PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

No. 43/2003

06-12 Nov. 2003

Israeli Forces Continue to Perpetrate Crimes in the OPTs

This week, Israeli occupying forces have continued to perpetrate violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including incursions into Palestinian areas, willful shooting at Palestinian civilians and indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, particularly in the southern of the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces also continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPTs. This week, 17 Palestinians, including 6 children and a woman, were killed by Israeli occupying forces. 8 of the victims were killed during Israeli military incursions into Palestinian areas and 6 were killed in instances of willful killing by Israeli soldiers. In addition, 3 Palestinian civilians died from previous injuries.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted 5 incursions into Palestinian areas, mostly into Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. On 10 November 2003, Israeli occupying forces killed 1 Palestinian child and demolished 23 Palestinian houses and 5 commercial properties during a military incursion into Block O in the Rafah refugee camp. Approximately 250 Palestinians were left homeless as a result and they also demolished 5 other houses in 3 other incursions into the camp. On 7 November 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, under cover of intense shelling. A number of members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli forces, during which time 1 Palestinian was killed by shrapnel. In addition, 5 Palestinian civilians from one family were injured and a number of houses were destroyed or damaged.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian controlled areas, particularly in Jenin and Nablus. These incursions were accompanied by intense gunfire, which resulted in the deaths of 5 Palestinians civilians, including 3 children and a woman. A number of Palestinian civilians were also wounded and Israeli occupying forces also destroyed a number of houses and arrested dozens of Palestinians.

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. In this context, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 4 Palestinian houses in Jenin and a fifth in Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah.

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. Recent reports in the Israeli media suggesting that Israeli forces have scaled back the restrictions are misleading as Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict movement of Palestinian civilians. They have also continued to close a number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip, without any consideration for the special circumstances of the month of Ramadan and Israeli forces continue to harass and humiliate Palestinian civilians traveling through the military checkpoints and border crossings. Israeli occupying forces claimed that they have eased the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank, excluding Jenin and Nablus, however, there have been no marked improvements and restrictions remain in place. Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank and have continued to close military checkpoints and erected a number of temporary checkpoints on the main, branch and dirt roads. This week, Israeli soldiers continued to fire at Palestinian civilians, who resorted to dirt roads due to the Israeli enforced closure of the main roads. In one instance, a 44-year-old Palestinian civilian was killed by Israeli soldiers in Tulkarem, while traveling on a dirt road.

This week, a number of protests took place throughout the OPT and worldwide, in opposition to the construction of the “separation wall” inside the West. A recent UN report warned of the dangers posed by the wall on Palestinian civilians and property, yet Israeli occupying forces continue to raze areas of Palestinian land to facilitate the construction of the "separation wall." According to a recent report published by the Committee against the Wall in Jenin, so far, the wall has isolated 16 Palestinian villages, in which 11,000 Palestinian live, around Jenin, Tulkarem, Qalqilya and Salfit. Israeli military bulldozers have demolished 218 housing units and commercial properties in the villages of Nazalt 'Eissa and al-Taiba, and destroyed 14,500 donums of agricultural land and isolated 36 wells and 121,000 donums of land – 12% of the total area of the West Bank – for the purpose of the construction of the wall, according to the report.

On Monday, 10 November 2003, Israeli occupying forces transferred Kamal Mohammed Hussein Edris, a resident of Hebron, to the Gaza Strip, following an Israeli High Court ruling of 4 November 2003 which approved his "assigned residence" to the Gaza Strip for a period of two years. On Wednesday, 12 November 2003, the Israeli High Court also approved a military order to transfer Taha Ramadan Rateb Dwaik, a resident of Hebron to the Gaza Strip for 2 years.

The Israeli High Court issued decisions on October 24 and 29 2003 ordering a temporary halt to the transfer of 13 of the 18 Palestinian detainees against whom Israeli occupying forces had issued orders to "assign residence" to the Gaza Strip for periods ranging from 1 to 2 years. The two decisions came in response to appeals submitted against the orders by PCHR, in conjunction with the Addameer Association for Human Rights, to the Israeli High Court.

