• 20 Palestinians, 12 of whom were civilians, including 10 children one of whom was disabled, were killed by IOF.

• 7 of the children, including 2 brothers, were killed by a tank shell fired by IOF in Beit Lahia.

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

• IOF moved into Khan Yunis and destroyed 35 houses.

• 51 donums[1] of agricultural land were razed in Deir al-Balah.

• Houses were raided and dozens of Palestinian civilians were arrested.

• Continued shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities, and a number of Palestinian civilians were injured in the Gaza Strip.

• Construction of the “annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued, and IOF plan to annex 4 villages in Bethlehem district to Israel.

• IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border has been closed for the 4^th consecutive week, IOF prevented dozens of pilgrims from traveling to Saudi Arabia to attend the Hajj, and IOF positioned at checkpoints arrested a number of Palestinian civilians.

 
 

Introduction

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have launched more attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), especially in the Gaza Strip. This week, 20 Palestinians, 12 of whom were civilians, including 10 children, were killed and at least 20 others were injured by IOF.  One of the children was mentally disabled. Human rights violations perpetrated by IOF included incursions into Palestinian areas, willful killing, indiscriminate shelling, land leveling and total closure imposed on Palestinian communities. These attacks came while Palestinians were preparing for the Palestinian presidential election that will be held on 9 January 2005.  

 In the Gaza Strip, 20 Palestinians, 12 of whom were civilians, including 10 children, were killed by IOF.  Seven children were killed in Beit Lahia on 4 January 2005, when IOF fired a tank shell at them. Ten Palestinians, including 2 children, one of whom was mentally disabled, were killed by IOF that launched a wide scale offensive on Khan Yunis on 30 and 31 December 2004.  A child was killed in Rafah on 30 December 2004 when IOF fired at him when he was hunting birds. On 31 December 2005, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian in Rafah. On 4 January 2005, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian in Gaza City. 

 This week, IOF conducted 6 incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. The widest of these incursions was into Khan Yunis on 30 and 31 December 2004, when IOF totally destroyed 14 houses, rendering 187 people (25 families) homeless. They also partially destroyed 33 other houses. The other incursions targeted Palestinian areas in Deir al-Balah, Rafah, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia. During these incursions, IOF razed 51 donums of agricultural land in Deir al-Balah, arrested 3 Palestinian civilians in Rafah, and wounded a journalist in Beit Hanoun.

 In the West Bank, IOF moved into various areas throughout the West Bank, injured a number of Palestinian civilians and arrested dozens of others. They also raided a medical center of Palestine Red Crescent Society and a hospital in Tulkarm. These attacks impacted on the election campaigns of candidates for the Palestinian presidential election, which will be held on 9 January 2005, as IOF confiscated campaigning materials in some cases.     

 IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.  Israeli sources unveiled new plans made by the Israeli government regarding the route of the wall in Bethlehem and Hebron districts in the southern West Bank. According to these plans, IOF would annex 4 villages in Bethlehem district to Israeli territory: Housan; Batteer; Wadi Foukin; and Nahalin. Nearly 18,000 Palestinians live in these villages.  According to the plans, IOF would create an Israeli island between Hebron and Bethlehem, which includes 10 Israeli settlements, where nearly 50,000 settlers live. 

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

 In the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip either partially or completely. They have closed Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border for the 4^th consecutive week, creating a serious humanitarian crisis and depriving Palestinians of their health, educational, religious and political rights. They have also continued to impose severe restriction on internal movement. In the latest example of the policy of collective punishment on the Palestinian civilian population, Israeli authorities have prevented at least 170 pilgrims from the Gaza Strip from traveling to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, in violation of their right to freely practice their religion. Israeli authorities claimed that this decision was taken for security reasons. They have also prevented dozens of pilgrims from traveling because of what Israeli authorities claim is a lack of necessary security coordination, despite the fact that the names of these pilgrims were included in the lists of those who are allowed to travel, delivered to the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments. Israeli authorities have imposed severe restrictions on those who are allowed to travel through Erez Crossing. On 5 January 2005, IOF closed Erez crossing and prevented the third group of pilgrims from traveling.   

