PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

No. 32/2003

21–27 August 2003

Israeli Forces Continue Violations of Human Rights in the OPT

This week, Israeli occupying forces escalated their illegal military actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), causing more casualties among Palestinian civilians. PCHR is concerned that further escalation may take place, as Israeli officials stated that Israeli occupying forces would continue to target Palestinian activists. In flagrant disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, Israeli occupying forces committed more extra-judicial assassinations. They invaded the northern West Bank towns of Nablus and Jenin. They also conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian Authority controlled areas, during which they raided and destroyed houses and arrested dozens of Palestinians. Israeli occupying forces continued to shell Palestinian residential areas and have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT. This week, 21-27 August 2003, 11 Palestinians were killed and approximately 50 others were wounded by Israeli occupying forces. 10 of the victims were killed in extra-judicial assassinations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces.

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli political and security establishments against Palestinian field activists and political leaders, Israeli occupying forces carried out 4 assassination attempts in Gaza city and Nablus. One of these assassination attempts failed and a passing Palestinian civilian was killed. The other assassination attempts left 9 Palestinians dead. 6 targeted persons were extra-judicially assassinated in these attacks: a prominent leader of Hamas movement, Isma’il Abu Shanab and two of his bodyguards, 4 members of Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of the Hamas movement and 1 member of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement. In addition, approximately 50 Palestinians were injured, two of whom were arrested while they were receiving medical treatment in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Nablus.

During two of these assassinations, Israeli warplanes were seen flying over the area, a method used by Israeli occupying forces to hide the sounds of attacking helicopters.

In violation of international humanitarian law, especially 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, they destroyed 7 Palestinian houses in Hebron, Jenin, Nablus and Tulkarm and Tulkarm. Three of the houses destroyed were located in Nablus.

Israeli occupying forces continued to shell Palestinian residential areas, especially in Rafah and Khan Yunis. Four Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded and a number of houses were damaged. On 23 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into Rafah and razed 8 donums of Palestinian agricultural land. In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian controlled areas, accompanied by indiscriminate shelling and shooting. About 20 Palestinian civilians were wounded. Israeli occupying forces also raided some houses and arrested a number of Palestinians.

In an apparent willful killing, on Wednesday, 27 August 2003, Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian civilian near Bilal Ben Rabah mosque in front of Rachel Tomb, north of Bethlehem. They claimed that he was holding a knife, but field investigators refuted this claim.

Israeli occupying forces have continued work on the separation wall. They have confiscated more areas of Palestinian land and isolated more Palestinian residential areas for this purpose. In this context, they demolished dozens of Palestinian houses and stores in Nazlat ‘Eissa village, north of Tulkarm, and razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Abu Dis village, east of Jerusalem, for the purpose of establishing the wall.

Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on 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 have closed the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. They have maintained the siege imposed on the al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip and the al-Sayafa area in the north. They have also maintained the closure of the Rafah-Khan Yunis western road, a part of Salah al-Din Street near “Kfar Darom” settlement in the central Gaza Strip, and closed Abu al-‘Ajin road between Wadi al-Salqa village in Deir al-Balah and al-Qarara village in Khan Yunis. On Friday, 22 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed the junctions of al-Matahen, Abu Houli and al-Shuhada on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, partitioning the Gaza Strip into 3 isolated zones. They prevented movement of Palestinian civilians until 20:00. Israeli occupying forces have also blocked al-Shuhada junction, south of Gaza city.

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, despite Israeli claims that a number of military checkpoints were dismantled. They re-closed a number of roads and erected dozens of roadblocks. They also moved into a number of towns, and have imposed curfews on a number of villages.

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli political and security establishments against Palestinian field activists and political leaders, Israeli occupying forces carried out 4 assassination attempts in Gaza city and Nablus. One of these assassination attempts failed and a passing Palestinian civilian was killed. The other assassination attempts left dead 9 Palestinians, including 6 targeted persons; a prominent leader of the Hamas movement, Isma’il Abu Shanab, 4 members of Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of Hamas movement and 1 member of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement. In addition, more than 40 Palestinians were injured, two of whom were arrested while they were receiving medical treatment at an intensive care unit in a hospital in Nablus.