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

Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a 40-year-old Palestinian woman during an incursion into the old town of Nablus. The woman was shot by 2 live bullets fired by an Israeli sniper as she stood at her window.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 01:45, 20 Israeli military vehicles and a helicopter entered Nablus through the western entrance and moved towards the old town, surrounding the neighborhoods of al-Qarioun, al-Yassamina and Bab al-Saha. They opened fire at houses and a number of members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli forces, but no casualties were reported. At approximately 02:30, after a period of quiet, Emtiaz ‘Abbas Saleh Abu Ras, 40, looked from her bedroom window on the third floor of her house in al-Qarioun neighborhood and immediately an Israeli sniper, who took position from behind a civilian car approximately 100m away from the house, fired at her. She was hit in the neck and the sniper then fired another live bullet, hitting her in the back. Her family called for an ambulance, but Israeli soldiers did not permit the ambulance to attend her until 04:00. An ambulance evacuated her body to the hospital, but Israeli soldiers stopped and searched it.

The Israeli incursion into the old town of Nablus continued until 07:00, during which time Israeli soldiers sporadically fired at Palestinian civilians and houses. A Palestinian woman, Amal Tayseer Rgheb Hammoudha, 38, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, while she was inside her house.

Also in the morning, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations and on tanks in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled cemeteries and al-Nimsawi neighborhood to the east. A number of shells hit a deserted apartment building in al-Nimsawi neighborhood, wounding 4 Palestinian civilians by shrapnel:

At approximately 07:30, an Israeli tank, an armored personnel carrier and 2 military jeeps moved into the Palestinian controlled Bala’a village, east of Tulkarm. Israeli soldiers opened fire at houses, wounding a Palestinian child, Mohammed Sami Mohammed Rashid, 10, by a live bullet in the left hand.

In the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian, while he was returning to Tulkarm from his work in Ramallah.

According to PCHR’s investigations, a number of Palestinian civilians were returning home to Tulkarem, to spend the weekend with their families. At approximately 15:30, some of the civilians arrived at an iron gate positioned by Israeli occupying forces on the Tulkarem-Nablus road. As they were about to cross the gate, which is often left unmanned, Israeli soldiers positioned in a military location overlooking the gate, opened fire, forcing the civilians to enter Tulkarm via a dirt road. A number of the civilians were able to avoid the gate, but they were fired upon by Israeli soldiers, while they were in a taxi. The taxi driver stopped the car, but Israeli soldiers continued to fire. During this attack 1 civilian, Fayez Ahmed Mustafa Salama, 44, from ‘Anabta village, was killed by a live bullet to his left side. In addition, another civilian Median ‘Abdul Karim Jabr, 30, from Dennaba village, was injured by a live bullet in the left leg. Salama was an engineer with the Palestinian Ministry of Housing and lived in close proximity to the gate with his wife and 6 children.

This killing was the second of its kind in the past three weeks. In a similar incident on 15 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces shot dead Bilal Fahmi Suleiman Zaidan, 32, from Ramin village, east of Tulkarm, while he was traveling in his private car on a dirt road between his village and the nearby ‘Anabta village.

At approximately 19:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations between “Gani Tal” and “Neve Dekalim” settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas to the east. Some live bullets reached the center of the town, wounding 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Ramadan Kamel ‘Abdul Ghafour, 41, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot; and

2. Khalil Fadhel ‘Aayesh ‘Omran, 23, wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder.

At approximately 19:30, following clashes between members of the Palestinian resistance and Israeli occupying forces positioned on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khuza’a village in Khan Yunis, a number of Palestinian civilians went to the area fearing that there may be casualties. As they approached the area, an Israeli tank fired 3 flechette shells at the civilians, killing 2:

2. Nazhmi Fawzi al-Najjar, 20, hit by shrapnel from a flechette shell throughout the body.

1. Wa’el Mousa Mohammed al-Najjar, 21, seriously wounded by shrapnel from a flechette shell throughout the body;

2. ‘Abbas Khaled Mohammed al-Najjar, 21, wounded by shrapnel from a flechette shell in the limbs;

5. Hamdan Suleiman Abu Mutlaq, 27, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg; and

6. Ahmed Salem Qudaih, 21, sustained bruises and wounded by shrapnel in the limbs.

Israeli fire prevented ambulances from reaching the area until the following morning.

Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, under cover of intense shelling. A number of members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli forces, during which time a Palestinian was killed by shrapnel. In addition, 5 Palestinian civilians from the one family were injured. A number of houses were destroyed or damaged.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 00:30, an Israeli military undercover unit, comprising of 15 soldiers moved approximately 3km into al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip to arrest allegedly wanted Palestinians. The unit moved from “Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah, and took up position in agricultural areas in the south of the refugee camp. The undercover unit clashed with members of the Palestinian resistance after they were spotted. Approximately an hour later, 4 Israeli tanks, 4 military jeeps and 2 bulldozers, reinforced by a helicopter and a surveillance aircraft, came to the area to secure the withdrawal of the undercover unit. The Israeli tanks and bulldozers were positioned on the cemetery road in the south of the refugee camp. The tanks and the helicopter shelled Palestinian houses and a member of the Palestinian resistance, Mo’men ‘Omar Ahmed al-Mughari, 21, was killed by a shell. In addition, 5 Palestinian civilians from one family were injured by shrapnel while inside their house:

In addition, 1 house was totally destroyed, 2 were partially destroyed and 2 others were severely damaged:

1. A 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Salama Mousa Salem al-Rajoudi, in which 2 people lived, was totally destroyed.

2. A 150-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by 'Ali Mousa Salem al-Rajoudi, in which 3 families (13 people) live was partially destroyed.

3. A 150-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Huda 'Abbas Khader Daoud, in which 2 families (14 people) live, was partially destroyed.

4. A 170-square-meter house owned by 'Aadel Ahmed 'Abdullah Abu Mandil and rented by Jamal Mohammed Kamel al-Boubali was severely damaged.

5. A 120-square-meter house owned by Mohammed Hussein 'Abdullah Abu Mandil, in which 7 people live, was severely damaged.

PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that ambulances were not able to attend the wounded until 02:30, when Israeli occupying forces withdrew from the refugee camp.

At approximately 02:00, 10 Israeli tanks and military jeeps, accompanied by a bulldozer and a helicopter, moved into Jenin through the northern and eastern entrances. They raided al-Marah and Wadi 'Ezziddin neighborhoods and the old town and opened fire at houses and imposed a curfew on these areas. Israeli soldiers took up positions on the roofs of a number of houses in the eastern part of the town, firing at the areas. Israeli forces then surrounded a number of houses belonging to the al-Sa'di family in the eastern part of the town, in which Amajd Ahmed 'Eissa 'Obaidi, 37, from Zabbouba village, west of Jenin, who is accused by Israeli occupying forces of being the leader of the military wing of Islamic Jihad in Jenin, was reportedly hiding. After 10 hours of shooting at the houses and threats to destroy the house in which 'Obaidi was hiding, 'Obaidi surrendered to the Israeli forces at approximately 17:00. Soon after, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 3 houses owned by Taleb, Fawzi and Ibrahim al-Sa'di (see below).

It is worth noting that 'Obaidi's house was destroyed by Israeli occupying forces on 5 October 2003. On 8 October 2003, they arrested his wife, Kamilia Mahmoud 'Obaidi, 26. Israeli forces claim that 'Obiadi planned the bombing carried out by Hanadi Jardat in Haifa on 4 October 2003.

As a result of the Israeli shooting in Jenin, 3 Palestinian children were wounded:

1. Lu'ai Khalil Ragheb al-Zaghir, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh;

2. 'Alaa' Jamal Tawfiq Eghbaria, 13, wounded by shrapnel in the left ear, shoulder and foot; and

In the morning, in an apparent instance of willful killing, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian child and injured another civilian, while they were hunting for birds, approximately 2km from the border with Israel, to the east of Gaza City.

In his testimony to PCHR, Nemer Salah Mahmoud Abu 'As'ous, 22, who was wounded in the incident, said:

"At approximately 08:30, while I was with Mohammed Ali Al Qayed and his son, Mahmoud, 11, hunting for birds in agricultural areas near the border with Israel, east of Gaza City, an Israeli tank positioned at the border fired 2 shells at a number of farmers who were cultivating olives in a nearby field. The farmers fled from the area. Mahmoud and I sat on the ground, while his father moved to another place, a distance from where we were. A few minutes later, we noticed that 7 Israeli soldiers were approximately 100m away from us. One of the soldiers ordered us to stop and we obeyed the order. However, the other Israeli soldiers opened fire at us. Mahmoud was hit by gunshots and fell onto the ground. I was injured by a live bullet in the right foot, but I ran away. Israeli soldiers chased me, but I was able to escape. Later, a young man was able to evacuate me to the hospital. I did not know what happened to the child who was with me."

