PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

No. 29/2003

24 July–6 August 2003

Israeli Forces Continue Violations of Human Rights in the OPT between 24 July – 6 August 2003

Despite the sharp decrease in direct clashes, Israeli occupying forces continue to conduct illegal actions and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, including firing at Palestinian civilians, collective punishment, shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas and arrests. Israeli forces have also refused to redeploy troops from towns and villages in the West Bank. Over the period covered by this report, 24 July – 6 August 2003, 4 Palestinians, including a child, were killed and 5 others, including a woman, were wounded by Israeli occupying forces.

In 3 cases of apparent willful killing, Israeli occupying forces shot dead three Palestinians, including a child. On 25 July 2003, Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian child and wounded his sister near Jenin. The 2 children were traveling with their family in a civilian car, when Israeli soldiers positioned at the entrance of Barta’a village fired at the car. On 3 August 2003, the Israeli police shot dead a Palestinian civilian, while he was traveling in his car, approximately 700m south of Qalandya military checkpoint, north of Jerusalem. They claimed that he did not obey their orders to stop. On 4 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces killed an activist of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah movement, near Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm, claiming that he was on his way to plant a bomb in the area. According to Palestinian medical sources, he was shot by several live bullets in the head and throughout the body.

The Israeli government continues to ignore the illegality of settlements under international law and the fact that they constitute a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, particularly article 147, focusing instead on so-called “illegal settlement outposts.” Despite the fact that the Israeli government undertook to dismantle a small number of these “outposts” and to stop some settlement expansion, the so-called “Israeli Lands Administration” published a tender in Israeli newspapers on Thursday, 31 July 2003, to establish 22 new housing units in “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot reported on its Arabic webpage that the tender was published in Israeli newspapers. The advertisement offers a 3-year contract to those who are interested in the tender, after which the land can be monopolized for 98 years. This was the first tender to establish new housing units in Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip since 2001 and the proposed construction of the new units will allow an additional 120 settlers to live in the aforementioned settlement (current population: 1500).

Palestinians living in areas adjacent to Israeli settlements and military locations established on Palestinian lands in the Gaza Strip have suffered from aggressive actions of Israeli forces, including shelling, house raids and searches and curfews. Israeli occupying forces have also maintained control over two Palestinian houses in Gaza City and Deir al-Balah, and two buildings north of Khan Yunis.

Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on most of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially in the West Bank. While Israeli forces redeployed from the main roads in the Gaza Strip, they have continued to restrict movement on these roads and at border crossings. Israeli forces also continue to maintain the strict siege imposed on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip, where more than 8,000 Palestinians live, as well as al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. Rafah terminal, on the border with Egypt, has recently witnessed a growing humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of Palestinian travelers are forced to spend days on the Egyptian side of the crossing, waiting to be allowed by Israeli occupying forces to enter the Gaza Strip. There are no facilities on the Egyptian side of the terminal and travelers have been forced to sleep on the ground at night and spend long hours in the sun during the day. The lack of basic sanitation facilities in particular poses a serious health concern.

Israeli occupying forces have also restricted the access of Palestinian fishermen to the sea and Palestinian workers continue to face humiliating measures at “Erez” (Beit Hanoun) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip on their way to their work in Israel. Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict the passage of goods through commercial crossings of the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on Palestinian communities, isolating them from one another. They have restricted movement of Palestinians at military checkpoints. Palestinians under 35 cannot cross Israeli military checkpoints without obtaining permits issued by the so-called “Israeli Civil Administration.” In an attempt to mislead the public, two weeks ago, Israeli occupying forces dismantled 3 military checkpoints in Ramallah and Bethlehem, while 147 other military checkpoints remained on the ground. Israeli soldiers often fire at Palestinians traveling through these checkpoints.

In another misleading step, on Wednesday afternoon, 6 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces released 336 of the 7000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. This number includes a number of criminal prisoners and does not include long-term detainees, females or ill prisoners. The periods of detention of most of the released prisoners were expected to end within the next few weeks.