On Thursday afternoon, 21 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces committed a new extra-judicial assassination, which left a prominent leader of the Hamas movement dead, Isma’il Abu Shanab and 2 of his bodyguards. In addition, 19 passing Palestinian civilians were wounded.

According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 13:15, Israeli helicopter gunships launched 5 missiles at a civilian car that was traveling on UNRWA Vocational Training Center Street opposite to the headquarters of the Gaza Governorate, a densely populated area in Gaza City. The missile destroyed the car. Ambulances and rescue teams arrived on the scene shortly after the attack. They extracted 3 bodies from the car and transferred them to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City. In addition, 19 passing Palestinian civilians were wounded.

Later, there were reports that Isma’il Hassan Abu Shanab, 53, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, a prominent leader of the Hamas movement and 2 of his bodyguards had been traveling in the targeted car. The 2 bodyguards have been identified as Mo’men Mohammed Baroud, 24, from al-Shati refugee camp and Hani Majed Abu al-‘Amrain, 23, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood.

At the time of the attack, Israeli warplanes were flying over Gaza City, apparently to drown out the sounds of the approaching helicopter gunships. Israeli occupying forces have used this method in several assassination attempts in the past.

The second extra-judicial assassination, reflecting Israel’s disregard for the Fourth Geneva Convention which strictly forbids attacks on hospitals, patients and medical personnel, on Friday, 22 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces assassinated a Palestinian and seriously wounded two others in Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. The two who were wounded were later kidnapped by Israeli occupying forces.

According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 17:10, Israeli occupying forces, which had moved into Nablus on the preceding day, surrounded Rafidya Hospital in the southwest of Nablus. In the meantime, a number of Israeli soldiers, who had mounted the roof of a building under-construction approximately 70m away from the northern entrance of the hospital, opened fire at 3 Palestinians who were apparently hiding from Israeli occupying forces on the roof of the hospital. One of the three, Khaled Amin Mohammed al-Namrouti, 35, from ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, was killed by several live bullets in the chest and the abdomen. The other two were seriously injured:

1. Fahed Mahmoud Fahed Bani ‘Ouda, 24, from Tammoun village, wounded by several live bullets in the chest, the right arm; and

2. ‘Othman Younis Abu Romoush, 26, wounded by several live bullets in the abdomen, the spleen, the pancreas and the kidney.

Israeli occupying forces claimed that Abu Romoush was responsible for an attack that took place inside Israel two weeks ago. Al-Namrouti and Bani ‘Ouda are leaders of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah movement in the area.

At approximately 03:20 on Tuesday, 26 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces raided Rafidya Hospital. A number of Israeli soldiers went to the intensive care unit, where Abu Romoush and Bani ‘Ouda were receiving medical treatment. Israeli soldiers forced the nurses out, except for one, Wafaa’ Abu Lawi, whom they insulted. Upon their withdrawal from the hospital, Israeli soldiers kidnapped Abu Romoush and Bani ‘Ouda.

A few hours following a statement issued by the Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on 24 August, in which he indicated that there would be a resumption of military activities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including the assassination of prominent activists of the Hamas movement and Islamic Jihad, Israeli occupying forces committed another extra-judicial assassination, which left dead 4 members of ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of the Hamas movement.

