din al-Zeben, 18, was wounded by a live bullet in the back.  According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at him from a distance of less than 30m.  They also put him in front of a house and denied him access to medical care for more than 30 minutes.  He was taken to a medical centre in the village, but he soon succumbed to his wound. 

 

Attacks by Jewish Settlers on Palestinian Civilians

 

This week, armed settlers waged a series of assaults against Palestinian civilians in Hebron killing a 14-year old girl. Following is a summary of these assaults:

 On Friday morning, 26 July, a number of armed settlers from settlements in the center of Hebron, under full protection of Israeli occupying forces, attacked Palestinian civilians and their houses in the old town and other areas in the centre of the city. 

 At approximately 19:00 on Friday, 26 July, a number of Jeiwsh settlers attacked the house of Yousef Nu’man al-Sharbati in the part of Hebron under Israeli security control.  They set fire to a room and destroyed contents of the house, service networks and water tanks.  Then, they seized control over the house, under dull protection of Israeli occupying forces and police.  Later, Israeli forces took the family of al-Saharbati out of the house, allegedly to protect them from settlers who seized the house.  Despite attempts by the family to remain in the house, Israeli police used force to drive them out of the house, instead of expelling the settlers. 

 At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 27 July, a number of Jewish settlers from “Kiryat Arba’” settlement, southeast of Hebron, launched a series of attacks on the southern areas in Hebron, using firearms and sharp tools.  They fired at 9-year-old Fawaz Radwan Edris, wounding him seriously with a live bullet in the head, while he was playing near his house in al-Kassarat beighborhood. 

 At approximately 22:00 on the same day, a number of Jewish settlers coming from “Avraham Avino” settlement attacked the house of ‘Ezziddin Nour al-Din al-Sharbati in Qantarat al-Hamam area in the old town of Hebron.  They attacked the 18-member family, set fire to two rooms of the houses and destroyed some of its contents. 

 On Sunday afternoon, 28 July, a number of Jewish settlers coming from “Beit Ramanu” settlement attacked Palestinian houses in the old town of Hebron, especially in al-Shiludi area.  They fired at Palestinian civilians and set fire to a number of houses and damaged their contents.  A Palestinian girl, Nivin Mousa Jamjum, 14, was wounded by a live bullet in the right eye.  She succumbed to her wound at the hospital.  Her brother Marwan was also wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. 

 At approximately 15:00 on the same day, a Jewish settler from “Hagai” settlement, south of Hebron, attacked a cabriolet on which six Palestinian civilians from one family were traveling near a bypass road south of the city on their way home.  All of these civilians sustained fractures and bruises. 

 At the same time, a number of Jewish settlers attacked Palestinian civilians in the part of Hebron under Israeli security control, wounding 45-year-old Anwar Mohammed Musawda with a live bullet in the right hand.  In addition, 40-year-old Nuzha Mohammed Noufal sustained bruises. 

 On Monday, 29 July, an old Palestinian, ‘Ata Mahmoud Ibrahim Nemer, 68, from al-Jeib village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, succumbed to an injury he sustained on 21 July, when a Jewish settler ran him over.  According the victim’s son Zahran, 23, while his father was crossing the main road linking “Giva’at Ze’iv” and “Hadashot” settlements, northwest of Jerusalem, a Jewish settler traveling in a civilian car ran him over.  The settler attempted to escape, but Arab resident of the area intercepted his way and called the Israeli police, which immediately released him.  The old man sustained injuries in the head and the foot.  He was taken to an Israeli hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

 

*****

 

 

PCHR calls:

 

1.       Upon the international community to provide immediate and independent international protection for the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

2.       Upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article 146, to ensure the respect of the Convention.

3.       Upon the international community to investigate and prosecute those believed to have committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories before international courts.

4.       Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence, expand its activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

5.       Upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights.

6.       Upon the international community to provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian Territories.