PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

No. 04/2004

22-28 January 2004

Israeli Forces Continue to Perpetrate Crimes in the OPTs

This week, Israeli occupying forces continued to violate the human rights of Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), despite the close proximity if the Islamic holiday, Eid ul-Adha. Throughout the week, Israeli occupying forces conducted incursions into Palestinian areas; shot at Palestinian civilians, which included children; indiscriminately shelled residential areas and demolished houses; and leveled agricultural land. Israeli occupying forces have also continued construction of the “Separation Wall” inside the West Bank while imposing a tight siege on the OPTs. This week, 9 Palestinians, including 4 children, were killed by Israeli occupying forces. Eight of the victims were killed during an Israeli military incursion into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted 11 military incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they killed and arrested a number of Palestinians and damaged civilian properties. In a major military incursion into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza city, Israeli occupying forces killed 8 Palestinians, including 3 children and 4 members of the Palestinian resistance. In addition, 4 other civilians, including an ambulance driver, were injured. Israeli forces also caused severe damage to civilian properties in the area.

In 4 military incursions into Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah, Israeli occupying forces razed more than 100 donums of Palestinian agricultural land. Israeli forces also raided and searched some houses, and arrested a number of Palestinians, including 3 children.

In an excessive use of force, on the morning of 22 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces shot dead an 11-year-old Palestinian child and wounded 2 other children near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Jabalya. The children were hunting birds approximately 300m away from the border with Israel.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces continued to move into Palestinian areas as well. In a major military incursion into Nablus on Thursday, 22 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a 5-storey apartment building in Ras al-‘Ein neighborhood, the reason for which according to them was that an allegedly wanted Palestinian was hiding inside the building. Israeli occupying forces also moved into a number of villages and refugee camps and arrested dozens of Palestinians.

Israeli occupying forces have continued construction of the “Separation Wall” inside the West Bank, and razed more areas of Palestinian land for this purpose. They also demolished 3 homes that were under construction, a brick factory, and an animal farm. In addition this week, Israeli occupying forces conducted a census in Beit Eksa village, southwest of Jerusalem, and listed Palestinian properties. They also continued to close several iron gates established along the wall, denying movement for Palestinian civilians.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. Specifically in the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities and restrict movement of Palestinian civilians. Israeli troops have also maintained the closure of a number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip by stationing Israeli soldiers at Israeli military checkpoints. For the second consecutive week, Israeli occupying forces obstructed access of Gazan workers to their work places in Israel. They have also denied movement of Palestinian women through military checkpoints at entrances to the heavily-restricted al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip and al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. Such restrictions on the freedom of movement are in contravention of international human rights law to which Israel is a state party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

In the West Bank as well, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have blocked a number of roads using cement blocks, sand barriers and trenches. Since the beginning of the current Intifada in September 2000, Israeli occupying forces have established 673 barriers (457 sand barriers, 95 cement blocks, 65 trenches and 56 military checkpoints).

On Thursday morning, 22 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces positioned at al-Karama Terminal on the border with Jordan denied travel for no apparent reason, to Palestinians who are between 16 and 45 years old, but cancelled the decision later this week. Israeli occupying forces ordered Palestinian civilians to cross military checkpoints to obtain “checkpoint permits” from the so-called Israeli Civil Administration.

Following are statistics regarding Israeli war crimes perpetrated against Palestinian civilians in January 2004:

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

At approximately 05:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Qoussin village, west of Nablus. They raided a house belonging to the family of ‘Abdul Karim ‘Abed Rabbu Yadak, 21, and subsequently arrested him.

At approximately 09:00, while Israeli occupying forces were surrounding an apartment building in Ras al-‘Ein neighborhood in Nablus (see below), more enforcement of Israeli military vehicles moved into the city. A tank positioned itself in Sufian Street, while 10 military jeeps moved and stopped at the crossroads leading to the center of the city. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military jeeps, which caused an immediate response from the Israeli soldiers, who fired at the stone throwers. Six Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were wounded:

1. Mohammed ‘Abed Rabbu Hassan Libbada, 22, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand;

2. Mohammed Yousef ‘Abdul Salam Qassas, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen;

4. Ibrahim ‘Afifi Ma’ani, 12, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen;

5. ‘Alaa’ Shafiq Basiouni, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg; and

