PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories	No. 09/2005 03- 09 Mar. 2005
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Launch More Attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)   IOF detaining a number of Palestinian civilians in Hebron

 

 

 

 

 

• 12 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children, were injured 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 20 Palestinian civilians were arrested.

• A Palestinian civilian was used as a human shield by IOF during a house raid in al-Mughraqa village in the central Gaza Strip.

• 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 positioned at checkpoints arrested a number of Palestinian civilians and IOF imposed curfews on the old town of Hebron.

  
 

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 shooting at Palestinian civilians, incursions into Palestinian areas, house raids and arbitrary arrests. In violation of international law and humanitarian law, 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. Contrary to Israeli official claims, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

IOF conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank, during which they raided and searched houses and arrested 24 Palestinian civilian civilians, including 5 children. In addition, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded by the Israeli gunfire. 

In the first incursion since the Sharm al-Sheikh Summit, on 4 March 2005, IOF moved into al-Mughraqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They raided a house, forced their residents out and used one of them as a human shield while searching it. On the same day, 4 Palestinian children, including 2 brothers, were injured in Rafah when a shell that had been previously fired by IOF exploded. On 8 March 2005, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded in Rafah, when IOF positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of the town, opened fire at residential areas.     

IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank. They have confiscated more areas of Palestinian land for this purpose. They resumed land leveling in Beit Sourik village, northwest of Jerusalem, and Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah.  This week, IOF issued military orders, confiscating large areas of Palestinian land for the purpose of the construction of the wall. IOF have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians living in communities located near the wall.   

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, 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. Furthermore, IOF have seize 2 Palestinian houses to the north of Khan Yunis since the beginning of the current Intifada.

In the West Bank, contrary to Israeli official claims, 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 temporary military checkpoints. They stooped and checked Palestinian civilians and arrested 14 of them. IOF also imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities, especially the old town and the southern part of Hebron, which have been under a curfew since Monday morning, 6 March 2005.   

 

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

Thursday, 3 March 2005

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. An IOF tank and 2 military jeeps stopped near a civilian car, a white Ford. At approximately 01:30, they destroyed the car.  A number of neighboring buildings and 2 other civilian cars were damaged. 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinians, including a child:

1.     Hussam Fares al-Sa'di, 35;

2.     Mujahed Mahmoud al-Sa'di, 17;

3.     Ahmed Yassin al-Sa'di, 27;

4.     Ahmed Ghazi al-Sa'di, 22; and

5.     Mohammed Ghazi al-Sa'di, 19. 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Zaher village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:

1.     Majed Yousef 'Atiya, 25;

2.     Mohammed Hisham 'Atiya, 23; and

3.     Tariq Ghaleb 'Atiya, 18. 

At approximately 14:00, an undercover unit of IOF moved into Beit Sourik village, northwest of Jerusalem. They arrested 4 Palestinian children who were near an area, where IOF started to construct a section of the annexation wall:

1.     Mustafa Mohammed Khaled, 14;

2.     Ahmed Suleiman al-Sheikh, 14;

3.     Mohammed Adib al-Jamal, 14; and

4.     Nadi Khaled Mahmoud, 15. 

At approximately 16:00, IOF positioned on a military observation tower at Tarousa crossroads in the west of Dura village, southwest of Hebron, opened fire at a number of passing Palestinian civilians. Three civilians, including a child, were wounded:

1.     Younis Mohammed al-Horoub, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;

2.     Mohammed Saqer Masalma, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg; and

3.     Ziad Mousa Abu Hulayel, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot. 

 

Friday, 4 March 2005

In the evening, 4 Palestinian children, including 2 brothers, were injured in Rafah, when they played with a shell previously fired by IOF, but did not explode. 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 14:30, a number of Palestinian children were playing near sand hills in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah, near the "Gush Qatif" settlement bloc, where IOF maintain a large presence. The children found a suspicious object.  One of the children took the object to the center of the neighborhood and started to play with it.  Soon after, the object exploded, injuring the child and 3 other children:

1.     Ameer Sa'id Noufal, 5, injured by shrapnel I the right shoulder and the left thigh;

2.     Khaled Sa'id Noufal, 9 months, injured by shrapnel in the legs;

3.     Ibrahim Sameer al-Najjar, 14, seriously injured by shrapnel throughout the body; and

4.     Ahmed Bahaa' Quffa, 12, injured by shrapnel throughout the body. 

Engineering unit of the Palestinian police asserted after having checked the object that it was a shell of the kind frequently fired by IOF at the area. 

