• 5 Palestinians, 4 of whom were civilians, including a child and an elderly man, were killed by Israeli troops.

• Israeli troops failed to extra-judicially kill an allegedly wanted Palestinian in Rafah, but injured him and his bodyguards.

• Israeli troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

• 12 houses were destroyed and dozens of donums[1] of agricultural land were razed in the Gaza Strip.

• 3 houses were destroyed in the context of retaliation against families of Palestinian detainees.

• Houses were raided and dozens of Palestinian civilians were arrested in the West Bank.

• Israeli troops raided a number of Palestinian charitable institutions in the West Bank and confiscated some of their contents.

• Continued shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities; 7 Palestinian schoolchildren were injured and a workshop and an under-construction house were destroyed.

• Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

• Construction of the “annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued.

• Israeli troops have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; the Gaza Strip has been partitioned into 3 separate zones, Israeli troops positioned at checkpoints fired at Palestinian civilians and killed one, and arrested a number of Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints.

 
 

Introduction

Israeli occupying troops have launched more attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).  This week, 5 Palestinians, 4 of whom were civilians, including a child and an elderly, were killed and at least 20 others were injured by Israeli troops.  Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying troops included willful killings, incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling, land leveling and total closure imposed on Palestinian communities.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including an 8-year-old child and an elderly man.  Two of the victims were killed on 10 and 12 December 2004, when Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian residential areas.  The third victim was killed when Israeli troops fired at him when he was traveling to Gaza City through the coastal road.  The fourth victim died on 9 December 2004 from an injury he had sustained in April 2004, during an Israeli military incursion into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.  On 9 December 2004, Israeli troops carried out an attempt to extra-judicially kill an allegedly wanted Palestinian in Rafah, but the attempt failed and the targeted person and his two bodyguards were injured. 

This week, Israeli troops conducted 5 incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, during which they destroyed 13 houses, razed at least 115 donums of agricultural land, and injured 7 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children. 

On 13 December 2004, the Israeli air force destroyed a workshop and an under-construction house in Gaza City.  On 12 December 2004, 7 Palestinian schoolchildren were injured when Israeli troops shelled their school in Khan Yunis.   

In the West Bank, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian who exchanged fire with them when they surrounded an apartment building in Nablus to arrest him.  This week, Israeli troops moved into various areas throughout the West Bank, injured a number of Palestinian civilians and arrested dozens of others.  They also destroyed 3 houses in the context of retaliation against families of Palestinian detainees.  In addition, they raided offices of a number of civil societies and confiscated some of their contents. 

Israeli troops have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.  They resumed razing areas of agricultural land in Deir Ballout village, southwest of Nablus, and Housan village, west of Bethlehem, for the purpose of the construction of the wall.  Land leveling in these areas had stopped for a few months after the Israeli High Court issued a temporary injunction stopping it. 

Israeli troops have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. 

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops have partitioned the Gaza Strip into 3 separate zones, and closed all border crossings.  They have also closed all border crossings of the Gaza Strip.  These measures violate the Palestinian economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights.  On 15 December 2004, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian civilian and injured another one when they were traveling to Gaza City through the coastal road.   

In the West Bank, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  They stopped, checked and humiliated Palestinian civilians while crossing military checkpoints throughout the West Bank.  Israeli troops also attacked 2 candidates for the Palestinian presidential election and arrested one of them for several hours. 

 

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

Thursday, 9 December 2004

At approximately 08:00, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Karam Hassan 'Ali al-Shami, 60, from al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, died from an injury he had sustained by Israeli troops more than 7 months ago.  According to PCHR's documentation, al-Shami was injured by shrapnel from an artillery shell fired by Israeli troops on 21 April 2004 during an Israeli military incursion into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, which is located near his place of residence.  Since then, he had received medical intention at Shifa Hospital. 

At approximately 10:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 300 meters into Abu Zaher neighborhood in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis.  The Israeli military vehicles damaged a house belonging to Mohammed Furaij Abu Zaher during their movement in the area. 

At approximately 15:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 700 meters into the south of Khan Yunis near an Israeli settler road.  Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, they razed 50 donums of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a number of irrigation networks belonging to the Shurrab family. 

During the day, Israeli troops moved into Nablus; Kufor Qallil village near Qalqilya; and Tulkarm refugee camp.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 21 Palestinians, including a girl and a child. 

