PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories	No. 08/2005 24 Feb.- 02 Mar. 2005
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Launch More Attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

 

 

• 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were killed by IOF.

• Construction of the “annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued; more areas of Palestinian land were confiscated for this purpose and Jerusalem has been isolated from the rest of the West Bank.

• IOF conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank.

• Houses were raided and at least 40 Palestinian civilians were arrested.

• Continued shelling of residential and a Palestinian child was seriously injured in Rafah.

• Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank.

• IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF have continued to close a number of roads since the beginning of the current Intifada, IOF have continued to impose severe restriction at Rafah International Crossing Point, IOF positioned at checkpoints arrested a number of Palestinian civilians and IOF imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian villages.

  
 

Introduction

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have launched more attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).  This week, human rights violations perpetrated by IOF included willful killing, incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling and total closure imposed on Palestinian communities. IOF have also continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory and confiscated more areas of Palestinian land for this purpose.  They have continued to expand existing settlements at the expense of Palestinian land.  This week, 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were killed by IOF. 

In the Gaza Strip, on 25 February 2005, IOF killed a Palestinian child and arrested 2 others in Rafah, when they were attempting to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs.  On Wednesday evening, 2 March 2005, IOF opened fire at residential areas in Rafah, seriously wounding a Palestinian child.  In the West Bank, 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, died from previous injuries they had sustained by IOF.  On 24 February 2005, a Palestinian civilian died from an injury he had sustained on 26 January 2005, when IOF extra-judicially killed a Palestinian in Qalqilya.  On 2 March 2005, a child died from an injury he had sustained by IOF in Jenin on 28 January 2003. 

IOF also conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank, during which they raided and searched houses and arrested 40 Palestinian civilian civilians.  Two other civilians were also arrested at Israeli military checkpoints. 

IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.  They have confiscated more areas of Palestinian land for this purpose. Israeli plans in this regard aim at isolating Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank, separate between the north and south of the West Bank.  This week, IOF issued military orders, confiscating large areas of Palestinian land for the purpose of the construction of the wall.  More settlements will be annexed to Israel according to these new plans.     

Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property.  IOF have continued to confiscate areas of Palestinian land for settlement activities. 

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT, including Jerusalem. 

In the Gaza Strip, contrary to Israeli official claims regarding easing measures of closure imposed on the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to completely or partially close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip, and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians.  IOF have continued to impose severe restriction on the travel of Palestinian civilians through Rafah International Crossing Point.  They have also continued to close a number of roads and crossings in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada.  IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities near Israeli settlements, causing more suffering to Palestinian civilians.  They have also continued to attacks Palestinian fishermen.    

In the West Bank, IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities.  They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  This week, they erected a number of military checkpoints and arrested a number of Palestinian civilians.  They also beat a number of civilians and imposed restrictions on journalists.  IOF also imposed a strict siege on Tulkarm.  Furthermore, they also imposed curfews on a number of villages.   

 

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

Thursday, 24 February 2005

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Ras village, south of Tulkarm.  They raided and searched houses belonging to 'Omar Ahmed Abu Hamdan, Mohammed Qassem 'Awad and Ghassan 'Aatef 'Aalia.  No arrests were reported. 

In the evening, medical sources at a Jordanian hospital declared that Mohammed 'Abdul Halim Hashem al-Basha, 18, from Qalqilya, died from an injury he had sustained on 26 January 2005. 

According to PCHR's documentation, at approximately15:30 on Wednesday, 26 January 2005, an undercover unit of IOF moved into the center of Qalqilya using a civilian car that has an Israeli registration plate.  They chased a Palestinian civilian vehicle that was traveling in the center of the town.  Three Palestinians were traveling in the vehicle: Maher Harab 'Olayan Esnaina, 24; Yahia Taleb Nazzal, 18; and Mohammed Khamis 'Aamer, 18.  IOF opened fire at the vehicle, wounding the three.  The vehicle collided with a tree in the area.  Immediately, Israeli troops got out of their car and opened fire again at the three young men and pulled them out of the vehicle.  Then, an Israeli soldier fired at Esnaina from point blank range, killing him.  Israeli troops pulled the three young men to a neighboring shop.  Soon, more units of IOF were brought to the area and transferred the three young men to an unknown destination.  Two hours later, IOF delivered Esnaina's body to the Palestinian side.  According to medical sources, the victim was hit by several live bullets.  The other two young men remained in custody by IOF.  In addition, a passing Palestinian civilian, 18-year-old Mohammed 'Abdul Halim al-Basha, was seriously injured by shrapnel in the head.  He was first evacuated to UNRWA Hospital in Qalqilya, and as he was in a serious condition, he was transferred to a Jordanian hospital. 