According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 21:40 on Sunday, 24 August 2003, 2 Israeli combat helicopters flew over Gaza City. The target was a blue civilian car, in which 4 Palestinians were traveling along the coastal road near the Palestinian Presidential Guard (Force 17) junction in the densely populated Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood in the southwest of Gaza City. When the individuals in the car became aware of the approaching helicopters, they got out of the car. The helicopters launched 4 missiles in the direction of the fleeing passengers. The 4 Palestinians were instantly killed by the missile strike and 2 passing civilians were wounded. Later, the victims were identified as:

1. Ahmed Rushdi Mustafa Eshtaiwi, 24, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City; allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying forces;

On Tuesday, 26 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces failed to assassinate 3 members of the ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam, the military wing of Hamas movement. A passing Palestinian civilian was killed and 23 others, including 5 children, were wounded, one of them seriously.

According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 18:50 on Tuesday, 26 August 2003, 2 Israeli combat helicopters launched 3 missiles at a civilian car, a white Renault 5, which was traveling on the Sea Street, west of the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya, in a densely populated area. The first missile fell in front of the car. Immediately, 3 persons who were traveling in the car jumped out and escaped. The other two missiles hit the car directly, burning it. A passing Palestinian civilian, Younis Hassan al-Hamalawi, 74, from Jabalya, was killed by shrapnel throughout the body. According to eyewitnesses, al-Hamalawi was riding an animal cart when he was hit by shrapnel. In addition, 28 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children, were wounded. One of the wounded, Mohammed Ibrahim Ba’lousha, 17, from Jabalya, who was wounded by shrapnel in the head, died from his wound on Wednesday, 27 August 2003.

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

This week, Israeli occupying forces fired at Palestinian civilians, shelled Palestinian residential areas and encroached into Palestinian Authority controlled areas. Following are details of these human rights violations:

Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by dozens of heavy military vehicles and jeeps, encroached into Nablus and its four refugee camps, through all of the areas entrances. Israeli forces took control of the entire area before imposing a curfew and conducting home raids and searches, most of which took place in the old part of town. Simultaneously, Israeli forces closed the entrances to the town, forbidding its residents from either entering or leaving, while Israeli troops patrolled neighboring villages where a curfew had also been imposed.

Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces raided three mosques in the towns of Hebron and Dura, conducting searches and preventing the worshipers from commencing with their prayers. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces raided three different mosques: Al-Haras mosque north of Hebron; al-Ansar mosque west of Hebron; and Dura Mosque southwest of Hebron. Israeli forces thoroughly searched the mosques and banned the worshipers from praying.

According to eyewitnesses, in addition to preventing worshipers from praying and conducting searches, Israeli forces confiscated a number of religious and non-religious books from the al Razi library of Dura mosque. In al-Ansar mosque, they mistreated and threw copies of the Qura’an and other religious books.

It is worth noting that in a previous incident on Wednesday, 8 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed down 2 mosques, al-Sheikh ‘Ali al-Baka’ in the Sheikh neighborhood in the town center and al-Haras mosque in the northern part of the town.

At approximately 19:45, Israeli occupying forces positioned in the “Neve Dekalim” and “Gadid” settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian homes in Khan Yunis refugee camp, al-Nimsawi neighborhood, Baten al-Samin and the cemetery area, east of the settlements. Several live bullets reached the front area of Nasser hospital, causing a state of panic among the patients and civilians. During the three-hour indiscriminate shelling Samir Yahia al-Lahham, 19, was wounded by a live bullet in his right foot. Al-Lahham informed the PCHR’s fieldworker that he was wounded while on the rooftop of his house in Shubeir Street, about one kilometer east of “Neve Dekalim” settlement.

At that same time, Israeli soldiers positioned in “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the western al-Rabwat area and al-Amal neighborhood. There was a state of widespread panic in the two areas although no casualties were reported.

Also in the evening, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by tanks, armored personnel carriers and dozens of military jeeps, moved into the northern West Bank town of Jenin and its refugee camp from all four directions. Israeli forces took complete control over the town, imposing a curfew and raiding and searching Palestinian houses.

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned near Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border south of Rafah, opened fire for ten minutes on Palestinian houses to the north. No casualties were reported.

