PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

No. 12/2004

25 - 31 March 2004

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). Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces included willful and extra-judicial killing, incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling and house demolitions. Israeli occupying forces have also continued construction of the “Annexation Wall” inside the West Bank and continued to impose a tight siege on the OPTs. This week, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of military incursions into Palestinian areas and fired at Palestinian demonstrations. This week, Israeli forces killed a 7-year-old child in Balata refugee camp, and a young man in Bethlehem. They also arrested dozens of allegedly wanted Palestinian civilians. 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 one house in the West Bank. On 28 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces extra-judicially assassinated Jamil Talab ‘Ouda al-Tal, 35, from al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron.

Israeli settlers escalated their attacks against Palestinian civilians and their properties. They seized more Palestinian land for the purpose of settlement expansion and seized a number of houses after expelling Palestinian families.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted 3 military incursions into Palestinian areas. They destroyed 13 houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and a one in Rafah. In addition, a number of Palestinian civilians were injured by the Israeli shelling.

Israeli occupying forces have continued construction of the "Annexation Wall" inside the West Bank, although the Israeli High Court issued a temporary injunction stopping the construction of the wall in some villages. This week, construction was centered in the northern Jordan Valley. Israeli forces have also started to establish a fence around “Eitamar” settlement, southeast of Nablus. For this purpose, they delivered notices to about 30 families living in the area to leave it. Israeli forces also uprooted olive trees in Qatna villages, and used force against protests organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli peace activists.

This week, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPTs and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

In the Gaza Strip, following the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin on Monday morning, 22 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces imposed a total siege on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They closed all border crossings into the Gaza Strip, and divided it into 3 isolated zones. They also closed all entrances to Palestinian areas located near Israeli settlements and prevented Palestinian civilians from moving freely. Such restrictions on freedom of movement are in contravention of international human rights law, to which Israel is a state party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have blocked a number of roads using cement blocks, sand barriers, and trenches, and imposed curfews on a number of villages.

The following is a summary of gross Israeli violations of international law perpetrated against Palestinian civilians in March 2004:

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

In the early morning, Israeli occupying forces conducted a wide-scale incursion into Khan Yunis refugee camp, during which they destroyed 13 Palestinian houses. Three Palestinian civilians were also injured by the Israeli shelling.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 00:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 3 bulldozers and 2 helicopters, moved approximately 200 meters into Khan Yunis refugee camp. Under cover of indiscriminate shelling, they started to demolish a number of houses and level ruins of already demolished ones. At approximately 01:20, an Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at an inhabited house in the refugee camp. The missile hit one of the rooms, but the 14 residents of the house survived and were forced to vacate the house. A member of the Palestinian National Security Force, Marwan Jamil ‘Awad, 40, was injured by shrapnel from the Israeli shelling while he was on-duty. During this incursion, Israeli occupying forces completely destroyed 3 houses and 10 others partially. As a result, 128 people (23 families) have become homeless. At approximately 09:00, while Israeli forces were withdrawing from the camp, hundreds of Palestinian civilians gathered to check the destruction left by Israeli occupying forces. A number of children threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the children, wounding 2:

2. Zakaria Yahia ‘Awad, 17, seriously wounded by a live bullet that caused a cut in one of the leg arteries.

Following are details of the houses that were destroyed by Israeli occupying forces in Khan Yunis refugee camp:

1. They completely destroyed a 200-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Jaber and Nabil ‘Ali Mahmoud Abu Shuqair, in which 16 people (2 families) lived. The house was initially partially destroyed by Israeli forces on 15 December 2003.

2. They completely destroyed a 120-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Ra’ed Sha’ban Mohammed al-Tabash, in which 10 people lived. The house was initially partially destroyed by Israeli forces on 15 December 2003.

3. They completely destroyed a 100-square-meter house owned by Mahmoud Sha’ban Mohammed al-Tabash, in which 7 people lived. The house was partially destroyed in the past.