 

Friday, 10 December 2004

At approximately 14:20, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at al-Nimsawi neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp.  A number of live bullets hit a house belonging to 'Omar 'Abdul Hadi Siam, 50, nearly 600 meters away from the source of fire, while members of the family were having lunch.  A live bullet penetrated a window of the house and hit Siam's child, 8-year-old Rana, to the head, and then hit him to the right leg, when he was washing his hands after he had lunch.  Although he was wounded, the father and his brother evacuated the child to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, but medical efforts to save her life failed as she died a few minutes later.  Two other civilians were also wounded when they were near their houses:

1.     Anwar Khalil Mousa, 32, wounded by a live bullet in the right arm; and

2.     Hilal 'Ata al-'Aqqad, 25, wounded by shrapnel in the right shoulder. 

During the day, Israeli troops moved into the villages of al-Zahiriya and Beit Kahel near Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians, including 4 who are nominated to run the election of the local council of al-Zahiriya village. 

 

Saturday, 11 December 2004

At approximately 08:00, a number of Israeli gunboats opened fire at 2 Palestinian fishing boats opposite to Deir al-Balah seashore and forced them to stop.  Then, Israeli naval troops arrested 5 Palestinian fishermen who were on the boat:

1.     Ziad Mohammed al-Habbash, 38;

2.     Hussam Mohammed al-Habbash, 24;

3.     Hazem Ahmed al-Qara'an, 19;

4.     Mazen Ahmed al-Qara'an, 24; and

5.     Zuhair Ahmed al-Qara'an, 21. 

At approximately 12:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-Fara'a refugee camp, southeast of Jenin.  A number of Palestinian schoolchildren gathered and threw stones at the jeeps.  Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 15-year-old Wa'el Khaled Tayeh with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen. 

At approximately 15:30, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 700 meters into the south of Khan Yunis, near a settler road.  Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, they razed 24 donums of agricultural land planted with vegetables and citrus, on parts of which 8 greenhouses stood, and destroyed a number of irrigation networks, a well and an agricultural pool belonging to the families of Hijazi and al-Masri. 

During the day, Israeli troops moved into Hebron and into 'Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians. 

 

Sunday, 12 December 2004

At approximately 07:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Nimsawi neighborhood, Baten al-Samin area and Khan Yunis refugee camp.  A number of live bullets hit a 4-storey house owned by Ussama 'Omar Fasfous.  Fire broke out in the fourth floor and burnt its furniture.  Palestinian fire engines were able to extinguish fire before extending to other parts of the house. 

At approximately 09:10, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim", "Gadid" and "Gan Aur" settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and schools to the east and north of the aforementioned settlement.  An artillery shell fell onto the sport yard of an elementary school, approximately 600 meters to the northeast of the settlement.  As a result, 6 schoolchildren were wounded as they were in the yard and a seventh one was wounded when she was inside a classroom. The children were evacuated in civilian cars to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.  Their wounds were described by medical sources as moderate.  Following this attack, the school was vacated as schoolchildren were extremely terrified.  The same school was subject to a number of attacks by Israeli troops in the past.  For instance, on 25 September 2004, 11-year-old Madeline Hamdan Buraika was wounded by a live bullet in the forehead when she was sitting on her desk. 

Palestinian educational institutions have been frequently attacked by IOF, and PCHR has documented dozens of such attacks, which injured dozens of schoolchildren while they were at school.  In one of such attacks, on 12 October 2004, 11-year-old Ghadeer Jaber Mukhaimer was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest when she was sitting on her desk at an UNRWA elementary school in Khan Yunis refugee camp.  She died at the hospital on the following day. 

At approximately 19:30, following an attack against an Israeli military post near Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, Israeli troops positioned at the border opened fire at neighboring Palestinian residential areas.  A Palestinian civilian, Saber Salama Shallouf, 36, was killed by a live bullet that entered the back and exited the neck and another live bullet that hit the left hand.  According to eyewitnesses, the victim was near his house in al-Shouka neighborhood in the east of Rafah when he was killed. 

 

Monday, 13 December 2004

At approximately 01:20, the Israeli air force fired a missile at a workshop owned by Hisham Sa'id al-Masri at al-Sahaba Street in Gaza City.  The workshop was severely damaged, but no casualties were reported.  The workshop had been attacked by the Israeli air force nearly 2 years ago.  Ten minutes later, the Israeli air force fired 4 missiles at an under-construction, 2-storey house belonging to Maher 'Abdul Rahman al-Ramli near the Islamic University in Gaza City. The house was partially destroyed.  Israeli occupation authorities claimed that the workshop and the house were used to manufacture weapons and harbor wanted Palestinians. 