In the meantime, Israeli occupying forces encroached into the West Bank towns of Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus and Jericho, and arrested dozens of Palestinians, including 29 in Tulkarm and 14 in Jericho. On Wednesday morning, 6 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into the eastern part of Jericho and imposed a curfew. They raided houses and arrested 14 Palestinians. It is worth noting that Jericho is the only town in the West Bank that has not been reoccupied by Israeli occupying forces. The incursion into Jericho is the first in the past two years.

In spite of international criticism, Israeli occupying forces have continued to establish the so-called “security fence” in the West Bank. According to local estimations, the fence is expected to annex more than 13% of the West Bank to Israel.

In a continuation of the Israeli attempts to Judaize Jerusalem, the Israeli Minister of Internal Security Tsahi Hanegbi signed a decision of Tuesday, 5 August 2003, to renew the closure of Orient House and 4 other Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem by 6 months. Hanegbi claimed that the decisions aimed at “preventing the Palestinian Authority from carrying out activities that undermine the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem.”

Excessive Use of Force against Palestinian Civilians and Attacks on Their Property

Over the period covered by this report, Israeli occupying forces fired at Palestinian civilians and shelled Palestinian residential areas. 3 Palestinians, including a 3-year-old child, were killed in the West Bank, and a fourth died from a previous wound in the Gaza Strip. Following are details of these human rights violations:

In an apparent willful killing, on Friday afternoon, 25 July 2003, Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian child and wounded his sister near Jenin. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 15:00, Mahmoud Sharif Jawdat Qabaha, 3, was traveling with his father, sister, aunt and grandfather from Ya’bad village to Barta’a village, west of Jenin in a civilian car, driven by the grandfather. When they arrived at a gate established by Israeli occupying forces at the northern entrance of the village as part of the so-called “Security Wall,” Israeli soldiers ordered them to stop, which they did. Immediately, an Israeli soldier positioned on an armored personnel carrier opened fire at the car. The 3-year-old child was killed by a live bullet in the head and his sister, Su’ad, 5, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand. Israeli media sources reported that Israeli military sources claimed that the incident occurred by mistake.

At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 27 July 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 100m into Zo’rob neighborhood near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. During this 90-minute incursion, Israeli occupying forces razed a greenhouse owned by Mohammed Mahmoud Zo’rob and demolished a fence surrounding a 1-donum[1] area of land owned by ‘Abdul Karim ‘Aashour Dhuhair.

At approximately 11:30 on Tuesday, 29 July 2003, Israeli occupying forces at a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood. A number of houses were damaged, but no casualties were reported. A few hours later, Israeli occupying forces in a military location at the Egyptian border south of Rafah opened fire at a number of Palestinian children playing near their houses in Block J in Rafah refugee camp. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 19:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Nimsawi neighborhood to the east. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 06:45 on Wednesday, 30 July 2003, Israeli soldiers in a tank positioned at the border with Israel, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a number of Palestinian farmers on their way to their agricultural lands in al-Fukhari area, forcing them to leave the area.

At approximately 23:30 on Thursday, 31 July 2003, medical sources at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah declared that Rawhi Hammouda Ibrahim al-Hour, 47, from Khan Yunis, succumbed to a wound he sustained by Israeli occupying forces two years ago. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 16:45 on Monday, 14 May 2001, a Palestinian gunman attempted to throw a hand grenade at an Israeli military location near al-Matahen military checkpoint, north of Khan Yunis. Immediately, Israeli occupying forces opened fire at him and at Palestinian civilians and cars waiting at the checkpoint. The gunman and a civilian were killed, and 7 other civilians, including al-Hour, were wounded. Al-Hour was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis. He was evacuated to a local hospital, but as he was in a serious condition, he was transferred to an Egyptian hospital. On Tuesday, 29 July 2003, he came back from Egypt and was put in Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. On the following day, he was allowed to leave the hospital and receive regular medical treatment at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza city. On Thursday, 31 July 2003, while he was in a visit to his mother in Nusseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, his health condition deteriorated. He was evacuated to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, but he died soon.

At approximately 22:00 on Friday, 1 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces in “Gadid” settlement, southwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the at the areas of Baten al-Samin and the cemeteries to the east. No casualties were reported, but Palestinian civilians were terrified.

At approximately 21:00 on Saturday, 2 August 2003, 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 to the east. No casualties were reported, but Palestinian civilians were terrified.

