PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

No. 42/2003

30 Oct.-05 Nov. 2003

Israeli Forces Continue to Perpetrate Crimes in the OPTs

- Continued restriction on the movement of ambulances and medical personnel in the West Bank

This week, Israeli occupying forces have continued to carry out widespread and systematic violations of the human rights of Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Israeli violations included incursions into Palestinian areas, especially in the West Bank, willful shooting at Palestinian civilians and indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, particularly in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli occupying forces have also continued to impose a tightening siege on the entire OPTs, and have carried out a de facto annexation of Palestinian land for the sake of the construction of the “separation wall.”

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian controlled areas, particularly in Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus and Qalqilya. These incursions were accompanied by intense gunfire. Dozens of Palestinian civilians were wounded by indiscriminate Israeli gunfire during these incursions.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces continued to shell Palestinian residential areas in Khan Yunis and Rafah. A number of Palestinian civilians were injured and a number of housed were damaged.

In a step that may threat the infrastructure of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis, Israeli occupying forces have continued to prevent the Municipality of Khan Yunis from establishing a pool to serve as a water reserve for the collection of rainwater in the northeast of the town, southeast of the Israeli settlement of “Gani Tal.” The establishment of the water reserve is part of a wider project that has cost US$ 8 million. Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations near the aforementioned settlement have continued to fire at machines of the municipality when they begin work in the area.

In an excessive use of force, on November 2003, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian from ‘Askar refugee camp near Nablus, while he was riding a motorcycle on the road linking the refugee camp and the public housing project. Israeli military sources claimed that Israeli soldiers ordered the young man to stop, but he turned around in an attempt to flee, so they fired at his feet. However, investigations conducted by PCHR refute these claims. According to medical sources, the young man was hit by a live bullet to the heart.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to raze areas of Palestinian land for the construction of the "separation wall." They have also continued to make demographic surveys in some Palestinian areas for the same purpose. Palestinian farmers who intend to go to their agricultural lands behind the "separation wall" are subject to various forms of humiliation by Israeli soldiers at the gates established along the wall. On Tuesday, 4 November 2003, the Israeli military radio station reported that in the last two weeks, Israeli occupying forces “changed procedures of access of Palestinians to the demarcation areas through crossings at the wall, and forced these Palestinians to obtain permission from Israeli security parties to move through those crossings.” However, this statement is not true; as documented by PCHR in previous reports, these procedures have been applied by Israeli occupying forces for several weeks.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on movement of Palestinian civilians into and out of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict movement of Palestinian civilians between the southern, middle and northern areas. They have also continued to impose a closure on a number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip, without taking into consideration the religious and family travel needs of Palestinians during the month of Ramadan. Palestinians continue to be humiliated and receive degrading treatment from Israeli occupying forces at Israeli military checkpoints and border crossings. Israeli occupying forces have also continued to deliberately slow the processing of Palestinians at Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border. Hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including women and children, have been crowded at the Egyptian side of the crossing waiting to be allowed to come back into the Gaza Strip. They have been forced to spend days waiting in inhumane conditions.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces claimed that they eased the internal siege imposed on Palestinian communities, but facts on the ground contradict such claims. They have continued to close military checkpoints and have erected a number of temporary ones on the main, branch and dirt roads during the holy month of Ramadan. This week, their were multiple instances of Israeli soldiers at military checkpoints in the West Bank firing at Palestinian civilians. Occupying forces also stopped and searched ambulances and obstructed their passages to hospitals.

Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property

In the morning, Israeli occupying forces closed Wadi al-Nar road, northeast of Bethlehem, which leads to the north of the West Bank. Israeli soldiers at checkpoint fired at Palestinian civilians who were attempting to leave the checkpoint and return to their homes. 3 civilians were wounded:

1. Mohye Mohammed Salam ‘Ebayat, 24, from Bethlehem, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back;

2. Nader Mohammed Khalil al-Tawil, 19, from al-Bireh, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot; and

3. Murshed Na’im Sawalha, 27, from Bani Na’im village in Hebron, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the legs.

At approximately 02:30, 3 tanks, 2 armored personnel carriers and a number of military jeeps of the Israeli occupying forces moved into Qalqilya. The incursion was accompanied by intense Israeli gunfire. No casualties were reported, but Israeli occupying forces arrested 7 Palestinians, including 5 Palestinian policemen.