 

Friday, 25 February 2005

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Nablus.  They raided and searched a number of houses in various areas in the city and arrested 6 Palestinians:

1.     'Abdullah Mo'yad Salim, 25;

2.     Eyad al-Shashtari, 23;

3.     Ra'ed 'Awni Bader, 20;

4.     Bahaa' Radi al-Takrouri, 22;

5.     Wissam Badawi, 20; and

6.     Khalil al-Khayat, 20. 

In the morning, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Rafah, opened fire at 3 Palestinian children who were trying to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs.  At approximately 10:00, IOF informed the Palestinian side that they injured one of the children and arrested the two others.  At approximately 13:30, the emergency department at Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah was informed by the Palestinian Ministry of Health that 16-year-old Mazen Ahmed 'Awad Ben Hassan, died from his injury at an Israeli hospital and his body would be handed to the Palestinian side at Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.  According to Palestinian medical sources, the victim was hit by several live bullets throughout the body.  According to residents of al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, where the three children live, the other children who were arrested are: Salah Faraj Abu al-Battikh, 18; and Salah Majed Abu Zakkar, 16.      

 

Saturday, 26 February 2005

In the early morning, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghosoun village, north of Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians.  They interrogated these Palestinians and released them later. 

IOF also moved into Tulkarm town and refugee camp and the neighboring villages of Thinnaba and 'Anabta.  They opened fire at houses.  No casualties were reported, but a number of houses were damaged. 

At approximately 16:00, an Israeli soldier at the entrance to the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron stopped 15-year-old Hiba Jamil Yaghmour who passed by the area.  He opened a sack that was with the child, claiming that he wanted to search it.  Soon after, another Israeli soldier fired at the child from a distance of less than 10 meters.  She was seriously wounded by at least one live bullet in the chest.  IOF claimed that she attempted to stab an Israeli soldier. 

 

Sunday, 27 February 2005

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Allar village, north of Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians:

1.     Mahmoud Taqfiq 'Ammous, 27;

2.     Amjad 'Adnan Abu Khalil, 26;

3.     Hani 'Adel 'Ammous, 22;

4.     Nader Ahmed Taha, 23;

5.     Majed 'Abdul Raziq 'Ammous, 26; and

6.     Wajdi Saleh Asa'ad Abu Khalil 30. 

During these house raids, IOF severely beat Ahmed 'Ezzat Shadid, 28.  He sustained bruises throughout the body. 

 

Monday, 28 February 2005

At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh.  They raided 3 houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:

1.     'Abdullah Qara'an, 25;

2.     Tayseer Farouq, 22; and

3.     Samer al-Shawa, 24.   

Also at approximately 05:00, IOF moved into 'Allar village, north of Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:

1.     Nader Ahmed Bamian, 24; and  

2.     Majed 'Abdul Raziq Jeebat, 26.

 

Tuesday, 1 March 2005

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinians:

1.     Sahdi Fayez Shuabita, 26;

2.     Ahmed Fawaz Shubaita, 23;

3.     Tha'er Rushdi 'Edwan, 27; and

4.     Ashraf Husni Abu Haniya, 30. 

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into the villages of Salem, 'Azmout and Deir al-Hatab, northeast of Nablus. They imposed a curfew on the three villages. 

 

Wednesday, 2 March 2005

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin.  They raided a 60-square-meter workshop belonging to 'Essam Shafiq Samar, 30.  They planted explosives inside the workshop.  At approximately 02:30, they destroyed it.  IOF claimed that the workshop was used to manufacture bombs.  Samar has been detained by IOF since 27 February 2005. 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Attil village, north of Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:

1.     Amjad Zuhair 'Attili, 18; and

2.     'Aadel Adib Daqqa, 18. 

At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into the villages of 'Eizariya and Abu Dis, southeast of Jerusalem.  They imposed a curfew on the two villages.  They also surrounded the campus of College of Science and Technology in Abu Dis and checked its staff members and students. 