Friday 22 August, 2003

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned near Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses to the north. The shelling continued for one hour. No casualties were reported. Two hours later, Israeli forces positioned in a military location in Tel Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah, opened fire at near-by Palestinian houses. Several houses were lightly damaged.

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by 4 heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved 400m into the southwest of Rafah. The bulldozer razed an 8-dunum area of agricultural land planted with olives, palms and citrus owned by ‘Abdullah ‘Abada Abu Samhadaneh. In addition, a 40-meter-deep well, two agricultural pools and three insecticide sprayers were destroyed.

At approximately 08:45, Israeli occupying soldiers in military vehicles opened fire at two Palestinian civilians in the Israeli-controlled Jabal Jawhar area in the east of Hebron. Israeli soldiers claimed that the two civilians had violated the curfew imposed upon the area. As a result, Rawhi Hafez al-Rujbi, 56, was seriously wounded in the head when his skull was fractured by a rubber-coated metal bullet.

At approximately 12:50, Israeli occupying soldiers in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood while Palestinian civilians were on their way to mosques for their Friday prayers.

At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into the towns of Beit Sahour, south of Bethlehem, and Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem. The two towns are under full Palestinian control. Israeli forces withdrew from the towns half an hour later.

PCHR’s field worker in that area reported that at 15:00, two armored personnel carriers and five military jeeps of Israeli occupying forces moved 80m into Istaih and the YMCA streets, in the east of Beit Sahour. At the same time, an armored vehicle and two military jeeps moved 50 meters into the Orthodox Club Street in the west of Beit Jala.

In the context of a systematic policy of opening fire at Palestinian civilians crossing military checkpoints, Israeli soldiers positioned around the Habla Gate, south of Qalqilya, opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians passing through the gate. Two civilians were wounded:

At 21:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, a large bulldozer and an ambulance moved into the neighborhoods of Khellat Hadour, Namra in the east, al Ramah, Ras al-Jorah, Bir al-Mahjar and al-Ahli hospital in the northwest of Hebron. All these areas are Palestinian controlled. The incursion continued until 03:00 in the following morning and was accompanied by house raids.

At approximately 01:30, Israeli soldiers positioned in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Amal neighborhood to the southeast of the settlement. At the same time, Israeli soldiers positioned in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Nimsawi neighborhood. No casualties were reported, but a number of houses were lightly damaged.

Israeli occupying forces opened fire indiscriminately at Palestinian civilians in Nablus, who had left their homes upon an announcement that the curfew, imposed on the city and its refugee camps, was lifted. 17 Palestinians sustained various injuries.

According to PCHR’s investigation and eyewitness’ reports, at approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces lifted the curfew it had imposed on Nablus and its refugee camps since it had regained control of the town on Thursday, 21 August 2003. During the first hour after lifting the curfew, Israeli forces began to fire indiscriminately into the town streets. 19 civilians, including 9 children, sustained various injuries. Two were wounded by gunfire, seven by shrapnel and 10 by rubber-coated metal bullets. Note: A list of names of the injured is available from PCHR per request.

At approximately 21:55, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations surrounding “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood, east of the settlement. The indiscriminate shelling continued for half an hour, during which several bullets reached the center of the town, hundreds of meters away from the settlement. Mohammad Harb Sabah Abu Shanab, 21, was wounded by a live bullet in the head. He was evacuated in a civilian car to Nasser hospital, and afterwards to the Gaza European Hospital. Nevertheless, he was in such a critical state that he had to be removed to the Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza city. A PCHR field worker reported that the young man was shot while in the Kala’a park in the town center, approximately 2000 meters away from the source of fire.

An hour later, Israeli soldiers on a tank, positioned in a military location near “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, fired flare bombs and opened fire at Palestinian houses in the western al-Rabawat area and al-Amal neighborhood. This caused a widespread state of panic and terror among civilians, though no casualties were reported.

