Weekly Report

On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied

Palestinian Territories

19-25 December , 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

The International Community Remains Silent While the Israeli War Crimes Continue in the OPT

9 Palestinian civilians, including 8 civilians, were killed by Israeli forces
3 Palestinian children were killed by Israeli shelling, including one killed by a Flechette shell
Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas, accompanied by indiscriminate shelling
The Israeli Forces continued the retaliatory campaign against families of wanted Palestinians and those who carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets
Israeli forces used Palestinian civilians as human shields during military operations
A number of Palestinians were arrested
The strict siege of the OPTs continued and a number of Palestinians were arrested at Israeli military checkpoints

Introduction

Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more war crimes and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, including willful and extra-judicial killings, shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas, house demolitions, and agricultural land leveling. This week, 19-25 December 2002, 9 Palestinians – all civilians including a member of the Palestinian Security Forces, 3 children and a woman, were killed by Israeli forces.

This week, three Palestinian children were killed by the indiscriminate Israeli shelling within the Gaza Strip, and a woman died from a previous wound sustained by the Israeli shelling. On Thursday, 19 December 2002, Nada Kamal Madhi, 11, from Rafah, was killed by a live bullet in the chest, while she was in her bedroom, when Israeli forces shelled residential areas in Rafah. On Saturday, 21 December 2002, Hanin So'ud Abu Sitta, 12, from Rafah, was killed by a live bullet in the abdomen, while she was on her way back home from school, when Israeli forces shelled residential areas in Rafah. On Tuesday, 24 December 2002, Mohammed Fikri Mubarak Bureik, 14, from Jabalya, was killed by shrapnel from a Flechette shell fired by Israeli forces positioned on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Jabaliya. On Friday, 20 December 2002, Siddiqa al-Ghoul, 42, from Rafah, succumbed to a wound she sustained on 12 July 2002, when Israeli forces shelled residential areas in Rafah.

In an apparent willful killing, a Palestinian civilian from Maithaloun village in Jenin was killed when an Israeli armored personnel carrier smashed the car he was traveling in.

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments against Palestinian activists, this week, Israeli occupying forces perpetrated two new extra-judicial assassinations that left dead three Palestinians in Jenin and Nablus. On Monday, 23 December 2002, Israeli forces assassinated Mustafa Jalal Baqqas, 30, and Shaman Hussein Subeh, 29, both from Burqin village in Jenin. This was on agricultural areas located nearly 3km away from their village. On Wednesday, 25 December 2002, Israeli forces assassinated Taleb Mohammed Abu Hawash, 32, from Nablus, having raided the flat where he was staying. Field investigations carried out by the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW) indicate that Israeli soldiers fired at the victim from a close distance and that he bled to death.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces carried out a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in Rafah and Deir al-Balah, during which they shelled these areas and destroyed a number of houses and civilian facilities. On Friday and Saturday, 20 and 21 December, 2002, Israeli forces demolished eight houses in Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. On Monday, 23 December 2002, Israeli forces demolished and destroyed eight houses, three brick factories and a cow farm, and damaged 18 houses in Rafah. Hundreds of Palestinians were rendered homeless.

In violation of international and humanitarian law which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces. In this context, they destroyed five houses in Deir al-Balah and two others in Rafah. Another thirty houses were damaged during this action.

Israeli forces have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPTs, collectively punishing the Palestinian people. Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons, violating Palestinian civilians' economic, social and cultural rights. They have also imposed curfews on several different areas.

The Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas

Thursday, 19 December 2002

At approximately 12:15hrs, Israeli occupying forces in a military location near Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town. Two live bullets penetrated the window and a wall of a bedroom in flat owned by Kamal Mohammed Rezeq Madhi, located near Kherbat al-‘Adas square on ‘Omar Ben al-khattab Street, approximately 1600m north of the border. One of the bullets hit the owner’s daughter, Nada, 11, in the chest, while she was in bed. She was evacuated to hospital in a civilian car, but all efforts made to save her life failed.

Friday, 20 December 2002

At approximately 18:00hrs, medical sources at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that Siddiqa 'Ateya Mohammed al-Ghoul (Abu Sahloub), 42, from Rafah, succumbed to a wound she sustained five months ago. According to PCHR's investigation, she was wounded by a live bullet in the head on 12 July 2002, while she was near his house in al-Salam neighborhood, approximately 300m away from the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, when the neighborhood was shelled by Israeli occupying forces. She was evacuated to hospital where she remained until she died.