Later, medical sources at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza City confirmed that the child's body had been moved to the hospital. Mahmoud died after he was hit by 2 live bullets in the chest and the abdomen.

At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by 4 heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 300m into 'Oraiba area in the northwest of Rafah. They leveled areas of Palestinian agricultural land, which they had already razed. They also destroyed a 1-donum[1] greenhouse planted with vegetables owned by Bashir Hamad Abu Sitta.

At approximately 11:30, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Salam neighborhood, adjacent to the border. 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded:

1. Mousa Ahmed Sabbah, 4, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg, while he was inside his house; and

2. Salama Jaddou' al-Qadhi, 45, wounded by shrapnel in the left shoulder, while he was near his house.

At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block O in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, 'Abdul 'Aziz Ibrahim Hamdan, 18, was wounded by shrapnel in the left hand, while he was near his house.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by 5 heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 200m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They demolished a 200-square-meter house owned by Mahmoud 'Abdul 'Aziz al-Jazzar, in which 5 families (22 people) lived.

In the evening, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian during an incursion into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who were on their way to a mosque for Ramadan prayers.

According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 18:00, an Israeli tank and 2 military jeeps entered Nablus through the southern entrance and moved forward into al-Quds Street, taking up position at the entrance to Balata refugee camp. For no apparent reason, Israeli soldiers opened fire at houses and streets in the camp. Mohammed Nazhmi Mahmoud al-Hashash, 24, who was among a number of Palestinian civilians on their way to a mosque for Ramadan prayers, was killed by a live bullet. PCHR's field worker in Nablus reported that the area was completely quiet when Israeli soldiers opened fire.

At approximately 23:00, Israeli occupying forces in a military location in Tal Zao'rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of the town and a Palestinian civilian, Nasser Mohammed al-Najadi, 26, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh.

The same night, Israeli occupying forces shot dead 2 Palestinian children near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, southeast of Beit Hanoun. No efforts were made to arrest the children or use less lethal means against them.

According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 23:00, Israeli soldiers fired at 2 Palestinian children who were attempting to infiltrate into Israel through the border located southeast of Beit Hanoun. The 2 children were reportedly seeking employment in Israel. They were killed instantly by several live bullets. PCHR’s field worker in the northern Gaza Strip reported that Palestinian medical personnel who were permitted access to the area following coordination with Israeli forces, found the victims’ bodies at approximately 10:30 Saturday morning, 8 November 2003. At 14:00 the victims were identified as:

1. Shadi Rafiq Sa'id Habboub, 15, from Beit Lahia, killed by several live bullets in the head and the body; and

2. Mahmoud 'Omar Hassan Abu Shakal, 17, from Beit Lahia, killed by several live bullets in the head and the body.

At approximately 03:30, medical sources at Ramallah Hospital declared that Ramiz Mohammed Ahmed Jaradat, 20, from Sa'ir village in Hebron and a resident of Ramallah, died from a previous injury.

According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 18:20, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by 40 military vehicles and a number of civilian cars, in which undercover units were traveling, moved into Ramallah and al-Bireh. The incursion was carried out under indiscriminate Israeli gunfire that targeted Palestinian residential areas. During the incursion Israeli soldiers confiscated a number of buildings and snipers took positions on rooftops. Israeli forces also imposed a curfew on the residents of the two towns. Other Israeli forces surrounded Jamal ‘Abdul Nasser mosque on al-Ersal Street in the center of Ramallah. Israeli soldiers then fired live ammunition and sound bombs at about 250 worshippers who were attending evening prayers. As a result of the Israeli gunfire that accompanied the incursion, 12 Palestinians were wounded, including Jardat, who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head. Medical efforts made to save his life failed.