At approximately 18:35, Israeli soldiers positioned in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood. 3 hours later, Israeli occupying forces resumed their shelling of the area. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 23:30, Israeli occupying forces in tanks at a military location west of Rafah, and at the Egyptian border south of Rafah, shelled nearby Palestinian residential areas. The heavy shelling continued for three hours. One of the shells hit an electricity transmitter in Tal al-Sultan, causing a power shortage in the rest of the town. Another shell hit the Rafah municipal electricity transmitter that provides electricity to a Rafah Municipale well and pumping stopped leaving residents with no water.

At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by seven military bulldozers, committed widespread upheaval and leveling of agricultural lands in the al-Sayafa area between the “Dogit” and “Eli Sinai” settlements in the northern Gaza strip. These lands had previously been leveled during the al-Aqsa Intifada. The land leveling continued up to the following day, 26 August 2003. Israeli forces razed a 2-dunum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Jamil ‘Abdul Rahman al-Ghoul. The fence surrounding the land was also leveled.

At approximately midnight, Israeli occupying forces positioned in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp, al-Amal neighborhood, Baten al-Samin and the cemeteries area, east of the settlement. Miriam Mahmoud Ahmad al-Lahham, 11, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg. A PCHR field worker reported that a live bullet had come through the window and hit the child as she stood in her bedroom on the second floor of her family home, 600m east of “Neve Dekalim” settlement. At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces resumed the shelling of the same area, but no casualties were reported.

At approximately 07:30, Israeli occupying forces positioned in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled and opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp, al-Nimsawi neighborhood and the cemeteries area to the east of the settlement. The heavy shelling resulted in the injury of two civilians while severe damage was incurred to buildings no. 1 and 3 in al-Nimsawi neighborhood. The fourth floor of building no. 1 caught fire. The Palestinian civil defense personnel were unable to reach it due to heavy shelling. Both buildings have sustained damages since the beginning of the Intifada due to similar shelling, forcing Palestinian residents to evacuate the buildings.

1. ‘Abdul Rahman Khalil Ibrahim Shaqqura, 45, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand while he was in his first floor balcony of the building no. 6 in al-Namsawi neighborhood; and

2. ‘Eissa Ahmad al-Akkad, 53, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand as he stood in a street in the Namsawi neighborhood.

At approximately 14:00, 10 Israeli military jeeps moved into Ramallah, taking a position near the Chamber of Commerce and a post office in the center of the town. Then, they broke into offices of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and arrested 15 Palestinians. Soon, some Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones towards Israeli soldiers. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire, wounding 14 Palestinian civilians. All injuries were treated in the field, except for two children who were evacuated to the hospital:

1. Emile Ghassan ‘Abdu, 17, from Jafna village, north of Ramallah, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and

2. Ahmed Mahmoud Jasser, 11, from Ramallah, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.

In an apparent willful killing, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian near Rachels Tomb, north of Bethlehem. Israeli military sources claimed that “Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian who suspiciously attempted to stab Israeli soldiers near Rachel Tomb, north of Bethlehem.” The uncertainty of the Israeli narrative proves that Israeli forces used excessive force against the victim.

According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 14:20, a Palestinian civilian was walking near Bilal Ben Rabah mosque. When he got approximately 20m away from an Israeli bus parked near Rachels Tomb, north of Bethlehem, an Israeli soldier shot him dead. Israeli forces closed the area and denied access to ambulances. They took the victim’s body in a military jeep to an unknown destination. Later that night, upon coordination between the Palestinian and Israeli side, a Palestinian ambulance received the body. The victim was identified as Mustafa Mohammed ‘Ali Salahat, 39. He was shot by a live bullet in the chest.

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

In violation of international humanitarian law, especially the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, whose article 33 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, they destroyed 7 Palestinian houses in Hebron, Jenin, Nablus and Tulkarm.

