• 7 Palestinians, 5 of whom were civilians, including a woman, were killed by Israeli troops.

• An Egyptian citizen was killed by Israeli troops.

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

• At least 370 donums[1] of agricultural land were razed in the Gaza Strip.

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

• 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were arrested in the Gaza Strip.

• Continued shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities and a number of Palestinian civilians were injured.

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

• Israeli troops have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; a comprehensive closure was imposed on the West Bank and a number of Palestinian civilians were arrested at military checkpoints.

 
 

Introduction

 Israeli occupying Forces (IOF) have launched more attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).  This week, 7 Palestinians, 5 of whom were civilians, including a woman, were killed by Israeli troops. In addition, a number of Palestinian civilians were injured by the Israeli gunfire. Israeli troops also killed an Egyptian citizen in Rafah, near the Egyptian border.  Human rights violations perpetrated by IOF included willful killings, incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling, land leveling and total closure imposed on Palestinian communities. Israeli troops also prevented hundreds of Palestinian civilian from participating in the funeral procession of the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. 

 In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops killed 5 Palestinians, including 4 civilians.  Four of the victims, including a woman, were killed during an Israeli military incursion into Sheikh 'Ejlin neighborhood in Gaza City on 11 November 2004. The fifth victim died on 14 November 2004 from a previous wound he had sustained during the Israeli offensive on the northern Gaza Strip last month.  On 11 November 2004, Israeli troops killed a man who was apparently Egyptian near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah.  Israeli troops continued to shell Palestinian residential areas, especially in Rafah where 10 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were injured. 

 This week, Israeli troops conducted 4 incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip.  On 11 November 2004, Israeli troops moved into Sheikh 'Ejlin neighborhood in Gaza City.  They killed 4 Palestinians, arrested 2 civilians and razed at least 120 donums of agricultural land.  On 13, 14 and 17 November 2004, Israeli troops moved into areas in the central Gaza Strip. They razed 252 donums of agricultural land and arrested a Palestinian child. 

 In the West Bank, Israeli troops killed 2 Palestinian civilians. On 11 November 2004, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian civilian during clashes in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.  On 15 November 2004, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian civilian who lived in Israel at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya, when they opened fire at his car.  This week, Israeli troops moved into various areas throughout the West Bank, injured a number of Palestinian civilians, and arrested dozens of others. 

 IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.  This week, Israeli troops continued to raze areas of agricultural land in Deir al-'Asal village, southwest of Hebron. They also completed the construction of a section of the wall between Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, and Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah. These facts on the ground created by IOF have caused suffering for Palestinian civilians.

 IOF 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. Despite Eid al-Futr, Israeli troops have continued to impose tightened siege on the Gaza Strip. They have imposed severe restrictions on internal movement.  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. 

 In the West Bank, Israeli troops imposed a comprehensive siege on the West Bank between Thursday morning, 11 November 2004, and Tuesday morning, 16 November 2004, following the declaration of President Arafat's death to prevent Palestinian civilians from participating in his funeral procession.  These restrictions remained effective during Eid al-Futr.

 

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

 Thursday, 11 November 2004

 At approximately 03:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved nearly 1000 meters into Sjeikh 'Ejlin neighborhood to the north of "Netzarim" settlement, south of Gaza City.  Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, they raided and searched a number of houses belonging to the al-Dahdouh family, and arrested 2 members of the family: Mazen 'Abdul Nasser al-Dahdouh, 20; and Mustafa Na'im al-Dahdouh, 22.  As a result of the indiscriminate shelling, 2 Palestinian civilians were killed:

1.     Nour al-Din Khamis Murtaja, 25, from Sheikh 'Ejlin neighborhood, hit by a live bullet to the head; and

2.     Bilal Ahmed D'iab, 25, from Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, hit by shrapnel to the head. 

 In addition, 7 other civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured.  During this incursion, a number of members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli troops.  One member of the resistance, Mohammed Shaker al-Khouli, 23, from al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, was killed by 2 live bullets in the head and the abdomen.  The incursion continued until 15:30, during which Israeli troops razed nearly 120 donums of agricultural land and severely damaged the infrastructure of the area. 

 Also at approximately 03:00, Israeli troops moved into Nablus and neighboring villages and refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinians, including a child and 3 brothers. 

 At approximately 05:20, an intense gunfire was heard coming from an Israeli military posts at the entrance of "Rafiah Yam" settlement, southwest of Rafah, near the Egyptian border.  A few hours later, residents of the neighboring Tal al-Sultan neighborhood said that there was a body near the building of the Palestinian Ministry of Social Affairs, a few meters away from the Egyptian border. In the evening, following coordination with the Israeli side, a Palestinian ambulance was allowed access to the area. It evacuated the body to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah.  According to medical sources, the victim was hit by a live bullet to the chest and 2 live bullets to the thighs.  Egyptian banknotes, Egyptian bus tickets and 2 copies of the holy Qur'an were found with the victims, which indicate that he is Egyptian who came to Rafah across the border. The victim has not been identified. 