In the early morning, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian in Nablus when they surrounded a house apparently to arrest him.  The victim had exchanged fire with Israeli troops. 

In his testimony to PCHR on the incident, an eyewitness, 'Othman Mahmoud Sharaf, 35, from Nablus, said:

"At approximately 22:45 on Sunday, 12 December 2004, Israeli troops, reinforced by around 30 military jeeps and 2 tanks, moved into Nablus.  They surrounded Bushnaq and Hadada apartment building, where I live, in al-Jabal al-Shamali area.  Israeli troops called through megaphones on residents of the building and neighboring buildings to leave them, but no one obeyed this order.  At approximately 23:30, Israeli troops opened fire at the building to force its residents out.  At approximately 00:30 on Monday, Israeli troops fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at the fourth floor.  The Israeli gunfire continued sporadically until 05:00.  At approximately 05:10, Israeli troops fired 2 artillery shells at the building and withdrew from the area.  At approximately 05:30, residents of the building found the body of Ihsan Na'im Shawahna, 27, from Kufor Thuluth village near Qalqilya.  The victim was shot by several live bullets throughout the body."

The victim was a student at an-Najah National University in Nablus.  During their withdrawal from the city, Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian houses.  A Palestinian civilian, Sa'ed Naddaf Hassan Hassouna, 21, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand. 

At approximately 23:30, Israeli troops moved into Sinjer area in Dura village, southwest of Hebron.  They raided and searched offices of the Islamic Charitable Society.  This raid continued until 02:00 on Tuesday, 14 December 2004.  In the end of this attack, Israeli troops closed offices of the administration and the department that provides assistance for orphans.  They also confiscated some books from the library. 

During the day, Israeli troops moved into Nablus and 'Aaida refugee camp and al-Duha village near Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians.    

 

Tuesday, 14 December 2004

At approximately 01:20, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 200 meters into Khan Yunis refugee camp.  They called through megaphones on Palestinian civilians to leave their houses.  Then, under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, Israeli military bulldozers started to demolish houses.  By 04:30, they had demolished 11 houses completely and a 12^th one partially.  Subsequently, 116 people (16 families) have become homeless.  These houses belong to the families of al-Madhoun, al'Adini, Abu Khurais, al-Lul, Abu Shaqra, al-Aa'raj, Abu Tiour, Abu Zarqa, Abu Ramadan and Abu Rezeq. 

At approximately 07:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved nearly 800 meters into Hajja Hamda area to the east of al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.  Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, they raided Hijazi Mohammed Helles' house after they had demolished its fence.  They held residents of the house in one room and transformed it into a military site.  By Wednesday morning, 15 December 2004, Israeli troops razed at least 40 donums of agricultural land planted with olives, figs and wheat belonging to the families of Helles, al-Madhoun and Jindiya.  As a result of the indiscriminate Israeli shelling, 7 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, were injured.  One of the children was injured when she was sitting on her desk at a school in al-Shojaeya neighborhood. 

At approximately 17:00, Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Salam neighborhood.  Three Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded:

1.     Mohammed Jihad al-Jammal, 10, wounded by shrapnel in the head;

2.     Ahmed Sa'di Abu Jazar, 21, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the neck; and

3.     'Ali Khalil al-Derbi, 19, seriously wounded by 2 live bullets in the head and the left leg. 

At approximately 20:30, around 30 Israeli military vehicles moved into Rafat village, south of Ramallah.  They surrounded a house in the village and called through megaphones on all those who were inside the house.  When they got out of the house, Israeli troops fired at them, wounding Saleh 'Ali Hussein, 29, from Beit Diqqu village near Jerusalem, with a live bullet in the foot.  They arrest him and 2 other Palestinians.  Israeli troops claim that Hussein is the leader of Abu 'Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Ramallah. 

During the day, Israeli troops moved into Nablus and the neighboring Salfit village; Seilat al-Harthiya village near Jenin; 'Azzoun village near Qalqilya; and Rafat village near Ramallah.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinians. 

 

Wednesday, 15 December 2004

At approximately 09:15, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Netzarim" settlement, south of Gaza City, nearly 200 meters away from the coastal road, opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who were walking towards Gaza City on the coastal road, which has been closed since 13 December 2004.  A Palestinian civilian, Mustafa Juhaini al-Sawarka, 32, from Gaza Valley village, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head.  He died upon his arrival at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.  Another civilian, Ahmed Husni al-Masharawi, 23, from al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder. 