In another apparent willful killing, the Israeli police shot dead a Palestinian civilian, while he was traveling in his car, approximately 700m south of Qalandya military checkpoint, north of Jerusalem. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 12:00, Suleiman Ahmed Abu Ghali, 27, from al-Jeep village, southwest of Ramallah, was driving a civilian car that had an Israeli registration number, transporting a number of Palestinian civilians from Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, to al-Ram checkpoint to the south. When he arrived near al-Qawasmi fuel station at the main road, an Israeli police vehicles intercepted hi sway. Abu Ghali was surprised and was not able to stop his car on time, so it hit the police vehicle. Immediately, an Israeli policeman fired at him, wounding him with two live bullets in the head and the neck. A number of Palestinian civilians tried to offer him help, but Israeli policemen denied their access to him. Later, the Israeli police allowed people to evacuate him to hospital, but he succumbed to his wound upon arrival there. Israeli media sources reported according to Israeli sources that the Israeli police shot dead a Palestinian who was driving his car near al-Ram checkpoint, north of Jerusalem. Israeli police sources claimed that policemen ordered him to stop, but he moved forwards and hit a police vehicle, so policemen shot him and passing Palestinians evacuated him to hospital.

At approximately 23:30 on Thursday, 31 July 2003, medical sources at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah declared that Rawhi Hammouda Ibrahim al-Hour, 47, from Khan Yunis, succumbed to a wound he sustained by Israeli occupying forces two years ago. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 16:45 on Monday, 14 May 2001, a Palestinian gunman attempted to throw a hand grenade at an Israeli military location near al-Matahen military checkpoint, north of Khan Yunis. Immediately, Israeli occupying forces opened fire at him and at Palestinian civilians and cars waiting at the checkpoint. The gunman and a civilian were killed, and 7 other civilians, including al-Hour, were wounded. Al-Hour was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis. He was evacuated to a local hospital. Due to his serious condition he was later transferred to an Egyptian hospital. On Tuesday, 29 July 2003, he came back from Egypt and was put in Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. On the following day, he was allowed to leave the hospital and receive regular medical treatment at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza city. On Thursday, 31 July 2003, while he was on a visit to his mother in the Nusseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, his health condition deteriorated. He was evacuated to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, but he died soon after.

At approximately 22:00 on Friday, 1 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces in the “Gadid” settlement, southwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the areas of Baten al-Samin and the cemeteries to the east.

In an apparent willful killing, the Israeli police shot dead a Palestinian civilian, while he was traveling in his car, approximately 700m south of Qalandya military checkpoint, north of Jerusalem. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 12:00, Suleiman Ahmed Abu Ghali, 27, from al-Jeep village, southwest of Ramallah, was driving a civilian car that had an Israeli registration number, transporting a number of Palestinian civilians from Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, to al-Ram checkpoint to the south. When he arrived near al-Qawasmi fuel station at the main road, Israeli police vehicles pulled in front of him. Abu Ghali, surprised and unable to stop his car on time, hit the police vehicle. Immediately, an Israeli policeman fired at him, wounding him with two live bullets in the head and the neck. A number of Palestinian civilians tried to offer him help, but Israeli policemen denied their access to him. Later, the Israeli police allowed people to evacuate him to hospital, but he succumbed to his wound upon arrival there. The Israeli media reported that according to Israeli sources the police shot dead a Palestinian who failed to stop near a checkpoint after the police ordered him to do so.

On Monday morning, 4 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces killed an activist of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement, near Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm, claiming that he was on his way to plant a bomb in the area. Israeli media sources quoted Israeli military sources as claiming that Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian while he was planting a bomb in Far’oun village near Tulkarm, and that the bomb was planted on the road leading to the village to target Israeli forces in the area. No eyewitnesses were in the area to confirm or deny the Israeli narrative. However, residents of the area said that Palestinians use the aforementioned road early in the morning on their way from the village to Tulkarm or from Tulkarm to Taybeh town to enter Israel in search of jobs. They asserted that the place of the incident is not a regular path for Israeli occupying forces and settlers. Later, the victim was identified as Nihad Rezeq Mohammed Qassem, 27, from al-Ras village, south of Tulkarm. According to medical sources, he was shot by several live bullets in the head and throughout the body.