4. They partially destroyed a 150-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Khaled and ‘Abdul Rahman Ahmed Khalil Mousa, in which 14 people (3 families) live.

5. They partially destroyed a 190-square-meter house owned by ‘Ali Mansour ‘Abdul Rahman al-Ghamri, in which 14 people (3 families) live.

6. They partially destroyed a 190-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Na’im Sha’ban Mohammed Tabash, in which 13 people (3 families) live.

7. They partially destroyed a 220-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Mohammed Khamis Mohammed ‘Elwan, in which 8 people live.

8. They partially destroyed a 135-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Subhi Ramadan Hussein Abu ‘Elwan, in which 7 people (2 families) live.

9. They partially destroyed an 80-square-meter house owned by Ibrahim Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Nemer, in which 3 people live.

10. They partially destroyed a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Ra’fat Hassan Mohammed al-Tabash, in which 9 people (2 families) live.

11. They partially destroyed a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Jamal Hamza ‘Abdul Rahman Abu ‘Arqoub, in which 2 people live.

12. They partially destroyed a 120-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Mohammed Hussein Suleiman Burais, in which 15 people (3 families) live.

13. They partially destroyed a 90-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Fawzi Mohammed Mo’ammar, in which 10 people live.

At approximately 02:30, 7 Israeli military jeeps moved into Kufor Qallil village, south of Nablus. Israeli soldiers raided and searched Suleiman Sayel’s house and arrested his three sons: ‘Odai, 22; Tala’at, 31; and Bahjat, 37.

At approximately 03:00, 15 Israeli military jeeps moved into Bethlehem and the neighboring ‘Aaida refugee camp. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians, including 2 children:

At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into Ematin village, east of Qalqilya. They opened fire at houses and imposed a curfew. No casualties or arrests were reported.

At approximately 07:00, 7 Israeli military jeeps moved into Rafidya neighborhood in Nablus. Israeli soldiers arrested 2 Palestinian schoolchildren:

At the same time, a number of Israeli military vehicles moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. Israeli soldiers arrested Hani Zaki ‘Ali Khalil, 21.

At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Toura al-Gharbia village, west of Jenin, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched a number of houses. Even though no arrests were reported, Israeli forces threatened to take tough measures against Palestinian civilians if they continued to demonstrate against the construction of the “Annexation Wall” in the area.

At approximately 12:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Burqa village, northwest of Nablus. They opened fire at houses and imposed a curfew.

At approximately 03:00, 20 Israeli military vehicles moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin, opened fire at houses, then imposed a curfew. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and 7 Palestinians:

At approximately 03:30, 15 Israeli military jeeps moved into Salfit village, south of Nablus. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:

At approximately 10:30, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian agricultural areas located west of the border. A Palestinian civilian, Suleiman Mahmoud Abu Hajras, 46, was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh, when he was near his house, approximately 1700m away from the border.

In a case of apparent willful killing, in the afternoon, an Israeli sniper shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Bethlehem, as he was watching a peaceful demonstration in the town.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, in the afternoon, hundreds of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration that moved towards Bilal Ben Rabah Mosque (Rachel Tomb) north of Bethlehem. The demonstrators threw stones at nearby Israeli military posts. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, tear gas canisters, and sound bombs at the demonstrators. At approximately 15:20, while Mahmoud ‘Omar Zaghari, 20, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp, was standing near an ambulance near the street in which clashes took place, he was hit by a live bullet to the back. He was evacuated to Beit Jala Hospital, but died a few minutes later. According to eyewitnesses, the victim did not throw stones at Israeli soldiers and was fired at from a distance of approximately 350 meters.

At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town. A Palestinian civilian, Jihad Khaled al-Qutati, 18, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand, while he was playing football in al-Shaboura refugee camp, approximately 800m away from the border.