At approximately midnight, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 500m into Abu ‘Arif area in the south of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers opened fire at two Palestinian security men who were guarding the house of a Palestinian official in the area. The two security men withdrew towards the south, but they were surprised by other Israeli forces positioned near the house of Nasser Abu ‘Obeid. An exchange of fire erupted between the two sides. The two security men, who are brothers, were wounded, and one of them was able to escape, while the other bled to death as he was not given any medical attention. The victim was identified as Majdi Mohammed ‘Abdul Karim Mousa, 29, a member of the Palestinian Military Intelligence. His brother Jamil, 29, who was able to escape, was wounded by two live bullets in the left leg and a third bullet in the right forehand. In addition, a Palestinian civilian, Khaled Suleiman ‘Ali Abu Sabra, 22, was wounded by two live bullets in the abdomen and the right leg.

Soon, more Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and two helicopters, moved into the area from two directions and seized control of it. Israeli soldiers raided and searched Palestinian houses in al-Zore’ei area, using a Palestinian girl, Walaa’ ‘Abdullah Suleiman al-Zore’ei, 17, and a man, Nabil ‘Ali Salama al-Zore’ei, 37, as human shields in searching houses. Then, Israeli soldiers destroyed three houses after having forced their residents out. When they raided and searched houses, Israeli soldiers damaged furniture. Some Palestinians informed a PCHR field worker that they also lost money and jewelry. Israeli soldiers also arrested three Palestinians:

1. Hussein Suleiman al-Zore’ei, 24, a member of the Palestinian Military Intelligence;

2. Sa’id ‘Abdul Rahman Abu ‘Obeid; a worker, and

3. Fawzi ‘Abdul Rahman Abu ‘Obeid, a taxi driver.

Israeli forces withdrew from the area at approximately 04:00hrs.

At approximately 09:00hrs, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by military jeeps and three military bulldozers, moved 300m into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. This Israeli incursion came after an armed attack carried out by gunmen of the Islamic Jihad, in which an Israeli settler was killed. Israeli soldiers raided the compound of the family of Abu Sha’ar. They forced Palestinian civilians out of their houses. Immediately, the Israeli military bulldozers initiated a campaign of destruction in the area that lasted for seven hours. They demolished six houses:

1. They demolished a 180-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 people lived, and a bird farm owned by Fayez ‘Abdul Raziq Abu Sha’ar.

2. They demolished a 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 21 people lived, owned by Hassan Shihda Hassan Abu Sha’ar.

3. They demolished a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, rented by ‘Eteiwa ‘Othman ‘Atwa Abu Sha’ar, and owned by Kamal Kamel Suleiman Abu Mosa’ed.

4. They demolished an 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two people lived, owned by Mohammed ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Eteiwi Abu Sha’ar.

5. They demolished a 180-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 12 people lived, owned by Hassan Joma’a Rezeq Abu Sha’ar.

6. They demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 12 people lived, and an 80-square-meter sheep farm, and destroyed a car owned by Mohammed Khamis Suleiman Abu Mosa’ed.

Residents of those houses were unable to evacuate their furniture.

Israeli forces moved into the area again at approximately 21:00hrs. They raided and searched a number of Palestinian houses and they arrested two Palestinians:

At approximately 18:00hrs, Israeli soldiers on tanks positioned near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at the Palestinian residential areas in the town. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Mohammed Khalil al-Dabbas, 24, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg. PCHR’s field worker in Rafah reported that al-Dabbas was wounded while he was near his house in al-Shaboura refugee camp, approximately 1400m away from the source of fire.

Saturday, 21 December 2002

At approximately 06:00hrs, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by military jeeps and three military bulldozers, moved approximately 700m into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. Soon, the bulldozers blocked a branch road in the east of the village with sand. Israeli forces raided two houses in the village, approximately 250m west of the border with Israel. The destroyed the two house after having forces their residents out:

1. a 160-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which six people lived, owned by ‘Aadel ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Abu Mighassib; and

2. a 200-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 10 people lived, owned by Mohammed ‘Ouda Hassan al-Hamidi.