 

Extra-Judicial Killing

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial killing officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments, on Thursday, 9 December 2004, the Israeli air force attempted to kill a leader of the Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees and his two bodyguards in Rafah.  The attempt failed, but the four persons and a passing child were injured.  Israeli occupation authorities admitted responsibility for the attack. 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 12:50, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at a civilian car, a white Subaru, that was traveling in Salah al-Din Street that links Rafah with Khan Yunis.  Three persons were traveling in the car.  The front of the car was destroyed, but the three persons survived as they were able to jump out of the car.  The three were injured.  They were later identified as:

1.     Jamal 'Ataya Abu Samhadana, 41, from the Rafah, the leader of the Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees, slightly injured as he was sitting on the back seat of the car;

2.     Ashraf Mohammed al-Sheikh 'Eid, 24, injured by shrapnel throughout the body and sustained a fracture to the left leg; and

3.     Hisham Kamal Abu Taha, 22, injured by shrapnel throughout the body. 

A passing child, 16-year-old Mustafa Walid 'Abdul 'Aal, was also injured by shrapnel throughout the body. 

 

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 04:30 on Tuesday, 14 December 2004, Israeli troops moved into Abu Sunaina neighborhood in the south of Hebron.  They closed the roads leading to the neighborhood.  Then, they surrounded a 120-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Rajeh Abu Sunaina.  They forces the 15 residents of the house (3 families) out, and planted explosives on the second floor.  At approximately, 06:00, they destroyed the second floor.  The first and third floors of the house were severely damaged.  Tow of the owner's son: Baraka, 22; Khaled, and 18, have been detained by Israeli occupation authorities.  A third son, Ghaleb, 16, was arrested following the destruction of the house. 

 Also at approximately 04:30 on Tuesday, Israeli troops moved into Wadi al-Hariya neighborhood in the southwest of Hebron.  They surrounded a 140-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Yousef Abu Sunaina.  They forced the 20 residents of the house (2 families) out and planted explosive on the second floor.  At approximately 06:00, they destroyed the second floor.  Two of the owner's sons: Ayman, 22; and Mahmoud, 18, have been detained by Israeli occupation authorities. 

 At approximately 23:30 on Tuesday also, Israeli troops moved into Abu Katila neighborhood in the northwest of Hebron.  The closed the roads leading to the neighborhood and surrounded a 110-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Tayseer Rajab Abu Shukhaidem. They forced the 15 residents of the house (2 families) out and planted explosives on the first and second floors.  At approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, 15 December 2004, they destroyed the two floors.  The owner's nephew, Eyad Abu Shukhaidem, 29, who lives in the house, has been detained by Israeli occupation authorities. 

               

Continued Siege on the OPT

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

 

Gaza Strip

As a measure of collective punishment, since Monday morning, 13 December 2004, Israeli troops have partitioned the Gaza Strip into 3 separate zones, and closed all border crossings.  They have also continued to isolate some areas since the beginning of the current Intifada, which has caused extreme suffering for the Palestinian civilian population.  They have also continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip either partially or completely.  These measures violate the Palestinian economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. 

Israeli troops positioned at al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  The two checkpoints are opened between 06:00 and 20:00 everyday.  On Thursday morning, 9 December 2004, Israeli troops held and searched a number of Palestinian vehicles between the two checkpoints.  The same happened on Saturday, 11 December 2004.  Israeli troops interrogated a number of Palestinian civilians and arrested Ra'ef Ramez al-Farra, 27.

 As a measure of collective punishment following an attack against an Israeli military post near Rafah Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, on Monday morning, 13 December 2004, Israeli troops imposed a total closure on the Gaza Strip.  They divided the Gaza Strip into 3 separate zones, by closing al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints, and the coastal road opposite to "Netzarim" settlement.  This measure has paralyzed the daily lives of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, in violation of their economic, social and cultural rights.  Israeli troops also fired at Palestinian civilians who crossed the coastal road on foot; on Wednesday morning, 15 December 2004, a Palestinian civilian was killed by the Israeli gunfire (see above). 