At approximately 16:00, IOF positioned in military posts on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Block J in Rafah refugee camp.  A Palestinian child, 13-year-old Jihad 'Abdul Fattah Jouda, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the right ear, when he was playing with his friends, nearly 300 meters away from the border.  In the same context, IOF positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Nimsawi neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp.  No casualties were reported, but a number of houses were damaged.   

In the evening, medical sources at Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin declared that 16-year-old Fadi Hassan Qarini, from Jenin refugee camp, died from a wound he sustained 2 years ago.  According to PCHR's documentation, Qarini was seriously wounded by several live bullets throughout the body on Tuesday morning, 28 January 2003, when IOF opened fire at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance who clashed with them.  Two members of the resistance were killed in these clashes.  Qarini received medical treatment at Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin, a Jordanian hospital and an Israeli one, but medical efforts to save his life failed.  

 

Continued Siege on the OPT

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

 

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.  They have continued to completely or partially close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip, and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians.  Furthermore, the suffering of Palestinian civilians living in areas near Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip has continued.  

With regard to internal movement, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), even though they have increased the hours of opening the two checkpoints. They often close the two checkpoints and hold and check Palestinian civilians in between.  Furthermore, IOF have continued to prevent private cars and the Palestinian National Authority vehicles from crossing the two checkpoints.

IOF have also continued to impose a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip.  Male Palestinians aged 16-35 have been prohibited from crossing the checkpoint.  Only 150 civilians are allowed to exit the area and 25 other to enter it daily, but under severe restrictions.  IOF and settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.  With regard to education, 1430 schoolchildren study at one school in the area, which lacks electricity and water.  The school also lacks teachers of a number of subjects, such as mathematics, physics and chemistry.  Only one teacher from outside the area is allowed to teach at this school, and he is prevented sometimes from entering the area.  As a result of such conditions, the school was forces to cancel the scientific section, so students who wish to study science have to go to Khan Yunis.  Israeli troops frequently close al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to the area. 

IOF have also continued to close a number of roads inside the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada, such as the western Rafah – Khan Yunis road in the southern Gaza Strip, Abu al-'Ajeen road between the villages of al-Qarara and Wadi al-Salqa in the central Gaza Strip and Salah al-Din Street at "Netzarim" and "Kfar Darom" junctions in the central Gaza Strip. Furthermore, IOF have continued to prohibit Palestinian civilians from using "Kissufim", "Morag" and al-Mentar roads in the southern and central Gaza Strip, which have been devoted for the movement of IOF and settlers.  While Palestinians hope that military checkpoints inside the Gaza Strip will be dismantled, PCHR is concerned that IOF may establish a new military checkpoint on the coastal road, south of Gaza City, as they established a sand hill, which is 6 meters high, only 50 meters away from the coastal road, which may be a prelude for establishing a huge military post in the area similar to an existing one near al-Matahen checkpoint. This new development poses a serious threat to the lives of Palestinian civilians as an Israeli tank is always positioned in the area.  Recently, IOF have repeatedly closed the coastal road. 

IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities located near Israeli military posts and settlements, particularly al-Sayafa area between "Dogit" and "Elli Sinai" settlements in the northern Gaza Strip.  IOF have continued to control the movement of Palestinian civilians through the iron gate established at the entrance to the area.  IOF allow only Palestinian civilians who are over 30 to leave the area daily following coordination between 07:00 and 14:30.  The area lacks basic educational and health services.  On 24 February 2005, IOF completely closed the area and prohibited movement from and into the area.

In the same context, IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on al-Ma'ni area near "Kfar Darom" settlement in the central Gaza Strip.  The area has lacked water and telephone networks for 3 years after IOF had destroyed them.  According to residents of the area, they obtain water from a well in the area or bring it from Deir al-Balah.  IOF do not allow any Palestinian living outside the area from entering the area.     

IOF have continued to attacks Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.  They have continued to prevent them from fishing even in the area allowed for fishing, which extends up to 12 miles into the sea.  On Saturday, 26 February 2004, Israeli naval troops opened fire at 2 Palestinian fishermen who were fishing opposite to Deir al-Balah seashore and forced them to go back to the seashore.  There, a number of Israeli military jeeps were waiting for them, so the two fishermen were forced to go back to the sea.  Israeli naval troops moved towards them and forced them to take off their clothes and to stay on their boat for more than one hour.  Then, they released them.  