 In the West Bank, IOF imposed more restrictions on the movement of a number of candidates for the Palestinian residential election in their campaigns for the elections.  This week, IOF erected more military checkpoints, especially in Nablus district, and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

 

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

 Thursday, 30 December 2004

 

Israeli Offensive on Khan Yunis 30 December – 2 January

 In the early morning, IOF initiated a wide scale incursion into Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis, which continued for more than 100 hours.  During this incursion, IOF killed 10 Palestinians, including 2 children and a disabled young man, and injured 30 others, including 7 children. IOF also destroyed 14 houses, rendering 187 individuals (25 families) homeless. Furthermore, they severely damaged 21 houses. They also destroyed a market and a park in al-Amal neighborhood.  Palestinian medical crews faced extreme difficulties in reaching the affected areas due to the indiscriminate shelling by Israeli troops.

 According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 00:00, IOF, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and supported by drones, moved into Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Amal neighborhood in the west of Khan Yunis. Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, IOF ordered Palestinian civilians to vacate their houses and they did.  IOF raided a number of houses in al-Amal neighborhood and transformed their roofs into military sites. Soon, a number of members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with IOF in Khan Yunis refugee camp. One members of the resistance, Yahia Joma'a Abu Bakra, 32, was killed by a live bullet in the chest during these clashes. Nearly half an hour later, the Israeli air force fired a missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance who were near Haroun al-Rashid School in al-Amal neighborhood. One member of the resistance, Sami Mohammed Khudair, 20, was killed by shrapnel throughout the body, and 2 civilians, including a child, were injured. At approximately 01:30, 'Ammar Salem 'Arar, 21, was killed when the Israeli air force fired a missile at him when he attempted to cross a street in Khan Yunis refugee camp. The victim was a member of the Palestinian resistance, but was not in a combating position when he was killed. At approximately 07:30, IOF shelled Palestinian houses in al-Amal neighborhood. A Palestinian child, 14-year-old Mohammed Yahia Abu al-Sa'id, was killed by shrapnel throughout the body when he was near his house. At approximately 10:30, IOF shelled the same area again. A mentally disabled Palestinian civilian, Ahmed Mohammed Touman, 20, was killed by 4 live bullets in the neck and the chest. 

 At approximately 20:45, the Israeli air force fired a missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance who were near a brick factory in the west of al-Amal neighborhood.  Three members of the resistance were instantly killed by shrapnel:

 

1.     'Arafat Khalil al-Bardawil, 23;

2.     Ussama Mohammed Abu Mousa, 22; and

3.     Amjad Subhi 'Arram, 22. 

 A fourth member of the resistance was seriously injured. 

 As a result of the indiscriminate shelling by IOF, 13 Palestinians, including 3 children and 2 women, were injured. 

 At approximately 05:30 on Friday, 31 December 2004, the Israeli air force fired a missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance in al-Amal neighborhood.  Two members of the resistance were instantly killed by shrapnel:

 

1.     Khaled Khamis Abu 'Ouda, 40; and

2.     Mohammed Mahmoud Abu Khurais, 25. 

 As a result of the indiscriminate shelling by IOF on Friday, 7 Palestinians, including 3 children, were injured. 

 At approximately 20:30 on Saturday, 1 January 2005, the Israeli air force fired a missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance in al-Amal neighborhood. Two members of the resistance were lightly injured.  As a result of the indiscriminate shelling by IOF, 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were injured. 

 At approximately 01:00 on Sunday, 2 January 2005, a Palestinian civilian was injured.  Thus, the number of Palestinians injured since the beginning of this incursion had increased to 30, including 7 children and 2 women. At least 5 of the injured were in a serious condition. 

 During this incursion, IOF destroyed 14 houses, rendering 187 individuals (25 families).  They also damaged 21 other houses. In addition, IOF destroyed a market and a park in al-Amal neighborhood and severely damaged the infrastructure of the two areas. 

 

***

(Thursday, 30 December Continued)

 At approximately 01:00, an infantry unit of IOF moved from "Dogit" settlement, north of Beit Lahia, moved into al-'Atatra area to the south. The unit raided 2 houses belonging to the families of Hassouna and Abu Jahal. IOF held the residents inside and transformed the two houses into military sites. At approximately 13:00, more units of IOF, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, arrived at the area. They took position to the north of the American school, nearly 800 meters to the south of the aforementioned settlement. IOF withdrew from the area at approximately 18:00, leaving some damage to agricultural areas. 