They also arrested three Palestinians:

1. Jawad ‘Aadel ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Abu Mighassib, 15;

2. ‘Ali Mohammed ‘Ouda al-Hamidi, 19; and

3. Hassan Mohammed ‘Ouda al-Hamidi, 16.

In another illegal action comprised of the indiscriminate Israeli shelling of Plaestinian residential areas, a Palestinian child was killed in Rafah while she was on her way back home from school. In her testimony to PCHR, Ghalia Ahmed Hussein Abu Sitta, the child’s mother, said:

At approximately 12:00hrs on Saturday, 21 December 2002, while I was in my house in Musabbeh area, approximately 500m away from Morag Junction, north of Rafah, which has been blocked by Israeli occupying forces, “I heard sound of sporadic shooting. Soon, My son ‘Aamer, 8, came to the house and told me that his sister Hanin So’ud Harb Abu Sitta, 12, was wounded. I hurried out of the house. Then, Hanin and her sister Zeinat, 9, arrived home. Hanin told me that she felt heat and pains in the abdomen and the pelvis and that she fainted while on her way back home from school. People helped her until she recovered her conscious. She told me that she was still feeling heat in the pelvis. I took her clothes off. She was bleeding from the pelvis. I cried calling for help. Some neighbors came and helped me evacuate her to hospital. She was still able to talk. A doctor told me that she will undergo a surgery. She succumbed to her wound approximately 90 minutes later.”

It is worth mentioning that this child was the second to be killed by Israeli shelling in Rafah in two days.

Sunday, 22 December 2002

At approximately 22:45hrs, Israeli occupying forces positioned along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at al-Shouka neighborhood in the southeast of the town. A Palestinian woman, Noura Eshteiwi al-Bahaisa, 35, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, while she was inside her house, approximately 500m away from the border.

Monday, 23 December 2002

Throughout the day, Israeli occupying forces destroyed eight Palestinian houses, three brick factories and a cow farm near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, where they have been continuing the construction of an iron wall along the border since 10 October 2002. For the sake of constructing that wall dozens of Palestinian houses in Rafah refugee camp were destroyed.

According to PCHR's investigation, at approximately 12:00hrs, four tanks and four armored military bulldozers of Israeli forces, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 100m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp adjacent to the Egyptian border. They demolished three Palestinian houses, three brick and a cow farm:

1. They demolished a 270-square-meter house, in which 14 people lived, owned by Mahmoud Mohammed 'Ali Barhoum.

2. They demolished a 170-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Samir Falouji 'Ouda al-Agha.

3. They demolished a 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two families counting 18 persons lived, owned by 'Abdul Rahim 'Ouda Falouji al-Agha.

4. They demolished a 1500-square-meter brick factory owned by Falouji 'Ouda Falouji al-Agha.

5. They demolished a 1500-square-meter brick factory owned by 'Abed Rabbu Hamdan Mousa Barhoum.

6. They demolished a 1000-square-meter brick factory and destroyed 1000 bricks owned by Mansour Shihda Barhoum.

7. They demolished a 300-square-meter cow farm owned by 'Abdul Rahim 'Ouda Falouji al-Agha.

PCHR's field officer in Rafah reported that Israeli forces stopped the destruction of Palestinian civilian property at approximately 19:00hrs. Nevertheless, at approximately 23:00hrs, more Israeli heavy military vehicles, reinforced with helicopters, arrived at the area. They then started where they left off and continued to demolish the houses. They demolished four Palestinian houses and destroyed a fifth one, severely damaging 18 houses and a mosque. Two Palestinian civilians were also injured.

Following are details of the houses that were demolished and destroyed:

1. a 120-square-meter, two-story house, in which three families counting 21 people lived, owned by Sa'id Hassan Mustafa Abu Hammad;

2. a 60-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Mohammed Sa'id Mustafa Abu Hammad;

3. a 400-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which three families counting 15 people lived, owned by Rezeq Salem Suleiman Abu Teilakh;

4. a 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two families of 18 people lived, owned by Mohammed Rezeq Salem Abu Teilakh;

5. a 170-square-meter, under-construction house owned by Tamim Falouji 'Ouda al-Agha.

At approximately 19:00hrs, Israeli occupying forces in military outposts in the vicinity of the “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Nafez Mahmoud Huneideq, 36, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the left foot.