Contrary to Israeli official claims regarding allowing Palestinian workers to enter Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, IOF allowed a limited number of workers who have valid work permits to enter Israel this week.  Workers allowed to enter Israel must be married and over 35 years old.  They are subject to strict checking and humiliation on their way to their work places.  A number of patients who suffer from serious diseases are sometimes allowed to enter Israel, but following prior coordination and under inhuman conditions.  Patients have to wait for long hours before they are forced to wall or move on wheel chairs to be checked.  Only patients who suffer from very serious diseases are allowed to travel in ambulances, while other patients have to travel in taxis after passing through checking.     

Even through IOF reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City, on Tuesday, 8 February 2005, they have continued to impose severe restrictions on the flow of goods through the crossing:

·        Only 11 routes out of 34 have been reopened, which significantly decreased the number of trucks allowed to pass through the crossing. 

·        IOF placed cement blocks, nearly 12 meters high, at the crossing. 

·        Only flowers and tomatoes are allowed to be exported from the Gaza Strip. 

·        Only medicines and milk products are allowed to be entered into the Gaza Strip, while IOF have continued to prevent other goods, such as construction raw materials and some foodstuffs. 

·        Palestinian traders and workers have been subject to strict checking by IOF. 

Even though IOF reopened Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, they have continued to impose severe restrictions on travel.  The crossing point is opened from 09:00 to 15:00 everyday.   Even though, IOF have allowed Palestinians aged 16-35 to travel through the crossing since 20 February 2005, they have continued to summon and interrogate a number of these Palestinians.  This week, many Palestinian travelers had to wait for several days at the Palestinian side of the crossing point, as IOF allowed a small number of travelers to travel on each day.

 

The West Bank

IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities.  They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities even during Eid al-Adha.

 

Jerusalem

IOF have continued to isolate East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.  They have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the city.  On Monday, 28 February 2005, IOF imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  According to eyewitnesses, IOF positioned at Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint, north of the city, conducted prolonged checking for Palestinian civilians crossing the checkpoint.  IOF also erected a number of sudden checkpoints around the city and stopped and checked Palestinian civilians.

 

Ramallah

On Saturday morning, 26 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint in Wad al-Haramiya area on Nablus – Ramallah road.  They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles.  On Sunday morning, 27 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at Tormos'eya crossroads, northeast of Ramallah.  They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles. 

 

Hebron

This week, IOF imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Saturday morning, 26 February 2005, IOF erected more checkpoints on the roads that link between Hebron and its southern and northern villages.  They also erected a number of checkpoints on the roads that link between Hebron and Bethlehem and prevented Palestinians aged less than 40 from leaving the town.  IOF at all these checkpoints stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and conducted prolonged checking for Palestinian civilians.   

 

Nablus

On Thursday morning, 24 February 2005, IOF positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles.  They also held a number of Palestinian civilians for several hours.  They forced Palestinian civilians aged under 30 from traveling towards Ramallah, claiming that they did not have "checkpoint permits" issued by the so-called Civil Administration.  On Friday, 25 February 2005, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba crossing, west of the city, started to register names of Palestinian civilians traveling to and from Nablus.  On Saturday, 26 February 2005, IOF positioned at the checkpoint stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles.  They also checked Palestinian civilians.  This week, IOF erected a number of sudden checkpoints on the main roads leading to the city.  They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles and forced a number of Palestinian civilians to travel back. 

 

Tulkram

On Saturday morning, 26 February 2005, IOF closed al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south of the town.  They also imposed severe restrictions on other checkpoints around the town.  Palestinian civilians had to wait for long hours before they were allowed to cross those checkpoints.  On Monday evening, 28 February 2005, IOF imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  IOF were positioned at the southern entrance of the town and at Shwiaka crossroads in the north of the town.  IOF also patrolled in Thinnaba area in the east of the town. 

 

Qalqilya

On Saturday morning, 26 February 2005, IOF closed the iron gate at the entrance to 'Azzoun 'Atma village, south of Qalqilya, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians.  They also prevented school children from Beit Amin village from reaching the joint school of the two villages.  Furthermore, IOF denied the access of Palestinian farmers to their agricultural land in the village.  On Sunday morning, 27 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the northern entrance of 'Azzoun village, east of the town. 