On Thursday, 21 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces destroyed two houses in Hebron. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 00:10, Israeli occupying forces moved into Kharas village, northwest of Hebron. They surrounded a 120-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to the family of ‘Ali Yousef ‘Ali Halahla, 17, who was killed in an armed clash with Israeli occupying forces near “Beit Shemesh” settlement, west of Hebron, last year. They forced the 8 residents of the house and planted explosives on the second floor of the house, where the family lived. At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces destroyed the second floor and all its contents. The first floor, where Halahla’s brother and his wife and two children live, was severely damaged.

At approximately 04:20, Israeli occupying forces moved in Wad Abu Katila area in the west of Hebron. They surrounded a 160-square-meter flat owned by the family of Ra’ed ‘Abdul hamid Misk, 28, who was killed while carrying out a bombing in occupied Jerusalem on Tuesday, 19 August 2003. The flat lies on the third floor of a 5-storey apartment building owned by ‘Abdul Muhsen Salama Zughair. Israeli soldiers broke into the building and forced its residents out. At approximately 05:00, they destroyed Misk’s flat. As a result, 4 other flats were damaged.

In Jenin, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 3 Palestinian houses on the same day. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Nazlat Zaid village, southwest of Jenin. They surrounded a 140-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by ‘Abdul Samee’ Suleiman Ziad. They called on the 8 residents of the house through megaphones to leave it and they did. An Israeli officer informed the owner that his house would be destroyed and gave the family 15 minutes to evacuate their belongings. Then, Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it. Israeli occupying forces claim that the owner’s son, Sa’ed, 25, is wanted for his activities in the Intifada.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into the Palestinian Authority controlled al-Yamun village, west of Jenin. They surrounded an 80-square-meter house owned by ‘Ali Mofleh ‘Abahra. They informed the owner that his house would be destroyed and gave the 8-member family 15 minutes to evacuate their belongings. Then, Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it. A neighboring 150-square-meter, 3-storey house, in which the families of three of the owner’s sons live, was severely damaged. The owner is the father of Ahmed ‘Aabhra who carried out a bombing in the Israeli town of Bissan on 19 June 2003.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into the Palestinian Authority controlled Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. They surrounded a 110-square-meter house owned by Khairi Fathi Yahia. They called on the 7 residents of the house through megaphones to leave it. They gave the family 20 minutes to evacuate their belongings before Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it. A neighboring house owned by Ahmed Saleh Qassem Yahia was severely damaged. Khairi Fathi Yahia is the father of Ahmed Yahia who carried out a bombing in the Israeli town of Netanya on 7 July 2001.

On Friday, 22 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces destroyed two Palestinian houses in Tulkarm and Nablus. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into the Palestinian National Authority controlled Ramin village, east of Tulkarm. They surrounded the southern part of the village. They threw sound bombs on the house of Ibrahim Ahmed Ebsais, 70. The owner’s son, Malek, 22, went out to check what was going on. He was injured in the ears and left leg by a sound bomb. Israeli soldiers broke into the 190-square-meter house and forced its 3 residents out. Then, they planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it. The owner is the father of Zaid Ebsais, 26, who was arrested by Israeli occupying forces on 9 December 2001, and was sentenced to 55 years in prison. Two neighboring houses were severely damaged.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces that had moved into Nablus on Thursday, 21 August 2003, surrounded a 3-storey apartment building in Khellat al-Iman owned by ‘Othman al-Busaili. They forced the 11-member family of ‘Emad Mohammed al-Nouri, which rents a 120-square-meter flat on the first floor of the building out. They gave the family 10 minutes only to evacuate their belongings. Then, Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside the flat. At approximately 03:10, they destroyed it. Al-Nouri is the father of Samer al-Nouri who carried out a bombing in Tel Aviv on 5 January 2003.

While Israeli occupying forces have continued to perpetrate violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians and property, they have continued to establish a separating wall between the West Bank and Israel. For this purpose, on Friday morning, 22 August 2003, they demolished dozens of Palestinians stores and houses in Nazalat ‘Eissa village, north of Tulkarm.