 At approximately 08:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town.  A Palestinian child, 12-year-old Tayseer Yahia Abu Sharekh, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen when he was near his house in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away from the border.     

 At approximately 15:00, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the eastern entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.  They threw stones at Israeli troops positioned in the area.  Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the young men and killed 22-year-old Mohammed Jamil 'Aamer Abu Maria with a live bullet in the head.  According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops fired at the victim from a distance of nearly 100 meters and that the young men did not pose any threat to the lives of Israeli troops. 

 Also at approximately 15:00, dozens of Palestinian children and young men gathered near a gate on the annexation wall to the south of Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya.  They threw stones at Israeli troops positioned at the gate.  Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the stone throwers, wounding 2:

 1.     Ahmed 'Abdul Rahim 'Abdul Ghani Shamasna, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest; and

2.     Ra'ed Mohammed Salim, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the hand. 

 In the evening, Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town.  A Palestinian civilian, 26-year-old Mohammed 'Abdul Latif Jaber, was wounded by a live bullet in the left knee when he was near his house in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away from the border.     

 

Friday, 12 November 2004

 At approximately 11:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the west of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood.  A Palestinian child, 16-year-old Mohammed Fawzi 'Ayash, was injured by shrapnel throughout the body.

 At approximately 12:00, an Israeli tank positioned near Rafah international Crossing Point on the Egyptian border opened fire at neighboring Palestinian houses. A Palestinian woman, Fatema Mahmoud Abu Haisen, 34, was injured by shrapnel in the right thigh when she was inside her house. 

 At approximately 23:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the west of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood.  A Palestinian civilian, 25-year-old D'iaa' Mahmoud Mousa, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest. 

 At approximately 23:20, Israeli troops positioned in a military posts near Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at neighboring Palestinian houses. A Palestinian civilian, 18-year-old Fadi Mahmoud Qeshta, was injured by shrapnel in the thighs. 

 

Sunday, 14 November 2004

 In the early morning, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Ashraf Majdi Hassan Zaher, 28, from Jabalya refugee camp, died from a wound he had sustained during an Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip last month, which left 103 Palestinians dead.  According to PCHR's documentation, Zaher was wounded by a live bullet in the head and shrapnel throughout the body when he clashed with Israeli troops.  Thus, the number of Palestinians killed during the Israeli offensive on the northern Gaza Strip has increased to 104, while many Palestinians have been receiving medical treatment in Shifa Hospital from serious injuries they had sustained during that offensive. 

 At approximately 20:00, an infantry unit of Israeli troops moved nearly 200 meters into al-Ja'farawi area in Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah.  Israeli troops raided and searched 2 houses belonging to the families of al-Shawi and Abu Mughassib.  They arrested 15-year-old Salem Nusair al-Shawi.

 In the evening, Israeli troops positioned on a military observation tower at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya killed a Palestinian civilian from Kufor Qassem village inside the Green Line, when they opened fire at his car. 

 According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 21:15, Tamer Saleh Sarsour, 22, from Kufor Qassem village, was traveling in a civilian jeep that had an Israeli registration plate in Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya, towards the west and an Israeli military jeep was chasing him.  Israeli troops positioned at a military checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Qalqilya attempted to stop him, but he continued to drive forwards.  Immediately, Israeli troops positioned on a neighboring military observation tower opened fire at him.  He was wounded, but he was able to travel to al-Aqsa Mosque in Qalqilya and from there he was transferred to Kfar Saba Hospital in Israel.  He died at the hospital on the following day morning.  According to medical sources, the victim was hit by 2 live bullets in the neck and the abdomen.  Israeli occupation authorities claimed they suspected that the victim "was driving a car which he had stolen from Tel Aviv and attempted to escape in it to Qalqilya."  The Israeli daily Haaretz quoted Israeli military sources as claiming that soldiers ordered the victim to stop, but he did not obey the order, so the soldiers implemented rules regarding arresting a suspect, which ended with shooting at the car. 

 At approximately 23:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Gani Tal" settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and agricultural areas in al-Rabwat area to the east.  A Palestinian civilian, 21-year-old Mustafa 'Omar al-Astal, was wounded by 3 live bullets in the legs, when he was walking nearly 700 meters away from the aforementioned settlement.    

 

Monday, 15 November 2004

 At approximately 11:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by 10 military vehicles and 2 civilian cars in which an undercover unit was traveling, moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron.  They surrounded a 3-storey building belonging to the family of Khaled Mur, 35, in al-Sha'anin area in the center of the village.  They forced the 35 residents of the building to get out and held them in a neighboring store.  Then, they called through megaphones on Mur to surrender and opened fire at the building.  In the meantime, dozens of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli troops.  Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 12-year-old 'Alaa' Isma'il Abu 'Oalayan aith a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.  Israeli troops also arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including 2 of Mur's sons.  They withdrew from the village at approximately 14:30. 

