PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

No. 13/2004

01 - 07 April 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 committed by Israeli occupying forces included willful killings, 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 have continued to impose a tight siege on the OPTs. This week, 7 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, were killed by Israeli occupying forces. An eighth civilian died from an injury he sustained in a previous extra-judicial assassination committed by Israeli forces.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted 4 military incursions into Palestinian areas. On Friday, 2 April 2004, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Salam and al-Brazil neighborhoods in the south of Rafah. They killed a Palestinian civilian and destroyed a house. The destruction of the house tore down 37 neighboring houses. As a result, 64 families counting 433 people have become homeless. Since the beginning of 2004, Israeli forces have destroyed 199 houses in Rafah under the pretext of searching for tunnels, which in fact they have been creating a buffer zone along the Egyptian border on the expense of Palestinian houses in the area.

In an excessive use of force, on Sunday, 4 April 2004, Israeli occupying forces killed 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The three apparently attempted to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs. An Israeli military spokesman stated that the three did not have any kind of weapons and that an investigation into the incident would be initiated. On 5 April 2004, a Palestinian civilian died from an injury he sustained in an extra-judicial assassination perpetrated by Israeli forces in Gaza city last month.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of military incursions into Palestinian areas and fired at Palestinian demonstrations. On 2 and 3 April 2004, Israeli forces conducted a major incursion into Nablus, during which they arrested 29 Palestinian civilians, including a woman and 2 journalists. This week, Israeli forces killed 3 Palestinian children in the West Bank, and arrested dozens of Palestinian civilians.

In a blatant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits attacks on hospitals, in the early morning, on 1 April 20004, Israeli occupying forces raided the Mental Health Hospital in Bethlehem after having opened fire at it. Israeli forces arrested 13 Palestinians. On 2 April 2004, the Israeli police and “Border Guard” broke into the yards of al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. They used excessive force against thousands of Palestinian worshippers immediately after the Friday prayer. At least 45 Palestinian civilians were hurt, either by being hit by rubber-coated metal bullets or by inhaling tear gas.

Israeli occupying forces have continued construction of the "Annexation Wall" inside the West Bank, especially in the Jerusalem district, although the Israeli High Court issued a temporary injunction stopping the construction of the wall in some villages. Israeli forces used force against Palestinian civilians who organized peaceful protests against the wall construction.

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. The Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz stated that the closure will continue until 26 April 2004, “the independence day of Israel.” Since Monday, 22 March 2004, following the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin that day, Israeli occupying forces have imposed a total siege on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They have closed all border crossings into the Gaza Strip, and divided it into 3 isolated zones. They have 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.

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

At approximately 03:00, 10 Israeli military jeeps moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:

In a blatant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits attacks on hospitals, in the early morning, Israeli occupying forces raided the Mental Health Hospital in Bethlehem after having opened fire at it. Israeli forces arrested 13 Palestinians, including 8 staff members of the hospital and the Palestinian Military Health Service, and damaged the building and equipment of the hospital.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and 2 helicopters, moved into Bethlehem. At approximately 02:50, they surrounded the Mental Health Hospital. A number of Israeli soldiers took positions on roofs of neighboring houses. They opened fire at the hospital and called through megaphones on those who were inside the hospital to get out, without mentioning names. At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces raided the houses of Dr. ‘Essam Bannoura, director of the hospital, in Beit Sahour, east of Bethlehem; and ‘Aadel ‘Eissa al-Lahham, the administrative director of the hospital, in al-Souha village, southwest of Bethlehem. They handcuffed the two and detained them in their sleeping clothes approximately 30 meters away from the hospital. At approximately 03:10, Israeli forces resumed firing at the hospital. The Israeli gunfire continued for one hour, after which Israeli forces broke into the hospital. They opened fire inside the hospital and damaged its equipment. They arrested 13 Palestinians, including 4 hospital staff members and 4 staff members of the Palestinian Military Medical Service.

According to Dr. ‘Essam Bannoura, the losses incurred onto the hospital by this Israeli military attack is estimated at US$ 500,000. The buildings and equipment of the hospital were extremely damaged.

