PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories	No. 26/2004 01 - 07 July 2004
Israeli Forces Perpetrate More Crimes in the OPT

 On Saturday, 3 July 2004, Israeli troops razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land.  They also continued to impose a strict siege on al-Farta area to the east of the town.  They surrounded a number of houses in the area and cut the electricity and water supplies from them.  They also transformed a number of houses intro military posts.  According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops brought more reinforcements to the area. 

 At approximately 12:30, Israeli troops on tanks positioned to the east of Beit Lahia opened fire at 9-year-old Rihab 'Abdul Karim Shatat when he was crossing the road near Hammouda fuel station to by something from a neighboring shop.  He was killed by a live bullet in the chest.  According to an ambulance driver, Jawad Budair, he saw 2 children crossing the street, while Israeli tanks were positioned nearly 100 meters away.  No clashes took place in the area.  Suddenly, he heard sounds of gunfire and one of the children fell down.  The ambulance evacuated the child to the hospital, but he died soon after arrival. 

 At approximately 19:00 on the same day, Israeli troops positioned to the east of Beit Lahia, opened fire at Ishaq Mo'in Abu Taleb, 15, from al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, when he was near Hammouda fuel station.  He was seriously wounded by a live bullet that entered the back and exited the abdomen.  He died half an hour following his evacuation to the hospital. 

 On Monday, 5 July 2004, Israeli troops razed more areas of agricultural land, especially to the east of Jablaya.  They razed at least 500 donums of agricultural land planted with citrus. 

 On Tuesday, 6 July 2004, crews of the ICRC were able to enter food and drinking water into the town.  Israeli troops continued to use a number of houses as military posts.  They also razed at least 400 donums planted with citrus in the east of the town.  Israeli helicopter gunships shelled various areas in the town. 

 At approximately 18:00, Israeli troops positioned at the southern entrance to Beit Hanoun fired at a number of children who threw stones at those troops.  Adham Ahmed Abu Hassan, 14, from al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, was seriously wounded by a live bullet that entered the abdomen and exited the back. 

 At approximately 15:00, Israeli troops expelled Nasser al-Za'anin and his 10-member family from their house.  Israeli troops had already seized the house and held the family inside.   

At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, 7 July 2004, Israeli troops partially destroyed a factory of concrete owned by the Abu 'Ouda dfamily at the southern entrance of the town.  They also demolished a 120-square-meter house owned by Khamis al-Majdalawi. 

 At the same time, Israeli troops moved around 3 kilometers into the east of Jabalya.  They razed 240 donums of agricultural land planted with citrus. 

 The Israeli offensive on Beit Hanoun is still ongoing. 

   

Thursday, 1 July 2004

 At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Nablus.  They opened fire at Palestinian houses.  A number of Israeli military vehicles moved into the old town.  Israeli troops raided and searched a number of houses to arrest allegedly wanted Palestinians.  At noon, dozens of Palestinian children and young men threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the stone throwers, wounding 5 children and a passing girl:

1.     Marwa Mohammed Namrouti, 20, from 'Askar refugee camp, hit by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the left leg;

2.     Jalal Kamal 'Aayed, 12, from Iraq al-Tayeh village, hit by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh;

3.     Jamil Salim Jamil Dwaikat, 14, from Iraq al-Tayeh village, hit by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;

4.     'Omar Tayseer 'Abdul Haq, 10, from Nablus, hit by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh;

5.     Hamza Zaher 'Olaiwi, 15, from Nablus, hit by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh; and

6.      Husni Suleiman Salah, 17, from Nablus, hit by a live bullet in the left leg. 

 

At approximately 03:00, around 40 Israeli military vehicles, reinforced by helicopters, moved into Jericho.  They opened fire at Palestinian houses.  Israeli troop declared the town a closed military zone.  They raided a number of houses in the town and the neighboring 'Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, and arrested 12 Palestinians.  They also destroyed a house belonging to the family of a Palestinian activist (see below). 