Additionally that morning, in an excessive use of force, Israeli occupying forces shot dead an 11-year-old Palestinian child and wounded 2 other children near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Jabalya. They claimed that they noticed 7 armed persons attempting to infiltrate into Israel, so they opened fire at then. However, the child’s body was found approximately 300m away from the border, and the children were hunting birds before they were fired at by Israeli forces.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:00, a number of Palestinian children were hunting birds approximately 300m west of the border with Israel, east of Jabalya. Soon after, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border fired at them. The children attempted to escape, but the gunfire continued. One of the children, Muhsen Haidar Mohammed al-Da’our, 11, from Jabalya refugee camp, was killed by a live bullet to the head. Two other children were also wounded. Soon after, an Israeli military jeep moved into the area and removed the two wounded children. They were evacuated to an Israeli hospital. A Palestinian ambulance moved towards the area, but Israeli soldiers denied access to it due to the lack of prior coordination. At approximately 13:30, Israeli occupying forces allowed access to the area for an ambulance of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in order to remove the child’s body. The body was then transferred to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza city. According to medical sources there, the child was fired at from the back. On Sunday, 25 January 2004, the two wounded children were transferred from the Israeli hospital to Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. They were identified as:

1. Nader Samir al-Far, 15, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg; and

At approximately 14:00, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved dozens of meters into Palestinian agricultural areas near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of al-Qarara village in Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers chased a number of Palestinian children and arrested 3:

At approximately 16:00, Mohammed Hassan ‘Abdul Halim Zuraiq, 19, from al-Naqoura village, northwest of Nablus, was going back home from an-Najah National University in Nablus. After crossing a bypass road west of the city, an Israeli military jeep that was patrolling on the road moved close to him and fired at him. He was wounded by a live bullet in the right ankle. According to eyewitnesses, Zuraiq was wounded when he was in a mountainous area to the east of his village, approximately 600m away from the bypass road. Israeli soldiers ordered a Palestinian shepherd to take him on a donkey towards “Shavi Shomron” settlement, approximately 5km away, and from there an Israeli ambulance evacuated to an Israeli hospital.

At approximately 01:00, 7 Israeli military jeeps moved into the southeast of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and forced their residents out until 04:00. They arrested 2 Palestinians:

At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block L in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, Bilal Daoud Abu ‘Obaid, 26, was injured by shrapnel in the abdomen.

At approximately 02:15, four Israeli military jeeps moved into Jaba’ village, which is located south of Jenin. Israeli soldiers raided and searched Mohammed Ibrahim Ghannam’s house. They arrested his two sons: Razi, 18; and Ghazi, 21.

At approximately 03:00, 6 Israeli military jeeps moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched Samih Abu Mustafa’s house and arrested his daughter, Intissar, 20.

At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces blocked the entrance to ‘Azzoun village. Later at approximately 07:30, they moved into the village and surrounded an apartment building that includes a number of flats and offices of a number of institutions. At approximately 09:00, Israeli soldiers raided the building and arrested 4 Palestinians:

At approximately 07:15, an Israeli infantry unit moved approximately 300m into Palestinian agricultural areas near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of al-Qarara village in Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers arrested Ihsan Ahmed Joma’a al-Sumairi, 20, who was hunting birds.

At approximately 11:50, Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 50m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, and opened fire at the area. A Palestinian child, Sahar Suleiman Abu Shawish, 16, was injured by shrapnel in the right forearm.

At approximately 02:15, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. Israeli soldiers ordered residents of the village through megaphone to gather in the main yard of the village. After village residents complied with their request, Israeli soldiers ordered female residents to return to their homes. Israeli soldiers then chose a number of young men, photographed them, and took their fingerprints. At approximately 04:00, the Israeli military jeeps withdrew from the village. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 17-year-old Akram Yousef Abu Ghazi, 17, after having severely beaten him.

At approximately 14:30, Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 300m into al-Fukhari area east of Khan Yunis. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land, on which 2 greenhouses planted with tomatoes stood, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ghazi Mousa Abu ‘Ouda.

At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 600m into al-Birka area in the southwest of Deir al-Balah. This incursion continued until 16:00 on the following day, during which Israeli military bulldozers razed 64 donums of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land planted with guavas and destroyed an irrigation network and a well owned by Salem Mohammed Abu Shimas.

