Introduction

The IOF continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property throughout the past week.  This resulted in the death of 11 Palestinians, including 2 children and left a large number of Palestinian civilians with critical injuries.  These attacks resulted in the razing of large scale areas of agricultural land and demolition of civilian properties.  Dozens of civilians were arrested while in their homes or at checkpoints and border-gates.  These attacks involved incursions into Palestinian areas and random shelling from armoured vehicles and military aircraft as well as the excessive use of lethal force and an attempted extra-judicial execution.  These attacks were accompanied by a continued siege imposed on the oPt.  Also this week 1500 Palestinian and Arab prisoners initiated a hunger strike in Israeli prisons in order to improve the conditions of their confinement, seeking the application of the UN International Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Prisoners and the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in the Time of War. 

Israeli attacks caused the death of eight civilians in the Gaza Strip, including one child who died from injuries received in the recent past and two willful killings.  On August 16^th , to the east of Jabalyah, IOF fired two missiles at two Palestinian farmers.  IOF claimed that its helicopters fired at two members of the Palestinian resistance who were trying to fire Qassam rockets into Israel.  Preliminary investigations by PCHR did not support this claim as no evidence was found of military equipment in the area where the bodies were discovered.  The civilians were killed while collecting wood from the area.  IOF targeted Sheik Ahmed Ja’abari, a leader of the Hamas movement, however he was only moderately injured by the attack while his brother, son, nephew, son-in-law and one other friend were killed.  Medical sources in Shi’fa Hospital, in Gaza City, indicated that on the 14^th August a child from Rafah camp died from injuries he had received during an IOF incursion on 9^th of August 2004.  IOF made 9 new incursions into various parts of the Gaza Strip.  The most extensive was in al Muaqa quarter and in Zeitoun, in the south of Gaza City, on the 12 and 13^th August which resulted in the razing of 170 donums of agricultural land.  In Block J, in Rafah refugee camp, on the 12^th of August, the IOF destroyed ten residential buildings in which 23 families lived, a total of 126 people.  3 residential homes in al Brazil in Rafah were demolished, in which 13 families lived, a total of 76 people.  They destroyed the water wells and related infrastructure.  As well as this a number of civilians were wounded as a result of random shelling into residential areas. 

In the West Bank IOF killed 3 Palestinian civilians, including an 8 year old child. One of whom was killed by an excessive use of force and the other two were victims of willful killing.  Dozens of civilians were injured, particularly in Nablus city and camp.  On 14^th of August in occupied East Jerusalem the IOF killed a Palestinian and stated that he stabbed an IOF soldier.  However eyewitness reports indicate that it would have been possible to arrest the suspect and prosecute him.  Another two people were killed in Nablus one of whom was left, on the 15^th of August, to bleed to death and the second on the 16^th of August was killed while playing in front of his family home.  IOF continued to make incursions across the West Bank, except in Jerhico.  As a result they destroyed a home in Beit Foriq village, to the east of Nablus, owned by the Hannanni family.  Yusef Hannanni  was killed hours before his home was demolished when he tried to enter Itamar settlement near Beit Foriq.  Dozens of civilians were arrested when IOF entered and searched their homes. 

Israeli settlers who are living inside the oPt, in contravention of International Humanitarian Law, continued their systematic violations against Palestinian civilians and their properties.  This was accompanied by the issuing of a tender by the Israeli government for the building of 1001 residential units in illegal Israeli settlements across the West Bank. 

The accelerated construction of the Annexation Wall continued inside the West Bank as IOF razed more lands to the east and north of Jerusalem which included the lands of al Izaria, Anata, al Ram, Jaba’, Qalandia and in the industrial zone known as “Atrot”.  Engineering teams also began the process of measuring land which is inside the proposed route for the construction of the wall to the south of Tulkarm city and in Qalqilia municipality, in the northern part of the West Bank.

IOF continued the strict siege on the oPt, including occupied East Jerusalem and increasingly restricted the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

In the Gaza Strip the IOF continued its systematic violation of the right to freedom of movement with partial closures of all the border crossings with Israel and with Egypt.  Despite the reopening of the Rafah International Terminal on the border with Egypt Palestinian civilians have continued to suffer from the limited opening hours imposed by IOF, which represents the only gateway from Gaza to the outside world.  It is worth noting that since 18th April IOF have continued to prevent civilians between the ages of 16-35  from traveling through this gateway.  IOF has increased the extent of violations against the right to freedom of movement, particularly at Abu Houli and al Matahen checkpoints, which divide the Gaza Strip, in two parts, on Salah al Din street which connects the north to the south of the Gaza Strip.

In the west Bank the IOF have still restricted the movement of Palestinian civilians through establishing dozens of fixed checkpoints at the entrances to a number of cities and dozens of random checkpoints on main roads between municipalities.  Throughout the week IOF have increased fortification at Beit Iba and Howara checkpoints. The security procedures and fortification are now the same as those at the Erez checkpoint in the north of the Gaza Strip.

For more details about the violations read the following report which covers the period from 12^th of August to 18^th August.

 

Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian areas and attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property.

Thursday 12^th  August 2004

 At 0100, IOF made an incursion, supported by armoured vehicles, including three bulldozers, a few hundred meters into Mograqa quarter, near Netzarim settlement, to the south of Gaza City.  These forces started razing Palestinian land until later that afternoon. Approximately 100 donums of land was razed during the incursion, mostly planted with citrus tees, olives and dates which was owned by the civilian families Alzahar, Abu Kumail and Ashor families.  Besides destroying irrigation pumps and five wells the destruction also effected the utilities, particularly phone and electricity lines. The IOF also destroyed 10 residential properties in Rafah camp and to the south of Rafah city. The operation took place in Block J, near the Egyptian border.  A ten year old child was injured and a civilian arrested after the destruction of his home.

 According to PCHR preliminary investigations at approximately 0600 IOF, in large numbers, supported by heavy military vehicles and by helicopter gun-ships  moved more then three hundred meters into Block J in Rafah Refugee Camp.   The IOF occupied a house belonging to Azmi al Jamal and turned it into a military post.  They detained the occupants in one of the rooms.  A group of IOF located themselves on the roof and opened fire at any people in the area.  Under the cover of random shelling and automatic weapons from vehicles and helicopter gun-ships the IOF began to destroy property in the camp without providing an opportunity for people to leave their homes and remove their property.  This operation lasted until 12.00.  They destroyed ten houses completely and one house partially.  In addition to this they destroyed a carpentry workshop and caused severe damage to the camp infrastructure.  The demolished homes were owned by al Zatma, Abu Haneen, Awaja, Aiyash and Natat families.  The homes were occupied by 23 families, a total of 126 people.  One of these houses was owned by Tariq Abu Hasanin, a member of the Palestinian resistance, who had been killed by IOF in an armed operation about two years ago in Rafehyiham settlement.  The IOF then arrested a Palestinian civilian Nasser Mohammad Mustapha Awaja, 20,  after destroying his home. The random shooting, which accompanied the withdrawal of IOF at 12.00, resulted in an injury to Khalil Ahmed Almodalal, 10 years old, caused by a bullet to the stomach.  He was taken to al Najer hospital in Rafah where his condition was described as serious, but not critical. 