 At approximately 04:00, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved nearly 100 meters into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City.  Israeli troops raided a 3-storey house belonging to 'Ata Sa'id al-Hilu, in which 15 people (2 families) live.  They ordered the families to gather on the second floor and searched and damaged the house.  Then, they held the families in one room and transformed the roof into a military post.  The families were only able to move inside the house under escort of Israeli troops.  At approximately 03:00 on Friday, 2 July 2004, Israeli troops left the house and no arrests were reported. 

 At approximately the same time, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the south of Gaza City.  Israeli troops raided Mahmoud Matar Abu Jarad's house.  They held 3 residents on the third floor and then used them as human shields to protect them from the gunfire of members of the Palestinian resistance who attempted to engage the IOF in combat.  A few hours later, more Israeli troops, supported by helicopters, arrived at the area to reinforce the undercover unit.  Israeli troops established a road through agricultural land, 800 meters long and 6 meters wide.  They also razed 2 donums of agricultural land near the aforementioned house.  Israeli troops also opened fire at the area, wounding 6 civilians.  Before their withdrawal from the area at 20:00, Israeli troops arrested the 3 Palestinians, whom they had used as human shields:

 

1.     Muhannad Yousef Abu Jarad, 21;

2.     Rubin Mohammed Abu Jarad, 21; and

3.     Haitham Mahmoud Abu Jarad, 18. 

 In the morning, Israeli troops moved into Biddu and Qutna villages near Ramallah; Nour Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm; Jenin and the neighboring Bourqin village; al-'Arroub refugee camp near Hebron; and Jericho.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 11 Palestinians. 

 At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved into al-Brazil and al-Salam neighborhoods in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border.  They opened fire at Palestinian houses.  A Palestinian child, 'Omar Mohammed Zorai'an, 9, was killed by a live bullet in the chest, while he was playing with his friends near his house in al-Salam neighborhood.  The Israeli gunfire continued until the evening, during which 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire:

 

1.     Ahmed Hamdan Zannoun, 9, wounded by shrapnel in the head;

2.     Saber Salman al-Louli, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder; and

3.     Ussama Mustafa Saidam, 33, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh. 

 Also during this incursion, Israeli troops raided a number of houses and transformed them into military sites.  This incursion continued until 07:30 on Friday, 2 July 2004, during which Israeli troops destroyed 7 Palestinian houses completely and 5 others partially.  These houses belong to the families of Abu Taha, al-Bashiti, al-Najjar, Abu Mutair, al-Namla and Mousa.  As a result, 151 people (33 families) have become homeless.  In addition, Israeli troops destroyed 15 shops and severely damaged the civilian infrastructure of the area. 

 At approximately 13:00, hundreds of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli peace activists demonstrated on the land of Deir Ballout village, southeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall in the area.  Israeli troops fired live ammunition and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and Kayed Hussein 'Abdullah, 43, was hit by a tear gas canister to the head. 

 At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 500 meters into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis.  Under the cover of intense gunfire, they partially destroyed 2 houses, a mosque, a garage, a car and a bird farm.  They also razed 28 donums of agricultural land and destroyed agricultural equipments belonging to the al-Farra family.  Since Sunday, 27 June 2004, Israeli troops have razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed a number of civilian facilities in the area.     

 

Friday, 2 July 2004

 At approximately 01:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Netser Hazani" settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a Palestinian civilian who was near the aforementioned settlement.  He was hit by several live bullets throughout the body.  A few hours later, Israeli occupying forces informed the Palestinian liaison that a body was in the area.  At approximately 09:00, a Palestinian ambulance went to the area and evacuated the body to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.  The victim was later identified as Mohammed Ahmed Hassan Ekrayem, 60, from Khan Yunis.  According to his family, he was suffering from an acute psychological disorder. 

 At approximately 10:00, 4 Israeli military jeeps moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.  Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian houses.  A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military jeeps.  Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 2:

 

1.     Lu'ai Husni 'Ali al-Jermi, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh; and

2.     Mohammed Jaber Mahmoud 'Owais, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh. 

 

Saturday, 3 July 2004

 At approximately 17:50, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Yousef Fayad Nasrallah, 16, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City died from an injury he had sustained nearly 2 months ago.  According to PCHR's documentation, Nasrallah was hit by a live bullet in the back on 11 May 2004 during an Israeli offensive on al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the southeast of Gaza City.  Thus, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli troops during this offensive has mounted to 19. 