According to investigation conducted by PCHR and statements by eyewitnesses, including Ziad al-Salem, head of the local council, at approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by 5 military bulldozers, moved into Nazlat ‘Eissa village and imposed a curfew. Then, the bulldozers started to demolish dozens of commercial stores, workshops, plantation nurseries and houses along the village’s border with the “Green Line.” They demolished 115 commercial stores with a total area of 6874 square meters (PCHR has full details of those stores). They also demolished 4 houses:

1. A 180-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Tayseer Mohammed Taher Hussein and rented by Sami Mohammed Sa’id Fayez Abu Mukh and his son, in which 8 people (2 families) lived;

2. A 200-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Ahmed Mahmoud Asa’ad Ibrahim, in which 10 people (2 families) lived;

3. A 360-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Asa’ad Mahmoud Asa’ad Ibrahim, in which 8 people (2 families) lived; and

4. A 180-square-meter, under-construction house owned by Aabad Ma’rouf ‘Abdul Qader ‘Alloush.

On Sunday, 24 August 2003, the local council of Nazlat ‘Eissa village received an Israeli military order (T/57/03) signed by Moshe Kiblensky, the Israeli military commander of the West Bank, according to which Israeli occupying forces would confiscate 16 donums of agricultural land in the village. The recent land leveling and confiscation by Israeli occupying forces is due to continued construction of part of the separating wall extending from Zeita village in the south to Qiffing village in the north. This part of the wall would completely isolate and cage Nazlat ‘Eissa village. It would also seize approximately 360 donums of Palestinian agricultural land and isolate another 500 donums. It is worth noting that Israeli occupying forces demolished 62 Palestinian commercial stores in the same area earlier this year. The area, which has been subject to destruction is a central market for the region.

On the same day, the local council of Baqa al-Sharqia village, north of Tulkarm, received a similar Israeli military order, accompanied by maps, according to which Israeli occupying forces would seize 300 donums of agricultural land owned by a number of families in the village.

On Sunday morning also, Israeli occupying forces started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Abu Dis village, east of Jerusalem, for the purpose of the establishment of the separating wall. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli bulldozer started to raze more than 45 donums of Palestinian agricultural land, whose owners had been informed by Israeli occupying forces in the previous week that their lands would be confiscated for the purpose of establishing the separating wall.

In violation of the right of Palestinian civilians to free movement, at approximately 08:00 on Friday, 22 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed the junctions of al-Matahen, Abu Houli and al-Shuhada on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip This act effectively partitions the Gaza Strip into 3 isolated zones. Israeli tanks were positioned at al-Matahen junction, north of Khan Yunis and Israeli occupying forces put cement blocks at Abu Houli junction, south of Deir al-Balah, preventing movement of Palestinian civilians until 20:00. Israeli occupying forces have also blocked al-Shuhada junction, south of Gaza city.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict travel of Palestinians through Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border, which is the only outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. On Monday and Tuesday, 25 and 26 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces began work at the crossing 3 hours late. As a consequence, many travelers were forced to go back to their homes and hundreds of travelers were forced to spend the night at the Egyptian side of the terminal under severe conditions. Israeli occupying forces have also continued to check Palestinian policemen working at the terminal and force them to enter the terminal in civilian clothes before putting on their official uniforms. On Friday, 22 August 2003, Palestinian policemen refused to undergo checking, so Israeli occupying forces denied them access to the terminal. For further details on the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, see PCHR’s Weekly Report issued on 22 August 2003.