 At approximately 14:00, IOF positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Salam neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Mahmoud Salman al-'Arja, 21, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen.  

 At approximately 14:15, IOF positioned in military posts at the entrance to al-Mawasi area, west of Rafah, opened fire at 2 Palestinian children who were hunting birds near the housing project of Tal al-Sultan neighborhood. One of the children, 16-year-old Rezeq Ziad Musleh, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen. He was evacuated to the hospital, but medical efforts to save his life failed and he was pronounced dead at approximately 06:00 on the following day. 

 During the day, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron; and the villages of Deir Ghassana, Qarawat Bani Zaid and Kufor 'Ein, northwest of Rammlah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 14 Palestinians. 

   

Friday, 31 December 2004

  At approximately 02:00, 6 Israeli military jeeps moved into the neighborhood of Hebron University. IOF raided Riad 'Omarn al-Qawasmi's house. They held the six residents of the house in one room. Then, they searched the house and arrested the owner's son, 20-year-old Fahad. 

 At approximately 03:00, IOF, reinforced by heavy military vehicles moved nearly 400 meters into Boba' area to the west of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They raided 'Omar 'Ouda al-Louh's house and held its seven residents in one room.  Then, they searched the house and transformed it into a military site. IOF opened fire from the house at the neighboring area. As a result, a Palestinian civilian, 26-year-old Hassan Suleiman Asfar, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand. Two members of the Palestinian resistance who clashed with IOF were also wounded and one of them was in a serious condition. Then, IOF started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land.  By 18:30, IOF had razed 36 donums of agricultural land planted with palms, olives and vegetables belonging to the families of Baraka, Abu Salim, Khattab, Bashir, al-Louh, al-Masri and Abu 'Amra. They also destroyed the fence of a house and 12 beehives and killed 5 sheep. 

 At approximately 09:40, IOF positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Gush Qatif" settlement bloc, west and north of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian house in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of the town. A Palestinian civilian, 40-year-old Samir Hassan al-Ostath, was wounded by a live bullet in the buttocks. 

 At approximately 17:00, IOF positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Junaina neighborhood to the north.  A Palestinian child, 10-year-old Yasmine Sami al-Mallahi, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the right forearm and the abdomen. 

 At approximately 21:30, IOF positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at a Palestinian who attempted to infiltrate through the border in al-Shouka neighborhood in the southeast of Rafah. Following coordination between IOF and the Palestinian liaison, a Palestinian ambulance moved to the area and evacuated the victim's body to the hospital at 22:30. The victim was identified as 19-year-old 'Awad Khamis 'Ataya. He was hit by several live bullets to the head and the limbs. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, the victim attempted to infiltrate through the Egyptian border and then to Israel to search for a job.  He was not armed. 

 

Saturday, 1 January 2005

 At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinians. 

 At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They took position near the social club in the center of the camp. A number of Israeli soldiers mounted the roofs of a number of houses and opened fire at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance who were nearly 250 meters away. One member of the resistance was wounded and his colleagues were able to evacuate him from the area. Then, IOF raided the medical center of Palestine Red Crescent Society and Dr. Thabet Thabet Hospital searching for the wounded member of the resistance, but they did not find him. 

 

Sunday, 2 January 2005 

 At approximately 01:00, IOF, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel nearly 2 kilometers into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. At approximately 08:30, more Israeli heavy military vehicles moved from Erez crossing into the town. They seized control over Salah al-Din Street.  At approximately 10:30, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved forward and reached Qulaibu Hill in Beit Lahia. IOF surrounded a number of houses and forced 28 residents of two houses to vacate them. They transformed the two houses into military sites. At approximately 15:30, IOF opened fire at a number of journalists who were clearly marked press suits and holding their cameras, nearly 800 meters away. These journalists were covering this Israeli incursion into the town.  One of the journalists, Majdi Jamil al-'Arabeed, 34, from Gaza City, a cameraman of the Israeli Channel 10 and director of the local al-Horriya radio, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the side and the pelvis.  He was first evacuated to a local hospital where he underwent and surgery, but as he remained in a serious condition, he was transferred to an Israeli hospital.

 At approximately 10:45, IOF, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 100 meters into Palestinian areas to the northwest of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land. By 15:30, they had razed 15 donums of agricultural land planted with palms, olives and vegetables belonging to the families of Abu 'Oraif, Abu Salim and Shahin and destroyed a fence of a house.  