At approximately 06:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-Zawia village, southeast of Qalqilya. Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestinian houses and imposed a curfew.

At approximately 11:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. Israeli soldiers raided Ahmed Yassin Abu Baker’s house, and arrested his son, Haitham, 19.

In the early morning, around 80 Israeli military vehicles moved into Nablus, and imposed a curfew. Israeli soldiers raided a number of houses and transformed them into military posts. At approximately 06:00, Israeli forces blocked ‘Amman Street with sand barriers, separating the eastern and western sections of the city. At approximately 08:00, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered at the entrance of al-‘Ein refugee camp and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles that were patrolling in the area. Immediately afterwards, Israeli soldiers opened fire at them, wounding 4, including a child who was near his family’s house:

1. Yousef Hassan Asa’ad Natour, 21, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh;

3. Shaher Mahmoud Halawa, 24, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and

During this incursion which continued until Saturday evening, 3 April 2004, Israeli occupying forces arrested 29 Palestinians, including a woman and 2 journalists.

At approximately 03:30, 10 Israeli military jeeps moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 school students and their fathers: Jamil Shana’a, 50, and his son Mohammed, 18; Bassam Sharif Kabaha, 48, and his son Mohammed, 18; Walid Kabaha, 50, and his son Rihan, 18; Taher ‘Amarna, 60, and his son Mahmoud, 18; and Munir Khaled Abu Baker, 49, and his son ‘Abdul Hamid, 18.

In the early morning, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Salam and al-Brazil neighborhoods in the south of Rafah. They killed a Palestinian civilian and destroyed a house. The destruction of the house tore down 37 neighboring houses. As a result, 64 families counting 433 people have become homeless.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 02:30, more than 20 Israeli heavy military vehicles, supported by helicopters, moved approximately 400 meters into al-Salam and al-Brazil neighborhoods in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Under cover of intense shelling, Israeli forces raided a number of houses and transformed them into military posts. At approximately 07:00, a Palestinian civilian, Mohammed ‘Azmi ‘Aabed, 20, was seriously wounded by 2 live bullets in the abdomen and the right thigh, while he was trying to move a number of children away from the direction of the Israeli gunfire. He was evacuated to the hospital, but died soon after. This Israeli military incursion continued until Saturday evening, 3 April 2004. Before their withdrawal from the two neighborhoods, Israeli forces surrounded a 120-square-meter house in al-Salam neighborhood owned by Fathi ‘Ali Suleiman Abu Ghali, in which 10 people lived and vacated soon after Israeli forces had moved into the area. Israeli forces planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it. They also arrested the owner’s brother, Rawhi, 42. As a result of the destruction of the house, 12 neighboring houses were totally destroyed and 25 others were partially destroyed. Consequently, 433 people (64 families) have become homeless. In addition, Ibrahim Hamdan Abu Mo’ammar, 19, was injured by shrapnel in the right forearm from the Israeli shelling. The civilian infrastructure of the neighborhood was severely damaged.

(Note: PCHR has a list of the houses that were destroyed in Rafah during this Israeli military incursion)

At approximately 09:30, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip, east of Beit Hanoun, fired 3 artillery shells at a number of Palestinian civilians who were on their agricultural lands, approximately 800 meters west of the border. Two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded:

No one was able to attend the child to offer him help for more than half an hour because of the Israeli forces.

At noon, the Israeli police and “Border Guard” broke into the yards of al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. They used excessive force against thousands of Palestinian worshippers immediately after the Friday prayer. At least 45 Palestinian civilians were hurt, either by being hit by rubber-coated metal bullets or by inhaling tear gas.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 12:45, around 25000 Muslim worshippers finished the ceremonies of the Friday Prayer in al-Aqsa Mosque. Soon after, large troops of the Israeli police and “Border Guard” broke into the yards of the Mosque through al-Maghareba Gate. They fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the worshippers. A number of worshippers threw stones and shoes at the Israeli troops, which brought more reinforcements and intensified firing at them. The Israeli troops closed the gates leading to the Mosque and surrounded the mosque from all directions, denying exit to the praying civilians. At least 45 prayers were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets or suffered from tear gas inhalation. Nine worshippers were evacuated to the hospital, while the others were treated on site. At approximately 15:00, the Israeli troops allowed the worshippers to leave the Mosque after having arrested at least 14 of them. In addition, Israeli troops had broken into the yards of the Mosque 5 weeks ago. At least 24 worshippers had been wounded.