 At approximately 10.00 the IOF made an incursion, supported by 10 armoured jeeps, into Balata Refugee camp east of Nablus. Palestinian civilians were subjected to a self-imposed curfew.  The Israeli forces focused their activities on the centre of the camp and on the main roads in and around the camp.  Some children and young men congregated and began to throw stones at the IOF.  IOF opened fire against the demonstrators  which resulted in injuries to ten, most of whom were children.  They were taken to hospital in Nablus for treatment where their injuries were described as stable.  The wounded are:

(1)     Ahmed Faisal Hamad Haj Hamad, 14, wounded by a bullet in the left leg.

(2)     2. Mohamad Taiseer Mohamed Qatawy, 214, wounded by a bullet in the right hand.

(3)     Karim Jamal Abu Thabit, 26, wounded by a bullet in the chest.

(4)     4 Abdulrahman Shaker Mohammed alwzir, 14, wouned by a bullet int the head

(5)     Abdulsalam Saber Abdulsalam Abu Rezeq, 17, wounded by a bullet in the right hand

(6)     Ahmed hassan Ali Khalil, 18, wounded by splinters in his body

(7)     Hisham Hakam Abdulwahab Mohammed, 14, wounded by shrapnel in his his lower lip

(8)     Amer Abdulfatah Yiousef Alshami, 15, wounded by a bullet in the right thigh.

(9)     Mohamed Mosutapha Isama’il AlShaily, 14 wounded in the buttocks.

At approximately 16.00 IOF entered the south of Hebron, supported by six jeeps and a truck. The force surrounded the main offices of the Islamic Charitable Association, in First Howuoz area.  They then destroyed the doors and entered the premises. They searched and damaged property and files and furniture.  The Islamic Charitable Association informed the PCHR fieldworker that the IOF took about five computers, a printer, some fax machines, some files and documents and some furniture from the office.  Before their withdrawal, at approximately 19.00, the IOF welded the entrance shut.  They placed a copy of military orders issued by the Middle Area Command of the IOF instructing the Association to close down its operations until 23/03/05.  It is worth noting that the IOF issued another military order on the 20^th of April 2003 instructing the Association to close.

At approximately 18.40 the IOF located on the border with Egypt, to the south of Rafah, shelled Palestinian residential areas in Rafah.  This resulted in a child being wounded:  Mahamoud Mousa Zorob, 17, with a bullet in his right leg.  PCHR fieldworkers states that the child was injured while standing in Sayamat area, about 1200m from the border.  He was taken to Najar hospital where his condition was declared as being stable. 

At approximately 19.50 IOF, located in the military camp to the north of Toofah checkpoint near Neve Dekalim settlement to the west of Khan Yunis, fired with machine guns at Palestinian civilian property in the Khan Yunis refugee camp.  The attack resulted in injuries to the civilian Aiman Yusef  al Araj, 27, caused by shrapnel in his left leg.  He was taken to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis where his condition was declared as being stable.

In the evening IOF entered, supported by military vehicles about 200 m inside the area of Johor al Diq to the south of Gaza City and began to destroy buildings ownded by the Adia and Abu Aiad families

During the day IOF entered into Dooha village and Rashaida in the Bethlehem municipality and Beit Marsam village in Hebron.  They made further incursions into Nablus and Tulkarm.  They entered some civilian properties and searched them.  They damaged property and arrested six Palestinian civilians who they claim are members of the Palestinian resistance.  They took them to an unspecified location.

 

Friday 13^th August 2004 

At approximately 03.00 the IOF entered, supported by heavy military vehicles and three bulldozers, a few hundred meters into Zeitoun neighbourhood in the south-east of Gaza City.  They entered a number of residential properties, occupying them and converting them into military posts.  They then proceeded to engage in random firing in the area.  They placed the civilians in each building in one room.  Under the cover of random shooting from automatic machine guns the IOF began to raze agricultural land to the east of the car shop in the area.  The random shelling caused injuries to two Palestinian civilians who were sent to Shi’fa hospital, where their condition was defined as stable.  The injured parties are:

 1.        Fares Mohammed Said Rayan, 24, injured by a bullet in his back.

2.        Khader Nahed Joha, 21, injured by a bullet in his chest.

 The PCHR fieldworker stated that the IOF razed about 700 donums of agricultural land during the incursion, most of this land was planted with citrus trees and olives owned by Sahiyon, Shoheber, Sa’ad, al Wohedi and al Brasil families.

 At approximately 14.00 the IOF entered Aida refugee camp, to the north of Bethlehem city, under the cover of random firing against civilians, passers-by and their property.  It resulted in two civilian injuries:

 1.        Monjid Saleh Abu Akar, 8, injured by a live bullet in his hand

2.        Ahmed Yusef Abu Jadoe, 17, injured by a bullet to the chest

 At approximately 17.00 the IOF entered Balata refugee camp, supported by 5 military jeeps.  A group of young men and some children congregated and began to throw stones at the IOF who immediately opened fire at them.  This resulted in two injuries for two of the stone throwers and one passer-by.  They were taken by the Palestinian Red Crescent Ambulance to Rafilia public hospital, in Nablus, for treatment.  Their condition was declared by medical staff at the hospital to be stable.  The injured parties are:

 1.        Mohammad Khalil Hassan al Khatib, 10, injured by a bullet in the left hand.

2.         Nazim Saba’ Nazim Ja’ara, 53, injured by a bullet in his back.

3.        Ibrahim Mahmoud Ali Abu Trabi, 17, injured by a bullet in his left foot.

 At approximately 19.00 IOF, entered Beit Foriq village to the east of Nablus, supported by 5 military jeeps.  They planned to destroy the home of Yusef Hannani and his family.  The began firing at residential buildings, which resulted in injuries to Nassim Mara’i Abdul Khadir Hannani, 18, injured by a bullet in his left thigh.  He was taken to hospital by the PRC ambulance to Rafidia Public Hospital in Nablus for treatment. His condition was declared to be stable.

 At approximately 21.00 IOF entered Yata village south of Hebron under cover of random shooting against residential areas and passers-by.  One child was injured as a result of this, Mohammad Ahmed Abu Samra, 12, injured by a bullet in his head.  His condition was defined as stable.

 At approximately 23.00 IOF also entered Tulkarm refugee camp to the east of Tulkarm town.  Some children congregated and threw stones at the soldiers.  Immediately the Israeli forces began to fire at them causing injuries to three children from the crowd of demonstrators.  The injured were taken to Dr Thabit Thabit Public Hospital in Tulkarm city.  Their condition was declared as stable.  The injured parties are:

 1.        Ibrahim Kamal Hussein Jarban, 11, injured by a bullet in the back.

2.        Mohanad Mohammad Ahmed al Zagla, 17, injured by a bullet in the stomach.

3.        Mo’assim Sameer Ali Amara, 11, injured by a bullet in his chest.

 During the day the IOF, supported by military vehicles, entered al Khader village and Beit Sahour in Bethlehem municipality.  IOF entered a number of residential buildings and searched them and damaged property.  They arrested two civilians who were wanted by IOF.  They took them to unspecified locations.

 

Saturday 14^th August 2004

 At approximately 01.30 Israeli helicopter gun-ships operating above Rafah fired two missiles at Brazil quarter and Jinena quarter, near the Egyptian border.  The missiles damaged an electricity pylon which caused an electricity blackout in most of Rafah.  The second missile landed between two buildings but did not result in any injuries. 