At approximately 03:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-Shawawra village, east of Beit Sahour. They raided and searched ‘Eissa Hamdan’s house. They arrested his three sons: Ayman; Raja; and Mohammed. Raja and Mohammed were released later, while Ayman remained in custody.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into the neighboring al-Kahs village and arrested Maher Yousef Hamdan, 22.

At approximately 03:15, a number of Israeli military vehicles moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian children:

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Leed village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Emad Mahmoud Abu Salah, 38, and arrested him.

In the morning, 2 Israeli military jeeps moved into Sabastia village, northwest of Nablus. At approximately 07:45, Israeli soldiers broke into the two secondary schools of the village and forced the students out, then imposed a curfew on the village. No arrests were reported.

In another case of apparent willful killing, in the morning, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian child in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:25, 2 Israeli military jeeps moved into Nablus through its eastern entrance, entered Balata refugee camp through its northeastern entrance, and then stopped near Maher Salim Walwil’s house. An Israeli soldier fired one live bullet at the house from the top of a military jeep. The bullet hit Walwil’s 7-year-old child Khaled in the neck. The child’s cousin carried him to an ambulance that was in the area, which soon evacuated him to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, but he died a few minutes later. According to eyewitnesses, the child was standing near a window on the second floor of the house when he was shot, and the area was completely quiet.

At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 50 meters into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Under cover of indiscriminate shelling, they leveled ruins of already demolished houses. The incursion continued until 18:00, during which time Israeli forces opened fire at the area. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Walaa' Ibrahim Abu Hashem, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the right knee; and

At approximately 03:00, a number of Israeli military vehicles moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. Israeli forces raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:

At approximately 13:00, 2 jeeps of the so-called Israeli Border Guard moved into al-Tour neighborhood in the south of the old town of Jerusalem. A number of Palestinian schoolchildren gathered and threw stones at the jeeps. Israeli soldiers chased the children and arrested 3:

At approximately 14:00, 9 Israeli military jeeps moved into Nablus. Israeli forces raided a consolation house of the al-'Afouri family in the old town and arrested 2 brothers: Shaher Mahmoud al-'Afouri, 28; and Bashar Mahmoud al-'Afouri, 35. They also arrested 2 Palestinian children in Rafidya neighborhood: Tamer Khuwaira, 14; and Ahmed al-Bishtwai, 16.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Bethlehem and the neighboring al-Duhaisha refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians, including 2 brothers:

At approximately 03:15, Israeli occupying forces moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and searched Khalil Nassar's house and arrested his son, Lu'ai, 21.

At approximately 05:00, 4 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-'Ebayat village, southeast of Bethlehem. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim Khulaif 'Ebayat, 27, and arrested him.

At approximately 05:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:

At approximately 08:30, Israeli occupying forces positioned in a military location in the west of Rafah opened fire at Tal al-Sultan neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Yousef Suleiman al-Khashan, 42, from Khan Yunis, was wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder. He was working in an UNRWA school in the area, which was still under-construction. Another worker was wounded in the same school last week.

At approximately 10:00, a number of Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 200 meters into al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Under cover of indiscriminate shelling, they demolished a 140-square-meter house owned by Samir Nasser Nasrallah, in which 10 people (2 families) lived. Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist, was killed by Israeli occupying forces on 16 March 2003 near this house, while she was trying to stop Israeli military bulldozers from demolishing Palestinian houses in the area. The house was partially demolished by Israeli forces on 10 January 2004.

At approximately 17:15, Israeli occupying forces positioned in a military location in Tal Zo'rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town. A Palestinian child, Hassan Mousa Hijazi, 11, was wounded by a live bullet in the right forearm. According to his family, the child was near the family's house, approximately 500 meters away from the source of firing when he was hit by a live bullet.

At approximately 02:00, 6 Israeli military jeeps moved into Nablus through its western entrance. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians, including 2 twins:

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into 'Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided al-Nabulsi building and arrested Amjad Abu Maghli, 22.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into Jenin through its northern entrance. They raided and searched Khamis Jaber's house and arrested his daughter, Zahra, 17.