2. They razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with lemons and guavas and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Yousef Suleiman Abu Shimas.

3. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with guavas owned by Ahmed Hammad Abu Shimas.

4. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and guavas owned by Salman Suleiman Abu Shimas.

5. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with guavas owned by Hassan Mustafa Abu Shimas.

6. They razed a 40-donum area of agricultural land planted with guavas and destroyed a well owned by Suleiman Mohammed Abu Shimas.

At approximately 18:30, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Burqa village, northwest of Nablus. They opened fire at Palestinian houses and forced traders to close their shops. They also forced residents of the village to evacuate their homes and gather in the main yard of the village, for no apparent reason. Upon their withdrawal from the village, Israeli soldiers arrested Mohammed Amin Saif, 56, and took him as a hostage to force his children, ‘Abdullah, 15; and Muntasser, 13, to surrender. They claimed that the two children threw stones at Israeli soldiers who frequently move into the village.

At approximately 04:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into Ibn Rushod Street in Nablus. Israeli occupation forces raided and searched ‘Abdul Raziq Hassan Hijazi’s house and arrested his son Ra’fat, 18.

At approximately 11:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 300m into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They razed 39 donums of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and wheat owned by Jama’an Salama al-Sumairi.

2. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and wheat owned by ‘Abdul Rahim Ahmed Salman al-Sumairi.

3. They razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and wheat and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed Suleiman Ahmed al-Sumairi.

4. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by ‘Ouda Suleiman al-Sumairi.

At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 300m into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land, 3 donums of which were planted with olives and vegetables and a greenhouse planted with tomatoes that stood on the 4^th donum, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by 'Azmi Mohammed Musallam Abu Haddaf.

2. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land, 2 donums of which were planted with olives and figs and a greenhouse planted with cucumber stood on the 3^rd donum, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Jamal Mohammed Abu Haddaf.

At approximately 23:00, Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 600m into Palestinian agricultural areas to the northeast of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They razed an area of Palestinian agricultural land and demolished 2 agricultural structures:

1. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and beans owned by Mohammed Ahmed Suleiman Abu Salim.

2. They demolished 2 agricultural structures that stood on a 32-square-meter area, owned by Ahmed Ibrahim 'Awad Sa'id.

At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with military vehicles, moved from al-Matahen military checkpoint approximately 100m into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They surrounded 2 houses belonging to the Musleh family. They forced the 49 residents of the houses (4 families) out during very cold weather, after which soldiers searched the houses. At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces withdrew from the area after having arrested 3 members of the family:

At approximately 02:45, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 900m into the east of Beit Hanoun. Israeli soldiers surrounded 'Adbullah 'Abdul Karim Abu Ouda's house, blew up its door, and broke into it. They then forced the 6 residents of the house out and searched the home. Half an hour later, Israeli soldiers arrested the owner's sons, Ahmed, 24, and 'Abdul Rahman, 22, and confiscated their ID cards.

In the morning, Israeli occupying forces conducted a major military incursion into Al-Zaytoun, a residential district of Gaza city, killing 8 Palestinians and causing extensive damage to civilian property.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 04:30, Israeli occupying forces entered from al-Shuhada junction, near “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, and moved approximately 2km into al-Zaytoun neighborhood. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces took up a position in the center of al-Zaytoun neighborhood and fired live bullets and artillery shells at Palestinian civilians and civilian property. Four Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were killed, and 4 other civilians, including an ambulance driver, were wounded. During the operation, members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli forces; four resistance men were killed in these clashes. Israeli occupying forces finally withdrew from al-Zaytoun neighborhood at approximately 11:30, leaving widespread damage to civilian property in the neighborhood.