 At approximately 03.10 the IOF, located at the military camp near Tel al-Sultan quarter to the south west of Rafah, opened fire with automatic machine guns.  This resulted in one injury, the Palestinian civilian Ahmed Salah al Din Yunis, 19, who wass injured by a bullet in his left shoulder.  At the time of the attack he was in his home.  He was taken to al Najer hospital where his condition was defined as stable. 

 At approximately 1500 IOF, consisting of two jeeps, entered Beit Fouriq village to the east of Nablus under the cover of random shelling into residential areas.  A number of children congregated at the centre of the village and threw stones towards the jeeps, which were on patrol.  Immediately the soldiers began to fire at the demonstrators resulting in two injuries:

1. Abdul Fatah Ahmed Abdul Fatah Nasasra, 10, injured by a bullet to his chest.

2. Saleh Salam Saleh Abu Heet, 16, injured by a bullet in his right hand.

 At approximately 17.00 eight IOF jeeps entered Nablus and Balata refugee camps.  The soldiers entered under the cover of random shelling against residential buildings.  A number of children and young men congregated and began to throw stones at the soldiers. Immediately the soldiers opened fire at them causing six injuries:

1.        Ahmed Safi Ahmed Qadah, 20, from Nablus, injured by a bullet to his right leg.

2.        Hamdi Iyad Mohammad Azirba, 15, from Nablus, injured by a bullet in his right hand.

3.        Ahmed Talab Naif Thokan, 17, from Balata camp, injured by a bullet in his head.

4.        Ali Awad Mustapha Marahil, 19 from Balata camp, injured by a bullet in his left hand.

5.        Mohammad Ahmed Hassan Hashash, 17, from Balata camp, injured by a bullet in his head.

6.        Ahmed Dawoud Namir Nasser, 21, from Balata camp, injured by a bullet in his right hand.

 At approximately 23.15 the IOF located by the border with Egypt south of Rafah, opened fire with machine guns against civilian buildings in al Jenena quarter. It resulted in one injury to Walida Mohammad Sha’ir, 24, with a bullet in her left knee. The PCHR fieldworker stated that the civilian was injured while in her home, located about 900m from the border.  She was taken to al Najer hospital and her condition was defined as stable.

 At approximately 23.35 medical sources in Shi’fa hospital, in Gaza City, announced the death of a child from Rafah camp who had been injured by IOF during an incursion into Rafah on 9^th August 2004.  According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations at that time: at about 06.00 on that Monday a large number of IOF, supported by heavy military vehicles and helicopter gun-ships made an incursion about 300m into Block J, near to the Egyptian border to the south of Rafah.  The IOF entered two homes owned by al Safarandi and Hassuna families.  They detained the families in one room and then transformed the house into a military post and used it to fire at any passers-by in the area. Under the cover of random shelling from military vehicles and helicopters the forces started to demolish houses in the camp.  The incursion lasted until 18.00.  As a result of the random shooting two Palestinian civilians were injured, one of whom was a child, called Saif Suliman Barhoum, 13, injured by a bullet in his head.  He was sitting on the roof of his home at the time, which is located about 300m from the border.  The child was taken to al Najer hospital where his situation was declared as critical.  As a result of the critical nature of his condition he was taken to Shi’fa hospital in Gaza City.  He was placed in the Intensive Care Unit in Shi’fa and remained there until he died. 

 During the day, Israeli forces, supported by military vehicles, entered Yata village and Hebron city.  They entered a large number of residential buildings and began to search them. They left the houses in disarray and arrested eight civilians who were wanted, three of them are brothers.  They took them to unspecified locations.

 

Sunday 15^th August 2004

 At approximately 02.00 IOF helicopter gun-ships flying over Rafah city fired three missiles in the direction of al Brazil and al Salam quarters, both of which are in close proximity to the Egyptian border.  Two of the missiles landed near homes which had been destroyed by previous IOF incursions in Brazil quarter.  The third landed in al Salam quarter and did not cause any injuries or damage to property.  PCHR fieldworker said that the IOF have increased the number of troops and military vehicles they are using in comparison to previous incursions and this has been coupled with an increase in the use of missile attacks even when there is no ongoing military incursion. A number of Palestinian civilians, particularly women and children, were reported to be suffering from shock and fear.

 At approximately 05.00 the IOF located at the Neve Dekalim settlement, to the west of Khan Yunis city, fired from machine guns against civilian properties in Namsawi quarter in Khan Yunis camp, to the north east of the settlement .  They also used flares - one of which fell on the roof of the home of a Palestinian civilian Omar Mahmoud Qanan, 58, and caused a fire in his living room. He was injured by shrapnel and some burns to his legs.  The PCHR fieldworker observed that the home contained one floor made with asbestos.  The house is located about 600m from the settlement.  The injured party was sent to Nasser hospital was his condition was defined as stable. 

In an example of the use of excessive force the IOF killed a Palestinian civilian in occupied East Jerusalem in the morning.  The IOF claimed that he stabbed a soldier in the neck at an IOF checkpoint.  The soldier turned to the Palestinian and opened fire at him, resulting in his death.  The Israeli Police also mentioned that he may be suffering from a mental disability.  Eyewitnesses reported that the killing was unjustified as it would have been possible to arrest the man and prosecute him.

 According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations; at approximately 09.00 the man Jamal Malik Bashir Abu Iysa, 40, from Shofat in the northern suburb of East Jerusalem, entered Selsela Gate in the old city and moved towards al Musarara area.  A soldier from IOF opened fire in his direction, he was hit by a number of bullets and he died immediately.  The IOF took the dead body to the Legal Medical College of Abu Khabir. His body remained there.  Following this attack the Israeli police stated that the man died as a result of stabbing the soldier who subsequently killed him.  Eyewitness reports stated that there was a large group of soldiers who would have been capable of overpowering the man and arresting him. 

 At approximately 11.00 IOF, supported by heavy military vehicles, made an incursion 250m inside AbuSha’ar quarter in Wadi Selga, to the north of Kussafim settlement road, to the south-east of Deir al Balah.  These forces surrounded the quarter and located themselves on the main roads.  They used megaphones to instruct men between the ages of 16-50 to leave their homes. The men were detained in a field under the heat of the sun while their identity cards were checked.  They withdrew from the area at 14.00 without making any arrests.

 At approximately 14.00 IOF entered Nablus city and camps, supported by military vehicles and under the cover of random shelling against residential areas and passers-by.  A number of children and young men gathered and began to throw stones towards the IOF.  Immediately the IOF began to fire at them.  As a result three people were injured, one of whom was a passer-by.  The injured are:

1.        Zahir Riad Abdul Fatah Zamily, 26, from Balata camp, injured by a bullet to the head.

2.        Mohammad Hassan Hussein Fayumi, 17, from Nablus, injured by a bullet to the head.

3.        Borkan Salah Said Atilli, 33,from Balata camp, also injured by a bullet to the head.

 At approximately 17.00 IOF, located on the Israeli border by Khan Yunis, opened fire, using automatic weapons, towards agricultural lands and residential buildings in Abassan and Qarara areas to the west of the border.  As a result one civilian Ahmed Abu Jamya’, 35, was injured by a bullet in his right hand.  PCHR’s fieldworker stated that Jamya’ was injured when working on his land, situated about six hundred meters from the border.  The injured party was taken to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and medical sources stated that his condition was stable.