Tuesday, 24 December 2002

In yet another illegal action as proscribed by international law, Israeli occupying forces fired three Flechette shells at a Palestinian child in Jabaliya, killing him instantly.

According to PCHR's investigation and eyewitnesses' testimonies, at approximately 12:30hrs, Mohammed Fikri Mubarak Bureik, 14, and 'Abdul 'Aziz Hussin al-Muta, 22, both from Jabalya, were in a cow farm, owned by al-Muta, where Bureik used to work because of his bad living conditions, located nearly 700m west of the eastern border of the Gaza Strip. Few minutes later, they went to an area located nearly 500m away from the border, to gather wood to set a fire as it was cold. As soon as Israeli soldiers on a tank positioned near the border noticed them, they fired three Flechette shells at the area. Al-Muta was wounded by shrapnel and was able to run towards the main road. There, he informed members of the Palestinian National Security Force about the incident. Soon, security men hurried to the area and were able to evacuate Bureik who was dead. According to medical sources, Bureik was hit by the flechettes from the shell in the chest, while al-Muta was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

Extra-Judicial Assassinations

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments against Palestinian activists this week, Israeli occupying forces perpetrated two extra-judicial assassinations in the West Bank that left dead three Palestinians.

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 13:15hrs on Monday, 23 December 2002, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces, traveling in a civilian car with a Palestinian registration number, attacked Mustafa Jalal Saleh Baqqas, 30, and Shaman Hussein Mohammed Subeh, 29, from Burqin village in Jenin. They were riding a tractor on a branch road in Wad Hassan area, nearly 3km away from their village. Israeli soldiers opened fire at the two men, killing them instantly. According to Palestinian medical sources, they were shot in the upper part of the body and they were attacked from behind. Israeli occupying forces claimed that the two men were on their way to carry out a bombing inside Israel and that they were wanted for being members of Hamas.

At approximately 02:00hrs on Wednesday, 25 December 2002, while Taleb Mohammed Abu Hawash, 32, from Nablus, was in a flat on the second floor of an apartment building in Ras al-'Ein neighbourhood in Nablus, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the building and made their way quietly into the flat where Hawash was. After a 4-hour detention, without the neighbours having been aware of what he was being subjected to by the Israeli forces, the neighbors heard sounds of two live bullets at approximately 06:15hrs. Israeli forces withdrew from the building at approximately 09:00hrs. Then, the neighbours entered the flat where they found Hawash dead. The evacuated him to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. According to medical sources, he was shot by two explosive bullets that entered the left thigh and settled in the right one, causing massive hemorrhaging that led to his death. Israeli forces announced that they had carried out the action, claiming that Hawash was wanted and they went to arrest him but that he fired at them, so on account of this the Israeli soldiers shot him dead. However, neighbors asserted that they did not hear an exchange of fire.

Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets

At about midnight on Friday, 20 December 2002, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and two helicopters and covered by intense shelling, moved into Abu 'Arif area in the south of Deir al-Balah. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of Palestinian houses, using two Palestinian civilians, including a girl as human shields in searching houses. Then, Israeli soldiers destroyed three houses of families of allegedly wanted Palestinians:

1. a 150-square-meter, three-story house, in which 8 people live, owned by Marzouq Bureik Khammash al-Zore'ei;

2. a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed uninhabited house owned by Yasser 'Oliyan Abu Mosa'ed; and

3. a 200-square-meter, two-story house, in which four families of 29 people lived, owned by 'Abdul Rahman Hussein Abu 'Oeid.

In addition, more than 30 neighboring houses were damaged.

On Sunday morning, 22 December 2002, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 600m into al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. Israeli soldiers raided seven houses and forced their residents out. Then, they destroyed two houses owned by Murad and 'Emad Ahmed 'Abdul 'Aal. Six neighboring houses were also damaged. PCHR's field officer in Rafah reported that the two brothers had bought the houses in May 2001 from their relative, Yasser 'Atwa 'Abdul 'Aal, whose brother Mohammed was assassinated by Israeli forces on 2 April 2001.

Following are details of the houses:

1. a 200-square-meter house, in which 8 people lived, owned by 'Emad Ahmed Zayed 'Abdul 'Aal; and

2. a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 7 people used to live.

Owners of the houses lost amounts of money and some jewelry.