At approximately 22:30, an infantry unit of IOF moved from "Netzarim" settlement, south of Gaza City, nearly 70 meters into the neighboring al-Mughraqa village in the central Gaza Strip. IOF raided a house belonging to 'Ata Sa'id Mustafa al-Hilu. They forced the 15 residents of the house out and searched it. They used the owner's nephew, Jawad, 30, as a human shield while searching the house. IOF withdrew from the area at midnight and no arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 5 March 2005

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Isma'il Abu Zahra, 26, and arrested him. 

At approximately 19:00, IOF on a tank position on Rujeeb Mount opened fire for no apparent reason at Kufor Qallil village, southeast of Nablus. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1.     Hayel Bassel 'Aamer, 27, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand; and    

2.     Tha'er Bassem Mansour, 23, wounded by a live bullet in the hand. 

 

Sunday, 6 March 2005

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kufor Ne'ma village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Abdul Hakim Abu 'Aadi, 27, and arrested him. 

 

Monday, 7 March 2005

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Omar Mohammed Shalash, 22, and arrested him.

At approximately 08:45, IOF claimed that their soldiers positioned at the entrance to the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron were fired at, so they imposed a curfew on the old town and the southern part of the town. They opened fire in the air to terrify Palestinian civilians and beat some of them. They prevented school children from going to their schools.  They also raided and searched houses and interrogated their residents. Furthermore, they forced at least 200 Palestinian civilians aged 16-40 out of their houses and beat some of them. 

 

Tuesday, 8 March 2005

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Isma'il Abu Zahra, who has been detained in Israeli jails. They forced the 15 residents of the house out and searched it. According to the family, IOF took their son with them during this house raid. 

At approximately 02:20, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinians:

1.     Khaled Daoud Daraghma, 27;

2.     Majed Subhi Daraghma, 31;

3.     Adham Saleh Tazaza'a. 20;

4.     Mohammed Khaled Nazzal, 25;

5.     Majdi Ahmed Saba'na, 20;

6.     Rami Khalil Nazzal, 22; and

7.     'Adnan Yousef Abu Ma'alla, 29. 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:

1.     Ahmed 'Abdul 'Aziz Salim, 52; and

2.     Murad Jouda Salim, 35. 

At approximately 14:30, IOF positioned in military posts at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Rafah, opened fire for no apparent reason at al-Shouka area in the southeast of the town.  A Palestinian civilian, 46-year-old Yousef Kamel Abu Jazar, was wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen, when he was riding an animal cart hundreds of meters away from the border. 

At approximately 18:00, IOF positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Block J in Rafah refugee camp.  Mohammed Hamdan Zo'rob, 26, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, was injured by shrapnel in the right leg, when he and two of his colleagues were driving a number of children away from the ruins of houses that had been already demolished by IOF.  

 

Wednesday, 9 March 2005

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Simba village near Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Nayef 'Abdul 'Aziz Abu 'Aqil, 45, and arrested him.

At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into al-Bathan village, northeast of Nablus. They surrounded a civilian car, in which 3 Palestinian civilians were traveling. They opened fire at the car, wounding one of these civilians, 30-year-old Ahmed al-Khalili. They arrested him and the other two civilians: Yasser Sabah al-Fares, 28; and Ghassan al-Kammash, 30. 

Later, IOF arrested 2 Palestinian civilians in the same area:

1.     'Emad Rabah Salahat, 26; and

2.     'Abdul Hadi Ibrahim Salahat, 27. 

 

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. This week, IOF allowed private cars to cross the two checkpoints, but under severe restrictions.

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 al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to the area. Only 150 civilians are allowed to exit the area and 25 others to enter it daily, but under severe restrictions. On Saturday, 5 March 2005, IOF closed the checkpoint for several hours. 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 "Dugit" 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. At least 180 Palestinian civilians live in the area, including 47 students, one physician, 5 public employees, 50 children and 7 patients. 

The daily suffering of Palestinian civilians living in al-Sayafa area is characterized by the following:

1.     Palestinian civilians aged under 30 are prohibited from moving out and into the area without prior coordination. 

2.     A very limited number of farmers are allowed to enter the area, but following coordination. 

3.     University students have been forced to live outside the area due to the prohibition imposed on the movement of those who are under 30. 