 At approximately 19:30, 4 Israeli military jeeps moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.  Israeli troops opened fire at houses.  A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered in the area and threw stones at Israeli troops.  Immediately, those troops fired at the stone throwers.  Mahmoud Saleh Ibrahim al-Lahwani, 20, was killed by a live bullet in the head.  According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops fired at him from a distance of approximately 100 meters, even though he did not pose any threat to their lives.  The victim's brother, Salah, 18, was killed by Israeli troops in similar circumstances on 15 June 2004.  Two demonstrators were also wounded:

 

1.     Mohammed 'Aamer Abu Janbiya, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg; and

2.     Ahmed 'Abdullah Mirsal, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand. 

 At approximately 23:25, Israeli helicopter gunships launched 2 missiles at a workshop at the entrance to the densely populated Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip.  The workshop, which is owned by Saber Jamil al-Habibi, is located on the first floor of a 2-storey house owned by 'Anan Mohammed Ramadan, in which 8 people live.  The workshop was partially destroyed, and the house, 2 neighboring houses and a civilian car were damaged. 

 

Sunday, 4 July  2004

 At approximately 00:40, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town.  A Palestinian civilian, Mahdi Mohammed Jouda, 33, was wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder when he was inside his house in al-Junaina neighborhood, nearly 900 meters away from the border.

 At approximately 01:00, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved nearly 300 meters into Abu Zaher area in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis.  Israeli troops raided Mansour 'Ouda Abu Zaher's house.  They held the 6 residents of the house in one room and searched the house for 2 hours before they left the area. 

 At approximately 01:50, Israeli troops positioned in military posts 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.  They also fired flare bombs in the air.  One flare bomb fell onto a 240-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by 'Omar Khalil Mohammed Gannan, in which 17 people (2 families) live, and burnt the bedroom.  Fire engines arrived at the area to extinguish fire, but contents of the room were totally burnt.  Another flare bomb also hit a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Rajaa' Abu Nuqaira, and burnt one of its rooms.  Residents of the house had already left it due to the Israeli frequent shelling. 

 At approximately 03:00, Israeli troops moved into Deir Abu Da'if village, east of Jenin.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians. 

 At approximately 09:30, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1000 meters to the north.  A Palestinian civilian, Hisham 'Aayesh Abu 'Amra, 22, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head. 

 At noon, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian worker while he was on his way to his work place inside Israel.  They claimed that they fired 2 Palestinians in 'Ein Karem – Bar Gayoura Street near Jerusalem, after those troops chased them.  Israeli troops did not indicate whether the two Palestinians had weapons. 

 According to information available to PCHR, in the early morning, 10 Palestinian workers traveled from Yatta village, south of Hebron, to their work places in Israel.  They were traveling in a car that has an Israeli registration.  At approximately 11:00, when the car arrived at 'Ein Kerem area, west of Jerusalem, Israeli troops fired at it.  Mohammed Nassar Mohammed al-Shawahin, 26, was instantly killed by a live bullet in the head.  Later, Israeli troops called his family to collect his body.

 At approximately 18:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into Beit Rima village, northwest of Ramallah.  Israeli troops opened fire at houses.  A number of Palestinian children gathered in the center of the village and threw stones at the jeeps.  Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 3:

 1.     Walid Yousef al-Barghouthi, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;

2.     Selmi Subhi al-Haj, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the eye; and

3.     Mohammed 'Ezzat Battout, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest. 

 Also at approximately 18:00, Israeli troops moved into Turmos'aia village, north of Ramallah.  A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the stone throwers.  A passing Palestinian civilian, Marwan al-Sheikh Taleb, 33, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot. 

At approximately 21:00, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town.  A Palestinian woman, Samah Ahmed al-Sha'er, 28, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh, while she was inside her house in Musabbeh neighborhood, nearly 2000 meters to the north of the border. 