 At approximately 20:20, IOF positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian civilian, 32-year-old 'Ali Rasmi Hussein, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg, when he was in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away from the border. 

 During the day, IOF moved into the villages of Bani Na'im and Dura near Hebron; Nablus and the neighboring Burqa village; Qalqilya; Tulkram refugee camp; Toura al-Gharbiya village near Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 25 Palestinians, including 2 children.    

  

Monday, 3 January 2005

 At approximately 09:15, IOF positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian schoolchild, 17-year-old Iman Mahmoud Saidam, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen, when she was going back home from her school, nearly 1000 meters away from the border. 

 At approximately 11:00, IOF positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas in the town. A Palestinian schoolchild, 13-year-old Mohammed Ya'qoub al-Satari, was wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder when he was at a school in al-Shaboura refugee camp. 

 At approximately 16:20, IOF positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Yebna refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, 20-year-old Farid 'Adnan Abu 'Armana, was wounded by a live bullet in the right foot. 

 At approximately 18:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Nablus. IOF opened fire at houses.  A Palestinian woman, 35-year-old Wafaa' Saber 'Aqqouba, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. 

 At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Bitounia town, southwest of Ramallah. They surrounded a shop at the entrance of the town and opened fire at it without any warning.  A number of members of the Palestinian resistance, who were inside the shop, returned fire. The exchange of fire continued for nearly an hour, during which Na'im Mohammed Isma'il, 27, was injured. IOF arrested him and his two brothers: 'Ali, 30; and Isma'il, 25.  The three are residents of Bettin village, east of Ramallah. 

 During the day, IOF moved into the villages of Dura and al-Majd near Hebron, and Beeta village near Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinians. 

 

Tuesday, 4 January 2005

 In the morning, IOF killed 7 Palestinian children, including 2 brothers, by a tank shell in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia on Tuesday morning, 4 January 2005.  Six of the children are from the Ghaben family. In addition, 7 civilians, including 5 children, were seriously injured. This attack is further evidence of the disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians and the excessive and indiscriminate use of force by IOF.  Following the attack, IOF claimed that they targeted a number of members of the Palestinian resistance, but preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR refute this claim as all victims of the attack were children working on their agricultural land. 

 According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 07:45, IOF positioned in military posts between "Elli Sinai" and "Nissanit" settlements to the north of Beit Lahia fired a tank shell at Palestinian agricultural areas located to the south of the fence separating the two settlements and Beit Lahia. The shell directly hit a number of Palestinian children who were farming their land. Seven children, including 2 brothers, were killed:

 

1.     Hani Mohammed Kamel Ghaben, 17;

2.     Mohammed Hassan Mousa Ghaben, 17;

3.     Rajeh Ghassan Kamel Ghaben, 10;

4.     Jaber 'Abdullah Ghaben, 16;

5.     Bassam Kamel Mohammed Ghaben, 17;

6.     Mahmoud Kamel Mohammed Ghaben, 12; and

7.     Jibril 'Abdul Fattah al-Kaseeh, 16.

 

In addition, 7 civilians, including 5 children, were injured:

 

1.     Islam Ahmed al-'Eila, 17, injured by shrapnel throughout the body;

2.     Tha'er 'Ali Abu Banat, 15; injured by shrapnel throughout the body;

3.     Hussein Abu Banat, 41, injured by shrapnel throughout the body;

4.     Ibrahim 'Abdul Fattah al-Kaseeh, 13, his legs were cut;

5.     'Emad Yousef al-Kaseeh, 16, his legs were cut;

6.     'Eissa Ramdan Ghalia, 11, his legs were cut; and

7.     Mohammed Kamel Mohammed Ghaben, 19, his right leg was cut.    

 An infantry unit of IOF positioned near a factory of concrete near an Israeli military post known as "Malaka", southeast of Gaza City, opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who were on their agricultural land adjacent to the factory. Six civilians were wounded. One of the wounded, Mohammed Nader Hani Khalifa, 24, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen, and he died later. The victim was near his house when he was hit by a live bullet.  The others who were wounded were:

 

1.     Ahmed Khamis 'Ouda, 20, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand;

2.     Sharif Rafiq 'Ayad, 21, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood, wounded by a live bullet in the shoulder;

3.     Mahmoud Subhi Kuhail, 24, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;

4.     Ahmed Mohammed 'Azzam, 18, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand; and

5.     Rani Khamis Abu al-Qumboz, 19, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh. 

 At approximately 22:15, IOF positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Brazil neighborhood to the south. A Palestinian child, 17-year-old Hassan 'Aadel al-Akhras, was injured by shrapnel in the right eye. 