In the afternoon, Israeli soldiers fired at a Palestinian university student, Wassef Wasfi Ghaleb al-Khatib, 19, from Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin, who was on his way to his university, wounding him with a live bullet in the right thigh.

According to PCHR’s investigations and the student’s testimony, at approximately 13:00, al-Khatib and 3 of his colleagues, including a girl, moved from their village towards their university in Nablus. At approximately 15:30, when they were about to cross a settler bypass road towards Zawata village, west of Nablus, they were surprised by the arrival of an Israeli military jeep. The jeep stopped and an Israeli soldier got out of it. He ordered al-Khatib to come to him. The soldier checked al-Khatib’s ID card and ordered him to bring the ID cards and bags of his colleagues. The soldiers checked the ID cards and searched the bags. Soon, another Israeli military jeep arrived at the area. The soldier handed the ID cards to the officer of the second military jeep and ordered the 4 students to go to Beit Eiba checkpoint to get their ID cards. Al-Khatib shouted at the soldier who had gotten into the jeep, in order to ask him to allow the girl to travel to Nablus. Immediately, the Israeli soldier fired at al-Khatib, wounding him with a live bullet in the right thigh. A few minutes later, an Israeli military ambulance arrived on the site and evacuated al-Khatib to Beit Eiba checkpoint. A Palestinian ambulance arrived at Beit Eiba and evacuated him to Rafidya hospital in Nablus.

At noon, in an excessive use of force, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian from ‘Askar refugee camp near Nablus, while he was riding a motorcycle on the road linking the refugee camp and the public housing project. The Arabic web site of the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted Israeli military sources as claiming that “Israeli soldiers ordered the young man to stop, but he turned around in an attempt to flee, so they acted, following ‘instructions relevant to arresting a suspect’ and fired at his feet.” The sources further claimed that “the soldiers moved towards the young man and stopped a taxi to take him to the hospital.” The sources claimed that “the young man talked with the soldiers while he was inside the taxi, but medical sources declared later the he died from his injury.” However, investigations conducted by PCHR refute these claims.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 23:50, Mohammed Husni Hammad, 23, from ‘Askar refugee camp, northeast of Nablus, was riding his motorcycle towards the public housing project north of the camp. An Israeli military jeep arrived in the area. When Hammad turned around, Israeli soldiers fired at him. Immediately, an ambulance evacuated him to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, but he died in route. According to medical sources, the victim was hit by a live bullet to the heart. Sources of the Palestine Red Crescent Society stated that an ambulance of the society, not a taxi, evacuated the victim to the hospital. It takes an ambulance 8-10 minutes to travel between the place of the incident and Rafidya Hospital.

Early in the morning, 20 Israeli heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, surrounded Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They blocked all dirt roads leading to the camp and opened fire at houses. At approximately 11:00, a number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones towards the Israeli heavy military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the stone throwers, wounding 5 of them and a sixth civilian who was passing by:

5. ‘Ali Isma’il Hassan Sharai’a, 53, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand as he passed by the area of clashes; and

6. Mahmoud Ziad Mohammed Ra’aisha, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by 25 military vehicles and 2 helicopters, and covered by intense gunfire, moved into the northern West Bank town of Tulkarm, as well as a refugee camp and Far’oun village located in the area. They imposed a curfew on the three areas. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers seized a building in the center of Far’oun village and transformed it into a military site. Israeli military vehicles patrolled the streets. At approximately 09:00, a number of Palestinian boys gathered in the streets and threw stones towards the Israeli military vehicles. Israeli soldiers fired at the boys, wounding 4:

At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the nearby al-Salam neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Mustafa Salem Abu Shallouf, 20, was wounded by shrapnel in the head and the right thigh, while he was near his house, approximately 300m away from the border.

At approximately 07:45, Israeli occupying forces positioned at a military location near “Netser Hazani”, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a Palestinian farmer, Mahmoud ‘Abdul Karim Qassem al-Astal, 36, while he was farming his agricultural land, approximately 50m east of the military location. Al-Astal was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh. The area was completely quiet when al-Astal was fired on.