 At approximately 21:20, 10 Israeli military vehicles, reinforced by a helicopter, moved into Namera neighborhood in the east of Hebron.  They surrounded Joudi al-Ja'bari's house and called through megaphones on its residents to leave it.  Then, Israeli troops opened fire at the house from a distance of nearly 30 meters.  At approximately 21:50, Israeli troops broke into the house opening fire inside.  The owner's son, 'Abdul Muhsen, 24, was wounded by a live bullet in the leg.  Israeli troops arrested him and his brother Muhannad, 18. 

 At approximately 22:45, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town.  A Palestinian civilian, Ref'at 'Omar Abu 'Amra, 28, was seriously wounded by a live bullet that entered the back and settled in the abdomen, when he was sitting near his house in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1000 meters away from the border.  He died on the way to the hospital. 

 At approximately 23:30, Israeli helicopter gunships launched 4 missiles at a workshop owned by Ashraf Mohammed Loulu in the densely populated al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the southeast of Gaza City.  The workshop was destroyed and a Palestinian civilian was lightly injured. 

 

Monday, 5 July 2004

 In the morning, Israeli troops moved into Jenin, Qalqilya and Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians. 

 At approximately 09:10, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Brazil neighborhood to the north.  A Palestinian child, 'Abdul Salam 'Emad Jarbou', 14, was injured by shrapnel in the head, when he was in a summer camp in Rafah Stadium, nearly 600 meters away from the border. 

 At approximately 12:30, Israeli troops moved nearly 300 meters into al-Qarara village to the south of the "Kissufim" settler road, northeast of Khan Yunis.  They raided a 3-storey house belonging to Suleiman 'Atwa al-'Eimawi.  They held its 9 residents in one room and used the owner as a human shield while searching the house.  As Israeli soldiers and the owner were stepping down, a wall collapsed over the owner and 2 Israeli soldiers.  The owner was injured in the head and the limbs. 

 At approximately 14:00, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces moved into Jenin. A few minutes later, Israeli troops, reinforced by around 20 military vehicles and 2 helicopters, moved into the town.  They opened fire at Palestinian houses and took position in Wad 'Ezziddin area in the east of the town.  Some Israeli troops were positioned on roofs of a number of houses, while other troops surrounded a house belonging to the family of Khaled Suleiman al-Hawi, 24.  They called on him through megaphones to surrender and opened fire at the house.  Al-Hawi exchanged fire with Israeli troops and was killed by several live bullets throughout the body.  In addition, Yousef Mohammed Nemer Qandil, 22, who was accompanying al-Hawi, was injured and arrested by Israeli troops. 

 Also at approximately 14:00, an Israeli police vehicle chased a Palestinian civilian car at the entrance to Halhoul village near Hebron.  Israeli cops fired at the car.  The driver, Fayez al-'Aramin, 42, from Yatta village, south of Hebron, was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh.  The medical crew of a passing Palestinian ambulances attempted to offer him first medical aid, but the Israeli police arrested him and took him to an unknown destination. 

 At approximately 20:20, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1000 meters to the north.  Two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded:

 1.     Anas Maher Abu 'Armana, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot; and

2.     Ussama Khalil Saqer, 24, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot. 

 At approximately 22:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Gadid" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Baten al-Samin area, nearly 700 meters to the east.  Two artillery shells and several live bullets hit the western and southern façades of Hamada Mohammed al-Sha'er's house.  One heavy caliber bullet penetrated the southern wall of a hall on the first floor of the house and hit the owner's son, 'Aala' in the head.  The live bullet smashed the skull and settled in the chest.  The child was sleeping in his bed when he was hit by the bullet.  PCHR's field worker in Khan Yunis who went to the place of the incident reported that the child's bed was covered with his blood.  The child's family was not able to evacuate him to the hospital for at least one hour due to the Israeli intense gunfire. 

 Thus, the number of Palestinian children killed in the OPTs by Israeli troops since the beginning of the current Intifada in September 2000 has mounted to nearly 540, including about 280 killed in the Gaza Strip.  At least 170 of these children have been killed by Israeli shelling that targeted civilian residential areas.