In an excessive use of force, in the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces killed a Palestinian child at the northern entrance of Bethlehem, claiming that he attempted to throw a Molotov cocktail at these forces. Israeli forces also obstructed the evacuation of the child to the hospital and beat two Palestinian civilians who tried to offer him help.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, after the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered at northern entrance of Bethlehem. They threw stones at Israeli military posts and observation towers near Bilal Ben Rabah mosque (Rachel Tomb). Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at them. A Palestinian child, Nassar ‘Eissa Ibrahim Hajahja, 16, was wounded by a live bullet in the back. When D’ib Mohammed Naji, 29, and Ahmed Mousa al-Huarimi, 32, tried to offer him help, Israeli soldiers violently beat them. The two sustained serious bruises and were evacuated to the hospital. Later, a number of Palestinian civilians were able to reach the child. They tried to evacuate him in a civilian car to Beit Jala Hospital, but he died on the way to the hospital. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at the child from a distance of approximately 100 meters, when he did not pose any threat to the lives of those soldiers.

At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They arrested a number of Palestinian civilians and released them later, except for two: ‘Omar Kawar, 37; and Riad Malash, 22.

At approximately 01:00, 10 Israeli military jeeps moved into Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:

At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron, and arrested ‘Ali ‘Ammouri al-Jabarin, 28.

At approximately 02:30, 7 Israeli military jeeps moved into Kufor ‘Ein village, northwest of Ramallah. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians from the same family:

At approximately 03:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into ‘Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinians, including 2 brothers:

At approximately 04:30, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Hawara village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched Ahmed ‘Ouda’s house and arrested his son, Saleh, 19.

In the morning, inspectors of the Minority Department of the Israeli police raided offices of the Arab Women Care Society in Wad al-Jouz neighborhood in East Jerusalem and issued an order closing it for 15 days. They also arrested Maisaa’ al-Liddawi, a member of the society’s board of directors, and Sajida ‘Aabdin, a staff member. They also confiscated a computer, and some files. The two women were transferred to al-Masqoubia detention center, where they were interrogated and then released. The Israeli police claimed that the society supported Hamas movement, and issued an order confiscating the society’s bank accounts. The society was licensed by the Israeli Ministry of Interior in 1994 as a charitable, cultural and social society providing health and psychological guidance for women.

In a case of apparent willful killing, in the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces killed a Palestinian child in Tulkarm refugee camp. They also wounded 6 other civilians and arrested one of them. Israeli forces claimed that they did not target the one who was arrested; although they asserted that he is an activist of the ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of Hamas movement.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided a house belonging to the family of Ziad ‘Aaref Mahmoud Abu Sharifa at the southern entrance of the camp, opposite to the consolation house of Ramzi al-‘Aarda, who carried an armed attacks against “Avni Hevetz” settlement. Israeli soldiers forced the family to gather in one room and transformed the two-storey house into a military post. At approximately 02:30, while a civilian car that has a Palestinian registration traveling on the main road in the camp, praising the deceased al-‘Aarda, Israeli soldiers inside Abu Sharifa’s house opened fire at the car. As a result, Rami Mohammed Ismail Hudaib, 17, who was sitting on the back seat of the car, was hit by several live bullets in the abdomen. He was left bleeding to death. In addition, 6 other civilians were wounded, including one who sustained serious injuries. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at a Palestinian ambulance that tried to reach the targeted car. Later, the ambulance was able to reach the wounded and evacuate them to Dr. Thabet Thabet Hospital in Tulkarm. Soon, Israeli forces raided the hospital and arrested one of the wounded, Khaled Jamal Mohammed Kharyoush, 20, who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head, claiming that he was wanted.