4.     The area lacks paved roads, which makes transportation extremely difficult, so residents of the area have to move on foot. 

5.     IOF open the iron gate at the entrance of the area only from 07:00 to 09:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00. 

6.     The area lacks basic services, such as electricity, as IOF have prevented establishing an electricity network in the area. 

7.     Patients have to walk or transport on animal cart as ambulances are not allowed to enter the area without coordination, which often takes a long time. 

8.     Farmers face extreme difficulties in marketing their products or bringing agricultural equipment 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 attack 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. 

Contrary to Israeli official claims regarding allowing Palestinian workers to enter Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, IOF allowed only 1139 workers and 200 traders who have valid work permits to enter Israel this week.  Workers who can work in Israel must be over 35, married and approved by Israeli security services. Workers are subject to strict checking and humiliation on their way to their work places. Some of them are subject to interrogation by Israeli security services.  Furthermore, work permits of workers who do not go to their work for a period that exceeds one week are cancelled. 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 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 17:00 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.

 

Jerusalem

IOF have continued to isolate East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. According to eyewitnesses, IOF imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, especially on Friday as thousands of Palestinian civilians go to the Aqsa Mosque for the Friday Prayer. IOF have also continued to prevent Palestinians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip from entering the city without permits.

 

Bethlehem

On Friday morning, 4 March 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint in al-Bawaba area at the southern entrance to al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They stopped and checked hundreds of Palestinian civilians and forced them to wait for at least 6 hours before allowing them to cross the checkpoint. On Saturday morning, 5 March 2005, IOF further tightened the siege imposed on al-Kahder village. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians at the northwestern entrance to the village, and chased children and young men. 

 

Hebron

On Saturday morning, 5 March 2005, IOF imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected more checkpoints at the main junctions throughout the town. They stopped and checked hundreds of Palestinian civilians. Over the day, IOF prevented calling for the 5 Islamic payers at the Ibrahimi Mosque as they do every Saturday. They also prevent calling for the sunset payer everyday according to a military order issued in response to a demand by Israeli settlers living in settlement inside the town. 

 

Nablus

This week, IOF imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  IOF positioned at various checkpoints around the town conducted prolonged checking for Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected a number of sudden checkpoints at the main junctions on the roads leading to the city, imposing more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

 

Jenin

On Thursday noon, 3 March 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Hafeera junction, south of Jenin, and closed Jenin – Nablus road. They prevented Palestinian civilian vehicles from crossing the checkpoint. At the same time, they erected two other checkpoints near the villages of Beer al-Basha and Jaba', south of the town. At approximately 12:00 on Friday, 4 March 2005, IOF erected a number of sudden checkpoints to the south of al-Nassariya village, at the entrances of al-Fara'a refugee camp, in the northern and central Jordan Valley, at Tammoun crossroads, at the southeastern entrance of Tubas village, and the northwestern entrance of Ras al-'Aqaba village, southeast of Jenin. hey obstructed the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint, southeast of Jenin, conducted prolonged checking for Palestinian civilians. 

 

Tulkarm  

At approximately 06:00 on Thursday, 3 March 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Salam crossroads, south of Tulkarm. They stopped a number of Palestinian school children and held them for several hours. At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 4 March 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bala'a crossroads, east of Tulkarm. They held a number of young men for some time before allowing them to travel to Tulkarm.  At approximately 07:00 on Saturday, 5 March 2005, IOF moved into Zeeta village, north of Tulkarm. They erected a checkpoint near the male school and held a number of students for some time. At approximately 08:00 on Saturday also, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance to Artah area, south of Tulkarm, and another one on Baqa al-Sahrqiya road, north of the town. 

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

At approximately 05:00 on Thursday, 3 March 2005, IOF that were patrolling IN 'Ein al-Baida area in the east of Tubas village, southeast of Jenin, arrested Mo'ayad Sayel Fauqaha, 30, while he was farming his agricultural land. 

At approximately 09:00 on the same day, IOF positioned at Salem checkpoint, west of Jenin, arrested Lutfi Bilal Lutfi Khaled, 22, from Jayous village near Qalqilya. 