At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in a military location known as “Kissufim” at Salah al-Din Street, southeast of Deir al-Balah, fired at Ahmed ‘Ali Abu Qassem, 38, a mentally handicapped man, who was walking at a distance of approximately 100m from the military location. Abu Qassem was wounded by 3 live bullets in his feet. Israeli soldiers then brought him into their military location, without offering him any medical aid. When they discovered that he was mentally handicapped, they handed him over to a Palestinian ambulance that was going through al-Matahen checkpoint by coincidence, north of Khan Yunis.

At approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations in the vicinity of “Morag” settlement, north of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Zohour neighborhood, approximately 700m to the south. A Palestinian child, Ahmed Ayman Abu Shammala, 3, was wounded by 2 live bullets in his thighs.

At approximately 14:00, 6 Israeli military jeeps moved into Sirris village, an area controlled by the Palestinian Authority, southeast of Jenin. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the boys, wounding 2:

1. Mohammed Jamil Khalil al-Akhras, 16, wounded by 2 live bullets in the right side and hand; and

2. Ashraf Nash’at Sharif ‘Awada, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.

Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of ‘Ezzat Rashad al-Shwaiki, from Hebron. Al-Shwaiki has been detained by Israeli occupying forces in the past. They searched the house, damaging it in the process, and then arrested al-Shwaiki’s daughter, Nivin, 19.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Eissi neighborhood in the west of Hebron. At approximately 02:00, they surrounded the house of ‘Ezzat Rashad al-Shwaiki, 62. Without warning, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the 2-storey house, in which 30 people (4 families) live. 5 minutes later, Israeli soldiers ordered the residents of the house to exit with their hands up.

Al-Shwaiki’s daughter, Duha, stated to PCHR’s field worker in Hebron that the aggressive manner of the Israeli attack endangered the lives of all 30 residents. She also asserted that Israeli soldiers beat her sister Nivin after she opened the door for them. They forced the families out and searched the house, damaging it in the process. They then checked the identities of every family member. After which, they handcuffed Nivin and took her to an unknown destination. Nivin, who is a university student, is the widow of D’iab ‘Abdul Rahim Shwaiki, who was assassinated by Israeli occupying forces on 25 September 2003. With her arrest, the number of family members from the Shwaiki family detained by Israeli occupying forces has increased to 4.

Israeli occupying forces also arrested Faraj Mohammed ‘Abdullah Shwaiki, 18, in the same area.

At approximately 08:00, 2 tanks, 5 military jeeps and a bulldozer of the Israeli occupying forces moved into Blata refugee camp, east of Nablus. A number of Israeli soldiers took positions atop of a 3-stoery house owned by Na'im Qattawi. At approximately 12:00, the bulldozer started to block al-Hashashin Street in the east of the refugee camp, at the same time that school children were leaving their schools to go back home. A number of school children gathered and threw stones towards the Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire, wounding 12 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children (PCHR has a complete list of their names).

At approximately 11:00, Israeli soldiers fired at 12-year-old Hassan 'Omar Hassan Jibril, from Tulkarm, wounding him in the face with a live bullet. The child was a few meters away from his house when he was fired at. When a number of Palestinian civilians attempted to offer him help, Israeli soldiers began to fire at them as well. The child was left bleeding on the ground for about half an hour before a Palestinian ambulance was allowed to evacuate him to Dr. Thabet Hospital within the town. The child underwent surgery. However, because of his serious condition, he was transferred to the intensive care unit at Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint near Kherbat Jebara village, south of Tulkarm, obstructed the passage of the ambulance that was evacuating Jibril for about 15 minutes.

"At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 4 November 2003, my brother Hassan, 12, left our house which is located in the south of Tulkarm. He stood in front of al-Quds Bakery, which is only 4 meters away from our house. 5 minutes later, 4 Israeli military jeeps moved into the area and Israeli soldiers fired at my brother from a distance of approximately 50 meters. He was wounded in the face. Some neighbors attempted to offer him help, but Israeli soldiers fired at them. My brother remained on the ground for about half an hour until a Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance was eventually able to evacuate him to Dr. Thabet Hospital. He underwent urgent surgery, but physicians decided to transfer him to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus since he was in serious condition. I accompanied my brother in the ambulance. When we arrived at Kherbat Jebara checkpoint, Israeli soldiers stopped us. They checked us and searched the ambulance. They ordered me to travel back to Tulkarm. I begged him to allow me to accompany my brother, but they refused. I resorted to traveling by foot on a dirt road and reached the hospital about 5 hours later. By that time, my bother had been moved to the intensive care unit in critical condition."