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

On Thursday evening, 22 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a 5-storey apartment building in Nablus, claiming that an allegedly wanted Palestinian was hiding inside. As a consequence, 52 Palestinians (9 families) have become homeless.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 05:45, 2 tanks and 10 military jeeps belonging to Israeli occupying forces, supported by a helicopter, moved into Nablus through its southern entrance. They surrounded an apartment building owned by ‘Abdul Karim Ibrahim ‘Akouba and his brothers in Abu ‘Obaida Street in Ras al-‘Ein neighborhood. An Israeli officer ordered residents of the building to get out. Israeli soldiers checked the residents’ ID cards and detained them in a store, approximately 25 meters away. Soon after, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the building. Sounds of explosions inside the building were also heard. In the meantime, Israeli soldiers called through megaphones for ‘Emad ‘Akouba to surrender. At approximately 09:00, a tank, a military bulldozer, and 10 military jeeps moved into the city to reinforce other forces that had already moved into the city. The tank and jeeps were positioned in the center of the city, while the bulldozer moved towards the surrounded building in Abu ‘Obaida Street. At approximately 11:00, the bulldozer started to demolish the building and continued until 15:30. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives inside the building and threatened to destroy it if ‘Emad ‘Akouba did not surrender. At approximately 17:15, Israeli soldiers destroyed the building. According to the building’s owner, he asked the Israeli officer to search the building and he offered to serve as a human shield for Israeli soldiers while they searched, but the officer refused his offer. Israeli soldiers did not find any body between the ruins of the building. With the destruction of the 200-square-meter, 5-storey building was destroyed, 9 families (52 people, including 29 children) have become homeless:

2. Muhannad Ibrahim ‘Abdul Karim ‘Akouba’s family (9 people, including 7 children);

3. Majdi Ibrahim ‘Abdul Karim ‘Akouba’s family (5 people, including 3 children);

4. Hani Ibrahim ‘Abdul Karim ‘Akouba’s family (10 people, including 8 handicapped children);

On Thursday, 22 January 2004, Israeli military bulldozers demolished an under-construction Palestinian house, a brick factory and an animal farm in Jalboun village in Jenin. They also demolished 2 under-construction houses in Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm. They claimed that these properties were established without proper licenses, but PCHR’s field workers reported that these properties stood near the “Separation Wall.”

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 09:00, 12 Israeli military jeeps, 2 jeeps of the “Israeli Civil Administration” and 2 military bulldozers moved into Jalboun village, northeast of Jenin. One of the bulldozers demolished a 150-square-meter house owned by Radi Mustafa Abu al-Rub in the south of the village, while the other bulldozer demolished a brick factory owned by Mohammed Nafe’ Shalabi in the north of the village. The second bulldozer also demolished a 130-square-meter animal farm owned by Ahmed Zaher Abu al-Rub, which was established more than 20 years ago. PCHR’s field worker in Jenin reported that the house was about 30m away from the “Separation Wall,” while the brick factory and the animal farm were about 100m away.

At approximately 13:13, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by 2 bulldozers, moved into Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm. The bulldozers demolished 2 under-construction houses:

1. A 150-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Faleh Rashad Hassan ‘Eissa, which is 4m away from the wall; and

2. A 140-square-meter house owned by Subhi Mohammed Yousef ‘Edwan, which is 40m away from the wall.

On Monday, 26 January 2004, the officer of planning and construction in the so-called Israeli Civil Administration delivered a military order to Hani Mohammed 'Abdullah 'Aamer, 46, saying that an animal farm near his house in Masha village, east of Qalqilya, would be demolished. Since August 2003, Israeli occupying forces have exerted pressure on 'Aamer to force him to leave the area. 'Aamer, his wife and their 8 children live in a house built on a 3-donum area of land. Two donums of this area were razed by Israeli occupying forces for the purpose of construction of the "Separation Wall." Israeli occupying forces even threatened him once by saying that they would ask a settler to kill him.

This week, Israeli occupying forces began to conduct a census of residents of Beit Eksa village, southwest of Jerusalem, as well as beginning to list their properties. According to eyewitnesses, members of the so-called Border Guard of Israeli occupying forces were registering telephone numbers and surveying homes, comparing them to maps and aerial pictures they had. In the meantime, engineering units of Israeli occupying forces were surveying lands in the north and northeast of the village. PCHR is concerned that Israeli occupying forces may isolate Beit Eksa village behind the wall, the same way they had already isolated Palestinian communities in the north of the West Bank.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to raze areas of Palestinian land to the north of Bethlehem for the purpose of construction of the wall. Israeli occupying forces apparently plan to move a military checkpoint from Beit Safafa – Gilo junction 220m to the south towards Bethlehem, and to establish a service station in the area, that would include loading and unloading yard and monitoring facilities.