2. Mohammed Tariq ‘Othman, 16, hit by shrapnel from a live bullet to the right hand and side;

4. Ahmed Nazmi Dumairi, 15, hit by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets to the buttocks; and

In the afternoon, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Biddu village, northwest of Jerusalem, in protest against the construction of the separation wall on the lands of the village. At approximately 16:20, Israeli occupying forces fired at the demonstrators, wounding 14-year-old ‘Alaa’ Cana’an Badwan seriously with a live bullet in the head. According to eyewitnesses, the child was fired at from a distance of approximately 60 meters.

At approximately 17:45, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Amal neighborhood. A Palestinian child, Hussam Hussein Abu al-Khair, 16, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand, when he was near his house, approximately 300 meters away from the source of fire.

At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Arraba village, south of Jenin. They opened fire at houses and shops and imposed a curfew. Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Samir Ahmed ‘Ali Daqqa, 26, and arrested him.

In an excessive use of force, at night, Israeli occupying forces killed 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The three apparently attempted to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs. An Israeli military spokesman stated that the three did not have any kind of weapons and that an investigation into the incident would be initiated.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip opened fire at 3 Palestinian civilians who were approximately 50 meters west of the border. The three were hit by live bullets. Soon after, Israeli forces fired about 6 artillery shells at them. At approximately 12:00 on Monday, 5 April 2004, Israeli forces informed the Palestinian side that there were three bodies in the area. A Palestinian ambulance moved to the area and transferred the bodies to a hospital in Deir al-Balah. The victims were residents of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, who apparently attempted to infiltrate into Israel to find jobs as there families are very poor. The victims were identified as:

At approximately 02:00, 8 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-Hawouz and al-Zaytoun areas in the south of Hebron. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians: Ayman ‘Eissa Abu ‘omar, 25; and ‘Abdul Ghaffar Mohammed Shabana, 27.

At approximately 03:15, 15 Israeli military vehicles moved into Nablus through its western and southern entrances. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinians, including a girl and 3 brothers:

At approximately 03:30, 4 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-Bireh. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ussama ‘Eissa Bahaa’ al-Din, 29, and arrested him.

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Jamal Shain’s house and arrested his son, Ahmed, 18.

At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved into al-Shouka neighborhood in the southeast of Rafah. Israeli soldiers raided ‘Aayesh Shabib al-Rumailat’s house. They brought his son, Mustafa, 28, who has been detained by Israeli forces since 15 March 2004, with them, searched the house, and then searched a store belonging to the family located near the house. At approximately 05:00, they destroyed the store. They claimed that Mustafa had been involved in smuggling weapons across the Egyptian border, south of Rafah.

At approximately 10:45, 9 Israeli military jeeps moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestinian houses. Soon, a number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at them wounding 4:

1. Ibrahim Khaled Abu Sirris, 17, seriously wounded by 3 live bullets in the face, the abdomen and the right hand;

2. Mohammed Ziad Harb ‘Awni, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back;

4. ‘Abdul Rahman Nazmi ‘Antra, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest.

At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah, then stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles. They also stopped and checked Samir al-Louh, 36. They took him to his house in the village and then searched it. They also searched a neighboring house belonging to Tayseer al-Louh. They arrested Tayseer, Samir and two other relatives, and then interrogate them in the neighboring “Kfar Darom” settlement and then released.

At approximately 20:00, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Ja’farawi area in the east of Deir al-Balah. They raided and searched three houses belonging to the families of Abu Meghassib, al-Shari and Sulaisel. They withdrew from the area at 21:00.

At approximately 22:30, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Amal neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Hassan Mohammed Abu Khudair, 27, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh - he was near his house which was approximately 500 meters away from the source of the fighting.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Alaa’ Mohammed Farhana, 23, and arrested him.