 

Tuesday, 6 July 2004

 At approximately 01:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved nearly 300 meters into al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border.  Under the cover of intense shelling, they started to demolish a number of houses and shops.  By the evening, they had destroyed 4 houses belonging to the families of al-Sha'er, Abu Dibaa' and Abu Taha, in which 84 people (10 families) lived.   They also destroyed a shop and damaged the civilian infrastructure of the area.  As a result of the Israeli intense gunfire, a Palestinian civilians, Ramadan Mohammed Abu 'Armana, 25, was wounded by a live bullet in the back. 

 In another attack illustrating blatant disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, in the morning, Israeli troops shot dead a lecturer and his son in Nablus, while those troops were chasing 2 Palestinian militants who were also killed.  One of the militants was instantly killed, while the other one attempted to escape and was killed later.  Israeli occupying forces claimed that the lecturer and his son were killed as one of the militants went into the building where the lecturer lived. An Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at the building.  The lecturer, his son and the militant were killed by shrapnel from the missile.  Preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR refute this claim and prove that the lecturer and his son were killed by live bullets and the militant was killed by shrapnel from the missile. 

 According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Nablus.  They opened fire at Palestinian houses.  Then, they surrounded an under-construction building at al-Sikka Street near 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp, west of the city, to arrest 2 allegedly wanted Palestinians.  The two Palestinians clashed with Israeli troops.  The clashes left one of the two Palestinians dead, Amjad 'Arad Hanani, 26, from Beit Fourik village east of Nablus, who was hit by several live bullets in the chest and the abdomen.  Israeli troops chased the other Palestinian who attempted to escape.  They broke into a 4-storey apartment building owned by 'Omar al-Kattout.  Israeli troops knocked on the door of a flat belonging to Khaled Salah Mousa Salah, 52, a university lecturer who lives on the first floor.  As soon as Salah started to open the door, Israeli troops opened fire at the door.  Salah was instantly killed by a live bullet in the head.  His son Mohammed, 16, was also killed by a live bullet in the mouth.  According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops fired at the flat's door from a distance of less than 3 meters.  The other wanted Palestinian escaped to a neighboring olive field.  An Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at him.  He was instantly killed by shrapnel in the head.  He was later identified as Yamen Tayeb Faraj, 26, from Madama village south of Nablus.

 In the morning, Israeli troops moved into the towns of Ramallh, Bethlehem and Hebron, and the villages of Seilat al-Harthia, Kufor al-Dik and Salfit.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Paletsinians. 

 At approximately 05:00, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block L in Rafah refugee camp.  A Palestinian child, Hazem Yousef al-Sha'er, 17, was wounded in the right foot. 

 At approximately 08:00, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town.  A Palestinian child, Ibrahim Wa'el Duhair, 9, was wounded by a live bullet in the neck, while he was playing near his house in Kherbat al-'Adas area, nearly 2000 meters away from the border. 

  

In the evening, Israeli troops opened fire again at residential areas in Rafah.  four Palestinian civilians, including a child and a woman, were wounded:

 

1.     Tahani Shehda Qeshta, 30, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, when she was inside her house in al-Junaina neighborhood, nearly 900 meters away from the source of fire;

2.     Mohammed Mahmoud Madi, 54, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis, when he was inside his house in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away from the source of fire;

3.     Yasser Ibrahim Siam, 27, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot, when he was in al-Siamat neighborhood, nearly 2000 meters away from the source of fire; and

4.     Tariq Ahmed Zo'rob, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, when he was inside his house in Zo'rob neighborhood, nearly 500 meters away from the source of fire. 

 At approximately 21:30, Israeli troops moved nearly 200 meters into Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah.  They demolished a 100-square-meter, under-construction house owned by Fawzi Ejmai'an Abu Sha'ar. 

 

Wednesday, 7 July 2004

 At approximately 05:00, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Siamat neighborhood, nearly 2000 meters away from the border.  A Palestinian child, Mohammed Ahmed Jarghoun, 17, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. 