 During the day, IOF moved into Hebron and the neighboring villages of Yatta, Sourif, Beit Oula, Beit Ummar, Deir Samet and Halhoul and al-Fawar refugee camp; Silwad village bear Ramallah; 'Aanin village near Jenin; and Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 24 Palestinians. 

 

Wednesday, 5 January 2005

 At approximately 03:30, IOF supported by a helicopter moved into al-Shouka neighborhood in the southeast of Rafah. They surrounded Salem Joma'a al-Debari's house.  They threw sound bombs near the house and ordered its male residents to get out.  Then, they raided and searched the house. At approximately 04:30, IOF withdrew from the area after having arrested 3 of the owner's sons: Sami, 31; Mazen, 23; and Joma'a, 19. 

 At approximately 11:00, IOF positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at residential areas and educational institutions in the town. Three Palestinian civilians, including a teacher and a girl, were wounded:

 1.     Mohammed Mahmoud Abu Habib, 39, wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh when he was at an elementary school in al-Brazil neighborhood;

2.     'Abdul Hamid Mansour al-Nahhal, 22, wounded by a live bullet in the buttocks when he was in al-Junaina neighborhood; and

3.     Fulla 'Ali 'Aashour, 22, wounded by a live bullet in the right forearm, when she was inside her house.  

                

Continued Siege on the OPT

 

This week, 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 close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip either partially or completely. They have closed Rafah International Crossing Point for the 4^th consecutive week, creating a serious humanitarian crisis and depriving Palestinians of their health, educational, religious and political rights. They have also continued to impose severe restriction on internal movement. These measures violate the Palestinians economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. 

 IOF positioned at al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. The two checkpoints are opened between 05:00 and 20:00 everyday.  IOF often close the two checkpoints and hold and search Palestinian vehicles in between. On Thursday morning, 30 December 2004, IOF closed the two checkpoints and held and searched a number of Palestinian vehicles in between.  On Sunday morning, 2 January 2005, IOF closed the two checkpoints. The closure continued until 10:00.  On Monday morning, IOF closed the two checkpoints and held and searched a number of vehicles in between, but no arrests were reported. The same happened on Tuesday, 4 January 2005.   

 IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians living in the area to and from the area, which have caused extreme suffering for these civilians. IOF and settlers have also continued to attack Palestinian agricultural property in the area.  Israeli troops have continued to prevent female Palestinians who are aged between 16 and 25, and males between 16 and 30 from crossing al-Tuffah checkpoint when it is open, without prior coordination. Tal al-Sultan checkpoint at the entrance of al-Mawasi area in Rafah has been closed for more than one year and entry into the area has been limited to al-Tuffah checkpoint in Khan Yunis. 

 In the same context, IOF have also continued to impose a tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. IOF continue to control the only gate in and out of the area. They allow only 4-5 people to pass through each day to buy basic provisions.  These people are only allowed to pass through at certain specified hours and they are subject to humiliation and degrading treatment during the security check process. IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on al-Ma'ni area near "Kfar Darom" settlement in the central Gaza Strip. 

 IOF have continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip for the 5^th consecutive month. They only allow patients to travel through the crossing, but under severe conditions and following coordination. Although IOF have partially operated al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing to the east of Gaza City, they have imposed severe restrictions on the flow of goods through the crossing.  As result, the Palestinian market has lacked several basic goods. IOF have continued to close Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, in the face of Palestinian workers since March 2004. Only construction raw materials have been allowed entry through the crossing.   

 Since 13 December 2004, IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, which is the only outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world.  As a result of closure, thousands of Palestinian civilians have not been able to travel out and into the Gaza Strip. The vast majority of those civilians, who are denied passage into Gaza Strip, are of voting age, in accordance with Palestinian law.  Preventing them from crossing into the Gaza strip also deprives them of their right, granted under the Universal Declaration for Human Rights, to participate in the government of their country through elections. PCHR believes that the act of closing Rafah international crossing point will disenfranchise around 3% of the total Gaza electorate.