At approximately 05:30, 7 Israeli tanks, 15 military jeeps, a military ambulance, 2 helicopters and 1 surveillance aircraft, moved into Jenin town and refugee camp, under cover of intense shelling. Israeli forces imposed a curfew on the town, and a number of Israeli military vehicles took positions in the al-Ghabas area, southeast of Jenin, and in Wadi Burqin, west of Jenin refugee camp. Israeli soldiers in these vehicles indiscriminately fired into residential areas. At approximately 07:00, Mithqal 'Omar 'Azaiza, 10, from Jenin refugee camp, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh, while he was on the way to school. At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a Palestinian house in Tala'at al-Ghabs area (see below). Israeli soldiers continued to fire at Palestinian houses throughout the day. As a consequence, Mohammed 'Abdul Rahman Hassan Salah, 18, from Kufor Dan village, a resident of Jenin, whose father is currently serving a life sentence in an Israeli prison, was killed by a live bullet in the head. In addition 3 other Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Ahmed Muhannad Nafe' Mar'ei, 12, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head – he was pronounced dead on Sunday, 9 November 2003;

2. Asia Nemer Darwish Qasarwa, 35, wounded by shrapnel in the head and the chest; and

In the afternoon, in an excessive use of force, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian child and injured 4 other civilians during an incursion into the Palestinian controlled Burqin village, west of Jenin. The 4 civilians were injured when they attempted to offer help to the child after he was shot.

According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 12:30, an Israeli tank and 2 military jeeps moved into Burqin village, west of Jenin, under cover of intense gunfire and imposed a curfew on the village. 16-year-old Mo'taz Wassef Mustafa 'Aamoudi was returning from Jenin, unaware of the incursion into the village. As he tried to move back, Israeli soldiers immediately opened fire at him without warning. He was instantly killed by 2 live bullets in the chest and the left shoulder. In addition, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded, including 2 children and a woman:

1. Subeh Mazen Mohammed Subeh, 14, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back;

At approximately 15:30, 2 Israeli military jeeps positioned at the entrance to Balata refugee camp, east of the city, moved into Nablus. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at them. As a result, 'Ammar Hilal Mohammed Khaled, 20, was wounded by a live bullet in the face, and sustained a fracture in the left hand when Israeli soldiers fired a tear gas canister at him.

During the incursion, Israeli soldiers also fired at a number of Palestinian children who were cultivating olives in Deir Ballout village, west of Salfit, wounding Mohammed Mufid Mahfouz Abu al-Khair, 14, with a live bullet in the left upper arm.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into the Palestinian controlled al-Duha village and 'Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. They raided 2 houses in the north of 'Aida refugee camp, northwest of Bethlehem, and arrested Shadi 'Abdullah al-Barmil, 22, and Sameer Mohammed al-Ameer, 27. In al-Duha village, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to the Fararja family. They arrested Mohammed (20), 'Aamer (25) and Sa'id Salem Fararja (30).

In the morning, medical officials at al-Muttala' Hospital in Jerusalem declared that Samer Suleiman Abu 'Assab, 26, from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, died from an injury he sustained the week before.

According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 4 November 2003, 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, as school children were leaving their schools to go back home, the bulldozer started to block al-Hashashin Street in the east of the refugee camp. 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. Abu 'Assab, who was passing by the area, was seriously wounded. He was evacuated to al-Muttala' Hospital in Jerusalem, where he died.

At approximately 10:30, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that an elderly Palestinian man from Khan Yunis died from an injury he sustained 2 weeks ago, when Israeli occupying forces shelled Palestinian residential areas in the town.

According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 20:30 on Sunday, 26 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations near “Gush Qatif” settlement bloc, west of Khan Younis, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas to the east. 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire that continued until the following morning, including Subhi Saleh ‘Eissa Shirreer, 62, who was seriously wounded by a live bullet that passed through his armpit and lungs before settling in his spinal column. He was wounded near his house, approximately 1400m away from the Israeli soldiers. He was evacuated to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where he died.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided a number of Palestinian houses. During the operations Riad Hassan Abu Shallal, 19, attempted to move from his house to a neighboring house. When Israeli soldiers noticed him, they fired at him without warning. He was wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen. Israeli soldiers then arrested him along with 7 other Palestinians.