In a similar incident, Israeli soldiers fired at 13-year-old 'Abed Yassin Ma'arek Jourban, from Tulkarm refugee camp. He was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the left eye. According to the child, he was wounded when he went out of his house to buy some foodstuffs from a shop, which is only 20 meters away from the house. Immediately, Israeli soldiers on an armored personnel carrier positioned at the northern entrance to the refugee camp fired at him. He was wounded by shrapnel in the left eye. He was evacuated to Dr. Thabet Hospital in Tulkarm and from there he was transferred to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. He is expected to be transferred to a hospital In Jerusalem in order to undergo special treatment.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Qalqilya. They raided houses in Shuraim and Kufor Saba neighborhoods and arrested 8 Palestinians.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin, and arrested 3 Palestinians from the Jaradat family.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to raze and annex large areas of Palestinian land for construction of the "separation wall" in the West Bank. They have also continued to conduct demographic surveys in some Palestinian areas for the same purpose. Palestinian farmers who intend to go to their agricultural lands behind the "separation wall" are subject to various forms of humiliation by Israeli soldiers at the gates established along the wall.

On Thursday morning, 30 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces surveyed large areas in the villages of Na'lin, al-Media, Qebia, Shaqba, Rantis, al-Qubaiba and Badras, west of Ramallah, as a preliminary step to start to construct parts of the "separation wall" on these lands. These villages are located to the east of the Israeli Ben Gurion Airport. The construction of the wall in these areas will cut off Rantis and al-Qubaiba villages from the rest of the West Bank.

On Sunday morning, 2 November 2003, 5 military jeeps of the so-called Israeli Border Guard and a vehicle of the so-called Israeli Civil Administration moved into the north and west of Dura village, west of Hebron. According to eyewitnesses, who live in the Wadi al-Hamam and 'Ein Siraj neighborhoods in the northwest of the village, Israeli forces raided a number of houses and collected information, including the numbers and names of families. They also documented the names of the owners of houses and other property in the area. PCHR's field worker in Hebron reported that these surveys are being carried out in areas that are expected to be isolated and annexed by Israel due to the planned trajectory of the "separation wall".

PCHR's field worker in the northern West Bank reported that Palestinian farmers who have been separated from there agricultural land by the "separation wall" have been forced to wait in lines in front of the gates established by Israeli occupying forces along the wall in order to reach their lands. Israeli soldiers force these farmers to wait in 3 lines: one for men, one for women and one for children. Israeli soldiers also force the farmers to return to their homes at 16:00. They are also forced to gather into lines when they go back through the gates to return to their homes. Each farmer who is over 16 is required by Israeli occupying forces to obtain a permit from the so-called Civil Administration to be allowed to reach his/her land behind the wall.

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

In violation of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, article 33 of which prohibits punishing any protected person for “an offence he or she has not personally committed,” Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets.

At approximately 01:40 on Thursday, 23 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Hawooz area in the west of Hebron. They surrounded a 200-square-meter house owned by Ziad Rafiq Ya’qoub Qannibi, 55. They forced the 8 residents that lived there, including 6 children, to exit the house. They then lead them about 150m away from the house, planted explosives inside the house and then destroyed it. 4 stores under the house owned by Hashem ‘Omar Ahmaru and Mohammed Shaher Yousef Bader were also damaged. The son of the owner of the house, Rafiq Qannibi, 23, was killed on 22 October 2003 while carrying out an armed attack on an Israeli settlement in Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron.

At approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, 28 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Eissi neighborhood in the south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Ezzat al-Shwaiki, who is serving a sentence to an 18-month imprisonment in Israeli jails. Then, they arrested his two sons: Akram and ‘Abdul Qader, 32 and 35 respectively.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have also continued to enforce the closure of a number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip, without taking into consideration the circumstances of the holy Ramadan Month. Palestinian civilians continue to be humiliated and harrassed at Israeli military checkpoints and border crossings.