 During the day the IOF supported by military vehicles entered Qafar Ayin village to the north-west of Ramallah and Betounia village to the south of Ramallah.  IOF entered a number of homes and searched them leaving the homes in a state of disarray.  They arrested two civilians who were wanted by the IOF.  They were both taken to unspecified locations.

 

Monday 16^th August 2004

Early in the morning of Monday 16th August 2004, IOF killed two Palestinian civilians, east of Jabalyah town, in the north of the Gaza Strip. The two Palestinians were killed when Israeli helicopters launched  four missiles at an agricultural field. IOF claimed that its forces targeted a cell from a Palestinian resistance group who were trying to launch Qassam rockets at Israel.

 Preliminary investigations by PCHR indicate that the two victims were killed by shrapnel from a rocket and rounds of live ammunition. The attack took place when the two men were collecting wood in area which had been destroyed by an earlier IOF incursion.

 Eyewitness reports and investigations by PCHR fieldworkers suggest that at approximately 01.15, Israeli helicopter gun-ships fired four guided missiles at an agricultural field, close to the premises of al Mutawsat Concrete mixing company, in the eastern part of Jabalyah.  These missiles were followed  by random shelling from the helicopter gun-ships, targeting the same area. At approximately 06.30  Palestinian farmers found the bodies of the two deceased. Ambulance  crews went to the area and evacuated the bodies to Kamal Edwan hospital. Later on, the two deceased were identified as:

1. Mohamed Sulieman Abu Hashish, 21 years old, from Beit Hanoun, wounded  by live ammunition in different parts of his body.

2. Musa Mansur Abu Mashy, 22 years old, from Jabalyah, wounded by bullets and shrapnel in different parts of his body.

Israeli media later reported, quoting Israeli security sources, that Israeli helicopters had launched guided missiles at a Palestinian cell trying to fire Qassam rockets at Israel.  The sources claimed that the helicopters also targeted a launching pad for the Qassam rockets.

 At approximately 10.00 IOF made an incursion of about 300 meters into al Brazil quarter in Rafah.  The operation was accompanied by random shelling by tanks, armoured vehicles and helicopters.  The operation last from until 06.00 the next day.  During it the IOF entered three residential buildings and planted dynamite and used remote devices to explode them which resulted in the complete destruction of the buildings. The demolished homes are owned by civilians from Aziz, al Jafari and al Bashity families.  13 families lived in them, a total of 76 people.  It should be noted that IOF have demolished hundreds of buildings along this border with Egypt claiming they were looking for weapons smuggling tunnels.  It appears, however, that they are trying to widen the isolation area between the border and civilian properties.

 At approximately 12.15 the IOF located in the military camp near Tel al Sultan quarter, to the south west of Rafah, opened fire with automatic weapons.  As a result a child Adelhamid Hassan Abu al Sa’id, 15, was injured by a bullet to his right thigh while in front of his home.  He was taken directly to al Najer hospital in Rafah where his situation was described as stable.

 PCHR investigations were unable to produce evidence of military equipment or weapons in the area where the two men were killed, which suggests that they were civilians not engaged in military operations.

 In the afternoon, in another act of willful killing, the IOF, the IOF killed a civilian from Nablus when they left him to bleed to death.  The IOF admitted the killing but claimed that they were about to destroy a building owned by Nadir Aswad when they saw the victim looking from a window.  Believing him to be a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah movement, they shot him with one bullet – the IOF claimed that he was killed instantly.

 According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations and eyewitness reports, early on in the day the IOF entered Nablus city and camps, supported by military vehicles.  They instructed people not to leave their homes in some of the areas.  The IOF occupied some buildings and took over the roof tops, using them as military posts and used their positions to fire on anybody moving in the area.  At approximately 14.00 a Palestinian civilian Zahir Sameer al Adham, 29, was standing on his roof, in the area of Ras al Ayn. The IOF located on a rooftop about 100m from him, in Darduoq building, opened fire at him without warning. As a result he was injured by a bullet in the right side of his stomach.  A number of medical staff from an ambulance went to the building and were able to get him down to the street.  An ambulance then moved towards him to take him to the hospital for treatment but the IOF prevented it from gaining access to the injured man.  This stand-off lasted for thirty minutes and at approximately 14.30 he died. 

 Over the course of the day, dozens of Palestinians congregated and began to throw stones at the IOF.  Immediately the IOF began to open fire in their direction and as a result there ten people injured.  They were taken to Rafidia Public Hospital, to the Women’s Union and to Nablus Specialist  Hospital for treatment.  Two of the injured were described as critical.

The injured parties were named as:

1.  Ali Yusef Ma’rouf, 20, injured by a bullet in his stomach and described as being in a critical condition.

2.  Jihad Rafiq Amer, 21, injured by two bullets in the stomach and right thigh, also described as being in a critical condition.

3.  Majdi Housni Mohammad, 18, injured by a bullet in his right hand.

4.  Adli Ali Hajjawi, 17, injured by a bullet to the left thigh.

5.  Hadi al Sarkaji, 15, injured by a bullet to the right thigh.

6.  Sameh al Rimawi, 15, injured by shrapnel in the right thigh.

7.  Issam Mazen Hallawa, 20, injured by a bullet in his right thigh.

8.  Mohammad Na’if Abdel Hajj Dawoud, 20, injured by a bullet to the right thigh.

9.  Ahmed Adil Mohammad AbuSalim, 19, injured by a shrapnel in his neck.

10.    Yusef Minazal Badawi, 21, injured by a bullet in his left leg.

 At approximately 18.00 IOF, supported by military vehicles, entered 100 meters into the eastern area of Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip.  They destroyed al Qilta’ well, owned by a Palestinian Co-operative society.  They also destroyed a building of eighty square meters which is also owned by the Co-op.  This well was used to water a large area of agricultural land. After two hours the IOF moved the incursion towards the north east of the village and destroyed another well and a 220 square meter building attached to it which was owned by Mukbil Yusef Shorab.  It is worth noting that this area has already been razed extensively in previous incursions and includes hundreds of agricultural donums which were demolished in the recent incursion into Beit Hanoun.  At the same time the IOF located inside the border with Egypt used machine guns against the densely populated al Brazil quarter.  This resulted in a civilian, Nidal Abdullah Abu Armana, 18, being injured by shrapnel in his left shoulder.  He was taken to al Najer hospital where medical sources stated his condition was stable.

 At approximately 20.45 IOF located by Neve Dekalim settlement to the West of Khan Yunis opened fire with automatic weapons against civilian properties in Khan Yunis camp and Namsoui quarter to the east and the north of the settlement.  As a result one civilian was injured, Ahmed Hamid Al Sinwar, 19, was wounded by shrapnel from a bullet in his right leg.  He was taken to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and medical sources described his situation as stable. 

 During the day IOF, supported by military vehicles, entered Zababada village to the south-east of Jenin and also Silwad village to the north-east of Ramallah and Beit Omar and Doura villages in Hebron municipality.  These forces entered civilian properties and searched them, leaving the properties in disarray, they arrested ten civilians who were wanted by IOF.  They took them to an unspecified location.