Israeli occupying forces have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians across the "Separation Wall." They have continued to close iron gates at the wall, west of Masha village, denying access of Palestinian farmers to their agricultural lands behind the wall.

On Monday morning, 26 January 2004, Israeli soldiers positioned at an iron gate at the entrance to 'Azzoun 'Atma village denied movement to female students of a secondary school allocated for Beit Amin and 'Azzoun 'Atma villages across the gate. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers forced the students to wait for more than an hour, during which they checked school bags. Israeli soldiers then allowed the students to cross the gate towards their school. It is worth noting that the school is located between Beit Amin and 'Azzoun 'Atma villages, and serves students from the two villages. The "Separation Wall" has isolated the school and 'Azzoun 'Atma village from neighboring Palestinian communities. Students from Beit Amin village have to cross the iron gate established at the entrance to 'Azzoun 'Atma village everyday to go to school.

Since Monday morning, 26 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces have adopted new procedures that would absolutely deny access of Palestinian farmers to their agricultural lands behind the wall in Qalqilya district. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupying forces have started to falter in renewing permits offered to Palestinian farmers that allow them to go to their agricultural lands behind the wall. According to the new procedures, farmers have to obtain magnetic cards and prove their ownership of lands in order to be offered permits to reach their lands. However, most of the lands of Qalqilya do not have registered ownerships, even before 1967 when Israel occupied the West Bank. The new conditions imply that no new permits would be offered to Palestinian farmers. It is worth noting that obtaining a magnetic card is a condition that was first imposed on Palestinians wishing to work in Israel, so the new procedures mean that Israeli occupying forces apparently consider Palestinian lands isolated behind the wall as Israeli territories. The construction of the wall in Qalqiliya has isolated more than 32000 donums of the lands of the district and 19 wells behind the wall.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip, and imposed more restrictions on movement at border crossings and military checkpoints. They have also maintained the closure of a number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip by Israeli soldiers stationed at Israeli military checkpoints. Such restrictions on freedom of movement are in contravention of international human rights laws to which Israel is a state party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, continued to obstruct movement of Palestinian civilians. The two checkpoints, which are open for a maximum of a few hours each day, have become notorious for acts of humiliation and harassment by Israeli soldiers.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a tightened siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have also escalated violations of Palestinian human rights in the area. In a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians living in the area, Israeli occupying forces continue to deny movement of women across the two military checkpoints erected at the entrances to the area. They also completely closed the two checkpoints on several occasions.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on travel through Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border, which has been the only outlet the Gaza Strip has to the outside world since the beginning of the current Intifada. Palestinian travelers are subject to humiliation and prolonged travel procedures. Furthermore, many Palestinian travelers are often forced to spend the night on the Egyptian side of the terminal awaiting permission to cross into the Gaza Strip. Israeli intelligence officers often summon and interrogate Palestinian travelers and even arrest some of them without informing the Palestinian side. A number of travelers are also denied travel permission for no apparent reason.

For the second consecutive week, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the access of Palestinian workers from the Gaza Strip through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to their work places in Israel. On Thursday, 22 January 2004, 9 Palestinian workers suffered from suffocation due to overcrowded conditions at the crossing. The overcrowded conditions were a result of prolonged inhuman checking procedures by Israeli occupying forces stationed at the facility. Many workers were also unable to reach Israel and were forced to go back to their homes because of the long procedures.

According to information available to PCHR, many workers leave their homes at 01:00 in order to reach the crossing early. Israeli occupying forces hold workers in lines leading to an electronic gate controlled by Israeli soldiers. The soldiers allow one worker at a time to cross the gate. Then, workers are subject to severe and humiliating checking before moving into 4 other lines leading to 4 other electronic gates. Women are subject to special checking procedures. In addition to the electronic checking, women are subject to physical checking by female Israeli soldiers. Israeli occupying forces have imposed these severe checking procedures at the crossing since Sunday, 18 January 2004, following a bombing carried out by a Palestinian woman against Israeli soldiers at the crossing.