Israeli occupying forces have also continued to deliberately hamper work at Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border. Hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including women and children, have been crowded on the Egyptian side of the crossing waiting to be allowed to come back to the Gaza Strip, often for days at a time. During this time, Israeli intelligence officers often summon and interrogate or arrest Palestinian travelers. The suffering of Palestinian travelers at Rafah Terminal has deteriorated even further since the beginning of October 2003, as Israeli occupying forces have reduced the working hours to less than 8 hours a day. Previously, the terminal functioned 24 hours a day. Israeli forces have also decreased the number of Palestinian personnel permitted to work at the terminal to only 6 members of the Palestinian Police.

According to information gathered by PCHR's field worker in Rafah, Israeli occupying forces often arbitrarily change the number of travelers permitted to cross the terminal. The number of outgoing travelers (from the Gaza Strip to Egypt) can be anywhere between 210 - 280 per day, while the number of incoming travelers can be between 270 - 420 per day. The number of Palestinian travelers forced to wait for days on the Egyptian side of the terminal is normally around 400-700 and sometimes amounts to more than 1000.

PCHR believes that these restrictions on travel at Rafah Terminal constitute a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians and a violation of their right to freedom of movement. These measures violate the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other international human rights instruments.

Israeli occupying forces continue to impose a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip, restricting the movement of Palestinian civilians in and out of the area. Since Sunday, 26 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces have imposed further restrictions on th emovement of Palestinian through al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis. Palestinians under the age of 35 have been denied access through the checkpoint and as a consequence, approximately 30 university students have been prevented from attending their universities. Israeli occupying forces have also tightened the siege imposed on al-Sayafa area between “Dogit” and “Elli Sinai” settlement in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian civilians moving in and out of the enclosed area are thoroughly checked by Israeli soldiers at the only gate leading into the area. Israeli soldiers often arrest Palestinian civilians at the gate. At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 31 October 2003, Israeli soldiers arrested 24 year old farmer, Ghassan Younis Abu Khousa and at approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 1 November 2003, Israeli soldiers arrested 3 other Palestinian farmers:

Although Israeli occupying forces reopened Erez crossing for Palestinian workers on Sunday, 2 November 2003 after a one-month closure, further restrictions have been imposed, which have resulted in only 6480 workers being eligible for passage through the crossing and access to their work places in Israel. The workers must be over the age of 35, married with children and in possession of a magnetic card and a valid work permit. The continual restrictions imposed on the access of Palestinians to their work places have caused further deterioration of economic conditions, evidenced in the sharp increase in poverty and unemployment in the OPT. Israeli occupying forces have also the restricted movement of Palestinian goods at border crossings.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank and have continued to close military checkpoints. They have also erected a number of temporary checkpoints on the main, branch and dirt roads, throughout the West Bank. This week, Israeli soldiers at military checkpoints in the West Bank fired at Palestinian civilians.

Since Friday morning, 31 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces have reinforced their presence in the northern parts of the city and surrounding villages, and denied Palestinians access to al-Aqsa Mosque. According to eyewitnesses, Palestinian civilians have been forced to wait in long lines and thoroughly searched before being allowed to reach al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli soldiers have been deployed in the streets and more roadblocks have been erected in various parts of the city.

Since Thursday morning, 30 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces have tightened the siege imposed on Ramallah. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces have closed al-Bireh-Qalandya road and this week, Israeli soldiers erected temporary roadblocks on the Ramallah-Jerusalem road. Israeli forces have stopped and harassed the drivers and passengers of Israeli-registered vehicles transporting Palestinians and have held approximately 40 such vehicles in Qalandya Airport. Israeli forces have also restricted movement of Palestinian civilians at Qalandya checkpoint.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to close military checkpoints around the city. Israeli soldiers at military checkpoints have denied the passage of most Palestinian civilians and have continued to pursue Palestinian civilians who resort to dirt roads. In some instances Palestinians were fired on by Israeli forces.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to close the roads leading to Jenin. PCHR's field worker in Jenin reported that on Sunday afternoon, 2 November 2003, a number of Israeli armored personnel carriers and military jeeps pursued Palestinian vehicles that were attempting to leave the town and dozens of Palestinian vehicles were held in al-Jabriyat area in the south of the town. On Monday morning, 3 November 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed the iron-gate established at the entrance to Tayaseer village, which leads to the northern Jordan Valley, and apprehended and checked hundreds of Palestinian civilians. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces erected several checkpoints at the entrances to the villages of 'Ein al-Hilwa, 'Ein al-Baida and Bardala, denying Palestinian civilians access to their work places.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Tulkarm. Israeli soldiers at al-Kafriayt checkpoint, south of the town, have continued to deny Palestinian civilians passage through the checkpoint and have continued to pursue Palestinian civilians who resort to branch roads. Israeli forces have also erected new military checkpoints at the entrances to al-Sha'rawia village, north of Tulkarm and have continued to close the gate established at the entrance to 'Anabta village on the Nablus-Tulkarm road.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Qalqilya for the 5^th consecutive week. After a young Palestinian man detonated an explosive device on himself near an Israeli military unit near 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, Israeli occupying forces closed the area and tightened the siege imposed.