 

Tuesday, 16 November 2004

 At approximately 07:10, Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town.  Two Palestinian civilians were wounded when they were in al-Shanoura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away from the border:

1.     'Alaa' Suleiman al-Sheikh 'Eid, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder; and

2.     Salam Joma'a al-Rush, 50, wounded by a live bullet in the face. 

 At approximately 09:00, Israeli troops moved into 'Eissawia village, east of Jerusalem.  They closed the entrances of the village.  Then, they raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 25 Palestinians. 

 In the hours of the day, Israeli troops moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm, and Yatta village, south of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians. 

 

Wednesday, 17 November 2004

 At approximately 04:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 500 meters into the east of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.  Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, they started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land.  By 16:30, they had razed at least 200 donums of agricultural land planted with citrus and olives belonging to the families of al-'Awawda, al-Nabahin, Abu Rwaida, Abu Khousa, Abu Sa'id, Abu Jalal and al-Jiyawi. 

 In the hours of the day, Israeli troops moved into al-'Asakra village and al-Duhaisha refugee camp near Bethlehem; Yatta village near Hebron; Jenin refugee camp  and the neighboring Wadi Bourqin village; Rafidya neighborhood in Nablus; and Ramallah.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinians.  

          

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

 Despite Eid al-Futr, Israeli troops have continued to impose tightened siege on the Gaza Strip.  They have imposed severe restrictions on internal movement.  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 Tuesday morning, 16 November 2004, Israeli troops held and searched a number of Palestinian vehicles between the two checkpoints.  They arrested 2 Palestinian civilians who have not been identified.

 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 to and from the area.  Israeli troops frequently close al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to the area.  They have also 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. 

 Israeli troops have also continued to impose a tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip.  They have also imposed severe restrictions of the movement of Palestinian farmers.  In the same context, Israeli troops 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. 

 Israeli troops have continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip for the 3^rd consecutive month. They only allow patients to travel through the crossing, but under severe conditions and following coordination.  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 for the 3^rd consecutive month.   

 Israeli troops have continued to impose severe restrictions on the travel of Palestinian civilians through Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, which have sharply decreased the number of travelers.  In the past 4 months, Israeli troops had closed the terminal four times.  Israeli troops often impose severe restrictions on traveling through the crossing point.  The number of Palestinians allowed to travel through the terminal daily is very limited.  As a result, many patients who are badly in need for special medical treatment abroad have not been able to travel.  Israeli troops have continued to prevent Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 35 from traveling through the crossing point since 18 April 2004, although they allowed a limited number of this segment to travel, but following prolonged coordination procedures.         

 

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.  Following the declaration of the death of the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Thursday morning, 11 November 2004, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, especially between Ramallah and other Palestinian community, to prevent Palestinians from participating in the funeral procession of President Arafat.  Israeli troops imposed also a total closure on the OPT, which continued until Tuesday morning, 16 November 2004. 

 On Thursday morning, 11 November 2004, Israeli troops closed al-Hamra checkpoint in the central Jordan Valley and prevented Palestinian civilians from traveling from the north of the West Bank to Ramallah.  They also closed Tayaseer checkpoint in the northern Jordan Valley until Tuesday morning, 16 November 2004. 

 On Friday morning, 12 November 2004, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians from and into Ramallah.  They also declared Tulkarm as a closed military zone.  In Nablus, Israeli troops positioned at Za'tara checkpoint on Nablus-Ramallah road prevented Palestinian civilians from crossing the checkpoint towards the south.

 In Hebron, Israeli troops imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They closed the entrances to the town and neighboring villages and prohibited movement of Palestinian civilians from and into the town.

 On Friday, 12 November 2004, Israeli troops reinforced their presence around East Jerusalem.  According eyewitnesses, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians at the entrances of the city and near the old town and the al-Aqsa Mosque.  Israeli troops prevented Palestinian civilians who are less than 45 from entering al-Aqsa Mosque to pray on the last Friday of the Ramadan Month.  Such restrictions remained effective in Eid al-Futr, especially in Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, Hebron and Jericho.  Israeli troops also imposed severe restrictions on traveling through al-Karama Terminal on the Jordanian border. 

 On Saturday morning, 13 November 2004, Israeli troops imposed a curfew on Burqa village, northwest of Nablus. 

         

****

 

 

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 calls on the international community to immediately “ensure respect” for the Convention.

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 NGOs 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. PCHR also requests the application of the EU Guidelines on Arms Sales and requests that EU Missions and Embassies in Israel and the oPts press the Israeli government to apply and implement in full the recently agreed EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders.

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 requests that the international community follow the advisory opinion of the ICJ when it called on the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention, through the UNGA and UNSC, to take effective measures to stop the construction of the annexation wall in the West Bank.

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 NGOs, 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”