At approximately 09:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into Nablus and imposed a curfew on a number of its neighborhoods. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli forces. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at them, wounding 3:

1. Yasser Isma’il ‘Abdul Ghani Sallam, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand;

3. Tariq ‘Ali D’iab, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back.

A Palestinian Civilian Dies from an Injury He Sustained in a Previous Extra-Judicial Assassination

On Monday morning, 5 April 2004, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza city declared that Adham ‘Abdul Qader Hashem, 24, from al-Nasser neighborhood in the city, died from a wound he sustained last month.

According to PCHR’s documentation, Hashem was injured by shrapnel throughout the body, when Israeli occupying forces launched an air-to-surface missile at a house in al-Nasser neighborhood, targeting Mohammed Kharroub, an activist of the Islamic Jihad. Kharroub survived the attack, but 2 Palestinian civilians were killed and 7 others, including Hashem, were injured. Hashem had been evacuated to an Israeli hospital where he received medical treatment until the time of his death.

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 who Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets.

At approximately 04:00 on Thursday, 1 April 2004, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by 2 military bulldozers, moved into Kharabtha Bani Hareth village, west of Ramallah. They surrounded a 200-square-meter house owned by ‘Aziz Hassan ‘Arman. They forced its 11 residents (2 families) out without allowing them to vacate any of their belongings. At approximately 05:00, the bulldozers demolished the house. The owner is a brother of Mohammed Hassan ‘Arman, who has been serving a life imprisonment in Israeli jails.

At approximately 03:15 on Sunday, 4 April 2004, Israeli occupying forces moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They surrounded a 100-square-meter, 4-storey house owned by Fakhri ‘Abdul Rahman al-‘Aarda. They forced its 13 residents (4 families) out. Isreali soldiers then planted explosives inside the first and fourth floors and destroyed them. The owner’s son, Ramzi ‘Aarda, 17, carried out an armed attack against “Avni Hevetz” settlement one day earlier.

At approximately 01:30 on Monday, 5 April 2004, 8 Israeli military jeeps moved into Deir al-Sudan village, north of Ramallah. They surrounded a 150-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to the family of Falah D’ib Rateb Shehada. Israeli soldiers forced the nine residents of the house (3 families) out, then planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it. Shehada has been detained by Israeli occupying forces for allegedly being a member of the Hamas movement.

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. On Sunday morning, 4 April 2004, Israeli occupying forces began to establish a 2-kilometer barrier of cement blocks in the middle of Ramallah main road. The barrier will extend from Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint at the northern entrance to Jerusalem to Qalandya checkpoint at the southern entrance to Ramallah. This barrier will isolate Dahiat al-Barid area and al-Ram village, north of Jerusalem, from neighboring areas. It will also isolate villages located to the north and west of Jerusalem from their surroundings. The establishment of the barrier will deprive al-Ram village of its strategic reserve areas, which had been devoted to housing expansion.

Also on Sunday morning, Israeli occupying forces began placing a barbwire fence at the square by Belal Ben Rabah mosque (Rachel’s Tomb), north of Bethlehem. They seized the building of the Palestinian Religious Endowments Department, two fuel stations and a number of shops in the area. This action came in the context of the construction of a part of the wall extending from al-Khas and al-No’man villages, east of Bethlehem, to the Tunnels road, west of al-Khader village.

On Sunday afternoon, Israeli bulldozers started to raze areas of Palestinian land between Biddu and Beit Eksa villages, northwest of Jerusalem, in violation of a temporary injunction issued by the Israeli High Court stopping wall construction in the area. Israeli forces used force against dozens of Palestinian civilians who demonstrated in protest against the Israeli actions with regard to the construction of the wall in the area.

On Monday evening, 5 April 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, 1 April 2004, Israeli forces placed iron gates at the entrance and exit of a checking facility established between the two checkpoints, where Palestinian vehicles are often held and searched.

At approximately 05:00 on Saturday, 3 April 2004, Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints. They held dozens of Palestinian vehicles in between and searched passengers. This closure continued until 08:00.

At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 4 April 2004, Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints and placed an iron gate at the entrance of the road linking the two checkpoints.