Israeli soldiers positioned at the southern entrance to the town have continued to restrict the movement of Palestinians civilians, including those traveling to Jordan. On Thursday morning, 30 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces denied the access of hundreds of Christians traveling to al-Maghtas area on the Palestinian side of the Jordan River for religious ceremonies. Israeli forces have prevented Palestinian officials from participating in these ceremonies for the 4^th consecutive year.

Since Thursday morning, Israeli occupying forces have tightened the siege imposed on Bethlehem, restricting the movement of Palestinian civilians on the main roads. In some instances, Israeli soldiers assaulted and fired upon Palestinian civilians attempting to travel to and from the town. 'Abdul Rahman Sa'id Mowafi, 19, from Bethlehem, sustained injuries to the head and bruises to the face and the back after being beaten by Israeli soldiers. 'Aziza Mohammed Jabarin, 21, from Hebron, suffered tear gas inhalation. This week, Israeli forces have continued to deny the entry of foodstuffs and fuel into the town.

At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 31 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on the southern part of Hebron and reinforced their presence in the south and center of the town. On Saturday morning, 1 November 2003, Israeli forces forced Palestinian traders to close their shops, during a curfew that continued until Monday morning, 3 November 2003, imposed on the town center, the old town and the neighborhoods of Abu Sunaina, al-Fahes, Wad al-Hariya, al-Kassara, Jabal Jouhar, al-Masharqa and Wadi al-Qadhi, as well as areas located near the Israeli settlements "Kiryat Arba" and "Kharsina." Israeli occupying forces also closed all branch roads that had previously been reopened and erected roadblocks on the streets throughout the town.

In violation of Palestinian health rights, Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict movement of ambulances and patients. These restrictions violate article 16 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which provides for the protection for wounded and sick civilians and expectant mothers; article 20 of the Convention, which provides for protection and respect for persons engaged in the operation and administration of civilian hospitals; and article 21, which provides for the protection and respect for means of transportation that convey wounded and sick civilians.

On Thursday morning, 30 October 2003, 3 ambulances of the Palestinian Union of Medical Relief Committees were thoroughly searched by Israeli soldiers at Hawara and Za'tara checkpoints, south of Nablus. 2 of the ambulances were transporting medicines and medical equipment, while the third was evacuating a patient to a hospital in Nablus.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 09:00, 2 of the ambulances moved from Ramallah towards Nablus and Jenin. They were transporting medicines and medical equipment to 2 medical centers. At approximately 10:00, the ambulances arrived at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus and were stopped and thoroughly searched by Israeli soldiers, during which time medicines and medical equipment were damaged. Approximately half an hour later, Israeli soldiers at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, stopped another ambulance of the Palestinian Union of Medical Relief Committees, which was transporting a pregnant woman, Hanan Khalil Malek, 30, from Beeta village to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, as she was suffering acute hemorrhaging. Israeli soldiers searched the ambulance and made it wait for more than 2 hours, during which time the patient’s condition deteriorated.

At approximately 08:10 on Sunday, 2 November 2003, Israeli soldiers at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, stopped and searched an ambulance of the Palestinian Union of Medical Relief Committees that was traveling from Nablus to 'Assira village, south of the city. Approximately 2 hours later, they forced the ambulance to travel back, informing the medical personnel that the checkpoint was closed.

At the same time, Israeli soldiers at Beit 'Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, stopped and searched an ambulance of the Palestinian Union of Medical Relief Committees that was traveling from Nablus to 'Azzoun and Habla villages in Qalqilya. Approximately 2 hours later, they forced the ambulance to travel back, informing the medical personnel that the checkpoint was closed.

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 respect for the Convention.

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

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.

For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893