 

Tuesday 17^th August 2004

 At approximately 02.00 the IOF entered, from the Erez Checkpoint in the north of the Gaza Strip, into the west of Beit Hanoun via Sultan street, supported by heavy military vehicles.  Soldiers instructed residents to leave their homes, before entering, while detaining them in an empty area nearby.  For about six hours the soldiers searched the houses using dogs.  They then began to dig under and around some of the houses claiming that they were looking for tunnels.

 At approximately 11.00 dozens of Palestinian youths and children began to gather in Nablus city to demonstrate against the continuous operations by IOF.  The demonstrators threw stones at the IOF who immediately opened fire on them.  Consequently eight demonstrators were injured, most of whom were children, who were then taken to the city hospitals.  Two of them were described as being in a critical condition.  The injured parties are:

1.   Islam Subhi Gandour, 16, injured with a bullet to the back whose condition was defined as critical.

2.  Shehab Ahmed Fowad Al Najar, 17, injured by a bullet in his stomach also described as being in a critical condition.

3.  Ahmed Fayez Mohammad Zoaitir,18, injured by two bullets in his right hand and right leg.

4.  Qais Abdelrahman Ahmed Mousa, 17, injured by a bullet in his right leg.

5.  Ahmed Jemal Abdelrahim Mabrouka, 16, injured by a bullet to the head.

6.  Alaa Hilal Mohammad Badran, 15, injured by a bullet in his right knee.

7.  Salam Amira, 14, injured by a bullet in his right leg.

8.     Mohammad Munir Fatair, 13, injured by a bullet in his left thigh.

 In another act of intentional killing IOF, during the evening, killed an eight year old Palestinian child.  The child was killed having received serious injurious from a bullet in his chest.  The IOF shot at him while he was playing in front of his family home in Hosh al Jitan in the old town of Nablus. 

 According to preliminary investigations by PCHR and eyewitness reports, at approximately 16.15 the child Khalid Jamal al Asta was playing near his home in the area, when shooting was heard to come from Ras al Ayin area in the old town.  The child was heard to shout and he fell down.  When his mother heard him shouting she quickly went to him and saw him bleeding from the chest.  She carried him and put him in an ambulance of the Palestinian Red Crescent which was near-by.  The child was taken to the Ara’bi-Ingliizi Hospital in the town.  However he was dead on arrival.  An autopsy indicated that he had a bullet in his chest.  The eyewitness told the PCHR fieldworker that the area was in a state of complete quiet at the time of the attack.

 At approximately 17.00 IOF located around Tel al-Sultan quarter, in Rafah, opened fire with machine guns.  As a result the Palestinian civilian Mohammad Tala’t al Tartouri was injured by a bullet in his right arm.  The injured party was sent to al Najer hospital and medical sources defined him as being in a stable condition.

 During the day, the IOF, supported by military vehicles, entered Juyos village in Qalqilia municipality,  Kherbit al Musbah  and Beit Legia villages in Ramallah municipality, Deisha camp south of Bethleham.  A large number of these forces entered into a number of civilian homes and searched them and left them in disarray.  They arrested six civilians who were wanted by IOF.  They were taken to an unspecified location.

 

Wednesday 18^th August 2004

 At approximately 00.30, IOF foot-soldiers entered about 300m into Qezan al Najar area to the north of Moraj settlement, south of Khan Yunis city.  The IOF entered the home of Juma Hamdan al Shaer and placed the residents in one room of the house.  Three families lived in the house, a total of 25 people were placed in this one room.  They searched the house and left it in disarray.  After they withdrew they arrested the son of the aforementioned civilian, Jihad al Shaer, 35. 

 At approximately 12.00 IOF made an incursion, supported by military vehicles, into al Fariah refugee camp to the south-east of Jenin.  They began to close all of the entrances to the camp and established military checkpoints while other foot-soldiers moved around the narrow streets of the camp, entering from all directions under the cover of random shooting towards residential areas.  Dozens of children and youths congregated and threw stones at IOF which immediately opened fired at them.  As a result two of them were injured and were taken to the Dr. Khlail Suliman Public Hospital in Jenin.  Medical sources described one of them as being in a critical condition and the other as stable:

1.        Yusef Mohammad Sarhaan, 21, injured by a bullet in the chest and was described as being in a critical condition.

2.        Jalal Mohammad Subah, 17, injured by a bullet in his left leg.

Later on the IOF supported by heavy military vehicles entered Deisha camp to the south of Bethleham and also Qalqilia and Nablus cities and Marda village to the south of Nablus.  IOF raided a number of buildings and searched them and left the homes in a state of disarray. They arrested seven civilians who they said were wanted, including one woman.  They were taken to an unspecified location. 

At approximately 11.40 IOF located inside the Egyptian-Gaza border opened fire towards residential areas in Block J in Rafah.  This resulted in an injuries to a child, Annas Yusef Abu Taqia, 7, in his right shoulder who was taken to al Najer hospital where his condition was described as a stable. 

 At approximately 15.30 IOF who are located in military posts to the north of Toofah checkpoint and around Neve Dekalim settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire towards residential areas in Khan Yunis.  After two hours a helicopter began operating overhead and opened fire from machine guns towards a graveyard in Namsoui quarter.  This resulted in the injury of three people, one of them a child, who were taken to Naser hospital in Khan Yunis where their conditions were described as stable:

1.        Mohammad Ali Abu Khrais, 16, injured by a bullet in his right arm.

2.        Hamada Suliman Awad, 11, injured by shrapnel in his arms.

3.        Mustapha Mohammad al Masri, 35, injured by a bullet in his left arm.

IOF, later that evening, attacked two civil institutions in Gaza City within a short space of time.  The missile attack caused massive structural damage to the buildings.  According to preliminary investigations by PCHR, at approximately 22.00 the IOF helicopters attacked the al Raiashi battery shop which is located in Zeitoun quarter in the south east of Gaza City. The two rockets targeted the shop directly.  The attack destroyed all of its contents.  The shop is located on the first floor of a residential building consisting of three floors.  The shop is owned by Amil Saleh Mustapha Riasi, a brother of Riam al Riasi, who detonated a suicide bomb in the Erez checkpoint on the 14^th of January 2004.  The building was partially damaged by the explosion, although nobody was injured.  The same building was attacked on the 13^th of July.  After a few minutes the helicopters attacked with another two missiles towards a metal workshop in Asqula in the east of Gaza which is owned by civilians Ziad Mohammad Ibrahim Hasuna.  The two rockets hit the target directly and caused massive structural damage to the workshop, which is about 300 sq meters.   One of these missiles hit the wall of a nearby workshop causing partial destruction. This workshop is owned by Said Mohammad Khalil Islaih and is a panel-beater’s workshop.  It is about 270 square meters.  It should be noted that the workshop of Hasuna was attacked in this fashion on the 14th July.