At approximately 09:00 on the same day, while a Palestinian taxi was trying to enter Nablus from the east through an agricultural road to avoid passing by an Israeli military checkpoint in the area, an Israeli military jeep arrived at the area and chased the taxi. Soon, Israeli soldiers fired at the taxi without warning. Two Palestinian passengers were wounded:

1. Ahmed Ibrahim ‘Eissa, 36, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back; and

At approximately 17:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces positioned east of Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the camp. A Palestinian woman, Bassima Mahmoud Suleiman Hamama, 53, was wounded by shrapnel in the chest.

At the same time, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 30m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. They claimed that they encroached into the area to destroy tunnels. They withdrew from the area at approximately 20:00. Shortly later, they again moved 70m into the area. They opened fire at Palestinian houses, damaging a number of them.

In another attack by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians, on Monday afternoon, 4 August 2003, an Israeli settler fired at an old Palestinian man on Nablus-Ramallah road, wounding him with a live bullet in the left leg. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 18:00, Hamdi Tayseer Mohammed al-Khuffash, 75, from Marda village, north of Salfit, was at the entrance of al-Lubban village, south of Nablus, waiting for a taxi to transport him to his village. A civilian car that had an Israeli registration number passed by the area. The driver slowed down, pointed his pistol at al-Khuffash and fired a live bullet. Al-Khuffash was wounded in the left leg. Soon, 6 Israeli military jeeps and an ambulance arrived at the area and closed it. According to sources of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Ramallah, an ambulance of the society passed by the area and tried to offer help for al-Khuffash, but Israeli soldiers denied it access to him, claiming that they offered him medical aid themselves. Later, al-Khuffash was evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus.

Continued Suffering of Palestinian Civilians Living in Areas Located Near Israeli settlements and Military Locations

Palestinians living in areas adjacent to Israeli settlements and military locations established on Palestinian lands, have suffered from Israeli aggressive measures, including shelling, house raids and searches and curfews. Following are significant aspects of this suffering:

· Many people evacuated their houses as they had been subject to frequent Israeli shelling. They have not been able to go back to their houses as it is difficult for them to reconstruct their houses while Israeli occupying forces have continued to fire at them.

· They move carefully inside their houses and cannot mount roofs to avoid being hurt by Israeli gunfire.

· They have not been able to reach their agricultural land as Israeli occupying forces fire at farmers who enter their lands.

Following are violations of human rights perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians in these areas over the period covered by this report:

At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 1 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, called through megaphones on Palestinian civilians to stay in their houses and not get close to the electronic fence surrounding the settlement, or they would be fired at. The same happened at approximately 21:00 on Sunday, 3 August 2003, to Palestinian civilians living in Abu Haddaf area in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis, which is located near “Kissufim” settler road.

At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 2 August 2003, 14 Israeli soldiers raided 4 houses belonging to the Sa’id family, a few meters away from “Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They ordered more than 20 Palestinians living in these houses to get out. They checked the identity cards of males and interrogated them. Then, they searched the houses. Upon their withdrawal from the area, Israeli soldiers threatened residents that their houses and agricultural land would be destroyed if Israeli military locations were attacked by Palestinian resistance men.

At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 3 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah, which is located near “Kissufim” settler road, until 06:00 on the following day.

Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on most of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially in the West Bank. While Israeli forces redeployed on the main roads in the Gaza Strip, they have restricted movement at border crossings and maintained the siege imposed on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have also continued to close Rafah-Khan Yunis western road and the part of Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), near “Kfar Darom” settlement in the central Gaza Strip, Abu al-‘Ajin road between Wadi al-Salqa village in Deir al-Balah and al-Qarara village in Khan Yunis. Israeli occupying forces have restricted movement of Palestinian civilians living in al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian workers have faced extreme difficulties on their way to their work places in Israel.[2]

Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. The siege has continued to have dire humanitarian consequences for the 8000 Al-Mawasi residents and the wider community in Khan Younis and Rafah. Mawasi residents are also denied free movement inside the area and are subject to attacks and harassment by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the area.