During a military incursion into the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip Israeli occupying forces killed one Palestinian child. During the incursion into Block O in the Rafah camp, Israeli forces also demolished 23 Palestinian houses and 5 commercial properties.

According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations, on Monday afternoon, Israeli occupying forces using heavy military vehicles, including bulldozers, moved approximately 200m into Block O in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the border with Egypt. Under cover of intense gunfire, Israeli forces began demolishing Palestinian homes and other civilian property in the area. The military operation continued until 18:00, by which time the Israeli occupying forces had demolished 23 Palestinian houses and 5 commercial stores. As a result, 42 families comprised of around 250 people have been rendered homeless. PCHR’s field worker in Rafah reported that many of these houses had been already vacated by their residents as they had been subject to frequent Israeli shelling. In addition, 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded. One of the children, Shadi Na’im Abu ‘Anza, 14, was wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis, and died on Tuesday morning, 11 November 2003. The other civilians who were wounded were:

1. ‘Abed ‘Aatef Abu al-Sa’id, 14, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand; and

Since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada in September 2000, Israeli occupying forces have demolished hundreds of Palestinian homes in Rafah in similar operations. All of these operations have been justified by Israeli authorities on ‘security’ grounds. However, the lack of evidence to support these ‘security’ claims, the excessive amount of destruction inflicted and the geographical area in which most demolitions have occurred indicate that demolition operations carried out in Rafah represent a strategic policy by the Israeli government to clear a large section of Palestinian land along the border of Egypt in order to create a wide buffer zone and consolidate Israeli military control in the area. In this context, Israeli occupation forces have begun construction of a concrete and metal wall parallel to the border with Egypt. The wall is being built on land that was illegally confiscated by Israel after Israeli forces demolished and cleared Palestinian homes located in the area. The operation on 10 November, 2003 came only one month after a wide-scale Israeli offensive on Rafah refugee camp, during which Israeli occupying forces demolished more than 170 houses and destroyed the civilian infrastructure of the camp.

At approximately 03:30, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces infiltrated into the villages of Beit Reema and Deir Ghassana, northwest of Ramallah. Soon, more Israeli forces moved into the two villages. They raided a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinians.

At approximately 06:00, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep fired at Ra'ed Mohammed Isma'il al-Qaisiya, 22, from al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron, while he was walking on a bypass road near the Green Line, south of his village, on his way to his work in Israel, seriously wounding him with 2 live bullets in the back and the shoulder. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at the victim without warning from a distance of less than 100m.

In the evening, Israeli occupying forces arrested the Palestinian Authority High Sharia' Judge Sheikh Tayseer Bayoudh al-Tamimi, 50, while he was with other clerks on their way to the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 18:00, while Sheikh al-Tamimi, 3 Sharia' judges and a staff member of al-Tamimi’s office were on their way to al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem for the evening Ramadan prayers, they were arrested by Israeli police and members of the "Border Guard". They were taken to a police station in West Jerusalem where they were informed that they would be held on a 24 hour renewable detention order. On the following day, the Israeli police denied them access to their attorney Jawad Polos.

At approximately 11:00, 6 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-Fandoqaqmia village, southeast of Jenin, under cover of intense gunfire. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at them, wounding 3:

1. 'Omar 'Abdul Ra'ouf 'Abdul Rahman 'Abdullah, 20, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;

2. Wa'el Saleh 'Azzam, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg; and

3. Mohammed Fathi Sadiq 'Azzam, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right leg.

At approximately 17:00, 4 Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 150m into Block O in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. The incursion continued until approximately 19:00, during which, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 2 Palestinian houses:

1. A 150-square-meter house owned by Mohammed Hassan al-Zummar, in which 8 people lived; and

2. A 160-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Mohammed Saleh Abu al-Rous, in which 11 people lived.

PCHR’s field worker in Rafah reported that residents of the two houses had already evacuated them due to the danger posed in the area by Israeli shelling.

At approximately 17:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by 5 heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 100m into Block O in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside a 180-square-meter house owned by ‘Emad Saber al-Akhras. At approximately 20:00, they destroyed the house. The 5 residents of the house had already evacuated it due to Israeli shelling. During the incursion, Israeli forces indiscriminately fired into residential areas. As a result, Palestinian civilian, Munir Mustafa ‘Aashour, 38, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the right hand.