 

Extra-Judicial Executions

IOF military forces carried out an unsuccessful assassination attempt at 00.00 targeting Ahmed al Ja’bari, a leader of the Hamas movement.  The attack resulted in the death of five Palestinian civilians, including his son, his brother, his nephew, his son-in-law and a friend.  He sustained moderate injuries in the attack.  Three other civilians were injured, including a child and another brother of the target who is condition is defined as serious. This attack illustrates the further escalation in violence and further violations of human rights committed by IOF.  This policy of extra-judicial execution is a state-sanctioned policy authorized by the highest level of the Israeli occupation authorities.

 According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations and eyewitness reports, at approximately 00.00 on Wednesday 18^th of August 2004, a large explosion occurred in the Diwan, a traditional indoor recreational area near the home where family and friends gather, located in the densely populated Shejiyia neighbourhood in the east of Gaza City.  The Diwan is owned by Sheik Ahmed al Ja’abari, 38, a prominent Hamas figure who was present with a number of his relatives and friends.  The explosion resulted in the death of five people who were named as:

1. Fathy Said al-Ja’abari, 41,brother of the target.

2. Mohammad Ahmed al-Ja’abari, 21, son of the target.

3. Borhan al Ja’abari, 19, a nephew of the target.

4.Salah Abdelkarim al Haiya, 21, son-in-law of the target

5. Alaa Ali Sharif, 26.

Israeli military sources claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to the Israeli media.  IOF stated that their military aircraft attacked the home of a prominent Hamas leader. 

 

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.

 In this context IOF, on Friday evening the 13^th of August 2004, destroyed the home of Yusef Ahmed Hassan Hannani, from Beit Foriq village to the east of Nablus.  According to PCHR preliminary investigations at approximately 19.00 IOF, consisting of five jeeps, entered Beit Foriq under cover from random shooting against residential areas. The incursion began with shelling and firing into these areas.  The IOF surrounded his family home and ordered the residents to leave without giving them the chance to remove their property.  A number of soldiers started to put explosive devices in the corners of the house and at approximately20.30 they used remote devices to detonate the explosives.  The explosion completely destroyed the home and all of its contents.  The house consisted of three floors over a space of 140 sq meters.  There were three families living there, consisting of ten people, including four children.  Yusef Hannani was killed at the age of 29, at approximately 09.00, on the same morning, when he tried to make an incursion into Itamar settlement, south west of Beit Foriq.

 

Continued Siege on the oPt

 

This week, Israeli occupying forces 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. 

 

The Gaza Strip

The IOF continued to systematically violate the human rights of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip by prohibiting and restricting their right to freedom of movement.  They have imposed a continuous siege on the Gaza Strip, partially closing all of the borders in and out of Gaza which link Gaza to the outside world.  They have imposed severe restrictions on the free movement of Palestinian civilians and their goods by dividing the Gaza strip at various internal checkpoints.  They partially reopened Rafah International Terminal, on the border with Gaza and Egypt, which is the only access point from Gaza to the outside world.  Those people wishing to travel through the terminal suffered greatly as a result of the limited opening times imposed by IOF.  This caused a backlog of travelers waiting to travel through.  IOF also imposed closures at the internal checkpoints inside the Gaza strip, particularly al-Matahan and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al Din road, the main road from the north to south of the Gaza Strip.  IOF imposed a closure at these checkpoints between 20.00 to 03.00 every day. During the day, when the checkpoint was open, civilians were subjected to intensive search policies which caused severe delays to their travels.  Cars were stopped, searched and impounded and on occasion some civilians were arrested.

During the morning of Thursday 12^th of August the IOF closed al-Matahan and Abu Houli checkpoints and stopped a large number of cars and checked the identity cards of civilians.  This lasted for a number of hours and the closure was imposed erratically throughout the day.  The IOF arrested four civilians, one of whom is called, Jihad Suileman AbuTiar, 21, from Khan Yunis.  He is a trainee in the Palestinian police-force.   At approximately 12.30, on Sunday the 15^th of August, IOF closed the two checkpoints after detaining dozens of cars and lorries in the empty space to the west of the checkpoint, which is surrounded by concrete blocks.  They ordered the men to get out of the car and detained them in this area, under the heat of the sun, while they checked their identity cards.  They also ordered a number of them take off some of their clothes as part of the search. The searches lasted until 19.00 that evening.  They arrested four civilians including Mohammad Abdelhamid Mansour Hijju, 23, from Deir al-Balah.  He is a father of, Iman Hijju a new born baby, who was killed by IOF when she was being held by her mother in al Amal quarter in Khan Yunis at the start of the Intifada.  Eyewitness said to the PCHR fieldworker that the IOF subjected Mohammad Hijju to a violent attack before arresting him with the other prisoners, before taking them to an unspecified location.  The same scenario was repeated at approximately 14.00 the next day, Monday 16^th August 2004 and lasted about six hours.  IOF extensively searched all travelers they stopped.  The soldiers intentionally humiliated and degraded the Palestinian civilians they had detained.  They arrested a civilian Ahmed Jalal Ahmed Hussein, 28, from Shaboura camp in Rafah.  They took him to an unspecified location.  This policy of closing and searching continued on Tuesday the 17^th of August.  At approximately 06.00 on Wednesday 18^th of August the IOF again closed the checkpoints and delayed thousands of employees from traveling to their workplaces.  They reopened the checkpoint after three hours.  They allowed five vehicles from either side of the checkpoint to pass at any one time, which caused a severe traffic jam.  During these operations of closing the checkpoints a back-log of hundreds of civilians developed on either side of the checkpoint, waiting in the heat of the sun.  On a number of occasions the IOF opened fire with tear gas and machine guns towards the gathered civilians. 

The IOF continued to impose a strict siege on the al Mawasi area in Khan Yunis and Rafah.  Throughout the week they prevented civilians from entering the area through the Toofah checkpoint. On the morning off Tuesday 17^th August 2004 the IOF closed the Toofah checkpoint which is the only entrance and exit point for the area.  They allowed civilians to leave the area but prevented them from re-entering the area.  The IOF regularly impose random closures at this checkpoint and prevent civilians from traveling through it.  Even when the checkpoint is officially opened the IOF still place huge restrictions on movement forcing civilians to go through extensive searches using dogs, electronic cards and metal detectors.  Civilians are regularly stopped and detained while trying to pass through Toofah.  IOF still prevent all men between the ages of 16 – 30 and all women from 16 – 25 from passing through without prior coordination with the

IOF. A number of residents of the al Mawasi area informed the PCHR fieldworker that the IOF prevented many people who meet the IOF security requirements from entering or leaving the checkpoint.

The people in al Sayafah area, between Dogit and Elai Sinai settlements in the north of the Gaza Strip, are living under the same conditions.  The IOF continues to control the only gate in and out of the area and prevents all civilians from passing through the checkpoint unless there is exceptional circumstances and prior coordination.  The IOF allowed only five people to pass through each day to purchase basic provisions. They are only allowed to pass through at certain specified hours and they are subject to humiliation and degrading treatment during the security check process.  This process of security checks also involves strip-searches, searches with dogs and metal detectors. They have prohibited supplies of domestic gas from entering the area for more then three months; which causes serious suffering to the civilians in the area who are forced to use wood for cooking instead of gas.  Farmers are prevented from moving freely to tend their agricultural land which damages the crops.  The people in Ma’ani area next to Kvar Darom settlement,  28 families a total of 138 people, are also suffering similar conditions and also face severe difficulties in access to and from the area.