In a continuation of the polices of collective punishment against Palestinian women, on Thursday, 22 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces prohibited movement of women from and into al-Sayafa area, which is trapped between "Elli Sinai" and "Dogit" settlements in the northern Gaza Strip. They re-allowed movement of women on Sunday, 25 January 2004, but under new security procedures, which include subjecting women to physical checking by female Israeli soldiers. Movement in and out of al-Sayafa area is only allowed at specific times. Palestinian civilians gather near the gate established at the entrance to the area. Then, one person at a time is made to walk toward a roadblock, approximately 70m away, where an Israeli soldier is positioned. A tank is also positioned about 30m away from the gate. Each person is forced to lift their clothing and expose parts of their body. Then, the person is forced to cross an electronic gate to be physically checked by Israeli soldiers. Israeli occupying forces have started to establish a new, more comprehensive crossing at the entrance to the area. Residents hope this new crossing will make it easier to reach their homes inside the fence, however it also establishes a more permanent Israeli military presence on Palestinian land in the area and institutionalizes the discriminatory searching and access procedures.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have blocked a number of roads using cement blocks, sand barriers and trenches.

On Thursday morning, 22 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces positioned at al-Karama Terminal on the border with Jordan denied travel to Palestinians between 16 and 45 years old, for no apparent reason.

On Monday, 26 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces and tax officials erected roadblocks at the main entrances to the city. They restricted movement of Palestinian civilians and forced a number of them to pay "television set taxes" retroactively for past years. These civilians were forced to pay 5000-6000 NIS. At the same time, the Israeli police erected other roadblocks searching for people who have Palestinian ID cards and travel in taxis that have Israeli registrations. They stopped a number of cars and took them to Qalandya airport. They also imposed excessive fines on the drivers.

Israeli soldiers positioned at Qalandya military checkpoint, south of Ramallah, have continued to prohibit the movement of Palestinian civilians, including patients, through the checkpoint. Israeli forces also confiscated the identification cards from a number of teachers, claiming that they had been forged. These cards are issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Education and used to identify teachers. As a result of the confiscation of the cards, a number of teachers were prevented from reaching their schools. According to some of the teachers, Israeli officers informed them that they have to obtain "checkpoint permits" in order to move from Ramallah to Jerusalem suburbs. Hundreds of Palestinian civilians were forced to resort to other longer branch roads, paying a total of NIS17 for transportation, instead of the NIS2 it costs to travel on the main road.

On Saturday morning, 24 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces erected 4 military checkpoints on the main road leading to Qalqilya. In an attempt to further isolate Qalqilya and prevent the access of Israeli peace activists to the town, on Sunday, 25 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces erected a sign at the eastern entrance, saying that "any Israeli who enters Qalqilya will be fined NIS3500."

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have continued to prevent Palestinians under 35 from crossing military checkpoints around the city. Palestinian civilians are forced to enter rooms established at various checkpoints to be electronically checked.

On Saturday morning, 24 January 2004, Israeli soldiers positioned at al-Hamra military checkpoint in the central Jordan Valley forced hundreds of Palestinian civilians to travel back to their towns and villages, claiming that they do not have "checkpoint permits," which have to be obtained from the so-called Israeli Civil Administration. This checkpoint is erected on the main road linking the north and south of the West Bank. It also leads to Jericho for Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to Jordan. Israeli soldiers also erected a roadblock on the Nablus-Ramallah road and forced Palestinian vehicles coming from Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilya and Salfit to travel back.

According to Palestinian taxi drivers who were able to cross al-Hamra military checkpoint, a number of roadblocks had been erected by the Israeli police near Fasayel area. The Israeli police often check Palestinian ID cards to see if they have to pay delayed fines. The checking often takes more than one hour and Israeli police also impose excessive fines on Palestinian drivers.

According to Palestinian bus drivers, Israeli occupying forces revoked a decision allowing buses with special permits to transport passengers between the northern West Bank and Ramallah. Prior to this, each passenger did not have to have an individual permit. As a result, Israeli soldiers forced dozens of Palestinian students and employees to go back to their homes, claiming that they were not in possession of the correct permits.

1. Upon the international community to provide immediate and independent international protection for the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

2. Upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article 146.

3. Upon the international community to investigate and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches perpetrated in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence, expand its activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

5. Upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights.

6. Upon the international community to provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian Territories.

[1] 1donum is equal to 1000 square meters.

For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893