At approximately 09:30, Israeli soldiers positioned at a military checkpoint erected at the entrance to Til village, southwest of Nablus, fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who resorted to alternative branch roads. Dirar Mohammed Tayseer Ramadan, 22, was injured by shrapnel from a live bullet. The shrapnel lodged in his right thigh.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched Qassed al-Tiriaqi’s house and arrested his son, Wa’el, 27.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Anza village, south of Jenin. They arrested Mo’ayad Fadi Daraghma, 24.

At approximately 03:40, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into Kufor Ne’ma village, west of Ramallah. They fired live ammunition and sound bombs a house belonging to the family of Muhannad Ahmed Du’ais al-Dik, 34, and then broke into it. They forced the family out and searched the house. Then, they arrested al-Dik. Israeli military sources claimed that al-Dik, who is physically disabled and suffers from serious health problems, is an activist of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah movement. Israeli forces had arrested 3 of his brothers a few months ago for the same reason.

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassination officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments against alleged Palestinian activists, on Sunday morning, 28 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces shot dead Jamil Talab 'Ouda al-Tal, 35, from al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron, inside his house and in front of his wife. The Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot reported that the Israeli military declared that it killed a wanted Palestinian activist, who was a member of the Fatah movement. It claimed that the soldiers thought he had intended to fire at them, and that the Israeli military did not give further details on the incident.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 01:00 on Sunday, 8 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron. At approximately 01:30, they surrounded al-Tal's house. Al-Tal and his wife were surprised by stones being thrown at the windows and heavy banging on the door. He went to the roof to check what was going on and his wife went to open the door. When she opened the door, Israeli soldiers ordered her to get her husband out of the house, and she asked them to give him a few minutes to put on his clothes. When al-Tal looked through a window, Israeli soldiers opened fire at him. He was hit by 4 live bullets in the head, the chest and the abdomen. Israeli soldiers did not offer him any medical aid, despite calls by his wife. Al-Tal died from his injury a few minutes later. Israeli soldiers took his body to an unknown destination. The body was delivered to a Palestinian ambulance at 10:00. The victim was a father of 4 children.

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

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

At approximately 01:00 on Sunday, 28 March 2004, 4 Israeli military jeeps moved into Bidya village, southeast of Qalqilya. They surrounded a 175-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by 'Abdul Latif 'Abdul Rahim Mustafa Hussein. Israeli soldiers raided the house, forced its 15 residents out and planted explosives inside. At approximately 04:00, they destroyed the house. The owner's son, 'Abdul Rahim, 19, was arrested by Israeli forces in Tel Aviv on 23 March 2004 after he had attacked 3 Israelis following the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

Israeli occupying forces have continued construction of the "Annexation Wall" inside the West Bank, confiscating more areas of Palestinian land, and demolishing more homes for this purpose. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupying forces dug trenches and leveled areas of land extending from road (90) parallel to the Jordan River in the east to the hills overlooking the river in the west.

Despite a temporary injunction issued by the Israeli High Court stopping construction of the wall in a number of Palestinian villages, northwest of Jerusalem, on Friday, 26 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces uprooted hundreds of olive trees west of Qatna village. On Saturday morning, 27 March 2004, Palestinian civilians organized peaceful protests in the area. Israeli forces fired tear gas at the protesters, making them suffer from tear gas inhalation.

On Sunday evening, 28 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces moved into Kherbat Tana area in the east of Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They ordered about 30 Palestinian families living in the area to leave it by Tuesday, 30 March 2004, for the purpose of the construction of a part of the Barrier around the “Eitamar” settlement near Beit Fourik village.

On Monday, 29 March 2004, the ‘Civil Administration of Israeli’ occupying forces delivered a notice to Suleiman ‘Ouda Nasrallah, from Arab al-Ramadin village, south of Hebron, informing him that buildings and wells belonging to him would be demolished for allegedly lacking proper licenses.