IOF have continued to close the Erez checkpoint from the 27^th of June for  Palestinian civilians but is partially open for those who work in Israel and in the Erez Industrial zone.  From the start of June the IOF allowed approximately 500 Palestinian workers to travel to Israel, this number has been gradually increased to 3000.  However the workers are subjected to such a complex process of security checks and humiliation that only 1500 workers are able to enter Israel.  One of the workers told the PCHR fieldworkers that “we have to wake up early in the morning and to walk nearly four kilometers, and then to pass through hours of security checks, including through a number of metal detectors, while soldiers engage in a process of insulting and humiliating us.”  Israeli occupying authorities have continued to partially open the Sofa passage, to the east of Rafah.  They only allowed access for construction materials but they prevented people from crossing.  The Qarni commercial passage, east of Gaza city, which is considered the main terminal for goods coming in and out of the Gaza Strip, has only been partially opened in the past several months.  Notably the constant closure of this terminal has had an obvious negative impact upon the local market.

Despite the reopening of the Rafah International terminal at the Egyptian-Palestinian border, the suffering of travelers has continued as a result of the IOF policy of limited opening hours, in contravention of international agreements between Israel and Egypt to open it 24 hours a day for 363 days a year.  The closure forces large numbers of civilians to congregate on both sides of the Terminal waiting to pass through.  It should be noted that the IOF have been sporadically opening and closing the Terminal over the last three months of this year. They have prevented large numbers of people from traveling through and have imposed strict security procedures on those people permitted from traveling.

Since the start of the Intifada the IOF have claimed, to the international community, that that the Rafah terminal is consistently open. In fact they have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and only allowed certain categories of Palestinians to cross the border.  In particular civilians between the ages of 16 -35 have been prevented from traveling out of Gaza since 18th April.  This has prevented thousands of students and those in need of medical treatment from traveling.

 

West Bank

Israeli Military forces have continued to impose more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected more checkpoints and imposed curfews on many villages, camps and cities in the West Bank.    

The following is not a comprehensive list of all closures but contains details of some of the most severe closures imposed on the West Bank.

 

Jerusalem

In Jerusalem the Israeli forces continued to impose more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the municipality.  In the morning of Saturday 14^th of August dozens of taxis from Nabi Samuel village, to the northwest of occupied East Jerusalem, were detained.  Eyewitness reports indicated that the cars were owned by villagers from the north-west of the city.  The IOF claimed that the drivers did not have permits to allow them to travel on the settlement roads.  It is worth noting that the IOF, under such circumstances, impound cars for periods of up to one month.  The IOF informed the people in al Misdara in the Shufat neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem that it is a closed military zone.  Eyewitness have informed PCHR that special units of the IOF border Police, supported by a number of military vehicles, entered into the area on Sunday 15^th of August 2004.  They imposed closures on all the access routes to the area and imposed a siege on it, before ordering people not to leave their homes.  This was coupled with closures imposed on other neighbourhoods of the city, such as al Aisawia, Surbahir, Omtoobah, Silwan and Thouwri.  They also increased the numbers and activities of military activities operating in the north of the city, particularly in al Ram and Dahia al Bariid areas.  Eyewitness reports indicated that IOF located on the Dahia al Bariid checkpoint to the north of the city intentionally slowed down their security procedures while checking Palestinian civilians in order to make them feel nervous and under threat.  They subjected them to humiliation and degrading treatment. 

 

Ramallah

IOF closed Qalandia checkpoint, south of Ramallah city, from the afternoon of Wednesday 11^th of August and this closure remained in place until the Sunday 15^th of August.  Throughout the week the IOF established a number of spontaneous checkpoints near al Jeeb village, to the south west of Ramallah; in Beir Naballa and al Jadera, to the south; Jaba, to the south east; at al Atara bridge and at Oyunharamia, to the north of Ramallah.  They prevented Palestinians from traveling freely and claimed that they were looking for wanted Palestinians.  During this time Palestinian civilians were subjected to degrading and humiliating treatment.

 

Bethlehem

The IOF, on the morning of Thursday 12^th of August, imposed further restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the area of Bethlehem.  Eyewitness reports stated that hundreds of Palestinian civilians were delayed for hours at al Kontainer checkpoint, located at the cross roads between Sawahara Shariqia village and Wadi Anar road, to the north east of Bethlehem.  Eyewitness reports indicated that the forces closed the checkpoint from the early hours of the morning and stopped all movement through the checkpoint.  The soldiers pursued civilians over the near-by hills and mountains and hundreds of cars were queued up for at least one kilometer, at the checkpoint. 

 

Nablus

The IOF intensified their unjustified policy of imposing an increased number of checkpoints throughout the area.  The PCHR fieldworker reported that IOF added remote controlled metal turnstiles to Beit Iba checkpoint, to the east and to Howara, in the south.  The fieldworker reported that IOF increased the fortification at the checkpoint by adding metal sheets and additional concrete guard rooms.  As a result of an attempt by a Palestinian to enter the Itamar settlement to the south-west of Nablus the IOF closed Beit Foriq checkpoint to the east of the city.  They also instructed people in the village not to leave their homes.  This affected about ten-thousand people.  On the evening of Friday 13^th of August the IOF prevented people from entering or leaving the village.  They also cut the telephone lines into the area.  Reports indicated that those Palestinians who were trying to return to their village through the checkpoint were humiliated by Israeli soldiers.  Soldiers gave Mohammad Qasim Ahmed Hannani, 33, a severe beating while he tried to return from Nablus.  He is a teacher in Beit Foriq secondary school.  IOF are still preventing most Palestinian civilians under the age of 35 from passing through this checkpoint without prior coordination with the IOF.  People over the age of 35 and university students are allowed to pass through the checkpoint on Saturday and Wednesday each week.  Hundreds of civilians are forced to climb through the mountains and walk for long distances in order to reach their destinations.

 

Jenin

IOF continued to impose closures on Jenin from the early morning Thursday 12^th of August.  The eyewitness reports stated that IOF have created a number of military checkpoints on the main connecting roads between the city and its surrounding towns and villages.  Further reports indicated that a checkpoint was established between al Zababda and Aqaaba villages.  Similar checkpoints were established at the entrance to Tamoun village, to the south-east of Jenin.    On the morning of Saturday 14^th of August, IOF started to bulldoze secondary roads in the flat lands near Dotan Military Camp.  They also placed concrete road blocks at the main entrance to Maraka village, to the south of Jenin.  They established new military checkpoints on the main road to Nablus, near Beir al Basha village.  They prevented cars from using the road on both sides and searched the cars and their occupants. They also established another checkpoint near Kaffir Goad village, west of Jenin.

Tulkarm

IOF, for the 5th consecutive week, have closed Anaab gate on the road from Nablus to Tulkarm.  Civilians have been prevented from driving through and consequently thousands have been forced to walk through the checkpoint.  This has caused them to be late arriving at their workplaces.  The PCHR fieldworker noted that the IOF added a number of military checkpoints along the main connecting roads into the city.  In the early hours of Sunday morning 15^th of August, the  IOF raided Tulkarm camp and located themselves at the northern gate and stopped dozens of cars coming on the Nablus road for a number of hours.  They checked the identification cards of the taxi drivers and their passengers.  In the early morning the IOF closed the Kufriat checkpoint at the southern entrance of Tulkarm city.  They prevented people from entering or leaving the area and designated it as a closed military zone.  Eyewitness reports indicated that Israeli soldiers threatened civilians with machine-guns instructing them to disperse.  Civilians in villages to the south of the municipality were ordered to return home which stopped a number of employees from reaching their jobs.