Contrary to Israeli claims regarding easing the siege imposed on the West Bank and easing restrictions on internal movement, Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict movement of Palestinians at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

For the second consecutive week, Israeli occupying forces have imposed a curfew on the old town, the center and the south of Hebron. They have tightened the siege imposed on the town through erecting more checkpoints and roadblocks at its main and branch entrances. On Friday morning, 22 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces expanded the curfew to include most neighborhoods in the southeast and southwest of the town. According to Palestinian civilians living in Jabal Jouhar neighborhood in the south and Wad al-Ghorous and al-Masharqa al-Fouqa neighborhoods in the southeast, Israeli occupying forces prohibited any movement in these area even for humanitarian purposes. Israeli forces also closed a number of roads, which they had reopened a month ago, and erected checkpoints and roadblocks, especially in the areas of Wad al-Nasara and al-Kassara in the east of the town, and the areas of Qalqas and al-Fahes in the south. According to Palestinian civilians living in the area of Halhoul and Beit Kahel bridges, north and northwest of Hebron respectively, Israeli occupying forces fired at them in an attempt to prevent their access to Hebron.

On Saturday evening, 23 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed a strict siege on Bethlehem. They closed all of its main and branch entrances. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupying forces closed Wad al-Nar road, which links between the north and south of the West Bank, and denied the movement of dozens of cars. They also closed the area of Rachels Tomb.

On Thursday morning, 21 August 2003, Israeli soldiers at Qalandya military checkpoint, south of Ramallah, initiated a series of arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians moving through the checkpoint. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers informed Palestinian civilians that they had decided to cancel their “checkpoint permits.” Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinian civilians who were on their way to hospitals from crossing the checkpoint. In the same morning, Israeli occupying forces erected a roadblock at the junction of Jaba’ village, east of Qalandya checkpoint, and blocked civilian cars for several hours. They have also continued to close Ramallah-Bir Zeit road, forcing Palestinian civilians to walk. They closed ‘Atara military checkpoint and forced dozens of vehicles traveling to the northern West Bank to travel back. In the meantime, Israeli occupying forces have tightened the siege imposed on western and southern villages of Ramallah.

Although Israeli occupying forces withdrew from Nablus on Monday morning, 25 August 2003, they have imposed a strict siege on the town. PCHR’s field worker in Nablus reported that a number of Israeli heavy military vehicles were deployed at the junctions of the villages surrounding Nablus, which lead to the town through rough mountainous roads. Israeli soldiers deployed around these villages to prevent any attempt by Palestinian civilians to enter Nablus.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Jenin. On Saturday and Sunday, 23 and 24 August 2003, dozens of Palestinian civilian cars were seen waiting in a long queue at al-Shuhada Triangle, south of Jenin, without being allowed to cross into the town. In the meantime, Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on the town. On Monday morning, 25 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces redeployed around Jenin, but maintained the strict siege.

On Saturday morning, 23 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces erected a number of roadblocks in al-Kafriyat area, south of Tulkram, denying movement of Palestinian civilians from and into the town. Israeli soldiers were also deployed in agricultural areas to prevent Palestinian civilians from using branch roads leading to the town. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupying forces closed the iron gates surrounding Baqa al-Sharqia village, north of Tulkarm. They denied movement of Palestinians from and into the village and Palestinian civilians who had already left the village were not able to go back to their homes. Israeli occupying forces also closed the iron gate at the entrance of Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm, and declared the village a closed military zone.

Israeli occupying forces have maintained the siege imposed on Qalqilya. For the second consecutive day, Israeli forces have continued to close Habla gate, which is the only outlet leading to the town. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers at the gate prevented Palestinian civilians from entering or leaving.

Israeli occupying forces have maintained the siege imposed on Salfit and nearby villages and closed Za’tara and Deir Ballout military checkpoints. They prevented Palestinian civilians living in the villages of Bedia, Masha, al-Zawia, Qarawat Bani Hassan, Deir Ballout and Rafat from crossing Rafat military checkpoint. They also prevented Palestinian civilian vehicles from traveling to Ramallah through Deir Ballout military checkpoint. According to eyewitnesses, Za’tara military checkpoint was closed on Saturday morning, 23 August 2003, by Israeli occupying forces, obstructing the passage of ambulances. Israeli occupying forces also closed the entrance of Hares village, and prevented Palestinian civilians from entering or leaving the village.

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.

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