PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories	No. 02/2005 06 - 12 Jan. 2005
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Launch More Attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

 

 

• 8 Palestinians, 5 of whom were civilians, including 2 children and an elderly woman, were killed by IOF.

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

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

• Continued shelling of residential areas

• 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 Terminal on the Egyptian border has been closed for the 2^nd consecutive month, IOF positioned at checkpoints fired at Palestinian civilians and killed one in Khan Yunis, and IOF imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank during the Palestinian presidential election.
   

Introduction

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have launched more attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).  This week, 8 Palestinians, 5 of whom were civilians, including 2 children and an elderly woman, were killed and at least 20 others were injured by the 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.  IOF have also continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.

In the Gaza Strip, 2 Palestinian civilians were killed by IOF and a child died form an injury she had sustained by IOF last month.  One of these civilians was killed when was walking on a road near "Gani Tal" settlement near Khan Yunis on 8 January 2005, while the other was killed when he was waiting near al-Matahen checkpoint, north of the town, to travel to his work in the central Gaza Strip on 7 January 2005.  This week, IOF conducted 2 incursions into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia and Gaza city on 6 and 12 January 2005, during which they arrested 3 Palestinians.  In addition, 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were injured by the Israeli gunfire in various areas of the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, IOF killed 4 Palestinians, including a child, while an elderly woman died from a heart attack during an incursion by IOF into Balata refugee camp near Nablus.  The child was run down by an Israeli military jeep in Hebron on 6 January 2005.  A member of the Palestinian resistance was killed in clashes with IOF in Tulkarm on 11 January 2005, while IOF killed 2 Palestinians in Qarawat Bani Zaid village near Ramallah after the surrounded the house in which they hid on 12 January 2005.  This week, IOF moved into various areas throughout the West Bank, injured a number of Palestinian civilians and arrested dozens of others.  .     

IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank Territory.  For this purpose, they issued military orders confiscating more areas of Palestinian land in villages located to the northwest of Jerusalem.  These actions came in the context of changes made to the route of the wall according to an Israeli High Court ruling.  

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 2^nd 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 restrictions on internal movement.  These measures violate the Palestinian economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights.                                                                             

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, contrary to official Israeli claims regarding facilitation of movement of Palestinian civilians during the Palestinian presidential election, especially in East Jerusalem.  

 

 

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

Thursday, 6 January 2005

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved from "Nissanit" settlement, north of Beit Lahia, nearly 800 meters into the town.  They surrounded a house belong to the family of 'Ali 'Abdul 'Aziz Dawas, 27.  They raided the house and arrested him.

At approximately 09:00, an Israeli military jeep that was traveling very fast ran down 9-year-old Hamza 'Abdul Mon'em Jaber, just as he left a shop opposite to his house, near al-Nasara crossroads in the south of Hebron.  A few minutes later, an Israeli ambulance came from the neighboring "Kiryat Arba" settlement and evacuated the child to the settlement.  At approximately 16:00, the child was brought dead on arrival to 'Aaida Hospital in Hebron.  According to medical sources, the child sustained serious injuries and fractures throughout the body. 

During the day, IOF moved into Hebron and the neighboring villages of Dura, Ethna and Sourif; Tulkarm; and Salfit.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinians. 

    

Friday, 7 January 2005

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-'Asakra village, southeast of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched Yousef 'Asakra's house and arrested his son Ashraf, 22. 

At approximately 11:00, IOF positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Gani Tal" settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a Palestinian civilian who was walking on a road to the east of the settlement.  It is prohibited for Palestinians to use this road since the beginning of the current Intifada.  He was wounded by several live bullets in the head and the chest.  He remained bleeding until 15:40, when IOF informed the Palestinian liaison that there was a body in the area.  Immediately, an ambulance from the Palestine Red Crescent Society moved to the area and evacuated the body to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.  He was identified as Mohammed Sami Abu Sil, 21, from al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis.  According to the ambulance crew, the victim did not have any weapons and his body was found in an open area, which indicates that IOF could have used less lethal means against him.  His family also stated that he suffered from a psychological disorder after he had been wounded on 18 December 2005 during an Israeli military incursion into Khan Yunis.   