At approximately 13:30 on the same day, IOF positioned at Jeet checkpoint, southwest of Nablus, arrested Rabee' Ibrahim 'Aabed, 20, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force from Kufor Than village, west of Jenin.

On Friday morning, 4 March 2005, IOF positioned at al-Karama International Crossing Point on the Jordanian border arrested Majeda Akram Fadda, 40, a pharmacist from Nablus, when she was on her way back to the West Bank from the United Arab Emirates. 

On Monday morning, 7 March 2005, IOF erected a sudden checkpoint at the entrance to Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, and arrested Mousa Lutfi Nemer. 

On Monday evening, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, southwest of Nablus, arrested 3 Palestinians:

1.     Hazem Mohammed Mar'ei, 19, a university student from Bala'a village near Tulkarm;

2.     Sadiq Khairi Mar'ei, 19, a university student from Bala'a village; and

3.     Firas Nihad Barbra, 18, from Tulkarm.

On Tuesday noon, 8 March 2005, IOF positioned at 'Atara checkpoint, north of Ramallah, arrested Mahmoud Ahmed 'Omar, 35, a member of the Palestinian Presidential Guard (Force 17) from Hawara village, south of Nablus.

 

Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall

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

This week, IOF continued to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Beit Sourik village, northwest of Jerusalem. According to local sources, IOF will seize 50,506 donums[1] of land for the construction of the wall in the area, including 29,500 donums of agricultural land. 

On Monday morning, 7 March 2005, IOF resumed razing areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. Palestinian local sources estimated that IOF would seize at least 2,300 donums of agricultural land in the village. These estimations were based on notices delivered by IOF to residents of the village. 

On Friday, 4 March 2005, IOF employed force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists in al-Zawaia village, southeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the construction of the wall. They fired tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. Dozens of the demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

On Monday and Tuesday, 7 and 8 March 2005, IOF employed force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the wall on the land of the village. According to eyewitnesses, IOF fired tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens of the demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

On Monday, 7 March 2005, IOF held a number of British solidarity activists who were on their way to Deir Ballout village, southeast of Qalqilya, to participate in protests against the construction of the wall. According to Nasfat Hafez Khuffash, coordinator of the public committee against the construction of the annexation wall, at approximately 09:00, he and 12 British solidarity activists were on their way to Deir Ballout village, when they were surprised by a checkpoint erected by IOF near Deir Ballout Bridge.  IOF stopped them and held them until 15:00. 

Also on Monday, IOF handed a military order to Ya'qoub Abu Roumi, from 'Eizariya village near Jerusalem, confiscated a tract of land belonging to him located near the annexation wall. IOF had already handed similar military orders to a number of Palestinians living near the wall, confiscating 254 donums of land in the same area to construct a section of the wall. The construction of the wall in the area will isolate hundreds of donums of land, many houses, the cemetery of the village and a number of roads leading to Jerusalem. 

   

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 10:00 on Saturday, 5 March 2005, 7 of armed Israeli settlers from "Taffouh" settlement, south of Nablus, attacked Ma'rouf 'Eissa Hassan, 55, from Yasouf village, while he was farming his agricultural land. They severely beat him. An Israeli military jeep passed by the area. IOF released the Palestinian farmers, but did not take any measure against the settlers. The farmer was evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. 

On Saturday evening, a number of armed Israeli settlers seized at least 40 donums of agricultural land planted with olives in the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron, in order to annex them to the neighboring "Sousia" settlement. 

At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, an Israeli settler traveling in a civilian car that parked at the roadside near Douma village, south of Nablus, opened fire at a Palestinian taxi that was traveling in the area. The taxi was hit by a number of live bullets, but no casualties were reported among the workers who were traveling in the taxi.         

On Tuesday morning, 8 March 2005, a number of armed Israeli settlers from "Qidoumim" settlement, northeast of Qalqilya, prevented a number of Palestinian farmers from reaching their agricultural land and forced them to leave the area. 

On Tuesday evening, a number of Israeli settlers from "Ramat Yishai" settlement in the center of Hebron launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in Tal Rumaida area. They threw stones and fired at Tayseer Abu 'Eisha's house, but no casualties were reported. 

At the same time, a number of Israeli settlers from "Kiryat Arba" settlement, east of Hebron, attacked Palestinian civilians in Wad al-Nasara neighborhood and prevented them from moving on the only road leading to the Ibrahimi Mosque. 

 

***

 

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