 At approximately 19:30, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town.  Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

 

1.     Majdi Ahmed Barhoum, 30, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg; and

2.     Nabil Fu'ad 'Abdul Wahab, 50, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot. 

 

Extra-Judicial Execution

 In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial execution officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments in violation of international law and humanitarian law, on Wednesday morning, 7 July 2004, Israeli occupying forces committed another extra-judicial execution in the West Bank, which killed 'Essam 'Ali Sa'id Mahamid, 30, from Balata refugee camp, east of Nbalus.  The victim was a member of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement.  On the same day afternoon, Israeli troops failed in an assassination attempt that targeted a number of activists from the Hamas movement in Gaza City.    

 According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 09:45 on Wednesday, 7 July 2004, Mahamid was walking towards 'Ebad al-Rahman mosque at the western entrance of Balata refugee camp, to attend the funeral procession of Wa'el 'Araishia, who was killed in mysterious circumstances on Tuesday.  When Mahamid was close to the mosque, Israeli troops shot him dead with several live bullets throughout the body.  According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops fired at Mahamid from the roof of Balata old mosque to the north of the main entrance to the camp, and Mohammed Nada's house to the south of the entrance.  Soon, 3 Israeli military jeeps arrived at the area and transported 7 members of an undercover unit from the mosque and Nada's house.  Apparently, the undercover unit moved into the camp in the early morning. 

 At approximately 13:00 on Wednesday, 7 July 2004, an Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at a civilian car that was traveling in the densely populated al-Tuffah neighborhood in the northeast of Gaza City.  A number of members of Hamas movement were traveling in the car.  The missile struck the left part of the front of the car and immediately exploded, however the members of Hamas escaped without being hurt.  Three passing civilians, including a 5-year-old child, were injured. 

 

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 04:00 on Thursday, 1 July 2004, Israeli occupying forces moved into Jericho.  They surrounded a 120-square-meter house owned by 'Abdul Masiah Khamis a-Majrouh and rented by Ziad Mohammed Bazzar.  Israeli troops called through megaphones on Bazzar and his wife to leave the house.  Then, they raided and searched the house and planted explosives inside.  At approximately 06:00, Israeli troops destroyed the house.   

At approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 5 July 2004, Israeli troops moved into Til village, south of Nablus.  They surrounded a 140-square-meter house belonging to the family of Tha'er Helmi Mohammed Ramadan, 35, who was killed by Israeli troops near "Har Brakha" settlement, south of Nablus, on Sunday, 4 July 2004.  Israeli troops forced Ramadan's wife and his 3 children out of the house.  Then they planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it.  Israeli troops had repeatedly raided the house searching for Ramadan, who was wanted by them, before he was killed. 

        

Continued Siege on the OPT

 

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. 

 

Gaza Strip

 Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip for the 14^th consecutive week.  Although Israeli troops reopened road linking Palestinian communities in the Gaza Strip, they imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, especially at Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints to the north of Khan Yunis.  They have also continued to close Erez crossing and industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip, and Sofa crossing northeast of Rafah.  They have continued to impose a tight siege on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. 

 This week, Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians at Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints to the north of Khan Yunis, even though they reopened them on Saturday, 3 July 2004.  At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 27 July 2004, Israeli troops closed the two checkpoints.  This closure continued for several hours.  Israeli troops closed the two checkpoints again on Monday morning and afternoon, 5 July 2004.  On Tuesday morning, 6 July 2004, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 10:00, they closed the two checkpoints.  Two hours later, they opened fire at Palestinian civilians who were waiting at both sides of the checkpoints.  Two Palestinians civilians from Khan Yunis were wounded:

 1.     Yousef Mohammed Ahmed Khashan, 23, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg; and

2.     Ziad Mousa Mustafa Sha'at, 40, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand. 

 For the 3^rd consecutive week, Israeli troops have continued to prohibit the passage of private cars through the two checkpoints. 

 Since Sunday, 27 June 2004, Israeli troops have continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, denying access of Palestinian workers to their work places inside Israel.  On Sunday, 4 July 2004, Israeli troops allowed entry of construction raw materials into the Gaza Strip through the crossing.  Even though Israeli occupying forces partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing to the east of Gaza City, they imposed severe restrictions on the flow of goods through the crossing. 