 

Saturday, 8 January 2005

In the morning, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) killed a Palestinian police officer when he was near al-Matahen checkpoint, north of Khan Yunis, waiting for a taxi to transport him to his work place in al-Nusseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 06:10, Mahmoud Yahia al-Farra, 61, a Palestinian police officer, was flagging down a taxi near al-Matahen checkpoint, north of Khan Yunis, IOF positioned in a military post near the checkpoint fired at Palestinian civilians and their vehicles when they were waiting to cross the checkpoint.  Al-Farra was instantly killed by 2 live bullets to the chest and the abdomen.  Soon, IOF closed the checkpoint for a short while.  The area was completely quiet when the shooting took place.  IOF often fire at Palestinian civilians and their vehicles while crossing the aforementioned checkpoint, and PCHR has documented similar cases in which casualties among Palestinian civilians were recorded. 

At approximately 17:00, IOF positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at houses in Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the border.  A Palestinian child, 9-year-old 'Abdul Qader Nasser Jaber, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back when he was near his house. 

At approximately 19:00, medical sources at Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis, declared that 17-year-old Najah Mahmoud Nayef Zo'rob, died from an injury she had sustained on 28 December 2004, when IOF shelled residential areas in Khan Yunis.  According to PCHR's documentation, at approximately 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 December 2004, IOF positioned in military locations and on tanks in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" and "Gadid" settlements, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp, al-Nimsawi neighborhood and Baten al-Samin area.  As a result, 14 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and 2 women, were injured.  The victim, her mother and her sister were among those who were injured.  She was hit by shrapnel to the head.  She was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis, where she received medical care until her death.    

 

Monday, 10 January 2005

At approximately 09:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Jabalya, fired at a Palestinian civilian, 19-year-old Ahmed Nemer Maqat, when he was on an area of agricultural land, nearly 700 meters away from the border.  He was wounded by 2 live bullets in the legs.  Then, IOF moved into the area and arrested him.

At approximately 11:30, IOF positioned in a military post near Erez industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a Palestinian taxi that was traveling towards Erez crossing to transport at least 2 international aid workers from Anera.  The driver, 31-year-old Ayman Mas'oud, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen. 

 

Tuesday, 11 January 2005

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.  They surrounded a house belonging to the family of Sayed Jaber Abu Hammad, 28, to arrest him.  They fired live bullets and sound bombs at the house and blew up its door.  Then, they broke into the house.  During this raid, a neighbor, Khadra Khaled Maraheel, 65, suffered from a heart attack.  At approximately 03:20, her family called an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society, which was able to reach the area at approximately 03:35.  The woman died on the way to the hospital. 

At approximately 11:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into Tubas town, southeast of Jenin.  A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the jeeps.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the children, wounding 15-year-old Ja'far Hussein Daraghma, with 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the head and the back. 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into the southern part of Tulkarm.  They surrounded a fenced yard belonging to Mahmoud al-Sayed.  They confiscated a number of car motors and loaded it on a truck that has a Palestinian registration plate.  Two members of the Palestinian resistance arrived at the area and clashed with IOF.  During these clashes, one member of the resistance, 22-year-old Sanad Ghannam Mustafa Kanouh, was killed by a live bullet in the neck, and the other one, 18-year-old Ahmed Mahmoud Nassar, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the right side.  The wounded member of the resistance was able to hide until IOF withdrew from the area.  A woman, 49-year-old Intissar 'Adnan Mohammed Zaher, was also wounded by a live bullet in the right leg when she got out of her house to check what was going on. 

During the day, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp and 'Assira village; and Kufor Qaddoum village near Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 29 Palestinians, including 23 ones from 'Assira village. 

 

Wednesday, 12 January 2005

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah.  They surrounded Majed Rebhi 'Arar's house in the east of the village.  Using megaphones they ordered residents of the house to vacate it.  Then, IOF opened fire from heavy machine guns at the house.  Nearly half an hour later, IOF fired a number of artillery shells at the house.  IOF did not allow Palestinian ambulances to reach the house until 11:00, when ambulances evacuated the bodies of 2 Palestinians to Ramallah Hospital.  The two victims were members of 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and had been wanted by IOF since the beginning of the current Palestinian Intifada.  They were identified as:

1.     'Abdullah Yousef Mohammed al-Deek, 33, from Kufor al-Deek village, hit by shrapnel and several live bullets throughout the body; and

2.     Wafi Asa'ad 'Othman al-Shu'aibi, 25, from Deir Ghassana village, hit by shrapnel and several live bullets throughout the body. 