Following the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin on Monday morning, 22 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces imposed a total siege on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They closed all border crossings into the Gaza Strip, and divided it into 3 isolated zones. They also closed all entrances to Palestinian areas located near Israeli settlements and prevented Palestinian civilians from moving freely. Such restrictions on freedom of movement are in contravention of international human rights law, to which Israel is a state party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, continued to obstruct movement of Palestinian civilians. The two checkpoints, which are open for a maximum of a few hours each day, have become notorious for acts of humiliation and harassment by Israeli soldiers.

At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 25 March 2004, Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints. This closure continued until 13:30, during which Israeli forces held and searched a number of vehicles.

At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 28 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints. They held dozens of Palestinian vehicles in between and searched passengers. This closure continued until 17:00, during which time Israeli forces arrested Mahmoud Kamal al-Din Qe’dan, 21, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, from Rafah.

At approximately 11:00 on Monday morning, 29 March 2004, Israeli forces imposed more restrictions at the two checkpoints and later closed them. They held and searched a number of vehicles and interrogated a number of passengers.

For the second consecutive week, Israeli occupying forces have continued to close Erez crossing at the northern entrance to the Gaza Strip, denying access of thousands of Palestinian workers to their work places in Israel.

In violation of the right to health, since the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Israeli occupying forces have denied access of Palestinian patients from the Gaza Strip to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank to receive medical care. The average number of patients transferred from the Gaza Strip to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank is 45. Recently, Israeli forces decreased the number of Palestinian ambulances working at the crossing from 6 to 1. Israeli occupying forces have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the entry of medicines into the Gaza Strip.

On Sunday, 28 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces reopened the Erez industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip, and allowed access for Palestinian workers to their work places in the zone under severe restrictions. On the same day, Israeli forces allowed a few Palestinian traders to travel through the Erez crossing.

Israeli occupying forces have maintained the closure of Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, and Karni crossing, east of Gaza city, for the second consecutive day. On Sunday, 28 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces allowed importation of construction of raw materials to the Gaza Strip through Sofa crossing.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have continued to close Tal al-Sultan checkpoint at the entrance to the area, in Rafah and impose restrictions on movement of Palestinian civilians through al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to the area in Khan Yunis.

On Thursday morning, Israeli occupying forces opened the two checkpoints, but closed them again on Sunday, 28 March 2004. On Monday, 29 March 2004, Israeli forces reopened al-Tuffah checkpoint, but did not allow passage of male Palestinians who are under 40, while Tal al-Sultan checkpoint remained closed.

Palestinians living in al-Mawasi area, of which there are approximately 15,000, live under extremely tight restrictions, which also apply to the entry of foodstuffs into the area and access to schools and farms. It takes residents of the areas several hours to cross Israeli military roadblocks and checkpoints. Palestinians living outside the area are prohibited from entering. Israeli forces have assigned numbers to residents of the area. These numbers are to be added to their identity cards. Palestinians who do not have these numbers will be prevented from entering the area. Women from the area married to men living outside the area cannot visit their families.

Israeli forces have also continued to impose a tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. On Monday, 29 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces reopened the gate at the entrance to the area after a one-week closure, but under severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On 9 March 2004, they had started to issue magnetic cards to 262 Palestinian civilians living in the area and farmers living outside the area. Moving in and out of the area will be facilitated through the use of these magnetic cards.

In the same context, since Monday morning, 22 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces have imposed severe restrictions movement of Palestinian civilians living in the al-Ma’ni area near “Kfar Darom” settlement in the central Gaza Strip.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have blocked a number of roads using cement blocks, sand barriers, and trenches, and imposed curfews on a number of villages.

Israeli occupying forces have imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Israeli soldiers positioned at Dahiat al-Barid military checkpoint at the northern entrance to the city have continued to impose restrictions on the access of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank to the city. In violation of the rights to freedom of movement and worship, on Friday 26 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces denied access of Palestinian Moslems who are under 45 to the al-Aqsa Mosque for the Friday Prayer.