At approximately 04:30 on Monday, 5 April 2004, Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints. They held and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles in between. The closure continued until 07:30.

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

In violation of the right to health, for two weeks, 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.

On Thursday, 1 April 2004, Israeli occupying forces reopened the Erez industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip, but denied access to Palestinian workers to their work places in the zone. On Sunday, 4 April 2004, Israeli forces reopened the zone and allowed access to 3348 Palestinian workers. They also allowed 156 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.

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

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.

They have also continued to impose a tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. In the same context, since Monday morning, 22 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces have imposed severe restrictions movement of Palestinian civilians living in 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 access for Palestinian civilians from the West Bank to the city. Israeli military patrols were deployed at the entrances of the city and in its streets. Only Palestinians living in the city have been allowed access to the city.

Israeli occupying forces closed all checkpoints at entrances to al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They also closed al-Shurafa road, which leads to the western villages of Bethlehem.

Israeli forces have imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Israeli soldiers positioned at Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah, have allowed access for Palestinian civilians to the town, but prohibited them to exit without permission.

Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected more checkpoints around the city. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces reinforced their presence around the city and erected temporary checkpoints, which served as ambushes to arrest allegedly wanted Palestinians.

On Sunday afternoon, 4 April 2004, Israeli occupying forces closed the eastern entrance to Qalqilya, the sole entrance to the town. They also erected a number of checkpoints on Qalqilya-Nablus road, restricting movement of Palestinian civilians.

On Thursday afternoon, 1 April 2004, Israeli forces arrested Mohammed Sharif ‘Owainat, 25, from Qalqilya, on Qalqilya-Tulkarm road while he was traveling back home.

Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians between the town and neighboring villages. They closed al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south of the town. They also erected temporary checkpoints on the roads leading to some villages and denied movement of Palestinian civilians.

Israeli occupying forces have maintained the curfew imposed on the southern parts of the old town, and the eastern area of Hebron. They also erected 4 checkpoints in the south and east of the town. Israeli occupying forces have imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 5 April 2004, Israeli forces closed Wad al-Nasara road leading to the Ibrahimi Mosque to allegedly provide security for Jewish settlers celebrating Easter.

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.

At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 1 April 2004, a number of Israeli settlers from “Efrat” settlement, south of Bethlehem, uprooted dozens of olive and almond trees planted on a 4-donum area of agricultural land in al-Khader village owned by Mahmoud Jouda Subeih. They also destroyed the fence surrounding the fence.

On Sunday morning, 4 April 2004, Israeli military bulldozers razed an area of Palestinian land owned by the heirs of ‘Abdul Jalil al-Mutawar located to the southwest of Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. In the evening, Israeli forces established a military observation tower on the leveled land.

At approximately 12:00 on Monday, 5 April 2004, a number of Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians in al-Shuhada Street in the center of Hebron. They attacked schoolchildren and teachers with stones, injuring 10-year-old Shorouq Mohammed Seder in the neck. Israeli soldiers did not intervene to stop these attacks.

At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 6 April 2004, a number of settlers from “Sosia” settlement, south of Hebron, severely beat Jaber Hammad al-Nawaja’a, 75, when he wanted to prevent them from using his land. The old man sustained serious bruises throughout the body and was evacuated to the hospital. In another incident, a number of settlers from the same settlement beat two Palestinian women who were on their way to their agricultural land, approximately 300 meters away from the settlement.

On Wednesday morning, 7 April 2004, a number of Israeli settlers seized two Palestinian inhabited houses in Silwan neighborhood in the south of the old town of Jerusalem owned by the families of al-Rujbi and Maragha. Israeli forces established two military observation points in the area to protect armed settlers, who have continued to provoke Palestinian civilians living 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 failure of the international community to act has encouraged Israel to act without due respect to the law and to 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 others, to participate in the process of identifying and bringing to justice 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 to ensure compliance with the expected decision by the court.

8. In recognition of the 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 organizations to the OPTs, PCHR calls upon European countries to apply similar standards of treatment to 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