IOF claimed that when they broke into the house they found a shelter inside the house, and when they tried to open its door, they were subject to shooting, so they returned fire and killed 2 Palestinians who were inside.  There were no eyewitnesses to assert or clarify whether an exchange of fire took place between IOF and the two Palestinians.  The house was severely damaged, and IOF arrested the whole family.  During this incursion, IOF also fired at houses in the village.  As a result, a Palestinian woman, 35-year-old Suhaila Ibrahim 'Arar, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head. 

At approximately 04:10, IOF, reinforced by a number of heavy military vehicles and a helicopter gunship, moved several hundred meters into Sheikh 'Ejlin neighborhood in the southwest of Gaza City.  They surrounded a 4-storey house owned by Na'im Mohammed Abu Shouqa.  They blew up the door and used megaphones to instruct the 13 residents to vacate the home.  Soon after, IOF broke into the house.  They searched the house and checked the male residents.  Nearly half an hour later, IOF withdrew from the area after having arrested the owner and his four sons.  Following 4 hours of interrogation, the owner and two of his sons were released, but the other two sons, Ahmed, 27; and Mahmoud, 24, remained in custody.  According to the owner, the Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at the area, but no casualties were reported. 

At approximately 07:00, IOF positioned in a military post in Tal Zo'rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Zo'rob neighborhood.  A Palestinian civilian, 42-year-old Saleh Rateb Fouju, was injured by shrapnel in the head.    

 

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.  On Sunday, 9 January 2005, the polling day for the Palestinian presidential election, IOF imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in some areas of the West Bank. 

 

Gaza Strip

 IOF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip either partially or completely. They have closed Rafah Intrnational Crossing Point on the Egyptian border for the 4th 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 Palestinian 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, 6 January 2005, IOF closed the two checkpoints and held and searched a number of Palestinian vehicles.  On Saturday morning, 8 January 2005, IOF positioned at al-Matahen checkpoint shot dead a Palestinian police officer when he was waiting for a taxi near the checkpoint to travel to his work in al-Nusairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip (see above).  On Monday afternoon, 10 January 2005, IOF closed the two checkpoints and held and searched a number of Palestinian vehicles in between.  They arrested one Palestinian.  On Tuesday morning, 11 January 2005, IOF positioned at the two checkpoints opened fire at Palestinian civilians who were waiting at the two checkpoints, which had been closed for several hours, but no casualties were reported. On Wednesday, 12 January 2005, IOF closed the two checkpoints from 10:00 until the evening. 

 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 have continued to partially close al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to al-Mawasi area for several weeks. Under this closure, only women and male Palestinians who are over 50 years old are allowed to cross the checkpoint, but under severe restrictions. The Palestinian civil liaison in the southern Gaza Strip reported that around 180 Palestinians from al-Mawasi area had been stuck at the checkpoint not allowed to travel back homes. Only those who are over 35 years old were able to go back homes on the polling day for the Palestinian presidential election,  9 January 2005, following coordination. IOF and settlers have also continued to attack Palestinian agricultural property in the area.  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. On Wednesday, 12 January 2005, IOF raided a house belonging to Ibrahim Hamza al-Farra, 42, in al-Mawasi area. They held the 7 residents of the house in one room, photographed the house and arrested the owner.   

 IOF have continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip to Palestinians for the 6^th consecutive month. They only allow patients to travel through the crossing, but under severe conditions and following coordination.  On Tuesday, 11 January 2005, IOF allowed dozens of traders, agricultural workers and patients to cross through the crossing.  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 in or out of the Gaza Strip. According to families of hundreds of Palestinian civilians who have been held outside of the Gaza Strip, the people have stayed in the Egyptian city of al-'Arish.    

 

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, contrary to Israeli official claims regarding facilitation of movement of Palestinian civilians during the Palestinian presidential election.

 

Jerusalem

 On Friday, 7 January 2005, IOF arrested Dr. Mustafa al-Barghouthi, a candidate for the Palestinian presidential election near al-Asbat Gate when he was on his way to the old city of Jerusalem. They interrogated him at a detention center in the city and released him in the evening. On Sunday, 9 January 2005, the polling day for the presidential election, IOF took a series of measures to disrupt the electoral process. They erected a number of sudden checkpoints on the road that links the center of the city with Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint, north of the city. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles. IOF also erected a checkpoint near al-Tour neighborhood and obstructed access of Palestinians to polling centers. Moreover, they erected a checkpoint near al-Hardoub area on the road leading to al-Za'im village, east of the city. They arrested a number of young men. 