 In the latest example of the policy of collective punishment on the Palestinian civilian population, Israeli authorities have prevented at least 170 pilgrims from the Gaza Strip from traveling to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, in violation of their right to freely practice their religion. Israeli authorities claimed that this decision was taken for security reasons. They have also prevented dozens of pilgrims from traveling because of what Israeli authorities claim is a lack of necessary security coordination, despite the fact that the names of these pilgrims were included in the lists of those who are allowed to travel, delivered to the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments. Israeli authorities have imposed severe restrictions on those who are allowed to travel through Erez Crossing, including:

 

1.     800 Pilgrims from various areas of the Gaza Strip have to gather near the garden of al-Azhar University in Gaza City starting from 21:00. 

2.     At 01:00, convoys of pilgrims head to a gathering point near the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. 

3.     At 07:00, the pilgrims are allowed to travel to Erez crossing, where they are subject to strict checking. 

4.     Then, they are transported in convoys accompanied by Israeli military vehicles to Rafah Terminal.

5.     Pilgrims from the southern and central Gaza Strip face additional difficulties as they need coordination for the passage through Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints, north of Khan Yunis, and an Israeli military checkpoint to the west "Nitzarim" settlement, south of Gaza City, as checkpoints are opened only from 05:00 to 20:00 everyday. 

6.      Pilgrims from the southern Gaza Strip have to gather at 18:00 near Khan Yunis Governorate to be transported to Gaza City four hours later.  The suffering increases when a number of pilgrims are prohibited from traveling. 

 

The West Bank

 Israeli troops have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on a number of villages.

 

Nablus

 On Sunday morning, 2 January 2005, IOF erected a number of military checkpoints at the junctions leading to the city. They stopped dozens of vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians traveling out and into the city. This week, IOF at stable military checkpoints around the city imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, contrary to Israeli claims regarding facilitations of movement on the eve of the Palestinian presidential election. 

 

Hebron

 On Friday morning, 31 December 2005, IOF closed the eastern entrance to Halhoul tonw, north of Hebron. They also erected 3 new military checkpoints at the western and southern entrance to Hebron. At the same time, they erected 5 military checkpoints around the old town.  On Tuesday evening, 1 January 2005, IOF moved into the western and southern parts of Hebron. During this incursion, they closed a number of branch roads and stopped and checked dozens of Palestinian civilians. They held some of these civilians for several hours. 

  

 

Tulkarm

 On Friday morning, 31 December 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bala'a crossroads, east of the town. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles and checked passengers.  On Saturday afternoon, 1 January 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint to the west of the town. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles.  On Sunday morning, 2 January 2005, 2 Israeli tanks took position on the road that links Tulkarm with Artah area to the west and obstructed the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

 

Qalqilya

 IOF imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 2 January 2005, they erected a number of military checkpoints on the road that links between Qalqilya and Nablus. They stopped Palestinian vehicles and checked their passengers. 

 

Jenin

 On Friday evening, 31 December 2004, IOF closed Tayaseer checkpoint to the east of Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They prevented dozens of Palestinian civilians from traveling back homes. 

 

Curfews

 On Thursday morning, 30 December 2004, IOF imposed curfews on the villages of Deir Ghassana, Qarawat Bani Zaid and Kufor 'Ein, northwest of Ramallah; and the villages of Hijja and al-Fundoq, east of Qalqilya. On Saturday morning, 1 January 2005, IOF imposed a curfew on Housan village, west of Bethlehem. On Sunday noon, 2 January 2005, IOF imposed a curfew on the same village again.  

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 On Monday evening, 3 January 2005, IOF erected a sudden checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Qalqilya.  They arrested 2 Palestinians:

1.     Mahmoud 'Awni Matar, 18, a members of the Palestinian National Security Forces; and

2.     Salah Mohammed 'Abdullah Hourani, 24.

 

 

***

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 1.     PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  PCHR calls on the international community to immediately “ensure respect” for the Convention.

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

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

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

5.     PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel.  PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPTs. PCHR also requests the application of the EU Guidelines on Arms Sales and requests that EU Missions and Embassies in Israel and the oPts press the Israeli government to apply and implement in full the recently agreed EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

“END”