 

Jenin

On Thursday afternoon, 24 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of al-Fara'a refugee camp, southeast of Jenin.  They stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles.  On Friday morning, 26 February 2005, IOF imposed sever restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  According to eyewitnesses, IOF positioned at al-Hamra and Tayaseer checkpoints in the Jordan Valley prevented Palestinian trucks loaded with vegetables from crossing the two checkpoints.  They also imposed a strict siege on the central and northern Jordan Valley.  On Monday evening, 28 February 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the main entrance of 'Arraba village, south of Jenin, and prevented Palestinian civilians from entering the village.  These civilians were forced to resort to dirt roads to enter their village.   

 

Attacks on Palestinian Civilians While Crossing Military Checkpoints

At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 26 February 2005, IOF positioned at the entrance to Til village, southwest of Nablus, stopped and severely beat 2 Palestinian civilians: Mazen Yousef 'Othman, 23, from Til village; and Sa'id Qassem, 55, a taxi driver from Iraq Bourin village.  Qassem was also beaten by IOF on 20 February 2005. 

On Tuesday morning, 1 March 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint in al-Hadeediya area in the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron.  They stopped and checked dozens of Palestinian civilians.  A number of Israeli soldiers severely beat 30-year-old Eyad Diab Abu Qubaita and took them to a neighboring military post, where they interrogated him.  He was released in the afternoon.   

On Thursday noon, 17 February 2005, IOF positioned at Surra checkpoint, west of Nablus, beat and arrested Eyad Ibrahim Ahmed al-Qadi, 23, a university student from Til village.

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

Saturday, 26 February 2005

In the afternoon IOF positioned at 'Atara checkpoint, north of Ramallah, arrested Mohammed Fahim Tabib, 27, from 'Azzoun village near Qalqilya. 

At the same time, IOF positioned at a military checkpoint at the entrance to Jenin arrested Maher Bassam Shareb, 23, from Qalqilya. 

In the evening, IOF positioned at military checkpoint at the entrance to 'Allar village, north of Tulkram, arrested Mohammed 'Abdul Latif Mansouri, 23, from Tulkarm refugee camp. 

At approximately 17:00, IOF positioned at the entrance to Til village, southwest of Nablus, arrested 17-year-old Waheed Jaber.  They detained him for several hours and then released him. 

 

Sunday, 27 February 2005

In the morning, IOF positioned at a military checkpoint at the entrance to Ras Rummana village, north of Tulkarm, stopped a taxi.  They forced the driver, 28-year-old 'Arafat 'Eissa Jaber, and a passenger, 26-year-old Mufeed Mohammed Sulait, both from Baqa al-Sharqiya village, to get out and arrested them.

 

Monday, 28 February 2005

IOF positioned at Jebara checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, arrested Hilal 'Ali Abu Sa'da, 27, from 'Allar village. 

 

Tuesday, 1 March 2005

In the afternoon, IOF arrested Sheikh Tayseer Baiuod al-Tamimi, Chief of the Higher Council of Sharia' Judiciary, in Jerusalem.  They took him to al-Maskoubiya detention center in Jerusalem.

 

Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.  They have confiscated more areas of Palestinian land for this purpose. 

On Monday morning, 28 February 2005, IOF started to destroy more Palestinian civilian property in the villages of Beit Sourik, Biddu and Beit 'Anan, northwest of Jerusalem.  According to the local council of Beit Sourik village, IOF informed residents of the village that they wounded confiscate at least 2,600 donums[1] of agricultural land in the village for the purpose of the construction of the wall.  The construction of the wall in villages located to the northwest of Jerusalem will isolate 9 villages, whose population is around 50,000.  According to eyewitnesses, hundreds of Palestinian civilians from Beit Sourik village demonstrated on their land protesting the destruction of their land.  IOF attacked the demonstrators and arrested the head of the local council and one of its members. 

Also on Monday morning, IOF handed military orders to the local council of Jaba' village, northeast of Jerusalem, confiscating more areas of Palestinian agricultural land for the construction of the wall.  According to the local council, the area of this land is nearly 1,000 donums, 100 donums of which would be used to expand a settler road leading to the wall.  These military orders come in the context of a wider plan to isolate Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. 

Also on Monday morning, IOF issued similar military orders confiscating 10,677 donums of land in the villages of al-Sammou', Yatta and al-Zahiriya near Hebron.  According o 'Abdul Hadi Hantash, a map expert, the route of the wall as shown in the maps annexed to these military orders will create geographical contiguity between the confiscated land and the Truce Line of 1948, and will annex 4 settlement to Israel: "Ashkelot" settlement in the south of al-Zahiriya village; "Lifta" settlement, south of al-Sammou' village; "Sinsana" settlement, southwest of al-Ramasin village; and "Mitsadot Yahoda" settlement, south of Yatta village. 