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at al-Zohour neighborhood, approximately 1500m to the north. A Palestinian civilian, Mousa Mustafa Duhair, 18, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand.

At the same time, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 150m into al-Rabwat al-Gharbia area in the northwest of Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers raided a 2-stoery house owned by Hassan Milad al-Astal. They held the 3 families (18 people) living in the house in one room on the first floor. Then, they searched the house and mounted its roof, where they remained until 05:30 the following day.

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

At approximately 03:00 on Thursday, 6 November 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They surrounded an 80-square-meter house belonging to the family of Ibrahim Mar'ei Hamed, 36, who is allegedly wanted by Israeli forces. They forced Hamed's mother and 2 children out of the house. Then, they destroyed the house. The two children have lived with their grandmother since last February when Israeli occupying forces arrested Hamed's wife, Asmaa' 'Abdul Raziq 'Abdul Jail Hamed, 30. To pressure Hamed to turn himself in Israel has threatened to expel his wife to Jordan for not having a Palestinian ID card.

At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 6 November 2003, Amajd Ahmed 'Eissa 'Obaidi, 37, from Zabbouba village, west of Jenin, who was hiding in a house belonging to the al-Sa'di family, surrendered to Israeli occupying forces that moved into Jenin. Israeli occupying forces then destroyed 3 houses owned by Taleb, Fawzi and Ibrahim al-Sa'di

At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 8 November 2003, Israeli occupying forces that had moved into Jenin destroyed a 30-square-meter uninhabited house owned by Khitam Yassin Maraba'a in Tala'at al-Ghabas area. They claimed that Amjad 'Obaidi, mentioned above, was hiding inside the house.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to raze and confiscate areas of Palestinian land for the 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 civilians, Israeli peace activists and members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) have organized peaceful protests in the areas that have been negatively affected by the construction of the "separation wall." Israeli occupying authorities informed Palestinians living in villages adjacent to the demarcation lines that they must obtain permits to be able to access their homes and lands.

At the beginning of this week, Israeli occupying forces began to survey the areas through which the "separation wall" will pass in the northern Jordan Valley. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces have put signs up that declare the closure of thousands of donums of Palestinian agricultural land in the area. Israeli occupying forces had already notified residents of Bardala village in the northern Jordan Valley that 424 donums of their lands would be seized for the purpose of the construction of the separation wall.

PCHR's field worker in Jenin reported that Israeli occupying forces forced residents of Palestinian villages through which the "separation wall" passes to obtain permits to access their homes and land. Every Palestinian over 12 must obtain such permits. This Israeli measure has affected 12635 Palestinians living in the villages of Barta'a, Zhaher al-'Abed, Um al-Rihan, Toura al-Gharbia, Toura al-Sharqia, 'Aanin, Kherbat al-Mentar, Kherbat al-'Abed Younis, al-Taiba, Rummana, Zabbouba and Ta'nak. The number of housing units affected by this measure is 2189.

For the second consecutive week, Israeli occupying forces have denied access of Palestinians from Bethlehem and Beit Sahour to their lands located north of the two towns. The area of these lands is more than 8000 donums. According to the Bethlehem Municipality, Israeli occupying forces have prevented Palestinian farmers from cultivating olives by denying them access to their lands. As a consequence, levels of poverty have increased among farmers and field workers. In addition, Israeli occupying forces have maintained the closure of the northern entrances of the two towns and a dirt road linking them to occupied Jerusalem and their agricultural lands.

According to a recent report published by the Committee against the Wall in Jenin, the wall has isolated 16 Palestinian villages, in which 11000 Palestinians live, in Jenin, Tulkarm, Qalqilya and Salfit. Israeli military bulldozers have demolished 218 housing units and commercial properties in the villages of Nazalt 'Eissa and al-Taiba, destroyed 14500 donums of agricultural land and isolated 36 wells and 121000 donums of land – 12% of the total area of the West Bank – for the purpose of the construction of the wall, according to the report.