 Israeli troops have continued to impose a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip.  They have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians living in the area to and from the area, which have caused extreme suffering for these civilians.  On Friday, 3 December 2004, Israeli troops closed al-Tuffah checkpoint, the sole outlet of the area, in the face of Palestinian civilians wishing to enter the area.  On the following days, dozens of civilians waited at the checkpoint to be allowed to go back home in the area, but Israeli troops fired at them.  On Tuesday, 14 December 2004, Israeli troops allowed Palestinian civilians who are over 50 years old to cross the checkpoint.  Israeli troops and settlers also attacked Palestinian agricultural property in the area.  Israeli troops have continued to prevent female Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 25, and male ones whose ages are between 16 and 30 from crossing al-Tuffah checkpoint when it is open, without prior coordination.  Tal al-Sultan checkpoint at the entrance of al-Mawasi area in Rafah has been closed for more than one year and entry into the area has been limited to al-Tuffah checkpoint in Khan Yunis.  On Tuesday, 14 December 2004, Israeli troops raided and searched a number of houses in al-Mawasi area and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians: Mohammed 'Eissa al-Lahham, 19; and Yousef 'Ali al-Tarabin, 34. 

 Israeli troops have also continued to impose a tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip.  Israeli troops continue to control the only gate in and out of the area.  They allow only 4-5 people to pass through each day to buy basic provisions.  These people are only allowed to pass through at certain specified hours and they are subject to humiliation and degrading treatment during the security check process.

 Israeli troops have continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip for the 4^th consecutive month. They only allow patients to travel through the crossing, but under severe conditions and following coordination.  On Tuesday, 13 December 2004, Israeli troops totally closed the terminal after it had allowed a number of Palestinian workers to travel to their work places in Israel through the crossing, but under new conditions.  Although Israeli troops have partially operated al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing to the east of Gaza City, they have imposed severe restrictions on the flow of goods through the two crossing.  As a result, the Palestinian market has lacked several basic goods.  Israeli troops partially opened Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, and allowed the entry of construction raw materials, but the crossing has remained closed in the face of Palestinian workers since March 2004.   

 Following an attack on an Israeli military post near Rafah Crossing Point, on Monday morning, 13 December 2004, Israeli troops closed the terminal, which is the only outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world.  Israeli troops often close the terminal under security claims. The number of Palestinians allowed to travel through the terminal daily is very limited. 

 

The West Bank

 Israeli troops have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities.  They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, including even the candidates for the Palestinian residential election, thus refuting Israeli claims with regard to facilitating the election. 

 

Ramallah

 On Thursday, 9 December 2004, Israeli troops also reinforced erected a military checkpoint at 'Atara Bridge checkpoint at the northern entrance to Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah.  They stopped dozens of Palestinian vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians.  On Sunday morning, 12 December 2004, Israeli troops erected a number of temporary checkpoints to the north and northwest of Ramallah.  They stopped and checked hundreds of Palestinian civilians. 

 

Nablus

 Even though Israeli troops permitted Palestinian civilians who are over 25 years old instead of 30 to cross military checkpoints, they imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  They force Palestinian civilians to wait for long hours before allowing them to cross those checkpoints. 

 

 Jenin

 On Friday evening, 10 December 2004, Israeli troops erected a checkpoint at the western entrance to Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin.  They stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and prevented Palestinian civilians from leaving the village.  On the following day morning, Israeli troops imposed a strict siege on Tammoun village.  Palestinian civilians were forced to use dirt branch roads to travel from and into the village.  Israeli troops also closed the main roads leading to the neighboring Tubas village. 

 

Tulkarm

 On Friday morning, 10 December 2004, Israeli troops placed a huge rock on the road that links Shoufa village with Kufor al-Labad village, east of Tulkarm.  This road serves as an alternative one to link Tulkram with the two villages, as al-Kafriyat military checkpoint at the southern entrance of the town has been closed.  On Saturday afternoon, 11 December 2004, Israeli troops erected a checkpoint at the entrance to Ektaba village, northeast of Tulkarm, and another one at the entrance to Bala'a village, east of the town.  On Sunday morning, 12 December 2004, Israeli troops erected 4 checkpoints around the town.  On Monday morning, 13 December 2004, Israeli troops erected 2 more checkpoints around the town.  They started to establish an iron gate on a bypass road in front of al-Kafriyat checkpoint at the southern entrance of the town, which would impose more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  Tulkarm is surrounded by Israeli iron gates from all directions.   