 

Qalqilia

PCHR fieldworkers reported that IOF established a number of military checkpoints throughout the week at the crossroads of the main routes in the municipality which further limited the right to freedom of movement.  Eyewitness reports stated that they placed a checkpoint at the only entrance to Qalqilia city and at the entrance to Azun village, to the east and also near Jius village, to the north of Qalqilia.  IOF stopped civilian cars and comprehensively searched the cars and the occupants.  At that time the Israeli Police increased the number of checkpoints on all the municipality roads and issued dozens of unjustified fines to Palestinian drivers.  A number of taxi drivers working on that route said two Israeli police patrols established checkpoints on the main roads between Qalqilia, Nablus and Tulkarm.  They issued a number of unjustified fines to Palestinian drivers. 

 

Checkpoint Arrests

The IOF have continued using their checkpoints as a means for trapping Palestinian civilians and arresting them. 

Forces at Qalandia checkpoint, south of Ramallah, during the afternoon of Thursday 12^th of August, arrested Bassam Mustapha Asa’d, 32, from A’raba village south of Jenin.  He works as a taxi driver.  He was arrested and taken to an unspecified location and his car was impounded.

On the morning of Saturday 14^th of August IOF located at Zatara checkpoint, to the south of Nablus, arrested a Palestinian civilian Sohib Sulieman Qaran, 19, a resident of Qalqilia.  He was traveling to Ramallah city at the time. IOF located at Anab Gate, east of Anabta village, to the east of Tulkarm, arrested a civilian Thaer Farouq Mansouri, 20, from Tulkarm camp, while he was heading from Ramallah to his home.  

Early in the morning of Monday the 16^th of August the IOF established a spontaneous checkpoint near Anab Gate and arrested Nizar Farhan Shihada, 18, from Anabta village.  They took him to an unspecified location.  Eyewitness reports stated that was suffering from a mental disability.   In the afternoon IOF also established a spontaneous checkpoint near Dr Thabit Thabit Public hospital, in Tulkarm, they stopped a number of cars and checked them and then arrested Morad Mahmoud al Rays, 39, and took him to an unspecified location.  On Thursday morning the 17^th of August IOF established a spontaneous checkpoint at the entrance of Anabta village.  They carefully searched a number of Palestinians and checked their identity cards.  They arrested Na’im Hussein Najabli, 26, and thoroughly searched him before taking him to an unspecified location.

 

Continued Construction of the Apartheid Wall inside the West Bank

IOF have continued constructing the Annexation Wall in the West Bank and have concentrated on razing lands around occupied east Jerusalem and also in the areas around Tulkarm, in the north of the West Bank.  This is not a comprehensive report of all construction activity but is an outline of the most significant work carried out in the past week.

 

Jerusalem

The IOF bulldozers and military vehicles continued to raze civilian land in the area between Ma’alay Adomim Settlement, to the east of Izaria village which is to the east of Jerusalem and also in the area near to the Nabi Yacub settlement in Ayad Wadi between al Bariid and al Ram suburbs in the north of Jerusalem.  Eyewitness reports indicate that military vehicles and bulldozers with pneumatic drills razed land for long periods of time.  This includes lands in al Azaria and Anabta villages to the east of Jerusalem; also around Jaba’ village, to the north east of Jerusalem; in Qalandia area to the north of Jerusalem to the industrial area which is known as “Atarot” to the north of the city.  Local sources reported that IOF finished working in al Qussarat area in Wadi Ayad.

 

Tulkarm

IOF started measuring land on the morning of Monday morning the 16^th of August in the villages of al Ras, Faron, Qafarsour, Kherbat Jibara to the south of Tulkarm city.  Village council sources reported that a number of groups of Israeli engineers were operating in the area, protected by Israeli security.  They started to mark the land with numbers and to divide it for planning purposes in the areas of Kherbat Abu Mansour and Jabal Azandiq in the Faron region.  In this context engineers also examined lands in Khilit al Kharab, Hariq, al Moetima in the al Ras region.  In the location of Wadi al Berak from the lands in the region of Qafasour, next to Salait settlement in the north.  Sources added that all these lands where located inside the planned route of the Annexation Wall.

 

Qalqilia

The IOF used bulldozers on the morning of Wednesday 18^th of August a large area of Palestinian lands inside the Isba Salman.  Local sources reported that IOF razed about 350 donums from land which is inherited from the Hussein Quzmar and Abdulrahman Salman and Ahmed Sa’id Shwahna.  It is worth noting that the lands which have been razed is located between the route of the Annexation Wall and the 1967 green-line.  The owners of the land used to enter it through a gate which is established by IOF at the entrance to al Isba. 

 

Settler attacks on Palestinian civilians and their properties

Those Israelis living in settlements, which are illegal according to international law, have continued their systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and their properties.  The following is a list of the most significant crimes committed by Israelis settlers in the past week: it is not intended to be a comprehensive list.

At Thursday morning the 12^th of August IOF started to raze lands, using bulldozers, in the area of Khalail al Loz, to the south east of Bethleham, in the West Bank.  Local sources indicated that IOF issued warrants seizing about 134 donums of land, which will be used to build a settlers-only road.  Sources added that the forces posted notices informing the population that the land was being confiscated and would be demolished and that the area was a closed military zone.  The Palestinian Ministry for Local Affairs stated that this would divide agricultural lands in Bethlehem from the main town and in so doing would choke the local agricultural and tourist industry.  It is notable that this area contains prime agricultural land and is within the natural boundaries of Bethlehem.  In the same context the settlers have been destroying crops in the  Ayin al Qasis area  to the west of al Khadder village, which is to the west of Bethlehem.  The land owner Ahmed Mahmoud Abudusalam Salah was shocked in the  morning when he found his crops, his grape trees and his apricot trees had been up-rooted and destroyed over an area of about 10 donums.  This was in addition to destroying the walls which divided the land which covered an area of about 500sq meters. 

On Monday morning the 16^th of August in Bethlehem the IOF started to raze agricultural land located between Artas village and Rahal Wadi in Bethlehem city.  Local sources reported that the IOF bulldozers razed lands in Wadi Abu Zaarour, which is owned by two civilians from Artas village and Rahal Wadi as part of the plan to complete the aforementioned settlement road.

Israeli newspapers published a tender on Tuesday 17^th of August for the construction of 1001 new living units immediately in an Israeli settlement located in the West Bank, in contravention of international humanitarian law.  The advertisement exposes the policies of the Israeli government who committed to stop building settlements as part of the Sharon-Bush Disengagement plan.  The tender is taken from the website of the Israeli newspaper Yadot Ahronot as follows:

“The main hill in Karnishamron settlement, to the east of Qalqilia – 24 residential units.  The quarter to the east of Ariel settlement, south of Nablus, 214 residential units.. Location 7 in Mala Adumim settlement, east of Jerusalem, 141