Since Friday, 25 July 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed new restrictions on the movement of al-Mawasi residents who already have magnetic cards and special numbers they must travel with. Male residents under 16 and over 25 can cross the al-Tuffah checkpoint to get in and out of the area without prior notice, but those who are between 16 and 25 can cross the checkpoint only upon coordination with the Israeli side. These conditions were applied also to Tal al-Sultan checkpoint at the entrance of the area in Rafah. Futhermore, residents of these areas cannot carry any objects across the checkpoints. Israeli occupying forces only allow entry of foodstuffs on Friday and Saturday each week, and metal products on Tuesday of each week. Foodstuffs are transported to al-Tuffah checkpoint in trucks, where they are then reloaded onto other trucks on the other side of the checkpoint, which increases the cost of foodstuffs for the extremely poor local population.

Israeli occupying forces open the checkpoint from 09:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 17:00. People crossing the checkpoint are subject to Israeli military restrictions and checking. On Tuesday, 5 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed the checkpoint until 16:00, claiming that the were working on the computer that checks magnetic cards.

In contradiction of Israeli-Palestinian security agreements, on 30 June 2003, Israeli occupying forces redeployed at al-Din Street, and have continued to violate the rights of Palestinians to freedom of movement. They often obstruct movement of people at al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, north of Khan Yunis. They also force people to wait at al-Shuhada (Netzarim) junction, south of Gaza city, to allow settler car to move between “Netzarim” settlement and Karni crossing. They established an iron gate on Abu al-‘Ajin road between al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis, and Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip.

At approximately 16:45 on Friday, 1 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints, denying movement of Palestinians and their vehicles along Salah al-Din Street. The checkpoints were reopened two hours later.

At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 5 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints. They reopened them half an hour later. Approximately 3 hours later, they closed the two checkpoints again, checked Palestinians and searched their vehicles. No arrests were reported.

A humanitarian crisis is developing at the Rafah terminal. Hundreds of Palestinian travelers are forced to spend days at the Egyptian side of the crossing, waiting to be allowed by Israeli occupying forces to enter the Gaza Strip. There are no facilities at the Egyptian side of the terminal and travelers are forced to spend long hours in the sun and sleep on the floor outside. The lack of basic sanitation facilities in particular poses a serious health concern. The Rafah terminal is the only exit and entry point for Palestinians traveling abroad. The Israeli authorities have increased opening hours at the terminal to 14 hours a day, but completion of security procedures is extremely slow.

Israeli occupying forces have prevented hundreds of retail dealers from traveling through the terminal, depriving them of their sources of income.

Israeli occupying forces have obstructed the travel of patients. According to a Palestinian ambulance driver, the procedures of transporting patients through the terminal area very slow, without paying any consideration to their health conditions. An ambulance, which transports a patient, can enter the terminal only upon coordination with the Israeli side. It has to wait for long period, up to 6 hours sometimes. Then, it moves towards the joint Israeli-Palestinian liaison point, where the driver is checked. The patient is then moved to another ambulance at the terminal. When his/her passport is stamped, he or she is moved to an Egyptian ambulance that transport him/her to the Egyptian side of the terminal. The same applies to patients traveling back to the Gaza Strip.

A number of Palestinian travelers are summoned to Israeli security offices at the terminal for interrogation. On Friday, 1 August 2003, Jamal Yousef Mahmoud Abu al-Qumsan, 34, from Jabalye refugee camp, was arrested by Israeli occupying forces, while he was on his way back to the Gaza Strip. He was accompaning his child, who received medical treatment in Egypt. The child was allowed to cross the terminal in a Palestinian ambulance, but the father remained in custody. On Monday, 4 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces arrested Ibrahim Mohammed al-Majaida, 30, from Khan Yunis, while he was traveling to his wok abroad.

On Wednesday, 30 July 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed Sofa crossing at the border with Israel, northeast of Rafah, for no apparent reason. The crossing was reopened on the following day.

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.

[1] 1 donum equals 1000 square meters.

[2] For more details about the suffering of Palestinian civilians living in al-Sayafa area and Palestinian workers working in Israel, see PCHR’s last Weekly Report.

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