Shooting at Palestinian Civilians

Thursday, 19 December 2002

At approximately 12:30hrs, Israeli soldiers on a tank positioned near the Educational Institute in Qalandya refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem, fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at a number of Palestinian children who threw stones at them. Two passing Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Ghazal Wajih 'Abed al-Haj Mustafa, 5, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the head; and

2. 'Eissa 'Eid 'Eissa Wazwaz, 53, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.

Saturday, 21 December 2002

At approximately 10:00hrs, Israeli soldiers on an observation tower at an Israeli military checkpoint, south of Deir al-Balah, fired at a civilian car that was on its way to Deir al-Balah, after Israeli soldiers had called on the driver to stop. It appears, however, that he did not do so because he did not hear the call. Ra’ed Fu’ad Khalil Abu Tawahin, 16, jumped out of the car and ran towards Deir al-Balah, but Israeli soldiers fired at him, wounding him with a live bullet in the right hip.

Sunday, 22 December 2002

At approximately 13:30hrs, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of the “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian children who threw stones towards them. One of the children, Yasser ‘Ali Musallam Abu Ghanem, 14, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand.

Tuesday, 24 December 2002

At approximately 12:45hrs, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian children and young men who threw stones towards them. Mohammed Nasser Eslayeh, 19, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.

At approximately 14:00hrs, Israeli occupying forces in a military location east of Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah, fired at Eyad Salem 'Othman Abu Sha'ar, 12, for no apparent reason, while on his way back home. He was critically wounded by a live bullet in the neck. He was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza City.

An Israel Armored Personnel Carrier Ran Over a Civilian Car, Killing a Palestinian Civilian

In an apparent willful killing, an Israeli armored personnel carrier chased and smashed a civilian car in Jenin, killing a passenger and injuring the driver.

According to the information available to PCHR, at approximately 19:00hrs, 'Abdullah Nazhmi 'Abdullah Salah Rabai'a, 29, from Maithaloun village, southeast of Jenin, was traveling in a civilian car that had an Israeli registration number, which was driven by his relative, Bassel Jamal Rabai'a, on their way back home from their work in Israel. When the car arrived at a junction in al-Fawar area, approximately 2000m away from the Rabai'a's house, an Israeli armored personnel carrier, with lights off, moved towards the car and chased it. The driver moved the car towards the left and then stopped. Nevertheless, the armored carrier chased the car and mounted over it. 'Abdullah Rabai'a tried to jump out of the car, but he was not able and he was killed by fractures and injuries throughout the body. The driver was also injured. According to eyewitnesses, it was nearly impossible to remove Rabai'a's body from the car and Israeli soldiers prevented a Palestinian ambulance from evacuating the injured driver to hospital, so they were forced to carry him towards a nearby clinic.

Restrictions Remain on Freedom of Movement

Israeli occupying forces have restricted movement inside the Gaza Strip. They have continued to stop and search cars at military checkpoints erected on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip. They also continued to fire at Palestinian civilians at those checkpoints.

At approximately 15:00hrs on Thursday, 19 December 2002, Israeli forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers searched a number of cars and checked the identity cards of passengers. They interrogated a number of people.

On the following day, Friday, 20 December 2002, after an Israeli settler was killed on the "Kissufim" settler road, north of Khan Yunis, Israeli forces closed the two above military checkpoints several times. They searched a number of cars and checked the identity cards of passengers. At approximately 18:15hrs on the same day, four Israeli heavy military vehicles closed the coastal road linking between Gaza City and the central Gaza Strip. An Israeli military bulldozer blocked the road with hills of sand.

On Saturday morning, 21 December 2002, Israeli forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints, and consequently divided the Gaza Strip into three separated zones. Some people were forced to wait at the checkpoints until Sunday morning, 22 December 2002.

On Tuesday afternoon, 24 December 2002, Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints again. They searched dozens of cars and arrested two Palestinians: Ahmed Shukri Ibrahim al-Qedra, 22, a university student; and Ibrahim Samih 'Aamer, 25, both from Khan Yunis. On the following day afternoon, Wednesday, 25 December 2002, Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints and searched cars. People were able to travel back home only several hours later.

In the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli forces restricted movement at al-Tuffah checkpoint, separating Khan Yunis from al-Mawasi area. Many people were unable to go back to their houses in al-Mawasi, and they were humiliated by Israeli soldiers.

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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.