On Tuesday, 1 March 2005, IOF started to raze areas of Palestinian land in Masha village, southeast of Qalqilya, in order to construct a new section of the wall in the village and the neighboring al-Zawia village.  IOF claimed that these actions came following changes made to the route of the wall.  According to local sources, the construction of the wall in the area will isolate at least 6,000 donums of agricultural land in the villages of al-Zawia, Rafat, Deir Ballout and Masha. 

On Sunday, 27 February 2005, IOF prevented dozens of Palestinian farmers in Jayous village, east of Qalqilya, from reaching their agricultural land in the west of the village.  According to local sources, IOF closed the iron gates on the wall and prevented the farmers from reaching their land, which is isolated behind the wall.  It is worth noting that the construction of the wall has isolated at least 9,000 donums of land in the village behind the wall, and Palestinian farmers have to reach them through iron gates established by IOF on the wall.        

   

Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilian and Property

Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property.  IOF have continued to confiscate areas of Palestinian land for settlement activities. 

At approximately 18:00 on Thursday, 24 February 2005, while 13-year-old Mohammed Salah 'Abdullah 'Edwan and 12-year-old Salah Wissam Radwan, both from 'Azzoun village east of Qalqilya, were on their way back home from their families' agricultural land to the west of Qalqilya – Nablus road, and Israeli civilian vehicle, driven by a settler, moved towards them and ran them down.  Nearly 15 minutes later, an Israeli ambulance and 2 Palestinian ambulances arrived at the area.  IOF refused to evacuate the two children to an Israeli hospital.  Following 30 minutes of debate, the two children were evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus.  According to medical sources, the first child sustained fractures in the right arm and the left forearm and leg, while the other child sustained bruises throughout the body. 

On Thursday morning, a number of settlers from "Kiryat Arba" settlement, east of Hebron, started to establish a road in Wad al-Hassin area linking the settlement with the Ibrahimi Mosque.  Around 20 of the owners of the land on which settlers were establishing the road gathered on their land.  The settlers attacked them and threatened to shoot them.  Three of the owners were injured: Kayed Sa'id Da'na; 'Abed Mousa Jaber; and Lamis Jamil Abu Su'aifan.  The area of the land seized by settlers is estimated at 15 donums. 

At noon, a number of settlers from "Kermi Tsour" settlement, north of Hebron, seized areas of Palestinian land located to the southeast to annex them to their settlement.  According to local settlement, the area of this land is estimated at 25 donums. 

At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 26 February 2005, 15 settlers, escorted by 3 Israeli soldiers, severely beat Shaker Hamed al-Tamimi, 55, from Hebron, while he was farming his agricultural land in Jabal Jales area to the east of "Kiryat Aaba" settlement, east of Hebron.  He sustained bruises throughout the body.  Then, IOF arrested him.  They interrogated him and released him later. 

On Tuesday morning, 1 March 2005, IOF started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Kufor Thuluth village, east of Qalqilya.  According to local sources, these areas of land will be annexed to the neighboring "Karni Shomron" settlement. 

This week, Israeli media sources revealed a plan for settlement expansion in the West Bank, according to which 1936 new housing units will be built in existing settlements throughout the West Bank.       

 

***

 

Recommendations to the International Community

1.     PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  PCHR believes the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as a state above law and continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

2.     PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPTs and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3.     PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4.     PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and solidarity groups to participate in the process of searching for Israeli war criminals and to urge their governments to bring these war criminals to justice.

5.     PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel.  PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPTs.

6.     PCHR calls upon European governments to change their positions towards the Palestinian cause at UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human Rights. 

7.     PCHR welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution, which referred the issue of the Separation Wall inside the OPTs to International Court of Justice to give its Advisoryt Opinion.  There is no doubt that the wall is illegal, which obligates the international community to take steps that amount to the level of the expected decision by the court.

8.     In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPTs, including for facilitating family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

9.     PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and solidarity groups, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPTs and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10. In light of the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access of international solidarity groups to the OPTs, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal the same way with Israeli citizens. 

11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

 

 

 

“END”

 

Public Document