 

Hebron

 At approximately 15:30 on Thursday, 6 January 2004, IOF erected a checkpoint near al-Liya crossroads leading the villages located to the west of the town. They stopped cars and checked Palestinian civilians. At approximately 12:20 on Sunday, 9 January 2005, the polling day for the Palestinian presidential election, IOF erected a checkpoint at Tariq Ben Ziad crossroads, only 50 meters away from a polling center in the south of the town.  They stopped cars and checked Palestinian civilians, obstructing their access to the polling center. At approximately 14:40, IOF patrolled near a polling center in al-Zahda neighborhood in the south of the town. They stopped and checked a number of Palestinian civilians.   

 

Bethlehem

 On Friday, 7 January 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint in al-Sohoul area in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They stopped and searched a number of Palestinian vehicles. They also checked Palestinian civilians. 

 

Jericho

 On Sunday, 9 January 2005, the polling day for the Palestinian presidential election, IOF took a number of measures to obstruct the electoral process in al-Jiftlek village, north of the town. According to eyewitnesses, a number of Israeli military vehicles moved into the village and erected a number of military checkpoints. They stopped and searched a number of Palestinian vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians when they were on their way to a polling center in the area. 

 

 Nablus

 IOF maintained their presence at military checkpoints around the city on Sunday, 9 January 2005, the polling day for the Palestinian presidential election. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians who were traveling out and into the city. IOF also erected a checkpoint at Surra crossroads, west of the city. They stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians. Moreover, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city, obstructed access of Palestinian civilians to polling centers.    

 

Tulkarm

 On Sunday, 9 January 2005, the polling day for the Palestinian presidential election, IOF delayed the opening of an iron gate established to the east of 'Anabta village, obstructing the access of polling center officials to the centers. This measure also obstructed the transfer of the civil register to Tulkarm. Furthermore, IOF positioned at Ras Rummana checkpoint, south of the town, obstructed imposed restrictions on the access of Palestinian civilians to polling centers. 

 

Qalqilya

 On Sunday, 9 January 2005, the polling day for the Palestinian presidential election, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance to 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They stopped dozens of vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians. In the morning, IOF took position near a polling center in 'Azzoun – 'Atma elementary school and obstructed access of Palestinian civilians to the center. At noon, IOF erected a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Jeet village. They stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles traveling out and into the village, obstructing access of Palestinian civilians to polling centers. 

 

Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall

 IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank Territory.  For this purpose, they confiscated and destroyed more areas of Palestinian land in villages located to the northwest of Jerusalem.

On Thursday, 6 January 2005, IOF issued 2 military orders confiscating dozens of donums[1] of Palestinian agricultural land in the villages of Biddu and al-Jeep, northwest of Jerusalem. According to local sources, an officer of the so-called Israeli Civil Administration handed 2 military orders signed by the commander of IOF in the West Bank Moshe Keblinsky, confiscating 88.7 donums of agricultural land in al-Jeep village, and 71.9 donums in Biddu village. These two orders came in the context of new plans for the route of the annexation wall in the area. 

 On the same day, IOF handed military orders signed by the commander of IOF in the West Bank Moshe Keblinsky to residents of the villages of Beit Diqqu and Beit Ejza, northwest of Jerusalem. According to the orders, hundreds of donums of agricultural land would be confiscated for the purpose of the construction of the wall. These military orders came several months after the Israeli High Court issued a temporary injunction stopping the construction of the wall in the area until changing its route. 

 On Tuesday, 11 January 2005, IOF closed Nabi Samuel road, the only entrance to villages located to the northwest of Jerusalem. Then, Israeli military bulldozers destroyed the road and transformed it into a car park.  IOF also brought a number of mobile homes to be used for guards escorting workers who construct the wall in the area.  According to eyewitnesses, IOF also razed areas of agricultural land near the road owned by Ahmed Barakat. They also razed more areas of agricultural land in the neighboring Beit Eksa village. 

 On Tuesday, 11 January 2005, IOF informed Mahmoud Hussein Eghbariya and Ahmed 'Abdullah Jaber, from Ethna village west of Hebron, that two agricultural establishments belonging to them would be destroyed. The two establishments are located in the west of the village near a section of the wall being constructed by IOF in the area. 

 

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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