 

Bethlehem

 On Friday evening, 10 December 2004, Israeli troops erected a military checkpoint on the main road in the center of al-Khader village, south of the town.  They stopped Palestinian vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians.  On Sunday, 12 December 2004, Israeli troops closed some of the main entrances to Taqqou' village, south of the town.  On Monday, 13 December 2004, they closed the main and branch roads leading to the village. 

 

Restrictions on the Movement of Candidates for the Palestinian Presidential Election

 On Wednesday evening, 8 December 2004, Israeli troops positioned at a military checkpoint near Jaba' village, south of Jenin, beat and handcuffed Dr. Mustafa al-Barghouthi, an independent candidate for the Palestinian presidential election and a number of hid bodyguards. 

 

On Friday morning, 10 December 2004, Israeli troops positioned at Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint at the northern entrance to East Jerusalem beat Bassam al-Salhi, Secretary General of the Palestinian People Party and a candidate for the Palestinian Presidential Election.  They arrested him and transferred him to a detention center in Jerusalem, where he was interrogated.  Al-Salhi was released by a bail.

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 On Thursday, 2 December 2004, Israeli troops positioned at sudden military checkpoint in the west of Hebron arrested 3 Palestinians, including 2 brothers.

 

Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall

 Israeli troops have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.  They started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Housan village, west of Bethlehem for this purpose.  They also used force to disperse Palestinian civilians protesting the construction of the wall in Ethna village, west of Hebron. 

 On Sunday morning, 12 December 2004, Israeli military bulldozers started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives in Housan village, west of Bethlehem, for the purpose of the construction of a section of the wall.  According to the local council of the village, the construction of the wall will isolate the village, and will deprive Palestinian farmers of their right to reach their agricultural land, which will be behind the wall. 

 On Tuesday morning, 14 December 2004, Israeli military bulldozers started to raze large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Deit Ballout village, southwest of Nablus, for the purpose of the construction of the wall.  Land leveling in the area had stopped for a few months after the Israeli High Court issued a temporary injunction against it. 

 The Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Tuesday, 14 December 2004, that the Israeli government postponed taking a decision on the route of the wall to the south of Hebron as it intends to annex "Gush Etzion" settlement bloc to Israel.  The construction of the wall stopped a few months ago after a number of Palestinians submitted appeals to the Israeli High Court against this construction. 

 On Friday morning, 10 December 2004, hundreds of Palestinian civilians demonstrated in Wadi al-Baida areas in the west of Ethna village, west of Hebron, in protest to Israeli plans to construct a section of the wall in the area.  At approximately 11:30, the demonstrators gathered to do the Friday Prayer.  Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at these civilians.  A number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 With regard to the impacts of the construction of the wall on the Palestinian agricultural sector, Israeli troops have continued to prevent Palestinian farmers from reaching their agricultural land in the west of Zaita village, north of Tulkarm, following the construction of the wall.  This area provides Tulkarm with vegetables.  As a result of these restrictions, the prices of vegetables have sharply increased, which adds more economic burdens on Palestinian consumers. 

  

 

Settler's Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property

 Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law launched a series of attacks on Palestinian civilians and property. 

 On Saturday evening, 11 December 2004, a number of settlers from "Kiryat Arba" settlement, east of Hebron, threw stones and empty bottles at a number of houses in Hebron, especially those located near the Ibrahim Mosque.  Four houses were damaged. 

 On Sunday morning, 12 December 2004, a number of settlers from "Ariel" settlement, south of Nablus, attacked a number of Palestinian farmers in the neighboring Eskaka village and prevented them from cultivating their crops.  According to eyewitnesses, the settlers threw stones at the farmers and forced them to leave their land. 

 On Sunday afternoon, 12 December 2004, an armed Israeli settler attacked a number of Palestinian shepherds near 'Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus.  According to the local council of 'Aqraba village, an armed Israeli settlers from "Eitamar" settlement, northeast of the village, moved towards the edges of the village and ordered a number of Palestinian shepherds to leave the area under the threat of weapons.  The shepherds quarreled with the settler.  They were able to take his gun and then they forced him to leave the area.  A number of Palestinian civilians arrived at the area and called the Palestinian liaison, which in turn called the Israeli liaison.  Soon, Israeli police arrived at the area and took the settler's gun.  Two shepherds sustained bruises as a result of the settler's attack: Ibrahim 'Izziddin Bani Jaber, 38; and Ibrahim Hamed Bani Jaber, 34.          

         

****

 

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 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 its Advisoryt 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.

 

“END”