 In violation of the right of health, Israeli occupying forces have imposed restrictions on access of Palestinian patients from the Gaza Strip to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank to receive medical care.  Since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on Beit Hanoun, Isaeli troops have closed Erez crossing in the face of patients.   

 Israeli troops have continued to impose severe restrictions on travel at Rafah Terminal, sharply decreasing the number of travelers.  They have also continued to stop and interrogate Palestinian travelers.  Israeli occupying forces have continued to prohibit male Palestinians between the ages of 16 and 35 from traveling through Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border.

 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.  Israeli troops reopened al-Tuffah checkpoint on Thursday, 1 July 2004, but did not allow male Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 30 and females whose ages are between 16 and 25 from crossing. 

 Israeli forces have also continued to impose a tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip.  The have denied entry of domestic gas to the area.  They have also imposed severe restrictions of the movement of Palestinian farmers, and continued to prevent those whose ages are under 30 from moving out and into the area.  Israeli troops allowed only 5 persons to get out of the area everyday to bring foodstuffs.  In the same context, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians living in al-Ma’ni area near “Kfar Darom” settlement in the central Gaza Strip. 

 

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 imposed curfews on a number of villages.   

 

Jerusalem  

This week, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday morning, Israeli troops closed all roads leading to East Jerusalem.  They erected more checkpoints around the city and stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles.

 

Ramallah

 Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  They erected more checkpoints around the town.  They obstructed the movement of Palestinian vehicles for long hours. 

 

Hebron

 On Sunday afternoon, 4 July 2004, Israeli occupying forces closed Tarqoumia crossing on the Green Line, southwest of Hebron.  They prohibited access for Palestinian traders and goods to the crossing.  On Monday morning, 5 July 2004, Israeli troops closed the entrance to Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron and prevented the movement of Palestinian civilians in and out of the village. 

 

Bethlehem

 On Sunday morning, Israeli troops closed the Container checkpoint on Wad al-Nar road, north of the town.  They forced hundreds of Palestinian civilians to wait for a long time and reportedly beat some of them.  A Palestinian civilian, Nazmi Mohammed Daoud, 57, was injured in the head and the shoulder as Israeli troops severely beat him.  Israeli troops were also deployed on branch roads. 

 

Nablus

 Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  They forced Palestinian civilians and vehicles to wait for long hours at military checkpoints.  On Monday morning, Israeli troops closed all military checkpoints around Nablus, and declared the city a closed military zone.  They did the same on the following day morning.    

 

Jenin

 On Friday morning, Israeli troops closed al-Buqai'a – al-Hamra road in the central Jordan Valley.  Israeli troops positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint denied the passage of truck loaded with vegetables and water.  This road is the only one that links between the northern and central Jordan Valley. 

 

Tulkarm

 Israeli troops often close 'Ennab gate to the east of 'Anabta village, east of Tulkarm.  This week, they erected a number of temporary checkpoints around the town and stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles. 

 

Jericho

 On Thursday morning, Israeli troops declared Jericho a closed military zone.  They closed all military checkpoints around the town and al-Karama crossing on the Jordanian border.  This closure continued for several hours. 

 

Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall in the West Bank

 Israeli occupying forces have continued construction of the annexation wall inside the West Bank, even though the Israeli High Court issued a decision instructing these forces to change the course of the “Annexation Wall” around Jerusalem.

 Israeli troops continued to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land around Jerusalem for the purpose of the construction of the wall.  They also established a gate at the entrance to Shu'fat refugee camp, east of the city. 

 In the same context, Israeli troops razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land in al-Sawahra village, southeast of Jerusalem, for the purpose of the construction of a section of the wall in the area.  The construction of this section will separate  7000 Palestinian civilians, who have Jerusalemite identity cards, and the city of Jerusalem. 

 In Hebron, on Monday morning, 5 July 2004, Israeli troops demolished 3 houses and an animal farm belonging to the families of al-'Azazma and al-'Ananai in 'Arab al-Ramadin village, south of Hebron, for the purpose of the construction of a section of the wall in the area. 

 

   

*****

 

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 

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 non-governmental organizations 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, Trade Unions, and other Non-governmental organizations 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 take a similar approach to issuing Israeli citizens with visas. 

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.

 

“END”

 

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