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

Despite reports in the Israeli media claiming that Israeli forces have begun to facilitate the movement of Palestinians, there has been no changes on the ground concerning the restriction of Palestinian movement. Israeli occupying forces continue to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have also continued to close a number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip, without taking into consideration the travel needs of Palestinians during the holy Ramadan Month. Furthermore, Palestinians continue to be subject to humiliating and degrading treatment by Israeli occupation forces at Israeli military checkpoints and border crossings.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict movement of Palestinian civilians at al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints, north of Khan Yunis, on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the south and north of the Gaza Strip. On Sunday and Monday afternoons, 9 and 10 November 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints and blocked many Palestinian vehicles between them. They checked the ID card of a number of Palestinian civilians and searched their cars. They also fired at Palestinian vehicles waiting at the checkpoints. According to eyewitnesses, on the first day, Israeli occupying forces arrested a taxi driver, and on the second day, they arrested 4 Palestinians: Sa;id Abu Middain; Nasser Abu Kousa; Hassan Abu Hamda; and Ramzi Ahmed Abu 'Ouda.

Israeli occupying forces have also continued to deliberately hamper the processing of people through the Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border. They have decreased the working hours of the soldiers at the terminal from 24 hours to less than 8 hours a day. They have also decreased the number of Palestinian personnel allowed to work at the terminal to 6 workers. Palestinian travelers have been subject to harassment, abuse and prolonged searches by Israeli soldiers. Israeli security services often summon, interrogate and arrest Palestinian travelers at the terminal.

Within the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip, restricting movement of Palestinian civilians in and out of the area. Since Sunday, 26 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces have imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinians through al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis. Palestinians under 35 have been denied passage through the checkpoint. Consequently, approximately 30 university students have not been able to go to 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 area are subject to prolonged searches checked by Israeli soldiers at the gate of the area, which is the only outlet into the area.

Although Israeli occupying forces reopened Erez crossing for Palestinian workers on Sunday, 2 November 2003 after a one-month closure, they have imposed more restrictions on the movement of workers. A worker must be over 35, married with children, in possession of a magnetic card and a valid work permit and have Israeli security acceptance. Israeli occupying forces also subject Palestinian workers to prolonged searches and a number of workers have been summoned by the Israeli security services. Work permits of a number of these workers were cancelled as a form of collective punishment for having relatives that are activists of the Intifada or have been injured during Palestinian protests. Israeli restrictions on the access of Palestinian workers to their work places have caused a further deterioration to the Palestinian economy.

Israeli occupying forces have also restricted the movement of Palestinian goods at border crossings. For instance, transportation of vegetables from the southern Gaza Strip to the West Bank takes several days due to Israeli restrictions on the movement of goods at border crossings.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have continued to close military checkpoints and have erected a number of temporary ones on main, branch and dirt roads during the month of Ramadan. For the second consecutive week, Israeli occupying forces have denied young Palestinians access to occupied Jerusalem to pray at the al-Aqsa Mosque.

On Friday morning, 7 Novmeber 2003, Israeli occupying forces reinforced their presence in the northern parts of the city and surrounding villages, and denied access of Palestinians to the al-Aqsa Mosque. According to eyewitnesses, Palestinian civilians were forced to wait in long lines and checked before being allowed to reach the al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli soldiers have been deployed in the streets and roadblocks have been constructed in various parts of the city.

Although Israeli occupying forces dismantled 'Ein 'Arik military checkpoint, they have tightened the siege imposed on Ramallah and al-Bireh. According to eyewitnesses, measures at Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah, have not changed, and Israeli occupying forces at the checkpoint have continued to restrict movement of Palestinians.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to close military checkpoints around the city. Israeli soldiers at military checkpoints have denied passage of most Palestinian civilians. They have also continued to pursue Palestinian civilians who attempt to travel on dirt roads, and have fired on them with live ammunition in some instances.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to close the roads leading to Jenin. This week, Israeli occupying forces moved into Jenin on multiple occasions and imposed a curfew. On Tuesday morning, 11 November 2003, Israeli occupying forces prevented Palestinians from crossing the gate established east of Tayaseer village in the northern Jordan Valley. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers informed Palestinians wishing to cross the gate that they must obtain permits from the so-called "Israeli Civil Administration" or "Settlement Guard" to be allowed access to their agricultural lands.

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 is equal to 1000 square meters.

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