On Thursday morning, 25 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces closed the western entrance to al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, with sand barriers. On Saturday, 27 March 2004, hundreds of Palestinian civilians had to wait from the morning until 16:00 at al-Container checkpoints to cross from and into Bethlehem, as Israeli forces closed the checkpoint.

Israeli occupying forces have imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have continued to close the southern entrance to Halhoul village for the second consecutive week. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces closed all roads linking al-Zahiriya village and the Green Line, and chased Palestinian workers who wished to travel to their work places inside Israel. Israeli forces also closed all roads linking between Yatta village and Hebron, and closed all entrances to al-Fawar refugee camp.

Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected more checkpoints around the city. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city, cut hundreds of work cards issued for teachers, medical personnel and other public employees claiming that they are forged.

On Saturday morning, Israeli forces positioned at Hawara checkpoint arrested Ahmed al-Hadawi, 47, an officer of the Palestinian National Security Force, while he was traveling to Ramallah.

Israeli occupying forces have imposed more restriction on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They reinforced their presence on the main roads leading to the town. They also imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian trucks through al-Hamra checkpoint in the northern Jordan Valley.

On Saturday morning, 27 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces established a new military checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Qalqilya, the sole entrance to the town after Israeli forces had completed the construction of the separation wall in the area. They also erected a number of checkpoints on Qalqilya-Nablus road, restricting movement of Palestinian civilians.

Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians between the town and neighboring villages. They erected temporary checkpoints on the roads leading to some villages and denied movement of Palestinian civilians.

Israeli Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

In addition to the construction of the "Annexation Wall", this week, Israeli occupying forces carried out a number of settlement activities in the West Bank.

On Sunday, 28 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces delivered notices to 11 Palestinian civilians living to the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron, informing them that their houses would be demolished, claiming that they had been built without proper licenses.

At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 27 March 2004, a number of Israeli settlers moved from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of Hebron, and attacked Palestinian houses in Wadi al-Nasara neighborhood. These attacks continued until 03:00 on the following day, and came as settlers attempted to establish mobile homes on areas of land belonging to the families of Mahmoud Jaber and Munther Da’na. Settlers threw stones and empty bottles at Palestinian houses.

On Sunday, 29 March 2004, a number of settlers from “Kharsina” settlement, east of Hebron, uprooted grape trees and demolished umbrellas belonging to the Sultan family. According to ‘Abdul Rahman Sultan, the settlers uprooted about 300 grape trees and destroyed the face surrounding his agricultural land.

In the north of the West Bank, Israeli settlers from “Qidumim” settlement, southwest of Nablus, denied access of Palestinian farmers from Kufor Qaddoum village to their agricultural lands. According to eyewitnesses, settlers, escorted by Israeli soldiers, threw stones at Palestinian farmers.

On Wednesday morning, 31 March 2004, a number of Israeli settlers seized two Palestinian inhabited houses in Silwan neighborhood in the south of the old town of Jerusalem. According to eyewitnesses, the settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, broke into the two houses, expelled the families, beat women and children and brought new furniture to the houses to live in them. For several years, settlers have made attempts to seize Palestinian properties in the area.

1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. PCHR believes the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as a state above law and continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPTs and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4. PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and solidarity groups to participate in the process of searching for Israeli war criminals and to urge their governments to bring these war criminals to justice.

5. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPTs.

6. PCHR calls upon European governments to change their positions towards the Palestinian cause at UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human Rights.

7. PCHR welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution, which referred the issue of the Separation Wall inside the OPTs to International Court of Justice to give a consultative opinion. There is no doubt that the wall is illegal, which obligates the international community to take steps that amount to the level of the expected decision by the court.

8. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPTs, including for facilitating family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and solidarity groups, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPTs and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10. In light of the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access of international solidarity groups to the OPTs, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal the same way with Israeli citizens.

11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

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